7 years ago...
Vareyas eyes snapped open, and the first thing she felt was pain. It made her scream out, although it came out more of a squeaky gasp.
Her throat burned, her head pounded, her body ached. It was something she has never experienced before, something so bad she thought that she was dead, or would be if she so much as tried to lift a finger.
But when she felt a warm hand covering her own, squeezing gently, she managed to focus her vision enough to evaluate her surroundings.
There was something burning to her right, and when she picked up a crackle then pop noise, she came to the conclusion that it was a small fire. Creating an orange and eerie illumination in the dark space she was in.
Above her, she could see the hint of smoke that didn't escape through the opening, lingering on the fabricated roof of the Marui. Meaning that she was laying face up, on something comfortable, thank goodness.
Her nose twitched on it's own, the strong set of cooked fish overcoming her scent. And something else mixed with it. Crushed Ar'lek seeds, she finally figured out. Yuck, Vareya inwardly gagged.
And although she was practically paralyzed, she pushed through the pain and turned her head to the left. Where a figure sitting close spoke softly to her, the one holding her hand, and a larger figure stood behind him.
" It's okay Reya, you're safe." Kai smiled at her, it didn't reach his eyes though.
While his lips displayed a picture of happiness and light, his eyes told a different story. They were somehow filled with worry and relief at the same time, as well as sadness and anger. For what...perhaps she was about to find out.
" You skxawng, I told you not to push yourself. I thought I lost you snaytu."
She groaned unintentionally before she managed to answer him with words, " I- I told you I'd be f-fine."
Vareya would've laughed at herself if the task didn't sound so exhausting. Because she sounded ridiculous. Claiming she was fine when she obviously was not, just answering him her voice was unrecognizable. Gruff, scratchy, and cracked.
Kai immediately stood after that, rushing to grab a bowl of water and helping her drink. Or at least she had hoped it was water, and oh how wrong she was.
She had gladly accepted it, taking large gulps. Yet as soon as the liquid touched her tongue, it was warm, and strong, and absolutely distasteful.
But Kai was merciless, tilting the cup until she had swallowed all its contents. When she had finished, she couldn't help but gag. The bitter taste still stuck in her mouth.
But before she could tell Kai off, a deep voice, this one strong, natural, and intimidating, not embarrassing like hers, spoke first.
" That will help you heal faster Vareya, do not think of spitting it out." Her uncle, Tonawari, came into sight.
His face was set in a neutral expression, but the way the sides of his lips tilted downwards showed how he was not happy. Especially under the illumination of the fire, it made him look even more upset, which made her feel more uncomfortable.
" Uncle-"
" Kai, you did good today by coming to me the moment Vareya needed help. But right now I need to speak to my niece... alone."
Neither of them missed his tone of voice and the pointedness in his sentence, she was definitely in trouble now. And of course, even if Kai wanted to stay, there was no chance he could ever disrespect his Chief. The olo'eyktan of the Metkayina Clan.
" Yes sir." He nodded firmly, standing tall in front of him before turning one last time to Vareya, " I'll see you later."
With that he left the Marui, leaving them alone together. Her uncle sat down, legs crossed as he looked down upon her. " Sit up child."
She swallowed nervously, embarrassed to say the next words in front of her Chief ... " I can't."
His eyes softened, " Your body may tell you one thing, but it's your mind that controls you."
Vareya did everything she could to stay strong, but there was no way of saying this without giving away pride and not sounding weak.
" But it hurts..."
" I know it does Vareya, but you are a strong girl. Before you put yourself in this situation, you convinced your mind that you were strong enough for this. And I congratulate you for being able to do so without killing yourself, but now you must face the consequences to your decision. You proved you can do it once, do it again Vareya. Sit. Up."
Biting her tongue, she lifted her neck first. Slowly getting her body used to the feel of actually moving again, and just that made her vision spin. Falling back to a laying position, she let out a deep breath, focusing on telling her body that she could instead of what it's trying to tell her.
Gritting her teeth, she managed to get onto her elbows. Her muscles were weak and shaky, making her feel as if her body weighed extra. Despite that, she continued pushing until she was on the palms of her hands.
Vareya also held back the tears that threatened to come out, her eyes already stinging from restraining them. Yet there was no way she would ever let her Uncle see her cry, that was too much vulnerability.
He was right, she convinced herself she was strong enough to heal Kai with no consequences, she would just have to find that strength from deep within again.
A spasm tore through her suddenly, almost making her collapse, and from the corner of her eye she saw Tonowari flinch, his hand automatically reaching out for her.
