The Stars in Your Skin

CHAPTER 29

The Harvest Hunt commences. Neteyam stares at the stretch of wetlands with confused eyes. Where are the talioang? Shocked murmurs ripple through the crowd of Hunters.

Neteyam looks at his father. "Dad?"

"Ma Jake?"

"This is the Sky People's doing!" Shouts filled with outrage tear through the crowd.

"The talioang have come here every year for generations and now the Sky People with their poison and machinery have scared them away!"

Neteyam walks to his father, the wetland water cool against his ankles. He cannot help but feel pride as his father takes control of the situation, calming the Hunters. He volunteers to go scout ahead for the wayward herd with Sateya while Tsuya along with Ha'ew and a few more talented trackers search for them inland. They find the herd farther into the wetlands pushing the edge of their territory.

They are gone longer than anticipated as the terrain calls for a modified hunting strategy. He finishes gathering his arrows one for each kill, praying over their bodies with deep respect. His mood though is not the same. The Sky People's presence was already changing their planet. How far would their evil reach? He smothers his frown when his father places a hand on his shoulder. "Come on let's hurry."

The celebration is in full swing, the talioang fire dance having just concluded to the applause of many. "Do you want to dance?" Sateya asks.

He regards her briefly. Her dark hair falls past her shoulders in loose waves and is decorated with bright feathers. She's pretty he'll admit, but she isn't his desired dance partner. He shakes his head. "I don't feel up to it."

"Oh. A-are you sure?" There's an almost timidity in her tone.

"Yes, but you go ahead and have fun." He gives her what he hopes is an encouraging smile, pretending not to notice the hurt expression that briefly claims her visage before she gives a resigned nod.

"Okay." Then she's gone, accessing the cluster of bodies dancing around the fire.

He relaxes his posture, glad he's alone, relatively speaking. He observes the dancing couples, bodies synced as they move together. His mind goes to the night he'd danced with Naawri, recalling the unseen energy that crackled between them, the sweetness of her scent, the brightness of her smile.

"Neteyam."

He jerks from his reverie, finding the object of his thoughts standing at his side. Her dark reddish-brown hair is braided in striking designs and decorated with small shells that sparkle when the light hits them just right. "Nawri." He stands quickly. "You look beautiful," he says breathlessly.

She gives a tiny smile and his heart does that funny thing in his chest. "Thank you. So do you."

He rubs the back of his neck. "Thanks." The necklace around her graceful neck complements the hue of her skin.

"Would you like to dance?" she asks.

His perceptive gaze shifts to the anxious way she swallows and how she refrains from looking over her shoulder. He glances over her shoulder, immediately discovering the source of her clear apprehension. Tsifanu stands several feet away, watching her with some emotion that puts him ill at ease. Thick fire knifes through him. He flashes his fangs at the older Na'vi before taking her hand and leading her to the dance floor. A small thrill jitters through once they navigate the swaying bodies to a decent spot. Everyone would see them.

Sateya strides towards the group of dancing Omatikaya, having returned from passing water. She glances at Neteyam's seat, brow sloping when she finds it empty. Where-? She scans the crowd. A fire infused with emotions she can't quite unscramble slices through her when she sees him.