Author's Note: Just remember, going into this, that I love all of you, okay? Thank you all so much for your support! I am in love with Ao'nung and Neteyam's relationship, but I hope it's not too forced for you guys! Let me know what you think! Sorry about the wait! Enjoy!
Neteyam is laughing as Ao'nung heaves him up so that his stomach is pressed into his future mate's shoulder, pushing weakly away as Ao'nung heads for the dock. Despite being almost as tall as Ao'nung, there is something very attractive about being able to be lifted up so easily. That and how dangerously high up on Neteyam's thigh his hand is - no doubt only to keep him balanced on Ao'nung's shoulder. Definitely no other reason. Not like he hasn't been teasing Neteyam all night. A touch here, a tap there. And if Ao'nung ever stopped touching his tail, Neteyam wouldn't have whacked him on the cheek with it.
Gently, though. He didn't actually want to hurt Ao'nung. But his betrothed's playfulness knows no bounds, it seems. So, he rubbed at his cheek in mock hurt, before a flicker of mischievous playfulness crossed his features and he grappled Neteyam. Before the darker skinned boy could break the hold, he was hefted up onto Ao'nung's shoulder and now here they are.
"Put me down, skwaxng," he laughs, pounding a fist against Ao'nung's shoulder blade. He looks over at the fire to see the rest of his family and Ao'nung's staring at them. Most amused. Rotxo, Rowee, Tsireya and Rhalwari practically laughing hysterically at his expense. Rhalwari has her hands wrapped around his dad's bicep, tears streaming down her face at their antics.
As Ao'nung makes his way down the dock toward the water with Neteyam who is insisting that he be put down, a realization occurs to him.
"Put me down, Ao'nung!" Neteyam says, giving his betrothed's queue an insistent tug. Not to hurt him or anything like that but to show that he's serious. Ao'nung barely glances at him. He still makes his way down the dock toward the water. It's dark enough now that the reef has begun glowing. The light of the sun dipping beneath the horizon.
"Ao'nung, I'm serious. Rowee's necklace can't get wet! It'll break. I'll be so mad at you, if it does. Come on," he insists. He gives Ao'nung's back a slap. "Put me down now, skwaxng. I mean it."
Ao'nung makes it to the end of the dock before stopping. Neteyam taps on Ao'nung's head, expectantly. He was worried he wouldn't stop there for a second. Finally, Ao'nung brings his arms up to grab hold of Neteyam's hips, using them as leverage to bring the forest boy back down to his feet. Neteyam smooths out his adornments, checking the necklace to make sure that it's okay.
Thankfully it's fine.
He gives Ao'nung a look, rolling his eyes at the curve of the corner of his mouth, staring at him through his long lashes. Neteyam shakes his head, trying to fight his smile as he moves to step around his betrothed. Ao'nung steps into his path. Neteyam blinks, staring at him. He steps to the other side. Ao'nung blocks him once more. Neteyam blinks rapidly at his betrothed, shaking his head.
"What?"
Ao'nung brings up a hand, giving one finger a little twirl. Neteyam clicks his tongue, glaring at him. His golden eyes glittering playfully which makes Ao'nung's lip curl more in mischievous joy. "Turn around, beautiful," he says, voice low enough for only the two of them to hear.
Neteyam feels his lips quiver, heat pooling in his gut. He swallows, slowly turning away. "It better not get wet, Ao'nung," he says. He swallows again, reaching back and lifting his hair up.
Ao'nung takes his sweet time, running the pads of his fingers across Neteyam's back and his neck before he unties the necklace and carefully removes it from him. Neteyam shivers with the sensation left in the wake of his fingers. He doesn't have to look over his shoulder to feel the satisfied smile of his betrothed. Neteyam slowly turns around to watch Ao'nung take a few steps back from the edge of the dock to safely place the necklace down and out of immediate harms way.
Ao'nung's grin is back full force as he closes the gap between them in a few short steps. "You ready?" He asks, playfully.
Neteyam shakes his head. "You're really going to push me into the water because of a love tap to your cheek?"
Ao'nung looks confused. "I'm not going to push you into the water."
