#na'irani x neteyam

[marriedtolike18fictionalmen]

Our Infinity of Stars

So I finally got the courage to post some of my writings again, feel free to dm me with any thoughts, edits, critiques, etc. or if you want to be tagged in future additions that will come soon! (a week or so?)

Enjoy!

Neteyam. My best friend, the man I had found myself falling into love with after we passed our iknimaya together. The man I couldn’t bear to look back at as I flew away from our clan, following my brother eastwards, towards our mother’s home. The Metkayina.

Powerful swimmers and warriors, although they opted out of the great war, choosing to stay safe in the maze that is the thousands of islands they call home. Where I will call home forevermore.

I chanced one last look over my shoulder and I saw Neteyam’s strong silhouette at the front of the crowd, his face painfully blank as his tail curled around his leg.

~ᐧ~

I land my large ikran, Syura, next to my brother’s smaller one. I hold my hands up in a non-threatening gesture as a crowd engulfs us, hands grabbing at our thin arms and pulling on our tails as we walk towards them. At my hiss of pain, Syura lands next to me, her large body shielding us as she ferociously hisses at the crowd. Screams ring out and weapons are grabbed in the moment it takes for me to make tsaheylu, “Mawey, Syura. We are guests in their home, behave yourself.” She instantly calms down, just as a large man, clearly the Olo'eyktan by the way the crowd parts, approaches.

Adib steps forward, apologizing for the intrusion and display of the ikran moments before. Understanding what he said through the link, Syura lets loose a string of curses aimed at him, not caring I could hear her through our bond. My laugh rings out in the silence as she huffs. 

“I apologize for my ikran,” She bares her fangs at me. “She doesn’t like others to speak for her.”

A woman marches up past the chief, what was his name? Tonowari? Doesn’t matter. This woman is clearly the Tsahik, her intricate clothing giving her away. “Who are you?” she demands, stopping a safe distance away from us.

“Our mother sent for us.” ‘Rina’s voice rang out from beside Adib. It was the first thing she’d said the entire day. Leaving Ateyo behind had been hard on her. 

“Eanayo, if you know her.” I added, and glanced around as a shock seemed to pass through the crowd. The woman’s ears fold back. 

“Children! There you are!” A musical voice rang out as a woman with features like mine stepped forward. “I was beginning to become afraid that Adib never told you I wished for you to come live with us! Y’know, your ikran is a lot larger than I imagined, Na’irani.” Her eyes seemed to dig into my soul, eyes exactly like mine. ‘Rina looked over at me, astonishment dancing across our matching features at her correct usage of my name. “What? Surprised I can tell you apart? You, Na'irani, have two stripes just along your cheekbones, she only has one larger one that seems like two because of the way it’s split. You may not remember me, dear, but I still remember you. And in any case, I was at the funeral. I saw you all there.”

Adib stepped forward into her embrace as I raked what little memory I had of the event a month ago, trying to remember seeing her there. As they embraced I regretted not going with him as he flew back and forth between the Omaticaya and the Metkayina for as long as he had an ikran, our mother knew him, not me or 'Rina.

“I’m sorry I never came to visit. There was just so much to do back in the forest. I couldn’t leave them high and dry for a month at a time like Adib did.” The apology pushed past my lips before I could stop it. 

My mother smiled, dimples appearing across her cheeks. “Oh, nonsense. I’m just glad you’re here now.” She went and started grabbing our things, “and I’m sorry about your father. I know we had our differences, especially about my coming back here and him staying back there, but I truly did care for him.” 

The crowd slowly dissipated, satisfied that they could find out more as we stayed with them. The three of us followed our mother, arms full of our belongings as she led us to a large hut on the ocean’s edge, split three ways. “I do hope you don’t mind sharing, I put up walls so you could have some more privacy, but couldn’t get three mauris all together.”

We set our stuff down, automatically taking the usual setup with Rina on the right, Adib in the middle, and me on the left. “It’s perfect, thank you.” I smiled at this woman I hoped to get to know now that I had the chance.

“Hello? I hope I’m not interrupting.” A tall boy around my age came around the mauri my mother identified as hers.

“No, no Ralak. Please come in!” Mother turned to us as Ralak introduced himself. “I’ve asked Ralak here to help teach you the ways of water, I wish I could myself but I must help with the little children, they have no other teacher but myself.”

Ralak grinned at something Adib said, clearly they will be friends. “I’ll give you guys some time to settle in, if you need any help, my mauri is just around the corner.” He politely excused himself to leave us be, and Mother did the same, adding something about giving us some breathing room before tonight’s banquet in honor of the latest wave of new adults freshly back from their Iknimayas.

~ᐧ~

That night, Mother helped us get dressed in the Metkayina clothes, Adib borrowing something of Ralak’s and Rina and I wearing some gifts courtesy of the clan.

“These are comfortable. Omatikaya clothes aren’t nearly this light.” Rina made small talk as Mother helped me pick out some appropriate accessories from her collection. We looked up to see her spin around in her fancier loincloth and a new top made of pearls and shells.

I grinned at our near-matching tops, and bragged about the waistbeads I had donned that matched my top. We bikered for a moment before agreeing that she gets to wear some beads in her hair, but we both donned our usual arm bands, hers a courting gift from Ateyo and mine a matching one with Neteyam, ones we made together a few moons ago, right after the war broke out again. 

At the dinner I fiddled with the beads of my armband, talking with a girl a few years younger than me. Tsireya, her name was. She was kind and pretty, the daughter of the Oleyektan. When I told her Ralak was to be teaching my siblings and I, she practically melted.

“He’s gorgeous, right? Like, how does someone be that perfect and cute!” her eyes were far away as she twirled a piece of her wavy hair that was just long enough to cover her shoulder blades. 

“Y’know, you remind me of someone back home. Lo’ak. He’s about your age too.” I was hit with a sudden pang of longing for his little quips that never failed to make the entire room laugh.

Tsireya and I continued talking, and we made plans that tomorrow she would show me around the clan and introduce me to all her friends, as long as I help her gather some fruits. She hated climbing the tall trees the fruit sat at the top of, but I could scale the tree in seconds, it was nothing compared to the forest trees that were so vast that one could comfortably sleep on one of the higher branches and not worry of falling.

~ᐧ~

As the sun set the next day, I returned to my mauri, cheeks and belly sore from the laughter I experienced that day, Rina and Tsireya by my side and Adib and his new best friend sparred down at the beach. Apparently Ralak wanted nothing more than to learn hand to hand combat, and Adib was willing to teach him.

“You taught him the basics? Guess I’m gonna have to help you both out.” At Adib’s offended expression I laughed, “Oh, please. We all know you can’t spar for shit. That poor boy is gonna get his ass handed to him if he ever goes against someone who knows what they’re doing.”

“He’s not that bad.” A deep voice rumbled from the entrance to the hut. I turned to see Ralak walking in, a bowl of fruits in hand. He held up the bowl before setting it down in the makeshift circle we had made in the 'living room' of the mauri “Although I’d like to see how good you are if you think he’s bad.”

“I am not bad! Maybe not as good as you, oh great Rani, but not all of us can be both a knowledgeable tsakarem and a good warrior.” Adib’s expression soured as he started to pout. “In any case, I’m the one who helped you master your beloved bow and arrow.”

Everyone dissolved into laughter as we glared at each other, smirks playing on our lips as we joked.

~ᐧ~

Five years had passed since we came to the Metkayina. Life continued in this way, my siblings and I assimilating into the culture of the Metkayina people gracefully. I made friends with many of the girls my age, and maybe started something briefly with Ralak after he taught my siblings and I the way of water. That didn’t last long.

“It was mutual! We just didn’t work out as a couple, friends are more of our thing.” I tried explaining again to my group as they rolled their eyes. 

“You had the most desirable man in the clan, yet you decided to be “just friends”? There is no way.” Ninat squeaked out, much to the mirth of the entire group.

“Not everyone is hopelessly and endlessly in love with him! Especially not me.” I shot back, everyone again laughing as Ninat rolled her eyes with a pout.

“What’s so funny?” I heard someone call out from behind, and as I turned to greet them, a shower of water fell on my head. “Ralak! What the hell?” I cried, wiping the water from my face. I shoved his chest as he sat down, grinning over at me.

“You never answered my question.” he prodded.

I rolled my eyes, “If you really must know, we were talking about your hopeless, undying love for me, and how I completely shattered your heart, and gave every other girl in the clan hope by friendzoning you.” Ralak’s face twisted into a look of confusion and slight terror.

“Okay, sorry I asked.” He settled onto his arms as Adib plopped down in-between us, a large hickey proudly displayed on his neck.

“First off, how dare you assault my eyes with that hideous thing, secondly, why is it so bad, like it has bite marks, are you dating a girl or a vampire?” Adib stuck his tongue out at me, scrunching his face up.

“Oh shut up, no need to be sour because you aren’t getting any now that you broke up with my best friend.” He leaned closer to me, shaking his head so the water in his loose curls splashed across my face again. “With that said, can you please fix it?” He practically purred the last part, I shoved him away, again wiping off my face. 

Glaring at them, I said, “The both of you are the worst." I turn to Adib. "I’ll heal you just so I don’t have to deal with that hideous thing anymore.” They both grinned, Adib falling into a position similar to Ralak’s, resting his weight on his arms as he tilted his face up to the sky to present his neck to me.

I dug in my bag and pulled out a balm I made of dapophet and a mixture of other roots. I applied it to the area, biting back a grin at his hisses of pain and lifting a brow at his glare. “Adib! Stop fidgeting so much, even a child could sit still while I do this.” I chided him, shaking my head at his childish behavior. I finished quickly, dropping a kiss on his cheek as I stood up, motioning for Rina to follow me. “We promised the Tsahik we’d gather some supplies for her, see you guys around!''I explained to the group. A chorus of goodbyes were thrown over shoulders as we walked away, heading into the sandy forest to gather some roots and leaves Tsahik Ronal asked for. 

After we returned, the Tsahik apologetically asked us to go back and get one more thing. “We are almost out of haldi root, if I’d have known before I would have asked then. You wouldn’t mind going and filing these baskets?” She handed us two small baskets that I had woven the moon before. Lightly teasing her, we agreed and Rina quickly went to our mauri to grab some extra daggers for the tough roots.

The Tsahik turned to me after Rina’s back had retreated far enough. “Ralak was asking after you again. I think you should rethink your reje-”

I cut her off. “No. I will not marry him.” I whipped around as Tsahik Ronal’s long fingers gripped my thinner arm, I had been dreading this conversation.

“You refused Aonung. I understood. He is still a child despite his age.” She hissed, eyes narrowing. “But Ralak? He is a great man, he passed his iknimaya three moons ago, and has yet to choose a woman because he is awaiting your acceptance of his courting.” Ronal’s hand tightened around my arm yet again, her eyes narrowing as she scanned my face.

I pulled away from her grasp. “Ralak is a fine man, yes. A good hunter, a strong warrior, a kind soul.” I sighed. “But I do not love him. Nor do I love Aonung or Ro’rin, nor any of the others!”

Ronal sat down across the hut from me as I finished my rant. I went and kneeled next to her. “I am eternally grateful to you for allowing me to train under you as tsakarem. I truly am, but I can’t marry any of these men.”

Ronal’s face softened as she looked into my eyes and saw the unspoken truth I held deep inside my soul. “You long for someone in your birth clan.” It was not a question, nor did it require for an answer.

I straightened up as 'Rina’s footsteps drew closer. She peeked her head inside as I stood back up. “Ready to go?” Her smile fixed my soured mood, and I nodded, not sparing a glance back to the Tsahik.

[marriedtolike18fictionalmen]

Our Infinity of Stars (FINAL)

TYSM EVERYONE WHO'S READ THIS

ILY ALL SM

ENJOY

I walked into the Tsahik- my tent, greeting and ushering in everyone who’d gathered at the door to wait for me and the other healers. The first clansperson in was a pregnant woman, she looked slightly green and I could almost smell the nausea rolling off of her.

“Here, sip on this.” I handed her a cool cup of water, remembering it was the only thing other than the tea Mo’at makes that helps her. “I’m assuming you need some of that tea?” She nodded her head, rubbing a hand across her belly. “We can try something else for the nausea. In the sea clans they have a plant that the pregnant women swear up and down is the only thing they can eat when the nausea hits, I have some dried if you would like me to add it to the tea?”

She looked excited at the idea. “Oh, please. I will try anything at this point.”

I quickly brewed the tea, adding in the seaweed like plant and handing her the finished product after a handful of minutes. Within a few sips, she looked visibly better. “This shit works miracles, it worked so quick!”

I grinned at her praise from where I kneeled, examining her stomach, “If you’d like I can bring a cup over for you every morning. At least then you wouldn’t have to walk all this way just for the tea and a checkup.” I finished my check as she rambled on about how nice it was I’d even offer, and how excited she was for her soon to be baby.

“I can show you the cot Tahni made! He worked so hard, it’s adorable. I’m sure Neteyam will be the same way, he’s always been a caring boy, it’s only gotten better as he grew into a man.”

I felt my cheeks heat as I walked her out, but still smiled to myself. “Yes, I’m sure he’ll make a great father.”

“Who’s making a great father?” I whirled around at the sound of Neteyam’s voice, my cheeks burning.

“Neteyam! Perfect timing as always, If you would, please escort her home. Pretty please?” He stepped forward, holding an arm out for her to hold onto as he dropped a kiss onto my cheek.

“Sure thing, gorgeous. And ‘Rani. You’re also here.” I slapped his chest as he laughed.

I rolled my eyes as I turned, “Don’t listen to a word he says.” I squeezed her hand as she laughed, and patted Neteyam’s cheek before I walked back inside.

After about half an hour, I’d helped four people and was stitching up the arm of one of the hunters as his mate chided him for not being careful, Neteyam walked in.

“Hey, darling,” I looked up to see a very flustered Neteyam. I tilted my head and tried to see what happened through the bond, but he was very focused on the meal we’d shared last night. Why are you being weird? What’d she say to you?

Neteyam’s tanhi glowed brighter and he shook his head as he sat down and started a conversation with the man I was finishing up helping. His mate and I shared a look, and we both shrugged before joining the conversation.

After I’d helped everyone for the day, I was cleaning up with Neteyam’s help. “How come you aren’t doing something else? Training with the hunters or helping the warriors in training?”

He shrugged, getting the last of everything organized. “Maybe I wanted to spend time with my beautiful mate. My father was training the younger ones, and not much else going on so I had a free day and decided to come help you out.”

Neteyam’s tanhi began to glow, and I carefully looked through the bond of what had happened earlier.

I laughed as ma’Rani slapped my chest before saying something to Sarina and walking back into her tent.

“Wow, ‘Rani is a lucky girl.” I looked down at Sarina and she clarified. “I mean, you look at her as if she hung the stars in the sky.”

I smiled, “If anything, I’m the lucky one. I don’t deserve her, she’s too good for me.”

Sarina laughed as we walked. “Only a guy who doesn’t think he deserves his girl is the only one who actually does.”

We chatted as we walked slowly towards her home. “Y’know, when you two have kids, they’ll be so gorgeous. I snapped my head towards her, “Oh, don’t make that face, it’s true! How long are you going to make me wait, you both have been Olo’eyktan and Tsahik for almost a year and a half now. You’re young and in your prime, now’s the time.”

I laughed it off, handing Sarina off to her mate who’d just arrived. I hurried off, ‘Rani and I’d never really talked about when we’d want kids, I don’t want to assume anything. But what if she’s waiting for me to make a move? Or if she doesn’t even want kids, I would be perfectly fine with or without kids, I dunno what she’s thinking though.

I smiled as his worries flooded through the memory. I had turned around to re-wrap some of the bandages. “Y’know, ‘Teyam?” He hummed from across the room. “We’ve never really talked about kids. I mean, at least not seriously.”

I heard Neteyam shift from where he was seated on a cot. “We can talk now, just for my curiosity, is there anything that brought this up?”

I shook my head quickly, maybe too quickly from the look on his face as I turned. “I’ve just been thinking about it lately, y’know, just in my downtime.”

