Author's Note: Ahh, this story progresses. I just love this one, thank you all so much for your kind words, they really help push me on. So, thankfully that ended up going smoothly. Next, we get to see our sweet Tsyeyk meet some more Omatikaya! Let me know what you think! Enjoy!
"Shishishal," Mo'at says carefully to Tsyeyk, who stretches his arms over his head, yawning a bit before slouching against Tsu'tey. His back and shoulders popped a bit from the action, making him sigh. He watches as Mo'at waves at Father. "Shishishal. Sempul."
Tsyeyk perks up at that, golden eyes wide. "Shishishal?" He looks to Tsu'tey, tail wagging behind him happily. This tense expression on Tsu'tey's face relaxes when his eyes lock with Tsyeyk's. He turns so Tsu'tey can speak into his ear.
"Sempul. Sempul."
"Fa...ther..." Tsyeyk whispers, turning to look at Tsu'tey. Tsu'tey grips his waist, nodding.
Tsyeyk rockets to his feet, turning to look at Father, tail nearly whacking Tsu'tey in the face. He has to lean back or risk a lashing across the cheek.
"Father?" Tsyeyk says ears perked. "Father?"
Father tilts his head, blinking big blue eyes before dipping his chin a bit in understanding. Tsyeyk squeals with joy, already forgetting the tiredness weighing down on him from earlier and he sprints to Father, jumping up and down in front of him, excited. Father's bright blue eyes bounce alongside him, head tilting slightly.
"Father! Father!"
Father rumbles in his own affectionate purr, heavy tail sliding across the dirt as his face fans flutter a bit. Tsyeyk stims his hands excitedly in front of Father, bouncing in joy, ears pressed back tightly.
Tsyeyk wraps his arms around Father's head, pulling it to his chest and purring loudly, happily. He nuzzles at the top of Father's head as one of Father's front paws curls loosely around the back of his legs in his own version of a hug.
Tsyeyk is practically vibrating in joy. He runs his hands along the underside of Father's jaw, purring happily before pulling back and grinning.
Tsyeyk blinks feeling his hands run across something wet under Father's jaws. He pulls back to see pink smears of the Alpha's blood mixed with Father's saliva. Tsyeyk crinkles his nose holding his hands out for Father to see the mess.
"Ew, Father. Ew."
Father rumbles as Tsyeyk turns around and skips to the water, humming happily. His tail sways and curls behind him as he hums to himself. He stops for just a moment to show Tsu'tey his bloodied hands with a little, "ew," before sticking his hands into the water and washing off the saliva and blood, looking over his shoulder at Father, who lumbers closer.
Father side eyes the Na'vi, letting them know that he hadn't forgotten that they were there, before sliding up beside Tsyeyk and dipping his mouth into the water, blowing some bubbles, glancing at Tsyeyk to see if the boy noticed.
He did and Tsyeyk laughs, flashing his double fangs as he blathers on, stringing together half words and nonsense. While he's talking, golden eyes gazing across the pond, unseeing. On and on he goes, those beautiful eyes tracing invisible patterns in the sky as he talks away, no coherent thoughts, no clear-cut subject. Just rambling. On and on. As the teen yammers on without any end in sight, Father reaches his massive front paw into the water, cupping it as best as he can before flinging a wave of water up at Tsyeyk's face.
Tsyeyk gasps, stiffening. He sputters a bit before looking at Father, who innocently laps at the water as if he was drinking the whole time. Tsyeyk busts out laughing, nudging Father's side, which hardly moves him, but Tsyeyk doesn't notice. His tone turns chastising as he pokes at Father's side, laughing more at the little huff Father lets out when Tsyeyk touched a more ticklish spot.
Tsyeyk jumps into the water, gasping through laughter and splashing at Father, who bounces and bounds from boulder to boulder trying to avoid the spray. Their world narrows to just the two of them, like every day since the following night that Father came to him, they are together and playing. It's been a long time since Father let them play during the day, as that is usually when he sleeps, but Tsyeyk loves it. Any time spent with Father is always precious. Tsyeyk knows that there was a time before - a 'him' before - but all he remembers now is Father.
