The Stars in Your Skin

CHAPTER 18

It's at the training grounds in High Camp when he sees something that drops his heart into his stomach. It's break time and as per usual those assigned to hand out foodwraps to the tired warriors showed up. This time, Naawri was among them and with her was a young male Na'vi he had only seen in passing.

The male Na'vi, a stringy fellow with thick locks tied into a bun, carried the basket of foodwraps, chatting cordially with Naawri as they handed them out to their assigned section. All he can see is how close the man stands to Naawri, how he lets his fingers brush over hers when he hands her a foodwrap at one point.

His ears flatten slightly, and his tail swishes from side-to-sde. "Who is that?" He asks Ha'ew who stands next to him.

"That is Aitwu," Lo'ak answers instead. Like the rest of them a sheen of sweat covers his skin. "He's been following Nawri around like a puppy for the past week."

"A what?" Ha'ew asks.

He ignores Lo'ak's explanation in favor of watching their interaction. Aitwu laughs at something one of the warriors says and then leans over to whisper something to her. She laughs. Eywa she actually laughs.

His tail swishes harder.

Has she found someone? A burgeoning crack fissures in his heart.

"Everyone keeps saying how cute they look together," Sateya, who's just walked over, states without prompting.

"I don't' see it," Ha'ew retorts. He catches the brief pointed look Ha'ew shoots at him.

When they approach their quartet Neteyam doesn't know why but he finds himself slightly widening his stance and squaring his shoulders. His tail twitches restlessly. Lo'ak is talking to him, but what is he saying? He brings his mind to the present to greet the duo.

"We come bearing gifts," the male Na'vi jokes.

Neteyam wants to tell him to shut up.

"Yes! I'm starving." Lo'ak announces.

She hands them each a foodwrap. They chorus their gratitude.

"Oh. Everyone this is Aitwu," she introduces him.

Neteyam shoves a morsel in his mouth to keep from participating in pleasantries.

"He's a paintmaker."

"Oh really?" Sateya says and the smile she gives has edges to it. "Then you two complement each other well."

He tamps down the urge to spear her with a side glance. "You're the son of Ninat?" The beauty of her voice was renowned among their tribe.

"Yes. Unfortunately, I didn't get her outstanding voice. My younger brother and sister did though." He says this while scratching his cheek nervously.

Neteyam gravitates closer to Naawri. It's all he can do not to wrap his tail around her leg and give Aitwu a warning hiss. But he has no right to her. He has no heart gift adorning her body. So he subdues his emotions.

Their group converses idly for a few more moments before they resume their work. Neteyam watches them go, sudden pang niggling through him.

He can't focus the rest of the day. All he sees in his mind is Naawri and Aitwu together and how close he'd stood to her. He'd made her laugh. His heart quivers in his chest. Were they a thing? He sees them together again later that day and catches the way Aitwu stares at her during dinner. Were they a thing? Had he lost his chance?

He needs to know if they're together. It's torture to him. He nearly collides with Rayka on his path to the Syemu home, her arms full of baskets to deliver. His eyes widen and his nostrils flare at the sight he sees when he nears the entrance.