Author's Note: Hello my loves! Thank you all for being so kind to me. I am so excited for this story and I'm happy to see that you guys are enjoying it. I hope the pacing isn't too bad. It's not necessarily love at first sight, but it is definitely attraction at first sight. As for the beast, well, I made it up, I am horrible with names so forgive me. I hope that you continue to enjoy!
The eldest son of Toruk Makto is like the First Songs, but in motion.
Even in the face of danger, Ao'nung couldn't take his eyes off of him. It was an elegant, beautiful dance of death between a ferocious beast and a beautiful hunter. The beast makes a swipe at his head again, which he ducks under, maneuvering to its flank and bringing his bow back to whack at its head. This time the beast rears back onto its hide most legs, front four flailing as its roar tears through the forest.
Neteyam's face is completely impassive and focused, not letting the beast leave his sight as he spins to face it, crouching low. He dips down so that his stomach rests just above his thighs and his chest is pointing toward the ground. The water pours down his lean body as he rests the back of his hand with his bow against his hips. His tail lazily swings back and forth as he studies his opponent in front of him.
The beast stomps back and forth in front of him, aggravated, massive flat tail lashing behind it in loud whooshes. The beast growls, face fans spreading as it roars and charges again. Neteyam hops off to the side, drawing the beast toward him and not toward his family. Once the beast gets in right on top of him, rearing back on his back two legs, front four swiping wildly, Neteyam tenses up again, face stone still and focused.
Neteyam ducks under four paws, moving off to his right, until he's under the beast's ribs, bringing his bow up in a hard crack against the flank of the beast. It snarls dropping down to all of its feet, turning to face Neteyam, once more. It charges again. Neteyam and the beast spin around one another, taking swipes at each other. Neteyam seems to be aggravating it more than hurting it, and thankfully the beast hasn't landed a blow yet.
At one point, Neteyam slips in the sloshy mud, sliding down onto his side. Tuk wails in terror, lunging for her brother but Lo'ak yanks her back, shoving her into Spider's arms before Neteyam scoops up a handful of the mud off of his chest and throws it at the beast's face. It coughs, jerking its head back and shaking wildly to try and get the mud from its eyes. One massive paw claws at its face as it half turns away.
Ao'nung is hypnotized by the beautiful Na'vi as he spins back up onto his feet, falling back into that same defensive stance, bow resting on the back of his hips as he inches his way back, giving himself a bit more room to move without the beast being right on top of him. His long, strong body moving through the rain, kicking up mud around their feet. Since falling, most of the glowing freckles on his body are covered in mud except for a few on his left shoulder and the crown lit up on his forehead. His cheeks and chin have mud coating it.
Lo'ak makes to stand. To do something to help his brother. Ao'nung catches a tremble of fear in the younger brother's hands as he balls them into fists. Tuk is crying, terrified for her brother's life as she clings to the Sky Person, large golden eyes focused on the oldest Sully brother.
Despite how beautifully the other Na'vi is avoiding being shredded by those monstrous claws, despite it being blinded by the mud and swing wildly, Ao'nung knows that this beast has to be an alpha predator. Lo'ak's and Tuk's reactions are all the proof he needs.
Ao'nung looks to the beautiful Na'vi before him. His face is smooth, focused. Not a hint of fear or trepidation. He's not even hissing or snarling - hasn't since he got here. Just staring unnervingly steady at the beast, eyes wide and trained on his opponent. The light rain is slightly clearing the mud from his body, in semi clear rivets down his torso and face, as he studies the beast in front of him, scanning for a weakness as he continues to lean out of the way of the furious swipes.
He hops to the side, waiting for the beast to swing its head wildly, blinking furiously to clear its vision. As its head is turned slightly toward him, Neteyam, with both hands on his bow, cracks it hard enough against the side of the beast's head that his bow splinters, nearly splitting in two. The beast cries out in pain, blood flying from its lips and disappearing into the mud. He barely spares his bow a glance, tossing it away and grabbing out the knife he has strapped to his thigh.
