The morning was bright & nauseating, its been 2 days ever since the i found out about the pregnancy. Tsireya aided me through the rest of my heat, constantly giving me food & water, bathing me because i was sweating profusely & most importantly, being a sister to me.
Ronal empathised with me. From one mother to about to be another, she knew what to do when i felt the head pains from body sores & flood of emotional weights.
She had her eyes on me at all times, just to make sure that nothing harms the growing bump. Telling me not to carry heavy loads or do anything physical like entering the training grounds.
But i gave Tonowari my word, to be a mentor at the Metkayina. So i had an idea to bestow the role of a the combat trainer to one of the skilled warriors - Mira.
"Good morning Mira, its lovely to see you" i bowed my head.
"Good morning Violet! thank you for giving me this opportunity, i will not let you down!" she said, bowing her head back.
The other warriors arrived soon after, lining up in a single file to meet their trainer for the next few weeks. Part of me was relieved that i didn't have to get into the circle to fight but the other part was missing out on all the fun.
I gave Mira her following duties, watching her train the girls one by one as i sat on a tree bark. The girls here were as fierce as the Omatikaya, but they carried themselves in a graceful & elegant manner towards one another.
None had internal conflict when they sat among each other, everyone was laughing as one & it was a beautiful sight. Tsireya & i got up to return to my pod as soon as it was reaching lunch time, but the girls waved & signalled us to sit with them,
"Reya! Violet! do join us for some fried fish & seaweed" they called out to us.
I smiled & Tsireya interlocked hands with me, walking over to them.
"This is so cute, you're unconsciously holding your belly when you tend to your daily duties" Tsireya whispered with a hint of chuckle.
"Was i doing that..? i don't know i guess i felt the need to protect it" i said.
We sat by Mira & her younger sisters, chatting about how they loved the new techniques & how they'd want to see me in action after i have my baby. The thought of both of that, scared the hell out of me.
"Tell us about your mate Violet! what is his name? is he cute?" Mira asked cheekily.
I could tell that this excited them, they had already told me about their boy crushes & dreams by the time i finished my first fish.
"His name is Neteyam & Oh Eywa he is, charming & muscular that one! he has long gorgeous braided hair for days" i said, trying to fight my smile as it made me miss Neteyam so much.
The girls squealed & giggled to my reaction, curious about how we met, what we would do on dates, if he was a gentleman & if Eywa would bring me back to him again.
"Do you think its a girl or a boy? " one of the sisters curiously asked.
"I.. honestly wouldn't know, but i'd better happy either way" i said.
Would i really be happy though? would Neteyam be happy if he found me pregnant? We haven't spoke about it, i mean because its still early into our relationship & with things being intensed back home. Will we even be good parents?-
"You'd make a wonderful & beautiful mother Violet" Tsireya said as she placed her palm on my hand with a gentle smile.
"You would! we cant wait to see the both of you reunite again!" Mira said.
"I hope we do soon, i miss him terribly" i replied facing down at the charred stick.
"Don't worry too much on that! till then, we'll be here for you through everything" the girls reassured me.
It was comforting to make new girl friends, knowing that they have my back as a friend & their mentor.
Then, Aonung walked by with a huge net full of freshly caught fishes, placing them down next to a tree for the rest of the warrior girls to cook. He payed no attention to anyone as he walked, silent as he always is without his boys.
"Oh my he is so dreamy!.. he's so hot! look at him, i wish he would notice me" said one of the girls.
"Eughh! gross.." Tsireya reacted.
"Thats because he is your brother! if he wasn't, you would be allover him like the rest of us" said Mira.
Aonung came closer, stepping into field & walking by the other group of girls sitting infront of us. I watched as their eyes scanned his top to bottom, giggling & getting excited when he almost made eye contact with one of them.
"Thats weird, he doesn't come around the female training grounds" Mira muttered with one brow raised.
"Y-yeah.." Tsireya said as i exchanged hints of distraught glances with her.
He made a stop at our circle, eyes looking at the fish bones & untouched salty seaweed on the wooden platter.
"I brought more fish for all of you girls. Please, have them to your heart's content" he said.
Mira & her sisters contained their intense spark upon seeing the son of Olo'eyktan standing so close to them. Gripping each other's hands as they pursed their lips. But Aonung didn't acknowledge their hots for him, i assume he was already used to it.
"Sister, girls.. Violet" he said in a raspy voice, pressing 3 fingers to his forehead & lowering them down before making his leave.
It was smart for him not to hold his eye contact with me for no longer than 3 seconds.
The girls turned to look at me, surprised & confused they stayed quiet. Probably wondering why Aonung would suddenly volunteer himself to bring food to a field full of girls & coming up to specifically greet us. Everyone knew that he had better things to do, but I wouldn't want to know why.
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"I wish we could eat the fruits from the melon tree! but its so high up!" one of Mira's sister whined to her.
