Chapter Text
Mornings were always Neteyam’s favorite part of the day. The smell of Mother's cooking filling his nostrils, with Dad’s low murmur lulling him into awakeness. Tuk is curled up beside him, clingy even when she's practically all grown up. She had only recently completed her transition into adulthood by taming her ikran and enduring dream hunt. Neteyam couldn't be more proud.
He stretches out lazily, curling up to Tuk, feeling her braids tickling his face, and he huffs out a gentle giggle, altering their parents to his awakeness. They stop talking, the hammock filling with a tense silence. Neteyam frowns, looking over his parents critically, his mother looking worse for wear, shining eyes and a tight frown around her mouth as she stares urgently at Jake. Jake in contrast looks firm, his eyes a little saddened, but resolved anyway.
“Ma?” Neteyam asks hesitantly, as he runs a gentle hand through Tuks braids as she squirms closer in his lap, “What has happened? What is wrong?”
He watches as Neytiri casts an angry glance at her mate, lips pursing in anger before switching to him, her eyes softening as she comes closer. Neyetam smiles when she gathers him in a hug, his arms closing around her and hugging her tightly. Since Mo’at’s death his mother had been stressed lately, the grief and stress taking more of a toll than she had thought.
Neteyam was no better since he had always been close to his grandmother, always around her even as a child. Her passing, while not a shock to anybody, still hurt them deeply. Mo’at had gone in the night, peacefully and her journey fulfilled and when they found her the next day, motionless and quiet, preparations to crown Neytiri as Tsahík had gone underway.
His mother looked at him for a long while, eyes heavy and saddened before she looked down to where Tuk had used Neteyam’s hand as a pillow for her cheek. Chuckling, she gently shakes her youngest daughter awake, Neteyam’s slipping his hand away so her cheek presses against the woven floor. Tuk struggles, sitting up groggily, eyes confused and dazed as she senses the tense atmosphere in the air. She looks around, eyes locking on Jake, before landing on Neytiri and Neteyam beside her.
"Ma?" Tuk asks, tilting her head to the side in question.
“Eat.” Mother commands “It is better you both receive this news on a full stomach.”
Breakfast is a nearly silent affair, Tuk is a very loud and messy eater, and her gulps as she drowns her water makes Neteyam want to pinch his ears closed.
Tuk is spared from Neteyam’s lecture about cleanliness and politeness, when Jake hands her a cloth for her face and tells her to settle down. She pouts, and Neteyam snorts, hiding his face when Tuk shoots him an angry glare. Neteyam doesn’t regret it- Tuk is a monster when it comes to food, gobbling up all their meals while still begging for more, she had a ravenous appetite.
Neteyam finishes quietly, the rest of his family still eating, he chooses to get ready while they finish. His braids are the first thing he tackles, pulling the front two sections of his hair around his head and looping the bundles of hair back, tying them firmly together. The rest of his braids swayed behind him touching his mid-back as he gathered his jewelry.
The beads in his hair made clicking sounds as he moved, digging in his chest for his cumberband, and wrapping it sound his waist, humming as he latched it together firmly. His choker was next, the beaded necklace fitting snugly on his neck. Tuk made an annoyed sound as she saw him preparing, her whine reaching his ears as he then put his waist beads and tightened them to his liking.
“You get so pretty for no one, Tey!” Tuk grouched, coming to kneel beside him as he got ready. Neteyam laughed, pushing the feeling of hurt and loneliness away. “Not for no one,” Neteyam corrected, as he slid the bracelets up his wrists “You are here, are you not?”
“You know what I mean!” Tuk gestured at his entire being- “Why hasn’t anyone snatched you up yet?” Neteyam pursed his lips, eyes flicking to his parents' direction, who were pretending they weren’t listening. He sighed softly, biting his lips in contemplation.
Neteyam had no mate at twenty years old, it was shameful. Lo’ak had met a reef girl- Tsireya and the two had an almost perfect love, they understood each other perfectly, so much so Neteyam had been secretly envious of how much they completed each other. They had courted for a few months before Lo’ak announced his intention of mating and binding them together forever. They were a beautiful couple.