The beast tumbles to the mud, whining in pain before it slowly climbing to its feet, dark golden eyes finally clear as it stares at Lo'ak, now completely out of the cover of the bushes. The younger Sully brother's eyes widen as the beast snarls and makes to leap at Lo'ak but Neteyam jumps into its side, using surprise and his weight to push the beast slightly off course. It stumbles, hitting the ground, mud splattering everywhere as Neteyam puts his body between the beast and his brother, dropping down into a defensive position, his beautiful face morphing into one of complete rage, ears dropping low, lips pull back into a deep throated hiss that feels like thunder.
His tail lashes back and forth as the beast. "Not him. Me!"
"Bro, let me help you!" Lo'ak calls, his voice shaking. "You can't kill a thanator alone!"
"I don't want to kill him," Neteyam says, the growl in his voice tight and strained as he stares into the eyes of the beast - thanator - as it stares back, tail swaying behind it.
Lo'ak stares at him, arms waving wildly. "Then what are you doing?"
"I'm trying to get him to leave," Neteyam says, voice suddenly calm, still locked eyes with the beast. The thanator's tail flicks, golden eyes still watching Neteyam, face fan fluttering a bit. "No one has to die today. Please, brother," he says to the thanator, voice soft. "let us leave in peace."
The thanator snarls, face fan spreading wide, body tensing.
"Neteyam!" Lo'ak calls, tossing his own bow to his brother.
The oldest Sully brother spares a quick glance, catching the bow, turning back in time to duck under the swipe to his face. He lands onto his back and rolls backward over his own head, pulling up Lo'ak's bow, knocking an arrow and pointing it at the thanator. The knife is resting in his left hand, the one pulling the string back, with only his smallest finger.
Ao'nung can barely hear anything over the pounding in his chest. His eyes locked onto the scene before him, breaths coming out in short puffs. In the corner of his eye, he spots his parents moving, and as he's been practicing these last few nights, he moves with them, standing at the ready. Ready to fight this beast, to hold it off, send it away, or die trying.
Neteyam's form offers the beast his smallest profile once more, pushing out his chest and spreading his knees in the mud to hold his balance. His chest is moving slowly, controlled, eyes still locked onto the beast - thanator - in front of him.
"Leave now, brother," Neteyam whispers, staring into the thanator's enraged eyes. "We are not your enemy, brother, and we will not be your pray tonight. Tomorrow, maybe, but not tonight."
The thanator's eyes flicker back and forth from Neteyam's eyes to his bow and the poison tipped arrow. Then he looks over to Lo'ak and sees Tonowari, Tsuy'asha, Zestira, Ronal and Ao'nung at the ready. His tail twitches behind him before snarling and slowly backing up.
Predatory eyes bouncing back and forth between all the warriors, including Neteyam, the thanator moves back toward the fallen over branch, furthest away from the warriors, carefully to back up, over it and then turning tail, he vanishes into the underbrush.
Neteyam waits until the thanator was passed the circle of the trees before, while still armed with Lo'ak's bow, he slowly follows after. His eyes sharp, keeping the beast in his sights, climbing up onto the large, fallen over branch. Neteyam kneels down, straining his hearing while his ears swivel forward. He feels the tension in his stomach, back and shoulders from holding his bow at the ready.
Neteyam waits until he can no longer hear the thanator's movements in the trees beyond his sight, before he starts counting under his breath. He makes it to almost three minutes before the strain on his muscles is too much for him to ignore any longer. Slowly, he begins to relax, lowering the bow onto his thigh, still alert as he loosens the tension on the draw sting. His muscles are burning. He waits a few beats longer before he lowers a long leg to the mud behind him, eyes still locked onto the dark forest beyond, before he hooks the arrow back onto the bow and steps off the branch. His chest finally heaving from the strain of the fight. His body hurts and he just knows that tonight is going to be a lot longer than it already is.
He lets out a little breath before turning back toward the relaxing Na'vi, taking the hint from his actions that the danger has passed. For the moment.
