The Bond of The Forest - Lo'ak X Reader

Chapter 4

I was sat on the tree watching the sun go down but I was by myself this time. I wiped a tear that fell down my face. Neteyam had just told me that his father had decided it was only fair for them to leave the clan and seek safety.

For the first time in my life I felt like I had a family, someone who I could possibly like, brothers, sisters, and it was all being ripped away from me right before my eyes. I sighed tucking my chin into my knees whilst hugging them. Leaning against the tree I cried out,

'Why mother Eywa, must this happen to me?'

I felt disappointed in my words almost immediately. I must not blame Eywa for this. The branch I was sat on seemed to groan under somebody else's weight being brought upon it. Lo'ak?

I looked up to see Lo'ak's Ikran and Lo'ak balancing on the tree setting himself down next to me. He frowned noticing my tear stained cheeks.

'Oh Mai' he whispered wiping them away with his hands. It's funny, him having more fingers let's my face to fit perfectly into his hand allowing me to rest it upon him. His thumb stroked my cheek as he pulled me into a hug.

We were both looking out at the skyline his arm around my shoulder when I heard him mutter some curse word under his breath. We had been sat in silence for a while now as we were struggling to find the words to say. I decided to muster up the courage.

'What do I do Lo'ak?' I turn to face him, 'I've only known you for a couple of weeks, Neteyam for a couple of months but you guys are my family. I've already lost my family once I don't know if I can do it again.'

I hung my head studying the branch we were sat upon as I dare not look up. Lo'ak was silent for a minute.

'I'm going to make this right Mai, I promise you.' Lo'ak stood up his arm lingering on my shoulder for a minute and without uttering another word, walked a couple steps towards his Ikran as he waited for him patiently. His yellow wings were glistening against the sunset.

'You could have died today' Lo'ak murmured his back still turned away from me. 'I would have blamed myself forever knowing you were there to help me and my family. I felt so fucking helpless in those stupid cuffs. Tuk's face I will never forget, she made me bring her out there I should have told her to keep her skxawng ass at home, I should have been more like Neteyam.'

He ran his hands through this braids that sat neatly on his shoulders.

There it was again, his subtle comparison towards his elder brother. He turned to face me once more before repeating,

'I'm going to make this right.' he mounted his Ikran and willed it into the sky. I watched him fly away until he was a mere black dot in the sky.

My mind was racing. What did he mean by this? What is making it right? My mind filled with queries and questions about what Lo'ak had just said to me. I couldn't help but warm to the fact that he would have cared if I died today, but party of my brain kept challenging me making me wonder if he saw me like he saw Tuk or Kiri - just another sister.

The thought disappointed me but I shook my head as if to make the thought disappear. I mustn't think like this if I won't be seeing him again, it'll only make it harder for me.