Father, who looks after him. Father, who plays with him. Father, who teaches him. Father, who protects him. Father, who loves him.
But not as much as Tsyeyk loves Father.
And, of course, Mother too. She's always with him. Intertwined with the fabric of his being. Even now, she is filled with joy as they play. Like she was right there at their side, splashing water and growling at one another. In some ways, it felt like she was to Tsyeyk. Considering she was always there with him. Just sometimes, her presence is felt more strongly than other times.
Tsyeyk hisses playfully at Father, flashing dual white fangs, hopping up onto a boulder and wrapping his arms around Father's neck, Tsyeyk's legs wrapping around Father's front two, in a vain attempt to throw him off balance. Even though such a pathetic attempt would never normally work, Father pretends that it does. Because they are playing and while Father has to be careful, they can still rough house to some degree.
Father falls into a roll onto his side and then back, using one of his other massive paws to prevent Tsyeyk's head from hitting the stone. It accidently happened once and Tsyeyk remembers crying in a daze, which didn't help his throbbing head. Father whining low in his chest while gently trying to nuzzle the pain away.
Father balances on his back so Tsyeyk can sit on his chest, both of then flashing their teeth at each other, hissing and growling as they play. Tsyeyk could never hurt Father, not with his teeth, and Father hasn't gotten to play with his own cubs in a very long time. But they play rough despite how careful Father tries to be. Tsyeyk has many bruises on his skin from them playing, but he's loved every second of it.
Father snaps his powerful jaws, but never anywhere near Tsyeyk. Whenever Tsyeyk puts his face right up to those massive, sharp teeth, he gently nibbles at Tsyeyk's chin, cheek and neck, being extremely careful. The action always tickles Tsyeyk so he starts laughing, but if Father wants him to move his head again, he'll run a coarse, barbed tongue along his cheek or throat. That'll make Tsyeyk retreat quick.
Tsyeyk laughs as one of Father's massive paws comes up and gently pushes him away. He rolls off of Father, out of breath as he crawls away to give Father space to roll back over. He is usually able to play around for longer, but he's steadily been getting more and more tired as the days have gone by.
Tsyeyk lays down on the flat rock, staring up at the bright sky, golden eyes tracking the movement of the clouds, panting. His chest is heaving, feeling the pull of his skin around his stomach and ribs with each inhale. He feels his stomach rumble, cramping in hunger. But he's all out of energy. He can't even think about moving.
Tsu'tey says something, leaning over Tsyeyk, who smiles tiredly up at him. Father tilts his head a bit at Tsu'tey's words, as if he understands him. Then, glancing between Tsyeyk and the Na'vi around him before he carefully pulls up to his feet, yawning and stretching before casting them all one more long look, as if in warning, before turning and carefully stalking off into the forest.
Tsu'tey's eyes follow Father's retreating form with obvious trepidation before letting out a little sigh and looking down at Tsyeyk. His eyes study Tsyeyk's face, lips pressing together a bit as he runs the back of his fingers over Tsyeyk's forehead and the boy grins up at him despite the Omatikaya's worried expression. His Tsu'tey is so sweet.
The young male Na'vi - hunter, his brain tells him, perhaps not so unlike Father - nods when Tsu'tey says something to him and heads off into the forest. Tsyeyk watches him go, curiously. He can't wait until he is able to speak to Tsu'tey so easily.
Tsyeyk lifts his head and scoots back to rest on Tsu'tey's thigh. Tsu'tey adjusts himself a bit but runs his fingers lightly through Tsyeyk's damp hair. Tsyeyk stares up at the sky, talking about the clouds he was seeing while Tsyeyk gently cards through his hair, working gently to untangle every little knot he finds while his other hand is resting on Tsyeyk's collarbone, the pads of his fingers rubbing softly. Soothingly.
Tsyeyk trails off, eyelashes fluttering as they droop closed. Despite being hungry, he just didn't have the energy to get up and look for something to eat. He should have taken Tsu'tey up on his offerings of food earlier, but Tsyeyk just didn't want to waste even a single moment with Tsu'tey on something like that. And now he's more interested in sleeping, despite the cramping in his stomach. That, he's used to.