"Tuk, Lo'ak, are the two of you al-" his breath gets knocked from his lungs from the force in which Tuk hits him. Neteyam sucks in a deep breath as little arms encircle his waist, and she presses her face into his stomach, clipping the bottom of his ribs. "Oh, Tuk," Neteyam says softly, sliding his knife back onto his thigh before reaching down and grabbing onto her arm. "Tuk, I'm all dirty. You shouldn't hold onto me."
Tuk doesn't respond, but her little shoulders shake as she presses closer. Neteyam hesitates for a moment, realistically knowing that his sister didn't even slightly care that he was dirty. He sucks in a slow, steady breath before gently prying her arms from around him, which isn't easy with one hand already occupied with Lo'ak's bow. He manages to pull her back enough for him to lower down onto his knees, placing the bow down next to him before pulling her into his arms, letting the terror that has been silently humming beneath his skin to finally be released into his system.
He lets out a few, shaking breaths, pressing Tuk tightly against him, hand at the back of her head to press her face into his shoulder while other is on her back. He kisses her hair and rocks back and forth. "I heard a scream," he whispers to no one, willing himself to calm down. "I thought it was you, baby sister. Thank Eywa. Thank you, Great Mother."
He pulls back to look at her face, her cheeks puffy but the rain covers her tears. Neteyam wipes under her eyes regardless before cradling her little face so that her eyes meet his own. He forces the fear from his face and softens his expression to try to assuage her of any worry as best he can. Tuk stares into his eyes, searching for any signs of the pain that lances through his body. Any hit the thanator got on him was thankfully just scratches, not deep at all. But his muscles and the stitches on his sides will be bothering him for a while.
Her little face is streaked with mud but her lips part in a tiny smile when his does. He forces down the apprehension, the terror, down to the bottoms of his toes before pushing up onto his feet, helping Tuk to her own to look over at Lo'ak.
His younger brother stares at him, face twisted in fear and worry. When their eyes meet, the touch of anger in Neteyam for having them all be in this mess, is gone. He tilts his head slightly, expression softening. Lo'ak is sorry. He doesn't need Neteyam to chastise him. And at this point, the anger is fleeting anyway. Neteyam is just relieved that everyone is alright. That his siblings and Spider don't appear to be hurt.
Lo'ak's ears flatten as his tail flickers behind him. Neteyam lets out a little breath, pushing his own ears back and offering a hand toward his little brother. Lo'ak sucks in a deep breath of his own before crossing the space between them in record time and wrapping his arms around Neteyam's chest, face pressing into his shoulder. Neteyam hugs his brother, tightly, nuzzling into the side of his brother's head.
He doesn't bother warning Lo'ak about the mud, knowing that if Tuk cared even a little bit, Lo'ak would care even less than that.
"Dad is going to skin both of our hides," Neteyam says softly, a small teasing lilt to his voice. Lo'ak lets out a huff, gripping him tighter, which makes Neteyam smile a little bit more.
"You took on a thanator on your own," Lo'ak grumbles into his shoulder. "Papa is going to ground you. For life. Both to First Base and into the dirt."
Neteyam lets out a long breath, offering a thin smile down at his little brother when he pulls back a bit. "I guess that we are both going to be in for it, then."
Lo'ak nods, fully pulling back before turning to look at the Metkayina behind him. "Bro, they came seeking uturu from the oceans. They need to speak to dad. But um, they can't climb very well so we need to get somewhere safe until the storm passes."
Neteyam turns his eyes toward the gathering of warriors, all watching him. He looks at each of them in turn, taking in their dirty, muddy appearances, the worn, drawn out expressions, and the perpetual exhaustion that seems to hang over them all like a dark cloud. The ocean, right? They are a long way from home. And most that come to their forest seeking his dad for uturu is because they need someone strong to protect them from the scary things - or people - that drove them from their home. These people appear no different.
He leans down and picks up Lo'ak's bow, offering it back to him. Lo'ak shakes his head. "You keep it, bro. You're better at it than I am."
Neteyam hesitates before nodding and moving passed his brother, stopping only to place a hand on Spider's head, looking down at him. Both boys nod to one another, Spider placing a hand over Neteyam's before the eldest Sully child makes his way over to the Na'vi that Ronal has knelt down next to once more. He kneels down on her other side as a little boy cries in her arms while she's leaning back into the arms of another young man, about Neteyam's age.
