Once upon a lie- Neteyam Sully

Chapter Six

"Slow down Neteyam."

I chase after him, trying to catch up but my leg is burning and I'm scared I'm going to rip open my stitches. Mo'at says that in the next day or so I should be able to take them out but until then I need to be careful. But here I am, chasing after the man that despises me. We've been walking around for hours.

He's shown me lots of things like caves and spiritual trees. He's also shown places I can't go unsupervised. It's been a lot to take in but I've been trying really hard to obtain everything he's saying.

He made it very clear earlier that he would never except me because of who I was raised and quite frankly I don't blame him. My people took a lot from him, but I'm trying to show him that i'm genuine, he just won't listen. Luckily, so far we've only had a few arguments.

"Neteyam, god damnit, slow down!" He finally listens to me, slowing his place only a little bit. I'm breathing heavy at this point. The most exercise I've gotten since being on Pandora was when I would walk from one side of the facility to the other. I stop walking completely, taking a moment to breathe.

I see Neteyam roll his eyes at me but I just stick my tongue out at him.

"This is difficult for you." He looks so smug standing up there, not even breaking a sweat. Ugh, he makes me so mad.

"You figure that out all by yourself genius?' He shakes his head at me.

"Shut up, skxawng. Come on, I got one more place to show you before we head back."

★★★

"Wow." He took me to a waterfall. I get lost in its beauty, memorizing the way the water flows down the mountain looking equally deadly and gentle. Maybe it's a metaphor for all of Pandora and what inhabits it. Everything that is delicate is capable of being dangerous.

I see Neteyam staring at me from the corner of my eye, like he was doing by the river but I choose to ignore it. When we were by the river he was just staring at me, studying my face. It was so damn scary. He's so intimidating and I don't even know if he realizes.

I quickly make my way down the small hill, trying to avoid his gaze. The waterfall guides into a beautiful pond, with fish and plants floating all around.

"Should I be worried something will bite my foot off if I in the pond?" He smiles softly at me and shakes his head.

"You'll be fine."

I laugh as i run into the water, playing and chasing with the fish. I don't know how long we stay that but when it starts getting dark and everything starts lighting up it feels magical. Neteyam is sitting on a rock not to far away from me, watching his surroundings and the sky.

He is quite beautiful, it's too bad he has his mind set on hating me.

I look at the bioluminescent fish, following their movement with my feet. I giggle softly at them, twirling and kicking my legs- seeing how they follow me everywhere I go.

"We should probably head back now."

"Okay."

★★★

Its been two weeks since the Omaticaya clan found me in the woods. My wounds are healing nicely which makes it easier to learn. Tuk has shown me all over and even made me a new shirt yesterday. I like to think I'm fitting in a little better but it may just be my imagination. Instead of giving me glares, the people just don't realize I'm there. They don't make a commotion anymore which is nice.

Neteyam and I still can't seem to get along. If anything it's gotten worse. He hates my guts and I hate his. The only time I've seen him genuinely laugh is when he was showing me the cliffs and my foot caught on a rock and i nearly fell off. He caught me before I could, obviously otherwise I would be dead.