He knows that he should be more careful about just sleeping wherever he pleases, having been lucky this far that nothing bad has happened, but it shouldn't be so bad if he goes to sleep here. Now. Even though logically he probably shouldn't while out in the open. But it's okay. He's safe with Tsu'tey here. And maybe these strangers weren't so bad. They seem to know Tsu'tey. So, they must be okay.
Tsu'tey says something, voice strained, stressed, but his voice fades into the background of Tsyeyk's mind, Mo'at's own raspy voice joining his. All the while, Mother visits Tsyeyk's half lucid dreams, her laugh sounds like the chittering of the beasts scurrying around them. Her caress, the gentle breeze rustling the leaves. And her love is a soft tickling on his nose and when he opens it, he smiles at the beautiful bug; its long, colorful wings fluttering, as happy to see him as he is to see it.
Tsyeyk goes cross eyed, smiling at the pretty bug resting on his nose. He giggles softly. "Tu'tey," he whispers, not wanting to scare it. "It's pretty..."
Tsu'tey's hand on his chest gives a small, comforting pet. "Beautiful," he says softly.
Tsyeyk smiles, watching as the bug crawls close enough to lightly touch at his long lashes. Tsyeyk blinks slowly so he doesn't accidently hurt it. He can see Tsu'tey staring down at him, golden eyes once more like thin ring around dark pupils.
And he smells wonderful. Something warm and dense. It has a sharpness to it that Tsyeyk doesn't know how to put into words. Something warm washes over him. Something that makes him feel both comfortable and tense at the same time. But it doesn't feel bad at all.
Someone touches his stomach, running along it, probing a bit. He shifts slightly, spotting Mo'at next to him. He doesn't remember hearing her move or even when she started touching him. He shifts to Tsu'tey's other thigh, turning onto his side and trapping the hand Tsu'tey had on his chest, head resting on the crook of Tsu'tey's arm. He places the beautiful bug onto Tsu'tey's skin next to his eyes so that he can admire its beauty while he grabs onto Mo'at's hand and brings it up to look at too.
Now that he's touching Mo'at, there is something about her that he can feel beneath his skin. Almost like... he can sense Mother in her. Like Mother is intertwined with her as well. Tsyeyk feels some level of kinship with her. Maybe that's why she isn't scared of Father. Why she's so interested in Tsyeyk. And here Tsyeyk thought that she was someone dangerous to Tsu'tey. He feels silly.
Her hand is thinner than his. And like Tsu'tey, she has one less finger. He gently runs his fingers down hers; his ears perked a bit. She lets him play and manipulate her hand as the bug crawls onto his nose, resting on his cheek as his eyes start to droop closed once more. Tsu'tey's warmth and that of the sun beating down on them, coupled with the softening scent coming from Tsu'tey is enough to make Tsyeyk feel content and safe.
Tsu'tey's other hand rotates between petting Tsyeyk's hair, down to his shoulder, then along his back a bit. The soothing motion dragging Tsyeyk to sleep once more.
After what feels like only a moment, Tsyeyk feels himself be pulled up slightly and a gentle kiss is placed against his hairline. A gentle nuzzle to his shoulder and then another kiss placed there before Tsu'tey says something. Tsyeyk groans softly, shifting a bit while curling around the arm that Tsu'tey was using to hold him up.
"Tsyeyk," Tsu'tey says softly, his other hand lightly runs down Tsyeyk's ribs and waist. "Food?"
Tsyeyk's ears twitch at that, which makes Tsu'tey chuckle softly. He cradles Tsyeyk closer as the wild teen yawns and stretches, cracks rolling down his spine and limbs, his hands curling around some of Tsu'tey's braids at the back of his head. Tsu'tey laughs again, bringing the hand that was touching his waist up to hold onto a thin wrist, pressing a sweet kiss at the pulse point there, murmuring softly.
Tsyeyk opens his eyes to see that it's still bright out. But his body is starting to feel really heavy, and his stomach is still cramping. Mo'at's hand is no longer in his own, but she is still gently touching him. She's tightening the tie on his hip for him, murmuring something softly, that Tsu'tey nods at, face contorted in worry.
