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✠ ┏━━━━━━━━
✩°̥࿐୨୧
Ronal. And Neytiri.
Two forces of nature converging in one clearing, like opposing tides deciding the same strip of shore belonged exclusively to them.
"Eating fruits," Ronal repeated flatly, eyes sharp as blades. She stepped forward and caught her niece by the arm, firm fingers forcing Saraïyah to stop pretending the ground was endlessly fascinating. "All by yourselves. Out of nowhere."
Saraïyah very seriously considered fading into the moss. Or dissolving into mist. Or asking Eywa to open a very convenient sinkhole. Any would do.
How, exactly, had the best night of her life turned into this?
"Auntie, again," Saraïyah said, voice carefully even, though her soul was currently attempting to flee her body. "I asked Neteyam to join me because he also had a long day. This is a...relaxing spot. The girls and I come here often."
Often enough, she thought weakly, that no one ever found it.
Ronal's stare made it abundantly clear she was not buying a single syllable of that explanation.
Before Saraïyah could dig herself a deeper hole, Neteyam spoke.
"Mom," he said easily, still leaning where he stood, posture infuriatingly relaxed. His gaze never left Saraïyah's face. Not even for a second. "Those fruits were sweet."
His mouth curved, just barely.
"So sweet."
Saraïyah closed her eyes for half a heartbeat.
Boy. Not now.
"I know when tails are lying," Ronal said coolly. "And both of yours are twisting."
"That's anatomically impressive," Neteyam murmured under his breath, loud enough that Saraïyah's lips twitched despite herself.
She stepped forward quickly, praying movement would keep her upright. "How did you both end up here?" she asked, directing the question toward Neytiri instead. If she looked at Neteyam any longer, her face might catch fire.
Neytiri didn't even attempt to hide her exhaustion. She rubbed the bridge of her nose, bow slung loosely over her shoulder. "We were searching for leaf medicines," she said. "Your Tsahìk apparently does not know this forest as well as she promised. I stopped counting how many routes we took."
Ronal bristled. "I said multiple times the left path was correct, but you insisted the trees looked different."
"They did look different," Neytiri snapped back. "Bright. Loud. Even a child could tell something was off."
