Absence

idea 25

It was the night of Neteyams burial. The whole village had prepared under Tonowaris order, they gladly accepted. Saiya sat alone in their mauri holding the unfinished pendant she was to give to him, she had now turned it into a necklace.

She had white paint adorned against her soft skin, which was slightly smudged already due to her endless tears. Her legs crossed on top of one another with her back away from the entrance of their mauri. Kiri entered softly, careful to not make sudden movements but make her presence known to Saiya.
"We should get going Sai." She spoke struggling to stop her voice from cracking.
She had dreams of Neteyam almost every night, from when they were children, yet she couldn't see why Eywa would take him from them.

"I'm scared Kiri." Saiya mumbled still not facing her.
What would she do after this? He would really be gone and she would never be able to see him again. The fear settled in causing goosebumps to raise her skin.

"Saiya." Kiri hummed as she walked up to her, kneeling beside her. She wrapped her arms around the girl placing a kiss on her head.
"I don't think I can carry on without him." She whispered as a stream of tears slid down her cheek.

"Oh saiya." Kiri muffled against her head. Her eyes displaying a deep sadness already filled with tears themselves. She struggled to hold them back, allowing them to also run down her face.

Soon the girls made their way to the burial and sat on their Ilus in the water with the rest of the village and Sullys. Neytiri sat behind Jake on his Ilu crying, her first born gone, it wasn't right that she was putting him to rest. It was never supposed to be this way.

Jake's eyes were red from the amount of tears her cried , his little boy, not so little anymore, he would never get to see him again. Lo'ak also rode his Ilu along with Saiya and Tuk, Kiri with Spider. The rest of the villagers formed a circle around them in the water, the glowing yellow moss coming to life beneath them, illuminating everything above. Saiya watched as Neteyam was brought forward curled in a large leaf with his hair tied back.

'He doesn't wear his hair tied back', she thought. He should've, you could see all the beauty he held that was hidden by it. Saiya removed herself off of her Ilu and came closer to him, she placed her hand against his head rubbing his cheek gently as her tears fell onto his skin. She sighed heavily as she continued to cry, closing her eyes.

*flashback*

Neteyam often had one sided disagreements with his father, being the Oloeyktans son was something that he was constantly reminded he had to live up to.

Physically he'd listen to his father's words without interruption or disagreement but in his head was a completely different battle. Saiyas' parents had gone for a hunting trip with other members of the clan, leaving her alone in their hut which she didn't mind.

It was nearing the end of the day and the Sullys were preparing to go to sleep. Neytiri had just returned from Saiyas family hut after checking on her and bringing her dinner when she walked in on her mate scolding her son.
"What is it ma'jake?" She asked concerned as Neteyam head hung low. Her hand went to her son's chest almost shielding him from his words.

"You'll have to take over one day! You! Act like you want it!" Jake gritted roughly.
They had, had this discussion many times before, Neteyam uttered an incling to not wanting to be Oloeyktan after his father and Jake reminding him of the importance that comes with it, ending in what was currently happening.

"How can i? You've never asked me what i wanted dad?" He muttered, pulling his head up to look at his father.
"Unfortunately it's not about what you want Neteyam, it's about what's right for the people. And you are what's right!" Jake reiterated, feeling frustrated.