The Stars in Your Skin

CHAPTER 26

A.N.
Firstly this is not mine, only the OC's. Secondly shout out to all that are reading this! Thirdly there's a bit of sneaking around in this chapter. Onward!

Naawri  glances up when Ha’ew barges into their home. “Neteyam got hurt!”

She’s on her feet in a breath. Her first overwhelming instinct is to run to him, but she stops. Sateya and her family will no doubt be there. Her presence would only make things worse.

“Aren't you going to go see him?” She shakes her head, heart screaming in protest.

“I…" she takes in a deep breath "...can't.”

His brow slopes. “Why?”

She clenches the weaving needle in her hand. “I don't want to—”

“Really? Because the tears in your eyes say differently.”

“Ha’ew, please…”

“Please what Nawri? Don't you love him?”

She inhales deeply, pushing back the lump in her throat. “More than myself.”

“Then why don't you go to him?”

She bites her bottom lip. “I just…” She tugs at a braid. “I can't brother.” Sateya and her parents would be there. And no doubt Neteyam's family. She doubted she would be able to control herself no matter who was present if she saw him injured. “Tell him I hope he feels better soon.”

He shakes his head but leaves nonetheless.

The tears stinging her eyes finally fall in steady trickles. She closes her eyes, starving heart begging to bask in her heart mate's presence.

It's late that night, High Camp lays dark and still. Naawri lays awake, sleeping cloak draped around her form. Try as she might sleep has utterly fled her. Worry for her beloved nags her mind ceaselessly. She tried shoving it down, repelling the ache but it was irresistible. She needs to see him.

She sits up but pauses. She'd accepted Sateya's favor of not being alone with Neteyam. She had to honor her word. She lays down again. But Moat’s home was connected to the healing hut. Technically she would not be alone. She sits up, rising to her feet with conviction and quietly exits her home, her sisters’ steady breathing in her ears.

She steals through High Camp until she reaches the healing hut. Cautiously she peeps in, hoping none of his family were present. He lays in the healing hut alone, propped up on pillows. She slinks into the hut, dropping to her knees beside him. The pungent scents of the different salves applied to his injuries flood her nostrils. She observes him briefly, the rise and fall of his chest, the way the shadows from the bladder lantern play upon his skin, the large leaf wrapped around his rib area. He was alive, that's all that matters.

She says a prayer of thanks to Eywa.

He's awake when she opens her eyes, gaze on her. She shifts nervously. She hadn't been held captive by those luminous eyes in some time. “I didn't mean to wake you.”

He shakes his head gingerly. “It's ok. Grandmother was probably coming to do it soon anyway.”

“Oh. How are you feeling?”

“Fine.”

She gives a phantom smile. “Neteyam.”

He sighs, grimacing. “Stiff. But other than that okay.”

She lets the answer slide. Her dearest could be dying and still would hardly complain. “What happened?”

He looks down almost shamefully. “I lost focus.”