Pathfinder || OC X Neteyam

1 - Hunting gone wrong

The forest was quiet, with only the sound of rustling leaves above to fill Aha'ri's ears. She moved through along the forest floor, not making a sound as she followed a hexapede.

Ferns brushed against her arms and the grass left her feet damp in the early morning.

Every now and then she would hear an animal noise. She would stop and stand there, swiveling her ears around to see if she could hear anything else but would have no luck.

Either the animals knew they were being hunted or Aha'ri was just terrible at hunting.

The muddy footprints spread along the path were little to no help and there were so many scents overlapping already that she couldn't pick out one smell.

She tried to follow the tracks as long as she had the patience before but the sun was rising fast, and she needed food.

Aha'ri was about to give up when she finally spotted the hexapede in the distance. She tried not to let her excitement get the better of her and took a deep breath as she nocked her arrow and pulled back on her bow.

Her eyes look down the arrow, all the way to her prey across the clearing. She breathes deeply and slowly to steady her aim, her muscles in her back scream from holding back the arrow for so long but she ignores it.

The animal stopped in its tracks and Aha'ri knew this was her chance to strike, but before her fingers could release the string of her bow, she heard of strange noise behind her. Her ears twirl around and she stops for a moment, relaxing the arrow, to make sure the noise was nothing. Her gaze did not leave the hexapede.

After a couple of seconds of not hearing anything else, Aha'ri pulled back her arrow again, muscles screaming, and focuses back on her prey.

She was about to release the arrow when- "BOO!" came from behind her.

Aha'ri jumped, causing her to lose her aim on the hexapede and release the arrow just wide. Hearing the arrow wiz by, the animal scurries away.

Her face turned to a scowl and she whirled on whoever made her lose her breakfast. But when she turned around, she found Kiri giggling behind her hand.

"Kiri, really? That was my breakfast skxawng!" Aha'ri snapped. Kiri practically toppled over from laughter. "It's not funny!" Aha'ri shoved Kiri by the shoulder.

"It's fine, Aha'ri. I came to tell you that a hunting party came back with a huge kill to celebrate Neteyam's eighteenth birthday," Kiri said trying to subdue her laughter.

Aha'ri scoffed. "Since when do you think I cared about Neteyam?"

"Oh, please," Kiri rolled her eyes, "don't act like you don't have a crush on him."

"A crush on him? Are you serious? Kiri, I despise him."

Kiri giggled and shook her head, thinking she was joking. "Do you want to keep going after that animal all day or would you rather have the delicious meal that's waiting for you at home?"

Aha'ri's ears pin in annoyance. She wanted to go after that hexapede, she was so close, but a part of her knew it would just be easier to go back home and endure the celebration.

Kiri motioned for her to walk with her and they walk back to the village together. She was going back for the food, not the odious celebration.

Get the food and get out.

"I'm not joking, you know," Aha'ri said.

"About what?" Kiri bent over and picked up a small mushroom and stuffed it into her pouch under her shawl.

Kiri's weaving was amazing. She taught Aha'ri how to weave just like her, although she was still better at clothing.

Her shawl was made of fine fibers of different greens, complementing her blue skin. Her waist-cloth was similar, donning her songcord around the waistband.

Aha'ri glared at her, "About having a crush on Neteyam. We're not little kids anymore, Kiri. Crushes are stupid."

"Mhm," Kiri smirked. "Yeah, no, I totally understand."

Aha'ri sighed. There was a moment of silence between them as they continued to walk before Kiri began to make conversation.

"Anyway, Lo'ak was being so annoying this morning. He was messing around with me and kept hiding my things so I couldn't get ready."

"It's sad that he doesn't have anything better to do. Lurei doesn't hide my things but she follows me everywhere. Hunting is the only thing that gets me away from her. Don't get me wrong, I love her to death, but little siblings can just be so annoying sometimes."

"Lo'ak is fourteen. He needs to grow up," Kiri responded. "Was I ever annoying?" she asked bending down to grab another mushroom.

Aha'ri huffed. "Well, you can be sometimes, but not in a sibling way. Friends are different, even if you are younger than me."

"Hey, I'm pretty close."

"Three years? Right, yeah. Close."

"Well at least I'm not eight, like Lurei and Tuk."

"You're right about that. That would make you unbearable."

Kiri shoved her and they giggled.

At the bottom of the floating mountains, large green vines hung down into the forest clearing. Kiri wasted no time beginning to climb, but Aha'ri hesitated.

Disappointment crept over her. She had never been taught how to hunt and was eager to get her first kill, but her self taught methods proved to be lack luster time and time again. But what was she doing wrong.

She tried to push the thoughts out of her head and she put her arm and head through her bow so that it rested around her torso. There was a long climb ahead.

"Come on, slow poke," Kiri called down to her. "With how slow you're climbing, we'll take all day to get up there, hurry up!"

"Can I just Kilvan?"

"No! You won't get better at climbing if you don't practice!"

Aha'ri sighed. Kiri was right, but that didn't do anything for her mood. The vines were thick and easy to grab onto as tried to climb faster, challenging herself, thrusting herself higher and higher.

Another thing she didn't learn to do when she was young—climb. Especially the vines of the hallelujah mountains.

Na'vi children practically grow up climbing things. Trees, rocks, vines, anything. But Aha'ri and her little sister Lurei were sheltered. Their parents were too afraid of the sky people to let their children go out and live.

She was grateful she was allowed to tame an ikran before her parents died. Without Kilvan, she didn't know where she would be today.

Flying high above the trees was Aha'ri's escape.

Looking out while climbing, the tops of the trees far below, the sun was beautiful against the blue sky. She could see the planet beyond—the one they spun around according to the science humans.

She stopped to take in the view, and definitely not to catch her breath.

Kiri noticed she stopped and called out to her. "Aha'ri, what are you doing?"

"Enjoying the view," she called back.

"Enjoy the sunset at the village. We're almost there. Come." Kiri began to climb again, leaving her in the dust.

Aha'ri looked out one more time, feeling the slight breeze brushing against her skin, and dancing through her long braided hair. It was so peaceful up here. She took one big breath before reaching her hand and pulling herself up the vine again.