Not a Soldier Yet |Ao'nung x Neteyam|

23. There Goes My Sanity

"You are not leaving this place until you tell me who did this-" Tonowari's voice boomed, snapping Neteyam back to reality.

He ached all over. He could barely remember what happened to him or how he got back to the shore. He found himself in Tonowari's marui. Ronal was treating his wounds with as much gentleness as she could manage. The pain of the bandages was nowhere near as bad as the wounds themselves were.

Neteyam heard his mother screaming in anguish outside the Olo'eyktan's home. His ears picked up his brother's yelling - his father telling him to be quiet, not knowing how to calm him.

Neteyam was numb to it all.

"Father, do not yell at him! Don't you see what he looks like?!" Tsireya shrieked, eyes red from her tears. Tonowari's mouth fell open; he stared at his daughter, knowing she was right. The Olo'eyktan's jaw clenched. "Where is your brother?"

Ronal stood, putting an end to their conversation. "Leave. Now."

The marui fell silent. Tonowari took his daughter's shaking hand and led her outside. Neteyam found himself alone with Ronal. The Metcayina smiled gently and placed a hand on his cheek, caressing the only spot not covered in cuts and bruises. "My son loves you. Therefore, I do, too. Let us help you. The ones who did this to you must be banished. "

Neteyam swallowed and looked away, heart panging painfully. He did not feel comfortable accepting help.

"Look at me," Ronal whispered, guiding his face with a finger under his chin. Neteyam closed his eyes instead. The tsahik did not try to persuade him further. She pulled him close, as best as her bump allowed her. She cooed to him as if he were her own child, petting his hair. "I need you to tell me where I need to examine you. "

Neteyam sighed against her shoulder. He was so tired of the world and everybody in it. He could not help himself. He asked her directly, staring into her pale eyes with his own void ones. "Do you want to know if they assaulted me?"

Ronal hesitated, breath coming out in soft phants. "Yes. I need to know."

"No, " Neteyam whispered in reply. "You have treated all my wounds. There are no more left."

Relief flooded Ronal's veins at the boy's words. "Then all that is left for us to do is find your attackers. Let us help you, child."

"M-mother-"

"Daughter, what are you doing in here? I told you to leave us," Ronal hissed, letting go of Neteyam and standing.

"I think I know who they are." Tsireya wiped fresh tears from her cheeks. "I did not mean to listen in. I just wanted to bring this herb. "

"Tell your father to come, hurry, my child."

Neteyam did not know how much time had passed. All he knew was that Ao'nung had returned. His father had sent him on a hunt with the rest of the men right before Neteyam was found by a Metcayina woman and her young child. He blinked, eyes unseeing, unfocused. He was in his father's arms, cuddled to his chest. His tail was flicking around behind him slightly, and his ears pulled back. Nobody else had dared to touch him after Jake entered the marui, rushing in after Tonowari. Neytiri bore the same emotionless demeanour as her son. Her bloodshot eyes were emotionless, her shoulders tense. Even Ronal was weary to go near her.

"Who was it, daughter?" Neteyam heard Tonowari's question, but it sounded so far away.

Tsireya hugged herself. "I am almost certain it was Ulro."

"It was that bastard-" Ao'nung snapped. "I spoke with him some days ago, told him to leave Neteyam alone. He refused to listen, so I punched him."

Neteyam did not listen to the rest of the conversation. He turned his face to look up at his father. Jake cuddled him closer, mindful of his injuries. He kissed his son's forehead and buried his face in his hair. The braids were not as soft as when Neteyam let his hair out, but Jake did not care. There was only one thing on his mind; revenge. He may have been a guest here, but he was also Toruk Makto. Neteyam sat up slowly, forcing a tense silence to fall upon the room. Nobody spoke.

Neteyam whispered to his father, pleading to leave.

Tonowari did not hold them back.

Jake picked up his son and walked out of the Olo'eyktan's marui. He set Neteyam down in the sand, holding him up steadily. "Can you walk?"

"Yes, dad." Neteyam began taking small, unsure steps along the water. He was testing how much he could take. His ankle in the end was not broken, only the skin was marred. It was hidden by bandages. By the time his family was informed of the situation, Ronal had wrapped his wounds, hiding them from view. She did not describe them, keeping his secrets for him.

Jake kissed the side of his head and led him home.

Neteyam did not leave their marui for the next ten days. His wounds were slowly beginning to heal; his mind filled with torment. He could not sleep - when he tried, he saw Ulro's face and felt his knife press into his skin. He barely ate, barely spoke, and was unresponsive. Only Ao'nung was allowed to visit him. Whenever he did, Ronal accompanied him, bringing fresh bandages and healing herbs.

The first time Jake saw the bite mark on his son's thigh and the scratches littering his stomach and back, he had to leave the room to throw up. Neteyam's siblings were not allowed to be in the marui when his bandages were being changed. Neytiri always took them outside, a bitterness falling over all of them, tainting their sanity.

That morning, as he was left alone with his father, for a moment, Neteyam felt at peace. He felt like he could overcome this. His father had been sending messages to Norm when Neteyam walked over to him and lightly touched his shoulder. Jake glanced up at him, humming in acknowledgement.

Neteyam smiled gently, the sight warming Jake's heart. "I'm ready to give you their names."

Jake knew instantly what his son was talking about and pulled him into a tight hug, whispering a breathless prayer to Eywa.