~A/N ~
Recommended song: Experience - Ludovico Einaudi
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_watuluv_9
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Vareya sprinted through the twisted maze of trees, heart pounding, fear holding a tight grip on her. Her frantic breaths and pounding heart seemed to be the only noise she could hear.
That sound was no longer there, but it only seemed to torment her more. Because she new, Vareya knew it was there. She saw that death machine with her own two eyes, witnessed it begin to land on the islands sandy shore.
With her vision hazy, she didn't notice a tree root sticking out from the ground and tripped over it, falling down roughly. Yet she was quick to get up, didn't care about no dirt, or scrapes, or scratches. None of that mattered.
Her feet picked up pace, her body numb to the pain from her fall and the branches that she's avoiding to dodge, allowing them to constantly whip at her. Then she saw it.
Her breath was stolen as her throat constricted and shivers ran down her spine. Trembling, she collapsed to her knees. Overwhelmed by terror, tears began to stream down her face on their own as she stayed on the ground in a panic-stricken breakdown.
Vareya thought she would be ready, thought all these years alone had toughened and shaped her to be strong for this situation. But just the sight of it has her feeling like that young girl from so many years ago.
She smelled the smoke, heard the repeated bangs, and felt his blood. This was too much, her heart ached so bad not even she could heal it if she tried.
She knew she needed to know what was happening, but she was scared to see it. Scared to see the damage they must have caused. They were probably here because of the Sullys. Tracked them down somehow and were now here to get what they needed before destroying their home.
And that's when it struck her. Neteyam.
With a newfound strength, she was dashing for the village again. No care about who would see her. All she could focus on was her hope that this new Na'vi whom she'd found herself caring for hadn't suffered the same fate as the first one did.
Finally reaching the village, she could already feel all the eyes of the clan on her as she sprinted past them. Their murmurs, whispers, and gasps were all useless background noise that she payed no mind to.
Especially when in the distance, there he was. Neteyam was sitting down safely in front of his families Marui. He looked unharmed, safe, okay. There was no blood, no holes covering his body, and most importantly, he was alive. He was here.
He did look tired though, and worried. His was resting his head on his hands when the commotion around them must've made him look up.
And the second her eyes met his golden ones, a huge breath of relief escaped her lungs. They stood there staring at eachother, as if they were the only Na'vis on this island.
Even from afar she could see his eyes scanning her up and down. He looked confused and concerned as he took in her appearance. Her face was streamed with dried out tears, her body dirty and scathed.
Of course he doesn't understand why she's like this. He doesn't understand what happened that could make her act this way.
But that didn't matter. She wanted to hear him. Vareya didn't care if they yelled at eachother or fought. Maybe it was too soon to feel this way, but she cared for him. That stupid forest boy managed to find a place in her heart, the one that she had closed off for a very long time.
In unison, they took a step forward, ready to greet one another. " Nete-"
Suddenly, a strong set of arms grabbed a tight hold of her from behind. She looked back to see it was her Uncle, his face portraying a look of distress.
She looked back at Neteyam to see a girl beside him, one hand on his stomach as if to stop him from continuing on.
No, she needs to get to him. She desperately struggled to get out of Tonowari's hold, but it was impossible. She squirmed and kicked and screeched like a wild creature, not caring of what people thought of her, yet nothing was going to get her free.
" Neteyam!" she cried one final time before her Uncle dragged her away.
" No no no please I have to see him, I have to hear him tell me he's alright." she begged her Uncle as he took her to a secluded spot.
When he finally set her down, he still held a tight grip on her shoulders and bent down so he was at eye level, " Vareya, you need to calm down! Why wouldn't he be alright?" he asked desperately.
Now that it was just them two, she couldn't help but break down into a sob as her cracked voice attempted to explain what she felt to the only person that might actually understand her.
" I-I saw it. I saw it headed this way and I saw it land. I couldn't help it, it brought back so many unbearable memories and I lost it and I couldn't think. I'm sorry, I'm so sorry but I need to see him, I need to make sure he's alright. They were here to kill him-"
"Vareya, yawntutsyìp, listen to me." he spoke quietly in contrast to her, attempting to calm her down, " One of their daughters fell ill, they called for help, it's not an attack. Your fine, they're fine, we're all fine."
The truth and reality struck her like an arrow to her heart, her legs buckled and she collapsed. Before she could hit the ground, Tonowari caught her.
If possible, he held on even tighter than before. So there they stayed, an Uncle comforting his niece as she cried out in pain.
______
Neteyam couldn't believe his eyes. There she was, Vareya. In the village, with the entire clans eyes on her. He felt his heart drop for the second time that day when he saw how broken she looked.
The first thing that came to mind was that Lengö and his group had finally come back for revenge, but then that didn't sound right. He witnessed firsthand how Vareya handled that situation. It was made clear that it's happened several times before and that it's never sent her running wildly looking for Neteyam.
And the emotions that surged through him when they made eye contact, the silent conversation and understanding they had. Something had happened. Something big and something bad.
And while Neteyam doesn't know what, he could tell by her wide bloodshot eyes and trembling body that she needed him. She had gone there looking for him.
That thought alone warmed yet shattered his heart into a million pieces, especially when he saw the Chief of the Metkayinas, Vareyas Uncle, restrict her from doing so.
That made her go something close to feral. He's never witnessed anyone act like that before. She squirmed and kicked and yelled at Tonowari to release her as all eyes were on the fighting pair.
Neteyam took another step forward, ready to be at Vareyas side and listen to her if she wanted to talk. He was ready to risk everything his family had done to gain respect from the Metkayinas for her.
Ready to make his lie of how close their 'relationship' truly was evident.
For his friend. For the outcast. For Vareya. For the Na'vi that is holding the other side of the invisible string that bonded them together. It was a leap, a big one, but he was willing to do it.
