Two bodies, one soul || Neteyam

4. A wrong touch

The sun was already high in the sky by the time the Sully kids came out of the Marui.

"Neteyam, look who's there!" he slapped Neteyam on the stomach to get his attention. Lo'ak pointed to the shore where Reneera was feeding Nissa with fish. "Bro, go talk to her! What are you doing?" Neteyam just stood there and watched Reneera's every move.

"Reneera!" Tuk shouted. Reneera turned to them smiling and waving. Lo'ak slapped Neteyam on the head and Reneera giggled.

Tuk and Kiri ran down to the shore.

"Are you ready to show me what you learned yesterday?"

"Sure, but shouldn't we wait for the boys?" Reneera looked back at the two boys who were having a heated conversation as they headed for the shore.

"No. If they can't come on time, then let them catch us up." Reneera dived under the water, followed by Tuk and Kiri.

By the time Neteyam and Lo'ak reached the shore, no one was there. They scoured the ocean to see where the girls might have gone, but they left no trace behind.

Lo'ak spots three small Na'vi in the distance.

"There!" he pointed at them. They both rushed into the water and headed towards them on the back of the Ilus.

Kiri, Tuk, and Reneera reached the reef where Tsireya and Ao'nung were waiting for them. They had to wait for Lo'ak and Neteyam, who arrived much later.

The reef was created from the roots of a giant tree. The roots formed many holes in which the fish gathered. It was an ideal hunting ground. At night, the holes are lit up in different colors, creating a romantic atmosphere.

"We'll show you the sign language." Tsireya raised her fingers. Reneera decided to stay out of this and just watch from a distance. The others sat around.

"You're not coming?" Neteyam asked.

"More fun to watch." A slight smile appeared on Reneera's face. She was right. It was as if the Sully children had learned a whole new language, they were completely lost. Tsireya and Ao'nung didn't even know where to start.

"Reneera! What are you doing here?" a voice spoke from behind her, it was the five Na'vi boys Reneera used to hunt with, including Tsemlu.

"I'm watching how Tsireya is teaching them." she turned to the group who were sitting on a stone.

"Such freaks! They don't even know the sign language." Reneera rolled her eyes at Tsemlu's insulting comment.

"Neteyam! Are you listening to me?" Tsireya asked. Since he noticed Tsemlu, Neteyam didn't take his eyes off Reneera.

"Bro, he is." Neteyam pointed his head at the boy who was standing too close to Reneera. Lo'ak followed his gaze.

Tsemlu was tall, maybe even taller than Neteyam. His body was brawny, with a few wounds. His hair was braided and held in a tail. His eyes were blue like the ocean. His laugh was as pleasant as the breeze on a hot summer day.

"He is Tsemlu." Ao'nung stated, noticing who the two brothers were looking at. "Every girl's dream. Many believe he will be the next leader, Reneera's mate." Neteyam bit the inside of his mouth in anger and lowered his ears. "Come on, Reneera isn't interested in him." Tsireya interrupted her brother. "Reneera isn't interested in anyone." Ao'nung agreed.

Tsemlu noticed Neteyam's eyes on Reneera. She was having an interesting conversation with one of the boys and it didn't occur to her that Tsemlu was getting closer to her. He looked back at Neteyam to make sure he would see it. Neteyam pricked up his ears, his tail flapped violently and accidentally slapped Tuk on her head. His pupils were dilated, every part of him was tensed.

Tsemlu ran his hand along Reneera's back, past her hip. Before he reached her thigh he was pushed away.

"Back off!" Neteyam and Tsemlu stood facing each other, gritting their teeth and hissing.

"Are you insane?" Reneera angrily yelled at Neteyam.

"He touched you." Reneera didn't understand what Neteyam was talking about, she was ready to send him away when she suddenly realized. The touch she felt on her back down to her hips wasn't her hair, nor her tail, it was Tsemlu's hand.

"What have you done?" She looked at Tsemlu with a death stare.

"Oh, come on! It was just a bad joke. Not that you didn't like it." laughed Tsemlu. Hearing this, Neteyam wanted to punch him in the face to shut him up, but her hand stopped him.

"Let's go!" Reneera took Neteyam by the arm and they left.

She stopped in front of Tsireya.

"I'm leaving. See you later!" Tsireya nodded with a worried look. Reneera was in pieces, she had never felt so humiliated and helpless. Tsireya didn't know what happened, she only saw the end when Neteyam rushed there, but she knew it was best to give Reneera space. "Good luck in today's lesson." Reneera forced a smile on her lips.

She was about to leave, but Neteyam stopped her. Then she realized that she was still holding the boy's arm. She let it go and quickly disappeared under the water, preventing Neteyam from saying anything to her.

"Neteyam, don't!" Tsireya shouted after him, but it was too late. The boy disappeared under the water.

He headed towards Reneera, who was swimming across the reef on the Skimwing. Neteyam's Ilu was slower and after a while, he lost track of her. He saw three giant stones where the water was shallow and thought that he would figure out there what to do next.

He started for the rocks but didn't get there. He was chased by a Nalutsa. A 40 m-long creature with a huge mouth and lots of teeth, which was hungry for blood.

Neteyam raced on Ilu's back as fast as he could, but to no avail. The creature was right behind him. Reneera appeared and at last moment saved Neteyam from the creature's giant mouth. Unfortunately, she couldn't save his Ilu, the Nalutsa swallowed it.

Taking advantage of the fact that the Nalutsa was distracted by the freshly eaten meat. Reneera headed home at full speed with Neteyam on her back.

When they finally reached the shore and Reneera felt the sand beneath her, she allowed herself to scold Neteyam.

"What were you looking for after the reef? You're not allowed to go there. If you want to die so much, you don't have to go there. It is enough to get into a conflict with Tsemlu." Reneera lay on the sand exhausted. She remembered everything she tried to forget. Neteyam sat down next to her. He noticed Reneera's trembling hand lying in the sand. He put his hand on it and squeezed it gently.