Pathfinder || OC X Neteyam

13 - New Hope

"It feels like there's a giant hole in your heart now. And you don't know how to fix it."

Neteyam looked up at Aha'ri and his eyes softened. "Yes. Exactly."

"I felt like that after our parents died. It was hard at first. But then I started hanging out with Kiri. She helped me get through it. Helped both of us," she gestured to Lurei who gave a soft smile.

Neteyam's eyes fell to his lap again as he played with his loincloth. "If only she were here right now," he said softly.

Lurei sat up straight, her tail rising with her. "Maybe you just need a distraction."

"Like what?" He asked with furrowed brows.

"You said you would try and find a way to bring your family back home right?"

He nodded.

"Start doing that."

"I don't even know where to start," he shrugged. "My Dad barely told me anything about Quaritch. Just that I should stay away."

Gears were turning in Ahah'ri's head as she thought. "Maybe the science guys know something. Max and Norm. They were there when everything went down."

"I guess," Neteyan shrugged again.

She told Neytiri she would fight to bring the family back and she planned to keep her word. "I can-" she hesitated. So much for her plan to be distant from Neteyam. But she couldn't forget her other promise to Neytiri before she left; to look after her son. "I can go with you to go ask them. I'll help you take down Quaritch."

His eyes immediately lit up and he sat up straight. "Really? You would do that for me?"

"Don't get too excited. I'm just gonna help you. That's it." Or at least that's what she told herself.

"Aha'ri, you don't know how much this means to me. I'll let you guys finish your meal." He practically jumped to his feet. "I'll meet you over there?" he asked hooking his thumb over his shoulder.

She couldn't help but chuckle a little at his eagerness. "Okay."

After he was out of sight, she looked back over to Lurei who was smirking at her.

"What?" Aha'ri asked.

Lurei raised her eyebrows and angled her head down so that she was looking through her lashes. A look that said you know very well what.

Aha'ri rolled her eyes and crossed her arms, "Don't give me that look. I made a promise to Neytiri that I would look after him. I also told her I would fight to bring the Sullys back. What is the saying the humans use? 'Kill two birds with one stone'?"

Lurei giggled. A sound she hadn't heard from her little sister in what felt like forever.

"I may not enjoy being around him but I take my word very seriously. You of all people should know this."

"Yeah, yeah," Lurei said, taking another bite of her breakfast.

After Aha'ri finished her breakfast and helped Lurei clean up, she made her way over to the science labs on the other side of camp.

While she walked, she tried to reason with herself that she could look after Neteyam while also keeping her distance. Granted, she made it a little harder on herself when she said she would help him take down Quaritch. But, how hard could it be?

In the distance, leaning on the stair railings, was Neteyam. His face lit up when he saw her approaching and he waved.

Aha'ri gave him a thin lipped smile and a half wave back. But inside, her stomach felt it was filled with shimmyflies.