#zeswa!reader

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

⟾ A New Friend

Synopsis 𓄼 Maybe getting to know the world out there wouldn't be such a bad experience after all.

Words 𓄼 2 637

Attention 𓄼 free, friendship, light adventure, fun teasing, cute, relaxation.

Dictionary 𓄼 ikran - mountain banshee 》olo'eykte - clan leader 》tsahìk - spiritual leader 》pa’li - dire horse 》mawey - calm/calm down 》tweng - loincloth 》zakru - giant prairie creatures + 》zangke - fermented alcoholic beverage 》ma eylan - my friend

Teylan still didn't fully trust the outside world. He still preferred the safety of the HQ base to setting foot in the dense and dangerous forest of Pandora.

Like now.

The various types of electronic devices in front of him were a rather satisfying form of entertainment. Their screens, their lights, their antennas, and their cold materials were something he was already chronically accustomed to. He picked up a small phillips screwdriver, ready to put the last screw in place, and then his newest communication radio would be ready.

– You could go outside for a bit.

He was startled. The tool slipped from his hand and fell to the ground along with the screw. Damn it!

So'lek was the one who had interrupted him, resting his body against a nearby wall. Teylan had barely noticed him approaching; well, it wasn't like he would have noticed anyway, after all, it was So'lek.

– Get away from that metal box. Get to know what those demons denied you the right to see.

The trr'ong commented, watching the younger man bend down at the repair table looking for the materials that had fallen to the floor. Teylan swallowed hard, becoming nervous even with his back to the man.

– I-I already went outside today.

The man snorted.

– Not just five steps, Teylan. I'm talking about something beyond HQ. Getting to know people beyond those who are here, other na'vi.

Teylan stopped his search for a moment, his ears perking up.

– I'm right here. Thank you.

And he went back to what he was doing.

So'lek lowered his head and shook it.

They had already told him that the boy was difficult to convince of certain things, his own friends had confirmed it. It wasn't the first time they had tried to encourage him to explore outside the Resistance camp. He then decided to resort to another strategy.

– Tamtey intends to visit a new clan for you tomorrow morning, the Zeswa. You could keep him company.

His head turned too quickly upon hearing the question.

– But—

He was going to invent an excuse, as always, but the trr'ong was faster.

– It's a somewhat remote place, with intense weather, there may be radio interference along the way. You know these devices better than they do, it would be a great help if you didn't lose contact with the base if something bad happens.

That was it. Casting the line and waiting for the bait to bite was a game he knew how to play very well.

Teylan reached for the tool and the screw, his hand closing loosely around them before he stood up. Now properly upright, his eyes fell on the small parts scattered on the table.

– I… I'll think about it.

Even though he couldn't see it, the corner of the older man's mouth lifted slightly, satisfied.

– That's all I ask.

So'lek then walked away, his now heavy steps receding further and further through the HQ, finally leaving the freckled boy alone with his things, which now seemed to hold his attention less than before.

Maybe going outside, not alone, but with Tamtey, wasn't such a bad idea after all…

Just maybe.

Bad?

Worse.

It was a terrible idea.

– Don't worry, Teylan, we're about to land!

Tamtey shouted.

– You said the same thing twenty minutes ago!

The boy yelled, clinging with all his might to whatever he could. The wind from the flight tossed his belongings and almost blew his precious cap off his head.

– Did I really say that?

As if he could sense the irony in his rider's question, his ikran gave a small jolt in the air.

– You did! You did say that!

Tamtey laughed loudly, stroking the neck of the mischievous creature in mid-flight, saying a few words to it, words that the youngest of the sarentu didn't care to know, since he was more concerned with not falling off the playful banshee from a great height.

– Hold on tight!

The ikran dove quickly, as if in freefall. The predominantly low-lying vegetation began to take on a living form before their eyes as the creature descended further before finally landing.

The two descended, Teylan seemingly trying to recover from a traumatic situation by moving further away from the ikran than necessary.

– Don't worry, it's always like this the first time. You should get used to it when you have your own ikran.

– After this, I don't know if I want one anytime soon.

It was then that they noticed two figures approaching from the camp not far ahead, two na'vi women, one in front with a scar on her eye, wearing bright and vibrant clothes, holding a huge spear, and the other with various adornments in her hair, darker clothes, and a light layer of white paint on both cheeks coming right behind.

– I see you, sarentu.

