After Neteyam had returned to the marui that night, he tucked the pearl Aonung had given him into his traveling pack, wrapping it in some soft leathers. His mind felt better when it was put away. Less confused.
When he woke up the next morning, he could already tell it was far earlier than expected. The sun was barely peeking through the opening of their woven home, casting a soft glow over the mat. His father and mother were both still asleep, little Tuk curled up between them, snoring happily.
Lo'ak on the other hand, had his arms dragged out across the floor and hair tangled all over his face in a rather unattractive way. Neteyam snorted at his brother's sleeping position. He stepped past, reminding himself to make fun of his little brother later.
The sun warmed his dark blue skin as he stepped out into the morning light. He stretched and readjusted his neckpiece across his collarbones. Making his way down to the beach, Neteyam grabbed his makeshift spear from the docks. His fingers itched for his own bow and arrows but the Na'vi here hunted in other ways and he would have to learn them. His father had commanded it, and he would not disappoint him.
The sand had already begun to warm as he waded into the shallows of the water, holding his strange weapon in hand. The handle was smooth and wooden, while the sharp blade at the end jutted out with a wicked curve. He studied the blade for a moment before realizing the spear tip was not made of bone, but a firm, serrated shell.
He considered the material for only a moment longer before he squared his shoulders and drew his arm back. The water in front of him rippled back and forth in the sunlight and Neteyam trained his gaze below the surface. As a fish entered his viewpoint he inhaled sharply as he would with his bow and straightened out his arm to let the weapon loose when a call from behind startled him.
"If that is how you hunt in the forest it is a miracle your family has survived this long."
His spear missed and splashed noisily a few meters away, nowhere close to the fish.
Neteyam whirled around and bared his teeth at Aonung, who now stood behind him smirking. The look of smug self-satisfaction made Neteyam's jaw tick and he clenched his fists at his side, trying to calm that anger that burned in his chest.
"That is because you made me miss," he growled, taking a threatening step toward the other boy.
Aonung didn't react. Instead, he snorted and eyed where Neteyam's spear had launched. "You would have missed anyways, forest boy," he said, not noticing the hiss that was building up in Neteyam's throat. "Your posture is completely wrong. I am surprised the fish did not swim away the second you entered the water."
Aonung's words struck up a fury inside Neteyam. It was not his fault that he didn't know how to hunt here. Not his fault that his family had been ripped away from their home. Neteyam's tail thrashed angrily back and forth. He hated not being able to do things correctly.
"I can hunt just fine," he bit back, trying to calm himself down.
The Metkayina just raised his brow and glanced over at the spear that was floating in the waves a few meters off. Neteyam felt his chest lower in defeat. "At least I could," he said finally.
There was a second when he could have sworn Aonung's eyes softened, but it must have been his imagination because too quickly the Metkayina replaced it with a smirk.
"So you finally admit defeat?" he goaded, eyes gleaming with a twisted sense of gratification. "I didn't think you had it in you."
With a forced exhale, Neteyam straightened his shoulders and set his face. "Alright," he said, relaxing his fists. "If you're so good, why don't you show me then."
He was briefly reminded of their first lesson, where he had taunted something similar. It seemed Aonung remembered this too because his eyes traveled up and down Neteyam's body. "Do you think you can handle it?" he asked smugly. A challenge.
Neteyam's tail twitched in anticipation. "I'm sure if you can do it, it must be simple enough."
Aonung's cocky smile disappeared and was replaced with an annoyed look. He stalked into the water towards the Omaticaya and gestured for him to pick up his spear. Neteyam grabbed the handle as it floated past him and turned back, ready to be instructed. The taller boy stood slightly behind him and jerked his chin upward, indicating that Neteyam should aim again. Pulling his arm up, he replicated his stance from earlier and sucked in a breath.
Aonung immediately shook his head. "Wrong," he said indignantly. "You are breathing in as you pull back. It destabilizes your core. Put it down and try again." Neteyam's ears laid back in annoyance but he did as instructed, raising the spear once more.
"Hold it here," Aonung said, lifting his own arm to demonstrate. Neteyam observed the other's stance before relaxing his own shoulders and aiming the tip more forward. "Better," Aonung said. "But your form is still weak. I doubt it would puncture anything... if you ever managed to actually hit the fish that is."
Neteyam ripped away angrily and growled. "Maybe I would hit something if you actually showed me how to throw it," he seethed.
"Calm down big bro," Aonung taunted, throwing the words back in his face mockingly. But when Neteyam made no move return he softened his voice. "Come on, I'm just messing with you," he said. "I'll show you."