Another boy drops low at his side and Neteyam glances at him before turning to the woman tending to the other. He looks down at the injured Na'vi's leg, frowning at the obvious break halfway between her knee and ankle. Thankfully not enough to break skin, but ugly enough that they have to set it soon.
Neteyam looks at the woman across from him to see her staring at him with dark blue eyes, the freckles on her face the only thing really helping him to make out her features. Definitely from the ocean, then.
"Are you a healer?" Neteyam asks, nodding respectfully.
"I was Tsahik," the woman says, her voice low and even.
Neteyam's ears flicker in interest, bringing his hand to his forehead and waving it to her. "I see you, Tsahik," he says softly. She blinks as if surprised, lips parting but Neteyam continues, "Mend a lot of broken bones?"
"A few," she admits, fists closing on her thighs. "But not a lot of broken bones in the limbs while in the ocean. I imagine falling from trees causes more of such injuries than the ocean."
"I can mend it for now," Neteyam says softly, looking at the stricken face of the other woman trying to sooth her sobbing child while still dealing with her own pain. "But we will need to get her to my grandmother. She will be able to fix this properly. I can stabilize it enough for it to hopefully hold out for tomorrow."
The Tsahik nods. "Do it, then."
"Spider, Lo'ak," Neteyam turns toward the two boys. Both of their spines straighten at his address of them. "Go and fetch some herbs for pain and a sturdy stick and bring it back. Ten minutes. Stick together. Do not take a minute longer. I mean it." Both boys nod and quickly vanish into the forest. "Stay as close as you can!" He calls out before turning to Tuk. "Stay here. I'll be back."
"No," Tuk says, lower lip jutting out. "I'll come with you, Neteyam."
"No, you will remain here, Tuk," Neteyam says, staring into her eyes. "Stay with the Tsahik. Remember your manners. I'll be right back."
Neteyam stands up with Tuk pouting in his peripheral, turning to head to the edge of the encircling break in the trees around them when someone's hand wraps around his arm, completely engulfing it. Neteyam looks down at the larger hand, curiously, before looking up at the young man who was next to him a moment earlier.
His eyes are wide, there is awe and terror in them. His lips part but no sound comes out, they close, then open again. But no sound. His light-colored eyes keep trailing down his body, creases forming between them. Neteyam reaches a hand out, tipping his chin up so that their eyes can meet as he leans in close. "Do not be scared," Neteyam says softly, taking his hand in his free one. "I won't let anything harm you. I will be right back."
"Where are you going?" He asks, voice even despite the strain on his face.
"I'm going to wash up. I can't stay dirty with any injuries and while dealing with the health of another. I'm just going to clean up real fast. There is a pool not far from here," Neteyam says, giving his hand a reassuring squeeze before turning away and heading for the pool.
"You can't go alone," the boy says, stepping up after him.
Neteyam half turns to him again, tilting his head a bit, catching the Tsahik staring hard at the boy but not saying anything. "You want to watch my back?"
"You watched ours," he says. "Let me repay it."
The eldest son of Toruk Makto tilts his head a little more, recognizing the need to repay a debt accrued before letting out a little laugh and a beautiful beaming smile that crinkles his eyes. "You're silly. You don't have to repay anything. My family was here too. And I would have helped regardless. But if you want to come watch my back, then let's go quick."
The young man nods, glancing back for only a moment before following after. Neteyam spoke the truth, they couldn't have gone more than twenty or so feet from where the rest of their group was in silence. A pond, deep enough to go up to Neteyam's chest comes into view. He quickly passes over Lo'ak's bow before wading into the water. He gets in as deep as he dares before disappearing beneath the water. Only a few moments go by in baited silence aside from the gentle din of the light rain around them, before Neteyam resurfaces and makes his way back over, his glistening dark blue body now completely clean as he scrubs away at invisible specs of mud on his arms and chest as he approaches.