Neteyam walked avore to where I stood. “If you’re asking me if I want kids, the answer is it is up to you. I would be overjoyed, more than that, if we were to have kids. But even without that, I would be the happiest man in the world just being with you.”

I cupped his jaw, “Good, because I really want kids. One. Maybe two if it’s twins, but I don’t want all that stupid competition that comes with a sibling that’s older than you or having to look out for a younger sibling constantly if you’re the older one.”

Neteyam grinned, “Thank god, I could never survive with more than two, three tops.”

I grinned up at him, pecking his lips. “It’s a deal then. We’ll have one or two, three tops, kids.”

He kissed me softly, “Sounds like a plan.”

~ᐧ~ Almost a year had passed since that conversation, and we’d created a routine and balance of leading the clan, and still having time for just us two. I’d stopped taking the tea that prevented pregnancy, but Neteyam and I agreed that we’ll just let it happen whenever it does instead of stressing about actively trying.

I’d been feeling sick lately but was hoping it was what I thought it might be and had gotten it from Neteyam until I was sure. “Mormor Mo’at?” I peeked inside the tent of the former tsahik, wanting it to be more special.

“You think you’re with child, don’t you?” I reeled back from her words.

Blinking, I asked, “How’d you know?”

Mo’at pulled me into the tent, “I know these things, my child. May I?” She pulled the wooden dagger from her necklace, and I offered a finger. She poked and gathered a drop of blood off my finger, then raised the dagger to her tongue. She smiled after a moment, nodding her head.

I couldn’t help it, I wrapped her in a tight hug, which she gladly returned. “Thank you, mormor Mo’at.” She simply patted my head.

She shooed me off, telling me to just take the day off from my duties as she’d take care of the tent for today.

Neteyam, can you get the day off? I wanna spend time with you… I felt Neteyam’s concern flood the bond, and within seconds found him running into our hut where I had prepared the surprise for him. “How the hell’d you get here so fast?”

Neteyam panted, brushing his hands over my body. “I was worried, you never take the day off unless grandmother asks you to.”

I pressed a firm kiss to his cheek. “I’m okay, I swear. Just wanted to spend the day.”

He grinned, pulling my body towards his. “In what way?”

I shook my head, “You’re so dirty sometimes, we can do that later. When your sister won’t walk in.”

I stepped back, hiding a grin. “Could you check the oven for me?”

He gave me a confused look but complied. “What the hell?” He turned with a singular bun in his hand. “The oven is cool. Why are you keeping a single bun in it? We ha-” he dropped the bun as he realized. “Are you saying?”

At the sight of my grin, he launched across the room, scooping me up. He kissed me deeply, then dropped to his knees in front of me. He cradled my waist, talking to my stomach. “Hi there little one, I’m your dad.” I held his face as he continued talking to my belly, and he eventually picked me up to lay on the bed, never stopping his conversation except to kiss me periodically.

I brushed my fingers through his hair as he spoke, thumbs gently rubbing my stomach. He tapped twice and I looked down at him. “Boy or girl? What’s your bet?”

I thought for a moment, my thumb stroking his cheek. “Boy. It’s what I’m hoping for, so…”

Neteyam had made a face. “No way. Girl. Girls are so cute and soft, and boys are rough and tumble. I want a girl. A boy would be nice too though, someone to mess around with. And I can raise a gentleman who loves his gorgeous, kind, loving, caring, generous, strong woman of a mother. But I can also raise a girl who is the same way.”

I laughed. “Not even born and this baby already had your wrapped around their finger. Thank you for the compliment my darling. Seems I also have you wrapped around my finger.”

Neteyam grinned, “Can’t complain, it’s nice serving you.” We were quiet for a moment, then Neteyam rested his chin carefully on my leg. “You do know that I’m going to spoil the shit out of you, right? You won’t have a single worry or complaint anytime in the future.”

I groaned, secretly looking forward to his fussing.

~ᐧ~ “Tsaro! What did you do?” I groaned seeing my son covered in mud.

He grinned, “Oh c’mon, sa’nu, we were having fun!”

I hid a smile between my lips, and turned to the other one. “Etuwa? How did you end up letting him cover you?”

Neteyam appeared behind them, also smeared in mud. I groaned, “You three are insane. I’ll be there in five, I don’t wanna get this top dirty.”

The twins ran off with a cheer, Neteyam chasing after them with a grin after smearing some mud on my cheek with a kiss.

“Those boys love you too much. Ralak dreams of this one being like them.” I turned to ‘Rina where she sat talking with some of the other ladies.

Tsireya scolded Lo’ak where he jumped up to join his brother and nephews. “Tell Ralak that those boys are more than a handful sometimes, maybe he should watch them for a week to see how absolutely amazingly fun it is.” Lo’ak was now pouting next to Tsireya, who I could tell was about to give in. “I’d suggest you guys join us, the kids would love it.”

“Speaking of kids, where’s ours?” Lo’ak said, peeking his head out of the hut. I slipped behind a curtain to change into an old top.

As I walked out to follow Neteyam and the twins, a group of little heads ran past me into the arms of their father. “Dad! Can we please go play with Etuwa and Tsaro? Please?”

I smiled and walked off at their whines and Tsireya’s fake groan, Lo’ak and his girls quickly catching up. “Tsireya’s gonna kill me, she just did their hair.”

I grinned at Lo’ak, “She’ll join us in five minutes, those girls have the both of you wrapped around their cute little fingers.”

Lo’ak groaned, “I wasn’t supposed to be the soft one, that’s Neteyam’s thing!”

“Please, you went all goo-goo eyes as soon as you stepped foot on the beach all those years ago.” I drawled as we neared the river. A flying ball of mud splattered my front and I gasped as my little demons came running up to me.

“Gotchu! Bet you didn’t see that coming!” I grinned as I grabbed a handful of mud and rubbed it all over their chests. They screamed with laughter as they dragged me off into the muddy river bank.

Neteyam splashed some water on us, and Etuwa jumped into his arms off a branch hanging above the water. Tsaro and I ran in as well, and the twins ran off again, splashing each other and playing as Neteyam and I watched. “They’re so perfect. I love them too much.” he sighed, leaning against me.

I casually grabbed a bit of mud, “I know, you can’t say no to their little requests. Neither can I, for that matter, they’re too good at using us.” I smeared the mud all over Neteyam’s face and ran off, screaming as he grabbed me around the waist and hauled me over his shoulder into the deeper waters.

He dropped me in, much like all those years ago back at the beach, and when I surfaced, this time the laughing faces of my Neteyam and our little ones were grinning down at me.

That night, as everyone was asleep, I couldn’t help but look around at the sleeping faces of my family. The little stars gifted to me by the Great Mother, and my own personal sun laying next to me. And the way I cherish the infinity between moments I am gifted with them,

My Infinity of stars.

[marriedtolike18fictionalmen]

Our Infinity of Stars (pt. 11)

The ceremony was lovely, Alira looked gorgeous, and Adib had literal heart eyes when he saw her. They both never took their eyes off one another, and I swooned a bit at their clear adoration.

We should do this. Back home, maybe? Neteyam’s voice purred in my mind, and I started imagining what it would be like.

I turned to him. “I just realized; your birthday is in two weeks!”

He smiled. “Mhm. And I get to spend it back home,” with the most beautiful woman Eywa has ever made, he added silently.

My cheeks grew hot, and I broke eye contact. ‘Rina had of course figured it out simultaneously with Ateyo, and so Neteyam and I’s bet was off. I wasn’t at all upset about it, we both knew that he’d gladly grind all the leaves for me and I’d take the heat for Lo’ak. Neytiri and Jake liked me better anyways.

We sent the happy couple off to do their thing, and went home to pack up then get a good night’s rest. We’d planned to leave in the morning so we could make it halfway by nightfall. “I can’t believe we can finally go home. I’m so excited to see the forest again.” I spoke into the silence as I packed a top carefully, the last thing to do before we left.

“I don’t wanna be with ‘Rina anymore.” I froze as Ateyo spoke from behind me in the doorway of my mauri.

Whirling around, I felt my jaw drop. Ateyo sat on the edge of my hammock. “It’s just, I keep on comparing her to the image I made up in my head. From memories. She can’t compare and I keep blaming her for that, but then I feel guilty so I try to make it up to her for something in my head and we end up not even talking like we used to.” I rested a hand on his shoulder.

I somehow managed to speak. “Dude, you need to tell her. Gonna be honest, didn’t see this coming, but you really need to talk to her.”

Ateyo shot up, “I have to do that now.”

He ran off to find her before I could get another word in.

“Trama dump of the year, amiright?” I smiled as Neteyam’s voice came out from the curtain he had hidden behind when his brother came in.

“You can say that again.” Neteyam helped me pack everything up, his things already packed from our teamwork.

“I did kinda see it though. I didn’t wanna think too deep into it, but they don’t feel the same as before.” And neither do we, but we found each other while they already had it.

Neteyam nodded, and we turned to see the empty mauri after all my stuff was gone. I felt a small pang in my chest at the thought of leaving. I'd been living here for almost seven years now, but my chest roared at the thought of seeing the place I’d always called home.

“Ready to go, you two?” Jakesuli’s voice sounded from the entrance into my mauri, and I grinned up at him.

“Always. I cannot wait to see everyone, and go to all the old places, and be around tsahik Mo’at more. I missed her a bunch.” I rambled on, and Neteyam added in different things as well as the three of us, Jakesuli, Neteyam, and I, gathered all of my baskets, a total of five as Neteyam’s stuff was packed in there as well, to the ikrans.

“Takutai can take three, can Syura take the other two?” Neteyam started strapping on the baskets to Takutai and I did the same with Syura.

“Yeah, she’ll be fine.” I stroked her long neck after the first basket had been attached. Isn’t that right my beautiful girl? She flapped her wings in agreement with a small screech.

Everyone strapped their things to their ikrans. I planned to return in a week to bring Adib, Alira, and my mother back, just so the ikran weren’t overworked. With a promise to see everyone soon, I clicked my tongue and we took off.

~ᐧ~

Yips and shouts filled the air as the unmistakable Sully family swooped down into the village. I grinned as cheers filled the air before we landed, some of confusion at the extra ikrans, but most happy as Neteyam landed.

I dismounted Syura, giving her a chunk of meat and getting the heavy baskets and harnesses off her so she could rest, and when I turned to go to Neteyam, I found him surrounded by his usual group of girls. Don’t say anything, this is amazing. Golden boy, you’ve just made my day. Neteyam glared at me, his annoyance ringing through our bond, and I laughed before going and helping everyone else with their ikrans.

I felt a hand on my shoulder and turned to see many of my old friends standing with Adib. “Bro, stop being a recluse. Get your ass over here!” I rolled my eyes at Adib, smiling and greeting everybody else. 

“You’ve changed so much! Last time I saw you, we were the same height.” I smiled at Saeyla.

“Girl, I’m barely a few inches taller than you. Not my fault you’re a midget.” She shoved me, and I laughed.

Her brother came over from talking to Adib. “Hey, it’s been forever! How’s things been?”

I smiled politely. “Atan, it’s great to see you again! I’ve been well, just living as a Metkayina. But I’m more than glad to be back.” I’d dated him briefly for a few months before my siblings and I left.

“Yeah, same here. What are the guys like over there?” I held back a growl at his less than discreet way of trying to find if I have a mate. Jokes on you, my mate is standing two meters away.

I’m totally gonna mess with you. I willed my tanhi to glow slightly, “Oh, uh. Y’know. Tall, muscular. They’re built more strongly than most Omatikayan. Broad chests and stuff.” I shook my head, pretending to be clearing my mind. “Sorry, that’s not what you were asking, is it? THey’re nice guys, not good at hand-to-hand ‘cause of the way combat works over there.”

He nodded, backing off. “Yeah, that’s cool. I’m just gonna-” he gestured somewhere and turned on his heel, running off.

I laughed about it with Saeyla, and after a few minutes, decided to go greet Tsahik Mo’at.

“My child, I am so glad to see you once again! My visions tell me you have grown into a fine young woman, and I already knew you were a talented tsakarem.” She embraced me lightly, holding me at arm’s length to see me.

I couldn’t help but grin. “Thank you, tsahik, I am more than elated to be back. I hope you will allow me to join you once more, to learn under you.”

She patted my head. “My child, I would love nothing more.” She leaned in closely. “These newer students are not good at listening to directions, you and I work better together.”

She shooed me off, and I raised my fingers to my brow and inclined my head as I left. “Oel ngati kamie, Tsahik.” She returned the gesture, and I walked off.

~ᐧ~

A week had passed, and I had easily returned to my old habits as if I’d never left. With the addition of sneaking around with Neteyam and trying to learn all the new children born and paths those my age were on.

Jakesuli had stepped back into his role as Olo'eyktan at the insistence of the clan. We were gathered after a feast when he stood up, addressing the clan. “My people, there is something I feel I must say. I speak from the depths of my heart when I say how happy I am to be back. Going to the Metkayina, I learned much about other clans and saw deep into my own heart. It is with this sight that Eywa granted me, that I pass on my mantle.”

Gasps rang out all around me, and my eyes flew to Neytiri, who was sitting with a smile on her face, watching her mate. 

“I pass the title of Olo’eyktan to my son, Neteyam. He has shown he has the capacity to learn and change, and he is ready. If anyone wishes to challenge him, now is the time.” He paused for a moment before continuing. “I am getting old, and I want to spend time with my family. The clan elders have decided Neteyam is the best path for our clan, and so he will take my place.” Jakesuli held a hand out to Neteyam, and I pushed him up.

“Go, Golden boy. Your birthright awaits.” His shocked face turned to me, and I smiled up at him.

The clan elders had come to the front of the crowd, and Mo’at lifted the feathered ceremonial piece from Jake’s shoulders to Neteyam’s. “You know, my child. It is tradition that you choose a woman now. Who is your choice?”

As Mo’at’s words rang through the crowd, many women stood and hurried to the front, blocking Neteyam from my view. However, his voice was clearer than the water in the Metkayina beaches as he spoke. “I have only ever wanted one woman. The woman I mated to a handful of months ago.”

The crowd parted as Neteyam strode towards where I sat, frozen in shock. “I promised you that I would make sure you lived up to your nickname didn’t I, my queen?”

He pulled me up, kissing my knuckles as he lowered himself to kneel before me. Even more gasps rang out, and fake gagging from Lo’ak behind me, but all I saw was him.

I sighed dramatically, “Must you always be so dramatic? I wouldn’t dream of refusing you or the responsibilities that come with being your mate. I pinky promised, didn’t I?”

He grinned and led me back up to the elders. Mo’at placed her shawl on my shoulders, then the necklace she always wore. “You’ll of course have to make it your own, I wore it well for all these years.” I laughed and thanked her. “I am proud of you, my child. I would want no one else to take my place.”

I bowed deeply towards all the elders, “Oel ngati kamie. Thank you, for choosing Neteyam as our next Olo’eyktan, and for allowing me to return home.”

I felt Neteyam’s touch on my hip, and I turned and smiled at him. He smiled back, and the clan cheered for us. 

Neteyam spoke through our bond, I want you to know that I am going to absolutely ravage you as soon as we get home. We’re living at your place, it’s further from everyone else and I am not holding back.

My eyes widened as I whipped around to look at him. I am talking to your baby sister right now! I only got a smirk in response. “Riri? What happened?” Tuk’s little voice asked.

I touched her head. “Nothing my little darling. Your brother made a silly joke in his head.”

Tuk nodded and ran off to hang out with her friends. I went over to stand with Neteyam, and he wrapped his tail around my thigh and slung an arm over my shoulders to keep me there. I entwined my fingers with his and gave a light squeeze as the conversation turned towards asking us about the Metkayina clan.

“I mean, they do have like, sea green skin? They blush instead of glow, which was an adjustment at first.” Neteyam answered someone’s question.

“Mhm, and their stripes are wavy. They also wear their hair looser than we do, I don’t know how it isn’t horribly tangled.” I added on.

The group continued to ask us questions, then some of the girls who used to trail Neteyam wandered over. “So, Neteyam. When’d this happen?” One of the girls, Ameini, asked, gesturing in between us.

