strong - neteyam x oc

arrival n.

Neteyam

Five days of nonstop travel. The air no longer felt freeing and the forest called for the family. Yet after five days they had finally arrived to the Metkayina clan, a village their father greatly trusted after the first war. They followed as their father, Toruk Makto, settled onto a sheet of sand, his oldest, Neteyam, followed in his fathers shadow holding his hands out as he walked forward with his siblings. It was hot, and the stares of the foreign looking Na'vi made him feel all the more warm. Many hadn't greeted them, simply staring and whispering to one another. Although the wind kept a small chill, the humidity canceled it out quickly, as if stopping the breeze from keeping the family cool.

The boys eyes were empty, he was just trying to take everything in. He replicated his younger brother, eyes looking towards the water. It only took a second to see what the younger one was looking at, a girl. However Neteyam couldn't make fun of his own brother, as his eyes trailed to another girl following close behind, they looked similar, however her hair was longer and she held herself with more poise.

His "trance" didn't last long as the Metkayina's Tsahik grabbed his sister's tail, then his brother's hand showing the four fingers he bared. Neteyam wanted to help his brother as normal, but he knew if he spoke back to their Tsahik the ticket to residing here is gone.

Two boys laughed a little behind Lo'ak and Neteyam, whispering of their small tails. His teeth clamped onto his tongue, maybe it wouldn't be so bad to be sent back home.

The boy felt eyes watching him, it was ironic only feeling a specific pair being as so many had their gazes grasped to the family. Turning he immediately caught sight of the girl from earlier, he noticed as her eyes widened, nonetheless she raised her hand to greet him, "Oel ngati kameie" she silently signed, her eyes shifting down before he could fully blink. Neteyam hadn't moved his gaze as she did, instead the boy continued looking at her noticing their differences. Her hair was curly, and skin a soft turquoise to match her eyes. Her arms were bigger- tail flatter. She was pretty....

His thoughts were cut off, ""We will learn your ways, right everyone?" His father looked to each of his family members, "Just please, we need a place to reside.."

Neteyam felt his chest knot, as if someone was pulling the air out of him. He despised his father for this decision, he trained his entire life to become the next Olo'eyktan, missed out on so much with his siblings, had to take the role of being like a second father to his family, was told to call his father sir instead of dad. Just for what? To throw it all away in a matter of seconds? He wanted to scream, to cry, yell out his displeasure in front of the whole clan for even a mere chance to go back home. But as his eyes met his fathers, so full of worry and pleads, full of his wishes to keep his family safe together. He bit his tongue, selfish. He knew it hadn't mattered what had happened here, if they were not given Uturu his father would just take them somewhere else. They weren't going back.

"They do not know the sea, so they will be like babies taking their first breath. Teach them our ways so they do not suffer the shame of being useless," He watched as the Chief, Tonowari motioned for his children to come over, Neteyam couldn't hide the displeasure from his face, "useless" he said.

"My oldest, Kireyi and Aonung, and my younger one, Tsireya, will get you all settled in." Three of the children moved forward, two of them being the girls from earlier.

The girls who he now knew as Kireyi and Tsireya gave the family gentle smiles, Aonung refuted, "But that's not-" The boy exclaimed and his sister hit him. Neteyam hadn't felt bad, recognizing his voice from earlier.

"You can follow Kireyi and me! We'll show you to your new home," Tsireya said, he felt grateful as they stepped forward to help take some of their belongings. Following the two girls through the crowd he still was unsure of his emotions. It wasn't like anyone would know how he truly felt anyways; he needed to be strong for his siblings, and although it could be numbing sometimes, it was always worth it seeing his siblings happy. Neteyam was their anchor, and he was proud to have earned that title.