Said the first one as soon as they got close enough, but both made a gesture of recognition with their hands.

– I see you, Nesim. Minang.

Tamtey greeted back, bringing Teylan to his side and causing him to do the same, unconsciously, in a slightly nervous gesture, since apparently these were not just any members of the clan.

– I see you have graced us with the presence of another storyteller.

– Yes, this is Teylan. Teylan, these are Nesim and Minang, Olo'eykte and Tsahìk from the Zeswa clan.

– Nice to meet you.

He said, seeming to shrink back a little at the situation. Minang laughed at his reclusive manner, approaching him.

– You mustn't fear your own land, sarentu. Eywa blesses all her children.

– It's his first time on the plains, I thought he might get to know them a little.

Tamtey commented to Tsahìk, placing a comforting hand on the younger boy's shoulder.

– Make yourself at home. Our clan is always willing to show and teach you whatever you need.

– Come. We have much to discuss inside.

Olo'eykte called, retreating with her sister towards the central camp.

– I need to meet with the council now. How about we walk around a bit? The zeswa has many interesting things for you to see, hm?

– Right, but I-

The boy barely had time to question, as Tamtey was already walking away at a pace too fast for any words to reach him. Teylan shrugged, clearly perceiving his intentions, a tired sigh escaping his body.

– Never mind.

The ikran, which had been resting a few steps away, let out a few jokes, as if laughing at him, before taking flight and passing over his head to disappear.

– “Keep company," it said.

Now he was alone, in a completely strange place.

Wonderful.

Teylan was searching for a nearby radio signal to communicate with Resistance HQ, some distance from the main Zeswa camp. He lifted, bent, and rotated the antenna, stretched his arm towards the sky, but nothing seemed to work against the strong winds of the Upper Plains prairies. He should have known this would be a difficult task.

He held the radio to his ear, trying to hear beyond the static noise the device picked up.

– The winds are very strong today, sarentu. I believe your strange communication device won't be very useful to you like this.

A voice with a strong accent sounded behind him, drawing his attention.

– I saw you coming with the other one. It's always an honor for the Zeswa to have you here.

When he finally turned around, he made statements with you mounted on a strong dire horse, the low vegetation softening the sound of the slow gallop that was almost inaudible. You untied your braid from the animal before dismounting with a leap.

– My name is Y/N, and yours?

The na’vi boy was a little shy, putting the human device in one of the small pouches he had in his vest, but he answered anyway.

– My name is Teylan.

You approached, leaving the pa’li free nearby.

– I dare say you don’t yet know the plains of our territory, right?

He nodded. You were already moving to reconnect with the animal.

– Come on, Teylan. Let’s get a pa’li for you.

– I-I don’t know how to ride a pa’li…

You stopped. You stared at him, your mouth already open with questions, but you didn’t say anything, since you remembered that the other sarentu also arrived not knowing how to ride a pa’li, so Nesim and Minang taught him.

A big smile appeared on your lips. An idea came to your mind.

– Well, don’t worry about that.

– A-Are you sure this is safe?

– Of course! The zeswa learn to ride before they even know how to walk.

You two were crouched among the tall grass, observing a small group of dire horses resting in the shallow part of a pond just ahead. Teylan was nervous, and he was beginning to regret accepting your invitation.

– What should I do? They won't attack me, will they?

– No, but they can easily run away if they perceive you as a threat.

He shifted, now less nervous, slowly rising from his not-so-hidden hiding place.

– Don't be noisy. Now go.

Your target was the nearest pa’li, which was cooling off almost in the middle of the river where the water reached only a few centimeters above its hoof. The animal only noticed the suspicious proximity when the sarentu accidentally stepped on a dry root near the bank, drawing the creature's attention, which snorted.

– Trust. Calm him down. Show him you won't hurt him.

You tried to guide him from a distance.

His two front paws slammed hard on the water, his body straightening up. Teylan started to get nervous.

– Talk to him.

You said as if it were obvious advice, watching him approach more and more awkwardly.

– Talk?!

How could he talk to an animal?

– Yes. Mawey.

The word seemed to sound sweet in his mouth, but he didn't understand what it was. Inner despair overwhelmed him.

– Mawey?

The na'vi boy glanced quickly at you, the abrupt movement putting the animal on alert.

The pa'li ​​was startled.

Teylan was startled by him.