I stifled a laugh at the rage that tore through Neteyam at her disrespect. Mawey ma ‘Teyam. She’s not worth it. Just say something backhanded. I calmed him through the bond.

He smirked, and I caught on quickly. “Seven years now? I’m not sure actually. When did we first-”

“Eight years ago, sweetheart. Right after our iknimaya.” He was talking about when we first stayed out past curfew, but we made it sound more devious. In any case, the look on all those girls' faces was more than worth it.

One of the nicer ones grinned. “THat’s so cute, did you stay together even all those years apart?”

Everyone snickered and Neteyam glared at them. I dated a little bit, had my first time with Loralei before she met Kulukut. “You guys need to get over yourselves, it’s getting tiring having to deal with all of you like you're squealing twelve-year-olds who just discovered boys exist. I’d suggest you run along, you might miss your date with your right hand if you don’t.”

I burst out laughing at his ruthlessness, as did everyone else in our group. The girls spat out some insults directed at me, but I just laughed harder. “Speaking of dates, my mate and I have somewhere to be. If you’d excuse us-”

Still giggling, I dragged an angry Neteyam away. We jogged off to our secret hangout, a hollowed out tree we’d kept some blankets and the such in before we were separated. Of course, those blankets have found other uses, so now we have new ones as well as a hammock slung up and some extra clothes.

Neteyam dropped down into the hammock after peeling the feathery mantle from his shoulders. “This thing is so extra, I kinda love it.” He sighed as he lay back.

I followed his lead, taking the heavy shawl from my shoulders. “How did I end up benefiting from your birthday gift? In any case, these are only for big events. I would actually die if I had to wear that thing constantly, I dunno how your grandmother did it.”

Neteyam sat up, looking at me with an odd expression on his face. He jumped up. “You wait right here, don’t move. I will be right back.”

I watched as he literally ran off back towards the village. I shrugged and lay in the hammock, smiling at his remaining scent. I must have fallen asleep because the next thing I know I hear Neteyam climbing back up. I stand from the hammock, walking over to greet him and rubbing my eyes.

Neteyam held something behind his back. “Here, move your hair and turn around. Keep your eyes closed!” I did as he wanted and a necklace fell around my throat. I looked down after he stepped back to see a gorgeous, intricate necklace with different layers. “So you can be easily recognizable as tsahik, but also not have to wear all the heavy jewelry.”

I turned and saw Neteyam had donned a necklace passed down from one of his mother’s old friends- Tsu'tey. “They match.” I commented, looking between the two pieces.

Neteyam chuckled. “Yeah, my mother would have worn that one had my father not pulled a reverse card on everybody.” He kissed my forehead, “I’d argue that it was made specifically for you.” I traced the lines of Neteyam’s necklace, running a finger down the ikran claws sewn in and the feathers hanging from it.

“Thank you, ‘Teyam. I-” A loud roar sounded from behind us, and Neteyam pushed me behind him as we both turned to see a large palulukan clawing its way up the tree. 

I scrambled backwards, throwing Neteyam’s bow and arrows as I grabbed my own. “Mayday, mayday, Pathfinder and I are in deep shit, we’re trapped by a palulukan in a tree near the waterfall!”

My comms roared to life as Jakesuli responded, telling us to hold it off until they got there. I fired an arrow at its eye to distract it while Neteyam pushed it back long enough for me to get out of the tree. Once safe, I fired more arrows one after the next to let Neteyam get away, and he climbed up to me where I sat well above where the palulukan could get us.

The others arrived on their ikrans, scaring our attacker off and giving us a ride back to the village.

That was a close one, we might have to find another secret spot now. I told Neteyam through our bond as I settled behind Neytiri on A’ya. “Thanks for the save, sa’nok.”

She smiled at me, “Bah! It is nothing, my child. Lets me have an excuse for taking a flight with my mate.” I grinned and we talked about the gift Neteyam had given me in the few minutes it took to get back. “It was so cute, he came running up to his grandmother and demanded that she give him the matching necklaces that were made for Tsu’tey and I all those years ago. As soon as he’d thanked her for finding it, he ran back off again, he was there for maybe two minutes.”

Laughing as she dropped me off back at the village’s edge, I thanked her. “Irayo, sa’nok.” I inclined my head as I brought my hand down from my brow in a silent thanks before she took off.

“So, I know I said i’d fuck you seventeen ways to Sunday, but I’m kinda tired. Wanna just go to bed.” Neteyam rested his chin on my shoulder from behind, and I turned my head to plant a kiss on his cheek.

“Gladly. I call little spoon though.” At the start of a pout from Neteyam I added, “I’ll need my mighty warrior to protect me, won’t I?”

As we walked towards our hut, Neteyam kissed my temple, “Of course, ma paskalin, anything for you.” He held the curtains from my path as we got to our home. “After you, m’lady.” I laughed at his gesture.

“Why, thank you, kind sir.” I slipped into a horrid accent as I spoke, dropping a kiss onto the corner of his mouth as I entered.

I splashed some water onto my face and tied back my hair with a ribbon Neteyam had made for me soon after we mated when he felt how annoying flyaways were with my hair type. I collapsed onto the hammock, straight into Neteyam’s arms.

He kissed me deeply, pouring all his love and affection into our bond, and I fell asleep with my head resting on his shoulder, tucked under his chin, and his arms holding me close like his own personal teddy bear. “Nga yawne lu oer, Na’irani. Truly, with all my heart, I swear to love you past the time the last stars die.” I grinned against his chest.

Leaning my head up, I kissed his jaw. I love you, Neteyam. Not ‘too’ ‘cause that means I love you in addition to you loving me, I love you unconditionally, I always have and I always will.

I wouldn't want to stand by anyone else’s side as Olo’eyktan. It’s only ever been you, even before you left, I always saw myself in front of the people at your side. That dream never really changed. I felt his happiness added on to my own. Guess my birthday wish came true this year.

I hummed, and he tightened his arms around my torso. I let my eyes close, and drifted off into sleep.

[marriedtolike18fictionalmen]

Our infinity of Stars (pt. 10)

I finally finished writing it!

I awoke to the feeling of Neteyam’s gentle caress of my back. I smiled into the feeling, nuzzling my face into his neck as I reveled in the pure joy remaining from the night before. “Good morning Princess. How are you feeling?”

I smiled, tilting my face up. “I’m feeling lovely, thank you.” His fingers grabbed my chin, pulling my face towards his. Sometime in the night, our queues had disconnected.

“I could get used to this, y’know.” His fingers restarted their path up and down my spine, tracing the tattoo there. At my confused hum, he clarified. “Waking up to you. Like this. Every morning.”

I kissed his nose. “You can’t escape me now!” I laughed. You’re such a dork.

“Hey! I am not a dork!” He protested. I was taken aback.

“I didn’t say that out loud…” His eyes widened and we sat up in unison, glancing down and seeing our braids both sitting well away from the others. “I fucking knew it. And you laughed at me last night! Hmph.” I feigned annoyance, and his arms wrapped around me from behind.

“I can’t say I’m surprised, darling. You’re always really good at guessing these things.” I smiled, leaning into his touch. A warm feeling spread through my chest, and I started wondering about if he could feel my emotions as well.

He chuckled, hearing my thoughts. “I believe so. At least to some degree.”

We lay there for some time, speaking solely through our minds. A thought crossed Neteyam’s mind, and we sat up discussing it. 

How are we breaking the news to everyone? I thought.

He shrugged. Well, we could always just not hide it whatsoever. Just randomly kiss in front of them.

Or we could sit both our families down together and tell them. My brow furrowed at the pure awkwardness of that, and we silently agreed to not do that.

His fingers drummed on my skin where they rested. We could also continue what we’ve been doing lately. Just not outright flaunt it.

I do kinda wanna get used to the newness of being a mated woman. I smiled at the fact I can call myself that now.

Neteyam also smiled. So we’ll just do that then? Continue as we have been, I mean.

I brushed a braid away from his face. Yeah, that sounds right for now. He kissed me softly. “We should head back. Maybe separate once we get closer to the beach.”

He stood and helped me up, kissing my cheek. “You take the ilu all the way to the mauris and I’ll hang around the beach and catch a few fish to have an excuse.”

We slid into the water, and his ilu swam up to us as we exited the cave. Neteyam climbed on and I slid behind him, holding on tightly to his waist. He held onto my thigh as we took off, and we surfaced every so often so I could catch a breath.

As we neared the sand, he jumped off. Take her to the mauris, would ‘ya boy? The ilu clicked and Neteyam quickly pressed a kiss to my lips before stepping back, grabbing a net from the ilu’s pack before we sped off.

I pulled myself up from the ilu as it stopped at the mauri, and gave it a sliver of meat before it sped off. 

“And where exactly have you been?” I jumped at my mother’s voice, thankful for the large necklace I had worn yesterday before we had even left for the gathering. 

I smiled greeting her. “Good morning mom. I just went for a morning swim. I drank a little last night and wanted to clear my head before the morning.”

She tilted her head. “So why are you on Neteyam’s ilu then?”

“Because, mom. I happened across him fishing at the beach and he offered to have the ilu take me back.” She rolled her eyes, believing it for now.

“That boy is so smitten with you. You know that, right?” She smiled. “He asked me for your hand yesterday. I told him that if you were to agree, I would be more than happy to have him as a new son.”

I felt some guilt at my white lie. I’m gonna tell her. I can’t lie, ‘Teyam. I said through the bond.

Okay, darling. I can tell my parents too. Just not siblings yet. He answered quickly.

“About that mom. I wanted to talk to you.” We walked down to her mauri a ways away from the rest of them, where we could have more privacy. I told her everything, not in detail, but how we’d been together for a while now. And how last night had been the night. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, I knew that you were kinda hoping I’d end up with a Metkayina boy, but Neteyam is everything I could dream of and more. We should’ve told you, but I was worried about your reaction.”

My mother pulled me into a hug. “My child, I would never force you to marry anyone. Yes, I wouldn’t have complained if you did end up with a Metkayina man, but I would never stop you from marrying anyone. I’m sorry you even had to think about that, or that I would be disappointed in you for who you choose to love.”

She pulled back and placed a kiss on the crown of my head. “Can I give you motherly advice now? I may not be the best person for it, but I’m definitely not the worst.”

I nodded and she smiled. “Now, Neteyam is one of the best, no, probably the best man I could ever wish for one of my daughters, he’s respectful, humble, yet knows his worth. He protects and loves his family with all his heart, and from what I can see is a wonderful man. I know this because he told me all of this yesterday. He told me about how happy you make him, and how he doesn’t think he deserves you. And the only man I’d even think about allowing me to get close to my daughters, is a man who thinks he doesn’t deserve them.”

She held my shoulders, looking into my eyes. “He’s a good one, so I want you to love him even when he does that thing that’s gonna drive you insane. That’s the mistake I made with your father, he only wanted to go and visit his friends back in the forest every month or so, with you guys of course, and I didn’t want him to go. And at that time you were all in your screaming all night, didn’t let me sleep, so the next time we had an argument, I let it all get to me. That was my greatest mistake, and I pray to Eywa you don’t have to go through anything remotely similar.”

“Mom, I can promise you, I will do my very best to keep him. In any case, he’s such a simp that I think he’d rather die than lose me.” She nodded.

“Okay. I have no clue what that means, but I’ll trust in your judgment.” She lightly pushed me away. “Now go tell his parents, I have to prepare a dish for my co-parents-in-law. Is that  term?”

I laughed standing. “Sure, mom. But we aren't telling anyone else than you and his parents. Not even siblings for now. We have a bet on who’s gonna figure it out first, actually.” 

She waved a hand, dismissing me with another kiss on my hair and a light push out the door.

Neteyam, darling. Where are you? I called out through the new bond. 

I smiled as his smooth voice answered from behind me. “Right here, Princess.”

He hurried to my side, wrapping his tail unconsciously around my thigh as we walked towards the beach where our siblings often spent their free time. “How’d it go with your parents?” I asked, my own tail swaying back and forth leisurely. 

“Good, actually. My mother knew, of course. She must’ve put two and two together when neither of us returned home last night.” His tanhi sparkled at the memory. “I’m assuming the same for you?”

I wrinkled my nose at him. “Of course it did, somebody had asked my mother for her permission.” He coughed to cover up a laugh as I poked his side. 

Wrapping an arm around me, he nuzzled his head into my hair. “I couldn’t possibly go behind your mother’s back! Plus, if your brother found out that I didn’t ask, he’d skin me and let the bugs do the rest.”

“Yeah, he can be overprotective sometimes.” I chuckled at the image of his face when he realized.

You can say that again. Neteyam’s thoughts rang through my mind. “I kinda wanna go on like, a weekend trip back home. Maybe all of us can. From what I think Ateyo is planning, it’d be the perfect opportunity for him to finally propose.”

I perked up, “Really? Let’s do it then. I’ll have to pack really nice clothes, for all I know they’ll hitch up immediately.”

“You mean like us?” Neteyam’s grip tightened across my hips, a smile painted across his lips. 

I wrinkled my nose, “no, they’d probably stop drop and roll right there.”

We walked towards ‘Rina’s mauri, and found an unexpected sight. I coughed loudly to get their attention, my back turned so they could arrange themselves from their makeout sesh. Jeez. This is why I don’t like to go looking for them. They’re horny teenagers.

Neteyam looked up to the sky to hold back his laughter. Darling, what do you think that cave was? If anything, we’re horny teenagers.

“You’re good to turn around now…” ‘Rina called from behind us, and Neteyam and I turned to ask what we’d come for originally. 

“Wanna go back to the forest for a day or two?” Neteyam asked, a grin barely showing from his lips.

I bit the inside of my cheek to not laugh. Ateyo grinned. “That’d be fun!”

‘Rina had begun to stare at me. “Can I talk to you?” she asked, already pulling me out. 

I stumbled behind her, “I can walk, there’s no need to pull m-”

“Is Ateyo planning to dump me?” She cut me off, a crazed look in her eye.

I shook my head. “What? No!” The opposite, really.

She sighed, “okay, because he’s been really affectionate lately. More than usual. I mean, we’ve, y’know, done stuff before, but he’s been different lately. And he doesn’t talk to me like how we used to, since they came here it’s just been kinda superficial, but I didn’t notice until we started living together and it’s kinda getting to me. He’s just so different now. Neteyam too, now that I think about it.”

I froze. “Uuhh, I’m not sure. I mean, those two are a literal cult sometimes. In any case, they don’t talk to me about that stuff.”

‘Rina gasped slightly. “Oh, I’m sorry! I’m always talking about my relationships, but you’re kinda alone now. Especially with Adib busy, and me, and Neteyam’s been running off, so I think he has someone too,” I zoned out, holding my laughter back. How am I gonna survive until she puts two and two together. My sister isn’t the sharpest tool in the shed sometimes…

~ᐧ~

Eventually, I calmed her down and we went back to the mauris for dinner. Today everyone was eating together, Alira’s family, mine, and the Sullys. 

“So, kids. There was something we wanted to talk to you about.” Jake started, the adults all sharing a look. “With Alira joining the group in a few weeks, and everything back to normal in the forest, we were thinking of going back home.”

Everyone froze, and I stared at Neteyam where he sat on his father’s right hand. ‘Rina’s head was bobbing in between our stare as Neteyam and I started talking through the bond.

We both turned as Ateyo and ‘Rina drew a breath in unison, “Wait a damn minute, did y-”

Ateyo’s words were cut off as Neteyam dove across the group to slam a hand over his mouth. “Not. A. Word.” He growled out.

Everyone narrowed their eyes before returning to their interrogations of each other, passing the odd action off as brothers being weird.

Eek, close call. I said as Neteyam settled back in his place.

“We leave after your ceremony. Of course, everyone here will be coming with, Alira’s parents excluded. If any of you kids want to stay back, you can, just living with them rather than either of us.” My mother said, a finality to her voice.