Begrudgingly, Neteyam returned to his side and resumed his position. He almost jumped out of his skin when he felt Aonung's hand rest carefully on his stomach. "You need to hold here," he explained as if it were the simplest thing in the world. Neteyam kept his gaze forward but was unable to stop his tale from flicking back and forth nervously.
"Does it always do that?"
Neteyam looked up to see Aonung track the movement of his tail with his eyes. He quickly snatched it to his side and stopped the movements. "Do what?" he hissed angrily, not liking the way Aonung was staring.
The older Na'vi hastily brought his eyes back up and shook his head as if trying to clear his thoughts. "Nothing," he said dismissively, looking away. "I just don't see how you could be any good at swimming with a weak tail like that."
Neteyam bristled. "That's because it's not for swimming, skxawng."
Aonung rolled his eyes. "Well what is it for then, forest boy? It never seems to stay still."
True to his word, Neteyam's tail was twitching once more in agitation behind him. With a scowl, he stilled it again. "It is to help with our balance," he said. There was a pause before Neteyam sighed. "It also reacts based on our emotions."
By the smirk on Aonung's face, he knew he probably should not have said that. "Is that so?" the older boy asked, leaning slightly closer, mockingly. "Do I make you nervous Neteyam?"
Neteyam was pretty sure his heart stopped beating. There was a stark moment where he realized that this was the first time Aonung had ever said his actual name. He didn't like this joke anymore. Neteyam was about to push the Metkayina away angrily but the blowing call of the conch rang out through the cove.
Anungs ears shifted skyward and he turned his head towards the sound. "That is the hunting parties," he said. "I must go."
Neteyam hid his relief behind a nod. "You are joining them?" he asked, more to shift attention away from his reddening cheeks than anything else.
Aonung nodded, but Neteyam couldn't help but note the way he puffed out his chest as he replied. "Yes, my father has decided I am old enough to hunt beyond the reef."
A small smile played on Neteyam's lips. It was clear the respect of his father meant a lot to Aonung. Perhaps they were not so different in that way.
Attempting one last time to throw the spear, Neteyam sighed and grabbed it from the water. "Come. I will walk back with you," he said firmly, pushing away the uneasiness that always seemed to settle in his stomach when Aonung was near. "Tsireya is teaching my brother you're strange hand signals this afternoon. I will join them."
"He always seems to be around her," Aonung muttered frustratedly at the mention of Lo'ak's name. The two began to make their way to shore. Neteyam grinned. If he were in the other's position, he would not want Lo'ak around either.
Unable to help himself, he lightly pushed Aonung's shoulder. "Hey, Tsireya could do a lot worse than my little bro," he chuckled. Aonung clearly didn't agree because he bared his teeth in annoyance. "I do not know why he insists upon learning from her."
This made him laugh outright. "Leave it to my little brother to find a crush while fleeing from a war."
"Crush ?" Aonung asked, looking over at him confused.
It took Neteyam a moment to realize that was not a Na'vi word. "Oh, uh," he paused, trying to think of its equivalent. "Someone you like, who you cannot stop thinking about. You want to be near them all the time, keep them safe."
"I guess it's a sky people thing," he finished lamely, glancing upward. He shook his head so that his braids would fall back over his shoulder. He glanced to his side to see if Aonung understood what he was trying to say. Instead, he found the other tracking his face intently. To his surprise, when Aonung caught him looking, he jerked his eyes away and for a moment, Neteyam thought he saw his cheeks darken.
The Metkayina cleared his throat and quickly tossed a hostile look over his shoulders as he sped up the pace. "Whatever it is," he hissed, "tell your brother to keep to himself. My sister does not need him in her life."
The Omaticaya just chuckled and continued to follow him up the beach. Lo'ak was not one to give up, especially when he set his mind to something. Kiri often likened that stubbornness to their father whenever he would take the blame for something.
"Son," Tonowari called as Aonung stepped up towards the village. "Are you prepared to join us?" he asked firmly, placing a heavy teal hand upon his son's back.
"Yes father," he said from his side.
"Good. Prepare your spears, we depart soon."
The young Metkayina ducked his head down and was ushered to his marui to prepare his hunting gear. Neteyam watched for a moment longer before turning to go find Tsireya and his brother by the Three Brother Rocks.
"You are making progress," Tsireya said sweetly as he and Lo'ak attempted to mimic her gestures.
He watched his brother blush each time the chief's daughter gently rearranged his hands. After Lo'ak growled at him the first time he had smirked, Neteyam decided to let them be. The sun had tracked well into the sky by now and Neteyam politely excused himself from their lesson. They had covered most basic commands as well as the important marine life so he deemed himself knowledgeable enough for the day.
