Author's Note: Also, a little different than how I initially imagined it, but not in a bad way. I kind of like it. I feel for Ao'nung. He's trying to be a good mate and it just never seems to work out that way. He seems to almost be in his own way. He wants the best for Neteyam, but he's too self-sacrificing. Thank you all so much for your support and for taking the time to reach out. Hearing your thoughts and opinions really help me out, help me consider things I hadn't thought of, so thank you! I hope you continue to enjoy!

Neteyam keeps swallowing, feeling his mouth continuously filling with saliva and his stomach churning. He tries to steady himself, shifting his weight on his feet but his knees give out beneath him.

Thankfully he just falls into his dad, shivering and swallowing fiercely. He can hear a din spreading around him and his mother's distinct gasp of fear as his dad wraps an arm around him tightly, holding him upright.

"I have him," his dad says quietly, voice near rumbling.

Neteyam blinks the spots from his vision, praying that his spinning mind centers itself. Once it finally does, he sees Jake frozen in a position of reaching out for him, face pale still, but it's like his muscles have locked into place. Instead of looking at him, though, Neteyam notes that Jake is actually looking over the top of his head, towards his father.

Neteyam feels his dad more securely wrap around him as both men are staring at each other. A strange, unexplainable tension in the air around them. Neteyam's dad has always been even more protective than even Ao'nung, but Neteyam has never seen this cold, set expression on his dad's face before. He feels the tension in the air like a tangy taste on his tongue. Something about all of this sets his nerves tingling.

"Dad," Neteyam says softly, reaching up to touch his dad's face with the knuckles of his fingers. The watering in his mouth and churning in his stomach finally letting up enough for him to push past the uncomfortable feeling. "I'm okay. I just... I didn't expect for that to happen. I'm... I'm okay."

Tao'su grips his shoulder and waist tighter, finally pulling his eyes away from Jake to look down at Neteyam, eyes searching his face in fear and concern. Carefully, softly, he says, "Do you feel okay?"

Neteyam wiggles his toes in the sand, then his fingers at his side, one still by Tao'su's eye level, waiting a beat for the familiar numbing sensation to wash over his body but it doesn't come. He just feels a wave of exhaustion that he knows he can push past. He glances over Jake's shoulder to see Tonowari and Ronal carefully approaching, trying not to overwhelm him. Ronal's sharp eyes watching his fingers and toes move, a flicker of relief crossing her features, realizing the same as Neteyam; that he's probably fine.

Ronal believes that sudden overstimulation might also contribute to the shakes that come after his visions from Eywa sometimes. Neteyam isn't so sure. It could play a factor in it, he supposes. Just like if he has time to realize that it's about to happen, that he's about to see a vision from Eywa, sometimes he can almost fortify himself, so that he can handle the influx.

It, uh, doesn't always work, though.

It's why he's always careful when going to pray at the Tree of Souls. He can feel the power coursing through him while he's there, and he knows if his mind isn't strong enough, steady enough, that he could end up doing something bad. Something that could hurt himself. And his family worry enough about him as is, the last thing he needs is for them to try to take Eywa away from him. At this point, Neteyam has no idea what lengths his dad will willingly go to in order to keep him safe.

"I'm okay, dad," Neteyam says, looking back up at Tao'su with big golden eyes. "I... I don't think anything is going to happen. I'm okay."

Relief flickers over Tao'su's face as a tight smile pulls at the corner of his lips. "Okay," he says, slowly helping him to steady himself on his feet. "Just... let me know if that changes."

Neteyam nods, tightly holding onto his dad's hand before he can pull it away. He stares up into Tao'su's eyes, saying softly, "Thank you, dad. Thank you for checking on me."

Tao'su nods, ears flicking back a bit. "You're welcome."

Slowly, almost reluctantly, Neteyam pulls away from his father at last and wrings his hands at his stomach again, that churning in his stomach returning. He balls his hands up into fists and wraps his arms around himself to hide the subtle shaking in them before looking over at Jake, offering a thin smile that doesn't reach his eyes. He curls in on himself slightly, making his already lithe frame even smaller. Jake's eyes travel up and down his posture, a look crossing his face before returning to Neteyam's eyes.

Quietly, Jake asks, "Are you... Are you okay?"

There is something there. A bone deep, brittle sort of terror. Something frail but burrowed deep in his eyes. Neteyam's not sure what it is, exactly, but it feels like a wound. Like a great pain that has never healed. Like something that is irritating him in a way he accepts. Like a scab never allowed to fully heal. It's a horrible pain dulled to discomfort over a long period of time feeling it.