[marriedtolike18fictionalmen]

Our Infinity of Stars Masterlist FINISHED

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

Part 7

Part 8

Part 9

Part 10

Part 11

Part 12

[marriedtolike18fictionalmen]

Our Infinity of Stars (pt. 9)

Hee hee 😈

I took us to an underwater cave I knew about, it had a view of the stars in an air pocket that could only be accessed from ikran or underwater by ilu. We broke the surface, and Neteyam gasped.

“Look at that fish!” I followed where his finger pointed to see an ugly fish staring up at us. “It looks just like you!”

I splashed him with some water and dove under as he tried to get me back. I tugged him under, and he gave me a long, slow kiss. When we surfaced, I was out of breath. “How the hell do you always do that?” I asked. “Just, dazzle me. It’s unfair.”

He laughed, pulling me out of the water onto a mossy rock ledge right under the opening. “Darling, I had to ignore you completely tonight, otherwise I would’ve blown our cover. I had to be interested in Roxto’s story.”

I kissed him, smiling as he pulled me closer. “You looked really good with only the fire to light up your face. Tanhi glowing and everything.”

Neteyam held my arm up. “Your’s are better. You have so many and they’re all swirly and shit. It’s breathtaking. You’re breathtaking.” I buried my face in his neck and he huffed out a laugh. “Look up, darling. See all those stars?” 

I did as he said, and lay on my back looking up. He pulled me closer. “I swear on everything I own, you are more beautiful than any of those stars.”

He smiled as I felt my cheeks heat. “And I absolutely adore how whenever I say cheesy shit like that, your tanhi always glow so bright.” He leaned in and kissed the tip of my nose. “You’re like my own personal star. Ma’tanhi.”

I pulled him in, then. I tangled my fingers in his hair, and moaned at the feeling of his long fingers digging into my waist as he desperately pulled me closer.

He pulled me on top of him, and I dragged my nails down his chest as he traced the tattoos that lined my skin. “Fuck, I need to get one of these. You look so hot with them.”

I pressed myself closer to him, and pressed my fingers into his abs, right on the v that pointed downwards. “Here, you can get it right here.”

He slid a hand up to the back of my head and flipped us so he was on top. “Sure, ma’tanhi. Wherever you want it, I’ll get one for you.” He traced the tattoo that ran down from under my top down my thigh, then the ones on my bicep. 

He leaned down and bit and sucked my neck where a necklace would cover it up, his hands never ceasing their caress of my skin as they raved over my body. I raked my nails down his back, pressing into the pleasure shooting under my skin at his touch. 

He paused at my loincloth, sliding a finger under the string, he lightly pulled twice. I nodded, and he gently untied the strings holding it on me.

He kissed a trail down my body and stopped in front of my entrance. “You don’t have to-”

“I want to. Please.” He cut me off, and as soon as the words had left my mouth, his licked a strip up my slit. My head fell back, and he started to press soft kisses up and down the insides of my thighs. One hand kneaded the flesh of my thigh while his mouth worked on the other, and his extra hand reached up to entwine with my own.

He slowly circled the spot I wanted him, switching to the other leg and nuzzling his face into my warmth before diving in, tongue working miracles.

I quickly approached my high, the tightness in my core increasing until my back lifted from the ground and my legs shook from where they rested on his shoulders. Neteyam grinned up at me, pulling himself up and I pulled his face to mine, tasting myself on his tongue.

“Thank you,” I whispered into his mouth, and he tightened his hold on my hip.

He shook his head, “I just wanted to make my girl feel good.” he said, pressing another kiss to my forehead. 

He started to pull away. “Neteyam, you can’t just do that and leave it like that!” I scolded, my hands sliding down to his loincloth.

He rested his weight on one arm, the opposite hand coming to cup my cheek. “We don’t have to do that, darling. I’m happy with just this.”

I pressed my mouth to his, “I want this. I want you. Please.” he chuckled at my echo of his earlier words, and nodded to let me untie the cords holding his tewng up. 

His length sprung free, and he groaned into my neck as I wrapped a hand around it, pumping slowly. He pulled away, lining up at my entrance, and I placed a hand on his chest. I pulled my queue from behind my head, and Neteyam did the same. “Are you absolutely sure, “Rani?” He asked, pausing before he let the nerves touch. 

“Of course I am Neteyam. I want nothing more to be yours. Forever and always.” He grinned, and we allowed the tendrils at the end of our queues to wrap together.

Our heads fell back at the feeling, and I felt my core tighten once again. It was an odd feeling being able to feel every emotion running through Neteyam’s head.

Oh my Eywa, she looks gorgeous, I can’t believe she’s mine. I blinked at the sound of Neteyam’s thoughts in my mind. 

I decided to try something; Can you hear this? I asked through the bond, and Neteyam’s fingers tightened where they rested on my hips.

No fucking way, you can hear me? I heard Neteyam again, this time watching his lips and only seeing a wide grin sitting there. 

Way! This is so cool! I wonder if it’ll last even without the bond being physically made. Neteyam buried his head, laughing at the way my thoughts immediately went to messing with this new thing and experimenting until I learned something new.

You’re amazing, have I told you that? I pushed a braid behind his ear from where it dangled above my face.

I kissed him softly. Have I told you how amazing you are? Little miss asking for consent before every single thing he does.

I almost felt as his mood shifted, the air thickening as he kissed me back harder, turning it into a steamy version of my softer kiss.

His silent question hung in the air as I felt his fingers prod at my entrance. Yes, ma’Neteyam. I want you and only you.

He grinned, pressing into our kiss more forcefully for a second. Then lift your hips for me, love.

His hands guided my hips upwards, and he settled in between my thighs. His fingers made quick work of me, stretching me out to lessen any pain I might feel. He pulled out, and rubbed his nose and forehead against mine as he shifted to his knees. Ready, darling?

I nodded, please Neteyam. I need you. His lips pulled into a feline grin, and he gently slid between my folds, dropping his head onto my shoulder with a groan.

“Yawne, you feel so fucking good. How the hell did I ever survive for those years?” I pulled on the braids between my fingers, pleasure igniting every nerve in my body.

Slight annoyance rolled in my stomach at his slow pace. “How the hell am I supposed to survive when you’re moving so fucking slow?” His irises grew at my words, and I felt the roll of pleasure through the bond. “Neteyam, I am begging you, please, fuck me.”

A chesire grin spread on his face, and one handpulled my chin to his face. He smashed his lips against mine, his pace hard and fast. I wrapped my legs around his waist, melting at the way his tip rammed into my sweet spot.

He sucked a dark spot into the skin of my neck, and with one hand pinned both of my wrists above my head. He leaned forward slightly, the new angle allowing his tip to ram deeper into me, and I saw stars from how good it felt. “Just like that, fucking hell you’re amazing, Neteyam.” I moaned out.

His rhythm stuttered, and I knew he was near his climax. “I’m so close, ‘Teyam.” I whispered to him, and he rolled his hips deeply into me, and with one final thrust, painted my walls with his seed as I too reached my climax.

We panted, coming down from the high. He had collapsed on top of me, and I held him there, savoring the warmth of his body on mine.

Neteyam pressed a kiss into my collarbone, our bodies still connected. I sighed, in complete bliss after the event, and he shifted us to hold me from behind, our connected queues resting on my waist. 

Neteyam chuckled softly, “Guess I won the bet.” I smiled, shaking my head at the funny way his mind worked.

He wrapped one arm around my hips, and I rested my head on his large bicep. My fingers entwined with his, and I allowed a deep sleep to overtake me.

[marriedtolike18fictionalmen]

Our Infinity of Stars (pt. 8)

Hope you're ready for the next one, it's Abt to go down

Four months had passed since that day. Much had stayed the same, with the new addition, of course, of Alira and her family in our lives, as well as Neteyam and I sneaking around. We had shifted our mauris around, now ‘Rina and Ateyo were in the same one, next to them was Ateyo and ‘Rina, then came Neytiri and Jake’s, then Tuk’s, Neteyam, Mine, Adib and now Alira’s mauri, then Lo’ak, and finally Kiri.

It was long past eclipse, and I was in a deep sleep. Something woke me, and I opened my eyes to see neteyam’s silhouette near the entrance of my mauri. “Darling? What are you doing? It’s late.”

Neteyam’s light steps neared me, and he slid into the hammock beside me, burying his face in my neck. 

Immediately I wrapped myself around him, brow furrowed. “What happened?”

Neteyam just shook his head. I pulled back and pushed the braids from his face. “You can tell me, I won’t mention it after this conversation. Promise.” I held out my last finger and he reached up and entwined his own with it. 

He wrapped his arms around my waist, and I rested my chin on his head. “Lo’ak was being dumb again. He got caught sneaking back in his tent just now, but wouldn’t tell anyone where he was, or who he was with.” I nodded, brushing my fingers on his back. “Of course I got all the blame for it. ‘Neteyam, why don’t you know anything about this?’ ‘Neteyam, you should have gone with him.’ For fuck’s sake, do they want me to handcuff him to me 24/7?”

I leaned down and pressed my lips to his. One of his hands came to caress my neck. I pulled away after a moment. “I’m sorry my darling. Lo’ak needs to grow up at this point, he’s not a child anymore, he can take accountability for his own actions. It’s not fair to you or to him that you always take the blame for him, and your parents need to realize that.” His fingers tapped on my hip twice as a silent thanks, and I cradled his head closer to my chest.

“Can I just stay here tonight? Wanna be near you.” Neteyam mumbled against my neck.

I only pulled him closer, pressing myself against him and smiling as his scent filled my senses before I drifted off once again.

~ᐧ~

The next morning, as first light drifted through the gaps in the fabric, I awoke to Neteyam getting up. “I’m sorry, princess. Did I wake you?” he asked with a frown.

“No, no. I always wake up early.” Neteyam pressed a soft kiss against my lips, and I sighed as he pulled away. “I kinda want you to just stay for a minute. What if I came to your mauri and we could say I had a nightmare from the war and you helped me out?” I could see as Neteyam’s defenses disintegrated, and he held out a hand for me to take. 

“C’mon, ma tex’lan.” His hand enveloped mine, and with soft steps padded next door to his mauri. I lay down on top of him, out chests pressed together and he wrapped his arms around me to keep me close as we slept.

“Neteyam, have you seen ‘Rin- oh shit.” I heard Lo’ak’s voice as I awoke again, and smirked as he dashed the other direction.

“Does that count as him figuring it out?” I whispered to Neteyam, not opening my eyes. I melted as his chuckle rumbled through his chest.

“No, he didn’t truly figure it out. I think. Maybe?” I laughed at the utter confusion in his voice, “Whatever. If he did, then  neither of us will have won the bet.”

I nuzzled into his chest, and placed a soft kiss on his neck. “I’m surprised your mother didn’t notice anything.”

He agreed. “Speaking of mothers, I need to go talk to yours. Nothin’ important, just wanted to get to know her better.” I nodded, and we got up. “I’ll see you later. Think there’s a gathering at the spot later.”

We promised to meet each other there, and parted ways. Neteyam went towards the beach where my mother looked after and taught the children, and I to the tsahik’s tent to help out and learn.

~ᐧ~

Later that night, I walked down to the beach with Kiri, ‘Rina, Lo’ak, and Ateyo. “I wonder where Neteyam got held up.” Kiri commented as we walked. 

“I don’t know. Maybe getting something to drink? He mentioned having some of the good Omatikayan stuff he grabbed before you guys left.” I smiled at the thought of Neteyam stealing it as his father wasn’t looking.

Lo’ak sauntered to my side. “What was that this morning. Y’all looked very comfy.”

“I had a really bad nightmare. About the war and my dad, i’ll spare you the details. It was bad though, and Neteyam caught me sitting outside and offered to let me hang out with him for a bit until I felt better, and we decided to have a sleepover. For old time’s sake.” I explained, the lie slipping effortlessly off my tongue. 

Lo’ak nodded. “You guys have been spending most of your time together, what’s that about?”

I narrowed my eyes. “WHat’s up with the interrogation? I think somebody’s jealous.” Lo’ak immediately backed off, and I laughed. “It’s not that deep. Ralak’s just been weird lately, and the boys don’t want me alone. Adib's been busy with Alira lately, not that I blame you bro, I’d spend all my time with her if she was my fiance too, so Neteyam has been sticking close by until that whole thing dies down.”

Lo’ak nodded, backing off as Neteyam ran up to us. “Sorry I’m late.” He held up two bottles of a drink. “I brought the good stuff!

I smiled up at him, grabbing one of the bottles. “I’ll be keeping this safe for you.” He tried to grab it, but I kept it out of reach, and he eventually gave up. Alira met us at the spot, and everyone sat down around the fire that had been made.

We had at some point began telling stories, and Roxto was telling about a legend of a creature that lurks in the deep and takes lone swimmers to the depths. I looked across as Neteyam, and found his face completely blank. He looked angry to anyone who didn’t know the familiar flick of his tail on his thigh meant that he was completely engrossed in what he was paying attention to.

The group slowly got smaller, and Neteyam too got up. He paused next to me, “I’ll walk you home.”

I stood, saying goodbye to everyone as we walked away. “Wanna go for a swim? I didn’t see you drink much and I didn’t drink much either. We should be good I think.” I asked him as we passed by the ilus on our way. 

He shrugged and nodded, and I hopped onto an ilu, Neteyam wrapping one arm around my waist and the other resting on my thigh.

[marriedtolike18fictionalmen]

Our Infinity of Stars (pt. 7)

😈

“Isn’t this near the place Lo’ak got left?” Neteyam asked as we landed on a rock outcropping in Three Brother’s.

“Exact same place, actually. Although he was in the water rather than all the way up here.” I took the hand Neteyam offered me and swung my leg off Syura.

“I never would have guessed there were plants and stuff up here,” Neteyam commented as our ikrans flew away. “It’s nice, and you know for sure nobody will bother you.”

I lay down on the warm, fine sand. “I love just laying down in the sun for a while. Or at night coming and watching the stars, you havent lived until you’ve gone for a fly over the open ocean on a clear night.”

Neteyam grinned where he sat next to me, “Hey princess, got any plans for tonight? I just got a great idea for a little date night.” 

I scrunched my nose as he shimmied at the end of his sentence. “Please never do that again; shimmy, i mean.”

He laughed and lay down, head resting on my belly like how we always used to back home. I threaded my fingers through his braids, feeling how messy they were. “Can I take these out? They’re messy as hell.” I asked, tugging gently on his hair.

He sat up, finding a rock I could sit on and plopping down in front of it. “Do you even have a comb?”

I whistled for Syura and grabbed the bag I carried with me everywhere off her neck. “Thank you, sevin.” she dove back over the edge, and I turned to Netyam with the comb in my hand. “I always have a comb.”

He settled his head against my thigh as I started on the back of his head. I hummed quietly as I worked, and felt Neteyam’s eyes flutter closed. I made my hands gentler, not wanting to jerk him awake, and continued on.

After the braids were out, I massaged his scalp with some oils and combed through it to get rid of the tangles. As I did this, Neteyam awoke, “Shit, did I fall asleep?”

“Yeah, I didn’t want to wake you though. Your sleepy voice is cute as hell after you take a nap.” The words slipped out and I pressed my lips together after they did. “I’m done here in any case, just wanted to let you sleep.”

Neteyam dragged his fingers through the long hair, grinning up at me. “Thanks for the compliment, Princess.”

I shoved his shoulder where it leaned against my thigh. “Don’t let it get to your head, we wouldn’t want the golden boy to float away cause his ego got too big.”

Neteyam brushed my hair from my face, leaning in to murmur, “There’s other parts of my that can get bigger though.”

I gasped and hit his chest. “You’re so dirty, whatever would your father think?”

He laughed, “Hey, your reaction made it all worth it.” He leaned back against the rock, and I lay my head down in his lap, drawing idle shapes on the palm of one hand while the other carded through my hair. “I wish my kids have hair like yours. It’s so silky and thick, mine’s a mess when it’s out of the braids for more than a day or two.”

“My hair refuses to stay in any style though, it’s slightly annoying when I want it in braids, remember that time I tried to do goddess braids? That was a mess.” Neteyam laughed, remembering the lion’s mane my hair had become that week.

