English is not my native language, so please excuse any mistakes.

⟾ A Not So Bad Injury

Synopsis 𓄼 The injury still prevented him from doing many things, but at least it wasn't able to stop him from meeting you.

Words 𓄼 1 720

Attention 𓄼 free, light, blossoming love, a little anguish (very little), teasing (between siblings).

Dictionary 𓄼 skxawng - idiot 》ilu - sea creature/underwater mounts 》tsahìk - spiritual leader 》marui - metkayina tent structure 》tsakarem - successor/apprentice of tsahìk 》hufwe - traditional loincloth/skirt in the oceanic clan 》nikroi - hair ornament

– That's not fair!

Lo'ak shouted as soon as they emerged from the saltwater and reached the shore with both their mounts.

– You still need to learn how to lose, little brother.

Neteyam commented laughing, as he watched Lo'ak try to remove some seaweed that had gotten caught in his hair when they raced towards the village. He had arrived before his younger brother after managing to lose him among the large corals.

– I didn't lose! You literally cheated, skxawng!

– That's called strategy, Lo'ak.

As soon as he dismounted from the ilu, disconnecting his braid from the animal, a strong, quick wave of pain shot through his left shoulder and made him stagger slightly. A brief grimace of pain crossed his face before he brought his hand to the firmly bandaged wound.

– Hey- Damn it! Are you okay?

Within seconds, his brother was by his side, his hands raised, hovering uncertainly, afraid of doing something wrong.

– I'm fine. It's nothing.

But Lo'ak wasn't convinced. He never would be. Not after witnessing what happened.

– Oh, shit! I knew you weren't ready to go riding the ilus yet. Mom and Dad are going to kill me!

Neteyam pulled his hand away with a hiss. A small, but noticeable, bloodstain began to form there. The younger boy's eyes widened, his ears automatically twitching back.

– I'll take you to Tsahìk, she'll take care of you.

He didn't wait for an answer. He simply took the older boy's hand and began to lead him towards the tents with firm steps.

Neteyam wanted to say that it wasn't necessary to go to Tsahìk, that the bandages could easily be changed at the family's marui, that it was a silly thing, but his brother's gaze wouldn't allow him to say otherwise.

That look reminded him of the cold rock on his back, the metallic smell that permeated his nostrils, the sensation of blood sticking to his chest as they pressed on his shoulder. It was so close. A little more and it would be so close. He saw it again. That same expression of terror.

Neteyam smiled.

If it was necessary to bother the Tsahìk of the metkayina just to make that expression disappear from his face, then he would do it.

Lo'ak dragged his brother along, walking ahead with his hand firmly holding the older boy's wrist as they returned to the village, where the inhabitants, already on the move, hardly noticed them anymore with as much strangeness as before, at least for most.

As they spotted and hurriedly entered the large, sturdy tent, they ended up encountering not Ronal, Tsahìk of the metkayina, but a new figure with whom they were not yet familiar. A young girl, perhaps a little older than them, was arranging a set of herbs in small containers when she was interrupted.

– What's going on here?

Neteyam and Lo'ak stopped in their tracks as soon as they heard the harsh tone in her voice, clearly displeased with the marui's abrupt intrusion. The two seemed a little awkward when the younger Sully spoke.

– W-We need the Tsahìk, my brother is hurt.

The perceptible tone of desperation in your voice made you look directly at the older boy, analyzing him. Neteyam still had his hand on the wound, feeling strangely shy when you discreetly assessed him; after all, if Ronal wasn't answering, who were you?

Your gaze lingered a little longer than necessary before you reached a verdict.

It didn't seem to be a big deal.

– Tsahìk Ronal isn't here.

You said quickly, looking the two forest boys up and down. They were already well-known figures in the clan, but even so, they still instilled that fear among their people ever since the great Toruk Makto flew over the seas to seek asylum among the na'vi of the reefs, bringing his war with him.

A low groan caught your attention, making your hostile thoughts dissipate as you noticed how the older boy was holding his shoulder. A brief expression of pain on his face did not go unnoticed by you.

– But I can take a look.

Pointing to one of the soft blankets spread on the ground, you directed them so that the forest boy could place the other in that space. You saw how the two got into a small argument, hearing a "I can sit up by myself" and a "Silence, skxawng!" between the brothers. It was an interesting relationship to see.

– He's hurt. I think his wound reopened.

– I'll take care of him.

