Aching Heart ☆ Neteyam

𝔠𝔥𝔞𝔭𝔱𝔢𝔯 𝔱𝔴𝔬

I looked at my reflection in a mirror that I potentially stole from from the sky people lab, I like to think of it as temporarily borrowed from them but whatever. My hair was braided in small braids all over my head with colourful beads intertwined with my hair.

I rolled the beads through my fingers and decided that it was time for a change. I began to remove the colourful beads from my hair and replaces them with small metal gold cuffs all over my braids. My hair hung just below my waist and with the gold it really did look amazing, my hair matched the gold metal that was in my ears and the gold around my neck.

I changed my outfit into a feathered one. The feathers hiding my private places, just barely. I looked at myself once again in the mirror before heading back outside to the Sully family. When I approached where I last saw them they weren't around the fire anymore, I must have been gone for a while. Suddenly I get a sinking feeling in my stomach, I wasn't their actual family, what if they wanted to have a photo without me because I wasn't truly one of them. I turn around my mood slowly declining when I see Jake sad on a rock too the side.

"I was waiting for you, are you ready?" He says as he sees me and walks towards me. I was a bit hesitant of what to say, what if they didn't want me in their photo. "Um, I don't mind skipping the photo, you should just take it without me" I say plastering a fake smile on my face to misguide what I was feeling.

Jakes face contorted into a confused expression. "What do you mean?" He asked, his brows furrowing more in confusion. "I mean if you just want a photo with your family I understand, it's okay" I respond with a smile as I look at him. His eyes widened slightly at my response as he bent down to my level. "Arelliya, you're family okay" he said softly, making sure I truly believed his words. "It wouldn't be a family photograph without you" he laughed which made me mimick his expression.

"Now come on, there all waiting" he says as he walks me out into the forest where everyone else was. All of them were stood together in a bunch with what I suspect is the what will take the photograph in front of them. "Okay everyone ready" Jake yells as he moves around to the camera making everyone squeeze into place.

I stood between Lo'ak and Neteyam. Lo'ak was attempting to make a smouldering look for the camera and I couldn't help but smile. Just before the photo was taken Neteyam slid his arm around my waist and moved his face to my ear. "You look beautiful" he whispered before straightening back up, his hand not leaving my waist as Jake ran back from the camera and into the photo as it flashed. I couldn't help but smile and blush as the photo was taken, the proximity to Neteyam and his words.

"Goodnight everyone" Neytiri said as she stood by Jakes side. Everyone said their goodbyes and headed off to bed but as I was on my way Neteyam walked besides me and slipped his hand into mine. "Come with me" he whispered as he redirected us away from our beds and up into the trees.

He didn't say anything else so I just followed him until we came to a stop on a large leaf where he laid down. "Look at this" he said as he nodded in front of him. I laid next to him and he put his arm underneath my head, keeping us close together as i looked out where he pointed and it was beautiful. From this spot you could see half of Pandora, the sky and the wildlife glowed in the night, admitting the most amazing light.

"It's beautiful" I said softly, completely in awe at the view of our home. "Yeah... beautiful" Neteyam repeated as he played with my braids. I couldn't help but feel amazing here with Neteyam, it felt right, we felt right. I turned to look at him and he was already looking at me. "Don't look at me like that" I smirked, although I told him not too, I couldn't help but like the way he looked at me.

"Like what" he responded, his eyes searching mine for something. That same fiery feeling sparked in me again, everything he did made me feel something I've never felt before. His gaze flicked from my eyes to my lips and back up and I couldn't help but smile slightly as he moved closer to me. Just as his lips were above mine a distress call from a Na'vi rung out and instantly we both sat up.

I looked around immediately for danger and that when I saw it in the sky. It looked beautiful but I was not. It was a large light getting bigger and getting brighter, it was headed straight for our home, sky people.

I grabbed Neteyams hand, not processing what just happened between us, and climbed down from the tree. I returned the call with my own one of distress as everyone was crowding outside in groups and heading for where Jake should be. Me and Neteyam didn't utter a word and we ran to find his siblings. I found tuk and Kiri and we headed out to where Jake was now stood. I could see Neteyam was stood with Lo'ak in the crowd watching their father.

"Listen everyone, we have to leave, we have to evacuate. The sky people are back and we are not safe here. Gather your children and go to the hallelujah mountains. Now" Jake yelled in an authoritative tone and the Na'vi began to run. I caught Jakes eye and he ran over to the three of us and so did Neytiri, Neteyam and Lo'ak.

"Kiri, you take tuk and the rest of you just find you Ikran and go. Now, go" he yelled at us to leave which we didn't hesitate to do. "We will meet you there" Neytiri yelled as they ran in the opposite direction. I wanted to stay, in hopes I could fight but I had a feeling that no one was fighting this not even Jake.

Kiri and tuk were the first ones to leave just before the sky people struck and half the forest set a flame. The instant feeling of burning erupted over my skin and a cry left my lips. The pain was overbearing as I fell to the ground.

"Arelliya" Neteyam and Lo'ak yelled as the came to the side of me. "What's wrong with her?" Lo'ak asked Neteyam but he didn't know the answer and I was in too much pain to tell them that I would be okay. Neteyam held me in my arms, unsure of what to do. "Lo'ak go now" he yelled to his little brother. "Now" he yelled before Lo'ak could argue and he left.

The pain began to subside a little but it was still evident. "What's wrong?" Neteyam asked worry lacing his tone as he eyed the fire burning forest. "I feel the forest burning" I manage to make out as he slips his arms under my legs and back and carries me towards his Ikran.

I shut my eyes, taking a deep breath through gritted teeth before exhaling and getting out of Neteyams arms. The pain wasn't gone but I could barely feel it, the pain was replaced by an undeniable rage. I was furious. "I will meet you there" I said to Neteyam as I called my Ikran and waited for her arrival.

Neteyam nodded and got on his Ikran and began to fly, keeping his eyes on me. The forest where i was at began to burn and before I could let the fire touch my skin I jumped from the cliff, letting my Ikran catch me as I fell making the connection instantly.

"Thank you Lüjan" I said to her as I petted her neck as she carried us to the hallelujah mountains. As soon as I got there I saw the sully family crowded together, their Ikrans grouped off to the side of the mountain. I would have smiled when I saw them but I couldn't fathom the idea of any happy feeling when this burning rage consumed me.

The sky people have taken me and my Na'vis home, just like they did with the generation before me and my peers. They hurt Eywa and they hurt me, I was going to hurt them.