Neteyam blinks at that, surprised. "Really?" Then why bring him all the way out to the edge of the docks if he's not going to push him into it? Why take off his necklace then if there wasn't a concern about it getting ruined?
"Really," Ao'nung says, shooting Neteyam a wolfish grin before shooting forward, grabbing his hips once more before lifting him up and then launching him through the air at incredible speeds and distance away from the dock considering it was a fellow teenager that threw him and not, say, a skimwing. Or a tulkun.
The heel of Neteyam's right foot hit the water first, then it was like his entire body was submerged. He barely had enough sense of self to suck in a deep breath before fully hitting the water. The shock of the cool water against his warm skin makes him temporarily freeze under the waves. He shivers under the water for a second before kicking toward the surface.
Breaking through to fresh air, Neteyam is immediately bombarded with a lot of laughter. He glares at Ao'nung, who is doubled over, laughing with his face nearly between his knees. Neteyam glares at him harder, drifting closer to the dock.
"Ha ha. That was so funny. I'm so glad we got to do that," Neteyam says, sourly. Ao'nung wipes away at the corner of his eye, still laughing as he kneels down, patting his palms against the dock. Neteyam ignores his mother, siblings and friend laughing at his expense.
He feels Shixo brush against his leg from under the water, asking if they were going to be going swimming and if he's going to need a ride. All the other skimwings around them move away when Shixo comes near - Neteyam's cranky old man. Their nest is close by, just off to the side of Neteyam's home. It had been moved there a few years ago. Probably when Neteyam was ten or eleven. He never did get around to asking why that was.
He reaches down to pat at Shixo's long jaw, feeling playful nips at his fingers as he makes his way to the dock. "Not tonight, boy," Neteyam says softly, glacing into the water to see the glowing marks on his friend. Shixo shakes a bit before diving deeper and disappearing.
Ao'nung has controlled his laughter enough to hold his hand out for Neteyam to take. Neteyam glares at him, still fighting the amusement that he's getting from all of this. But he's not going to let Ao'nung know that. Yet.
Neteyam swims up to Ao'nung, glaring up at him. "I hope you had fun."
"I had a lot of fun," Ao'nung says playfully. "Come on. Don't tell me that you're angry."
Neteyam stares at him, holding his arms up out of the water at him. "I'm not."
Still amused, Ao'nung reaches for his arms, wrapping his hands easily around them and helping to pull him up. Neteyam pulls his leg up, placing his foot against the edge of the dock. Knowing him extremely well, Rotxo calls out, "I wouldn't do that, Ao'nung! He's vicious!"
Ao'nung blinks once, as if remembering the same thing as Neteyam pulls himself closer, locking eyes with the son of the Chief, smiles sharply, before jerking forward, wrapping his arms around his betrothed and pushing off with that foot, pulling them both back into the water. Neteyam grins at his betrothed in the darkness of the water, matching the glowing freckles on his face with his expression.
Ao'nung wraps his arms around Neteyam's ribs, resting his forehead on Neteyam's. They nuzzle noses and pull close for just a moment. The water mutes the world around them, giving them the impression, for only a moment, that they were the only two people left in the entire world. They couldn't have been under for more than thirty seconds before Neteyam pushes himself up to the surface, Ao'nung is still under, hands sliding up and down his ribs, a kiss pressed to his sternum. A hand wraps around his tail, gentle, soothing, and very erotic. Long, lithe fingers moving up and down the base of his tail. A pepper of kisses across his ribs and sternum.
Neteyam squeezes his shoulders, urging him up while everyone is still laughing at them, none the wiser to what was happening beneath the surface of the water. Neteyam is really going to beat him up. This is certainly not the place and it's too soon for them too. By the Metkayina standards, Ao'nung hasn't proven himself to be an adult yet, like Neteyam has. They will not officially be betrothed until then - and that's assuming Ao'nung doesn't just force along their bonding as soon as he can afterward. They might skip over the traditions and just get straight to the bond, if Ao'nung has his way.
Not that Neteyam minds all that much, but Ao'nung is making it extremely hard to focus on his plans.
