Counting Stars - Aonung x Neteyam

Part 1

- Of course, you know what you want, you don't know if it's what we want and that's why you're hesitating. - she said, pushing my shoulder so I would turn around. - Look at me son. - I looked up and she stared at me with relaxed features. She put a hand on my cheek and smiled softly. - Do you really think your father and I didn't know where you were going with that healer? - I laughed, feeling my face burn. - Whatever makes you happy will make us happy, son.

I advanced towards her and hugged her tightly. I had never felt like this before. As if I didn't have to make a super human effort to get what I wanted, as if things just fell into place. I said thank you against her neck and she just laughed. She rubbed my back until I pulled away, looking at my hands.

- I think I really like him. - I mumble. - But I'm so scared mom, I don't know what to do. - I looked at her with an expression I couldn't control.

- You have nothing to be afraid of, my sweet boy, you're the best thing that could happen to that young man. Just show him who you really are and be patient. He will love you like we all love you. - She smiled coming back to my hair.

We spent a few minutes in silence. Her fingers in my hair moved firmly and quickly. I lost myself in thoughts, trying to think faster than my poor head was used to. Suddenly the future was different and I felt as if I now had as many chances as I wanted.

- You know who he is. - I whispered as she was finishing tying up the remaining locks.

- Of course I do son. - she ends, leaving a kiss on the top of my head before walking out of the marui leaving me alone with my feelings and thoughts.

Tsireya's family had experienced many celebrations. Her father had been the eldest of ten siblings and her mother was the daughter of the leader of the jungle clan. All of her sisters were powerful women who had married to lead the different clans of the coast. The girl knew that being born to be the leader was difficult, you were demanded more than the rest, but at the same time you lived a thousand lives even before you married.

Like Aonung, they were grateful for what they had been given. They had special ways of showing it, as everyone could tell, so the villagers were never bored. Since the half-demons and their ship had arrived, they had almost forgotten who they were. They had almost forgotten that they were part of a group of clans so large and powerful that no one, neither coming from the sky nor from the center of the earth could beat them.

That day they realized that although Eywa had given them centuries of peace and harmony, now they had to fight for their home. And losing was never in the plans. Tonight, the celebration of their first victory was a celebration of a future full of prosperity.

- You know that the purpose of a celebration is to get together and celebrate, right? - Neteyam approached me, coming out of his marui with his ritual paintings and a new hairstyle. I smiled sideways and nodded.

- I have to take you to the beach. My father is afraid you'll get lost, missing the three thousand bonfires he's put there. - He laughed beside me and ran a finger down my arm, where my first tattoo rested.

- That's a new. - he whispered and I turned to look at the tattoo for the fifth time in the last few minutes.

- It means courage. - I replied, seeing his eyes still staring at the black lines on my skin. - For saving some villagers from attack. - he nodded looking at it closely.

- That's nice. We don't get tattoos that often there, I don't think I've ever seen a person with as many tattoos as your father. We only do this once in a while. - he pointed to the painting.