Author's Note: And here we have another one! Enjoy!
Neteyam is anxious. He's trying to figure out when the best time it is to bring up the gift that he managed to finish before they all gathered around for dinner. Now it's resting beneath the blanket Neytiri placed over his lap when she walked in earlier and found him shaking like a leaf, and his leg. He was fine when his dad left him propped up against one of the walls in the hut with all of his supplies after promising not to look at them so that it would still be a surprise. But after an hour to an hour and a half later, he was shaking and wasn't able to fuel the dull fire that his father had left behind.
His mom came back to start getting to work on dinner and found him shaking in the waning light of his dying fire. She promised not to look at what he was working on while she wrapped him up in a blanket, that he has since draped across his lap, and set to building up the fire once more and start dinner. Between helping her cut up fruit and vegetables, he kept working on his present.
Once he was done, he just updated Neytiri about how his day was going and asked her all about her own. Her day was much more interesting than his own. She got to go out hunting, leading a party of her own, and saw a 'damaged land' regrow its first patches of grass.
Damaged lands are places that were destroyed by the Sky People by any of their horrendous methods in which they do, and sometimes, so long as the destruction isn't so catastrophic, the land begins to heal almost immediately. This one in particular, has been on the path for a long time. It one of the places that was destroyed when the Sky People were drilling into the ground. They damaged it so badly that it's just now starting to heal.
Neteyam wished that he could see it. Neytiri promised to bring him when he felt better.
The closer dinner got to being finished, the more people that piled back in. Even Spider came with. He peeks at Neytiri carefully to see if she's in the mood to tolerate his existence - still under the impression that she hates him despite that being further from the truth - and after he gets the feeling that she isn't going to bite his head off for being there, he settles in next to Kiri and help her deboning the fish she's working.
Once Jake and Tsu'tey got home, they helped Neteyam move over to the fire, all while he was being very careful to hide his gift from Tsu'tey, trying to figure out when the best time was to give it to him. He considered giving it before they started eating, but he missed his chance.
His papa is going to like it, he knows that he is. Just like his dad said, his papa was going to like anything that he made, it didn't matter how it looked or how much time he actually put into it, he knew that his papa would love it simply because he made it for him. He knows this, but it doesn't mean that he doesn't still hope that it's perfect for him. He honestly put a lot of time and effort into it, so he does want it to be perfect. His papa worries about him so much and offers him so much love and care without batting an eyelash that Neteyam just wanted to give back to him, even if it was only a little bit.
As if sensing his anxiety, Jake lowers down next to him while their eating and just offers him a knowing look. He reaches out to Neteyam, then hesitates, as if worried to touch him, which hurts Neteyam's heart. He knows that his dad tries really hard to respect their space, but Neteyam just wishes that he would be more confident in their love for him. He's never doubted his dad's love for them but knew that it didn't come as easily to his dad to offer it physically like the rest of them were accustomed to. And that makes Neteyam even sadder.
"Can you rub my back, dad?" Neteyam asks softly, offering a little smile and offering his back to Jake.
A tension releases from Jake as his hand settles onto Neteyam's back, pushing his braids over his shoulders. He moves his tswain too, but more carefully so that it doesn't land in his food, before contently rubbing at his back with one hand and eating his meal with the other. Occasionally, he'll reach up to squeeze Neteyam's shoulder, as if to imbue him with strength - and courage - and Neteyam appreciates it.
Finally, Neteyam pushes his food away and looks at Tsu'tey. "Papa?"
Tsu'tey, who was murmuring something to Lo'ak that made Neteyam's little brother grin up at him playfully, looks over at Neteyam with a sweet smile. "Yes, Neteyam?"
"Can I have you come over for just a second..?"
Tsu'tey tilts his head slightly, eyes flickering over to Jake in a flash of worry but whatever was on Jake's face must have assuaged him, because his expression softens again as he glides to his feet. He playfully taps Lo'ak's shoulder with his tail and pats the top of Spider's head as he walks past him and Kiri to Neteyam, both boys laughing and playfully swiping after him as he goes. He's grinning once he made it to Neteyam, lowering down onto his hunches.
