Counting Stars - Aonung x Neteyam

Part 1

- It's a little cold. - I turned my head to the voice of Aonung who had stood right behind me where the bullet had come out. Then I felt his fingers on my skin around the wound, even though his hands were large his fingers were delicate. I closed my eyes letting the tiredness spread through my chest.

Ronal's voice still directed his son. He would respond only with a sound from his throat or nodding. Occasionally his other hand would rest on my thigh or lower back, during those seconds the rest of my skin tingled as if coming to life. I tried to practice the meditation tricks Lo'ak had taught me, but they didn't seem to be working, my heart was going as fast as if I were running through the woods.

- Are you alright? - Aonung whispered as his hand rested on my chest, feeling my heartbeat.

- It hurts a little. - I lied, opening my eyes and realizing how close I was. His mother, now almost at the entrance of the marui was talking to my mother as if they hadn't tried to kill each other the first time they met.

- Sorry, this part can be painful. This kind of ointment has to be put directly on the wound. - I hadn't really felt any pain.

- It's okay, it's bearable. Thank you for helping me. - I replied with a half-smile.

- It's the least I can do. You saved my sister's life. Even after everything we've done to you, you risked your life for her. - He looked me in the eyes as he spoke and I could see his confusion. Even though his people were brave and were governed by just laws, they were not the most open people to other tribes. It was logical, we had all learned to fear strangers. For him it was totally illogical that someone from outside would take a risk for someone from his tribe. If you added to that Added we were half "sky people," I could understand what his thoughts were.

- You took us in even when it was not your responsibility to do so, we are now as much a part of your tribe as you are of ours. - I responded by resting my hand on his, which was still resting on my chest. - Besides, I'm pretty sure that soon we will also share family ties, our siblings are not very good at hiding their feelings. - He laughed and shook his head.

- Make no mistake, if your brother hurts my sister, that wound in your chest will be the least of your problems. - I laughed and let go of his hand gently and without another word he picked up everything he had brought. My eyelids grew heavy again and before I knew it, I was lying against my pod. I heard my mother come in and give me the syrup Ronal had left behind.

- Rest well, forest boy. - whispered before he left and with that, I fell asleep again. This time I did not dream of waves of fire over my head, but of soft hands and the smell of healing herbs.

It wasn't that Aonung found it odd that the new members of his tribe had different celebrations from his own, but he had to be honest, he found it odd what such a celebration entailed. The boy tried not to think too hard about what it was like to see the middle brother of the Sully clan being thoroughly painted by his little sister.

Their hands kept drawing patterns and lines on each other's skin, as they smiled at each other and whispered words he didn't lead to hear. A part of him felt angry that this half-demon was like this with his sister, but if he thought for a second, he realized that he was actually jealous.

Almost everyone in the tribe who was his age had found someone to think about the future with, now even his little sister. It felt like it was already starting to be his mistake. Maybe he was too busy fighting with the Sully's or maybe he was spending too much time trying to get his father to like him. There had to be something wrong with him for everyone else to find someone and he was still alone.

In an attempt to distract himself he approached the older brother, who was resting not far away with his feet in the water. His chest was still firmly bandaged and by the shade of the bandage it should be changed very soon. But on the whole, he looked better than yesterday, when he went with his mother to put the ointment on him.