Neteyam runs a hand over his braids before taking back the bow and heading back toward the group. "See?" he says, voice not unkind as he leads the other boy back. "I told you it was going to be quick."
The young man doesn't respond for a long moment but as they get closer, he says, "You are the son of Toruk Makto."
"I am," Neteyam says, easily. "And who is your father?"
"Oh," the young man says. "My father's name is Tonowari, he was the chief of our home. Tsahik Ronal is my mother. I am the eldest child, Ao'nung."
Neteyam pauses, turning to look at the other boy, golden eyes glittering as he smiles. "Then we are alike, you and I. It is a pleasure to meet you, Ao'nung. I am Neteyam." With that, he turns and continues back.
Ao'nung couldn't disagree more. He and Neteyam were nothing alike. Neteyam was beautiful. Neteyam was strong. Neteyam was humble and kind. And unlike Ao'nung, Neteyam was exactly where he's supposed to be.
Neteyam wasn't sure why this, Ao'nung, was following him, but he figured it was because they figured if something happened to him their chances of getting permitted to join the Omitikaya would be denied, but Neteyam knew that wasn't the case. Unless something unprecedented happened that he doesn't know about, there isn't a reason that Neteyam can think of that would make his dad deny them.
Still, he appreciates the initiative.
Neteyam makes his way back over to the mother and her son, Tsahik and the young man behind the injured woman. The Tsahik watches their approach in silence as Neteyam and Ao'nung take up their places once more.
The little boy finally pulls his face away from his mother's shoulder to look right at Neteyam. He's young. Maybe a year or two younger than Tuk.
"Is momma going to die?" The boy asks, light colored eyes burrowing into Neteyam, who's ears perk at that.
"No, little one," Neteyam says softly, gentling his expression as he feels Tuk press into his side. "Your momma is hurt but she will survive. Do you know why?"
The little boy shakes his head, tears streaming down his little face.
"Because your momma is strong. She took on the mighty thanator for you. A mother's love makes her more powerful than any of Eywa's other children," Neteyam says softly. "When we are small, we trust our mothers to guard and protect us, so Eywa helps them awaken their greatest power. Their love. It makes them more ferocious than any thanator, and more mighty than the great toruk."
The little boy blinks rapidly, clearing his eyes. "It does?"
Neteyam nods, scooting a little closer to the mother and son, feeling his knee press against Ao'nung next to him. "My papa used to tell me the story of Eywa's most precious gift. Do you know what it is?"
"Is it like a present?" the little boy asks, ears perking a bit. Tuk giggles next to him.
"No, silly," Tuk laughs, looping an arm through Neteyam's and resting her cheek against him.
Neteyam gives her a gentle smile before looking back at the little boy. "Well, I suppose it can be, in a way. Eywa is the Great Mother who created all that you can see and hear and touch. But she gave special Na'vi a power only she possesses and that is to give life. Your momma grew you inside of her body, creating you from your cells to your bones to your blood and skin and muscles. Even your hair and nails. One moment you did not exist and then next you did. And your momma than spent the entire time that you were too weak to be away from her inside of her body, providing you with everything you could ever need."
The little boy's eyes are as wide as saucers as he looks between his mother and Neteyam. "Rotxo too?" He asks.
Neteyam catches a perk of the boy supporting the woman and finally notices the similarities between them. How alike both of their faces were, and how much both of them looked like woman. Brothers, then.
"Yes," Neteyam says, nodding. "So not only did she do it once, but she did it twice. Those special few that have this gift are more powerful than those without could ever truly know. And this pain is a great, but not greater than her." Neteyam turns his golden eyes to the pain stricken Na'vi watching him. "I know it hurts momma, but the pain isn't forever. My grandmother will be able to help once we get to her. I am no Tsahik, but I hope you'll accept my help."
"Thank you," she says, sweating in pain, but despite that, her eyes are focused.
Neteyam nods once more, catching Lo'ak and Spider standing at his flank. Neteyam turns to them, holding out a hand for the herbs. He looks at the decent amount gathered before offering it to the Tsahik to look at. She takes it, inspecting it. Her eyes light up before she nods, expression still flat but Neteyam gets the impression that she recognizes the herb, which is good. She begins portioning it out, making small piles on her legs.
