The Stars in Your Skin

INTERLUDE FOUR

Naawri closes her eyes, allowing the nourishing minerals of the bathing pool to soothe her. She hums to herself, head resting against the soft bank. She always took her baths alone.

The memory of that hug floods her thoughts. She remembers how safe she felt within his strong arms. She would be content to live in those arms. She shakes her head at her bleeding heart.  She was a girl in a fantasy for but a brief moment.  Her heart trembles at the reality.

He already had a promised one.

The syllables of her song die on her lips. She submerges hoping the crispness of the bubbling water clears her head. She only emerges when a figure appears on the bank.  Who?

It’s Sateya.

The woman is naked which is no big deal of course. But the woman was her age and already perfectly proportionate in all physical ways like the work of an artist.  Naawri can’t help but subconsciously cover her more ample than most breasts.

“Is it okay if I bathe here?”

No it was not. This was when she decompressed from the noise. “Well, you’re already naked,” she jibes.

Sateya smiles and Eywa even that is gorgeous.

She turns and plucks up her soap and cloth from the drying cloth laying folded on the bank behind her head and starts lathering her towel.  She keeps her eyes on her soapy towel as Sateya wades in, silently preparing herself for whatever the young woman wants.  When she finally looks up, Sateya is next to her. A foot too close. Naawri ignores her and starts bathing.

For several moments the only sound is the water bubbling from the underground aquifer into the pool, the sounds of the forest, and sloshing water as they bathe . She starts thinking the woman had only showed up to bathe until she feels her eyes boring a hole in the side of her head. 

“Is there something you want Sateya?”

“Actually yes.”

Great. She gives her attention, not wanting to be rude.

“You’re friends with Neteyam right?”

“I like to think so.” She runs the shampoo bar through her hair, massaging it into her scalp, its floral notes leaving a pleasant odor in the air around her.

“I’ve been trying to get him to warm up to me, but nothing seems to be working.”

Oh no. Please no.

Sateya looks down shyly then back up at her.  “Do you think you could maybe have any ideas for me? Like something he really likes?”

Naawri ducks under the water to wash the suds from her head.  Nope. Maybe this was petty, but she wasn’t going to give pointers to the woman that was given her best friend.  She emerges, rubbing the water from her eyes.  “Um, maybe you should talk to his mom or sisters for pointers.”

“I don't want them to think things aren’t going well,” she admits, eyes downcast.

Naawri finishes running the ointment through her braids. “I really can’t help you. I’d like to but I really wouldn't know how.”  She finishes her bath and stands to leave, water rushing down her nude form in rivulets.  A sigh escapes her when she glances at the other woman again.

She looks genuinely dejected.

Good. She climbs onto the bank and uses the cloth to dry off. She cuts a glance to her again. Sateya still looks like a lost baby fwampop, even having the nerve to sniffle. Oh wiya. She frowns deeply but speaks anyway.  “All I can tell you is to be sincere in your interactions with him.”  She nearly rolls her eyes when the woman’s face lights up.

“Thank you so much Nawri!”

She only gives a nod and finishes dressing. Why? Why had she done that? She’d only given her more tools to hook the man she loved. 

“You can do so much better than Tsifanu.” 

Naawri's eyes widen fractionally at the comment.  That wasn't news to her but she appreciates the sentiment. "I know." The smile the other woman displays is unfortunately genuine and it softens her.

"Good."

Naawri refrains sighing. "You can also make him a batch of nectar cakes without glaze. He loves those."

Her eyes brighten again and another sunny smile spreads across her face. "Thank you. We should be friends."

Naawri stares at the woman beaming up at her for a beat. “Bye now.” She departs, griping all the way towards the camp. She was getting soft in her older years.

A.N.

And that will do it for Interlude Four. I hope Sateya is not annoying I wanted to make her an actual nice person. Also shout of thanks to any that are reading and voting for this. Feel free to comment (^_^).