Both are recognized adults.
Both go through a time as a betrothed couple.
Become accustomed to their future roles.
They plan out their ceremony.
Bond before Eywa and move into their own marui together.
Have a couple of babies.
Spend the rest of their lives together.
Die happily.
Neteyam has a plan. And it doesn't involve both them getting caught twenty yards away from their parents with Ao'nung copping a feel under the water. Letting both of them get skinned by their parents for doing something they shouldn't be before they are bonded together before Eywa. There will be a beautiful ceremony with all of their friends and family - and clan - there. It will be beautiful and perfect. He has absolutely no idea what it'll look like and doesn't really care visually. But with everyone he loves there, with Ao'nung there. It will be perfect.
Then, afterwards... well, then they can mate.
And while he honestly can't wait for them to be bonded as one and spend the rest of their lives together, he knows that they have to wait. No matter how insanely hard Ao'nung is making it for him.
Ao'nung emerges from the water, smiling playfully at him. Neteyam shivers, feeling Ao'nung's hands, one going from his ribs to his back, while the other is gently rubbing circles into his tail, making heat pool into his gut and toes curl.
"Stop touching me, skxawng," Neteyam murmurs, grabbing onto his face and pushing him away. "You're going to get us into trouble." Ao'nung laughs as Neteyam moves back over to the dock, forcing the feeling away. He can't go back over to his parents, siblings and betrothed's family reeking of arousal. He would honestly rather die.
Neteyam crawls out of the water onto the dock as Ao'nung pulls himself up behind him. As the two make their way back to their families, Ao'nung makes one more grab at Neteyam's tail.
The switch flips and once they hit sand, Neteyam flips around, grabbing Ao'nung and wrestling him to his knees. He pulls Ao'nung's arms up over his head, pinning them behind his head, one foot on the back of his left calf, pressed to his knee, while the other is against his inner thigh to keep himself balanced. Ao'nung groans, sending him a playfully hurt look.
"You made me do it," Neteyam sighs, glaring at Ao'nung. "You're really making me beat you up in front of your mother."
Rhalwari falls into Ronal's side, laughing hysterically, tears streaming down her face. Ronal is actually smiling, a little laugh escaping her in amusement. While Tao'su is covering his face from sight, laughing hard enough to be embarrassed while Tonowari is visibly amused, chuckling. Neteyam's brothers are both rolling around, laughing and Tsireya has her smile hiding behind her hand, eyes glittering.
Ao'nung laughs through his groan of pain. "You should give me back my shell so I can make you a new gift."
Neteyam blinks rapidly at that. "What? No. It's mine. No take back-sies."
"Not forever," Ao'nung defends his horrible decision. "I want to make you a better gift."
"No," Neteyam snaps, frowning. "Say mercy so I can let you go."
Ao'nung glances over his shoulder as much as he can to look at Neteyam, grimacing slightly, making him feel bad. "Or you could just let me go and let me have that gift back so I can make you a better one."
Neteyam glares at him. "I am hard pressed to think that I would ever let you go until you say mercy. And now I absolutely never will while knowing you're going after my property."
Rotxo snorts in laughter. "Give it up, man. He'll never give up his title."
"Fine, mercy," Ao'nung says, amused, sending a knowing, playful look in Rotxo's direction before looking back at Neteyam. "But I'll remind you that I made that for you. So, it's technically mine."
Neteyam helps him move his arms back into position, rubbing his shoulders a bit to alleviate any pain that might be there before stepping off his betrothed's leg. He shakes his head, walking past Ao'nung and into the circle around the firepit. He glares at Rotxo while everyone gathers themselves from a presumably wonderfully amusing situation, taking the stone plates that his mom was holding out for him.
"Thank you, mama," Neteyam says, taking both his and Ao'nung's plates, before turning and heading over to his spot next to Rotxo. "As for you, 'Nung, you gave it to me, so it's mine. You can have it back when I'm dead."
"No," Ao'nung says, brushing the sand off of his knees. "Don't say that. I will definitely die before you do."
