The next morning, i woke up to Neytiri & Kiri removing the medicine cloth wrapped around my elbows & back. I squirm thinking that it would be a painful process but i soon realised that i could move my elbows & i looked over to them in astonishment.
"Eywa has heard you my son" Neytiri murmured to herself as she looks up to Kiri in relief. I pulled the both of them in for a hug, tilting my head back in glee & we laughed.
My ears lifted up as i heard male voices getting closer to the hut, i adjusted myself in hopes to see Neteyam walking in. I wanted to show him that i recovered overnight from his care.
But instead, it was Mr Sully with Norm (in his avatar) & i froze. "Norm cant s..see me with these dried up wounds, not with this body- no no no not again." i mumbled trying to hide behind Neytiri.
She took notice of my panic & hastily covered my body with the thick cloth that i slept in. Kiri wiped my cheeks & eyes with a clean cloth so that i wouldn't look as crusty when i face Norm.
"How is my little trooper holding up?" Norm asked with a massive smile from ear to ear, expecting me to jump up in hysteria with stories of my training. But i forced out a smile trying not to meet his eyes.
He leans in closer to us in suspicion & Neytiri lowers her ears, ready to step on her husband's best friend if he dared to touch the cloth that was covering my wounded body. So i placed my hand over Neytiri's to let her know that it was okay.
To avoid any more inconvenience, she pulled both her husband & Norm by the ears out of the hut, leaving Kiri with me to clean up the dry wounds.
"Mawey, tsmuke (calm, sister)" she says as she gently dabs my elbow.
Feeling the cold soaked cloth touched my wounds, i moved my arms slightly away from her hands.
"Kiri you don't have to, im okay my sister" i said as i smile at her tenderly.
"Don't you wanna look clean & proper when my brother comes home from his hunt?" she asked & chuckles as she proceeded to wipe my back.
As soon as i heard that, my cheeks turned red. Thinking about the sweaty man with his bow & hair possibly tied up walking into the hut. Kiri cheekily smiled as she felt my heart beat raced at the mention of her brother.
"He ordered my mother & i to watch over you this morning before left for his hunt with Lo'ak, its so funny! my brother has now grown protective over you" she playfully chuckles, helping me put on my chest piece.
"I have never seen him act like that with a girl before" & as she said that, my ears lifted in curiosity.
Kiri & i chatted all morning about Neteyam & his cold behaviour towards the other young Na'vi girls when they tried to talk to him, making us giggle like school girls.
She mentioned how ever since he started hanging out with me, he was much softer & got shy upon hearing my name in a conversation.
She told me about her likes & dislikes, what its like growing up here with a group of toxic young female warriors always teasing her for being different. How her brothers would ferociously protect the females in this family from them.
I told her about my life before Pandora & how i adapted in the ship without any friends besides my guardian. Kiri is like a girl friend to me now, i've never had that before & it nice to finally have a girl close to my age to talk about these things with.
I was ready to stand up & stretch my muscles out, Kiri hastily grabs my arm to help me over to a wall for balance & we could hear murmurs by the hut.
It was the female warriors that Kiri mentioned. There were at least 4 of them peaking in trying to get a good look at me, sneakily laughing & pointing at my injuries. Kiri hissed at the girls almost pulling her dagger out-
"Fayvrrtep! (Demons!) what are you doing at my hut?!" said the husky voice chasing away the girls.
It felt no difference, i was made fun of here too & i faced my head down in shame.
Neteyam entered the hut with a twinkling smile on his face, "great Eywa! you have healed Ma'vi!" rushing over to grab my other arm. I forced out a smile not letting the harassment get to my head & Neteyam cups my face delicately.
Upon seeing this, Kiri tilts her head & chuckles "Alright! i will leave you with my brother & deal with those penis face skxawngs" pressing three fingers to her forehead & slowly lowering it down to her big brother & me.
Neteyam walks me over to the small opening of his hut for fresh air & caressed my hair, "ignore them Ma'Vi. They have never seen a beautiful girl like you before, they are jealous." as he plants a light kiss to my forehead.
He then examines my dried wounds as my head stuck out to breath in the forest trees, him slowly kissing on my skin from shoulder to shoulder.
"I shouldn't have left you like that" he says softly.
I turned to face the midnight blue stripes on his perfect face, placing one hand on his cheek & the other on his chest. "Its okay Ma'Teyam, you rescued & took care of me all night. Im happy that its you."
His eyes glowed a deep golden yellow, the whites on his face glimmered & his tail wrapped around one of my thighs. I was looking into this man's soul with butterflies.
"We did some things a little too fast. What i am about to say will be reckless too but im sure right now that my heart & mind is set" he says which made me tilt my head in confusion. But he smiled & continued,
"Because if i don't do it now.. then when?" he asked as he moved in closer to me.