Tuk shifted as Neteyam remained silent, gripping his bracelets against his wrist and he avoided the gazes of his family and slowly stood up.
“Where are you going, Tey?” Tuk said warily “If it was about what I said I’m so-,”
“No Tuk,” Neyteam flashed a smile at her, patting her head “I’m just going to listen for a while, you are welcome to come, if you want?”
Tuk groaned, pulling off his fingers, before pressing her cheek into his palm letting it rest there for a while. Neyteam’s heart melted at the sight, curling his hand around her cheek and squeezing gently. “I always hear nothing! Ewya doesn’t speak to me as she does you, Tey! Even when I'm concentrating really hard!”
Neteyam laughed, “That means you are being too impatient Tuk, sometimes it is not about hearing Eywa at all, but being at peace with her.”
“You always say that,” Tuk grumbled, pouting as his hand slipped away and he put on his visor. He hummed, casting her an amused glance.
“We need to speak, boy, before you leave.” Jake’s voice stopped his stride. He looked at his father’s face carefully, gulping as the serious heavy look in his eyes. He looked at his mother, at her quiet deposition and the oppressive air around her.
“Has something happened, Ma?,” Neteyam questioned as he looked outside near the entrance, at the relatively peaceful racket that the people made in the early morning. “Are the people no-”
“Neteyam,” Neytiri interrupted firmly “Sit.”
Netyam dropped down warily, curling his legs underneath him as he looked at his parents in worry. They were acting strangely, shifting guilty looks and angry glaces.
“What.” Neteyam breathed out irritatedly, his mother watched him for a moment, her big eyes unblinking and serious, before shifting closer and holding his hand loosely. “You have always been so special, sweet boy, very gifted and helpful, even when the title of Olo’eykatn would not be bestowed unto you”
Neteyam flinched, eyeing his mother warily and trying to ignore the piercing gaze of his father. While for some Neteyam was the obvious choice of being next in line after his father, Olo’ekytan's were a chosen breed, only selected by other chieftains, and while Neteyam had hoped for a while his Father would choose him, he had settled with the fact that his father didn't think him fit enough to lead the clan they way he would have wanted. Tsahíks in contrast, anybody could be trained in the ways of medicines and healing, and even listening to Ewya, but spiritual power is better when passed down to the children.
There, Kiri was the obvious choice to choose, she had a connection to the land and to Eywa that was awe inspiring, even though she had her temper at times, she would be an ideal partner to an Olo’eytan. That left Neteyam with nothing to hold on to. No purpose for his existence other than his siblings, who all have lived a life better than his so far.
“But as I continue my duties as Tsahik, I will need help,” Neytriri looked meaningful at Neteyam, her hand squeezing his gently “A successor.”
Neteyam gasped, a smile lighting up his features "You will choose tsakarem!” Neteyam, squeezed his mother’s hand excitedly, shifting closer, “Is Kiri coming soon? When will we see her?” Neteyam’s excited babbling quilted down as he stared longer into his mother’s sympathetic eyes.
A soft hand grasped his cheek,
“I have chosen you , Neteyam.” Tuk gasped, her hand fluttering excitingly beside her. Neteyam doubled back, smile gone, replaced by an disbelieving gape. He moved his hand away from her's weakly, the warmth the hand provided, now scading. Heart pumping in his chest he looked quickly toward his Father who stared back at him impassively.
“You cannot be serious!” Neteyam’s voice rose, he didn’t know how he felt at the moment, and he quickly clasped his hand to chest trying to soothe the rhythm of his heart. He flinched as his mother reached for him again, shifting backwards.
“Kiri has chosen a mate, and has decided to stay in Awa’atlu, with Lo’ak.”
Neteyam trembled, mouth pressing into a watery frown. What? Neteyam had been told nothing, that Kiri was interested in anyone, that she even had a choice in where she would stay. Now both his siblings leave him here, alone with no one to turn to? Of course, Neteyam had his little Tuk but was in her teens and he could never possibly burden her with his problems.