You made a quick gesture with your hand, dismissing Lo'ak's presence from inside the healing area. He made sure to look at Neteyam one last time before withdrawing, a little uncertain, and leaving the two of you alone.

Meanwhile, the young man paused to take a closer look at your newest figure.

He noticed your hufwe, beautifully decorated with long and short seaweed that ranged from intense greens to a dark yellow, adorned with delicate shell ornaments that seemed to match your outer garment, something like a fine net woven from thin sea vines.

He observed how your hair was perfectly braided, shiny and free at the ends like the hairstyles of the ocean people, adorned with a strip of small clear beads and pieces of sea glass.

But as soon as you turned around again, carrying two bowls with different materials, he could finally see your face.

And, wow. You were beautiful.

The tattoos, which still seemed new on your body, adorned part of your face and chest, demonstrating that you had an important role to play in the clan. Just as he had now realized that some unique ornaments on your body could indicate such a position.

– Who are you?

He finally mustered the courage to ask when he saw you kneel in front of him, placing the small containers nearby for handling.

– Y/N. Tsakarem.

You answered him bluntly.

Neteyam frowned, his hairless eyebrows furrowing in a brief moment of confusion. His moment of admiration quickly dissipated into doubt.

– I thought Tsireya was the tsakarem.

– Tsireya is too young, she doesn't know everything yet. The Tsahìk trained me to come to me when she's busy with her duties to the clan, in addition to healing.

The old bandages were removed with extreme delicacy, to the boy's surprise, finally revealing the entire wound. He didn't look so bad, just torn in a few places where the skin was still too thin for so much effort and a little irritated from contact with the sea salt.

You took a cloth, wet it with pure water, and carefully wiped Neteyam's chest to remove the blood. As soon as you saw that it was clean enough, you took some of the paste from one of the bowls on the floor to apply it.

– Quiet.

You said sternly, almost hissing, when he ended up moving too much as the paste was applied to his still-healing skin with a little more force. Neteyam pressed his lips together to prevent any sound from escaping. Yes. You really were an apprentice of Ronal's.

Once the paste was properly applied, a thick layer of absorbent sheets was placed over the wound to make it much more secure.

– The wound is almost healed, but it hasn't fully healed yet. You should be more careful when you go into the water; just because it's almost well doesn't mean you can be reckless.

His tone was confident and sharp, leaving no room for argument. He wanted to know if that strong personality would suit all metkayina women. Not that he was complaining now that he met you.

– I'll remember that, for sure. Thank you.

He said as soon as he turned to you after getting up from the ground, receiving only a nod from you in return as you stood up and returned to the other side of the marui to continue your other task. A few moments passed when you turned your face towards him, still feeling the boy's presence in the space.

He was still looking at you, as if he were waiting for something.

– Okay, you can go now.

That sounded more like an order than a request, and the boy's ears drooped awkwardly. The boy, Sully, was already leaving when he decided to try one last thing. He had already made a fool of himself; nothing could make the situation worse for him there.

– I hope we see each other again.

Neteyam saw how his ears perked up at his voice, interested, moving curiously before returning to normal. You didn't turn to him.

– As long as you're not bleeding again, I don't see why not.

It wasn't an exact answer, but it was something for the older Sully.

The last thing you heard was a low chuckle coming from the forest boy before you noticed his heavy footsteps emerging from inside the marui.

The air seemed strangely calmer than before.

– You know, you could have come up with a better excuse to talk to her, you know?

Neteyam turned quickly to Lo’ak, who barely noticed that he had been by the healing marui the whole time with a face a little too cynical for the older boy to be sure he wouldn’t be left alone after that.

– And I bet Tsireya would be happy to know that you spent hours choosing beads and clumsily cutting yourself to make a nikroi for her in secret.

Lo’ak’s eyes widened and quickly a new layer of tone took over his cheekbones, making his ears perk up.

– Hey! No! You wouldn’t do that, you–

He barely finished speaking when he saw that Neteyam was already running away towards the sand, probably to some place where Tsireya and her sisters would be at that time of day, only to start chasing him.

From inside the marui you silently emerged to observe them now from a distance.

And then he turned back toward you, and for a fraction of a second your eyes met before he ran off again and disappeared from sight with his brother on the other side of the island. You sighed. A small smile graced your lips before you even realized it. Strange boy.

But, in time, you would get used to him.

Or rather, he would make you get used to him.

Just one more short story until I finish writing So'lek's! I love our boy Neteyam so much T^T