Neteyam... he's never seen anything like it before. He's always had some pretty good insight on people - at least in the sense of their emotions. He's met Olo'eyktan from other clans that carry the pain of lost spouses and clan misfortune. They carry these things as part of themselves, things that affect them so deeply that somehow Neteyam's gift allows him to perceive these things with just his eyes.

And Jake carries many wounds that can't be seen, some of which are so old, they've become a foundation of his entire existence. Almost like he's reliant on that pain now. Like it helps fuel him. Push him onward.

It is incredibly sad.

Neteyam nods slowly, pulling from his thoughts. "I'm okay." His ears push back a bit as he forces himself to look into Jake's eyes, trying to ignore the shine of pain in them. The burden years of agony have placed on him. "Are you okay? That... must have been scary to you. Some stranger just freaking out in front of you like that."

Tao'su frowns in Neteyam's peripheral, but Jake is already shaking his head before Neteyam had the chance to even finish what he was saying, sending a look towards his male mate - Tsu'tey, was it? - where Jake, carefully reaches out to run his hand down Tsu'tey's arm in a form of offering comfort, grabbing hold of his hand for a moment and squeezing it before turning back to Neteyam and saying firmly, "No. No, you're okay. And... don't worry about us. I'm just worried because..." he hesitates, golden eyes scanning Neteyam's face. "You just look really pale. A little sick. Do you need to sit down?"

No. Yes. Maybe. "No," Neteyam says softly, smiling slightly more at the older man. His eyes tracing the near invisible light of Eywa wrapped around him like a halo, hugging him, soothing him in whatever way she can. "I'm okay. I just... I have one more question to ask you, if you don't mind."

Jake nods, glancing over at his female mate, who just stares back at him, communicating with just her eyes. Neteyam watches Tsu'tey lean closer to Jake, saying something into his ear that makes him glance between his mates and turn back to Neteyam and nods. "Of course," he says easily. "Ask whatever you want."

Neteyam tries to push down this ugly feeling that washes over him. This... bond that Jake has with his mates. It's strong - strong enough that they don't need words between them. Neteyam wants to see that in himself and Ao'nung. Where they just needed one look between them and everything that they didn't need to say wouldn't need to be. That their bond was so clear, all someone needed was to just look at them and know for certain that they were close.

He wants that. He wants that so bad.

Neteyam forces it down, pushing the ugly down deep into himself to hide it from the world.

"As Olo'eyktan, or... formally so," Neteyam says softly, not missing the way that the female mate - Neytiri - looked away at that. Neteyam hesitates, glancing between Neytiri and Jake, who notices the look before nodding at him to continue, a tiny, strained smile pulls at the corner of his lips. Neteyam wraps his arms around himself tighter before asking, carefully, "Can you obey the commands of our Olo'eyktan? As you used to be one? Listen to our Tsahik? Are you able to do that?"

Jake's ears flip back a bit as he stares down at the sand, letting out a slow sigh before looking back up at Neteyam and saying, evenly, without a hint of regret or wavering emotion, "I would do anything for my family. I need to protect my mates and my kids. I will do everything I have to in order to do that." His eyes seem to nearly pin Neteyam into place. So strong, so sure. The pain of failure shining in his eyes.

And then Neteyam remembers the tiny songcord hanging from his male mate's neck. Their child, lost to them forever.

Neteyam is both intimidated and fascinated by Jake's words. He reminds Neteyam of his own father. How similar the two of them are makes Neteyam have mixed feelings about himself. If Jake is a good indicator of how other forest Na'vi are with their children... why didn't Neteyam's parents want him? Why would they leave him to die out in the waters? What did he do wrong? Why was he not good enough to keep? And if those who share his blood couldn't bear to keep him, how is he to hope that his parents now won't lose faith in him too? Realize that they've made a mistake loving him? Keeping him in their lives? Introducing him to his brothers - who he would never trade for the world.

If forest Na'vi really love their children, why did Neteyam's parents not love him?

Neteyam forces that feeling down too, feeling his knees weaken, his hips shifting with his weight. He looks down, blinking away the stabbing at his eyes before looking up and smiling softly at Jake, then looking over at Tsu'tey, who was staring at him with a tilted head giving the hand he has still holding Jake's a squeeze, then to Neytiri, who was glancing over her shoulder at the younger female - the first time that Neteyam noticed her - with her hand on Neytiri's shoulder.

