Always There - Neteyam x Aonung

X

It was Eemai, "Are you gonna tell me why you've been ignoring me, or are we just not gonna talk about it?"

"We aren't gonna talk about it, not right now," Aonung clenched his jaw, anger boiling up. She scoffed, turning from him.

"Aonung will go first," Tonowari boomed. Aonung stepped up, and his father bent down into his ear, "Choose wisely, males are a lot easier to bond with," he tapped the boy's shoulder, straightening back up. Aonung took this into account as he looked down into the water. He spotted a large Skimwing, Go big or go home. Before anyone could say anything, he launched himself off of the platform.

He landed in the water next to the Tsurak, it whirling around to face him. He swatted bubbles from his face, pushing himself towards it. It struck out at him, snapping its jaws. He dodged it, coming around its side. It whipped its head around, and that's when Aonung realized it was a female. A string of bubbles escaped his mouth, but he was already in too deep. He pushed towards it, grabbing onto its snout. It thrashed as he pulled. Aonung wrapped his arm around his head. It thrashing quickened. He grabbed out for its queue. He grasped it, but he wasn't paying attention. It darted backwards, it's snout slipping from Aonung's grasp. It opened its maw, crunching down on Aonung's arm. The boy gasped, inhaling water. He yanked himself from it, tearing flesh from his arm. He surfaced, the water around him turning red. Tonowari looked as if he was about to jump in the water, Aonung shouted in protest, his arm throbbing. He dove back under, grasping at the Tsurak. He got a hold of it once again, grabbing onto the queue. He pulled his braid to the front, letting the tendrils connect. Aonung could feel the anger from the female flood into his body. He kept his grip tight on her as she thrashed. Finally, she quieted down, sitting in the water. Thank you, Aonung thought, slipping onto her back. They surfaced, blood pouring from Aonung's arm.

"Are you okay?" Tonowari was bent over, peering down at Aonung. The boy turned his head, looking at the wound. Large holes were left from the female's teeth. Skin hung down loosely where it had been ripped away.

"Great," Aonung grinned, raising his non-injured arm into the air. Tonowari smiled, instructing the boy to go next. Luckily, Tonowari was prepared. He had brought a pack full of medical supplies. He tossed a roll of bandage down. Aonung inspected the wound on his arm. On the back, was the largest gash. He gingerly touched it, feeling something hard. He yanked the hardness, seething. It dislodged from his arm, and he quickly placed the bandage over it. He brought the foreign object to his line of sight, A tooth. He sat it on his leg, beginning to wrap his arm. Once he was done, he picked the tooth back up, tossing it up in the air. He patted the Tsurak, Gave one hell of a fight. Aonung stashed the tooth away, That will hang from your saddle. Aonung sat, watching the other two fight Skimwings. In the end, both Eemai and the other boy succeeded on their second try, with significantly smaller Tsuraks.

Cheers broke out as the four returned all on Tsuraks. Many were astonished that Aonung was able to bond with one after the injury he sustained. His bandage was already soaked through, fully red. He felt a little lightheaded, but ignored it. The ceremony had just started, after all.

Rotxo met him on the beach as he came out of the water, "Knew you could do it, dude."

"Knew I could do it, too. I even got a little souvenir," Aonung pulled out the Tsurak tooth, showing it off.

"Dude, was that in your arm?"

"Yep," Aonung laughed, continuing onto the beach. Tonowari led the three into the large meeting hall. There, his family had gathered. The rest of the clan flooded in after. Aonung felt on top of the world, to say the least. He had successfully bonded with a Tusrak on the first try, a female too. Ronal hugged her son, stroking the back on his head. She glanced down at the red bandage, gasping slightly.

"Is it bad?" she gingerly touched it. Aonung flinched, knodding. "Let me tend to it."

"You can later, the ending ceremony needs to be done," he smiled at her. His arm throbbed, but he ignored it. After the whole clan settled, Tonowari walked to the middle. Hung over his shoulders was his ceremonial cape. It was made of netting, Tusrak hide, and polished shells. It drug on the ground behind him as he walked, swaying against his movement.

"Congratulations to the three young Metkayina that completed the task of bonding with a Tusrak. They now will receive their tattoos from Eywa."

Aonung sat next to his mother. He traced his fingers over the spot on his chest. His tattoo was placed over his heart, and it traveled up his shoulder, and halfway down the upper part of his arm. When turned around, it covered his shoulder blade, protecting the back of his heart. It symbolized the forthcoming of a strong leader, bravery, and his hunting ability. It was the biggest tattoo out of the three of them, which he was glad about. In his lap sat his toa shield. It was the same type of garment his father wore over his heart. It was to protect them, but also symbolized something deeper. It symbolized the strength needed to overcome things. It was adorned with scales of an Akula, the first one he killed. He had brought them back for this exact moment. Aonung smiled, finally at peace with his nerves.