Pathfinder || OC X Neteyam

2 - Deadly Encounter

Lurei relaxed but still held her gaze. "Nowhere."

"Is that right?" she said biting off a piece of meat.

"Is that a no?"

Aha'ri sighed. "We can go flying later." Her voice was monotonous. She would've preferred to go out alone but it was the least she could do to keep her happy.

"You should go south, toward the river. The forest is pretty there," Neteyam said from across the circle.

Aha'ri glares at him. "I don't remember asking, but thanks for your input anyway," she said with a smile that didn't reach her eyes.

He bared his teeth, "I don't need your permission to speak."

And at that remark, everyone stopped their side conversations to listen.

She chuckled to herself and shook her head. Of course he would say that. He's the Olo'eyktan's son, and the first born at that. He's next in line to lead and he thinks he better than everyone because of it. Aha'ri was just an orphan who didn't have any survival skills. "You know what you're right. And who knows maybe we will go south." Her tail swished back and forth against the rock behind her.

His ears pinned slightly. "Good."

"Come on, Lurei," she hissed, grabbing her arm and pulling her to her feet. "Let's go."

"Aha'ri, wait," Kiri called out. But she didn't look back as she led Lurei back to their tent.

Aha'ri could've sworn she heard Neytiri hiss under her breath behind her, but she didn't care. It was clear they were not welcome there so she left. Simple.

~

Later, Lurei dragged Aha'ri all the way to Kilvan. She pet Kilvan's face and neck while Aha'ri made sure the riding gear was secure.

Lurei whined, "Come on, Aha'ri. How long does it take you to check the gear?"

Aha'ri glared at her, pausing with her arms mid tug of the gear. "If you cant be patient then we won't go out." Her tail swished back and forth.

Lurei deflates. "I can be patient," she says barely above a whisper.

"Good." She tugged one more time, double checking everything was right. "Alright, I'll get on first."

Lurei backs away with a faint smile.

Aha'ri made the bond with Kilvan and hopped onto her back as she screeched and flapped her wings. Kilvan was excited too.

Lurei's eyes widened as she watched her big sister mount the ikran. It never ceased to amaze her.

Kilvan then bowed down closer to the ground so Lurei could get on easier.

Aha'ri held out her hand to her. Lurei took it and let her pull her up and onto Kilvan, sitting in front of her.

"Ready?" Aha'ri asked with a smirk.

Lurei braced herself on Kilvan and nodded over her shoulder.

Aha'ri smiled, wrapping one arm around Lurei and the other holding onto the grip between Kilvan's kuru. She yipped as Kilvan dove off of the ledge of the cave, down into the clear skies below.

They headed south. Not because of what Neteyan said, but the views were prettier. At least, that's what Aha'ri told herself.

Lurei giggled the whole time. A rare sound since their parents died almost two years ago.

They were originally from an outer Ometicaya village.

When the sky people first invaded, they terrorized countless villages, causing their parents to flee to Hometree—which was also destroyed by the sky people before Aha'ri was even born.