I WANNA BE SAVED, neteyam

Ch 2: Run

The feeling of the moss under her feet had never been so exhilarating. The humid air stuck to her skin, the wind blowing past her moving form as she jumped from tree to tree.

Ayatney jumped off of the branch and landed on the forest floor beneath her, hiding behind some brushes. She and a couple of others around her age had been sent out to go hunting for that nights feed. Of course, they didn't go alone, having supervision of the older Na'vi to make sure no one got seriously injured.

There was a hexapede grazing the land, all alone. Perfect. Quickly knocking her bow, she got into position to shoot. Deep breath in, hold, then exhale. Releasing her grip, the arrow had pierced it between its leg and body. Ayatney lowered her bow, quickly jumping out of her hiding spot. Nimble on her feet, she jogged over the the wailing animal, noticing that there had been another arrow plunged in its thigh. Ayatney knew who that arrow belonged to, the neon green and yellow stripes standing out.

Hexapede wailing in pain, she kneeled next to it. Hand carved dagger in hand, Ayatney stabbed the animal, twisting it at the hilt to quickly put it out of its misery. She shut her eyes as a breeze drift by, pulling the dagger out and putting it away in it's sheath.

"That was supposed to be my kill." Ayatney turned at the voice, seeing who it was before turning back to attempt to pull the other arrow out of the carcass.

"Well Neteyam, if you were a better shot you would've killed it sooner." Still on her knees, she looked up at him as he stood over her, an annoyed look on her face. Annoyed that she had grown to enjoy his company throughout the years they were forced to train with one another.

She had awaited a response from him, something snarky, but he just kept on staring at her. "Neteyam?" She called out his name, him still being unresponsive. Ayatney called his name again, her eyes searching his trying to find some sort of reaction. Giving up, she went back to tending to the hexapede, pulling out the arrow with a grunt and grabbing a rope to tie its legs. 

The setting sun rays that broke through the trees was warm on her skin, bringing her comfort as she tied the final knot. Eclipse was coming soon, and if they didn't get back to the group, they'd both be skinned alive. Looking up at Neteyam once again, she had enough of his weird silence. Grabbing his pulled out arrow on the grass next to her, she used the feathered side and smacked him on the leg.

"Ow!" Neteyam had dropped his bow, clutching his leg to his chest in pain, hopping around on one foot. He grit his teeth, finally putting his leg down to observe where he had been hit, a red agitated line quickly forming. "Look at what you did Ayat."

The girl only scoffed in return, finally standing from her knees. "Stop being a skxawng and make yourself useful by carrying the meat."

Neteyam scratched his head in discontent, grabbing the dead hexapede by its tied feet and threw it over his shoulder with a grunt. Though only being fourteen, he was quite strong. Of course, being trained by his father and his military training (something the human warriors did) with the expectations of becoming Olo'eyktan next, he had no time to be soft.

They had been walking together for a while now, both not saying a thing. Eclipse had come and gone, allowing the vegetation around them to light up with bioluminescence. Apparently, the hunting group had left and took the pa'li along with them. Which left them to walk the rest of the way back.

They weren't that far from the Home Tree, but had decided to take a break for the sake of Neteyam's shoulders not falling off (His words, not Ayatneys). They both lay in the grass, staring at the stars above them. It was a bit awkward, just listening to each other breathe with the sound of wildlife surrounding them. But yet at the same time, they both couldn't help feel more at peace. The two being the oldest children in their family, albeit Ayatneys sibling not having been born yet, they had a lot to carry on their shoulders.