Ao'nung x Neteyam slow burn

Day 65

Neytiri

Yesterday Kiri's episode didn't seem to come to an end any time soon, so Ao'nung and Lo'ak had brought her and Neteyam back to our pod.
I'd spent the whole night next to my children, hoping, but nothing changed. It was horrible.
I was starting to think what I had done to deserve that much pain and suffering. Some say that Eywa wants to test us by doing this. But I really think that it's been more than enough testing already. All I wanted was a nice, peaceful and calm life with all my children and Jake - safely.
That would probably never happen. As soon as Kiri woke up, drama wouldn't be far away.

My thoughts drifted off to Tsireya. The whole situation with her will be interesting, too. I wasn't mad ad her or anything but it wasn't quite helpful.
A hand touched my shoulder and without having to look I knew it was Jake. "Don't you think that you should go to sleep sometime? And maybe eat a bit?" "But -", I began but he interrupted me. "I will stay right here next to them and watch over them. And if something - anything - happens, I will go get you. I promise, sweetheart."
My knees popped as I stood up. He was so cute if he wanted to. Every time he said something like this I still got goosebumps and melted. I let out a heavy sigh as he hugged me." It's all going to be okay, I promise." Slowly I nodded. He then decided do simply pick me up and he carried me to the bedroom.
Very gently he laid me down on the bed and kissed me softly. "Get some rest, beautiful. I'm waiting for you outside. Sleep tight."
Despite everything else I smiled. "I love you, Ma'Jake." Instead of answering he kissed me again. Afterwards he stood up, left and I was alone eoth my thoughts.
I was so damn tired. With a big yawn I turned around. Just as I thought that with everything going on I couldn't possibly fall asleep, exactly that happened.

When I woke up I felt ten times better. Slowly I got up, did a big stretch and took a deep breath before going back to Jake.
"Did anything happen?" He flinched bit shook his head. "Not yet. I guess we just have to wait." I kneeled down next to him and asked him whether he really thought that Kiri was able to do something.
"She has an incredibly strong connection to Eywa. Days ago she'd told me that she was able to hear her heartbeat. If anyone is able to help Neteyam, it's her." His words made me feel better.
He put his arms around me and kissed my forehead. "It's going to be okay. Have faith in both of our children." "Mh, I have had faith in Lo'ak, too", I joked and he laughed amused. "You can't actually be angry with him." Of course I wasn't.
"Are you hungry?" "Absolutely. Earlier Tonowari came over and asked about the kids. And if we'd like to join him Ronal and his kids for dinner." I hesitated. Ronal and I haven't had the best start and we haven't really talked ever since.
"Do you really think that's a good idea? Concerning her and me?" "I'm sure that once you get to know each other you'll be the best of friends."

His never ending optimism started to rub off on me and I finally nodded. "Should I prepare something for the dinner?" "No. But if you want to, you can go and catch some fish. Tonowari and I are planning to have a barbecue."
What did they want to do? A barbecue? Shaking my head I got rid of the confusion. It was probably a weird sky people thing that both of them were into.

Still worried about Neteyam and Kiri I left the pod, grabbed a spear and my father's bow before heading down to the shallow shore not far away.
While waiting for the perfect moment to shoot my shot my thoughts circled around Kiri. She'd always been different, special. Back then I had decided to adopt her without hesitation and I had never regretted that choice ever. But her connection to Eywa made me worry. After that one time she connected herself to the spirit tree she had this horrible episode or whatever that even was and only Ronal was somehow able to heal her. Ever since she was prohibited from connecting herself to the tree.
That's ehy she'd never see Spider again.

I let go of the arrow before my brain even registered the movement of the fish in the water.
Thanking the Great Mother I pulled him out and ended his suffering.
Still, it was fascinating how Eywa affected our lives: if she wanted that to happen, Kiri could have helped Spider in the same way she was now helping Neteyam. Or Eywa could've denied Jake the help of nature in the first big war against the sky people.

With the bow over my shoulder and the fish on the spear in my hand I went back home. Jake was already waiting for me in front of our hut. "Nothing's visibly changed yet." Yeah, I thought so. "Shall we go?", I asked after placing the bow in its rightful place inside. "Yes. Tuk's already with them and Lo'ak is probably somewhere with Tsireya." I smiled and took his hand. It made me happy seeing my son being so happy. This metkayina girl was really his perfect other half. They completed each other perfectly: he had way too much energy and she had the calmness to even it out.
I was glad that she was willing to put up with him. Ever since they've met, Lo'ak hasn't been as moody and constantly annoyed by everything as before. We were able to let Tuk play on her own and with the other children on the beach and in the ocean without having to worry - they were all very careful and someone always had an eye on the kids. Which meant that Jake and me finally had time for each other again and Great Mother, we made the best of it. Just thinking about this made my cheeks turn red.
Jake side-eyed me and started laughing. "I see how it is." A little embarrassed I looked away and hid my smile. He cupped my face with his hands and kissed me very softly. The spear slipped out of my hand but he caught it without even having to look.

As we sat together and ate it was really quiet in the beginning. Then, Jake and Tonowari began chatting excitedly about something, Lo'ak and Tsireya just mumbled and giggled all the time and Tuk was too busy with eating. I noticed Ronal looking at me every now and then, but she didn't say one word. Finally I was annoyed enough by that an sighed. "Ronal. I guess we will be around each other very often in the future. We should really put our differences aside - for the sake of everyone else."
She looked up and seemed to think about what I said. "Alright. Do you want some more fish?" I hadn't even noticed that my bowl was empty. "Yes, please."
Even though our conversation was somehow frosty and weird, I enjoyed it. She understood the worries and pressures of being a mom and worrying about your children all the time.
At one point while we were talking I realized that I was starting to actually like her. I hardly even noticed that Tuk had fallen asleep in my lap or that Jake and Tonowari stopped talking to listen to us for a few minutes before continuing their conversation.

We sat together until very late that night. Lo'ak had disappeared with Tsireya into her room and it was already very dark, but the fire was radiating just enough light.
Ronal told me about her childhood here in Awa'atlu. She even described how she met her spirit sister and what they had both already went through. My passion for her began to grow as I understood that she too was only a caring mother, wanting the best for her children.
And in that very moment, we became friends. And only Eywa knows that I've been in desperate need of a friend. Silently I thanked the Great Mother for this opportunity.