𝐖𝐀𝐘 𝐎𝐅 𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄 | neteyam x oc

70.

I was in the forest, searching for the Thanator. I had to see it after finding about the prophecy. I needed to. And I have been searching for it all morning. I am exhausted. I decide to sit down on the ground to have a little break I think I plainly deserve. I sigh before putting my bow on the grass. I am tired. So tired. I needed to know if it was true. If I really was the chosen one, and to know this, I needed to ride that thanator. Just one time. At least.

I suddenly hear a thud sound coming from the distance. I widen my eyes and turn around before seeing a hammerhead. Oh God, no. Not this please. I don't think it noticed me, maybe I have time to leave. I stand up and take my bow and put it away as I start walking away, but I suddenly hear the hammerhead roaring. I freeze. No. Not today please Eywa, if I really am the chosen one please do not let me die today.

I slowly turn my head around and see the hammerhead meeting my gaze. Shit. That thing is so intimidating and huge. But beautiful at the same time. But if I stay here I am going to die. But I remember the day I ran away from the Thanator, and that beast was way too fast for me, and this hammerhead is probably the same. It roars again before tilting back, ready to attack.

I widen my eyes before taking my dagger and tilting back as well. I hiss at the hammerhead but it doesn't seem to be frightened. Oh, shit. Eywa, please save me from this situation. I beg you. I take a deep breath, hoping that beast will leave me alone. But it doesn't. It starts running over me and I immediately put my dagger away. I should run, now.

I am about to start running away when I suddenly see a familiar black silhouette getting in the way, to protect me from the hammerhead. I gasp in surprise before stepping back as I hear the black beast roaring at the hammerhead. Oh shit. I widen my eyes as I see the big beast immediately stepping back. I recognize the Thanator in front of me, protecting me.

The black creature keeps walking over the hammerhead before nodding at me, as if it was communicating with the hammerhead, and after a few short moments, the huge beast immediately widens its eyes before tilting back and bowing. I raise my eyebrows before looking back at the Thanator. Did this hammerhead just bow to me or am I dreaming?

The Thanator roars at the hammerhead one last time and the huge beast starts running away, making the ground slightly shake. I look back at the dark creature as it turns to me and bows. I smile before crouching down, I recognize it. It is the same I touched the other day. The exact same. I start petting it before speaking up.

"Thank you..." I say breathless.

I chuckle before analyzing it. It has the bond to settle, indeed. But I don't if I can. Maybe I should set a trust bond between us before doing anything with it. I take a deep breath before looking in its eyes. It is so beautiful, but so scary at the same time. My brain tells me to run away as fast as I can, but my heart tells me to stay, and to discover the truth.

"Believe it or not but I have been searching for you all morning." I say with a smile.

It starts caressing my arm, looking for comfort. I giggle before petting its belly. And I realize it is a female.

"Do you know what they say? They say I am the chosen one because you touched me. Out of mind, right?" I ask.

I try to think of a name. But maybe I should simply name it Oneïa just like my mother. I press my lips together as I plunge my hand in the backpack I brought with me. I take a dead bird I hunted this morning and throw it at the Thanator, it smiles before jumping and catching the dead bird in its mouth.

"Good girl." I say with a chuckle as I pet the thanator.

It starts to happily shakes its tail, making me chuckle. I take a deep breath and speak up.