"You sure will if you keep touching me," Neteyam says, playfully annoyed. Rotxo and Tsireya laugh, leaning on each other. Rhalwari throws her head back, laughing hysterically. She has tears streaming down her face as she leans into Ronal's side, who is much more subdue in her amusement.
"Why won't you let me make you another one?" Ao'nung asks, taking his spot at Neteyam's side, accepting the rock plate passed to him. "Thank you. But don't you want a better one?"
Neteyam presses into his side, sending him a look. "No. I love this one. Why would I want another one?"
"Because it doesn't look all that good," Ao'nung says, sticking a piece of cut fish into his mouth, chewing. "I thought it was pretty when I made it, but I don't anymore. It doesn't do you any justice."
Neteyam glances over at him, chewing his own piece, a blush working across his cheeks as he looks away, leaning into his side. "Don't say that. It's beautiful. I don't need you to change it or make a different one. I like this one. Thank you... for saying that, though." He rests his cheek against Ao'nung's shoulder, hiding his flush as much as he can while still eating.
Ao'nung nuzzles into his hair as Rhalwari, finally recovered fully from her laughing fit, says, "You boys are too funny. Try not to hurt each other."
"But I really want to," Neteyam says softly, flushed in embarrassment. Ao'nung laughs, nuzzling him more. "Don't worry about the betrothal gift, Ao'nung. I don't need or want another one. This one is perfect."
Ao'nung hums, displeased, but wraps one arm around Neteyam, propping his plate onto his knee. He takes another bite of his food before realizing they don't have drinks. He squeezes Neteyam before passing him the plate and heading over to the jars of juice that he knew his sister had made earlier that day. One of which was very sweet, that Ao'nung knew was made specifically for Neteyam and Rowee, the only two that could stomach a drink so sweet, and the other that was built more for normal Na'vi - he thinks in amusement before grabbing one cup of each for them.
"Oh sorry," Neteyam says, itching his chin with his shoulder since both of his hands are preoccupied. "Thank you."
"You're welcome," he says, making his way back over to Neteyam, settling back in place. They trade a drink and plate and go back to their meal. They sit around talking, Rowee bouncing back and forth between his siblings and parents until he finally falls asleep in Rhalwari's arms a few hours later. Neteyam almost finished half of his food by the time Ao'nung puts his empty plate to the side.
A cool breeze passed over them. Neteyam sinks deeper into Ao'nung's side, picking at his food a bit. He sticks one piece in his mouth before offering the remainder to Ao'nung. "Want some?"
"Not hungry?" Ao'nung asks, one hand running lightly across the back of Neteyam's shoulders.
"It's good," Neteyam replies, not wanting to hurt anyone's feelings, because it really is good, but Neteyam spent all day without eating and now has filled himself up on his drink and what little he did eat. "I just want to see if you want some." Neteyam did skip around his betrothed's favorite fish to ensure that it was left behind if he didn't eat all of his foot.
Ao'nung huffs, resting his cheek onto Neteyam's head. "Sure, if you're done eating."
Together the two pick apart the rest of Neteyam's meal, but Ao'nung hand feeds a lot of it to Neteyam to encourage him to finish as much of it as possible. When they finish and place the plate off to the side before curling around each other as another little burst of wind washes over the seat and into them. Neteyam shivers, curling closer to Ao'nung's worth, grinning at Tonowari's story about a fight he had to break up with some of the hunters earlier.
"Oh," Neteyam says, glancing over his shoulder toward the dock. "Rowee's necklace is out there. I need to set the leaves so that they are more durable."
"Go, set up what you need, I'll go grab it," Ao'nung says, taking Neteyam's plate and resting it on the sand next to where they were seated. Neteyam nods, moving to his feet and heading into the marui to get what he needs. Ao'nung appears in the doorway a minute or so later, as Neteyam rustles about, placing what he needs together onto the floor and out of the way so it can encapsulate the leaves safely.
Neteyam sets the entire necklace into the solution before stepping back and feeling Ao'nung's arms around his waist. Neteyam lifts his arms out of the way before leaning back in his embrace. He can hear his family and Ao'nung's chatting away outside, and he smiles, closing his eyes and basking in the feeling.