As soon as their eyes locked... Neteyam felt something. A connection. Something that struck him like a wave, nearly knocking him off his feet, and judging by the way her eyes widen in fascination, she must have felt it too. Her lips curl up slightly in acknowledgement. Neteyam feels his ears flick a bit, before he smiles back lightly having to really work hard to pull his eyes away from her toward Jake once more.

He dips his head slowly to the older man. "Thank you for your time."

"Thank you," Jake says, quietly.

Carefully, Neteyam makes his way over to Tonowari and Ronal, arms still wrapped around himself and legs a little shaky. He stops in front of Tonowari, saying softly, "I believe him. I think that..." he hesitates again before leaning closer to the man who is leaning down to better hear him, "I think that they could make lives here, with us. That they could fit in."

Ronal looks... displeased isn't fully it. She almost appears more... resigned. Worried. But only for a moment, before her expression falls smooth once more.

Tonowari considers for a moment, nodding slowly, before placing a hand on Neteyam's shoulder and asking softly, "How do you feel, Neteyam?"

Neteyam smiles sweetly to the Olo'eyktan, pushing all other thoughts and feelings into the deepest blackest parts of his mind, where all of the ugly inside of him is left to fester like its own form of disease. He nods, quickly moving to Ronal's side, to stand opposite of the chief, knowing that they have to seem united. He folds his hands neatly at his stomach, forcing himself to not think about how dizzy he is, or how tired.

Everyone turns to the chief as he twists around to look at Ronal, communicating with her with only his eyes. Neteyam watches as his dad makes his way back over to his mama, touching her shoulder and whispering something in her ear. She nods, leaning into his side while holding the basket with their collected moss in a white-knuckled grip, ears pressed back.

As Tonowari considers his decision, Ao'nung and Tsireya both move over to his side to stand united with their father, but both of them are casting him concerned looks. Ao'nung is still holding Neteyam's cloak draped over one arm while Tsireya is peering past her brother to him, her bright blue eyes wide in worry.

She mouths, "Are you okay?"

Neteyam sends her a tiny smile and a nod, feeling another wave of exhaustion wash over him but he shakes it off. She smiles back, but Ao'nung is frowning in disbelief. He's staring holes through Neteyam, eyes warning that they were going to talk when this was done.

Coming to his conclusion, Tonowari turns from Ronal after receiving her nod in agreement to whatever they decided, Tonowari glances around at the clan and the Sullys, eyes pausing on Neteyam, and then his parents for a split second longer before he finally locks eyes with Jake. "Toruk Makto," Tonowari starts and Neteyam perks at that, having heard the title before but never having realized that the man that he was talking to was... was the Toruk Makto! "...and his family will join us in honor of uturu. We will show them our ways. They will need to learn everything from the beginning, like babies, we shall teach them, less they become a strain on our clan. My son, Ao'nung, and my daughter, Tsireya, will take over your training for the perceivable future."

So that was where the bright light surrounding Jake came from! He wasn't just blessed by Eywa as people believe that Neteyam was! He is actually someone! Someone important! A legendary warrior that brought the clans together during a time of sorrow!

Neteyam is in awe of the legend before him. He catches Jake looking at him, seeing the wonder written across his face, and Jake looks... conflicted. A flicker of regret, or maybe sadness, and then a gentle smile, tight at the corners in apprehension, before looking back over at Tonowari.

"Thank you, Tonowari. Everyone, say thank you to the Olo'eyktan."

Obeying the patriarch of the family, the children and both mates tip their heads and humbly offer their thanks to the Metkayina leader. Ronal glances at Tonowari, who nods to her unspoken question, before she turns away sharply and heads off, Rhalwari barely half a step behind her, having practically tipped away from Tao'su. Tonowari dismisses the clan before turning to look at Tao'su. Both men nod and head off after their wives, but not before Tao'su sends a look of worry to Neteyam, who offers him a smile and a little wave.

He doesn't look assuaged until Rotxo, Ao'nung and Tsireya all circle up with him.

"Are you okay, Neteyam?" Rotxo asks, looking up at the taller boy.

Neteyam nods, shifting his weight slightly. "I'm okay. I just... never had a vision like that before." He peaks over Tsireya's head to see the Sullys moving back toward their flying mounts - ikran - to unload their stuff.