“I also remember us playing that song playlist when I helped you take those horrid things down. What did that song go like?” He started humming the tune. He perked up, “I think I have that music player thingy we used.” He reached into my bag, pulling out the player. He pressed play and we danced to the tune.

I hummed along, then we both remembered the chorus as it crescendoed. “I would never fall in love again until I found her, I said, ‘I would never fall unless it's you,’” Neteyam dipped me and I grinned as he pulled me back up, twirling under his arm. “I was lost within the darkness but then I found her, I found you.”

I had at some point closed my eyes, and I opened them as the woman’s part continued to play in the background.

My one hand was cupping Neteyam’s neck, the other resting over his heart. I felt the rapid thump that matched my own heart beneath my fingertips, and looked up to see Neteyam’s golden eyes searing into my soul. The butterflies running rampant in my stomach went silent as the hand that had been on my hand raised to hold my jaw, his thumb rubbing my cheek. 

I stepped closer and raised on my toes as he bent. Neteyam paused millieters from my lips, the butterflies awakening once again before our lips finally met and it was as if something clicked into place in my center.

They say kissing is like a thousand fireworks, or like a hurricane of butterflies, but all I felt was calm. I curled my fingers into his hair and he groaned into my mouth. His hand moved down to pull my hips closer and we entwined our tails.

I slid my tongue across his lower lip and the hand that rested on my jaw moved to tilt my chin up, the fingers splayed across my throat. We broke apart panting, “This is a bad idea.” he whispered. “A really bad idea.”

“Yeah, no. We shouldn’t.” I whispered back, but again we surged towards eachother, my arms locking around his shoulders and his arms around my waist. Lifting me with ease.

“Guess those years of training paid off,” I panted as I wrapped my legs around his waist. 

Neteyam pulled my face back to him. “Shut up and start kissing me.”

And I obliged. He pressed me against a tree, pinning me in place with his hips. Our mouths moved in a dance that they seemed to have always known, and I pressed my hips down on his.

Neteyam groaned, his grip tightening on my hip and slid one hand up around my back and brought us both to the ground.

I pulled myself into his lap, trying to pull him impossibly closer. His hand had fallen on the armband I always wore, and he pulled away to see what it was. “I never took it off for more than five minutes.” I whispered watching his face as he gazed at the band. My fingers rubbed the beads of the matching band around his bicep.

Neteyam crashed our lips together with a new passion, and I moaned as his tongue slipped into my mouth.

“You have no fucking idea what you do to me, Princess. Seeing that armband on you the first day, I almost jumped you right then.” Neteyam rasped into my skin, his lips dancing along my throat.

“Says the man who pulled up on a goddamn toruk. Jesus christ I almost lost it. And then your voice-” I let out a small moan, “It went straight down south the first time you spoke.”

Neteyam laughed, burying his face in the curve of my shoulder. “We’re both such skxawngs.”

I tugged on his braids to make him look at me, “You can say that again.” I softly pecked his lips. “It took you for-fucking-ever to make a move.”

Neteyam cradled my cheek in his hand, “I’m sorry. Does this make up for it?” He kissed me after every word, and I smiled against his lips.

“Wait,” I pushed against his chest and leaned back. “Did you plan this out?” Neteyam only bit his lip, not answering. I gasped, “You totally did! You’re such a simp.”

He crinkled his nose, “Guilty as charged.”

We both leaned in to continue where we left off, but both our radioes cracked to life in our ears. “Wraith, Pathfinder, this is Eagle Eye speaking. WHat’s your 20? Devil Dog wants everyone at the Shack. Over.”

“Fucking Lo’ak. It’s always at the wrong time.” Neteyam leaned his forehead against mine, and I kissed him one last time as I stood. 

“Roger that Eagle Eye, this is Wraith speaking, we’re at Three Brother’s. ETA fifteen minutes.” I gathered myself and whistled for Syura. 

Neteyam stepped into my path, “so, this mean that you’d allow me to court you?”

I rolled my eyes, “Yeah no shit, Sherlock.” I started to walk past him, stroking my hand across his chest as I went. I paused as a thought popped into my head. “Are we telling people?”

I turned to Neteyam after I spoke, and found him contemplating. “I dunno. I kinda don’t want to right now, keep you to myself, but I would also love for everyone to know if that’s what your comfortable with.”

Maybe… “What if we didn’t outright flaunt it, but not hide, and wait to see who notices first. Other than your mother, she’s gonna know instantly.”

“I’d bet that ‘Rina figures it out first.” Neteyam said.

I scoffed, “Please, Ateyo is gonna figure it out.”

Neteyam held a hand out. “If Ateyo figures it out, I’ll crush all the leaves for two months straight for all the salves.”

“If ‘Rina figures it out, I’ll take responsibility for Lo’aks stupidity for two months.” I grabbed his hand and we shook on it. I pulled Neteyam in, sealing it with a kiss. “Race you back!” I jumped back and onto Syura’s back, shooting off as soon as tsaheylu was made.

“Cheater!” I looked back to see Neteyam calling for Takutai and clamoring up to try and catch up.

Are we going to leave them in the dust? Syura’s voice sounded through my mind.

You know it! I leaned down her neck and we shot forward for a minute or two, gliding on the ocean breeze.

They’re right on our tail y’know. I looked back to see Neteyam and Takutai racing after us. Let’s speed up at the end, they won’t see it coming.

I nodded and caught her up on everything that had happened that day. I can’t believe we didn’t do this sooner! How long have I secretly dreamed of this? Forever is too small! I shook my head at my own stupidity. Ok, ready? I asked as we neared the village, right behind Neteyam.

Syura sped up, tucking in her wings to use the ocean’s breeze to our advantage and I grinned at Neteyam as we passed eachother.

Takutai seemed to say something to Syura, but she pointedly ignored him.

We swooped down onto the beach, and I cheered as I realized we had won, offering Syura an ample handful of the dried meat I carried on myself for her. “That’s right, Syura! I swear, I’m gonna sneak you some really great food later, you totally deserve it.” Neteyam had landed seconds after us, and I went over to him and Takutai. “You did a good job too, sweetheart.” I gave Takutai a piece of meat as well, and when he flapped his large wings in thanks I stole a kiss from Neteyam.

He had a daydream look in his eye, and shook himself to remember what we needed to do. “C’mon, apparently we have a family meeting to attend.”

I went over and took off the harness from Syura, scratching the scaly skin that was slick from her sweat and the oceanspray. I leaned my forehead against her brow, and she flew off as I walked back to Neteyam’s side.

“Remember, we’re not hiding nor flaunting.” Neteyam murmured as we entered the large tent that Jake and Neytiri were now sharing with Adib until he was completely better.

I nodded before turning to everyone who was already there. “‘Sup everyone? What was the big thing that we had to rush back for?” I asked.

“See, that’s what I’m wondering.” ‘Rina chimed in from across the room. 

Tuk gasped as I settled down next to her, “Are you having another baby? I’m supposed to be the youngest!” she whined. 

Jake and Neytiri laughed, “No, kiddo. Although I wouldn’t mind another kid,” Neytiri slapped his arm, “It’s not that. Adib is the one who wanted to tell you guys something.”

All eyes turned to my brother, who’s tanhi glowed brighter in the faint light. He cleared his throat before speaking. “Earlier today my courting offer was accepted by a girl I’ve had my eye on for a while.” he announced.

“What? There’s no way. You’re fu- messing with us.” I blurted.

Neteyam grinned from his spot next to Adib, tail flicking over to rest against mine. “It’s about time. Alira’s been having to deal with your goo-goo eyes for too long now.”

I gasped, shoving Neteyam’s chest. “You knew? Since when does Adib tell you these things?” I turned to Adib, “And you! You said that you’ve had your eye on her for a while, define a while for me.”

“Y’know the horrid H-I-C-K-E-Y I had a few weeks ago? The one from around the time the Sullys showed up? That was Alira.” He smirked as he was clearly remembering how it got to be on his neck.

“I know what a hickey is. You don’t have to spell it out.” Tuk drawled with the utter confidence only a ten-year-old can possess. 

The entire group burst out in laughter and I shook my head at her not-so-innocent utterings. My ears pointed backwards as I heard another group approaching, and everyone turned to see Alira and her family entering the mauri alongside my mother, and everyone was carrying some food.

“Here, let me.” I took the bowl from Alira’s hands, and turned to Neytiri. “Sa’nok, where do you want this?”

She inclined her head to the middle of the circle and I placed the food down before returning to my spot next to Tuk, Alira’s brother sitting down next to me. I looked over to see Adib and Alira giggling together from across the circle. I smiled and looked back down to Tuk, asking her about her day. 

“My day was good, I got to help my mom with making the food for tonight. She had to tell me what we were making it for, so I got to be a secret-keeper for the entire day!” She grinned up at me, a bit of food on her cheek. 

“I’m honestly jealous,” I reached down and wiped her cheek off, “how come you got to know before me?”

“Maybe I’m just a better secret-keeper than you!” she turned to Neteyam, “tswal tsukan, what happened to your arm?”

Neteyam looked down at the skin above his armband, and I chimed in. “This skxawng decided that he shouldn’t listen when I said to be careful of the coral and scraped himself against it.”

Thank you Neteyam mouthed over Tuk’s head as she started to admonish me for not protecting her oldest brother. Suddenly she turned and started interrogating Alira. “Where did you meet my brother, Alira? Why hasn’t he talked about you?”

“Tuk! Be polite!” Neytiri admonished.

“What? I was just asking…”

Alira laughed, “No, it’s okay. I don’t mind. I met Adib one day a few years ago when the idiot tried to tame a tsurak and I was in the tent when they brought him in.”

“I broke my arm really badly that time, but once it healed I may or may not have played it up a little to keep on having her help me with it.” Adib cut in with a grin.

“Somehow he charmed me and made me agree to a date, and a few months later, here we are!” Alira returned his grin with one of her own, and I couldn’t help but share a grin with Neteyam myself.

[marriedtolike18fictionalmen]

Our Infinity of Stars (pt. 6?)

My dudes, we are currently at well over 60 pages. She's a long one.

I'm feeling chaotic, who's heart should we break???

Don't worry, I'll add it in the end :)

Unrelated to that: RALAK IS A LITTLE BITCH AND 'RANI WILL CLIMB UP A TREE TO DROPKICK HIM INTO SPACE thank you for coming to my ted talk.

Enjoy, my dear sweet people

“Look, I don’t care whether or not you like this. It has to happen now that the challenge has been made.” Adib was leaning against the wall and he and Neteyam watched me pace.

“I- We don’t want you to have to be with that man,” Neteyam corrected himself, ”he clearly doesn't know how to treat a woman. I’d be damned if I let him get anywhere near you, princess.”

I continued pacing, trying to think of any way around this. “What if I talked to him? If both parties surrender, the challenge is void, nobody gets hurt and he has to leave me alone.” I sighed, slumping down in front of the two males. “I could never forgive myself if one of you got hurt because of this. Ralak has literally nothing to lose, he’ll fight to the death over this. He doesn’t want me, you heard him say it himself. Just wants to make sure nobody else can have me. He knows that I’ll go down kicking and screaming, so he’s not gonna stop at first blood.”

Adib reached out for my hand, “and that’s exactly why I’m gonna accept the challenge. He’s still my closest friend in the Metkayina, he won’t kill me. What would kill me is seeing either you or Neteyam hurt because of him. I just can’t believe he’s this angry about you being happy. He is acting childish and-”

His voice cut off as a splash sounded from below the mauri, and the three of us raced to the entrance to catch a glimpse of Ralak speeding away on the back of and ilu. “Shit.” I whispered, knowing this would not be good for any of us.

“Eywa ayoeng.” Eywa be with us Neteyam closed his eyes and tilted his head back as he whispered to the sky. “I’ll do it. He doesn’t have to know which one of us he’s going to fight, right ‘Rani?”

My throat was so dry all I could do was nod.

“Good. He’ll be prepping to fight Adib, he knows your moves, so he won’t be prepared for me. I’ll make sure to use what my mother taught me, Omatikaya fighting style rather than sky people like you taught him, and he won’t know what hit him.” It was Neteyam’s turn to pace, and he started planning it out under his breath. 

Adib stood and left the tent. “Fucking hell, I can’t do this shit. I’ll be flying in the area if anyone needs me.” He practically ran towards the cliff the ikran like to stay.

I watched him leave. “This is all my fault. Maybe if I hadn’t dumped him like I did he wouldn’t be so angry.” I stood and joined Neteyam pacing, my mind supplying all the things I could’ve done differently so this wouldn’t be happening. “Or that argument. I was as harsh as I could’ve been trying to get him to leave me alone, but he was just hurting. I should’ve been more empathetic.”

I worried my lip as I paced a line in the tent. “I should’ve known this would happen, Jesus ‘Rani, how could you be so stupid. Ralak is emotional, you should have know that this would hurt him.”

Neteyam grabbed my arms, “Darling, this is not your fault.”

My eyes filled with tears against my permission, and I looked away as they started rolling down my cheeks. “I can’t lose you, Neteyam. Not when I just got you back.” Neteyams large hands gently slid up to my cheeks, wiping the tears away.

“Don’t talk like that, ma’paskalin. I will be okay.”

“You don’t know that though. ‘Teyam, the rules don’t say anything about whether the prize has to go along. You should back out. Just say you can’t fight, please, anything.”

Neteyam pulled me against his chest, and I clung to him like there was no tomorrow. “I can’t do that, princess. It is not honorable.”

“To hell with honor! He has none, why should you?”

Neteyam again leaned back to cradle my face in one hand. “I won’t stoop to his level. My honor is the one thing I have that he doesn’t.”

“You have me. He doesn’t. There, now go and call it off.” I stepped back, but Neteyam grabbed my hand.

He knelt down, pressing his lips to my fingers. “I have you to save me. Worse come worse he plays dirty and I get hurt, but you’ll be there to fix me up, won’t you?”

I kneeled, leaning against one of his legs. “Always.” I hooked my hand around his neck, “but please, don’t get hurt. It would scare me half to death, and you want me to live a long life, don’t you?”

Neteyam smiled, nodding. I continued, “make him agree to some terms. Nobody dies. There’s only so much I can do, and bringing someone back from the dead is far past that limit. Plus, it would kill me to watch anyone bleed out.” I tired to lighten the somber mood that had settled over my tent, a smirk across my lips I joked.”You know how I am on hunts, I can barely eat the food if I kill it myself.” 

Neteyam softly chuckled, ducking his head as he did so. “I can do that. Make Ralak agree to some terms.”

I felt some of the weight fall off my shoulders. “Thank you.” I sighed, rubbing my temples. “I need a fucking nap. You go, it’s almost sundown. Make sure to get Ralak to agree, no strings attached.”

Neteyam stood, pulling me towards my hammock behind the curtain in the back of the tent. “I’ll be okay. He can’t do anything, nor make anyone else do anything, until the fight that is, so I’m immune right now.” He leaned down and dropped a kiss on my forehead. “Dream of me?” he asked. 

I turned, “Yeah, sure. Something to think about when you’re on your date with your right hand later. Me dreaming about you.” I yawned, pulling the blanket over my ears and smiling as I heard Neteyam scoff out a laugh. 

“Yes ma’am, if you insist.” He turned and left, and I slipped into a deep sleep, indeed dreaming about him.

~ᐧ~

“Once a winner has emerged, the terms cannot be altered, and any benefits cannot be taken or challenged for again. This is First Blood. Do not draw more than that. Participants, you may begin as you please. Eywa ngahu.” Ronal said what she had to, stepping back to watch as Neteyam and Ralak stepped up into the large ring formed by the clan.

Neteyam’s posture was relaxed, “Remember our agreement.” he said before crouching down to begin.

Ralak did not say anything.

With a roar, he charged. Neteyam sidestepped the move, drawing his dagger as he did so. Ralak whipped around, blindly stabbing as he did. 

Neteyam’s body just barely missed the dagger’s edge, and he saw it as I did. Poison. Neteyam’s eyes narrowed, and I physically saw him shift into life or death mode. He bent down, preparing to take Ralak’s next move head-on.