"Here, cus," Spider says, handing Neteyam a thick enough stick that will hold if weight is pressed to it but not enough to be cumbersome.
"Thank you, Spider, Lo'ak." Neteyam lets out a whoosh of breath, not excited about the next part. He turns to the little boy. "While don't you go with my brother and sister. I need to see to your momma." His little face twists into fear and Neteyam quickly adds, "Only for a minute. You momma needs our undivided attention, okay? Be brave, little warrior. Your momma is strong."
"Come on," Lo'ak says easily, taking Tuk's hand and pulling her to her feet. "I bet you're getting hungry, huh? There are some really good mushrooms over here."
The little boy's ears perk at that, swallowing before turning to look at his mom. She offers a stronger smile than Neteyam's sure he would in this position. "Go, Rowee," she says, voice steady despite the shuttering breath she takes. "Rotxo will be right here too." Ronal feeds her the herbs, which she accepts with barely a grimace.
"Come along, Rowee," an elderly Na'vi, the oldest in the group says, voice thin, as he steps up on Lo'ak's other side, offering a hand to the young boy.
The little boy hesitates a moment longer before obeying and taking the man's hand and letting himself be lead away. Neteyam waits for them to be on the other side of the opening, catching the largest of the reef Na'vi standing not too far away, eyes locked on him. Judging by the impressive adornments hanging from his person, he must be the Olo'eykton, Ao'nung's father and Ronal's mate.
Neteyam tips his head slightly to the man, bringing a hand to his forehead and waving it toward him as the Olo'eykton - or former Olo'eykton - does the same. His expression is grim, but there is a light in his eyes. A hope, perhaps.
"Thank you. Thank you for saying that to him," the injured mother says, her voice thick.
"I spoke only the truth," Neteyam says as he turns back to the injured woman. He waits for her eyes to meet his before he asks, softly, "May I put my hands on you?"
She nods, gripping the hands of her son - Rotxo - tighter. "Yes," she sighs, pain laced in her voice. "Yes, you may. Thank you for asking."
Neteyam looks down at her leg, trying to keep his face smooth. He's seen enough broken bones to not just vomit on sight, but it still doesn't settle easily in his gut, and he has to breathe deeply through his nose to stop the nauseous feeling from building. He can't show anything. He can't let anyone know how he feels. It wouldn't do anyone any good, and it certainly won't inspire any hope for him being able to help. Thankfully his face remained both gentle and even, not alerting to the unsettling feeling in his gut.
He feels down her leg, making sure that it's as close to the same as his own people, at least as far as he can tell. He goes through his grandmother's instructions over and over in his head, like he does every time, not for a moment skipping a single line that she made him recite time and time again. One mistake could have dire consequences and it's not going to happen to Neteyam if he can avoid it.
Once he deducts that it appears as though their legs are shaped the same, he glances over at Ronal to see her nod. An even, "She's ready," passes her lips. Neteyam nods, pulling one hand back to reach into one of the pouches hanging off of his side. He grabs out a strip of leather that he had been working on earlier in the evening when he realized his siblings were missing. He folds it a few times before bringing it up to her mouth. Her eyes focus on the leather, realization flickering across her face before she opens her mouth and clenches the leather between her teeth.
"Alright, momma," Neteyam says softly, "I'm going to count to three. The pain will be sharp and sudden, and then it will dull until it's a deep throbbing feeling. It will be uncomfortable and painful, but it should ease with the herbs. A bit. But it has to be done."
He catches Ronal pulling out a strip of fabric, offering a little nod to him. Neteyam nods back before positioning himself by her leg, to get the best access to the break. He places his hands against her wet leg once more, annoyed with the rain, praying that his hand didn't slip, or this is going to be a problem. He swallows, forcing down any apprehension stabbing at his chest, chiding himself into focusing. She needs him to be careful, but precise. He just can't take too crazy risks. Na'vi have incredible healing and if he sets the bone wrong and it takes them too long to get back to his grandmother?
