Skxawng • Neteyam

9

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Two days have passed since Neteyam's parents found out about Tsu'tey, and they still haven't said a word. Jake had found her the closest hut he could to his so he could keep an eye out for her. That meant that for the past two mornings, Tuk was the one to grab her from bed and bring her to breakfast.

She sat with the Sully family this morning like she always had. She felt his parents stiffen behind her, and she looked up to find out why. Tsu'tey walked in with a few other warriors and found a breakfast place. Neytiri looked ready to pounce until Jake put an arm on her thigh to calm her. They weren't prepared to do it, and they especially wouldn't be doing anything in public.

Neteyam subtly shifted his body to hide her without saying a word, but she noticed it. He continued eating his breakfast, but Neteyam did not miss much when it came to his surroundings.

Yeriyah peeked a glance, and Tsu'tey was looking in this direction. Behind the anger was anxiety that she might have told the leader of the clan what he'd done. Jake was a fair leader, but did he give mercy to those who didn't deserve it? Yeriyah looked away quickly and back down to her plate. Maybe he wouldn't think much because Yeriyah was always with the Sullys.

"We were just going to explore the woods today. Do you want to come?" Lo'ak asked, once again through a mouthful of food. Yeriyah gave him a knowing look, and he laughed. "It won't end like last time."

"Hopefully not." She chuckles, thinking about when Tsu'tey had told her her friends were quick to let her to take the fall for them. She'd always wondered what it was like to have friends who had your back no matter what. "Are you going?" Yeriyah asked Kiri, who nodded. "Fine, I'll go."

After breakfast, all the Sully children, Spider, and Yeriyah ventured into the forest. Yeriyah brought her bow this time and had it wrapped securely around her. A group of prolemuris swung by on the branches, and she paused to marvel at them.

"Come on, let's keep going!" Tuk called out, and they kept walking. Lo'ak and Spider were leaving the way. Yeriyah and Tuk were in the middle, and Neteyam and Kiri wandered in the back. Tuk stuck her face in a purple plant and laughed as its leaves tickled her.

They found a small pond where Lo'ak and Spider momentarily threw mud at each other before Kiri scowled at them to stop. Lo'ak had a face full of dirt, and Yeriyah laughed as he removed it from his eyes. "Got a little something right there." She gestures to the entirety of his face making him sneer.

"You're so funny. Hilarious." Lo'ak replies sarcastically.

"I'm glad you finally realized." She snickered. Lo'ak washed off his face as Spider washed his body. "Such babies."

"Yeah, come on, Lo'ak. Kiri's already gone ahead!" Tuk whined, and at that, Spider left and followed after. Neteyam chuckled, having noticed, and now they all followed after Kiri. She was probably lying, looking up at the trees.

Neteyam watched how Yeriyah spoke with Tuk and how she never once removed her hands from Tuk's. He watched as she observed the forest and how certain lights made her eyes sparkle. She finally ditched her rider's mask, and her entire face was on display. She undoubtedly made her top out of beautiful feathers, and she wore a few bracelets around her wrists.

"Tuk, look!" Yeriyah exclaims and crouches down to her height, pointing somewhere in the forest. Neteyam follows her finger to find a viper wolf and her pups. Her pack is probably not too far away.