Seeing this, Ralak once again rushed at Neteyam, but instead of his dagger meeting flesh, it met sand as Neteyam kicked up a cloud of it into Ralak’s vision, and threw the dagger far away. Out of the ring.

Ralak tried to get Neteyam to the ground, but Neteyam stepped back and punched him in the jaw. He drew a knee up and kicked him right in the diaphragm, and punched Ralak away. Ralak again charged, never letting up on the offense, and I saw Neteyam smile as he fell right into his trap. 

Neteyam now pulled the same move I had on him, flipping Ralak over his shoulder, stunning him. Neteyam quickly moved so his legs were holding Ralak down while his hands got to work on Ralak’s face, and in one swoop his knuckles were stained red from the red leaking from Ralak’s nose and lip.

Immediately, Neteyam let go. He stood without a word and held out his clean hand for Ralak to get up with. Ralak slapped the hand away and stood by himself, stooping to grab his dagger as he did so, and Neteyam sighed and turned around to tend to his bruises.

I saw it at the same time as Adib. The light glinting off of the dagger as Ralak raised it to bring down on Neteyam’s turned back.

“NO!” we screamed in unison, and Adib dove to get Neteyam out of the way. This time the poisoned dagger met flesh, slicing through veins and releasing a gush of blood from my brother’s thigh.

Neteyam, realizing what happened, started shouting. All the Sullys jumped into action, used to seeing wounds far worse than this often. They lifted Adib and ran into the tent, and I followed as one of the other healer’s assistants poured water onto my hands to clean them off. The Tsahik was at a loss of what to do, and with a nod stepped back to let me use my forest knowledge to fix the wound.

“Put a dagger into the fire and bring me every bandage, salve and as much water as you can carry.” I instructed to whoever was near, and a girl around Lo’ak’s age ran off to do so.

“Bring antidotes as well!” Ronal shouted after her, “Eywa knows we’ll need it.” She muttered to herself as she helped tighten the tourniquet above the gash to staunch the flow.

I took a breath through my mouth and out through my nose to get rid of the stench of my brother’s blood. “Adib? Can you hear me?” A weak nod was the only response. “Good. I want you to keep talking to me. What’s going on?” I willed my voice to knot shake as I was handed a needle and thread. My finger was the only thing keeping his major vessels from spilling out.

“Uh, ligh-head. There spts n my visn nd evrthin’s mffled.” I ignored the fact that the slurred voice was my brother’s and slipped into my tsakarem self.

“Yeah, that’ll happen if you get hurt sometimes. Now, I’m going to need you to bite down on this for me,” Neteyam shoved a strip of leather into Adib’s mouth at my nod. I checking Adib’s pulse, high but not unexpected. “This is gonna hurt like a bitch. Be strong for me, okay?”

Adib nodded weakly, and I saw Neteyam’s grip tighten. The hands of assistants and the other Sullys held Adib down, and I nodded to the girl who had to hand me the hot knife when I was ready. “When I look up at you, okay? Ready Adib? 3… 2…” I poised the needle to sew when I moved my finger, “... 1.”

He tried to jerk away as I sewed, but everyone held him down. I looked up at the girl after I threw the last stitch. “Okay, now comes the bad part.” She handed me the knife. “3.. 2...” I pressed the red-hot metal to the wound to seal the vessel. His screams rang through my ears and I bit my lip as I handed the knife back and stitched the gash closed. Adib went still and my heart dropped as my head shot up to his face. 

“He just passed out. It’s okay. Keep going.” Neteyam had at some point settled next to me, and placed his hand on the small of my back. 

I finished, twenty one stitches on top, five inside, and said to whoever else was there to finish. “Put a shit ton of antibacterial and change the dressings every hour. Give him the antidote tea. I need to-” I stood. “I’ll just-”

I couldn’t take it, I ran outside and immediately doubled over, the contents of my stomach emptying themselves in the sand. I felt a large hand pull my hair away from my face and soothingly rub my back. “It’s okay, you did good. He’ll be okay.”

After I was done dry heaving, I straightened. A bowl of water was handed to me, and I swished the first sip around to rid myself of the taste of my vomit. “You okay?” I looked up to Neteyam and nodded. 

“Thank you. For everything, I couldn’t have done that if it wasn’t for you.”  He nodded. “I’m gonna go check on him, you coming with?”

“He just saved my life, I wouldn’t dream of not spending every moment by his side until he’s better. You have some blood on your cheek, may I?” Neteyam grabbed a rag out the string of his tewng after I nodded. He looked up after wetting it, and his ears pinned back. 

I whirled around. “Ralak?” I gasped, then growled as I strode towards him, shoving his chest with all the might I had left in me. “Congratulations! You’ve invented a new kind of stupid. ‘A damage you can never undo’ kind of stupid, truly, did you not think any of this through?”

Ralak didn’t say anything, further fueling my rage. “Let’s review; you almost killed my brother as you broke the rules of the challenge. You tried to kill my best friend with a poisoned dagger as his back was turned, and somehow hit my brother, your best friend. You challenged both my brother and best friend to First Blood, fully knowing that if you would win, I’d never be allowed to talk to them again. You acted like a child for weeks, manipulating me and trying to use my own empathy against me. You started arguments with me just for the sake of it. Just cause you were bored now that I was happy with you and you couldn’t just leave good enough alone. You started an argument you knew would hurt the most, and as soon as I tried to defend my own dreams, my subconscious thoughts about the life I could’ve had if I never was forced to come here, you go and sleep with the first girl to make goo-goo eyes at you.” I took a breath, and my voice was rough from all the shouting as I continued at a normal volume. “Then you can’t accept that I moved on. That after I healed from the embarrassment and inferiority you made me feel, as soon as I was okay, as soon as I so much as spoke to any man in a way you considered flirting, you completely lose it? You almost cost my brother his life. You almost cost my Neteyam his life.” My voice was now a whisper. “And for that I will not, ever, forgive you. That, I can promise.”

Ralak couldn’t meet my eyes, and I clenched my jaw and turned back towards Neteyam. He wrapped his arm around me and tapped my waist twice. I nodded, then threw over my shoulder at Ralak, “Adib’s fine now, no thanks to you. Whenever he ends up waking up, I’ll ask if he would allow you to visit.” And with that, Neteyam and I went back in the tent.

~ᐧ~

“Paskalin, you’re covered in blood.” I looke up at Neteyam’s words, looking down to see my arms indeed covered in blood. 

I glanced back up, “You’re not in much better shape, Goldie.” He wasn’t, although covered in bruises rather than my brother’s blood as he had cleaned off and been tended to after I had made him. I was still covered in it though, as Adib’s fever just broke and I finally could breathe

“Go wash off, I’ll stay with him until you get back, then we’ll all be in the mauri next door.” ‘Rina took the spot next to me, changing out the cloth on Adib’s forehead as she spoke. 

Neteyam and he shared a glance. He hummed and stood, holding his hand out to me as he did so. “Let’s go wash off then.”

I nodded and we walked off down to the water from the Tsahik’s tent. We rinsed off quickly in silence, he did my back as I worked on my arms. 

“I can stay with him in the tent tonight, you had the challenge, then carrying him all the way here once he was stable enough.” Neteyam started to protest. “No, ‘Teyam. It’s the least I can do. I meant what I said earlier, if it wasn’t for you, I would have never been able to speak to either you or Adib again.”

Neteyam grabbed my face, his tanhi glowing in the darkness of the night. “I didn’t do it just so I could still be around you. Or just to protect your honor, nor for my own gain. I mean, it’s definitely a bonus that I still have you, but I did it because I knew how much it would hurt you to see Adib fighting him. It would have torn you apart to see them at eachother’s throats after they had become such good friends, and it would have torn me apart to see you so upset.”

I threw my hands around his neck and finally let out all the sobs I wasn’t aware had been hiding inside. He buried my face in his neck, arms wrapped tight around my waist as he soothed me. “I know, let it out. I’m here, don’t worry.”

My sobs subsided and we walked back to the tent, my head almost spinning from the utter exhaustion of the day. “I’ll stay with him, you go and sleep. I’m not the one who had to sew up my brother’s leg today.” Neteyam offered.

I shook my head, “How about we both stay. We can both sleep, there’s room enough for both of us on the other bedroll, and we’ll both be here if he wakes up.” I glanced over to the next mauri, seeing how full it was. “In any case, I don’t think there’d even be any room for either of us in the next one over with both of our siblings stuffed in there.”

Neteyam yawned and layed down, patting his shoulder as he did. “There’s only one pillow, so you get to use me.” He whispered as to not bother Adib. I lay down next to him and he pulled me into him, “damn, you’re freezing. How the hell are you always this cold Princess?”

I threw an arm over his broad chest, tangling my legs with his. For warmth. “Shut up, Goldie. Least I don’t run a fever constantly.” I tensed. “Wait, Ralak didn’t knick you at all, did he?” I sat up to look at Neteyam, who stood to let me check his legs and back as he checked his front. 

“Nope, just bruised as shit.” He winced as he poked at one of said bruises.

I breathed a sigh of relief, settling back on his chest in the position from before. His face burried itself in my hair, and I smiled as his breathing deepened almost instantaneously. I pressed closer to him, and allowed sleep to overtake me as well.

~ᐧ~

“Shh, Tuk! You’re gonna wake them up!” I heard Adib’s voice as if underwater.

My pillow rumbled as Neteyam’s voice joined Adib’s, deep from sleep and grumbly. “You already woke me up, Tuk.” I felt as two light, almost imperceptable taps were placed on my hip where Neteyam’s hand rested, his body blocking the light from my face with the way we were both on our sides and my head in the crook of his neck. I tapped back on instinct, cursing myself as I heard the smirk in Neteyam’s voice. “And by the looks of it, little miss princess is also awake.”

Tuk laughed, “How do you know big brother, she looks out cold to me.”

The light that was hitting my face shifted as Netyam leaned back and shrugged his shoulder, his hand still resting on my hip. “She tapped back.”

Now Adib laughed, groaning after he did so. “Please, she does that even in her sleep. It’s funny, actually. Tsireya and I like to mess with her by getting her to tap twice for some random, dumb thing.”

I suddenly was pulled from the fog surrounding my head, Neteyam somehow not getting hit by my head flying up. “Oh shit, you’re awake!”

I jumped up and started fussing over Adib where he sat on the bed. Tuk giggled from behind me, “Yeah no duh, he’s been fine all day while you were having your beauty sleep with my brother.”

Everyone who was in the tent laughed, including my mother, the Tsahik, my sister and a few of Adib’s friends. “Fuck, i am so out of it,” I whirled around to where Tuk stood, “Shit, sorry. Fu- ugh ignore me. When the he- heck did you guys get here? How long have I been asleep?”

Neteyam had stood and covered Tuk’s ear, much to her chagrin, and now was the one to answer me as he let her go. “All day according to your mother.”

I looked over at my mother, “Sa’nu? What? Why did nobody wake me or Neteyam?”

She grinned, sitting down across Adib from me, “we tried, Neteyam just rolled over and you hid your face in his neck. It was cute actually. Adib found it amusing at the very least.”

“Yeah, bro. You were mumbling some nonsense about gunshots and boats. It was weird. Yet, it made me laugh.” he looked at me expectantly.

“And laughter is the best medicine, yeah I know.” i huffed out. I pointed a finger at him. “If you ever try to bleed out on me again, I will personally bring you back from Eywa to beat the living shit out of you myself.”

Everybody laughed, and at some point we decided to move Adib into a bigger mauri, our mother’s, so that he had some room to breathe with all the visitors. We all just spent a few weeks hanging out with eachother and Adib as he healed, and I caught some not-so-subtle glances shared between Adib and the girl who had helped me out when he was hurt. 

“So,,, what’s her name?” Neteyam and I were the only ones in the mauri, along with Adib of course, and he had apparently also caught these looks.

Adib feined ignorance, “I have no clue what your talking about. Who’s name? Do you have a crush, Neteyam?”

I laughed, “Don’t pretend you don’t know Adib, even I’ve noticed how she looks at you. You’re acting like how ‘Rina was when she caught feelings for ‘Teyo.”

Adib’s tanhi glowed, our version of a blush, looking over Neteyam’s shoulder outside. I turned and saw the very object of our conversation. “Alira, hey. What’s up?”

I grabbed Neteyam’s arm, “we were just leaving, actually. Have some chores to get done.” Neteyam nodded and we walked out. “Nice seeing you Alira!” I said to her as we passed. 

Both Neteyam and I turned and gave Adib a thumbs up while her back was turned, then hurried off. “Wanna go for a fly? I feel like I remember you promising me a nice spot you like to go to.” And with that, we called Syura and Takutai and were off.

[marriedtolike18fictionalmen]

Our Infinity of Stars (pt. 5)

Hey my loves!!

Hope y'all are doing well, so excited for the end!!!

Sorry if you don't like the roles of some of the OC's I have (low-key are all versions of me but we don't talk abt that-)

Enjoy dearies!!

As I entered the tent, I saw my mother seated next to a child with scraped knees. “‘Rani, my child! Come, I haven’t spent good time with you in ages!”

I grinned and embraced my mother. “We spent time together just last week! Practically the whole day.” My mother laughed, then the little girl at her side whimpered. “How’d you manage to do this, sweetheart?” I asked her, nodding to Tsahik Ronal as I reached for the salve and wrappings to take care of one knee while she did the other. 

My mother answered for her after a few seconds. “The kids had been playing on the rocky part of the beach, maybe someone tagged her a little too hard, or she just tripped, but she ended up with pretty bad scrapes so I decided to just take her to you guys.”

Just then two women entered, one being the girl’s mother- who hurried to take my place wrapping her knees- and the other being Neytiri. I stood and embraced her, and then noticed Tuk right on her heels carrying some food. “Look, ‘Riri, I made it all by myself!” She grinned, using her nickname for me.

Neytiri smiled and turned to the tsahik. “A small thank-you gift. It’s an Omatikayan sweet that I hear is very similar to one of your own.”

The tsahik accepted the gift, and everyone in the hut, excluding Neytiri, Tuk and I, took a taste. “This is amazing! It does taste like the fruit drink that we make out of tìhawnuwll fruits.” The girl’s mother remarked, Tsahik ronal only nodded her head approvingly.

“Well, I gotta head out.” My mother stood, wiping her hands on a spare rag.

“Oel ngati kamie, sa’nu.” I said as she walked towards the entrance flap.

 “Eywa ngahu, ‘iteti. I left some poor kids in charge, looked like they got into a scuffle. I’ll send them your way.”

I held back a smile, knowing exactly who was in charge of the children. Sure enough, a few minutes later, the Metkayina boys filed in, all sporting various cuts and bruises. Worse than what Neteyam had. I smirked as they sheepishly avoided my gaze as I began to help clean them up alongside Ronal and Neytiri. 

“Ow! That stings! Could you try to be more gentle?” I rolled my eyes and murmured an apology at Ro’rin’s antics.

“Sorry, we just don’t want you to get an infection.” I explained, lathering on more of the salve. I heard the tent flap open and turned to see Neteyam leading his mother and Ralak back as she returned from fetching more bandages, clearly having seen both of them and putting them to work. His face lit up and he lifted a handful of bandages as a greeting. Ronal grabbed the bandages and sent him to go help me with the other boys with their own scrapes. I smiled as Netayam sat down. “So I figured out how I one-upped you.”

Neteyam raised a brow in question. “I seriously doubt that, but go on.”

“So, I’m one of the best warriors in three senses, Sky people, Omatikayan, and Metkayinan, as well as tsakarem of both clans, and rider of a very large, dangerous, and deadly ikran.”

Neteyam licked his lips as he returned his gaze to Roxto’s arm. “Yeah, well I’m Toruk Macto.” he said.

I scoffed, “Oh, please. We both know I could probably be toruk makto if I wanted to.” He smirked as he glanced over at me, his silence speaking for him. “Ugh, you’re the worst. How about we fly down to the forest- weekend trip or something, maybe Rina and Ateyo can finally be mated since they’re so picky about where. There’s bound to be another toruk hanging around now that Takutai isn’t there.”