No, Neteyam can't think about it. He just has to focus on what is right in front of him. What he can do.
"Are you ready, momma?" Neteyam asks, turning his eyes to her's as his hands move into position.
She nods, teeth relaxing slightly, but her grip on her son's hands discolor her knuckles, even in the weak light. She takes a slow, deep breath as her son nuzzles the side of her head; trepidation written all over his face. Neteyam understands that feeling. It's never easy seeing anyone get hurt. It's especially hard when it's someone that he loves. He imagines it's the same for everyone.
Neteyam raises up onto his knees, letting out a slow breath, watching as she matches his breathing. They do that for a moment before she nods again, light colored eyes lit up and determined.
Neteyam closes his eyes, for just a second before opening them. "One," he says, and her eyes burrow through his own. "Two."
Crack!
Her entire body tenses and she throws her head back onto her son's shoulder, but nothing more than a deep, wheezing breath escapes her. Her body trembles and she bites down on the leather, but she doesn't scream, or even cry out. Her body tenses, her other leg being held down by Ronal, who stared at the side of her head, eyes wide and focused.
Shuddering, pain breaths escape her, but she nods to Neteyam, as if to say, "I'm okay."
His heart swells with pride. He takes the stick and places it along her leg to keep it straight, and with Ronal's help, they tie the stick to her with the cloth and the leather that Neteyam retrieves from the woman's mouth. He reaches down to press against her ankle, relieved once more to feel a pulse in her lower leg. He asks her to wiggle her toes and she does.
All good.
"You did so good, momma," Neteyam beams at the woman. "Mighty mother, indeed. I am in awe of you."
"You did amazing, mom," the boy, Rotxo says, nuzzling into the side of her head as she offers a wavering smile.
"I wish we could give you some time to rest," Neteyam says, back to business, "but we have to go now. The storm is almost here, and we can't be caught out in it. Are you able to carry her?" He asks Rotxo.
He nods. "I can."
Neteyam gives Ao'nung a little slap on the arm. "Help me get her onto his back, we've got a bit of a walk ahead of us."
Finally, since the fight, the man from earlier, no doubt Ao'nung's father, who had watched this whole thing in silence, speaks up, "You're bringing us to your father?"
"Not yet," Neteyam sighs, helping the mother onto her son's back. He shifts her weight a bit but manages to steady his posture, nodding for Neteyam and Ao'nung to let go of her.
"I got her," he says, voice strong, determined. Like her strength made him stronger.
"It is too dangerous to fly our ikran in these storms, you're more likely to get struck by lightning. We will spend the night out here. But there is a cave that's not too far from here. If we get there, we can get out of the rain and rest for the night. It's up on a plateau so it'll offer us some protection for the predators. At least for a few hours."
Lo'ak whips around, eyes wide. "What about the Yarrem?"
"It's migrated already," Neteyam says, walking around Rotxo to pick up Lo'ak's bow. "Papa already checked a week ago. He was worried about the fires to the north. That's probably why the thanator is in this area. It was probably driven here by the Sky People."
"So, he's probably not familiar with the area, if the Yarrem left a week ago, at least," Lo'ask says. "It wouldn't be hunting here if he knew."
Neteyam shrugs. "Either way, we have to go. We have to beat the heavy rain and the lightning." He looks around to see everyone all standing around, staring at him.
"What's a Yarrem?" A pretty young Na'vi girl asks, turning her light eyes toward Lo'ak. He gives her a side eye that makes Neteyam's head turn slightly, a small smile pulling at the corner of his lips.
"You don't want to know. They are very big. Lots of teeth. Like a lot. They only leave the area to mate. He'll be gone for a while. But we sure don't want to be there long enough for him to catch our scent. If we're going to go, we should go now and leave as soon as possible," Lo'ak says, anxiously, looking back over at Neteyam. His eyes belying how much he really doesn't like this idea. One encounter with an alpha predator is enough for one night. One lifetime.
Neteyam nods, knowing how his brother feels and empathizing with his anxiety. "He's gone," he assures them. "But we won't stick around too long anyway. Just for the night. Now, let's go."