But he stopped himself, staying in a still position while waiting until she figured it out on her own. A small whimper escaped her as she used the last bit of her energy to lean against the support beam. When she finally did, she was panting heavily.
Curse Kai, but by Eywa was she glad for that drink. Vareya was sure if she hadn't taken that, she would've easily lost consciousness again. Taking one last deep breath, she stared her uncle dead in the eye. Not quite a challenge, but more to show that she proved him that she could.
He let out an unwanted smirk, hidden by pretending to rub his face, then he went back to being serious.
" I have a lot I need to say and ask from you... are you ready or shall I postpone it to tomorrow?"
Vareya shook her head softly, " No, I'm ready now..."
Tonowari let out a sigh before beginning, " Well first I would like to say that you could imagine my surprise when Kai came running to me saying you had fallen ill while performing your- 'talent'. Not the best way to word it during a council meeting but I suppose that was the best he could come up with during a stressful time. Yet what was more surprising, was that he knew of this gift. Not only just knew of it, you've actually practiced it on him."
Vareya gulped. That's right, the only one that knew of her gift was her Uncle, at least that's what he believed . She hadn't had the chance to tell him that Kai knew. Or better yet, hadn't found the guts to tell him.
" I'm sorry Tonowari, he is like my brother, I know I can trust him. And I don't practice it on him, it was only this time... and once before. But it was simply to get him out of trouble I promise. This was the first time the affect has been this... bad."
" Vareya, you are a child, and so is Kai. As much as you believe you can trust him, he's too young to know any better. I'm not saying he would ever hurt you intentionally, but the power you have is something incredible just as it is dangerous. It's no small secret that you can be sharing with whom you please, especially someone like Kai. Someone who's mouth can speak unwillingly and without thinking. It's a risk you took but I hope won't make again..."
Feeling defeated, Vareyas head dropped down. " I understand Uncle, I won't."
As much as she understood where her Uncle was coming from, he still didn't understand. It felt wrong to keep something from Kai. Especially something that took up so much of what she is. She trusted him to keep her secret, trusted him to not let it spill out.
Tonowari sees them as silly children who happen to play once in a while, but Kai was her everything. He saved her when she had no one. He lifted her up when the waves kept slamming her down.
This was something she may regret in the future, but right now, she had none for ever telling Kai. Not that she'd ever tell her Uncle that, she had way too much respect for him to do that.
And on the part of it happening again? Highly unlikely. Her Uncle clearly didn't know or forgot just how much of an outcast she was to this clan due to her looks and mysterious arrival. So even if she wanted to, who else would she possibly tell?
" Good." He answered, " I hope you understand I'm only telling you to protect you Vareya. We don't know what or who's out there. We don't know who could possibly want what you have or want you for what you have. This secret, it must never leave the island. For your own safety."
She felt bad for the grief that swam in his eyes, how despite him wanting to hide it, it still made its way out. His emotion too strong to bare and keep buried. He had lost his brother that day too. If Kantú really was her father just as her supposed mother seemed to claim, what must he feel every time he looks at her.
Does he see some kind of resemblance to his brother? Or does she look nothing like him, acts nothing like him. What if all he has was that dying womans words to trust, a strange woman he had never met. Saying her baby was his brothers daughter, his niece, and putting all responsibility on him. Raising an unknown child all on his own, treating her like family.
And then the warning her mother left him. Vareya was thankful her Uncle told her the truth, didn't leave anything out, at least she hoped so. Because she was able to understand a little more where her mom came from, learn of the dangers her mother escaped. Whatever was out there, or whoever, they had killed her parents. They could very well want to kill her too.
" I know Uncle."
He hummed his approval before reaching a hand out towards her. Vareya sat still as his large hands gently touched her ears, then softly grazed the outline of her eye. " I assume this is new? Or is this another detail you forgot the inform me of..."
Vareya gave him a confused glance. " What do you mean?"
" Your appearance... it's best you look for yourself."
He passed her a large bowl of water, then grabbed a large piece of wood from the fire to use as a torch, that way she could have proper lighting. And when she looked at herself, she couldn't believe her eyes. This was definitely something new.
Going to feel for herself, where her ears would usually end, they didn't. They were longer, thinner, and pointy. And her eyes, oh by Eywa how horrid the sight. Her usual violet eyes were gone, all color wiped out entirely.
She wanted to retch. Bringing her knees to her chest, she covered her face from her Uncle, once again holding back tears. " How could you bare to see me like this? I'm a monster..."