Tsyeyk relaxes once more, curling into Tsu'tey, wrapping his hands around Tsu'tey's bicep on the arm he's sleeping against. His eyes drift closed once more, slipping back into slumber for barely a moment before Tsu'tey is nuzzling him awake again. Mo'at is still sitting there, staring at him with a soft expression.
"Food?" She says and Tsyeyk's ears twitch again as he looks around blearily.
The young male hunter has returned with - oh!
Tsyeyk sits up slightly, blinking a bit at the small pile of fruit that the male hunter's laying out onto a piece of cloth between Mo'at and Tsyeyk. Tsu'tey helps Tsyeyk sit up a bit more, but the wild boy leans into the teen beside him. He rests his cheek on Tsu'tey's shoulder, pointing at the fruit. "Ah? Ah?"
Mo'at takes one of them that Tsyeyk hasn't seen before and washes it off in the water next to them before she starts slicing it up. Tsyeyk rests one of his hands on Tsu'tey's shoulder blades and the other on the same bicep that he was laying on earlier. He shifts up until he rests perfectly into Tsu'tey's embrace, fitting like the space was made just for him. Tsu'tey's chest, against Tsyeyk's shoulder, rumbles a bit.
Tsyeyk moves the hand from Tsu'tey's bicep to his chest to feel the rumble. Tsu'tey mimics the action and Tsyeyk immediately starts to purr happily, tail slapping against the warm stone beneath them. Mo'at smiles, glancing at them before going back to slicing up the sweet-smelling fruit. They stare at each other with Tsyeyk's head on Tsu'tey's shoulder, chests vibrating.
Tsyeyk watches at Tsu'tey's pupils expand again and he smiles as a feeling passes over him. His Tsu'tey is so cute. Even his purring is soft, like he doesn't do it often. Tsyeyk will teach him how to purr properly. As if able to hear his thoughts, Tsu'tey's sweet little purr dies out, to Tsyeyk's disappointment. But Tsyeyk's follows suit and Tsu'tey's hand slides back around to his waist again, giving a little, comforting squeeze.
Tsyeyk lowers his hand back to Tsu'tey's bicep, nuzzling a bit into the beaded choker around Tsu'tey's neck, looking back over at Mo'at, his mouth watering a bit. Tsu'tey is so warm, he feels so good that Tsyeyk can feel his eyes starting to droop all over again. Sleep still calling to him more than his hunger is.
Tsu'tey says something softly, giving him a squeeze. He nuzzles into Tsyeyk's forehead a bit, which makes Tsyeyk smile. His Tsu'tey is just way too cute.
Finally, Mo'at holds out a slice of the fruit. Tsyeyk tentatively reaches out and takes it, bringing it close to lightly sniff at it, his mouth watering a bit. He hesitates, though, not wanting to hurt his stomach more. He holds the piece up to Tsu'tey's mouth. At Mo'at's curious look, Tsu'tey says something softly, before opening his mouth and taking a bite of the fruit. He chews and swallows, offering a little smile that makes Tsyeyk smile too, giggling happily.
Then, happy as can be, Tsyeyk munches away at the fruit, humming and curling into Tsu'tey's chest.
After the first piece is done, he peaks at the pile next to Mo'at curiously, eyeing all the different size and colored fruits, tails swiping against the stone beneath Tsu'tey's thigh. He feels a little rumble from Tsu'tey, as he reaches over and picks out some more fruit, handing Tsyeyk a piece he's familiar with. Tsyeyk shakes happily as he begins munching on his fruit. The hunters around them and even Mo'at grabbing a piece.
Wanting to share, Tsyeyk holds up his mostly eaten fruit to Tsu'tey to take a bite. Tsu'tey smiles faintly, saying something that Tsyeyk doesn't know. After a moment, Tsu'tey gives in and takes another bite.
As Tsyeyk takes the final bite of the fruit, Father comes stalking from the forest carrying a large beast corpse in his jaws. The hunters hop to their feet at Father's approach, but he drops the body of the beast down on the stone and turns blue eyes to Tsyeyk, staring intently. Tsyeyk reaches out for another piece of fruit ears flicking a bit. Another piece ends up in his hand and turns in Tsu'tey's hold, smiling a bit at the meal Father brought back.
