~~~Superstes~~~UNDERGOING MAJOR EDITING

Washed up

Jake and his beloved mate hardly ever fought or argued. When they did, they typically smoothed things over at the end of the fight and moved on quickly. But this afternoon, for whatever reason, Neytiri was beating him over the head with her insults before she decided to explain why she was upset. Jake was trying to hurry it up. 

Eventually, Neytiri settled down and sighed heavily, her ears lowering. "I do not like this arguing between you and my 'itan. He is stressed, and so are you. But this does not call for fighting." She shot him a glare, "Especially for you as the father."  

Jake opened his mouth to speak, before he snapped it shut and gritted his teeth together. Then, he spoke, making his tone as gentle as possible. "I don't try to argue with our 'itan, I promise. But when he raises his voice, so do I. He's been acting up lately. You know that."

Neytiri didn't wait one second before she shot back. "I know that our Neteyam, my Neteyam never wishes to disobey you, Jake. He is trying to prove to you that he is strong and can care for himself. He wants you to see him. When he went off into the forest without permission, that was irresponsible. But he's not used to any of this." 

Jake stood there, feeling utterly defeated. 

"He's only doing his best." Neytiri added, her voice softening. "Just like you." 

"Listen, I'm sorry. I'll show him some more grace. That'll make you happy, won't it?" 

Neytiri smiled softy and strode past her husband after giving him a gentle pat on the shoulder. "He and I both, MaJake. Now, think about what I said. Maybe you'll let him go with his friends, even."

Jake watched her leave into the vast landscape of the tropical island, her tail waving spunkily behind her. He knew what she wanted him to do, which he didn't want to do, but with Neytiri there was no escaping anything. As she went off to fulfill some of her daily tasks, or do whatever else with the women, Jake's watchful gaze landed on the group of different colored children, a cluster of aqua marine and royal blue with just one human shape all sitting together liked they'd been friends for life. His three sons, his two daughters, and the tag-along female teenager that was leaning against Neteyam's side, their hands interlocked. Soon, Jake visioned, she would turn into daughter-in-law.  

He sighed.

                                                                                            ~~~

Neteyam and the rest of the kids still weren't able to take Feya to the cove of the ancestors, but they gave her one big, long ride on Payakan. It was fun, and they all played games and bathed in the sun, letting the warm rays sink into their skin. They'd been out here for hours, but at no point did anyone seem like they wanted to go home. 

"This feels amazing." Fey'atsi remarked, stretching out her back. She wore her traditional Omaticayan clothing, a beaded top and a frilly loincloth, but her arms were adorned with seashells and seaweed bracelets. Her skin glowed a radiant hue of blue under the illuminate rays of the glorious sun, and the way she stretched only reminded Neteyam of her effortless grace and beauty.

Neteyam himself was internally screaming. He longed until the day he could remove the papery, itchy wrapping off his chest. The bandage was suffocating in the humidity. Watching his friends lope around in their loose, thin clothing wasn't helping, and he could only wait for the moment he could rip off this wrapping and burn it to ashes.

Neteyam pricked his ears at Aonung's sudden words, "What is that?" the boy said, alarmed, as he rose to his feet urgently.

Each teen all looked in the direction Aonung was pointing, and in the water close to Payakan's missing fin was a gun. Neteyam's eyes widened and he stepped forward, pulling Aonung away from it. "Get back, Aonung. It's a gun. It could be loaded." His head flooded with endless questions--where is it from? Why is it here? Is it loaded? 

He crouched on his knees and crept as close to the water as he could without getting wet, before he reached out and yanked the weapon out of the sea. Neteyam examined it in his hands, flipping it over and turning it upside down. The weapon was not on safety, so he flipped it to the correct setting.  

Then, Neteyam's hand seemed to freeze right before his eyes. His blood ran cold and his tail lowered to his ankles, his entire nervous system sending a shock through his body as if it were taking revenge on him even picking up the firearm. He didn't know where or why this fearful sensation had emerged out of seemingly nowhere, but the voices behind him snapped him out of his daze just enough for him to tear his eyes away from the gun. 

"What is it doing out this far?" Tsireya questioned, stepping closer to Lo'ak, who gripped her shoulder comfortingly.

"It could be from when the battle was over, maybe one of the Recoms." Spider suggested, "it could have just been floating." 

"We should take it back to Dad," Neteyam decided, keeping the waver out of his voice."He might know. He should be informed anyways." 

Neteyam's statement was met with nodding heads. 

Proverbs 17: 22-A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.