Slowly, one by one started craving for the melon fruit from the high trees. I asked Tsireya why wouldn't they just attempt to cut it down to satisfy their hunger, but she said that the younger girls here weren't taught to climb trees yet. Everyone had to master the way of water before anything.
"Perhaps.. i could help?" i offered.
"Are you crazy Vi? you're pregnant! you cant climb a tree" Tsireya pulled my hand back, worried about me taking another step.
She wasn't wrong, i cant climb a tree if im carrying Neteyam's baby. I don't want to harm it so there must be something else i can do to give these girls a sweet treat for being such sweethearts & doing a good job on their first day of training.
I wanted to fulfil my duties as a mentor even though its on the side due to bearing a child.
I remembered seeing a flimsy bow at their sibling hut at the roots but i cant walk all the way there, so i requested Tsireya to get her brother to retrieve it for me.
In the mean time, i told the girls to weave root leaf baskets for me when i get the fruits down for them. Tsireya was still worried about my methods but they were thrilled to accommodate to my requests.
After a long hour, Aonung arrived with the bow & arrows hunged to his back. He rushed over to us thinking there was a great emergency but once again, the girls squealed upon his presence. Making him roll his eyes & cross his arms.
"All this bedlam for melon fruits?" he asked his sister with brows raised.
"Vi said she has an idea!" she replied, nudging on his elbow.
I took the bow & arrows from Aonung, walking towards the melon tree but standing at a remote distance to get a perfect view & aim at the fruit stems.
Retrieving 3 arrows from the quiver, i lined them up to the nocking point & the sight window of the bow. Inhaling a deep breath with my chest up & raising my arms, pointing up to the a tree.
"What is she doing? what is she going to hit with 3 arrows?" one of Mira's sisters said.
"Impossible move!" the other echoed after.
"She's going to hit the net of fishes! some one pull it away!" the other girls cried out.
They were in dismay of how i was going to get the fruits down, exchanging disoriented looks at one another thinking i was going to aim it at something else or worse, someone in the field.
I smirked over hearing their comments, tilting my bow to the side & launching the 3 arrows straight to hit the 3 stems.
The fruits hung low before hitting the ground. Well, so did their jaw. Meanwhile, Aonung was starstruck over how i skilled i was even with a flimsy bow. Knowing how not to snap its wooden limb from simply gripping it.
Upon seeing the fruits they craved for finally at their reach, the girls all collectively let out loud jovial hurrahs. Running over to cut them open & putting the remaining leftovers in the basket they wove an hour ago. The loud roars & chatter of the warriors soon caught the attention of the Olo'eyktan.
"What is going on here? why aren't the girls in training?" Tonowari asked with his arms crossed like his son.
"Father! Violet has shown a great skill with the bow! look at all the fruits she shot down for us with 3 arrows at once!" Tsireya jumped to her father, handing him a melon fruit.
"Yeah.. s-she did" Aonung still in awe, he followed his sister.
"Im sorry sir! i just wanted to get these fruits for the girls to show my gratitude, we'll get back to work as soon as we clear the mess up" i bowed my head to Tonowari.
"No my dear child, you've just shown part of your great skill & they are motivated! Keep up the good work Violet" he smiled in admiration.
I blushed at his feedback, bringing 3 fingers to my head & lowering it down before he took his leave. He munched on the melon fruit that his daughter brought to him in delight & returned to his duties.
"Son, come" he ordered Aonung to walk by him.
Everyone who was involved at the incident of the heated mess 2 days ago knew that Aonung shouldn't be standing too close to me, but we couldn't make it obvious that he was infatuated with the idea of me.
"That was pretty impressive Violet" Aonung whispered before catching up to his father, turning around once more to smile.
The girls, evidently caught his pursue for me & whooped as he left. Giggling like immature little girls & playfully hitting my arm to catch a reaction from me.
"It seems to us that the son of Olo'eyktan has taken a great interest in you Violet!" Mira chuckled.
"Nonsense! Aonung was just being nice & respectful because i have a relationship with his sister & his family" i dodged her remark.
"I don't know! he seems pretty smitten by your beauty" one of the girls sung, making the rest giggle at the back.
"Hey! thats no way to talk to your mentor girls! Besides, she already has a mate" Tsireya said, cutting them off.
As the girls ran to assume their position for the next round of training, Tsireya hastily dragged me back to the tree bark bench.
"That was a close one don't you think? what was my big brother thinking? coming here like he had no other business to attend" she said.
"Yeah it was weird" i replied.
"Someone should remind him that you're not a single girl & that you've already chosen a mate! i mean, you're carrying a baby for Eywa sake! should i talked to him?" she searched my eyes for permission.
"Go ahead love, but this is between the 2 of you! i just want to live here as peacefully as i can till im able to travel again" i said, letting out a sigh.
Tsireya placed her forehead to mine, giving me one of her sweet smiles before chasing after her brother & father. I've accepted that problems will follow as long as im one of the people, but i don't know how long will it take for me to break.
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