Mune Olo'eyktan [NeteyamxAonung]

Part 11

Neteyam sighs as he walks away from Aonung, but stops to look back at the boy who has just finished his food.

He wants to leave, but also wants to stay.

Neteyam- Why do you act like that?

Aonung- Like what?

Neteyam- You used to see exactly what bothered me, now you're acting like you can't tell I'm even bothered to begin with.

Aonung- . . . Sorry.

Neteyam- Well, that's a start.

He starts toward Aonung again.

Neteyam- Now can you explain why you've been playing a saint for the past yea-

An arrow flies right past his face, lightly cutting the bridge of his nose, which makes him wince. But only a second after, his blade is drawn, and he hissed in the direction the arrow came from.

Aonung looks in the same direction, then sees someone in the dense bush, aiming at Neteyam again.

Neteyam- Who's the-

Aonung- Get down!

He lunges, knocking Neteyam to the ground just as another arrow is shot.

A few calls sound from the trees around them, no doubt from a group communicating. Not a moment after, a wide range of arrows shoot out from all directions. Without a second thought, Aonung rolls them both over to the pond, diving in.

Neteyam holds onto him tightly as he swims deeper, trying to avoid the arrows now flying into the water. He shields the Sully boy, and pulls him to the wall of the pond, keeping Neteyam's blue coloring out of sight.

Above ground, many Na'vi reveal themselves, staring down at the water and searching for their target.

One in particular, with a large scar from a Thanator along the side of his neck, stares at the water with a hint of wonder.

Raf'Ke- Who was that with him?

A rough hand grabs his arm and turns him away from his view.

Tuplot- It doesn't matter! You missed the shot getting distracted by the foreigner. Your father will have your bond for this.

He shoves the older man off of him with a short hiss.

Raf'Ke- Aiming at his head would have killed him. That isn't what we're here for.

Tuplot- Excuses.

Raf'Ke- You said Toruk's eldest son had returned, but not with na'vi from across the sea.

Tuplot- What difference does it make? He's here.

Tuplot turns to their squad.

Tuplot- Lure them out with the arrows, and prep the spear.

Their warriors do as told, firing at the water to draw their target out, while a few others bring a spear launcher their crafters created.

Raf'Ke- Careful. We don't want to harm the foreigner.

Tuplot- It's his own fault for protecting our target.

Raf'Ke- They have no part in this. If we hurt him-

Tuplot- Needless mercy is the reason you're wearing that scar. If we don't capture that boy today-

Koku- There he is! Up for air!

Their attention immediately turns to Neteyam taking a quick breath, then diving back under.

Herra- Weapon ready!

Tuplot- Aim! Stay sharp!

Raf'Ke watches his team work, no longer lending his arrows since they're lining up their new weapon.

Underwater, Neteyam and Aonung are blocked off by arrows on both sides of their position. He didn't want to give away their location, but Aonung pushed him up for air.

Now they're pinned against a wall with no way out, and Neteyam is now aware of a weapon being pointed towards them.

A large arrow hits the rocky wall near Neteyam, making Aonung pull him directly between his body and the wall.

Aonung quickly signs to him "Who are those guys?" Neteyam motions "I don't know, but they really seem to have it out for me."

"Are any of them exes of yours?" Aonung responds in misplaced humor, which makes Neteyam shake his head at him, despite being slightly amused.

The marine boy smirks at him, but the small smile is abruptly interrupted when he suddenly yells as a spear impales him from behind.

Neteyam quickly covers the boy's mouth and nose, attempting to help him keep the rest of his air in. Then he looks down at the weapon that has gone through Aonung's abdomen and into the wall.

He attempts to pull it free, but it doesn't budge. After seeing that Aonung is holding his breath again, he pulls his blade out and begins to cut through the weapon to free him.

Once it's cut, he signs "I have to remove it." And Aonung nods, clenching his eyes shut as he prepares himself. Just before Neteyam pulls the stick of the spear out, he notices the lack of commotion around them.

The arrows have stopped closing them in, and have ceased altogether.

Abruptly, he pulls the stick from Aonung's wound, and he instantly covers the front of the bleeding spot. Switching places, Neteyam holds his hand out to him, instructing him to stay while he checks above water.

He takes a breath of air as he breaches the surface, then sees chaos erupting around them. Some of their warriors are attacking the strangers, and there are horns sounding from the village.

Wift- Neteyam!

His old friend shows up right next to him, holding out his hand.

Wift- Are you alright?

Neteyam dives back underwater, greatly confusing his friend, until he resurfaces with a coughing Aonung holding onto him.

Neteyam- He's hurt. Get him to my grandmother.

He helps Aonung climb onto land, and Wift offers the marine boy his back to ride on, which he has no choice but to take since he's losing blood quickly.

With Aonung secured on his back, Wift turns back to Neteyam.

Wift- Wait. Aren't you coming with us?

Neteyam- Just do as I said, Wift. I'll be there after I get some answers.

Someone jumps out at them with two blades, but Neteyam quickly subdues the woman.

Neteyam- Go! I'll cover you.

Wift quickly makes a b-line for the path back to the village, and Neteyam keeps the attackers off of them.