"Well, at least it didn't hit you like your usual ones do," Rotxo says, offering a small smile, trying to make light of this situation.

"Yeah, but now we have something else to worry about," Ao'nung says flatly, glaring at his best friend. "Now he can have visions just from touching people."

Neteyam flinches at that. "Sorry to be a bother."

Ao'nung perks at that, regret passing over his features. "No, 'Teyam, I didn't mean it like that - " Tsireya smacks at the back of his head, glaring at him as he shoots one back down at her before looking back at Neteyam. "I didn't mean that against you. I just mean that this isn't a good thing at all."

"Maybe," Neteyam says, shifting from one foot to the other. "But maybe it was just him. He's special. Blessed by Eywa."

"As Toruk Makto?" Tsireya asks, ignoring the look that her brother sent her.

"Maybe," Neteyam offers, not at all sure. He does still hope that in some way that he's like Neteyam. It would be nice to have someone else to talk about this with. Someone who probably knows better than him. Then he remembers the girl. He looks over at the Sullys, to see her helping put things into Tuk's arms. Light thing with a strap that goes around her shoulder.

Tsireya follows his gaze before turning back to him with a pretty smile. "We should see if they want a tour around the village. Also, we could show them to their marui."

Ao'nung glances at her, frowning. "What marui would we use?"

"Probably the one by the forest," Neteyam says easily. "Tsireya and I have been keeping it clean. We were just there a few days, so it should still be relatively clean. Better than most of the others anyway."

"No," Ao'nung says immediately, frowning pulling at the corner of his lips.

Neteyam sends him a softl look, wrapping his arms around his ribs. "Ao'nung, it's fine."

"No, it's not. They can have one of the other ones."

"Those are all dirty," Neteyam protests.

"I don't care. They can have one of the other ones."

Tsireya frowns at that, while Rotxo has creases forming between his eyes as he says, slowly, "Wait, isn't that - "

"Yeah, it's Neteyam's marui," Ao'nung snaps, glaring at Neteyam. "You aren't giving them your marui."

"I'm not," Neteyam defends himself softly, stepping closer to his betrothed. "Let's be honest, 'Nung. I was never going to live on my own. I'm going to stay with my parents until you and I are mated. Then we can move in together. It's been sitting empty for years. Someone should find some use for it."

"We could be mated this time next year, Neteyam," Ao'nung says flatly. Neteyam tries to ignore the spike of hope lance his heart at the thought of being mated to Ao'nung in just a year's time. It's too good to be true. "That marui is the one that you wanted. You have been keeping it clean since your iknimaya. It's yours."

"That was before we were officially betrothed," Neteyam says quietly, peaking over at the Sully's to see them still unloading their things. "You can't be that far to one corner of the village. You have to be able to respond quickly to threats at sea as Olo'eyktan. Our marui will be something either closer to the water or near the center of the village, not nearly past the mangrove tree. It's not tradition."

"Fuck tradition," Ao'nung snaps, frowning more. Tsireya blinks at her brother but doesn't comment. "You want that marui, it's yours. I'd move in there to be with you in our home. We can find another of the other huts for them. They just have to clean them up, like any other person would moving into their own marui for the first time."

"I agree, Neteyam," Rotxo says, creases forming between his eyes. "It's yours by right. You laid claim to it. You've been maintaining it for the last few years. It's yours."

"And I'm choosing to give it to the new forest Na'vi," Neteyam says kindly. "We can't make them clean an entirely new marui when they just got here. How can that be hospitable?"

"They are the ones that came uninvited," Ao'nung says sourly, ignoring the sharp look both Neteyam and Tsireya send him.

"In fairness to them,"Tsireya says kindly, "they didn't just decide one day that they didn't want to live in the forest all willy nilly. They were driven from their home. They were running from the war."

Ao'nung levels a glare at her for playing devil's advocate, running a hand to smooth down the cloak that he's still holding for Neteyam. "They could have gone literally anywhere else, yet they came here. To bother us."

"That's not true," Rotxo says quietly. "They were probably scared and just trying to find some friendly faces. You shouldn't be too harsh on them, Ao'nung."

Ao'nung looks away, shaking his head as he stares across the marui behind Neteyam. Neteyam doesn't really understand the source of his betrothed's anger, but it is reminiscent of when they were kids. His anger towards Neteyam just for existing. He just... doesn't like change, it seems. Neteyam really isn't making it any easier on them by offering up the home that he has been caring for since he became a recognized adult of the clan.