He giggles, tail curling a bit. "Shishishal! Father!"
Even though it didn't agree with him most of the time, this beast was particularly delicious - when he could stomach it.
The hunters talk to one another quietly behind Tsyeyk and Tsu'tey. Mo'at glances over at them, nodding, before looking back over at Father and carefully saying something to him. Tsyeyk's ears perk, looking between them. Nobody but him speaks to Father. He looks at Mo'at curiously as Father just stares.
Mo'at hesitates, staring back into Father's eyes before lowering her own, respectfully and saying something again, making gestures with her hands. Tsu'tey and the hunters look at Father, who stares back for a long moment before tipping his head low in understanding, agreeing with whatever it was that Mo'at said. Tsyeyk frowns. If Father could understand them, why did he not teach Tsyeyk?
Mo'at smiles, a sparkle in her eyes as she looks at Tsyeyk, as if amazed before saying something to the hunters and the young male is off again, but this time with the female following after. Tsyeyk pouts around his piece of fruit, eating it slowly as he stares at Father, who lowers down next to them. Tsu'tey tenses up but doesn't move or protest as Tsyeyk turns completely to face Father.
He tells Father that he's mad at him for not teaching him how to understand Tsu'tey to which Father simply dipped his head in apology. Tsyeyk pouts, ears folding back. He sees Mo'at in the corner of his vision rubbing at her arms, eyes wide in fascination.
The two hunters reappear and start building something on the stone made of sticks and leaves, talking amongst each other quietly while the older male moved over to the body of the beast and pulled out his curved claw, like Tsu'tey's, from off his hip and started to cut into it. Tsyeyk twists his head to the side, curiously, munching away on his fruit.
Father lowers his head to his paws and watches all of them with bright, critical blue eyes, jumping from person to person.
After some time, light appears from within the sticks and leaves. Tsyeyk watches, moving up onto his knees with wide eyes as dancing light springs forth from the two hunters' little creation. Tsu'tey's hands land on his hips, keeping him steady as his long tail sways slightly in his amazement. A trail of darkness drifts up into the sky from it and Tsyeyk is amazed. He's never seen such a thing before.
Dropping to his hands on the stone, he uses those and his knees to get closer to the light, feeling his tail caress the side of Tsu'tey's face as he goes, who he hears laugh softly and gives his tail a little swat. Tsyeyk smiles, moving forward only stopping by Father, who raises his head to look at Tsyeyk, curiously. Knees hurting, Tsyeyk lowers onto his stomach on Father's front paws, staring at the light, mesmerized. After a few moments, Father lowers his head to Tsyeyk's back, rumbling a bit, contently.
The older male hunter cuts up strips of meat and passes it over to the female hunter who sets to put it over the fire after dunking it into the water. Tsyeyk peaks up in confusion, making a little nose. He looks over at Tsu'tey, ears flattening. He makes another distressed sound, but Tsu'tey smiles, saying something comforting to him that he doesn't understand.
Something sizzles and a blast of heat hits the side of Tsyeyk's face. He jumps, whimpering and pressing up against Father, shaken as the woman says something softly, almost apologetic. Father purrs softly, nuzzling the back of Tsyeyk's head. He can feel Tsu'tey gently pet the back of his leg, but he's still scared, not sure where that sound came from. The heat too. With Father's weight pushing at the back of his head, he slowly lowers back onto his stomach, staring at the flickering, moving light, wearily.
Another sizzling, which makes him tense, but he watches as juices drip from the meat and into the moving light, making that sizzling sound. He can hear Tsu'tey softly speaking to Mo'at, about what, he's not sure, but he has little interest in it, he just stares at the meat in fascination as it begins to change colors after being shredded from the beast's body, cleaned and placed over the flickering light.
And the smell? It's making Tsyeyk's mouth water.