"You aren't actually angry at me, are you?" Ao'nung asks, resting his chin on Neteyam's shoulder.
"No," Neteyam says, rubbing at Ao'nung's arms. "Sometimes you can be so annoyingly mean, but no. I am not mad at you."
He catches Ao'nung's grin in his peripheral. "Good," Ao'nung says. He presses a feather soft kiss to Neteyam's shoulder before pulling back with a sigh and offering his hand for Neteyam to take. Flushing slightly, Neteyam takes his hand and follows him back out toward their families and the fire pit they were sitting around. All bright eyed and jubilant as they talk about their day and their plans for tomorrow and any funny stories that they could think of.
Neteyam and Ao'nung return to their spot, sinking down into the sand and curling around one another. Neteyam letting out a yawn before sinking into Ao'nung's side and watching the expressions of love and joy across his family - both are his family as one day Ao'nung's family will be his own - chats and laughs alongside one another. A scene that has played out a thousand times before, but Neteyam can never get enough of it.
He loves them. And any scrap of love that they are willing to return to him is more than he'll ever ask for.
Rotxo stands up at some point about a half hour later, grabbing onto Rowee to bring him into the marui before returning a few minutes later with a few blankets that he passes out. One for his parents to share. One for Ronal and Tonowari to share. One for Tsireya. One for himself. And another one for Neteyam and Ao'nung to share. The last one, the largest one, is folded and set to the side for them to all lay on tonight when the kids are ready to call it a night.
"Normally, my dear brother would have been attentive enough to get these," Rotxo says, amused, eyes glittering. "But I think Ao'nung's back rub put him right to sleep."
Ao'nung looks down at Neteyam's face half buried into his neck, eyes closed tightly, curling into his side, knees resting against Ao'nung's thighs. His hand had been running up and down Neteyam's back. He stops and wraps the blanket around them as best he can. He grabs onto Neteyam's tail and pulls it in closer to his body so that it doesn't get too cold before relaxing again.
"I thought you said that you didn't want to hear about me being tired tonight," Ao'nung says, amused, nuzzling the top of Neteyam's head.
"He had a long day," Tsireya says playfully. "Plus, you always seem to put him to sleep."
"He trusts you," Tao'su says easily, resting his tattooed cheek against the top of Rhalwari's head. "When he first came to us, the only person he could sleep with was Rotxo. It's important for forest Na'vi. They sleep, typically, in clutches with their families all huddled together, not like us who separate parents and children when they are old enough to sleep on their own. There is a lot more predators in the forest than on the beach, so they huddle together for safety. He feels safe with you."
Ao'nung smiles softly at that, taking pride in that knowledge.
"Has he had any more episodes since the last one a fortnight ago?" Ronal asks, looking over at Rhalwari and Tao'su. "I hadn't heard of anything, but I just wanted to check."
Rhalwari shakes her head. "Not that I've seen. If he's alone, we have no way of knowing, because he tends to forget them afterward, but I don't think he's been alone long enough for an episode to occur without anyone noticing."
"That worries me, though," Tsireya says, creases forming between her eyes. "I get worried whenever he's staring off into the water. Those visions from Eywa are so unpredictable. He could have a seizure with any of them if he's not ready. I get so worried about him. What if he's underwater when one starts? I know we've been fortunate so far, but we won't be forever."
"You have to get him to the surface and keep him from going under," Tonowari says evenly. "Try and get him to land or a boat or a dock, somewhere he can't accidently inhale water. And come get us."
The kids nod their heads, glancing over at the slumbering Na'vi, snuggling closer to Ao'nung for warmth.
"It's for his safety and for those of the clans - ours included," Ronal says slowly. "He sees what Eywa wishes. She shows him the terrors that come for us. Or even the good things. The clans rely on us as we rely on them. Neteyam helps us with this."
"But the other clans want to take him away," Rotxo says, pulling his blanket tighter around himself. "They want to use him for themselves."
Tsireya's worried eyes turn to her childhood friend, seeing the anger glittering in his eyes before looking back over at her parents. "They won't try again, will they? Neteyam has been promised to Ao'nung. He's part of our clan. No one will try to take him, right?"
