Counting Stars - Aonung x Neteyam

Part 1

- Thank you for taking care of him. - a voice came from behind me and almost made me jump. His mother appeared gliding through the water. I didn't know how she did it, but I could never tell where she was. She was as silent as the moonlight.

- You're welcome. - I replied quietly. - "He's better, I don't think he has a fever anymore. - As if he realized we were talking about him, he twisted and started to wake up. His eyes opened slowly and he straightened up much firmer than the day before.

- Hi, - he murmured, still smiling with his eyes foggy from sleep. I smiled back. - For having slept with the fishes I don't think I've ever rested so well. - I laughed and nodded my head. - Sorry to have caused you so much trouble these days. - he continued speaking after yawning.

- Don't be an idiot. None of this is your fault. - I said supporting him with one hand to get him out of the water. As he turned around, he realized his mother was there.

- How's the pain? - she said reaching over and placing a hand on his cheek. He leaned back from the gesture and smiled.

- It's all right, Mom, don't worry. I think I can get out of the water now; I feel fine. Although I wouldn't say no to sleeping a little longer. - he explained, leaning on her to sit next to me on the wood.

- I'll take you back to the marui, you can sleep as long as you want. - his mother answered looking at me with an expression I couldn't decipher.

- I'm going to my marui too, rest. - I said standing up and walking towards the sand. I heard how they shared some words in a low voice, but I didn't turn around. It seemed as if the magic of the night had taken away all the thoughts, I had had the night before and now it only seemed to me that it had been foolishness. His future was not with Jake Sully's son, it was with a woman from the islands obviously. He too would have future breads and none of them would include him.

Although Neteyam would never tell anyone, he knew exactly what he wanted in life. Perhaps he would tell his father that he wanted the same thing he did, to be the head of a strong and tough family, with the one goal of protecting and providing for his family. He would also tell his mother that he wanted to be a good leader of his tribe, when they still had one, to lead them safely to their destination.

Sometimes he would also agree with his brother Lo'ak and convince him that he also found the woman who has caught his eye from his former tribe attractive. Lately he had told her that his future with Tsireya was just as he would like his future to be as well.

But it was all a lie, even if no one knew it, the forest boy was really good at lying. He didn't lie to be right or to hide a mistake, he lied to make his family happy. He lied so that everyone would continue to see him as the perfect son, the perfect brother or the perfect future leader. He had never wanted any of that and he was sure he never would.

The first time he realized it was when he rode in his Ikran with a tribal acquaintance. He was showing him the way he had gone the day before when he had seen a wounded animal. The boy was an apprentice healer and wanted to help the poor creature. He was strong but several inches shorter than he was, didn't talk much and seemed to always have a frown on his face.

Although he was big, he was always gentle and kind to his patients. He climbed in front of him gracefully and leaned on his chest most of the way. Her hands sometimes rested on his thighs or on his arms. All the way he felt an almost painful electricity through his body that he didn't understand until the ride back. After finding and healing the animal, the boy had talked to him about wanting to watch the sunset before returning.

He was not convinced because his father had told him not to be out at dusk, but in the end, he had convinced him to fly over some high rocks and sit on top to watch the sun go down.