Mysteries Live in the Mountains

𝒳𝒳𝒱

✧⋆⁺₊⛰︎⛰︎⛰︎⋆⁺₊✧

I felt my heart drop to my feet. I wanted to collapse hearing the words. They were going to leave us somewhere unknown. We would be stranded in a sea of strangers once again. I could feel my eyes tearing up as Läi quickly began to shake my arm asking why we had to leave. She had been too tired to listen until now. But my mind did not register her words instead I felt my body grow weak, collapsing into the first pair of arms that had reached out for me.

"We can't go back..."

I mumbled quietly as warmth engulfed my shaking body.

"It'll be okay..."

I shook my head vigorously. I had heard about the clan east of us. They were different. Dangerous. My people were peaceful living happily together with no trouble. The clan east of us were aggressive. They attacked any Na'vi who entered their area and killed them on the spot. They would kill us. We were not one of them.

"No.. No... They'll kill us. The Eastern clan is filled with horror. They will kill anyone who is not their own. We are not their people."

I cried as I ranted the words quietly in the chest of my comforter. Fingers ran through my hair and soft words were whispered to calm me down. My heart beat slowly went back to normal and I caught my breath.

"Santanhí... Look at me."

Slowly I backed away from the warmth looking into the eyes of the boy who had pushed away all his grief of leaving his home in order to help me.

"Neteyam..."

He held my shoulders keeping my body stable as he examined my face.

"I will not let them hurt you or your sister. You're not leaving us okay? We'll figure it out."

I almost immediately pulled him back into an embrace. His warmth returning to my body.

"Kids..."

I didn't want to let go of the boy. I didn't want me leave the warmth and face the adults who had spoken of abandoning me and my sister to a random clan in the mountains.

"We know you heard.. We are sorry but this is the safest thing for us and our people. And Santanhí... You and your sister can find refuge with a clan in the mountains they-"

"They can't."

I lifted my head and my body slowly slipped out of Neteyam's arms as he stood up facing his parents.

"Son. This is the best. They can go back home."

I sighed weakly standing up bowing my head down as I spoke.

"That is not their home."

I could see the stunned expression of his parents as I peered from behind the boy hesitantly.

"My son. Watch your words."

I could feel the heaviness of the situation at hand. Neteyam was on the verge of getting himself into trouble for the way he spoke.

"Mother I do not care. They do not have a home in the mountains. You cannot just rid of them. They don't have anyone else."

I sighed as his mother and father gave him another warning.