Pathfinder || OC X Neteyam

Author's Note: 

Hello everyone! I've gotten a lot of new readers over the past couple months and I just wanted to say thank you for showing this story so much love. I have been writing this fic ever since the second movie came out and it has gone through so many rough stages so I am so thankful that you guys are enjoying the story. 

Unfortunately, school had me drowning in homework for the first half of the semester BUT things are looking up. I apologize for taking forever to write these past couple chapters buttttttt I have a new one for you!

I'm making it a goal to be bit at least a little more consistent with my writing so I can keep the momentum of the story. But thank you again for showing this story so much love, I'm so so so glad you're enjoying it so far! <3

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Aha'ri and Lurei were eating breakfast together by a fire in the main part of camp. It's been a week or so after the Sullys left and things were still awkward. They usually ate with the family, but now, it was just the two of them...again.

They've both been going through the motions, not really speaking of the obvious emptiness in their daily lives.

Aha'ri hasn't found a way to comfort Lurei other than distracting her. So, she pushed for more hunting in the mornings and training hand-to-hand at night. If not for the distraction, then for some kind of routine in the chaos.

They're almost never in the village anymore. Going down to the forest has seemed to clear both of their minds and allowed them to focus on something other than the Sullys.

Because of that, Aha'ri hadn't seen much of Neteyam since he's been busy with his new responsibilities around the village. But she was certainly not complaining. Though, that wouldn't last for long.

As they sat by the fire, Neteyam came and sat next to them with a thin lipped smile. "Hey. How are you guys doing?"

Aha'ri made eye contact with Lurei, silently communicating multiple things in one moment.

Aha'ri took a deep breath. "We're doing fine. Thank you for asking," she replied, paying no attention to him. She thought that if she acted disinterested, he would go away.

There was a moment of silence. Aha'ri's heart felt like it was being dragged in two different directions. On one hand, she felt bad being cold with him; it's not like she wanted to. But on the other hand, the closer she let him get to her and Lurei, the bigger hole the hole in her heart is going to be if he were to ever leave—just like the Sullys did.

"How has it been being olo'eyktan?" Lurei asked, breaking the silence.

Aha'ri pressed her lips into a line. She would have to talk to her sister later about Neteyam.

He hesitated and his eyes fell to his lap for a moment. "It's...great."

Aha'ri finally looked over only to see conflict on his face. She stopped eating when she noticed the bags under his eyes.

Before she could stop herself she asked, "What is it?" She flinched after the words came out of her mouth. So much for sticking to her plan.

His eyes were distant. "It's just a lot. Everything is overwhelming. I have no idea what I'm doing. And this is the first time I've ever been away from my family for an extended period of time. It-" he sighed and his ears dropped. "Yeah it's just been a lot."

She could tell he wanted to say more, but was holding back. He really needed someone to talk to and they were some of the only people left in the village who really knew him. The thought made Aha'ri's heart ache.