When a seemingly lifeless boy is saved by a girl.
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Ma'vona was once a beloved member of the Kame'tire clan, known for their profound understanding of Pandora's flora and unparalleled healing skills. Their expertise was so great that they could heal...
♪ Scorched Earth by James Horner ♪ ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ Chapter Six: The Rescue
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I carefully began unwrapping the long brown cloth that had been wrapped around Neteyam’s chest for days, its fabric now worn but still holding traces of the herbal paste I had used to treat his wound. Slowly, the bandages fell away, revealing the skin beneath, no longer raw or torn, but smooth with a faint, round scar where the injury had once been. I couldn’t help the soft smile that tugged at my lips as I glanced up at him, pleased by the progress.
“It’s all healed up now,” I murmured, the warmth of pride in my voice as my fingers lightly brushed the edges of the scar. Neteyam’s gaze followed my touch, his eyes lingering on the mark that would forever remind him of this moment, of this part of his journey.
"It really has," he replied, his tone quieter than usual, almost reflective as his eyes traced the scarred outline. He seemed deep in thought, as if trying to recall something lost to him. But after a brief pause, he looked up at me, meeting my eyes with a faint smile.
I smiled back, gently taking another wet cloth and carefully wiping away the last remnants of the dried herbal paste that had been caked around the wound. My movements were slow and deliberate, knowing that even though the wound was healed, it was still a reminder of everything he had endured.
After that first exhilarating flight together, Neteyam and I had spent the last few days exploring the wild beauty of the forest I've been inhabited to for all these years. I showed him the untamed world I had known for so long, the one I had called home. We hunted for fruits and fishes, and I found myself marveling at his natural skills—the way he could catch a fish so effortlessly, as if he had done it a hundred times before. It was as if the instincts of his past life were still there, lingering beneath the surface, even though his memories remained locked away.
Yet, no matter how much time passed, no matter how many places we explored, there was still a void in his mind, a blankness that shadowed his gaze whenever he tried to remember.
As I worked on cleaning his chest, I noticed how intently Neteyam was watching me. His eyes followed every movement of my hands, a mix of curiosity and something deeper that I couldn’t quite place. His expression was soft, almost fascinated, as if he were trying to understand not just the simple task I was performing but the way nature itself had aided in his recovery.
My heart skipped a beat as I realized just how close we were—how close he was to me. I could feel his gaze burning into my skin, and despite my best efforts to stay composed, a warmth crept up my neck and across my cheeks. A flush of purple spread across my skin as I quickly glanced at him, trying to hide my embarrassment.