Neteyam swallowed down the ball of bitter anger crawling up his throat, and clenched his teeth. Kiri and Lo’ak had always been closer to each other than him, bonding over their experiences of being different . And while Neteyam hadn’t faulted them for it, it had made him terribly lonely. They went to each other instead of him with their problems. As if he couldn't possibly understand what they go through, Neteyam had wanted to help as best as he could but he could only do so much when they became annoyed by his pestering.
Neteyam blew out a slow controlled breath, his chest trembling as he took the news, he could feel his eyes get hot. Blinking quickly he looked down, the choker he wore now seemed to suffocate him, his parents eyes like dagges on his skin.
“It is sudden,” Neytiri soothed, her hands twitched wanting to comfort her son but it wasn't all over yet. “But Neteyam you are gifted also, well-liked by the people- they trust you, sweet boy.”
Neteyam looked up, his eyes immediately catching onto his Mother’s where she smiled comfortingly at him. “To be Tsahik, while having a strong connection with Ewya is necessary, the people you lead must trust your word. That is something that you have Neteyam.”
Neytiri crawled forward slowly, her arms stretched out and Netyam launched into her arms, curling around her and making himself as small as he could, even when he towered over his mother. Muffling his sniffles in her shoulder, he calmed himself. He had not been held so softly since he was a child. A hand grabbed his chin and he looked into his father’s eyes
“The Anurai clan,” He started, Neteyam stiffened as a reflexive hiss escaped him, he struggled to catch his mothers eyes whose arms had now trapped him in place.
“ The Anurai clan ,” Jake repeated urgently “Their Olo’ekytan and Tsahik have both died, and have never produced heirs, but their people have chosen a leader to guide them.”
“His name is Tarsem,” Jake spoke softly, watching his face carefully. “He is very wise for his years and will be a strong leader.”
Neteyam paused, why was this relevant to him at all? What did he care about those wildlings that lived in the valleys? Na’vi who rode wild thanators, and made totems and necklaces out of their bones. Most importantly, they were nightwalkers. Na’vi who feasted on other Na’vi, who sucked the life out of everything they touched, and were viciously cruel. They were only tales that Neteyan heard as a child, and sometimes repeated throughout his life.
“Their population is slowing, they do not have enough people to support themselves, they will be no more after a few generations,” Jake paused staring meaningfully into Neteyam’s eyes “We share the same concerns, the Great Battle had our population down for the years, a lot of young warriors perished during the fight.”
Neteyam nodded his head, that was true, Tuk’s birth was most celebrated because of it. The people were having trouble conceiving and there were simply not enough people to go around. Having at least 2 newborns was considered a boon.
“To make it short, Tarsem and I have come up with a solution, we will join our tribes, together we will be strong.”
Netyam gaped wordlessly, a confused sound escaping his mouth. His mother’s hold grew soft now, more comforting as Jake continued, “He will fill the void of my leadership when I am gone and you and him will lead the clan together.”
“ No.” Neteyam found his voice. “No-, this isn’t fair to me!”
“Neteyam,” Jake scolded “This isn’t about being fair, it’s about how we survive.”
“ So-so," Netyam fumbled, grasping for words. "What, Lo’ak and Kiri are too far to do anything, so you just grab the nearest kid and sell them off?”
“ Neteyam.”
Jake pinched his nose, “This deal has been in the work for months, so people can still retain their power and everybody gets something .” Months? How long had they hid this from him?
“So I don’t even have a choice? ” Neteyam yelled voice trembling and cracking he pulled away from his mother, a pit of anger slowly stringing in his gut. How long had they hid this from him, how many nights had they lied to him, lulled him into a false sense of security?
“If you don’t agree to this Neteyam, both tribes are at risk, we could die out. This is a way to prevent that and while it’s not pretty- it’s a solution where everybody has the chance to be happy, if this fails our weakness will be because of you. ”
Neteyam released a hiss, ending on a cry as his Mother admonished her mate for the harsh words, quickly dissolving into an argument.