It was one of the biggest huts in the village, but it was far from the shore and closer to the forest than most of the other huts, and it just wasn't worth the trouble for most of the Metkayina so no one really fought Neteyam on it when he struck his claim to it. He liked the idea of being both close to the forest and still having access to the water, even if it was a bit of a walk through the village. He imagined that one day he would be able to fill it with a bunch of babies and live in peace with his mate. But it was much too big for him to live in it all alone - especially at eleven years old.

And, well, his mama begged him to stay with them for another year, just so that they could still look after him and help make everything that he would need to start to fill his brand-new home. Neteyam knew that his mama was against him participating in his iknimaya so young even with Tao'su's reluctant admittance that forest Na'vi tended to go through their adult rites younger than the average reef Na'vi did. Despite knowing that he would mature faster and letting him achieve adulthood, they were reluctant to let him live alone - which he was secretly grateful for, as he wasn't ready to be alone either. He just figured it was something that he had to do, that his family would have wanted of a newly minted adult.

But they wanted him to stay with them for longer, which he was certainly not going to argue with. But it wasn't long after that discussion that Neteyam's connection to Eywa manifested strong enough for the visions to start getting really bad.

It's been unsaid, but Neteyam knows that he could never live alone. No one would allow it. He can barely walk through the village alone. No one was ever going to allow him to spend hours on end all by himself somewhere where no one was keeping an eye on him. No one, not even Neteyam, knows what would happen if one of these visions struck him while he was alone and he fell into the water to drowned or hit his head off of something. Or bit his tongue off or whatever. For his safety, Neteyam is bound to spend the rest of his life being watched over by all the people he loves.

Forever their burden to bear.

Neteyam's upkeep of this marui is just a pipedream he's been holding onto for too long. Besides, even if they hold onto it for another year, and Ao'nung and he move into it, the marui is still way too big for just the two of them. It better fits the Sully family. There is six of them.

"I don't want it anymore," Neteyam says softly, staring at Ao'nung. Rotxo and Tsireya both look at one another, neither believing that for a moment. "I just never really got around to figuring out how to let it go. It's not the marui that matters. It's us. You and me. I don't mind where we go, so long as it's you and me."

Ao'nung frowns more at that as Neteyam steps closer, placing a hand on his shoulder and looking up into his beautiful blue eyes. Neteyam's heart hurts at how upset Ao'nung looks, how sad his voice is, when he whispers, "You don't mean that. You still want that marui, don't you?"

Neteyam wraps his arms around his betrothed, hugging him as tightly as his tired arms can hold the other boy. He pulls back enough to stare up into the beautiful, sad eyes as he says, softly, "It's just a marui. You're what matters. You're my fortress."

While Tsireya goes to help show the forest Na'vi around the village and then to their new marui - after asking many times in Neteyam was sure he was willing to give it up despite his many affirmations that he was - Rotxo, Neteyam and Ao'nung head back to the former two boys' own marui to discard Neteyam's cloak that a somber and quiet Ao'nung was still lugging around, and to gather up some things to bring to the Sullys to welcome them to the village.

Carefully, Rotxo and Neteyam pick through all the stuff that their mother had set off to the side, for this general reasoning to find what they hope would be most useful for the forest Na'vi to have. Ao'nung wasn't any help, he just sat there quietly, picking at the loose threads from a blanket that Ao'nung had made for Neteyam, that he sleeps with every night. He didn't really say anything the whole time he was there and Neteyam knew that he was deeply upset by their discussion. But Neteyam honestly didn't mind giving it up. He was telling the truth when he said that Ao'nung was the only thing that mattered.

Neteyam would give up the world for Ao'nung.

And having known Ao'nung his entire life and was his best friend, Rotxo knew to stay out of the way when the other boy was brooding. It never really ended well for people trying to get into his way when he was in one of his moods. Luckily, sort of, it's more of a sulky one than an angry one. Rotxo can understand why his best friend is so upset. He's upset on Neteyam's behalf, but Rotxo's perfect brother seems so completely serene with all of this. Never ruffled. Never upset. Never an ounce of anger or displeasure on his peaceful face.

Always so quick to let things he wants go. Like he figured he never deserved it to begin with. Ao'nung hates it. Rotxo hates it even more.

