Safe Haven

Misunderstandings

Although Salveen and Jxo's tent was relatively small, ever since Xilä had moved in, it had quickly become a social hub- much to the elder's delight.

Salveen loved to entertain guests. So whenever the Sully siblings, Spider and any of their other friends came by to visit Xi, Salveen was always happy to whip up something tasty for them.

The kids- as Salveen liked to call them, although all adults now, with the exception of Tuk, had started a weekly game night involving a combination of human and Na'vi games- resulting in a fun but boisterous atmosphere, especially when things turned competitive.

Neteyam had learned early on that Xilä was quite competitive herself. He enjoyed sitting back and observing her taunting words towards her opponents, the excited glint in her eyes when she was about to win, her banter with his brother and Spider when things got heated, the little dance and handshake she and Kiri would do whenever they'd beaten the guys.

She was a sight to behold and it was always difficult to look away.

Tonight however, the first thing he noticed was that she seemed different. She was quiet. Reserved. Almost as if in a daze.

Neteyam had arrived late and smack dab in the middle of a heated game between Lo'ak, Spider, Kiri and three other guys they usually hung out with. They were all seated around the rounded table in the centre of the tent, talking loudly and animatedly to each other.

"You're such a cheat monkey boy! I saw you hide something under your butt!"

"Oh yeah?" Spider taunted. "Come see for yourself then," he said suggestively.

"Don't be gross man, that's my sister," Lo'ak grumbled over a mouthful of whatever treat Salveen had prepared that night. "Xi, are you sure you don't want to get in on this rou- Tuk, would you let the girl breathe already?! She hasn't even gotten a turn yet!"

Tuk, who was seated in Xilä's lap, spat out her tongue at him. "We're having girl talk Lo'ak!"

Kiri snorted. "Tuk do you even know what girl talk is?"

"Of course I do. It's when girls talk. Duhhhh," she sassed with an eyeroll before turning back to Xilä to continue to say whatever she was before.

"See this is why I say we should leave her at home," Lo'ak complained, "but noooo, because mom says if she wants to go, we have to bring her along."

"Neteyam, hey man," W'aote said, being the first one to spot him arrive. "Sub in for me this round will you? I've got to piss," he requested, standing and leaving before Neteyam could even respond.

Neteyam sat in his spot, greeting everyone as he did. He looked over to where Xilä and Tuk were seated on the other side of the table with an expectant stare, waiting for her to acknowledge him......but she didn't.

Clearing his throat he asked, " Where's Salveen and Jxo at?"

"D'avi's," they all replied simultaneously with the exception of Xilä.

"Xi, do you want to play this round?" he called out with a grin, but it soon dropped and his ears fell backwards when all she gave him was a polite smile and a quiet, "no thank you."

Throughout the night it became abundantly clear Xilä was avoiding him and he fucking hated it. She still smiled and laughed and participated in a few of the games, but he knew her so well by now, he could tell something was wrong.

She was not herself....she was not herself with him specifically. Her smile never met her eyes when they fell on him, it was almost as if she was forcing herself to be around him.