His Fierce Flower - A Neteyam Sully x OC Story

Alone

At first, she thought it must have been her imagination. But no. Neteyam was definitely avoiding her.

The morning after night he left her at the ikran enclosures, Enyu couldn't seem to find him anywhere. She thought she'd spotted him on his way out with his hunting party but that couldn't be right because- because well he'd usually come tell her before he left.

When she finally found him later that day however, that's when she knew for sure. She'd seen him talking to one of the council members when she returned from holding on for Väriä- once again, so she decided to wait for him.

Trying to get his attention, she saw him glance her way and instead of heading over to her when he was finished, he walked off without a word.

She wouldn't lie. It hurt. Leaving her feeling antsy and uncomfortable.

That night again, she didn't sleep a wink. Instead she'd stayed up replaying the events that happened the day before over and over in her head.

Starting from the beginning again, her mind pieced together that day. First thing, they'd had breakfast together and joked like usual, after which he went off on his hunt and she left with her harvest group.

Then, later on while she was tutoring her student, she bumped into him and Lo'ak. And sure she and Neteyam had bickered a bit about the whole Yaćksön situation, but they were fine after and he had left her and the other two Na'vi as his usual self- if anything he seemed awfully pleased.

Finally, the night he'd returned with scrapes and cuts that weren't there before, he was strange, distant- didn't want her near him, nor did he hold eye contact. He'd said that "His family needed him" and then he just left her there- alone.

Enyu had given him his space, and of course was surprised to see he avoided her the next day as well. The whole thing was weird and new and she hated it.

Her overthinking led her to ruminate on her odd interactions with two other Sullys that day as well.

Kiri had been quiet when they saw each other in passing. There was a bruise and a nick under her neck and when Enyu asked her about it, Kiri had said that she wasn't feeling like talking about it just yet.

The eldest Sully girl wasn't her usual snarky self either, she looked a little sad and had given Enyu the longest hug ever- as if they'd never see each other again.

Then there was Jake.

Enyu had dropped by the Sully tent on her break, hoping to catch Neteyam but his father was home though. He'd stopped in to get his flying gear and upon seeing her, he immediately told her that Neteyam wasn't there.

"Hey Enyu," he'd called, just as she turned to leave.

"Yes sir?"

He had given her a soft smile and said, "You're a good kid and I'm damn proud of you. I just wanted you to know that."

She'd beamed at him then, in the moment feeling so happy by his praise, but that night as she laid in bed and mulled over his words over and over again, a sense of sadness filled her.

Why did his words feel like a farewell?

~

The next morning went the same way. It was as if Neteyam didn't want to be found. So she gave up trying, at least for now.

Feeling exhausted- mentally, emotionally, physically and having just returned from another long day out in the forest, she felt immediate relief upon seeing her home tent. Her bedroll was calling her name and she wanted nothing more than to sleep the entire night away- if her mind would let her.