Neteyam

Cat Killer

Merq'ena dragged her feet to the camp. The night had taken over the sky so that only the glow of the land guided her way. "You're back." She jumped and turned around. "Neteyam." The boy was leaned back next to a fire and lifted a finger to his lips. She looked over to Viryn who was fast asleep and curled into Neteyam's side. "She wanted to wait for you." Merq'ena's eyes lingered at Neteyam's hand playing with Viryn's hair. Viryn looked so at peace with her face resting in the crook of his neck. "Thanks for waiting with her." She moved and sat across from them. "I missed dinner?"

Neteyam pulled a bundle at his side and gently threw it over to Merq'ena. She nodded her thanks and quickly unwrapped the gift. Neteyam seemed content on lying on the stone with Viryn than home in his hammock. His cheek was pressed against Viryn's forehead so his neck was not bent uncomfortably. Merq'ena took a bite and eyed the hand placement of the Olo'eyktan's son. "Are you parents mad?" Merq'ena noticed the small tears on the edges of the leaf, Viryn's work no doubt. "I wouldn't say mad. They're more worried, especially when you weren't at dinner." Merq'ena hummed. "And Kiri?"

At that moment Viryn began to stir, her eyes flickering to open. Then her eyes widened comically before she nearly jumped away from Neteyam. Merq'ena smirked as a flush of colour crept up her friend's neck. "Sorry, I." A hand went to Viryn's mouth as she snapped her eyes on Merq'ena. "You're back." The horror on Viryn's eyes compared to the slight hurt in Neteyam's made Merq'ena want to smack the two of them.

"Thanks for dinner." Merq'ena gestured to the food. Viryn smacked her cheeks to gain full consciousness but also made a sneaking glance at Neteyam. "About Kiri." Merq'ena continued her line of questioning which was enough to tear Neteyam's eyes from Viryn. "I said something stupid." Neteyam straightened from his leaned back position so that the firelight could fully illuminate his face. "I said a lot of things." "We heard, a lot of it."

Merq'ena's ears lowered against her head as she took a bite of a grub. "I'm sure they know you didn't mean it." Viryn said. "You were upset for a good reason." Merq'ena shook her head. "It doesn't matter, I lost my cool." The girl rubbed her face. "I need to make it up to them." Merq'ena sucked in a breath and looked at the two other teens seated across from her. Subconsciously the two had moved to sit right next to each other, their legs just barely touching. "But I want to get to the bottom of this." "Bottom of what?" "Grace Augustine." The Sky people name felt strange on her tongue. "There's got to be more to her than just a Na'vi loving scientist." Viryn pursed her lips. "She's Kiri's mom too. It just, feels like there's more to it."

———

"Im going to throw myself off of the cliff." Viryn looked at the ledge as the rock she threw flew over it. "It wasn't embarrassing." Merq'ena smiled but rolled her eyes. She was patting her ikran while taking out her bow. "Don't, I can't, I don't even want to think about it." Viryn dramatically shook a leaf stem like it was the source of her embarrassment. The girl hadn't gotten rid of her flush since she woke up. "He looked happy with it." "He's just got one of those faces." Viryn sharply turned around and slumped her forehead on Merq'ena's shoulder.

They were in the jungle in search of the cabin. They hoped the thanator would appear and lead them like last time but it seemed Eywa deemed them ready to find it on their own. Merq'ena could recognize the fallen tree where the thanator crouched. "You're overthinking it." Merq'ena touched the prints in the ground, the pure strength she saw in the eyes of the creature sent a chill down her spine. "Did I drool? I think I drooled, oh please great mother erase me from-." Merq'ena placed a hand over Viryn's mouth and pressed a finger to her lips. She pointed with her chin towards where she entered the clearing. Viryn nodded and lifted her bow so that it was ready for use. The two girls stealthily moved towards the opening that was created by the thanator. A bustling sense of life surrounded them as they proficiently stalked over the plants. The cabin still stood with the open door wide open.