Moonchild | Neteyam

11

Immediately Níawi and Riik'o gasped and turned to look at her, twinning expressions of shock on their faces. "That is not true," Riik'o disagreed, "Have you seen Ao'nung?" She turned back around to look at him dreamily, "Too bad he's Tsireya's brother.."

Erìhe bit her lip to not burst out laughing. "And Rotxo," Níawi added. Her and Riik'o shared a look that showed that they both agreed with her statement.

When Erìhe looked back at the boys, they had all left their ilu and were jumping over the eyes of the pools, making their way higher and toward them. Riik'o and Níawi could not contain their smiles as the boys approached.

"What is going on here?" Ao'nung asked as he neared, "Forest girl, I see you've already made friends." He grinned as he crouched down by the edge of the pool so that he was right in front of her.

Erìhe smiled at the name. He did not use it to make fun of her - he probably thought that it was charming and she found that fact amusing. "Mhm," she hummed and looked over her shoulder at the others. Níawi, Riik'o and Aluva were looking back at her with wide eyes.

Ao'nung had not so far shown any liking toward any of the forest people, yet here he was - talking with Erìhe.

Ao'nung looked down at the top that Aluva had been working on. It lay on the edge of the pool. "What's this?" He pointed to it. His friends had caught up with him, and Rotxo was now sitting next to Riik'o, his legs thrown over the edge and into the water.

"That is a top I am making for Erìhe," Aluva told Ao'nung.

Ao'nung smiled and turned his eyes back to Erìhe, "It will suit you."

The group of boys stayed for a while - talking and laughing with them for a decent amount of time until they noticed that it was almost eclipse. Erìhe had hurriedly taken Tuk's hand and ushered her out of the pool - she did not want to worry Neytiri by having Tuk back home later than when they had agreed. Tuk had been happy to meet the girls and Erìhe was beyond thankful for their new friends.

When they stepped inside the pod it was empty besides from Neteyam. Erìhe looked around, "Where is everyone else?"

Neteyam looked up at her, "Eating," he responded simply.

"Oh," Erìhe voiced before looking down at Tuk, "Let's go eat then." Tuk nodded and started pulling at her hand to lead her to the gathering when Neteyam stood up from his spot by the fire.

"What are you wearing?" He asked, frowning.

Erìhe sighed as she could sense that he would somehow turn this into a great deal. "Go find your parents, Tuk," she told the girl. Tuk looked back at her older brother before nodding again and scurrying off. When she was gone, Erìhe rested her hands on her hips and turned to look at Neteyam, "I'm wearing clothes."

"No shit," Neteyam scoffed, "I meant why are you wearing Metkayinan clothing? And why is your hair like theirs?"

Erìhe looked down at her new outfit as one of her hands reached up to feel the braids that Riik'o had done on her. She rather liked the many beads and pearls that adorned her skin and hair. She loved the way that they sparkled from the light that came from the fire. "My friends gave them to me."

"Friends?" Neteyam repeated.

Erìhe nodded smugly, "Turns out I am rather likable and it's only you who despises me."

Neteyam took a double take. Had she believed that she was unlikeable because of how he treated her? Brushing it off, he just gave her a hard look, "I'm just wondering why you're so quick to turn your back on your roots."

Erìhe looked dumbfounded, "Excuse me? I'm wearing different clothes. How is that turning my back to my roots?"

Neteyam shrugged, "It just seems like you don't miss home at all."

"Am I supposed to cry every night because I miss the fortress and my friends? I do miss them," Erìhe frowned, "I haven't seen you moping around either."

"Well-" Neteyam started to say something but then realized how ridiculous he sounded and shut his mouth again. He always found himself picking fights with the girl over the most laughable reasons - things that made no sense whatsoever.

Like right now. Who got mad at someone for wearing different kinds of clothes?

He watched as Erìhe looked at him incredulously. Her hands hung by her sides as her brows furrowed. He was starting to feel just as confused as she looked.

Neteyam's eyes drifted to her armband that she wore proudly on her left upper arm, and he knew that she was not so quick to give up her old life.

He nodded after a moment of silence. "Let's go eat," he said as he walked past her.

Erìhe scoffed and watched him walk away.

Seriously what had been his deal? He got so angry over nothing and then he became uncharacteristically quiet. As she watched him, she could see how his head hung slightly, how his eyes looked down at the ground. And suddenly she understood.

He missed home.

He missed it so much that he was taking it out on her.

"Wait for me," Erìhe finally called before hurrying to catch up. It was easy since Neteyam had stopped in his steps to turn to look at her as she made her way toward him.

-
A/n:
2227 words-

Also the eyebrow thing is getting old guys.. I love you all so so so much (🤭🫶😚💗) but the anger that I feel when someone says "What eyebrows" - I can't even explain it. Try writing facial expressions without mentioning eyebrows, be my guest.

THAT SOUNDS SO PASSIVE AGGRESSIVE but also I'm being so fr.. like I'm a person who uses her eyebrows a lot to convey emotion and I also think every person is like that (which is also why the Na'vi often have STRIPES to act as eyebrows, cause otherwise we would not be able to see all that emotion) so I feel like I have to write things like "he raised his brows" !! Also I often use the word "brows" IN HOPES THAT I WILL NOT GET THAT COMMENT but I get it anyways.

So sorry for that teeny rant, I love you guys <33 even those of you who can't resist the urge to comment about the eyebrows <33