"Yes, Neteyam?" Tsu'tey asks, studying his expression curiously.
"I made you something," Neteyam says carefully. He smiles when a look of surprise flares over Tsu'tey's face.
"You didn't have to make me anything," Tsu'tey says kindly, but excitement twirls his tail behind him. Neteyam's smile grows, and Jake huffs a laugh behind him.
"It was supposed to be a welcome home gift but obviously I didn't get to finish it in time, but I hope that you'll take it anyway." Neteyam reaches under the blanket and Tsu'tey tracks the movement, tail twirling again. "Close your eyes," Neteyam teases.
Tsu'tey playfully sighs. "You are just like your dad," he says, grinning more and closes his eyes.
Neteyam pulls out the necklace, hearing his mom gasp behind him and his face burns a bit as he holds it up so that his papa can get a good look at it, finding strength in the squeeze Jake gives his shoulder. "Okay, papa, open your eyes."
Tsu'tey does, eyes locating the necklace immediately. And the amusement bleeds from his expression as it's replaced with first awe, then admiration, then love as he reaches out to touch it lightly with his fingers. A lot of complicated emotions flickering over his face as he takes in all the details with wide eyes.
Neteyam styled it after the similar warrior's necklaces that both he and his papa wore, but the beading with a repeating pattern of four different colored beads going from light blue to yellow to green to red for his four children. The pattern is only broken up by a set of black beads woven in to look like a spider at his throat, for the human boy he loved like a son. And framing the longer tap of beads that settles on the spot where his collarbones meet is two ikran teeth that Neteyam made sure to ask his parents for when he came up with the idea.
"The smaller one is mom's ikran, the larger one is dad's," Neteyam says quietly.
Tsu'tey's fingers trace the four different bead colors, lips moving silently, then to the pattern of the spider, then to mom's ikran's tooth, then to dad's. His expression softening more and more as he goes.
Neytiri appears behind Tsu'tey, reaching down to push his braids out of the way. He blinks for a moment, glancing up at her before tilting his head down to give her access to the back of his neck. She removes his own warrior's necklace and passes it to Kiri to hold onto until it's put away and takes the necklace from Neteyam and clasps it into place before smoothing his braids back. She takes Tsu'tey's other necklace to put away while admiring the one now adorning his neck.
"Wow!" Tuk says, jumping up and placing her hands on Jake's shoulders. "I love it, papa! So pretty!"
Neteyam flushes while Tsu'tey beams with pride. He scoots closer to Neteyam and pulls him tightly to his chest, being mindful of his injuries. He nuzzles Neteyam lovingly before pressing a kiss to the top of his head. A squeeze and another kiss, this time to his forehead before Tsu'tey pulls back, smiling so softly that Neteyam can't help but flush again.
"Thank you, my sweet boy," Tsu'tey says quietly, touching the necklace again loosely with his fingertips.
"You're welcome," Neteyam says softly, reaching out to touch it too, twisting the two ikran teeth so that they settle correctly on his papa's chest. "I'm sorry that you had to wait for it."
"Don't be," Tsu'tey says. "It was well worth the wait. I love it."
"You do?" Neteyam asks, ears perking with his smile.
Tsu'tey leans forward, kissing Neteyam's forehead again. "I do. Thank you."
Tsu'tey is preening, practically glowing in pride as his children gather around to admire the new gift. Tsu'tey is grinning as his children poke and prod at it, all their eyes wide in fascination, admiring the pieces of themselves woven into it. Even Spider is glowing with pride at being part of it.
Neteyam smiles, watching his papa be fawned over by his siblings, even his mom is amongst them, her own eyes wide in joy, fangs flashing in a toothy grin. He feels an arm wrap around his chest loose enough to pull him to Jake's chest so that Jake can kiss his braids and whisper a soft, "I told you that your papa was going to love it."
Neteyam nods, pressing back into Jake's chest, carefully manipulating himself until he's completely leaned against Jake with his dad's arms around him. Jake helps pull the blanket around them so that Neteyam can take the pressure off of his injured side and just rest on Jake. Neteyam smiles. He knew that Jake was right, of course, but this was his papa. He just wanted to make him proud. Wanted to make something that he would love. Thankfully, that appears to be so, which is a relief.
