I See You (N. Sully)

Chapter 8

 After the events of the previous day, Neteyam and Ahurewa's contact had been minimal, neither of them too keen on approaching yesterday's subject. But when it had neared lunch time and her morning chores were completed, he'd started to tag along, shadowing her – not that she'd known of course It's what he was supposed to have been doing during the first few days, but it had fallen off since she began working and they got in trouble for everything that had happened both times they left camp. He didn't really see her as much of a threat to his people's safety as he should've. It was just another way for him to take his mind off Lo'ak's reckless behaviour and his increasingly exhausting list of responsibilities.

What he'd said about her the day before wasn't a complete lie. He did want to break her, he wanted her to open up so he could finally understand her and the way she worked. He couldn't get past the stoic expressions and out-of-nowhere bursts of anger. Ahurewa argued with him because he didn't understand, which is why he was trying to. Avoiding her hadn't helped much. He'd stayed quiet initially, hoping that with time she wouldn't be so secretive, but through trial and error, annoying her seemed to be the most effective method.

As much as he wanted to understand her, he wasn't quite sure she understood him. It was clear that she was as observant as she was stubborn, but something hadn't clicked yet, and he didn't know what it was.

Nearing the edge of the perimeter, Neteyam didn't even hesitate to follow her beyond the clan's limits. She already seemed to know the land so well. It was only when he saw her approach the ikran nest that he started to grow slightly concerned. He had assumed she had either bonded with a new ikran yesterday or was reunited with her previous one, after seeing her swoop in on Jake's family lecture. Still, t wasn't the safest place when not arriving with your own ikran, and there was always a fifty percent chance they treated you like a hostile.

Yet, she disappeared under the foliage and around the wall that scaled beneath the waterfall. She already knew the terrain so well.

Neteyam had to wait a while before following, daring to let her out of his eyesight for a second.

It was only when he rounded the corner and the sun suddenly began blaring down on his face, that he saw her, completely unharmed – out in the open and completely vulnerable.

Then, he considered stepping forwards to intervene. Something had stopped him though – his conflicted thoughts? Or an external force? Whatever it was, his foot had shifted an inch and no further as he crouched behind a large boulder to observe.

What he did not expect was to see her in a serene state of utter peace. The ghost of a smile lingered on her lips, her breathing slowing and her eyelashes brushing her cheek as they lay shut. Slowly, she brought one arm around, whilst crouching as far down as possible, making it look effortless. She remained quiet for a few seconds, before she began humming a tune, and jolting into action. Nature around her had stilled, watching and listening. Neteyam's eyes followed her movements with focus and reverence. Her movements were fluid and gentle, agile and birdlike. In that moment, it was as though it was she who had inspired the ikran to fly and the thanators to hunt. She was dancing.

Every single day she seemed to take him off guard. Yesterday it was her way with the ikran, today it was her dancing. It was the end of her first week, and he already worried that he wouldn't be able to let a day pass without knowing something new about her.

Having such an intimate connection and devotion to Eywa was precious. Very few could fully commit to the devotion as well as the experience, and somehow, with Ahurewa's appearance, she had brought a new blessing from Eywa – a new connection he believed his people to have lost.

Neteyam was so lost in his own thoughts that he hadn't noticed her stillness, and her eyes were staring directly at him – frozen in an outstretching position.