Ao'nung frowns at that, pulling Neteyam as close as he dares without waking him, nuzzling gently into his hair. He curls closer, like his own body could be used to protect Neteyam from invisible dangers rounding every corner.
"No one will take him away," Tao'su says sternly, his arm wrapped tightly around a terrified Rhalwari, her pale face paler than before in the light of the fire in front of them. "Before the voice of Eywa, interpreter of her Will, he is my son. No one will take him away from us. I will never allow it."
Tonowari nods. "Awa'atlu has served as the commanding force in these islands for generations. The clans know what happens if they stand against us. Neteyam is one of us. He will one day be our Tsahik, betrothed to the future Olo'eyktan. It is here, that he will stay."
They went to bed not long after. Neteyam waking up long enough to hug and nuzzle his parents' good night before trudging down the beach with his brother, betrothed and best friend. They lay out the blanket and pile onto it with their own from earlier. Neteyam curls up with Ao'nung, pressing his forehead against the heir's and falling asleep once more almost immediately with their arms and legs intertwined with one another. Tsireya presses into his back, also like she could protect him with her body, and to absorb some of his warmth - remembering what Tao'su said about forest Na'vi and wanting to offer him some comfort too. Rotxo is on the other side of the blanket, back-to-back with Tsireya to block her from the cold.
Rhalwari insisted that Tonowari and Ronal stay with them. They switched sides with Tonowari and Ronal sleeping on the side of the room that Rhalwari and Tao'su usually do, while the owners of the marui slept with their baby son. Rhalwari curls around him tightly, smiling pleased when he snuggled closer, with Tao'su pressing against her back, one of his hands resting on Rowee's spine as he cuddles with his mom.
The two families rise with the sun, getting ready for the day. Everyone says their farewells and Neteyam's family sees of Ao'nung and his own before going about their morning. Neteyam and Rotxo help their parents straighten up the marui, put everything away from the night before, before Rotxo takes Rowee to drop him off at his lessons after breakfast. Neteyam leaves with his father, separating further down the beach to go to Ao'nung's marui to see the boy's mother. Together they head out to pray at the Spirit Tree.
This time, Neteyam makes tsaheylu with the Spirit Tree, feeling stronger and more stable than he was the day before. He didn't see anything concrete but got this sense that something great was about to happen. Like he was standing at the edge of a precipice. But instead of the inherent danger one would feel looking over the edge, he felt something exhilarating. A terrifying excitement that he didn't know how to describe. Even as he tried to, with Ronal on their way back.
"Something is about to happen, but I don't know what," Neteyam says, pushing wet strands of smooth black hair over his shoulder.
"Hmm," Ronal hums, her greenish blue eyes scanning the waters in front of them. "Just be careful, Neteyam. Don't go off by yourself for a while, okay? The last thing we want is for you to have a vision by yourself."
Neteyam laughs, shaking his head. "Ronal, I am literally never alone. My days are consistently packed with everyone and everything I have to do. I will never be alone for a second, let alone long enough to have a vision without somebody realizing I'm not where I said I would be."
Despite his light, easy demeanor, Ronal frowns at his words, never having realized how true that was. Neteyam never had a moment of peace. He was always doing something for someone, or with someone, one way or another. He was literally never alone. Ever. Which seems fine, seeing as Neteyam never seems to mind, but Ronal feels a touch of worry for the young man.
"I..." she hesitates. "Are you doing something after this?"
Neteyam nods. "Yeah, mama and I are going down to the caves to get some of the moss that grows in the crevasses."
At least he was going to be with Rhalwari. But Ronal still felt somewhat worried about the boy. He seemed fine. Eyes glittering in happiness, double pure white fangs peeking out between his lips at his smile, posture relaxed. He seems to be fine, but maybe she should speak to Rhalwari and Tao'su about their family taking a little trip or something. Anything to give Neteyam some reprieve.
Then again, with her own pregnancy, this is horrible timing. She was really hoping to rely on Neteyam, but not if it cost him too. She'll ask him about his thoughts later. But she doesn't doubt that he'll insist that he's fine and willing to help out however he could.