Neteyam couldn't help but smile as he wakes up to the feeling of his papa crawling into bed, cuddling him lovingly. He reaches over Neteyam's shoulder to press a gentle hand onto Lo'ak's braids from where he's pressed into Neteyam's chest. Neteyam got a few hours before bed with his breathing mask before wisely putting it away again when he saw Lo'ak and Tuk arguing about who got to sleep next to him. He didn't want a repeat of the night before. He pulls Lo'ak closer, his chin pressing against the bridge of Lo'ak's nose.
Tsu'tey snuggles up behind him and kisses his hair again. "Thank for my gift, my sweet Neteyam."
Neteyam grabs onto the hand that was on his shoulder, bringing it between himself and Lo'ak to cradle to his chest. In the darkness of the night, amongst the light snoring of his siblings and all of their breathing, Neteyam whispers back, "You're welcome, papa. Thank you for coming home safely."
The next morning, Neteyam was flushed all throughout breakfast as his papa proudly showed off his new gift, taking in all the compliments and questions with a pleased, "Neteyam made it for me."
Lo'ak and Kiri seemed to be taking the most pleasure out of Neteyam's embarrassment. Which he supposed was fair, seeing as he should have just waited for them to be alone, but he thought it would be better for his papa to be the center of attention. He wanted his papa to feel special, and he definitely looks like he's enjoying it. And it's a relief to Neteyam. He loves how happy his papa seems to be. Even if it's at his expense.
Like the first day, the Metkayina gather around Neteyam and his siblings and they start their lessons. Neteyam needing to intermittently leave so that he can go to visit his grandmother and get his wounds looked to. And every time she does, her smile is always faint, but happy. He's getting better more and more each day. Soon his infection will have completely cleared up and he's going to be able to start walking around without someone supporting him.
On day four of their training, once breakfast is done, Neteyam goes to see his grandmother to get some more medicine since he ended up waking up alongside his siblings and was well enough that he wanted to eat first. After that his mom helps him limp back to his siblings and the Metkayina, all gathered around listening to Kiri talk about plants and their properties. Stuff to look out for. Neytiri helps him lower down next to Lo'ak and Tsireya. Both of them having the same idea and scooting to one side, unfortunately for Lo'ak, it was in the opposite direction of one another and before he could rectify it, Neytiri gestured for Neteyam to sit, helping him lower down into the spot.
Neteyam sends him an apologetic look that he just shrugs at, but Neteyam can't help but smile a bit at the dip in his shoulders.
Once Neytiri was gone, after side eyeing the Metkayina, Tuk, who was pressed into Kiri's side, asks, "Are you going to die, Neteyam? You're walking bad again."
Neteyam laughs slightly, despite the fact that his wound ached from his grandmother's cleaning, the scraping hurt more than usual because while he is steadily getting better, he does still have signs of the infection and when cleaning out the wound, it always hurts more. Thankfully, the infection is light and already looks to be clearing up. He's well on his way to healing, each day is getting easier. Once he's back to normal, they'll be able to do more than just sit by the firepit and talk about plants.
"I am not going to die," Neteyam says, amused, despite the looks from the Metkayina.
"Yeah, shut up, Tuk," Lo'ak snaps, glaring at her.
Tuk sticks out her tongue at him. "I'm going to tell mom that you're being mean to me."
"Tell her about the part of you asking if Neteyam is going to die, while you're at it," he snaps. Kiri rolls her eyes at them.
"I was just asking," Tuk says, defensively, crossing thin arms over her chest.
"I was just asking," Lo'ak mimics, rolling his own eyes.
Neteyam shakes his head, laughing softly as he shifts more toward Tsireya to take the pressure off of his wound. He leans onto his hand and tries to keep out of her personal space. "Stop, you two. I'm not going to die, and no one is telling mom on anyone. Now let Kiri keep going."
"Yes sir," Lo'ak and Tuk says, slumping and turning their attention back to Kiri.
After a few hours and Neteyam leaving again to see his grandmother for more medicine, Kiri tells him once he's been lowered back down by Jake that they were done with this portion of lessons.