With her face hidden, she couldn't see Tonowari but she heard him. He seemed to shuffle closer to her, because she felt his comforting hands soon after, gently patting her arms for her attention.
" You are no monster my child. When I first laid my eyes on you as a baby, your hair, it was brighter than any pearl I had ever seen. Your eyes, so striking you make the jewels of the universe jealous. And your gift Vareya, bestowed upon you by Eywa herself. You are not a monster, you yourself are a gift. That day your mother came to the island, it wasn't a burden or a task I felt obligated to take care of. You are my niece, my brothers daughter, family. And whatever this is, even if it scares you, I want to go through it with you. If you'd let me..."
Vareya hesitantly lifted her head, her hauntingly white eyes now covered with red veins from her tears.
She couldn't speak, didn't have the words to say after what she had just heard. Vareya would be lying if she said she completely believed it, but it did bring her some relief. Turns out not all she had was Kai. She's forgotten her Uncle, her family.
With a firm nod, she threw herself at him. Wrapping her arms around his neck tightly as they stayed there in each others comfort.
Her Uncle. Tonowari. She can't wait to see how their relationship grows...
5 years Ago...
The rain was coming down hard, just as it had been for the past few days. The unrelenting weather hydrating and drowning the forest of the island. The fauna of pandora have taken cover the best they can, hiding from the powerful gusts of wind and the unrelenting drops of water that fell from the booming sky above.
Dark clouds seemed to be never ending, continuously rolling in, each carrying their own storm. A large lightning flashed across them, brightening the darkness and revealing the threatening sight surrounding them.
Waves crashed into each other, the sea rising as great mountains. A picture of anger in the form of water, turbulent and unforgiving.
Another ear splitting crack seemed to shake the ground as Vareya stood in front of Tonowari. They each bore a cloak although it offered little protection in weather like this.
The fabric ruffled in the wind, just as their hair did. The droplets falling on her skin felt like a thousand thorns were being pressed against her, but she didn't move. Didn't dare too.
" This is not how you want go about this child."
There was only a couple feet between them, but the loudness around them required him to raise his voice.
" I am no longer a child Tonowari. I am a murderer of my own kind." She said stoically as another crack echoed in the sky.
" It is not your fault Vareya. You can not seclude yourself from the rest of us, from me. We are family, we can get through this together. Don't you remember my promise?" despite his raised voice, it still sounded gentle. As if he was being careful, as if he knew one wrong word would scare her away.
" My decision has already been made and all I ask of you is that you respect it. I was never apart of this clan, I was never apart of a family. There is a chance I'm not the daughter of your brother which means you owe nothing to me. I will stay on this island for your sake, but I want my space. I hope I made myself clear."
What else could he possibly say to save her. She was lost, broken. Half of her died along with Kai, there was no mistaking that. But it hurt to see his niece like this, to know that this was the way things must end. He helped build her hut, but that was all she asked of him. She was still young, a child despite her claiming otherwise. He couldn't let her go.
" Please Vareya..." Tonowari tried one last time, begging his only option. His last resort.
She stared at him for a second, and another lightning made her dead eyes visible to him. The brightness that used to shine in them were gone, replaced by a look of detachment from the world completely.
" I'm sorry." Was the last thing he heard his niece say to him before she turned her back, walking deeper into the darkness, and never looking back.
~~~~~
A/N
5 freaking K reads.... 5k!!! Thank you guys so so so so soooo MUCHHH! This is honestly such a surprise that so many people gave this story a chance and stuck around.
So thank you to all my earlier readers, u know who you are, who have stuck around this long I love u guys!! And ofc to my new readers as well!! It makes me so happy to write for every one of you!
Alrighty, next I would like to say that this chapter was a little diff. Call it short or long, but I thought it would be too much to add what I wanted too after this. Because originally, it was supposed to be a small flashback but I just kept writing and writing and writing and decided this fit into the story pretty well. So you guys can kinda get a little more understanding of how Vareya was before and after the incident and how her relationship with her Uncle changed as well.
EITHER WAY, I hope you guys enjoyed it and thank you for your patience🙏🏼🙏🏼 my schedule had been INSANE and it's really hard to write between my practices and school blugh. But I love this story and writing it especially with all your sweet comments and support so thank youu!! Stay tuned for the next chapter and see you then lovelies...
Oh and lmk of any errors you saw that I maybe have missed pls!! MORE NETEYAM AND VAREYA NEXT CHAPTER, OOOO SPICYYYY!!
MUAH!!
-love, _watuluv_9
VOTE COMMENT FOLLOW👁️👅👁️