On his way back through the village he snagged a piece of fish from a nearby fishing basket. Quickly working himself through the rope walkways he made his way deeper into the roots of the giant mangrove. The island itself was full of tall, rocky outcroppings, each entangled within the massive trees' palm-like leaves. A small part of him wondered if this was what the home tree might have been like. His mother used to speak about it when he was little, but every time she did her eyes would get sad and distant, until one day she stopped bringing it up at all. Perhaps that is why she loathed Spider so much. He was just another reminder of everything that had been taken from her.
Careful of the fish at his hip, Neteyam climbed inland effortlessly, moving from rock to rock with ease until he had a decent view of the land below him. A slight breeze passed his face as he took in the world from above. It was truly beautiful up here. With a deep breath, he let out a few yips, followed by a low cry at the back of his throat. He paused for a moment letting his call ring out into the air. From behind his left, a screech rang out through the mountain like rocks.
"Tsyalè!" he exclaimed happily, as the beautiful emerald creature approached. He threw the chunk fish towards her as she flew past with a squawk. The ikran caught it easily before landing by his side.
"Mawey, Tsyalè. Mawey," he soothed patting her neck. She greeted him with a dip of her head and blinked her many large eyes at him.
Neteyam grinned. "I know, I know," he said, holding her jaw firmly. "It has been too long." Tsyalè clicked good-naturedly but bared her many teeth. He held up his hand to show they were empty. "That's all I've got girl, but if you like the fish I will bring you more soon."
The ikran seemed satisfied with his answer and shook out her wings. He took her kuru and swung onto her back as he made the bond. The tsaheylu coursed through him and he felt her heartbeat thrumming through her chest. "Tam, tam," he settled, letting her adjust to his present. Tsyalè let out a low chatter in the back of her throat as he stroked her long neck. "Good," he breathed through their bond.
Neteyam gripped the leather handle on her saddle and guided her to the edge of the rock. Her wings, speckled green and yellow, seemed to be illuminated with the afternoon light. He pulled his ionar down over his eyes and with a whoop, urged her forward into the air. Wind rushed past his face as Tsyalè dove from the cliffs. Leaning with her, Neteyam crouched easily on her back as she soared over the mangroves. Breaking from the leaves, he could see the ocean below them. Waves upon waves broke below him and he pushed her forward with a click of his tongue. Her massive wing beats drove a spray of water directly into his face and he yelped in surprise. Amusement passed through the bond and Neteyam grinned, steering her into the next wave intentionally. Tsyalè vocalized indignantly and he laughed. With a quick tug, he pulled them back up until the ocean was far below him.
The familiar rush of excitement coursed through him as he led her into another dive, this time swooping by the reefs, hollering out into the air. Tsyalè mimicked him, squawking loudly as she beat her massive wings. Neteyam took a deep breath and let some of the tension in his chest soothe away. The familiar motions of the ikran reverberated under his grip and he felt a lightness that he hadn't experienced since he left home.
Another sound of the conch had him picking his ears up. That must mean the hunting party has returned, he thought to himself.
The afternoon light warmed his back as he turned towards the village. Awa'atlu was now ahead in his view. By the docks, he could see riders dismounting their skimwings and hauling nets of fish out of the water. It seemed that the hunt had been successful. The clan would surely celebrate tonight after such a fortunate catch.
The ocean glimmered from a dark blue to a shimmering teal as they flew over the reef. A few young Na'vi splashed around near a group of marui's, playing happily in the shade of the mangrove roots. As he got closer to the island he could see the carefree looks on their faces.
He remembered a time in his childhood when he had felt something similar. It was in their family nest, the night before the sky people returned. His mother and father would take turns picking him and his siblings up, flying them around their small home as if they were ikrans. Lo'ak was too young to remember and if Kiri did, she did not speak of it. But Neteyam remembered the day they returned. There had been bright lights in the sky. At first, he had looked up at them with wonder, imagining that they were fallen stars. But when he pointed up to them, his mother dropped what he was holding and fell to the ground. Next came the fire. Miles and miles of the forest burned as the ships landed, killing everything in sight. His father had held Neytiri as she sobbed, watching her home be destroyed yet again. After that, there were no more nights like that in the nest.
Tsyalè yipped and banked left. They soared past the mangroves and followed the line of water. Waves slowly lapped on the glittering sand. Neteyam looked down and saw a blue figure walking out of the water followed by a group of young Metkayina boys. He narrowed his eyes and leaned forward, urging the green ikran to circle closer.
Kiri. She was trudging along, slapping away the hands that reached for her, poking at her fingers.
