Ma Neteyam

33

He heard her call on repeat as he raced through the dark forest, praying to Eywa that she would guide him, that his ears would allow him to find her.

He felt himself slipping, the islands ground slick from the pouring rain, but he ignored the pain. Only stumbling to a sprint once again, letting all the branches smack him as he rushed onwards.

Neteyam. Her voice repeated in his head again, pushing him, making him exceed his limits, giving him life to keep going. To not want to give up. His Vareya was alone, she was hurting, and the name she called was his.

His. His name. Vareya. His Vareya...

"Neteyam."

He saw her face.

" Neteyam."

He saw her tears.

" Neteyam."

Saw her moonlit hair shining brightly, saw her violet eyes sparkling as she stared at him, saw the most ethereal smile plastered on her face...

" Neteyam!"

He froze, coming to such a halting stop that his legs still tingled from the sudden change in movement. The breath he released from the sight before him caused him to collapse. He held a hand over his mouth to make sure no sound escaped, used the other hand to clench it into a tight fist, because he was using every cell in his body to stop himself from going up to her.

Using all the strength in his very being to hold himself back from wrapping his arms around her, from showing her she was no longer alone, that he was there.

But he knew he couldn't. Knew he could only watch as Vareya hung there, arms tied tightly above her. Could only watch as the rain slowly washed away the dark red liquid that stained her once pearl white hair. Could only watch as those horrid people taunted her.

" Go ahead, call out the boys name again! You know you want to." he heard one of the girls snicker as another used their tail to whack her stomach. Although Vareya didn't cry out, he saw her body convulse as the force of their massive tail made her lose air.

" Look at her, look how pitiful she is. Calling on a boy who doesn't even care." The other taunted as she took turn in hitting her, this time on her back.

Neteyam was about to rush forward, so blinded by rage that he even imagined beating up those two girls. Imagined tackling them to the ground, imagined punching their stomach while taunting them, letting them see how it felt. He could feel his weight shift forward, entirely ready to pounce, when a deep hidden voice stopped him.

" Txana, leave her." before the owner even showed themselves, Neteyam knew exactly who it was, " She must be well awake when the boy is brought to me."

" Lengo, I understand, but she was getting comfortable." Nothing about Vareyas current situation or position would be described as comfortable, " I needed to remind her."

He sauntered up to the girl, build triple the size of her as he said, " And we will, when the time is right."

At that moment, two boys came yelling from behind him. In a panic, he dropped himself and laid on the ground, hoping the shadows were enough to conceal his figure. So when the boy luckily went running past him, dangerously close, he let out a breath of relief.