And even with the sun beating down on them, and Father's heavy muzzle placed on his back and hot breath ghosting the back of his head, Tsyeyk is still a little cold. Which isn't a surprise. Tsyeyk is always at least a little cold. Except for if he's wearing Tsu'tey's blanket, which he wishes he brought today.
But the warmth from the light is so nice. Tsyeyk loves it. He just wants to wrap himself up in the warmth. He reaches out for it, feeling the heat ramp up to something that his brain immediately registers as not okay, but before he can react, Father is snarling at him, teeth bared at the back of his neck, sharp, jagged fangs running down the back of his neck a bit in warning.
"Tsyeyk!" Tsu'tey says, sliding closer and wrapping a hand around Tsyeyk's wrist, pulling it away from the light, face pinched in worry. He shakes his head. "No, Tsyeyk. No."
With Tsu'tey and Father both telling him no, Tsyeyk just lays there and cries softly, not understanding why he's not allowed to be warm, despite Tsu'tey's gentle attempts at trying to explain it. Father just lays on him, trying to both keep him warm, understanding that was what Tsyeyk wanted, but also to keep him in place. He doesn't mind Tsyeyk pushing at his face with his hands or his chest with his feet. Even without being weakened from malnutrition, Tsyeyk still wouldn't be strong enough to move Father's sheer weight.
When he loses the strength to keep trying to push Father away, he feels his exhausted body give out. He comes to again to the meat of the beast being separated out, a portion being passed to Tsu'tey, who was sitting by Tsyeyk's head. One of his hands is lightly running through the hair by his temple. Father is laying with his head on the curve of Tsyeyk's waist, hips and ribs, eyes closed as if sleeping, but Tsyeyk knows just by the way his eyelids don't move that he's awake and alert. He just looks like he's sleeping.
Tsyeyk doesn't even remember closing his eyes, but he's fully awake again, despite the heaviness settling over him from lack of adequate sleep, because something smells so incredibly good.
"Tu'tey..." Tsyeyk rasps, voice thick.
Tsu'tey glances down at him, smiling a bit. He holds up a flat stone with the meat on it saying, "Food?"
Tsyeyk perks up more, looking over at Father again, nodding. Father opens his eyes, blinking tiredly back at him before lifting his head and letting Tsyeyk sit up. The wild boy moves over to Tsu'tey' rubbing the hard flecks from the corners of his eyes. Tsu'tey carefully picks up a piece of meat, bringing it up to his own face. Tsyeyk leans forward, mouth open to take a bite, loving the smell coming from the meat but Tsu'tey pulls it away, saying something with a smile.
Tsyeyk tilts his head, frowning again in confusion. He wants to cry, still confused as to why everyone is saying no to him. He pouts, spine folding a bit and his ears press back, sniffling.
Tsu'tey smiles, letting out a little huff, reaching forward with his free hand to caress Tsyeyk's cheek, cooing something sweetly to him. Tsyeyk leans into his hand, whimpering a bit.
"Tu'tey. Food. Yes. Tu'tey. Tsyeyk." He points to himself.
Tsu'tey nods, smiling more. He brings the meat back forward. Tsyeyk opens his mouth, but Tsu'tey stops it in front of his own mouth again, blowing on it. Tsyeyk whines, reaching forward to wrap his hand around Tsyeyk's wrist.
"Mouth. Tu'tey. Food. Tsyeyk. Food. Tsyeyk, Tu'tey." He points at his open mouth. "Pease? Mouth. Tu'tey?"
Tsu'tey gives him a look, ears twitching, pupils expanding a bit. He lets out a little breath. Tsu'tey blows on the meat a bit more before leaning toward Tsyeyk, nuzzling him with a little laugh as his mouth is still hanging open, as if the meat was just going to fly into it. Momentarily distracted, Tsyeyk nuzzles him back, letting out a purr and closing his eyes with his smile.
He opens his eyes and mouth again, pointing at his lips. "Food. Yes? Yes, Tu'tey? Yes?"
Tsu'tey blows on the meat one more time before bringing it to Tsyeyk's opened mouth. He carefully put it between his lips. Tsyeyk slowly chews the meat, huffing a bit at the heat of it hurting his tongue a bit, but it tastes so much better than any other time Father has brought it to him. Tsu'tey smiles at Tsyeyk, grabbing another piece carefully and blowing on it while Tsyeyk hums happily, chewing up the meat.