The two moved away at the same time, the dire horse letting out a loud screech and rearing up before running off, and Teylan becoming disoriented and tripping over his own feet, slipping and falling into the pond. The water soaked part of his vest, the tweng he was wearing, and his cap had flown off somewhere.

The rustling of leaves along with a falsely restrained giggle that escaped you as you emerged from your hiding place, the sound of your footsteps in the shallow water becoming clear as you approached him

– Maybe being a pa’li knight isn’t for you, sarentu!

You commented playfully and helped him up from the water, managing to find the old cap floating near the bank. Teylan’s shoulders slumped, disappointed in himself.

– Don’t be discouraged, not everyone succeeds the first time, but there’s always a new day to try.

As soon as the boy seemed properly recovered, you subtly took his hand.

– Come, I still have much to show you.

Until the early evening, you stayed together.

You taught him many new things and took him to meet some good members of your clan. You showed him the variety of beautiful zeswa crafts, the meaning behind their mostly vibrant and strong colors made with materials from the land itself.

You went to see the manual production of dairy products, something that didn't last long when you realized that Kìn and Sosul were too drunk to have any kind of frank conversation, where even Akoray gave up trying to listen to his monologues from the past.

You also introduced him to the zakru when your friend Tamu was taking care of some of them, the most important and majestic animals of the prairies and for your people, but he ended up being too afraid to get close to the colossal creatures at that moment.

At the end of all this, you sat together in your family tent with various beads, small gemstones, and different sets of fine ropes that you had spent the month collecting and hand-picking to make together.

– What are you going to do with this?

He asked, watching you begin to pick up several of the materials and start to make something. Your fingers moved in a practiced synchronicity, as if you were already used to doing it many times.

– A gift. So that you can take a little bit of our culture with you.

When your movements slowed down, he could see that it was a small wristband in your hands, with a strong zeswa structure present in the details.

– So that you remember today every time you look at it.

You delicately tied the new ornament to your wrist, making sure it was securely fastened. When you finished, Teylan held it up to eye level, observing each small ornament, as vibrant in color as the passage outside, and the two tiny wooden images of a zakru and a pa’li, tied and hanging from the threads.

His eyes shone.

This was the first real gift he had received in as long as he could remember, a na’vi memento, something made from his own land. He thanked you in a low voice, touching the object as if it were his most precious possession.

When the meeting with the leaders ended, you left your tent to follow the path outside.

– Come visit us whenever you can, Teylan. Who knows, I might even teach you one of our famous dance-fights after a good dose of zangke.

– Dance-fights? Zangke? What’s that?

You playfully bumped shoulders, saying with a hint of humor.

– You'll find out when you come again.

In the distance, still saying goodbye to Minang and Nesim, Tamtey shouted, calling the young sarentu to go.

– May Eywa guide your path, ma eylan.

Teylan didn't say goodbye in words, but said he would return to try the zangke. And from the smile you gave him as you took flight on the back of the ikran alongside Tamtey, the answer seemed more than satisfactory.

Later that night, as HQ was getting ready for bed after another day was over, So'lek appeared in the area of ​​his shared dormitory with Nor, who hadn't yet returned from his strange new habits of sleeping outdoors at night. Teylan was lying in his hammock fiddling with his newest wrist brace.

– So, how was it?"

He asked. Somehow his tone seemed quite smug, as if he already knew the answer before it was even said.

– You were right. It was quite an… experience.

– I can see that, I'm glad to hear it.

The boy straightened up in the hammock as the trr'ong approached to lightly ruffle his straight hair, now without his cap, before starting to leave the area.

– Now sleep. Tomorrow we have a busy day ahead of us.

In a short time the main lights went out, and he looked back at his wrist. The small beads with warm colors still shone under the indirect lights of the HQ, causing a small smile to appear on his face.

– Yeah… It wasn't so bad after all…

Teylan went to sleep that night dreaming of the Upper Plains, of the vast and beautiful prairies of the zeswa plateaus, riding the dire horses beside him, always following the wind.

Tomorrow he would venture into the frightening forest outside.

He would collect the best beads, the smoothest pebbles, and the firmest little vines he could find there. He might even consider asking So'lek to teach him how to weave the threads so he could make something beautiful to give as a gift to his newest friend.

Even if it earned him some at least embarrassing comments from trr'ong.

But it would be worth it.

He could hardly wait to see her again.

Another request! It took me a while to write, but it's fun writing for our boy Teylan ☆