I WANNA BE SAVED, neteyam

Ch 21: Neytiri

Walking into the pod, Neytiri was glad to see that everyone was already there. All of them were huddled around the small fire pit as Jake was retelling them a story of when he first rode a pa'li. Something that they have heard many times before, but yet it was something they always enjoyed.

She had just finished her daily lessons of Tsahík training with Ronal, and wanted nothing more than to be with her family after a long day of listening to the woman recite the words of Eywa.

Her children were listening with open ears, all laughing when Jake exaggerated his tale. Their laughter quieting down as they took notice of her presence, all but one welcoming her back with smiles on their faces.

Ayatney was too enthralled with the fire, watching it as it grilled the food she had set on top of its coals. Neytiri sat next to Jake who was positioned in front of the girl, both sitting on opposite sides of the source of heat.

Neytiri thought back to when she first met Ayatney, to the little girl that was always fighting with her sons.

Being the mother she was, Neytiri's instincts were telling her that Ayatney was going to be a pest. A problem that needed to be solved quickly. But as she grew, Ayatney stuck around more and the good qualities began to show as she progressed.

Ayatney was strong headed and driven by emotion. The girl knew when to pick her fights well and though she was a bit reckless at times, it was something that came with her age. Ayatney had the skills to become a warrior, but she decided to follow in her fathers footsteps in becoming a hunter to help provide for her clan. Which was something she and her father was proud of.

Neytiri thought back to when she was just the ripe age of sixteen, emotional wounds still fresh from the shooting of her dear sister. She and Ayatney had a lot more in common than they think. Though it was her parents and not her sister that was taken from her. Plus, with the environment Ayatney was growing up in, it only made them much more similar.

Neytiri didn't realize that she and her mate had began to rely on the girl when the war had came back to knock on their front door. At first, using Ayatney was just an easy way to keep an eye on their children when they were busy with planning strategies. But then they had decided to assign it to her, as if it was like her life's duty.

It had taken Ayatney's tears, the few days before their departure, to make them realize that she was just a child herself. To suddenly thrust their responsibilities onto her was unfair and unwise on their part. A mourning child with the war resting heavy on top of her shoulders along with keeping the safety of her superiors children a priority surely was not easy for her age.

But they wouldn't have given her the task if she was not up to their standards.

They had known her since she was as small as Tuktirey was and that was a long time already. So they knew that when Ayatney had came to them in a fit of rage to let her join in on the raids, she was more than ready to take on what ever came her way.

Neytiri was unsure on how to thank Ayatney for all that she's done. Unsure on how to even approach her. They have not had the chance to hold a proper conversation, every opportunity missed when Ayatney would turn the other way.

There was no doubt in Neytiri's mind that the girl was still upset with her and her mate for making the decision for her months ago. It was in their best interest to take Ayatney along just in case the demons were to recognize her face among the Omatikaya people. It would risk their safety and that was one of the last things Neytiri wanted for her people and her family of six.

But that was a conversation that needed more privacy to be talked about.

"Did you prep these all yourself?" Neytiri asked, hand reaching to flip over a skewered fish. Before the girl could answer, Tuktirey shot out of her fathers lap running to Ayatney's side.

"I helped Ayatney and Kiri season the fish!"

"Yes, and she was great help in skewering them." Ayatney grabbed one off the coals, checking over to see if it was cooked thoroughly before handing it off to Tuk who ate it greedily.

"Hot! Hot!"

"You have to be careful Tuk, blow it first." Neytiri chastised, putting another skewer on to replace the one her daughter was eating. The others were still listening to Jake, not paying any mind to the pair who continued grilling.

Every other minute, Ayatney would look over to them. Not to listen into Jake's story, but to catch a glance at Neteyam, who was currently laughing at Lo'ak. If Ayatney was trying to be sneaky, she was absolutely failing.

"If you are going to stare, make it less obvious."

Ayatney's face burned, having been caught by his mother was more embarrassing than being caught by Neteyam himself.

"Sorry..." She apologized, taking off a few skewers and putting them on a leaf plate before handing it off to Kiri. As she went to fan the fire, Neytiri grabbed the fan at the same time as she did. Both of them held eye contact, Ayatney never turning away out of respect and nervousness.

She felt like Neytiri was trying to dig deep into her with her eyes alone, searching for something only she would know. In reality, Neytiri was trying to find why her eldest son had chosen the girl in front of her. Was it because of her fighting spirit or her clumsy personality?

Neytiri didn't know, but she did know that Ayatney was good for Neteyam. Her natural protectiveness would be good for the both of them and their future family they would create. And really, the mother had grown a soft spot for the girl over the past year.

"If my son ever treats you wrong," Neytiri softly whispered, the crackle and popping of the coals covering her words. "Just bring him to me and I will set him straight for you."

Removing the fan from Ayatney's hand, Neytiri turned to her husband as she began giving life to the flame below, not giving the girl a chance to respond.

Was this her way of expressing her approval?

Ayatney could only hope so.