𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞- 𝐧. 𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐲

Confidence

Tonowari had informed me that my hunter trial was to be set in one week from now. If it's anything different than how it's done in the hallelujah mountains, I'll be in for one hell of a ride

I definitely saw improvement, especially with the bow and arrow. Thanks to Neteyam, I can wield it well. Even though I learned how to use the bow in such a short notice, the dagger was the weapon I liked most

I've always found it easier and in some cases more useful, of course every hunter has to be able to wield all weapons but only one can he truly master

I was once again, out in the shore, getting some extra practice in before the trials even began. Using a knife, I chiseled my dagger to sharpen its ends. As the sound of the waves clashing against one another, my mind began to wander to Quaritch and his men, and a stark clarity began to set in.

Quaritch coming is inevitable, I would have to go even further back in time to be able to stop the scientists from infiltrating Pandora. If I did that, Jake would have never met Neytiri, therefore Neteyam and Lo'ak never existed

If I remember correctly, Jake sully died in the first movie but was resurrected by Eywa. Now, I know the circumstances were different back then but if somehow it could work with Neteyam, I wouldn't have to worry so much

I inhaled deeply, then breathed out all at once, it was a lot to take in and it seemed like time was catching up to me

You're not strong enough

You're going to get them killed

Neteyam & Tsireya might die because of you

stop

Stop it

Enough

"Naya?" Neteyam voice snapped me out of my thoughts. My erratic heart rate threw my breathing into a heavy frenzy, not realizing Neteyam had been here

"Huh? S-sorry. When did you even get here?"

" I was just helping my dad with something, and I saw you here. Thought I would just come by and see you. By the way- what exactly is it you're doing?"

I chuckled, "getting practice in on my hunt, I have my trial in a week so I gotta prepare."

"Hunter trial? I remember when I had mine. I think I was around 12 maybe?" He says, flashing his charming signature smile

"We get it, you were a gifted child growing up!"

He smiles, " I wouldn't say that, I just had a lot of expectations to fulfill. Being the oldest and all, first son of the mighty warrior."

I nodded, " yeah I understand, you've been trained since you were young. I just hope all I've learned catches up to me on my trial."

"You'll do great no doubt, yknow why?"

I smile, "because you taught me?"

He smirks, "I was gonna say because you're strong, but also because I was your mentor through it all. With my teachings and your knowledge, you'll definitely earn your hunting status."

"I hope you're right," I laugh, " I'm not sure how you didn't feel nervous going in to the trials but I sure do."

"Who says I wasn't?"

I shrug, "I dunno, I just assumed."

"It was a bit scary at first, not because if I messed up I would die, but because I'd disappoint my parents."

"So that was more of a fear to you than dying?" I ask concerned

"I guess, I never really had a fear of death if you get what I mean. In our clan, death isn't just the end but it's almost like being born twice. I don't know if that makes any sense to you."

This all makes sense, even in the movie Neteyam never showed any fear of him dying or even a possibility if it meant protecting his family

"Makes sense, you have such a fearless spirit."

He smiles, " it was built upon many days of training and missions."

"In that case.."

I stance myself in a defensive position with my daggers up protecting my face, motioning for Neteyam to attack me

"Seriously? I don't even have a weapon?"

I look at both of my daggers and I throw one on the sand and signal with my head for Neteyam to pick it up.

"Alright," Neteyam says as he picks up the dagger, "just so yknow, you asked for it. I won't go easy on you."

"Good, it'll bring me a challenge."

But I shouldn't have asked for a spar, not even once did I land a hit on Neteyam. My body has never tripped and had been knocked down so many times before

I mean, he did win that fight with Aonung and Kamun. I can't expect any less from Neteyam

Out of breath, he wiped his mouth, staring down at me

"Come at me again."

This was starting to get redundant, I was regretting even asking for a spar

But again, he pulled me back to my feet and again I went at him, putting up blocks and sparring until again and again I ended up on my back, staring up at the branches of the palm trees

Neteyam still insisted on continuing

"Again."

Groaning in pain, I sat up, wiping the sand of my back

"I think I've had enough, you've definitely proved yourself."

I wasn't going to get any better with Neteyam tossing me around, I wasn't learning anything either

"This isn't about me proving myself to you, if you can't handle me imagine in your trial."

With that, I sat myself up to the nearest palm tree and leaned against it

"Yeah, I know. I'm not even close to being strong enough yet."

"You'll get there. I'll help you get there."

-

"You look terrible." Tsireya says as she looks at me concerned of where I've been

"Oh?" I was confused at the comment since she's supposed to ignore me. Or so she does

"Just look at your back Naya, it looks like you've been trampled." She says as she examines the bruises Neteyam had caused.

"It's not that, I've just been training for my trial." I say

"Did you go fight a wild beast for it? Cmon let's get you some herbs." Tsireya exclaims as she takes me into the medical room in the Pod

She sits me down and goes and grabs a pot of ointment made of balnabar tree that is supposed to help heal faster. She kneels down to where I'm seated on the floor and begins to massage to bruised areas

"Seriously it's not as bad as it seems," I say, Tsireya doesn't say a word until she's finished, which kind of makes me wonder if she's still mad at me

"Whatever you did, you sure are tough." Tsireya finally comments as she begins to clean up and put things away.

This was my chance now, I had to talk to her to make things right

"Tsireya," I began. "I'm sorry, I really am. For snapping out at you like that. I was mad and I didn't mean to take it out on you."

Tsireya sighs, "I'm sorry too, I feel bad for giving you the silent treatment. It's petty of me to do."

I smile, "no worries, I understand that you were upset. I would have been too."

"This is so unlike us," Tsireya began, "I definitely don't want to ruin what we have so from now on, we gotta tell each other whenever we are upset or anything that might bother us alright?"

I nod, "got it."

It felt like a weight was lifted off of my shoulders, Aonung was right, Tsireya was a very forgiving person. I thought it would have been hard to plead for an apology.
-

A/N

I'm not sure what this chapter even is? Filler? lol but after these last three chapters things are gonna get into the main plot 😔