Neteyam angled them downward and felt his jaw clench as one of them snatched her arm. He pointed at the beach below them and clicked his tongue, signaling Tsyalè to land. Tsyalè careened her long neck and aimed for the sand, flapping her wings forcefully as they descended.
The second her claws hit the ground, Neteyam disconnected his queue and hopped off. "Sìltsan," he dismissed firmly, letting her fly off.
On the ground, he got a better look at what was happening. Kiri was holding her tail back and glowering angrily at those in front of her. Four pale blue Na'vi were surrounding her, each grinning at each other as she backed away. The tallest one reached out once more and took her hand mockingly. Neteyam saw red and immediately began to make his way over to his sister.
"Hey!" a voice approached. "Back off fish lips."
Neteyam looked up and saw Lo'ak storm past Kiri and stand in front of her protectively. This isn't going to end well, Neteyam thought.
The leader turned as the youngest Sully approached and to Neteyam's rage, he realized it was Aonung. Of course it was.
"Oh look, another four-fingered freak, " he said.
"Leave us alone!" Kiri cried, trying to pull Lo'ak away with her. Aonung let out a cruel laugh while another yanked Lo'ak's tail.
"Look at his baby tail," he mocked, as his brother hissed and pulled it from his grasp. The other two boys snickered and joined in with a chorus of "Baby tail, baby tail."
By the time Neteyam had made his way to the group, Aonung had grabbed Lo'ak's hand once more.
"This isn't normal," he sneered, pushing apart his extra finger.
Rage took over Neteyam. He rushed Aonung and shoved the older boy away, braids swinging forcefully in front of his face. Aonung stepped back in surprise as he recognized Neteyam in front of him.
"You heard what she said," he growled, voice quiet and threatening. "Leave them alone."
Aonung regarded him thoughtfully. The boy to his left stepped up, "Ooh big brother coming t-" but the chief's son interrupted him, holding his hand out firmly.
He forced himself to take in a breath and keep his head. "Back off," he emphasized, holding out a finger and pushing it into Aonung's chest. "Now."
Aonung looked like he was considering it for a moment before smirking and holding his hands up and taking a step back.
"Good," Neteyam nodded, keeping his eyes firmly locked on the other. "Smart choice."
That blue gaze stared into him intensely but Neteyam shook off the prickles that formed across his skin. "And from now on, I need you to respect my sister."
Kiri rolled her eyes from behind him and the younger boy at Aonung's side hissed angrily. Once again Aonung held him back with his hand, eyes never once, leaving Neteyam's.
"Let's go," he said to Lo'ak, taking Kiri's hand and leading them away. He could practically feel the waves of fury that were rolling off Lo'ak and he prayed to Eywa that he didn't do something stupid. That prayer was ignored.
"They're all freaks. The whole family," one of them said as they left.
Lo'ak stopped dead in his tracks.
"Lo'ak," Neteyam hissed to his brother, trying to get him to continue walking.
"I got this bro," his brother replied.
Neteyam groaned. This wasn't going to end well.
Rather than walking away, Lo'ak turned back and faced the group. Once more, Aonung turned and looked down at him.
"I know this hand is funny," he started, holding out his fist for emphasis. "Look," he said, wiggling his extra finger, "I'm a freak. Alien."
Aonung smirked at his friends before nodding.
"But it can do something really cool. Watch."
Neteyam knew what was about to happen.
"First I ball it up real tight…" he said, gesturing for Aonung to look closer. The Metkayina did, and looked down at where Lo'ak was demonstrating. "-and then…"
Bam. His brother slammed his fist into Aonung's face, quickly following it up with two more hits. "It's called a punch, bitch."
Neteyam tried not to laugh at the shock on Aonung's face as he fell back into the sand. Two of his friends were quick to help him up. "Don't ever touch my sister again, you hear me?" Lo'ak shouted.
But his words fell upon deaf ears because soon all four of them pounced on his brother. Lo'ak landed one more good punch before he was dragged back by his tail and kicked hard in the face by another.
Neteyam watched only a moment more before he groaned and jumped in to help his brother. He punched the one who held Lo'ak before turning and shoving his knee forcefully into the stomach of another. The shortest one groaned and crumpled to the ground before Neteyam got tacked back into the sand. The water rushed past his shins as he quickly flipped his attacker and caught him in the throat.
"This is so stupid!" Kiri called from the shore, but no one was listening at this point. Instead, he flung out his fist once more trying to shove Aonung off his brother.
By the time someone grabbed his tail and pulled him away he was panting and he could feel blood dripping down his lip. Lo'ak stumbled to his side, bleeding from his nose. They were gonna be in such trouble.