"What's wrong?" Jake asks, frowning.
"She's worried that their brains are going to melt out of their ears," Lo'ak says again. He has been saying that same thing every day for the past four days and the Omatikaya heir doesn't think it is any less true. There is nothing more mind-numbingly boring than to learn about plants. Even he can admit to that. Neteyam laughs while Jake rolls his eyes.
"Well, find something for them to do, or," Jake says straightening up, "maybe take them out to see the forest or something." The sharp looks that the hunters that took up guard duty today all spare him a look of exasperation, like they completely disagree with that plan. Jake looks over at them, frowning, before rolling his eyes and looking back over at Neteyam. "Think of something, okay?"
Neteyam nods. "Yes, sir. I'm not up for the forest yet, so we'll stick around here. They can still learn to be one of us without traversing the forest. I think they still need time to recover too." He sends them a knowing look, smiling a bit at the relief flickering across some of their faces.
Jake nods, patting the top of Neteyam's shoulder. "You're in charge, Neteyam. Let me know if you need me."
Neteyam nods again. "We will."
"Atta boy," Jake says, sending everyone a nod before heading out. The hunters don't leave, in fact, they inch closer but go back to pretending that they aren't there guarding the Sully children.
"Okay," Neteyam says, shifting a bit to ease the ache in his side. "Let's switch gears a little bit. Let's talk about questions. Anything you want. You're going to have to learn about plants, and we will have these lessons over and over again. But just seeing them isn't enough yet. Soon it will be easier to differentiate them and recall all their uses. But in time. And exposure. So, we move on to questions. About anything. Anything you want to know. About the forest. About the Omatikaya. About us. Ask."
"Anything?" Rotxo asks, blinking at him from across the ground. "Like, at all?"
Neteyam lets out a little laugh. "Yes. It's not a test or anything. If you're curious, ask. It will also show me how much you already know and what the forest has already taught you."
"I have a question," Ronal asks, shifting her weight slightly. Neteyam nods for her to continue. "Who is the woman that stands next to the Omatikaya Tsahik? I thought that your mother was the Tsakarem."
"That's a good question," Neteyam says. "Her name is Ghresa. She is the Tsahik of the Tipani clan. When the Omatikaya absorbed the Tipani clan, we restructured the clan to accomidate for them. They came seeking aid, my dad did not see it right to destroy all that they were. So, we adapted to each other. We operate under the Omatikaya, but dad recognizes both clans. We are one. We are Omatikaya. It's just... some of us are also Tipani."
"Isn't that confusing?" the female hunter, Zestira, asks.
"Nope," Lo'ak says, shrugging. "Grandmother and Tsahik Ghresa help keep the clan up on festivals and celebrations and ceremonies. So long as it isn't in conflict with the beliefs of the Omatikaya, all traditions of the Tipani can be celebrated. We can choose to participate - which we always do because, well, who doesn't like to celebrate?" Lo'ak asks with a laugh. "But we all celebrate the Omatikaya traditions."
"And she is... still Tsahik?" Ronal asks, eyes wide.
"Grandmother is the Tsahik of the Omatikaya, of the sub clan that exists within it, is the Tipani, to which their Tsahik is Ghresa. She answers to grandmother and so will you, if you continue as Tsahik," Kiri says smoothly. "You will be able to train up your own Tsakarem as well. Grandmother's is mother. Ghresa's is her granddaughter Rani."
"Your father would allow the Metkayina to still... exist?" Tonowari asks, blue eyes wide.
"I don't know if dad came to some sort of deal with the Tipani or not," Neteyam admits. "It is something that will have to be discussed. I don't know how much of the Metkayina's traditions can survive seeing as where we are, but it's all things that you can speak to our dad about. I'm sure he'll be open to talking about it."
Tsuy'asha, the male hunter, shifts closer at Rhalwari's side, eyes wide at Neteyam. "Wait, so the Tsahik remains, but what about the Olo'eyktan?"
"There is only one," Neteyam says softly. "The hunters, elders and the Tsahik stood their ground on that. Only the Omatikaya Olo'eyktan remains. But my dad's third? Tarsem? He was the Tipani's heir before his father was killed. It was his decision to bring the clan here and submit to the Omatikaya when their home was destroyed."