Once they're done picking through everything, they gather it all up and head out but not before Neteyam digs around in his chest to pull out something that he thinks that Tuk would like, before going first to the chief's hut, seeing as Neteyam and Rotxo's parents never came back and the Olo'eyktan and Tsahik were last with them, it's safe to assume that they were all together. Neteyam just wanted to make sure that their mother really was okay with giving away everything before they actually did, in case she changed her mind.

Curiously, the drape is pulled closed, meaning that the chief was not openly accepting visitors, but Neteyam's exceptional hearing could pick up harsh whispers from within, reaffirming his suspicion that his parents were in fact there, although curious as to why they would whispering in secret for. But not wanting to be seen as ease-dropping, Neteyam straightens up and knocks on the hard wood beside the cloth covering the doorway.

"Sorry to bother you, Chief," Neteyam calls. "Are my parents in there? May I speak to them for just a moment?"

"Come on in, Neteyam," Tonowari calls back almost immediately.

Neteyam steps past the cloth, holding it back while Ao'nung and Rotxo follow him in before closing it behind them. His parents and Ao'nung's are sitting around in a circle, faces set in even expressions, except for Rhalwari, who smiles faintly at the sight of her two oldest boys. Her eyes fall to the stuff gathered between the three of them and her smile falters slightly.

"Are you bringing that to Toruk Makto?" She asks.

Neteyam nods, half-heartedly offering his armful to her. "It was from our donation pile. I just wanted to make sure you were okay with getting rid of it before we just do. Did you want to look through it first?"

Rhalwari shakes her head. "No, my sweet boy. If it's all from that pile it's fine to go to the Sully family. It's... very sweet of you to think of them. I'm sure that they will appreciate it."

Neteyam flushes a bit, pulling the armload more securely back to his body. "Yes, it's all from the pile. Well, I just... um wanted to check before just giving it away. We should go drop it off before they settle in for the night. We'll be back in a bit."

Rhalwari nods. "Okay, thank you for checking, sweet boy."

"Rotxo, stay with him," Tao'su says, face almost eerily even as he stares back at his oldest biological son.

Rotxo blinks, confused by the command, as if he had any intention of leaving his brother alone as this moment. But he nods regardless while Neteyam frowns at that, perplexed. "Okay. I will."

Neteyam opens his mouth to ask his dad what was obviously upsetting him when Tao'su says, softly, "You look exhausted, Neteyam. Drop that stuff off quickly and come back so we can go home. You need to rest." Despite his even words, worry shines in his eyes as he looks over the slump in Neteyam's posture, the way his normally vibrant tail is hanging limply behind him, only slightly swaying.

He was, admittedly, right. Neteyam is exhausted.

Ao'nung, coming back to life a bit, and Rotxo both glance at him, but Neteyam nods. "Okay."

As they turn to leave, in the corner of his eye, Neteyam catches a frown pull at Ronal's face but it's too fast for him to realize he saw it until he was already leaving with his brother and betrothed.

As they make their way across the net walkways, listening to ilu play around beneath them, past the marui of their clansmen, Neteyam spots the marui that he's been caring for these last few years and there is a tug at his chest, realizing this was the last time he was going to see it as the marui he had spent years envisioning. Soon enough, they will decorate it to make it their own, and it really won't ever be his anymore. He keeps seeing his brother and betrothed casting glances at him in his peripheral, trying to see the sadness, the dejection he must be feeling, but his face remains smooth, his emotions locked up tight.

He stops outside the hut to hear a mixture of enthusiastic and unenthusiastic, "Sullys stick together."

He pauses, not wanting to interrupt anything when he realizes it's too late and the male mate - Tsu'tey - spots him standing there. His ears perk at the sight of him, golden eyes taking him in before his full lips part and he rasps out, "Neteyam."

His voice is... well, it kind of reminds Neteyam of his own. It seems like a raspier voice is more common for forest Na'vi. As both Neytiri and now Tsu'tey both appear to have it. Neteyam tries not to latch onto that connection. Onto that meager little something that makes him... more.

The family turns to face him from their own gathered circle, all the kids - including the girl who was pouting a moment ago - brightens up at the sight of him. Neteyam flushes a bit, gesturing with the gathered items in his arms. "We brought some welcoming gifts, if you are open to them."

Jake's wide golden eyes stare at him for a moment, as if unable to form words, before Neytiri cuts in, glancing at her mate before softly, gently, saying, "Please. That is very kind of you."

