Pandora (Neteyam)

Twelve

It was early in the morning and Neteyam had Mireya up, she hissed at him when he woke her. Neteyam only laughed at her and dragged her to Tsaro to go back to high camp to grab breakfast before seeing the direhorses. Neteyam held his hand on her back and guided her through the crowds to the Marui where Neytiri was serving breakfast with Kiri.

"Here my child." Neytiri handed Mireya a leaf like plate with fresh fruits and vegetables on top. Mireya thanked the mother and sat down and ate her food quickly, Neteyam sat down beside her and ate quietly and occasionally spoke to his father about the training plan for the newcomers.

Mireya heard snickers from behind her and she turned around and saw dark blue scurry away from the Marui. Mireya lowly growled and brought her knees up to her chest and placed the leaf down. She turned to Neteyam who had finished his meal, and grabbed his hand.

"What is it, Ma Rey?" Neteyam asked, his fingers lacing with hers. Mireya looked outside and saw the Na'vi boys again opposite the Marui.

"Can we go now?" Mireya asked with a forced smile and Neteyam frowned but nodded. He stood up and helped her up with him and walked her to the edge where Tsaro flew up and rubbed his head against Neteyam's hand. The forest boy got on and helped the reef woman up and made tsaheylu with Tsaro.

The Ikran fell backwards before levelling out normally, Mireya war cried with Neteyam and spreads open her arms as they sped over the forest and the wind wrapped itself around her body. They dived into the forest and she wrapped her arms back around Neteyam and they landed on land that was clear from trees but was covered by green and nature. Direhorses free roamed and ate the plants calmly and Mireya immediately jumped down and stepped foot to the open. Neteyam followed behind her and told her to head to where her siblings and Rotxo were.

"Me, Kiri, and Lo'ak will teach you to ride and tame our direhorses. They are calm but fierce animals and will need to be tamed." Neteyam spoke to the small group and Kiri called over four direhorses. Mireya smiled as one of the animals immediately approached her, Mireya held out her hand and softly petted the creature, her fingers moving under the chin. Her hand ran down the direhorse's neck to the top of the legs and where the animal's heart pounded loudly beneath her fingers.

Neteyam grinned at her and stepped forward and ran his hand down the creature and looked back up at Mireya. "Sit." He patted the back of the animal and Mireya nodded and jumped up with elegance. Her heart raced when she looked down to Neteyam and held a nervous smile.

"Make tsaheylu gently. Feel her breath, her strong legs and mighty heart." Neteyam told her and Mireya nodded and brought round her kuru, she relaxed herself and took a deep breath as she made the bond. The creature whinnied and grumbled at the bond before calming down, Mireya stared at the animal in awe and looked ahead. "Think where you want to go and what you want her to do." The woman nodded and soon enough the direhorse walked slowly across the land and she smiled at the feel of every muscle moving beneath her.

Neteyam watched her with pride and his tail swished around happily, he looked over at the others and saw Ao'nung's running forward and him falling off. Kiri covered her mouth as she silently laughed at him, Rotxo grinned at his friend before trying himself only he fell off too. "Skxawngs." Kiri laughed and helped the men up from the mud. Tsireya struggled at first but she was able to move around on the Direhorse without Lo'ak's support.

Neteyam turned his attention back to Mireya who was now galloping across the muddy land, her smile was bright as she embraced the cool air against her skin. Though happiness was short lived when tamed Direhorses came running down with riders, riders that despised Mireya.

"You do not belong here, Skxawng." The boy hissed at her in native tongue, Mireya hissed back causing her direhorse to huff at the riders. The bully's laugh at her and the leader of the bully's stared into her soul before making his direhorse jump at her. Mireya flinched and her own Direhorse bucked and ran off, Mireya was still connected as she gripped onto anything, but her petrified screams made it worse and their laughter that echoed made her angry and embarrassed at herself. Her body fell off the animal and she hits the ground harshly, though her kuru was still connected to the animal.