Neteyam didn’t say anything, and I looked up to his wide eyes terrified as he imagined that. I knocked my shoulder into his, snapping him back. “But I think being in a high place in practically three clans is enough for me, least my greatest achievement isn’t getting my ass saved by a supposedly murderous beast.”

Neteyam shook his head, raising his hands in surrender. We had finished helping the metkayina boys, who had been completely silent. Ronal had simply handed us some roots to peel and grind into a paste along with some leaves.

“Here,” Neteyam handed me the knife from his hip as he grabbed the one I’d just pulled from my thigh strap. ”I sharpened my knife earlier today,” he offered as explanation.

I simply shrugged a shoulder and set to work, and together we made quick work of the roots. “Could you start mashing the leaves? I can finish peeling and chopping the roots.” I handed him the bowl and he started on his new task.

“Isn’t grinding the leaves the most tiresome part?” He asked as he leaned against the wall with the mortar and pestle in his lap.

“Yeah, it makes my arms sore after a while. But that’s why I have you!” I continued with my work, admittedly going faster than I usually would to help Neteyam as soon as I could. 

He groaned after a few minutes. “I see why this isn’t your favorite part. These leaves are worse than the ones in the forest!” I smiled at him.

“Let me have a go at it. You peel the roots while I work on this and we’ll switch when I get sore.” Neteyam agreed, handing over the tools and basket of leaves.

“That salve from earlier works wonders,” he praised as we worked. “My bruises are already mostly faded before they could truly form and nothing hurts that much. Even my shoulder isn’t sore from practice.”

I blushed at his praise. “It’s my job.” I shrugged, “plus, I didn’t like seeing you in that much pain.”

A teasing look slipped over his features, but we were interrupted by the Tsahik coming to check on our progress. “Careful, Na’irani. Don’t grind it too finely before adding in the ground root paste or it’ll separate.”

I looked down to see the leaves already at the point I needed them at. Neteyam and I nodded our thanks for her help and both started grinding the much softer roots.

“What are the expectations for the eclipse gathering tonight? Should I wear Omatikaya clothes, Metkayina, or my Toruk makto getup? I really don’t know.”

I contemplated for a moment. “I wouldn’t go for the Omatikaya look, you don’t wanna look too out of place at first. Of course after a little bit you can ease back into your own clothes, but for now I’d honestly go for a watered-down version of the Makto look.”

Neteyam nodded. “And what about manners? Is it much different from back home?”

“Not really. The food is almost completely fish-based, but otherwise everything other than clothes are the same. Oh! The major figures in the clan tend to talk about important happenings, so I’d try to get in kahoots with some of them. I can formally introduce you and whoever wants to tag along to Tonowari if you’d like. Maybe you can show off a little hand-to-hand. These guys aren’t very well-trained in it because most fights happen in the water or on ilu-back.”

The tent flap opened and I turned to see Ateyo walking in. “Who are you showing off to, Nete?” 

He rolled his eyes, taking a breath to respond. “I want the Olo’ektan to be impressed by you guys, he already knows how good at hand-to-hand my siblings and I are, but I’m thinking we could spar after dinner. When everyone is just hanging around, we can say that we want some practice with other people than who we usually spar with, and I can guarantee the warriors will be interested.”

Everyone agreed. Neteyam looked out of the tent, “I’m gonna try to find Lo’ak.” He stood, “See you guys!”

Ateyo and I waved goodbye, and finished making the salve for the Tsahik. Afterwards, we decided to look around for Aonung and his friends. 

“‘Rani! ‘Rani!” I turned to see Roxto running up to me and Ateyo.

“What happened? Is everyone okay?” I asked, scanning his frame for any injuries or blood, none was there.

“We fucked up. We fucked up bad.” Roxto was pale, and he started to ramble about how Aonung and the rest of the group were angry and embarrassed, and how they didn’t mean for it to go this far. 

“Wait, stop.” I grabbed his arm. “What exactly happened?”

“We left Lo’ak at Three Brother’s all alone and he isn’t there anymore.”

I felt the blood drain from my face, looking over at my soon to be brother-in-law's face looking similar. “What did you do?” he whispered to Roxto.

I immediately raised a hand to the radio around my throat, switching to a private channel with just Lo’ak “Eagle Eye, do you read me? Over.” I waited for a second, and Ateyo and I both tried a few times, even asking Kiri and ‘Rina to try as well from wherever they were.

Roxto explained more as the three of us ran out to find Neteyam. As soon as I had all the information, I radioed him “Wraith speaking, come in Pathfinder. Do you read me? Over.”

The crackle of Neteyam’s voice rang through my earpiece. “I read you, go ahead, over.”

“We have a code red on Eagle Eye, don’t know his 20, over.” I panted out as Ateyo and I raced along the beach to try and find someone who might know where Lo’ak was.

Neytiri’s voice was now the one over the radio. “Eagle Eye, do you read me? Over.” a pause, then twice again, louder,  “Eagle eye! Do you read me? Lo’ak! Lo’ak please respond!”

“Team, report to home base, over.” Neyeam’s voice, clearly furious, sounded in my ear. 

Ateyo spoke, “Roger that.” and we turned back to return to the mauri that Jake and Neytiri were living in.

When we got there, Tonowari had already arrived, and Aonung was being grilled on everything that had gone down earlier. “We wanted to mess with him, so we took him to Three Brother’s rock and left him there. When we went back an hour ago, he was gone. That is all I know.” He was explaining. 

I stepped forward, “I’ll lead one search party to Three Brother’s and the surrounding area. The boys can join me?” I turned to see the twins nodding, and ‘Rina stepped forward as well. 

“We’ll split. Ateyo and I take the eastward side, Neteyam and you take the westward.”

“And whomever else is joining splits evenly. A third in the area around the village, a third with me, and a third with Na’irina.”

Everyone who’d gathered agreed, and went to fetch their rides. The ikran riders all ran down the beach, and I let out a shrill, loud whistle to call all of the ikrans down.

Syura and Takutai were the first to land, and Neteyam and I quickly took to the air to lead our team around the westward end, Ateyo and ‘Rina following. 

“August, Cave dog, we’ll split at five minutes out, over.” I addressed ‘Rina and Ateyo respectively, who voiced their agreements with a nod from beside me. I dipped down to let the Metkayina in the water know the plan, hanging upside down on Syura to speak with them, and rising again after they confirmed.

“Wraith, look!” I heard Kiri in my ear, and turned to see where she pointed from behind. ”Starboard 20 meters out!” 

I followed her gaze to below where Lo’ak was treading water. I called out, and he waved his arms around as one of the warriors down below pulled his tsurak next to Lo’ak and pulled him on. Most of the rest of the team turned and lead the way, and Neteyam and I followed from behind, watching their six from above. 

I heard as Neteyam switched to a private channel, and his voice awoke in my ear. “How does this idiot get himself into situations like this all the time?”

I laughed, shaking my head. “I have no clue, it astounds me every time.”

“For once he got himself back the majority of the way. Three Brother’s is really far.” I was hit by a sudden wave of anger, and practically heard as Neteyam growled from my right. 

“I pray to Eywa that I don’t kill that little asshole.” His eyes were glued ahead, ears pinned back as Takutai’s flying turned rough in reflection of his rider’s emotions.

“‘I pray to Eywa I don’t kill a bitch’ he says, one hand already on his dagger” I murmured, thinking the wind would drown out my words. 

I was wrong, and Neteyam’s laugh rang out as he veered Takutai into my flight path. I squealed and urged Syura out of his way. “Golden boy! What the hell?”

He only laughed, and sent another gust my way. We were prepared this time, and Syura shot upwards and swooped down upside down so I could drop down.

Thank you my darling I thought through the bond as I patted her neck and flipped off her. I grabbed onto Neteyam’s waist, holding on as he and Takutai jerked at the sudden intrusion. 

“Where the hell’d you learn that move?” Neteyam’s wide eyes turned to look at me, and I laughed to see the amazement on his features.

“There was nothing better to do, I got bored out here all alone.” I settled in, resting my chin on his shoulder as he leaned ahead, softly urging Takutai to go faster. 

My arms squeezed around his middle, fingers tracing the beads of his waist armor. I stilled as my fingers grazed the soft dips of his abs, and the muscles tensed under my touch. “Sorry,” I murmured into his shoulder.

His hand stopped mine from moving back up, and shaking his head he pulled my hand down along his abs before dropping his own and placing his palm against my thigh. I pressed closer to his back, and his hand squeezed my thigh twice. I hid a smile, thankful he couldn’t see how bright the tanhi sparkled across my cheeks, not knowing his one were shining just as bright.

Takutai brought us down on the beach, and Neteyam’s large hand wrapped gently around my wrist as we hurried up to find Lo’ak taking the blame for the day’s events. 

“They tried to talk me out of it.” He swore, but the shocked look on Aonung’s face, and the nervous twitch to Lo’ak’s ear told me all I needed to know. I raised a brow at him in question as he passed, but he looked down and hurried off. 

I placed a hand on both Ateyo and Neteyam, shaking my head as they tried to go after him. “Don’t. It’ll only make things worse.” We watched as their father stormed off with Lo’ak, clearly going to shout at him. “See?” I said, letting go of them. “He’s gonna get talked to, trust me, it’s only gonna make him do something stupid if his older brothers also grill him.”

They nodded, and Neteyam set off after them with a promise to have Lo’ak’s back should he need it. Ateyo turned to me, looking around to make sure nobody else was near. “So, I got this for ‘Rina, it’s a mating present. Do you think she’ll accept it?” His eyes conveyed all the emotion he felt that his face hid. I examined the piece, an intricate necklace that swirled the purples of her favorite color with the warm white of his. I grabbed his hands in mine, “She would never dream of rejecting you. In all honesty she’d accept you if you were covered in shit and offering her a grain of sand as a gift.”

Relief flooded his features, and his shoulders sagged. “She’d want a public gesture though, right? And then a more private party afterwards?” The wrinkle appeared again between his eyes. We walked off to plan more of how he’d engage, and I made a mental note to catch Adib up on all this as soon as I could. The sun dipped as we planned, and before long both our radios cracked to life. 

“Wraith, Cave Dog, report to home base, clear? Over.”

I grinned. “Lima Charlie, Pathfinder. ETA five minutes! Over.” As we hurried back up from the beach, Ateyo knocked his shoulder into mine. 

“Dude, you’re supposed to be a spy. Everyone’s gonna know somethings up if you don’t wipe that grin off your face!” he chided.

I merely hummed in response, indeed schooling my features as we neared the village.

Everyone waved from across the crowd, and we hurried over. “What were you two planning?” ‘Rina asked before taking a bite of her food. 

“Nothing! We weren't doing anything!” Ateyo’s voice was an octave higher than normal and I shoved an elbow into him from my spot between him and Tuk.

“Don’t lie dude, you aren’t very good at it.” I leaned over to my sister, stage whispering “This idiot wanted to show how much of a simp he is and try and find some fruit to bring back. We didn’t find a single tree worth climbing though.”

She giggled, and satisfied she leaned back. Tuk tugged on my elbow, and I turned to her and started answering all the burning questions she had accumulated all day.

After she got bored of me, Neytiri was the one blessed to talk to Tuk for the night. I finished my food and was talking with Tsireya, Neteyam dropped down next to me. “Hey princess, we’re gonna go down to the beach and spar. Wanna join?” The mischievous sparkle in his eye would have given our plan up to anyone who knew him well, but nobody near would have noticed. 

I stood, “Duh, I haven’t sparred with anyone halfway decent in ages. Who isn’t one of my siblings.” I hastily added at the scoff Adib let out. 

The rest of the group stood, and I stopped by the warriors in training. “We’re gonna go spar if you wanna watch. Hand-to-hand.”

They all perked up and stood, eager to watch a fighting form they rarely saw. We were about to turn and leave when Tonowari’s voice rang out, “Anyone care to explain where you all are going?” 

Perfect I thought as I spun on my heel. “The forest group were gonna go spar on the beach and some of the others wanted to join.” I quickly explained.

He tilted his head. “Mind if I join? I found it interesting to watch you three,” he said, gesturing to my siblings and I, “I’m intrigued to see other fighting styles.”

Everyone shrugged, and soon practically all the warriors were on the beach standing in a circle around the ‘ring’ Lo’ak and I stood in.

Lo’ak whistled from his spot on the side, still panting from his go with Adib and sporting a bruised eye from where Adib had accidentally gotten too into the moment.

I grinned, and watched as Neteyam tensed to attack from the right, I braced on the left, knowing his classic feint, and jumped around his shoulders as he left himself open.

I used his attempt to pull me off to throw him off balance and into the sand. He slipped out in the cloud of dust and rolled away from me, and I quickly jumped to my feet. “Nice move, although you should’ve tried to keep me down until you shook off the shock from the fall.” he instructed.

I licked my lips, feinting to the left. “Why Neteyam, if you wanted to spend time between my legs, you should’ve asked.” I used his momentary distraction to catch him off guard, and went for his middle, again knocking him to the ground. He used the momentum to roll me under him, and I quickly got him to let up with a hit to the diaphragm, knocking the breath out of him.

He coughed, gasping air back in. He shook himself off and with one sweep of his arm threw sand towards me.

I turned, blocking the sand with my back, but he grabbed me from behind and got me into a chokehold.

I slid an arm underneath his, and dropped down to my knee, pulling him over my shoulder. He landed with a thud and I pinned his wrists down, straddling his chest. He rolled the both of us so our places were swapped, and I kneed him in the shin to again roll us so I was on top, this time pushing a little harder.

“Ow. Do you always have to slam me that hard? ‘Cause that shit hurts.” he groaned, dropping his head onto the sand in defeat. I let go and pulled him up.

“Yeah, that’s what happens when you underestimate me.” I started wiping the sand off my skin, and the crowd broke into a rapturous round of cheers and whistles. I grinned up at Neteyam, and in unison we both took over exaggerated bows.

“Hey, usually you take a lot less time to take me down,” he shrugged as we walked out of the ring. “I’ll take it as I’ve improved so much that you had to struggle for a good second to keep me down. In any case, we always end in a tie.”

I knocked a shoulder into him. “Yeah, we both know that I haven’t lost any of the knowledge I had, and since we’ve both improved, it looks like we’re still stuck at the same impasse as before.”

I turned to watch as ‘Rina went up against Kiri, who had gone against Adib in her round before. “This’ll be a good one. Their fighting styles have always complemented each other's. I wanna see if anything’s changed.”

I perched on the branch of a tree overlooking the ring, laying on my stomach across the largest branch I could still see from. Adib was leaning against the trunk, talking with Neteyam about something or the other. I swung down so I was upside down before them. “Good to see some things never change. Even before we left, you two were practically glued at the hip.”

Neteyam opened his mouth to retaliate, but Adib beat him to it. “You mean how you wished you were? Jealousy isn’t a good look on you, sister. Green clashes with your complexion.”

I dropped down and wrapped my arms around Adib’s bicep, “and hickeys clash with yours, yet here I am still assaulted by this hideous one on your neck. Have you been putting on the balm I gave you?”

Adib stuck his tongue out at me, and Neteyam leaned around to rest his chin on my shoulder. “If you’re jealous, darling, you should’ve said something. I could totally give you a wicked hickey.” he purred, echoing my words from before.

Before I could respond with something equally as dirty, kill two birds with one stone and make both of them squeam, Neteyam was yanked up by Ralak.

Adib and I both shot up as he started shouting at Neteyam, something about respecting a lady and whatnot. I pulled Neteyam out of Ralak’s grip, and Adib pushed himself between the two of them. ‘Rina and Kiri immediately stopped their sparring and rushed over, and along with Ateyo they pulled Neteyam back from where he was standing his ground.

A group of the Metkayina kids, almost everyone who was left as the adults had gone home after the first few rounds, were holding Ralak back.

I felt as white hot rage filled my chest at the sight of Neteyam’s lip that had been freshly healed once again split open. I had started shouting, and realized that I’d slipped into English in my fury. “Jesus fucking Christ are you insane? Have I not made myself clear? You need to back the hell off before I do it myself,” I switched back with a shake of my head. “I swear on everything that I hold dear, I will beat the everlasting shit out of you if you don’t stop with this childish temper! I will take this childishness and shove it so far up your ass you’re gonna be tasting diapers and pacifiers for a month.”