"It's a tradition of our people," Rotxo offers, stepping into the marui with Neteyam while Ao'nung trails behind, silently. "Whenever someone moves into their own marui, people bring things over to help them fill it. It's usually reserved for iknimaya, but well, Neteyam wanted to make sure you had everything you needed."

Netyiri's smile is pretty, delicate but breath-taking. "We appreciate anything you are willing to offer."

Netyeam, Rotxo and Ao'nung lay out their offerings, the lattermost stepping back into the doorway once his arms are empty and crosses them to wait for his betrothed and best friend to be done. Jake watches the motion, as do his mates, before their eyes pull back to Neteyam as he carefully pulls everything out and shows it to them. Bowls, blankets, cooking pots, baskets, some things to repair the marui - although Neteyam and Tsireya already checked it over the last time they were here and it all looked fine, but one can never be too careful, marui floors can get worn out in weird places, and if not careful, people have gotten hurt before, falling through their own floors.

Neteyam takes his time to carefully explain everything that he brought, even offering a brief explanation about what to look for if the marui floor is starting to give out. Rotxo would occasionally jump in to add any tips he could think of, or little comments.

"I suggest this blanket for the nighttime," Neteyam says, holding up the largest of the blankets. "It can get kind of cold at night depending on the time of year - as in, right now - but this should help. I know it is very ugly but it's thick and warm," Neteyam says mirthfully, hugging the blanket a bit. "Turns out blanket weaving is not my strong suit, but it has served me well on really cold nights."

"You made that?" Lo'ak asks as Neteyam gently passes it over to Tsu'tey, seeing as Lo'ak is already holding the repair materials, looking through them with interest.

Tsu'tey carefully takes the blanket, golden eyes staring at the fabric as if it was the most precious thing in the world, which Neteyam thought was kind of funny. He must have never seen such an ugly blanket before. This look crosses his face, and it almost looks like he's breathing too deeply, like he can't seem to fill his lungs with the blanket pressed to his chest, chin tilted down, and ears pressed back, but Neteyam then catches a glimpse of the tiny songcord around his neck and has to look away in sadness.

"Yeah, just not very well," Neteyam says, laughing softly, trying not to make his curiosity of the man's actions next to him obvious. "But there is one more thing that I have for you before we let you settle in." Neteyam pulls out a carving of an ilu, that he pulled from his chest before leaving the marui and holds it out for you. "I hope that you like it, Tuk. It's an ilu."

Tuk, who was gently touching the fabric of one of the blankets, looks up with wide golden eyes, locating the toy and the joy across her face is near instantaneous as she nearly lunges out of her mom's lap to take the toy.

"Oh wow! I love it!" She exclaims, excited as she falls back into her mom's lap, golden eyes scanning the toy. "Did you make it?"

Neteyam nods. "I'm slightly better at carving than I am at blanket weaving," he laughs, grinning at the nudge to the ribs his brother playfully sends him. "I had made it for my little brother, but he made sure to inform me that he's too big for toy ilu anymore. So, I carved him a skimwing instead."

Her eyes shoot up to his, fascinated. "What's that?"

"Skimwing is a warrior's mount," Neteyam says easily. "You'll learn all about them once you progress far enough in your lessons."

"Wow," Tuk says, looking down at the toy again, moving it around between small hands, studying all the detail put into it. "It's beautiful."

"Thank you," Neteyam laughs softly, flushing at the praise.

"What do you say, Tuk?" Neytiri says softly, kissing her daughter's braids.

"Oh," Tuk says, flashing a beautiful smile at Neteyam. "Thank you!"

Neteyam flushes more, looking down at his hands resting on his thighs, glancing through the dangling braids framing his face. "You're welcome. I hope you have fun with it."

"Thank you," Jake says, finally seeming to find his voice. His eyes locked onto Neteyam's face, as if trying to somehow commit it to memory. "Thank you for bringing all of this stuff to us." He waves his hand around to the new collection of things to fill their home with.

"You're welcome," Neteyam says, at the same time Rotxo says, "It's no problem."

They both grin at each other when Ao'nung finally speaks up. "We should go. Your parents are waiting for you."

"Oh," Rotxo says, scratching at the back of his head as he stands up. "He's right. Let's go home, Neteyam."

Neteyam nods, also climbing to his feet. He tips his head respectfully to the forest Na'vi before the three Metkayina leave, letting the within finally have a moment to themselves to relax, unwind, and prepare for the start of their new lives.