𝐔𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐥 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 | Neteyam x Aonung

Ten

"Woah!", Tuk practically yelled as soon as her big eyes caught Neteyam slowly stepping out of the pod. She quickly got up and left the others to run up to him with a huge grin on her face. "Guys, come and see! My brother looks so cool!".
Neteyam just grinned sheepishly while rubbing his arm with his hand and flushing red when the other kids also came running up to him. They were all standing in a circle, with Tuk trying to touch the beautiful, colorful feathers on her brother's shoulders but being too small to reach them.

Lo'ak slightly walked up to him and began inspecting the na'vi from his head accessories and styled braids down to the open feet. Without hesitation and out of curiosity, he started to touch the shining pearls on Neteyam's neck, but said boy abruptly slapped his hand away in fear. "Don't!", he demanded. "These are very important to the Metkayina", the older one added before taking a small glance at Ao'nung, who was leaning on another pod a bit further away with his arms crossed and a small smirk on his face. But he looked away in an instant when the teal na'vi slowly began walking up to them.

"He looks like a girl", Lo'ak suddenly turned to Tsireya and mumbled out in a joking manner, but she just looked at him in disbelief while letting out a small but fierce "Lo'ak!".
Neteyam, on the other hand, just stared at him with an annoyed face, clearly fed up with his little brother.

Meanwhile, Ao'nung quietly placed himself next to Kiri, who just smiled to herself, feeling proud to see Neteyam in the Metkayina's traditional clothing.

They were all talking for a little longer and continuously trying to touch the accessories before Ronal suddenly strolled around the corner with Neytiri and Jake following behind. Just like their son, the two were also prepared for the ceremony with neck- and head-pieces as well as different hairstyles and facial markings.
When Neytiri saw Neteyam, a huge smile started forming on her lips, and she slightly squeezed her husband's arm that she was holding onto.
They couldn't be more proud of their little warrior in front of them, being so close to becoming an adult.

"Mom and dad look so cool too!", Tuk then wiped the emotional atmosphere away with her loud voice. She hugged them one last time before Ronal signaled to the Sullys that it was time to gather themselves with the others. The sky already got darker, turning a strong orange slowly into a deep purple.
This was the moment Neteyam's heart in his chest started pounding faster again, and the nervousness started crawling back into every little cell of his body. What if he messes up? Or what if it turns out that he's not as strong and responsible as he thought he was? These thoughts were all running through his distressed mind, not realizing that the metkayina boy had appeared next to him and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Calm down, skxawng, the only thing you have to do on your own is say one or two sentences at the end", he assured him while laughing at Neteyam a little. The forest na'vi just scoffed.
"I know, it's not like this is my first time going through a ritual in front of my whole clan", he slightly spat back. Looking down at Ao'nung's hand whilst furrowing his non-existent eyebrows in confusion.

"Oh, by the way", the older one suddenly approached Neteyam's ear with a whisper, leading to said boy feeling a shudder run down his spine. Ao'nung occasionally glanced at the ground to make sure not to step on Neteyam's feet while walking. "If you mess this up, it'll all be my fault, since I was the one in charge of you", he added, his warm breath clinging to Neteyam's skin like a burdock.
"But you're not that stupid, are you, skxawng?".

Hesitantly shaking his head, the darker na'vi needed to process this whole situation first. He didn't know what he was supposed to feel at the moment. Ao'nung was making sure that his chances of becoming the next Olo'eyktan wouldn't minimise because of him.

"Good, now chill out or you'll cause a pandemic if you continue to infect everyone with your nervousness", the chief's son laughed out while pushing the other's shoulder a little. That was probably the first time he saw Neteyam genuinely smiling since they arrived.
"How did you even notice?", he asked, fidgeting with his feathers.

"Body language, sweetheart"