The Stars in Your Skin

CHAPTER 12

A.N.: I'm back! Apologies to whoever is reading this for the wait. Onward!

The days that follow his revelation he finds himself in a predicament. He’s different around her. Riti swarm in his belly when he’s in her proximity. His heart beats like a drum when she’s near. When he’s not with her, he thinks about her. When she’s with him his palms sweat and he has to make a conscious effort not stare at her like a skxawng. But Eywa, he wants to stare at her and commit everything about her to memory.

He and Tuk stride towards their home, her prattling on about how much fun she had finding feathers for Kiri’s cheer-up  necklace.  He smiles fondly at the little imp next to him. He spots Naawri walking in their direction with Auntie, her attention focused on the older woman who is making weaving motions with her hands.

“Hi Nawri!” Tuk calls out.

He’s more sedate in his greeting.

She throws a tiny smile in their direction and his heart does that stupid fluttery thing again.  She doesn’t approach though, because Auntie tugs her in a different direction. His gaze follows her a hint of longing nipping him at the missed opportunity of an interaction.

"Why are you staring at Nawri?" The small girl stares up at him with curious eyes.

Tsahey. Had he been staring?

"Do you like her?" The gleam in her eyes unsettles him.

He swallows. "Of course I like her, she's my best friend." The dubious squint she casts him reminds him of his mother. "What colors are you going to put with the feathers?" He asks, hoping it'll distract her.

Her face brightens before she begins describing her designs for Kiri's cheer-up necklace.

He inwardly breaths a sigh of relief.

Neteyam glances over when he hears a mighty splash. A trio of teens are roughhousing in the deeper end of the bathing pool.  He frowns but returns his attention to Ha’ew.  The older Na’vi was in a contemplative mood and they had discussed a variety of subjects so far. “You’d seriously like to be a traveler?”

Ha’ew shrugs his broad shoulders. “I don’t know. It sounds like it would be fun roaming Eyweveng and getting to see the different cultures and lands.”

He scrutinizes his friend. “That sounds…interesting ” He flicks his eyes to his baby brother, who swam over away from the trio.

“You wouldn’t miss the forest?” His brother asks.

“The Clan?” He finishes. The forest was Home.

Ha’ew runs a wet hand through his loose hair. “Why do you think I’m still here? What about you, Neteyam? What would you like to do?”

Did that even matter? He gives a casual shrug. “I’m the Olo’eyktan’s eldest son.” He squares his shoulders. “My path is already set before me.” It was true. His life down to who he would marry was chosen for him, he had but step on the path. The gravitas of his words bring with them a somber silence.

He glances up when one of Noney’s suitors, Yuhey, swims over. “Oel ngati kameie,” he greets them formally.

They greet him in return. The young leatherworker starts immediately plying Ha’ew with questions about Noney. Eventually he leaves and Ha’ew makes a sound of frustration and sinks up to his chin in the water.

“I don’t know how much more of this I can take.”

“It can’t be that bad,” Lo’ak dismisses.

He shoots Lo’ak an annoyed glance.  “Yesterday Anyu approached me while I was passing water.”

Neteyam’s eyes widen fractionally at the confession. “Seriously?”