Pathfinder || OC X Neteyam

3 - The Realization

"Thank the Mother you're okay," Kiri breathed, bringing Aha'ri into a tight embrace. She only half embraced her back, looking up at Neteyam and holding the eye contact. If he wasn't the Olo'eyktan's son she would march over to him and punch him in his smug little face. If she even could throw a punch. The tip of his tail flicked behind him as he held her stare.

His dark brown braided hair reached past his shoulders. He wore his stupid little cummerbund and his stupid little arm guard, practically shoving it in Aha'ri's face that she knows nothing, and he knows everything. And he wore a necklace—just like his mom's.

Aha'ri didn't know she was capable of such hatred for one person. But there he stood, just a couple of feet away from her all high and mighty.

Kiri released her and knelt beside her to get a closer look at Lurei. Aha'ri held her gaze, letting the fire inside of her burn him so that he would never forget that he almost got two innocent people killed for a stupid joke.

Lo'ak reached over and nudged Neteyam on the shoulder, causing him to break his staring contest with Aha'ri. Lo'ak inclined his head and motioned for them to leave.

Before going with him, Neteyam glanced over one more time at Aha'ri. She bared her teeth and hissed quietly, her tail still whipping from side to side. He scowled back at her before Lo'ak grabbed his arm and led him away, whispering something in his ear that Aha'ri could not hear. Hopefully he got the message.

"Aha'ri, let them go," Kiri said, noticing her stare. "I don't know what's gotten into Neteyam. I'll talk to him later."

~

Aha'ri had to get away. The caves of the village made her feel like she was suffocating sometimes.

Even though she missed the village by the river, High Camp was a clever solution to the sky people problem. It even gave her a good hiding spot, high in the floating mountains above camp.

Aha'ri found herself on the ledge of a large floating rock. Large enough to have a ledge for her to sit on with a cave opening behind her. The cave didn't go back very far but she could fit inside if she wanted.

Kilvan sat and kept a lookout, staying on top of the rock so that she could stretch her wings. Her blues, oranges, and purples popped in the afternoon sun.

Aha'ri bent her knees, hugging her legs to her chest as she just looked out to the forest below her.

A calm breeze blew at her braided hair. It felt nice. Aha'ri could stay up here forever. Away from everyone and all her problems.

Ikrans of all colors flew nearby, peacefully gliding in the wind. The rookery was not too far away. This is where Aha'ri felt the safest, surrounded by her favorite animals. This is where she felt closest to Eywa.

She was able to let her mind wander anywhere it pleased. Though, after the morning, she couldn't stop thinking about how powerless she was at protecting her sister.

Or, how Eywa seemed to have saved their lives. She's never seen or heard of that before. The Great Mother doesn't take sides.

Before she could get very far into beating herself up about it, Kilvan squawked and flapped her wings to tell Aha'ri that someone was coming.

Aha'ri didn't bother even moving. She knew who it was.

"There you are," Kiri called from above her as they landed next to Kilvan. Aha'ri just sat there, with her chin resting on her knees.

Kiri jumped down beside her and sat down, feet hanging off the ledge. She could read Aha'ri better than anyone.

She asked in a soft and sincere voice, "Is this about this morning?"

"I need to face it. I'm not strong enough to protect her." Aha'ri paused, struggling to say the words. "I'm disgracing my parents."

Kiri lightly slaps her in the arm. "You are not, Aha'ri. Don't say that."

"Don't lie. I don't even know how to shoot a bow and arrow. What good am I to anyone," she gestures to the air, "let alone Lurei?"

Kiri sat up straight. "Well, how about this. I can ask my dad to show you a couple things. And then maybe once you've learned enough, you can train with the other warriors."

Aha'ri scoffed, lifting her head from her knees and finally looking at Kiri as she spoke. "Like your dad has time to teach me one on one."

She sighed. Aha'ri had a point. But she sat up again. "Well, I can ask my mom then."

Aha'ri furrowed her brows as she thought about it. "Do you think she would really help me?"

Learning from Neytiri herself would be an honor. If she taught Neteyam everything she knew, she could teach her to be just as good.

"Of course," Kiri laughed. "Why wouldn't she?"

Aha'ri just shrugged. No one ever really seemed to care about her and Lurei. She had just assumed no one wanted to help.

"I mean it's my mom or," she smirked at her, "Neteyam."

"Your mom is fine," Aha'ri quickly responded with wide eyes.

Kiri giggled, enjoying herself too much. Aha'ri couldn't help but faintly smile at that. Her giggling turned into a laughing fit—she couldn't stop. Aha'ri started laughing too, only for her friend's ridiculousness.

After a couple of seconds and Kiri not stopping, Aha'ri rolled her eyes and shoved her in the shoulder. "Oh quit it," she chuckled.

Kiri composed herself and here's a moment of blissful silence as they just enjoyed each others' presence. Kiri was the first one to break it.

"So," she drew out, "are you gonna come back to camp now?" Kiri pasted the biggest smile she could on her face, trying all her tactics to get her out of her rut.

Aha'ri smiled at her lap. "Fine."

She didn't know what she could do without Kiri. Every time she felt sad or alone, Kiri was always there by her side. She couldn't ask for a better friend.