Then he felt a hand stopping him, and when he looked to see who it was, again she surprised him.
Móna stood beside him, looking up as she also spoke with her eyes instead of words. Not taking a full look at Vareya , as if Móna did she would somehow also go wild herself, she only glanced so he got the point of whom she was talking about.
It was as if she was telling him, 'you see? I told you she was mad.'
It angered him so much he had to stop himself from pushing her away, but when he looked back at Vareya she was already being dragged away. And when he heard her broken voice call his name, only the second time she's said his name ever, he felt something snap.
He was ready to chase after her, but then once again, Móna gabbed his hand. He would've shook it away, probably slapped it from how he was feeling, but then she spoke. " Neteyam... look."
Now with Vareya gone, all eyes went on him.
He could practically hear what they were thinking, could hear their questions wondering what that was about. Wondering why the outcast who's lived on their island is suddenly passionately yelling out the name of the outcast who invaded their home.
Luckily, just when the stares were beginning to become overbearing, his father came from the other side of the Marui.
" What's going on here?" He hardly finished his question before the looks dispersed quickly, and the people who were watching scattered in different directions.
" It was nothing Sir, the Chief is handling it." Móna answered for him, Jake gave him a pointed look before nodding at her.
" Fine...your sister is awake but we should let her rest." Jake announced, and a huge weight was lifted from Neteyams shoulders.
Earlier when they had gone to visit the spirit tree, everything was going well until Kiri made her connection with the tree.
She fell into a seizure. Neteyam remembers seeing how his sisters violently convulsing body soon after turned into dead weight. The panic he felt when he brought her up for air and she wasn't breathing, when he didn't feel her heartbeat. He had never been more grateful of being brought up around humans and Avatars until now.
Because of them and his Father, Neteyam was quick to aid his sister by performing CPR. Once he did and he saw her chest rising and falling again, he rushed back to the village where the group hurriedly called for help. Jake of course instantly messaged Norman and Max for assistance and they came instantly, arriving to the island not long after thanks to the rogue gunship they travelled in.
But lately it always seems that when one problem is solved, another one appears. He had to see Vareya. Had to figure out what it was that she needed and make sure everything is alright.
" I have to go, please tell my parents I'll miss dinner." that was the last thing he said before starting to walk off.
" Neteyam! Neteyam wait!" Móna called after him, catching up and staring at him with pleading eyes, " All I'm asking is that you think about this for a moment. You have your sister and family in there that need you. You are all very scared and emotional right now and you may not be thinking rationally."
She took a breath before continuing on, " I know the truth Neteyam. I know that your relationship with her is more than two coincidental meetings. And while it hurts to know you lied to me, I understand why you had too. That girl is only going to bring you unnecessary problems that you don't need. I'm saying this because I emphasize for you and your family, and you guys have already been through so much together. Are you really going to let an outcast ruin that?"
Neteyam stared down at Móna. While he wanted to listen to her, wanted to see where she was trying to come from and the point she was trying to make, he couldn't. The only thing on his mind right now was Vareya. Vareya. Vareya. Vareya. Vareya.
And he could feel it in his very being that right now, she needed him more than anyone.
" I appreciate all you've done for my sister, but I'm going to have to disagree with you. Yes, you are right. I apologize for lying about my situation with Vareya, but in all honestly I didn't see how that would've had anything to do with you. I've been trying to take the things you've been telling me as advice yet that's becoming extremely difficult when all I keep hearing are insults about a person you don't even know."
She looked stunned and hurt by his words but spoke anyways, " Go ask anyone about her and they will tell you the same! I don't know what she's made you believe Neteyam, but she's been living in a dark hole her entire life. If you aren't careful, she'll drag you down with her."
He stayed silent for a while and Móna almost believed that she had gotten him to understand her.
" Do you know her, Móna?" he asked lowly, giving her a blank stare.
" What?"
" I said, do you know Vareya personally or do you know her like everyone else in the clan does?"
Móna swallowed nervously, she knew her answer was not what he wanted to hear. " Fine, I don't know her personally but that doesn't mean what I'm saying isn't true."
" How would you know? How could you possibly know anything about a person if you've never spoken or let alone had an interaction with them?"
" It's hard to have an interaction with someone who hides themselves inside a secluded hut their whole life and threatens anyone that goes near her. She's been through too much Neteyam. Whatever she's going through she needs to figure out on her own. In the short time that I've known you, I can already tell you have a kind heart that cares, but not everyone deserves your compassion."
Neteyam felt his patience wearing thin the more she spoke, " I'm going to say thank you for worrying, but I don't need anyone to look out for me nor do i need any sort of protection. Now if you'll excuse me, I have someone who needs my compassion." He dipped his head slightly, " Goodnight Móna."
That was the last thing he said before walking away from her, not bothering to turn when he heard her yell his name out softly one last time in attempt to stop him.
With that out of his mind, he could focus on what was important. Last time he saw her, Vareya was being dragged away by her Uncle. Where they went he wasn't sure, but he did know that she would turn up at her hut eventually if she wasn't already there.
He made his way to the place he now knows like the back of his hand, dashing into the forest so fast he missed seeing Lo'ak approaching Móna.
" Hey...what was that all about?"
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A/N
Ahhhhh!!! Sorry if this might be a little short!! I hope you guys enjoyed the little mix up to the music, I just wanted to make it more ✨dramatic✨
As always thank you guys sooo much for over 12k reads that is just wowowow! This was all started for fun and I'm so happy to see so many of you enjoying this silly little fanfic as much as I am!
On that note please don't forget to comment I love love love hearing what you guys have to say whether it's good or bad!!
Alrighty I think that's everything, see ya guys next time lovelies!!! MUAH!!!
Love,
_watuluv_9
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