He opens his mouth, waiting patiently now that he knows that he's going to get to eat more so long as he waits. Once Tsu'tey is happy with the temperature of the meat, he brings it over to Tsyeyk's mouth and drops it in. Tsyeyk's tail scrapes hard against the stone. He hums happily, stimming again. He looks over at Father, chewing, with bright golden eyes.
The older male hunter, the one that cut up the beast, brings over some of the organs that Tsyeyk knows Father likes to eat and other hunks of meat to bestow before him. He bows his head low, placing the offered meal before Father, who watches with half-lidded blue eyes, appearing aloof and disinterested, but Tsyeyk knows that Father is watching closely. Very closely.
He waits for the hunter to back off before carefully eyeing the pile before him, moving stuff around as if taking inventory of his bounty. Finally, he scoots some of the meat closer with a massive paw and begins digging in too.
Tsyeyk eats a few more pieces with Tsu'tey intermittently eating some too until he can't eat anymore, his stomach full. Tsyeyk lays down, staring up at darkening sky, yawning once more as he rubs his full stomach. He shouldn't have eaten so much. He's afraid that he'll get sick again, but Tsu'tey was eating it too and... well, it was really delicious but as soon as his stomach was full, he couldn't take another bite despite how good it was. Eating too much would definitely make him sick.
Tsyeyk curls up on his side, pulling his knees up to his chest and wrapping his tail around his ankles, arms to chest, folding himself as small as possible to keep warm. Despite the warmth from the sun and the stone that has been holding it all day, Tsyeyk is still cold. Tsu'tey sets the food to the side and lowers to the ground, laying next to Tsyeyk, staring at him while gently running a hand up and down his arm to warm him up a bit.
The wild boy smiles at Tsu'tey, scooting closer to share in his warmth. He runs a finger down Tsu'tey's nose, his tail thumping against the stone beneath them. His eyes droop a bit until he feels Father gently nudging him. Tsyeyk opens his eyes, Tsu'tey's face mere inches from his own, golden eyes watching Father wearily. Tsyeyk looks up at Father standing over him. Whining a bit and rubbing at his eyes, Tsyeyk squints up at Father, curiously.
Father gently nudges him again, giving him the look that says it's time to go back to their cave. Tsyeyk doesn't argue. He's tired and cold and his body is hurting from rough housing and running around. But he's still satisfyingly full and has yet to feel another painful cramp in his stomach, so he's hopeful that's going to persist. He sits up slowly, scooting over Tsu'tey to rest against him, nuzzling his cheek.
Tsu'tey gently runs his hands over Tsyeyk's side, sitting up slowly as Tsyeyk pulls away, staggering to his feet. Tsyeyk stretches, yawning before following after Father, making it only a few steps before looking to Mo'at, who was standing a few feet away, by the edge of the water. She turns to Tsyeyk, something swimming in those golden eyes that makes Tsyeyk think of Mother again.
She feels like Mother, in a way.
He can feel Mother's loving caress in the heat from the sun. And this connection to this female. Something about it, he can't explain. So, he smiles lightly, stepping up to her and nuzzling her cheek too. he purrs softly when she affectionately presses her forehead to his. She says something, eyes sparking. But the only word that Tsyeyk knows, is "beautiful". He's not sure what she's talking about, but if it was something that Mother created, then of course it would be beautiful.
Everything made by Mother is beautiful.
He smiles, running his nose along hers before pulling back as Tsu'tey climbs to his feet. The three hunters broke down all the parts of the body of the beast that they consumed, taking everything that they could with them for some reason. Tsyeyk didn't know why, but he didn't know how to ask, either. Something to figure out at a different time.
Tsyeyk waves his hand to them and then Mo'at, all of which tilt their head, before he grins at Tsu'tey, excitedly giggling when the other teen grins back, his tail swaying slightly behind him, before Father's low rumbling pulls him away. Together Tsyeyk and Father disappear into the forest, heading back home to get some well deserved rest.