Now everyone was holding me back, trying to get me to calm down. With a low hiss I backed off, composing myself before I had to go back to the village. I turned and noticed a group of the high-up warriors, and Jakesuli and Neytiri were racing down the beach.

By the time they reached us, the group had all backed off the two men, both who were panting from their shouting. 

Ralak stepped forward, ignoring the shake of Neteyam’s head. “I challenge you.” Neteyam’s jaw clenched, and, quieter so that the approaching elders couldn’t hear, hissed out, “Are you going to accept or not, coward?”

Neteyam straightened to his full height. “You cannot challenge me without a good reason.”

“We fight for her hand.” Ralak pointed towards me, eyes never leaving Neteyam.

I felt my ears pin back and my lips pull up, and Neteyam looked over to me. Eyes not leaving mine he said simply, “I do not fight for something that is not rightfully mine.” I walked forward, placing a hand on Neteyam’s forearm and glaring at Ralak. 

“You will not treat me as if I am some prize to be won. If it is the only thing to get you to knock off trying to get me back, I will fight you myself. I don’t need you to challenge someone for my hand, I will give it to whomever I so please, which is looking like anyone but you.” I felt disgust lace the last word past my lips, and Ralak visibly reeled back.

Steeling himself, he seemed to pull on a mask over his features. “Bold of you to assume I’m not challenging him because I want you and not because I want to keep you from him.”

I launched myself at him, but was caught by my brother before I could draw blood. He leveled me with a look before turning to Ralak, his voice cold. “Bold of you to assume that even if she doesn’t need others to fight her battles, there isn’t a whole army of us who’d fight to the death for her.” Neteyam, Adib, Ateyo and Lo’ak all formed a line before me, even a handful of Metkayina joining our side.

Ralak huffed. “Fine then. I challenge one of you to First Blood.”

The entire crowd gasped, and the elders who had tried to nullify the situation stepped back, law dictating that nobody except the challenged could respond or give their opinions.

Without missing a beat, both Neteyam and Adib stepped forward, sharing a look between them. A silent agreement and brotherhood running in their veins.

“It is your choice who’d you’d rather fight. You have one day to decide, sundown tomorrow, or the challenge is void and another cannot be made. The battle, should it occur, will happen in a week’s time, at the island’s heart. Both participants may come to me to seek guidance and counsel, as well as to discuss the terms of the challenge.” Tsahik Ronal’s voice carried over the eerily silent crowd, even the waves seemed muted. “Participants are not to interact with one another, and none from the clan is to interfere or the challenging party will be named victorious. Once a winner is chosen, the terms cannot be altered, and any benefits cannot be taken or challenged for again. Eywa ngahu.” she finished, as if she was reading from a script.

“Eywa ngahu.” the crowd echoed, shock still rippling.

The walk back was silent, Neytiri had a hand on both Neteyam and Adib, fearing that in his rage, Ralak would become vengeful and not stop at just first blood.

[marriedtolike18fictionalmen]

Our Infinity of Stars (pt. 3)

Here's part three of one of the stories I’m working on! Hope u guys (the literal like three people who read the first two parts lol) are liking it so far!!

Again, dms are open for any thoughts, edits, critiques, etc. or if you want to be tagged in future additions that will come soon!

Love y'all sm!!

“It would be faster to swim.” Roxto complained from behind me. Turning, I raised a brow. 

“You don’t think we can run faster than you? Sure, you have a thick tail and arms that make you faster in the water, but can you keep up in a race?” I smirked as Ralak tried to stop us, but I shoved past him and started a line. “First one to the water wins.”

The Sullys and I were on one side of the trail that opens to the beach, the Metkayina group on the other. Tuk was positioned between us, counting down until the start, Rina and Tsireya at the water’s edge to see who won fair and square. 

“3… 2… 1… GO!” Tuk’s voice cried as we bounded off. In seconds, the lanky limbs each of us from the forest possessed propelled us forwards, Neteyam and Ateyo in the lead with me right on their heels, Lo’ak and Kiri head to head a step behind me, and all the metkayina trailing us, widened eyed as we darted off into the waves.

As we were a few meters away from the water, I put on a burst of speed and shot past the twins, grinning at their gasps and heavier footfalls on my tail. I gave one last leap pushing me past Rina and Tsireya, just barely before the twins.

By the time the Metkayinas caught up, I was already taunting the Sullys about my speed. “This man has not the size or the endurance, nor the genetics to win. It's physically impossible for this little man to win. If only I weren’t so much better than you, then maybe you’d have a chance.”

At Neteyam’s protests I laughed. “Oh, it’s ok. I know it must be very hard for you to clean my dust off, I’m sure somebody will clean it off for you. Maybe someone from your fanclub back home.” I smirked at Neteyam’s dumbfounded expression, “Give it up, old man. You can't fight evolution. I was built for speed.”

“I’m only a month older than you! Did you really have to quote ‘Rocky IV’ to me?”

“Aw, the first thing you say and it’s just proving how superior I am. I was a month younger than you when I completed my iknimaya. Guess I’ve always been leaving you in my du-” I gasped as Neteyam threw me over his shoulder, wading into the deeper water. “Let me down you evil boy! Don’t you dare even think about throwing me in!” I protested, lightly hitting his back in a futile effort to get him to let me down. 

He swung my body around as if I were a mere ragdoll,“I mean, if you really want me to let go.” He dropped his arms from under me and I was plunged into the water. When I resurfaced, he had his head thrown back in laughter.

I swung a leg around and knocked his feet out from under him. Now it was my turn to laugh as he surfaced, a cloud of sand getting kicked up as we started to splash each other. The rest of the group ran in, joining in our little battle until it was a full-on war. 

“This is not what we are supposed to be doing! Get out of the water now, I don’t have time to mess around like this.” The infuriating voice of Ralak rang out from the shoreline, and with a final splash I stood up and trudged up to shore. 

Ralak roughly grabbed my arm and dragged me out of earshot from the group. I shot a look backwards to tell them I was fine as I wrenched my arm from his grip. “I can walk perfectly fine, thank you. Don’t act like some barbarian.”

“I’m the barbarian? Please, with the way you act around those people, I’m practically generations ahead of you. At least I act like an adult.”

“Those people are the first family I ever had. They raised me and my siblings after our mother left. They comforted me after my father died. I wasn't even going to come here, but they told me to go, to be with my blood family. You have had a stick up your ass since the moment they got here, nobody made you agree to help. Ninat and the rest of the girls other than Tsireya backed out. A few of the guys too.”

“So I should just leave? Is that what you want?” Ralak snarled, leaning down in my face.

I pinned my ears further and hissed back at him, “I would prefer it that way. Come back if you ever grow up and learn to live with the fact that I don't want you, and I never will.”

Panting, we stood there for a second as my words sunk in. I turned away, leaving him standing there with my anger as I went back to the group.

“Will Ralak be joining us?” ‘Rina carefully asked.

“Not in the foreseeable future.” I replied evenly, not letting my residual anger at his childish behavior further affect me.

“Okay. Let’s see how good you guys are at holding your breaths.” ‘Rina turned to the group as Tsireya demonstrated, then everyone paired off to work off of Tsireya’s tips.

I caught Neteyam’s eye and gestured a few meters away from the rest of the group, where the shade of the trees spilled into the shallow water.

After we had been practicing for some time, Neteyam had caught on quickly, we were sharing some fruits from the nearby trees in the shade, our legs dipping into the water.

“Is everything okay? That conversation looked tense.” Neteyam asked quietly as we ate, practically the first words he’d said to me since my argument with Ralak.

“Yes, Ralak’s just being unreasonably irritable.” At Neteyam’s raised brow, I sighed before continuing to explain. “I turned down his courting offer a few weeks ago. He seems to think it was personal, just to make him angry or that I was playing hard to get. It wasn’t anything like that, for the record, but he had been trying to flirt and get me to rethink before you guys arrived, and now just has a stick up his ass.”

Neteyam chuckled, dipping his head as a silence fell over us. He looked up at me, almost whispering, “I never apologized for the things I said to you before you left.”

Shaking my head I grabbed his arm. “There is nothing to apologize for. Truly. Both of us were upset and hurtful things. I didn’t mean all of it, and I don’t hold anything you said against you. It’s in the past, and we’re past it now.”

Nodding his agreement, Neteyam changed the subject. “I didn’t expect it to be so beautiful here. It’s so different from the forest, but peaceful and beautiful all the same.”

I took a breath to respond, but Tuk came bounding over, pulling Neteyam away to show him some shell or stone she had gathered. I opted to stay against the tree, stretching my legs out in front of me as I was plunged in that last conversation we had shared before I left.

Neteyam’s footsteps stormed into my hut. “You aren’t staying. I won’t allow it.” He snapped from the entrance of my hut.

I whipped around, narrowing my eyes at him, “Oh, then I guess I have to stay. If the great Neteyam, golden boy of the Omatikaya commands it, who am I to disobey?”

“Don’t call me that.” He snapped.

I calmed my voice, straightening I said, “I am not going.”

“She is your blood, your family.”

“She’s not my family.” My ears pinned to my head.

“Then who is?”

“My siblings, your parents, Kiri, Lo’ak, Tuk, Ateyo. You.”

“We are not related to you.”

“So now it’s the Sullys versus my siblings and I? Family does not have to be by blood. ‘The blood of the covenant runs thicker than the water of the womb.’ That’s what you told me, isn’t it? That day when we ran off after our iknimaya.”

“We aren’t talking about this. I don’t want to talk about family.”

I raised my voice, “How can we not talk about family when family’s all that we’ve got?” I snarled out. I took a breath, realizing my voice had shifted into Eywa’s song. “Everything that I’ve gone through you’ve promised to be standing there by my side.”.

His voice turned cold, emotionless, at my outburst. “I don’t want you here anymore.” without another word he turned and strode out. I stopped unpacking my things, throwing everything back into the basket.

“Fine then! Be like that, see if I care. I won’t stop you.” I shouted at his retreating form. He didn’t turn. A single tear opened the floodgates as it was followed by many more until they had carved rivers into the soft skin of my cheeks. “You broke your promise. What happened to ‘I’ll always be here,’ where did that go?” I said aloud as if he could hear it. “How can you leave me?”

I wiped my tears, bringing my belongings to strap to Syura’s large back, saying my goodbyes to the Sully family, chancing a glance around before settling on Neytiri’s downturned mouth as she shook her head in a silent apology.

I turned and mounted Syura, taking off after my brother to let ‘Rina and Ateyo say their final goodbyes.

I reminisced on the memories before rising to my feet with a small sigh.

I joined Rina where she watched the twins and Tuk running around in the water.

“Hey, princess! Get over here!”

Rolling my eyes, I stood, disregarding the butterflies his old nickname shook from me, “Why, golden boy? So you can dunk me in the water again?”

“Princess?” Tsireya asked from her spot a few feet away, hands splayed across a very flustered Lo’ak’s chest, clearly hiding behind a thin disguise of trying to teach him proper breathing techniques while trying to crop a feel.

“In my father’s native tongue, my nickname ‘Rani’ means queen.” I motioned my chin to where Neteyam was standing, “Goldie over there started calling me princess when he found that out. He claimed that-”

“That you hadn’t passed your iknimaya yet, so you technically weren’t a queen yet. Plus, you’d have to marry a king.” He winked at me from where he had run over out of the water. “You tell that story to everyone.”

I fluttered my eyelashes at him. “Maybe because it’s so sweet and you wooed me with it. You also offered yourself up as tribute for a king for me to marry if I remember correctly.” I placed a hand on his broad chest. “I almost agreed too.”

Neteyam was practically drooling as I smirked from under my half-closed eyelids, leaning inches away from him and letting the long strings of my seashell-studded top brush over his skin. “Don’t get too flustered,” I patted his cheek as I strolled past him towards where Tuk had found more shells. At this rate she’d have enough for a new top. “You wouldn’t want the women of the Metkayina clan to know how to get past your guard, Golden Boy.” I shouted over my shoulder.

“You and your emerald eyes, princess. You have got to stop doing that.” Neteyam purred as he caught up to me. 

I splashed some water at him, “C’mon. I’ll teach you how to swim better.”

“I know how to swim!” He replied, handing over his heart. “And it wounds me that you imply I don’t.”

“Oh no! Do you want me to kiss it better?”

“I wouldn’t mind it, no.” he grabbed my waist and pulled me flush against him.

“Oh, stop it. You’re the worst.”

“Am I really?”

“Yes. I hate you.”

“Ah, but you haven't pushed me away yet.” I shoved against his chest. “Looks like someone is going soft on me.”

“Am not!” I used our argument that we had playfully used since we were children.

Neteyam grinned, remembering our old joke. “Are too!”

“At least I know how to swim!” I shot back, pushing Neteyam into the water.

He twisted and grabbed me as he fell, pulling me along with him. We both surfaced, laughing.

 “Mess with the bull and you get the horns, darling.” He breathed in my ear.

I laughed as I pushed him away, “Yeah, whatever. Now are we going swimming or not?”

He smirked down at me, “Lead the way, princess.”

I made sure to splash him a little more than necessary as I dove off the sandbar.

As we swam in the reef, I kept a close eye on him, surfacing less often than I thought I would’ve needed to. After I voiced this thought to Neteyam as we were floating on the surface, a slow grin spread across his face. “So I am a good swimmer then?”

I tilted my head, “I didn’t quite say that.”

“It’s ok, I’ll take the compliment.”

A Cheshire grin overtook my features, “How about a bet?”

A matching smile appeared on Neteyam’s features, “What kind of a bet?”

“If you can beat me back to the beach, I’ll admit you’re a halfway decent swimmer,” I held up a hand at the beginning of his protest, “To the entire clan.”

He mulled it over. “You can only use your arms. No kicking.” He held out a hand.

“Good that you still remember to never agree to a deal with me the way I lay it out.” I commented, grasping his larger hand in mine in a gesture Jakesuli had taught us. A handshake.

An excited grin dancing across his lips, Neteyam counted down. I rolled my shoulders as I prepared to swim as fast as I possibly could. I lowered into the water, and, my ankles glued together, I blasted forward with the first few strokes pulling me ahead.

I heard Neteyam splashing loudly on my heels, yet I slowed to save my energy for the last stretch. On the beach I heard as the group noticed our race, and started cheering, they must be placing bets. I mulled as I continued on my mad dash towards shore.

I felt as Neteyam’s splashes splattered across my back, he was catching up now. I glanced up towards shore, and realized we were maybe 50 feet away. Smirking, I put my everything into getting back, and I heard Neteyam do the same. We were almost neck and neck, and I had to squeeze my legs together to keep from kicking, arms burning at the strain of pulling the water out of my way to move forward.

Tsireya and Aonung had made a makeshift finish line, and with a final push, I crossed it a moment before Neteyam.

Cheers erupted, and Neteyam and I both were panting, huge grins dancing across our lips. The group surrounded me, grilling me for details on the race, on the bet they knew we must have made. I was suddenly hoisted into the air on top of broad shoulders.

“Do I at least get credit for giving you a run for your money?” Neteyam tilted his head back to look at me. 

I made a big deal about contemplating his question,tapping a finger on my chin. “Sure, why not. ‘Gave me a run for my money in a race’ is good enough, I guess.”

Rolling his eyes, Neteyam dropped me into the waist-deep surf, and everyone, including myself, were rolling with laughter as I came back up. 

Clutching a stitch in her side, Tsireya sputtered out, “okay, we should actually train now.”

Agreeing, everyone dove into the waves to test out their new skills and get some pointers on their swimming forms.

I swam next to Tuk, helping her gain new skills in the water. “Here, you want to have your hands like this,” I demonstrated, helping mold her hands into the correct position. “And pull the water out of your way. THen use your legs to help push you forwards.”

Her brow furrowed in concentration, Tuk followed my instructions, grinning up at me as I praised her.