Perfect//Neteyam

In the Dark

POV: Neteyam

Through the ride to the Metkayia clan and the first week of our stay, all I thought of was home. I miss the trees, the plants, the animals, everything. We are constantly reminded of our weaknesses here, our lack of a large tail or lack of breathing technique, even about our "demon blood" as they call us.

Throughout this week, I have been called a demon, a five-fingered freak, and unperfect. I don't try to be perfect, I am nowhere near close to perfect. But when people tell that to your face it gives a setback. I have always been labeled as the perfect son mostly by Lo'ak. My father disagrees no matter how much I try to live up to his standards.

Most nights I sit outside of the hut looking at the stars and listening to the surroundings. I wasn't used to them, I have memorized the forest but here, the uncertainty of the waves, the uncertainty of the stars above. Everything is different here, the people are different and new. I never liked change, never had to experience it till now.

I got up from the rope ledge of our hut and walked down the pathway to the sandy shore. I walked down it for what felt like hours. I lay down on the shore with my feet wiggling in the ocean. The sound of footsteps came close then stopped, I looked to see a figure in the dark. They stood still looking at me, they walked once again continuing their journey. What are they doing up so late?

I got up from the shore to investigate the figure further. I from afar hiding behind trees, All I could see was that they were holding a stick and had dark markings down their small figure. The figure turned into a group of trees, unable to find them again I went forward. After looking through them, I turned back to head to the shore once more.

I was stopped with a knife to the throat, a person behind had a hold of me.

"Why are you following me?" A woman's voice echoed in his ear.

"I-I'm not," I said guilty from the fact that I was. She tightened her grasp on me and pushed me forward into the sandy floor.

I looked back to see a young Navi women, the one he saw before at their greeting. The girl with the blood on her face, it was now stitched. Along with the great cut on her face was tattoos that came across the forehead, neck, and torso area. She had a hard expression, she tilted her head and looked at me. From what he could see she was very beautiful.

"You are, the forest boy." she said squeezing her lips to a tight line as she came close knife drawn. She lowered her self to my level, she had great curly hair with one part braided. Little beads and rings were looped through parts of her hair. The that was exposed had four golden rings pulled through. Her hair mesmerized me, it looked loose and soft her wanted to run his hands through it. Her eyes hardened, she said crisply, "Why you follow?" She pointed the knife at him.

"I-I don't know. I just wanted to see what you are doing?" I said stuttering knowing mom would kill me if she knew what was happening right now. "Stop. Following," she hissed and got up from the ground and walked off with her spear in hand. I got up and watched her walk down the shore, when she was far away at a safe distance I continued to follow her. I followed behind for ages when she stopped and went into the water. She gracefully dove in and didn't come up, I sat on the edge of the shore waiting for her to emerge.

I laid down again gazing at the stars when sleep over came me.

I dreamt of the forest, running through the trees when a whole group of woodsprites came and sat on me. They glowed just like everything in the forest at night.

I felt a pinch at my side, I tried to continue my dream when I felt a burning sensation on my face. I woke on the beach at sunrise to see the woman from last night. I rubbed my face at the pain, "Did you hit me?" I ask her with aww and anger coursing through my body.

"You.Don't.Listen." She said with a calm face. She was dripping wet, "Did you just get back?" I asked her. She looked at me then walked off, as I chased after her. Before I reached her she swung her spear above her head turning to point it at me, "Don't. Follow." she said with her green eyes enraged. I never was good at listening but all I wanted to do was to ask her questions.

"Where did you go, huh? What is your name? How do you have tattoo?" I questioned.

"You like a baby?" She said with a stern face.

"Umm what, no I'm not." taken back at the question.

"Then listen. Don't talk and don't follow." She walked off as I stayed put. Why was she like that? She is so secretive and closed off. How could someone be that gorgeous but have such a rude personality.