~Map of Songs~ Neteyam x OC

More Questions Than Answers

Today, Ronal had me in the nursery caring for the young children of the tribe. Children up until age 5 gather here while their parents are working. Here we teach them all kinds of things about life. They learn manners, how to hold their breath and swim and surprisingly, some of the older children can even ride an ilu. While this isn't directly correlated to medicine, Ronal thought it'd be a good idea for me to learn alongside the babies. "You are like a baby, why not learn like one?" she had said. So now I catch myself tuning into their lessons as the other overseers introduce new things. Of course I also have a job here, I make sure the little ones don't get too riled up and hurt themselves.

"That's my toy! Give it back!"

"No it's mine!"

"Give it back, skxawng!"

I hear the beginnings of a fight start to break out across the beach where we are holding class today. And who else could it be but To'nan and Amrat. To'nan being a 4 year old girl with a lot of attitude. She does not stand down for nobody, not even her parents sometimes. Amrat is a 5 year old boy who always finds something to tease her about, though if you ask me, I think it's just him trying to keep her attention. I watched as Amrat snatched the toy ilu from her and ran towards me. The two chased each other in circles around my legs until I finally stopped the both of them and took the toy from Amrat. "It's not nice to steal something that isn't yours Amrat. You must apologize to her."

The boy looked at To'nan for a moment, as if wondering if he should really apologize. He looked up at me and I gave him a look, begrudgingly he said, "I'm sorry..."

"For what?" I pushed.

"Taking your toy." Amrat crossed his arms and looked away from the girl, his tail swaying side to side somewhat. I just love the way Na'vi children are unable to hide how they feel because of their unruly tails. "And To'nan, you must apologize to Amrat for calling him that. We don't use those words with our friends." she gave me a look as if to say 'are you serious?' but complied anyway.

"I'm sorry for calling you a skxawng. But you shouldn't take my things." I smiled and returned the toy to To'nan telling them to share the toy instead.

"Noa!" I hear my name be called by Nirut, a woman who has been working with the children on this island for many years. She's holding a baby just under 1 year old. "Take him inside will you? I can tell he's hungry." She said as I walked up to her, passing off the fussing baby in her arms who did indeed seem hungry. His face is all scrunched up and about to burst into tears at any second. I gave Nirut a nod and walked off towards the marui where women who act as wet nurses stay with the children who can't yet walk. Of course they could be looked after by their own mothers, but most Metkyinan women prefer to go back to work as soon as they can. "Neral, I have another one for you." I say as I place the baby in her arms. She quickly gets to work feeding him. "How do you like it here so far? " She asked me.

I could feel my own tail start to sway as I answered her. "It's lovely, there's so much life here... it's much better than being closed in." She nodded her head as if she understood. "When you first arrived, I was... skeptical. I admit I was worried, worried you might bring more sky people. I don't want my childrens lives to be put at risk you see?" I sat down beside her on a crate as she gently rocked the baby. "But I see how you are with the children, with the injured as well. You are a fast learner Noa. All things here are new to you and yet you've come so far. I see you."

"Neral..." I smiled. "I see you too." We shared a moment between ourselves before being interrupted by cries from across the room. "I'll get him!" I announce to the other women in the room before getting up to coddle the crying infant. Stepping up to the little crib made of sticks, twine and leaves and picking up the crying baby. "Shhh... hush now Takar" I cradled him in my arms and bounced him. "Did you wake up from your nap?" Takar is Ronals youngest son, she gave birth to him a little less than a month after I started living here. It's been about 4 months since then and it's steadily getting harder for me to hold him. He grabs my finger, holding on tight, still crying his little lungs out. What can I do to calm him down? I suddenly got an idea and began to hum a melody that my father would sing when I was scared or sad. It was my mothers song he had said. And just like magic, Takar's wailing soothed and he went back to sleep.