"Be sure to keep warm, the water that flows through there is awfully cold," she murmurs.
Neteyam nods, smiling sweetly. "Yeah. I got my shawl. That thing can protect me against anything. I feel like I'm sweating in it most times. Dad and Tonowari made it sturdy."
Ronal nods, offering a tentative smile back at the gentle boy next to him. "Well, they wanted to make sure you didn't get too cold down there."
Neteyam laughs, turning his pretty golden eyes forward. "Oh, there is no worry about that. I would be more worried about overheating in that thing."
Neteyam and Rhalwari spend the next hour or two collecting moss beneath the water, collecting from the rocks between the crevasses. Neteyam curses Rotxo every time he sticks his hand between the cracks to careful scoop out the moss, thinking about sea spiders crawling across his fingers. If there was one thing in the entire world that made Neteyam's skin crawl, it was spiders, of any sort.
Thankfully, Ao'nung didn't mind them, while Neteyam didn't mind Ao'nung's fear of snakes. Neteyam's fear has always been irrational, but Ao'nung was poisoned by a snake once, long ago. He had gotten really sick. Neteyam's not sure if his life was really in danger or not - he should probably ask someone, just to know - but Neteyam's young mind was certain that Ao'nung's life was over.
Ao'nung had been afraid ever since. Luckily since the opposite never bothered them, they were each other's go to when the need arose to handle a creepy critter or a slithering serpent.
Neteyam feels around the rocks, squeezing as close as he can, shoulders aching from being pressed against the hard stone for so long. He doesn't feel any more moss. They are just going to have to make due with their bounty - which, is thankfully plentiful - and wait for more to grow back. He feels the flutter of the butterfly-esque wings behind him, catch a small current pushing between the crevasses.
A hand presses against his shoulder, giving him a little tug.
Neteyam turns around to see his mother. She is pointing up toward the dim surface, mid-day sunlight like at the end of a dark tunnel. They are pretty far down, but thankfully the water is still warm, so Neteyam doesn't have to be too concerned for his fingers and toes.
His shawl is thick and layered to keep him warm. It's long and plain, a dark brown color, but it goes to his mid-thighs, with built in ties to connect it to his leggings. Underneath the sheer fabric of the shawl itself is tighter cloth that helps hold in his body heat. There is long sleeves that his thumbs have holes for, to keep it from drifting up into his face too much, and a hole for his tail so that the under cloth doesn't unravel and pull up while he's swimming.
A lot of trial and error went into making Neteyam's ugly shawl. A lot.
And he absolutely loves it.
Neteyam follows his mom's finger, trying to figure out what he was supposed to be looking at. He takes a moment before looking back at her and signing, "What? What is it?"
She signs back, "Something is happening. Everyone is moving toward the beach."
Neteyam's eyes squint at that, looking back toward the surface, finally realizing what his mother was gesturing toward. He could see his clan, in droves, making their way toward the beach. If any sort of siren was sounded, they were too far down for the muffled noise to reach them.
"We should go see," Neteyam signs, pointing up toward the surface.
Rhalwari's face twists in concern. "We should be careful, son. What if it is something dangerous?"
"Then all the more reason to go. Our people might need us."
Rhalwari nods, reaching out to take the wings off of her back as Neteyam does the same. They let the fish swim away as they head for the surface, Rhalwari holding tight to the basket filled with their caught moss. A single rock in the center to hold it all down. As Neteyam breaks the surface of the water, he turns toward the beach, seeing the clan all gathered together, shifting wearily and glancing around at one another.
"Stay back, mama," Neteyam says softly, making his way up to the beach.
"Neteyam," his mom hisses behind him. "Do not leave Olo'eyktan's side!"
Neteyam nods without turning to look back at her. His shawl clinging to his like a second skin, water weighing it down and dripping off the bottoms of it. Neteyam slowly moves through the gathered clansmen toward where he can see they have encircled something. He can see the back of Tonowari's head, as one of the tallest - if not the tallest - in their clan, making him easy to spot.