He stared stoically at the arguing couple who gestured at him every few minutes. His heart hurt so much he could cry, he quickly sneaked a glance at Tuk who was edging toward him, pity shining in her eyes. He shook his head roughly at her, he wasn't sure he could handle anybody’s touch at the moment, not when his head was in knots and he could feel the need to destroy something with his hands.
Mated to a stranger, a nightwalker. Future Tsahík. His hands shook by his sides as he took an unsteady step back and another before he was bursting out of their home with quick light steps. He called his Ikran when he was far enough, the light blue creature bursting out of the treetops violently, most likely reacting to his frazzled call. He created the bond quickly, feeling the tears escaping his eyes as the wind whipped at his face.
How had the morning gone so wrong? He released a frustrated shout, his tightening on the reins and his Ikran shuddered violently, almost sending him tumbling off.
Neteyam calmed, muttering a quick apology to Ceyan, who grumbled in agitation. The forest flew by in flashes of blue and green, Cayan’s wings pushing him deeper into the forest with each beat of her wings. When he saw the familiar stings of the Tree of Voices he swooped down gently, bringing his ikran down a few feet away from the tree softly. Patting her head gently in thanks, Neteyam cooed, nuzzling her into her neck, resting there for a few minutes before pushing off.
He stepped toward the tree, relief taking over his features as he reached toward a sting and brought it to his face softly. He sighed and let go leaving the string swinging in place. Neteyam spread his hands out and walked forward, his fingers catching on each stand brushing his body as he passed them.
He laid down, next to the upraised roots and spread himself out on the grass. He wasn't here to hear the ancestors, just to feel. The tree had a power of its own, you could feel it, practically leaping at him with energy. Neteyam closed his eyes and shuddered. This spot had always given him comfort, it allowed him to just…drift. In his own head, away from the bustling busy nature of his clan, away from his responsibilities as the eldest, all his mistakes, his boring dull life.
Being here washed all that away in one swoop. His head was filled with golden pure light, and if he relaxed he could touch it, experience it. But that only came with hours of meditation and focus and it was better to do that sort of thing with a clear deposition, something Neteyam was lacking at the moment.
But he tried anyway, remembering his grandmother’s gentle hands and wise whispered words. How it felt claiming his ikran at such a young age, younger than anyone ever had, his mothers raspy voice in the air mixed with Ninat’s high note. How beautiful the forest was at night, when everything glowed and he melded in perfectly with the darkness, the perfect time to hunt in his opinion.
He drifted with these thoughts, turning when his side became sore, scooting closer to the tree until his back hit the bark and rested even more. He braids curled around his body, featherlight touches around his body that slowly stirred him into awareness. But that wasn't all that woke him up.
Peeking through his shut eyes, Neteyam saw the leaves vibrate a distance away, still shaking as if someone had walked straight through them. He listened closer, hearing lightfoot steps pacing just outside his peripheral. Frowning he grabbed his dagger and smoothly as he could, cooked on his hip. There were two of them he now realized, one set of footsteps nearing his position with an urgency he couldn’t ignore any longer.
A figure blocked the sunlight, a hand reaching toward him and Neteyam leaped forward grabbing his hand harshly and twisting it behind the person’s back, relishing in the pained hiss that it wrought. His eyes darted wildly, searching for the other presence while he kicked the other on their knees. His dagger found its place beneath the man's neck, and he held it down snarling as they struggled in his grip.
He found the other presence to have gone silent, and his ears raised as he listened for them. They hadn’t gone anywhere, that Neteyam could smell that himself, but they were so far away that he couldn’t locate their position. Neteyam frowned, he wasn't about to take the off chance that the other Na’vi had a bow and arrow with them.
“You are in Omatikaya territory .” Neteyam said aloud, pressing his dagger more firmly against the man’s neck, enough for a pained hiss to ring out. A rough rustle from his side caused him to turn blindly to the noise. Anger rose when the person didn’t reveal themselves immediately, foolishly staying out of his line of sight.
“You will come out,” Netyam hissed, grabbing the person’s jaw roughly and angling it up, digging the dagger deeper in.
“
Or I cut.”