Pandora forest
Omatikaya high camp
Lei'la tiptoed into her tent just after eclipse had started, and she was immediately tackled into her hug. RaiRai clung to her sister's body, mumbling incoherent words into her chest. Lei'la felt wet tears cover her lower chest; she placed her hands on her baby sister's shoulders, pulling her back.
"Hey, slow down. Take deep breaths." Lei'la took a deep breath for Rai to mimic, and then she exhaled. "What is wrong, Tsmuke?".
"Papa is so angry," RaiRai mumbled, picking at her fingernails.
Lei'la's breath hitched in her throat; this was all her fault. Lei'la grabbed her sister's face, inspecting it carefully. "Are you hurt?" Her voice spoke firmly. When RaiRai shook her head, she led her baby sister to the exit of their tent, saying, "You are to go to Nali's tent and stay with her tonight".
"No Lei'la I want to stay with you and Ka'ey." RaiRai babbled, but Lei'la quickly shushed her.
"Go now." RaiRai took one last look at her home before fleeing towards Nali's.
Rai ran across the high camp, tears blocking her vision as she ran towards Nali's tent. The thirteen-year-old let out small sobs, which were silenced by a large chest blocking her path. Rai let out a string of incoherent apologies, her voice cracking with every word.
"RaiRai?" A deep voice grumbled from above her. The girl in question looked up through her tears, trying to figure out the Na'vi in front of her. The figure bent down, wiping the tears from her cheeks.
"What is the matter, Tsawksyul?" The Na'vi spoke softly, earning another sob from the girl.
"My father is very angry with my sister, so she made me leave." RaiRai blinked back her tears, finally having a clear image of the figure.
"What happened?" Neteyam asked, shuffling his feet to get comfier.
Rai took a deep breath, recollecting her thoughts. "Papa found out that Lei'la attacked someone and got so very angry." Her voice turned to a whisper.
Neteyam dropped his head. Why would her father be so angry that Lei'la would force her baby sister out of their house? Sure, his father was angry at their action, but he didn't send Lo'ak out or keep Tuk banned from their home.
"Mawey mawey," Neteyam spoke softly, "I want you to sleep in my tent tonight with Tuk."
"But Lei'la said..."
"Stay with TukTuk tonight, Rai, please," Neteyam interrupted. RaiRai nodded, moving away from the future chief towards his hut, allowing the future chief to make a beeline for Lei'la's hut.
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Lei'la pushed back on the flap to her bedroom, immediately being greeted with the sight of her father's back. It was covered in scars and marks from past battles, and seeing what the demons had done to him made her skin crawl.
"Ma sempul?" Lei'la spoke firmly, afraid to show weakness in front of the great warrior.
Tar'ete didn't react; he didn't flinch; he didn't even acknowledge her presence.
"Ma sempul," she repeated a bit louder. Tar'ete walked over to one of the shelves displayed on her wall, which contained a selection of small trinkets and memories from over the years.
"Jakesully came to me today with the report of an incident between you and his eldest. His voice was deep and showed no emotion.
Lei'la shuffled from foot to foot, her eyes darting to the floor to avoid her father, even though his sharp gaze wasn't directed at her. "Yes, ma sempul."
"He said you engaged in a verbal argument and had come up with a suitable punishment, which will straighten you both out". Lei'la's ears pricked up. A verbal argument? Her eyes furrowed; they did a lot more than argue.
"Of course, Father, I will take whatever punishment you feel is necessary." Tar'ete picked up a small bracelet from her youth; it was adorned with green and purple gems (her two favourite colours).
"Where is this from?" Tar'ete said randomly changing the subject.
Lei'la tilted her head to the side in confusion. Was her father not angry at her? "Um ..." Her eyes traced over the bracelet, her golden eyes softening at the sight of it. Neteyam made it for her 14th birthday; she wore it every day until she outgrew it, and now it was collecting dust on her shelf.
"Neteyam made it for me a few years ago for my um birthday" she said softly, hiding her eyes from it.
"Hmm" he placed the bracelet back down, finally facing his daughter "Jakesully has informed me that he is sending you and Neteyam on a hunt to work out your issues".
Her eyes widened. "No, please, anything but that father..."
"It has been decided," he said, cutting her off. Tar'ete placed his hand on his eldest daughter's shoulders and said, "You are my eldest daughter; you are to take over from me once I pass. I need you to stop this rivalry for our clan, for our family." His voice held a certain softness but was also firm at the same time.
Lei'la felt tears bubbling in her eyes, but she refused to let them fall; her father hadn't been this paternal to her in years.
"Of course, Father, I am sorry."
"I know you are." With that, he walked out of her room, leaving the eldest Kazumi with her thoughts and tears. Her knees hit the floor of her room as the dam finally broke, and salty tears streamed down her face, tainting the floor.
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"It has been decided. You are my eldest daughter; you are to take over from me once I pass. I need you to stop this rivalry for our clan, for our family."
"Of course, Father, I am sorry."
"I know you are."
Neteyam's ears flopped to his head at the sound of Lei'la's broken voice. He heard her father leaving her room and the sound of her knees touching the floor. He poked his head out the window of her room, catching a small glimpse of her crying frame. Her shoulders wracked up and down with the force of her quiet sobs, and Neteyam was ready to stand up and approach the girl until...
"Hey"
Neteyam ducked back under the window, his ears pricking up at the voices. He heard Lei'la sniffle, most likely wiping away the tears from her pretty face.
"Hi Lo'ak," she whispered. Lo'ak knelt beside her, wrapping his arms around her body and bringing her into his chest. Neteyam's eyes darkened with jealousy as he watched his baby brother comfort Lei'la. Her sobs quieted down as Lo'ak's soft words calmed her down, lying her down in her cot, his body still protecting hers as they fell asleep in each other's arms. Neteyam took one final look at the pair before he retreated to his tent to forget this moment.
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a/n
sooooo my babies are being forced to go on a hunt together to work out their issues. I am so excited for them to bond and get closer but obviously, it's not gonna happen immediately but it will.
I see you
-S
YOU ARE READING
Don't blame me - Neteyam
FanfictionDon't blame me love made me crazy, if it doesn't you aint doing it right Lei'la and Neteyam were born in the same cycle, on the same day, at the same time. Their parents deemed it a sign from Eywa that the pair were meant to be together, but from t...