As he breaks through the crowd, he hears a few hisses back and forth, before he steps out next to Tonowari. The chief either saw him in his peripheral, or felt the droplets of water hit his legs, but he glances over at Neteyam in time for Ronal's voice to hiss out, "Forest Na'vi do not belong here in the Reefs. Your skills are worthless here."
Tonowari flinches, ears tugging back. There is something in Tonowari's eyes akin to... panic? Fear? Worry? But that can't be right. That can't be what he's seeing. But he can't worry about that now as Neteyam glances over toward the Tsahik, worried that she's pushing herself too hard. He forgot to check in on the baby last night, and now he's worried about not having done so.
A loud squawk catches Neteyam's attention as he spots four large aerial beasts stomping about in the white sand next to the water, huffing and puffing. Neteyam blinks, wondering how he hadn't noticed them while walking up. They were beautiful. All sorts of different shades of blues and greens and reds. They had spots and strange amorphous patters along their bodies. And wings! Wings! They could fly!
Neteyam... Neteyam loved to fly. But he would never say.
His eyes, momentarily entranced by the beautiful beasts, find it hard to pull away. He stares for a few beats too long before turning his eyes toward the group, encircled by his clan. And he blinks.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Neteyam's eyes widen as he stares at six sets of golden eyes staring back at him. It takes him a split second to recall Ronal's angry words. Forest Na'vi. That's what she said.
And they were. They had to be. They looked just like him. The same shade of dark blue, the same golden eyes. And their hair. It's braided. Like his. From the skull, not against it, like the Metkayina. One of the very few things that he held onto directly on his person. Their long, lithe frames so much like his own.
Neteyam barely was able to look through them other than to note that there were two adult males, one adult female, one adolescent male, and two adolescent females before his eyes found Ronal, and he was struck with the terror on her face. The panic that twisted her features - but only for a moment. It falls after a second into a chillingly even expression, her eyes on his.
His ears perk as she said, "You know what I mean, don't you? You were a baby, they are set in their ways. They can't learn." One of the men, shorter but broader than the other, glances at her, ears tugging back slightly, mouth opening like he wants to protest, but her eyes are on Neteyam.
"You don't know that," Neteyam says softly, his own ears flickering back. "Has anyone ever tried?" He didn't mean to oppose her or insult her in any way. And from the steadiness in her eyes, Neteyam knows she didn't take it like that. She took it as childish innocence.
Ronal doesn't have an answer for that, or if she does, she doesn't appear like she's interested in arguing the point, instead, she just says, "They don't belong here."
"And I do?" Neteyam asks, voice still soft, posture still open and vulnerable. He's not opposing her. He's not fighting her. She's debating with him. She's allowing him to speak by talking to him. He wouldn't have otherwise. He has too much respect for Ronal to oppose her or make her look bad in any way. He just wants to understand what makes them so different. She said age, but could that really be all of it? Had Neteyam come to them later in his life would they have accepted him?
The thought leaves a terrifying emptiness in Neteyam's gut. What if he had shown up ten years later? What if he had shown up five years later? Or one month later? Or a day? What would he have done if he had shown up too late? If his clan decided that he was over the threshold of care? That they wouldn't accept him because he was too old? Too set in his ways? Whatever that means.
"You are one of us," Ronal says, her voice assured, matter-of-factly.
Neteyam's ears flatten as he stares at her, not sure how to respond. She says that now... but... what if they change their minds? What if they decide that he's too much of a hassle to keep around? That he's not pulling his own weight? Maybe he's too 'set in his ways' and they don't want to deal with it anymore? What if he's abandoned all over again?
As if able to read his mind - or maybe the terror is written across his face - her expression softens, slightly. She moves between the two men, who are now staring straight at Neteyam with strange looks on their faces, to walk toward Neteyam. She stops a few feet from him, staring down into his golden eyes with her own.
"One day," She says, voice even, "you will help Ao'nung lead this clan. You will guard and protect it, as I have. As Tonowari has. We spoke about you helping us," she continues, a look of momentary regret crossing her features before it smooths out again. "So, this will be your first test. You will help us decide the fate of these outsiders that come to our home seeking aid."