"We of the forest are a prideful people," Lo'ak says, looking down at his songcord hanging off of his belt. Neteyam notes the new piece added to it but doesn't ask. "It is a well-accepted, or at least, well understood tradition within the forest that once an Olo'eyktan has submitted to the fealty of another, he is sacrificing himself and his family. Any parents or children of his bloodline that remain are sacrificed for the sake of the rest of the clan's survival."
"Shit..." Rotxo breaths, his eyes blown wide with worry, glancing over at Tonowari.
"It's archaic, is what it is," Kiri cuts in, narrowing her golden eyes. "Luckily, dad is beyond that. He thought it was cruel and heartless. It's one thing to submit because they fought to annihilate us, and even then, it shouldn't fall on the whole family's head, but they didn't. They came because they had nowhere else to go. Tarsem submitted to dad, thinking that he was going to die, instead he got to live, so did his niece and his mother. He's loyal to dad for his mercy."
"He's also loyal to dad cause he's madly in love with his brother-in-law," Lo'ak teases.
Kiri grins back at him. "Yeah, he is."
"What's that?" Tsireya asks, blinking big blue eyes.
"Tarsem loves Arvok," Lo'ak says, lowering his voice a bit. "Arvok is our uncle. He's our papa, Tsu'tey's, younger brother."
That gets some nods as everyone tries to digest the information. While their doing that, Spider adds from Lo'ak's other side, "There were other clans that joined the Omatikaya too, but they came without Olo'eyktan and Tsahik. They were fragments of clans that scattered when their homes were destroyed. Most were just entirely absorbed by the Omatikaya. The Tipani were the only ones that came still mostly intact."
"Good point," Neteyam says, nodding to Spider, who nods back, pleased.
"Okay, we can ask anything, right?" Rotxo asks, leaning forward, "Because I'm confused on something, and I just want some clarification."
"Ask," Kiri says, pinning him with a flat expression.
He swallows, definitely intimidated by Neteyam's sister, which is funny to him, but he nods for Rotxo to continue. The boy looks between them, hesitating for a second, before asking, "Back in the forest I didn't really notice, but now I can't help it. You guys have three parents?"
The hunters stiffen, turning to look right at Rotxo with narrowed eyes. Rhalwari, who noticed it just before Tonowari and Ronal, reaches over to put a hand on Rotxo's shoulder, whether it's to pull him closer to her or push him out of the way of danger, Neteyam isn't sure. All he knows is that is a threatening look they are sending. Ao'nung, who was next to Rotxo, looks anxious, glancing over at Neteyam with wide eyes.
It's nice to see something other than haunted blankness in Ao'nung's eyes, like there has been for the last few days, but this wasn't what Neteyam wanted either. He didn't want Ao'nung to be afraid. He didn't want anyone to be afraid. Not here, not in their home. Or at least, hopefully one day it will feel like home to them.
"Stop that," Neteyam says gently, looking at the hunters. "He didn't ask anything wrong."
"I'm sorry," Rotxo submits, lowering his head respectfully to Neteyam. "I... I didn't know it was anything bad."
"It's not. They are just being overprotective," Neteyam says soothingly. He looks back over at Rotxo. "Kiri is adopted by our parents, her mother was a Sky Person named Grace Augustine. She was a good friend to our parents and our grandmother. So, when she was born, our parents took Kiri in and raised her as their own."
Kiri nods in affirmation, reaching up to twirl one of her braids, turning her yellow bead into a blur. "Yep, not a drop of Sully blood. But I'm still dad's daughter. Kiri te Suli Kireysi'ite."
"And I am Lo'ak te Suli Tsyeyk'itan," Lo'ak says. "Mom and dad's son."
"Tuktirey te Suli Neytiri'ite," Tuk gushes, bouncing next to Kiri. "I'm mom and dad's daughter!"
Then, as if realizing what was happening, all eyes turn to Neteyam, and he smiles. "I am Neteyam te Suli Rongloa Tsu'tey'itan. I am dad and papa's son. I am a half-sibling to Tuk and Lo'ak."