Bringing 2 fingers to my chin, "Watching someone else come near or hurt the woman i care about made me realise that i have been careless, i will learn from my mistakes. I want to protect & take care of her, ever since i first time laid my eyes on her."
"Flirting at the start was fun, kissing her & feeling her touch was a dream. but i have already chosen & i want to do it forever with this one person." as he says this, my stomach twisted in knots you cannot imagine.
"But this woman must also choose me." he said licking his lips.
I- My eyes trying to meet his, seeing if he was pulling a bluff on me but all i see was sincerity & passion. I had to pull the words out of my soul before my body reacts
"She already has."
Hearing this, without hesitation Neteyam pulls me in for a deep kiss by the waist. "I see you" echoed into my ears.
*ೃ༄
Murmurs & music of the Omatikaya clan were getting closer as i was approaching the fire pit along side Mr Sully & his family. This was my first time getting introduced to the natives & my nerves were acting up, clawing into Neteyam's arm.
"Whats wrong my love?" he asked, cupping his palm on my cheek as Mr Sully & Neytiri turned to meet my tensed body language.
"Im afraid.. what if they don't like me? you saw how those girls laughed at me" i replied.
"Don't worry Violet, you are family. I am Olo'eyktan & if anyone disrespects you, they disrespect me & my family" Mr Sully reassured me that i am protected.
Little Tuk rushed over to grab my other hand & smiles at me "I got you!", while Lo'ak & Kiri had their game faces on ready to hiss at the girls who made fun me.
—
As we circled around the people, the murmurs stopped & everyone turned their heads to look at me walking alongside the Olo'eyktan's family. Taking notice, Mr Sully then raised his arm for them to resume the music & feast.
Kiri & Tuk pulled me over to a spot just a distance from their parents to feast on the specially prepared steamed Teylu wrapped in leaves. Neteyam loved the sight of me getting along with his sisters & as he was about to sit next to us,
"Xenía & the other warriors are celebrating her victory! i heard she will be choosing her mate tonight." said one of the boys to Lo'ak.
I looked over the fire pit to see the small crowd of warriors cheering, it was the girls who were outside of Neteyam's hut & with them was the man that pinned me down in the forest. I immediately looked down to avoid eye contact & Kiri took notice of it first.
"Whats wrong sister?" she asked putting her hand over mine. I anxiously looked at Neteyam & he was already darting his eyes at the menace across from us.
"Lauako. He was the one who did this to her." Neteyam said to Kiri with his hands gripping onto his dagger, eyes looking down at my elbows.
"That womanizer?! asshole." Kiri darting her eyes next.
I caressed Neteyam's back trying to soothe him & looking over to Kiri signalling her not to make any nasty expressions at the raucous warriors.
As soon as the siblings were calmed, we continued to feast, avoiding any contact with toxic crowd of young warriors.
Out of nowhere a cheery female's voice approached us, "Dance with me Nete!!"
It was the head warrior, Xenía. Also known as one of the bitches who was laughing at me this morning outside of his hut. Now forcefully pulling him up to dance with her in front of everyone, not a damn care in the world that his mate is sitting right next to him.
What the fuck?! Not my Neteyam.
My eyes were bloodied red, grabbing the knife that Kiri was using to cut Tuk's teylu. & before i could get up, both Lo'ak & Kiri held me down by the shoulders telling me to watch what will happen to Xenía.
Neteyam halts, making her turn to look at him with furrowed brows as he removes her hand from his arm.
"Nete kempe si nga?! (What are you doing Nete?!) I asked you to dance with me! I have chosen you as my mate!" she cried out making sure that her clan heard her loud & clear.
"Ftang nga Xenía! (Stop that Xenía!) I am happy for your victory but i didn't come here for you or this celebration. I am here with my family & my love." he says as he reached out his hand for mine.
As Lo'ak & Kiri let go of my shoulders, I grabbed Neteyam's hand & he pulls me up close to his chest infront of his father & the entire Omatikaya clan,
"I have already chosen my mate & she has chose me. If you disrespect my girl or any of my family members ever again, you will have to face Olo'eyktan." he said looking directly at Xenía's pale face & then to Mr Sully nodding back at him.
Lo'ak immediately burst out laughing, making a scene embarrassing the head warrior. Everyone continued with their feast among their families, neglecting Xenía & her celebration as she storms off.
The music resumed, the people started singing & getting up to dance around the fire pit. I gently bring Neteyam's face back to me & his raging eyes softens to my teal eyes.
"Now that was hot" i whispered into his ears & chuckled. He smirked & slides his hand around my waist to pull me in closer, looking back at the warriors piercing stares.
"I don't care if anyone looks, you are mine & i am yours." he said in his raspy voice & kissed me, letting the people know that we will be mated.
Neteyam's family started clapping & cheering over the sight of their eldest son standing up for his loved ones while Xenía was sitting far at the corner, using a wood to sharpen her dagger.
At this point i don't care what anyone thinks either, watch me kiss whats mine.
*ೃ༄