Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Out in the forest, it was too easy to pretend that everything was perfect. Within the Nantangs' calls and the Ritis' chirping and the Pa'lis stamping about, peace was not hard to find.

Leyra could forget about her life in the village for a few fleeting seconds here and there. But then the little reminders, such as her particularly makeshift bow, or her ratty clothes, or her unusual white skin, would send her crashing back into her reality like a tidal wave.

Said reality included spending most of her days alone, with trees for friends and bugs for company. Her father, the only clan member who would willingly converse with her, spent all his days hunting or planning hunts as Jake Sully's--the Omatikaya Olo'ektan's--second in command. 

Sometimes she liked her father's position. She'd get a heads up on where not to go to avoid the hunting parties and training sessions, and he'd occasionally come home with interesting drama for her regarding the other clan members. 

Her mother had died on the frontlines of the Battle of the Tree of Souls. She had been an amazing warrior, well-renowned in the clan. Leyra's father won't say it outright, but her mother had been devastated when she was born. A perfect warrior giving birth to an albino freak show. She didn't have to live with the shame for long, as she died only one month after Leyra had been born. 

Her father had been an amazing parent to her, supporting her and taking care of her the best that he could under Mo'at's rules. He brought her portions of the meals to eat separate from the clan so she could avoid the stares and whispers that still occurred even though she was bordering on seventeen. 

Over time, the forest had become her safe space where she spent most of her time, despite the amount of times it had almost killed her. Though, she had learned a lot through experience and developed her own way of surviving in it.

Currently, she was perched in a tree beside some harmless little birds and was watching the Pa'li stampede around and drink nectar. 

The sound of twigs snapping caught both her attention and that of the Pa'li. Another crunch had the horse-like creatures began herding themselves away from the source of the sound. Leyra leaned back to look around the tree and see what animal had made the sound, only to find a young Na'vi boy stumbling his way through the underbrush.

He must be lost, she thought. Hopping down from the tree soundlessly, she approached the young boy. 

"Hello," she spoke softly, startling the boy only a bit. "My name is Leyra," she flicked her finger away from her face in Na'vi greeting, "are you lost?"

Unbeknownst to them both, Neteyam had already spotted them, but kept his distance as he was surprised to see such a different-looking Na'vi teen. 

The little boy returned the gesture sheepishly and muttered a, "yes, very."

She let out a small giggle at his honesty. "What were you doing out this far in the forest in the first place?"

"Neteyam agreed to take us kids out to see the hunters train, but I got distracted by a bug and was separated."

"Ah, I see. Would you like me to take you back to the village or to the training grounds?"

"You know the way?" He was bewildered. Leyra found it refreshing to speak to someone who had no hatred or pity or really any opinion at all of her. 

"Yes, of course I do. I am not lost at all, I never am."

"Wow. But how? The forest all looks the same everywhere!"

"There are differences. I can teach you once you're older, if you want. That way, you'll never get lost again."

"Yes, please! Umm, could you take me back to the village? I sure would like to see my mom."

"Of course. It's this way, let's go."

The kid grabbed her hand, and it startled her. No one had made skin to skin contact with her in a long time. She tried to play it off and gripped his hand in return, which made him smile at her. It all but melted her fragile heart. 

"There you are, Zi'um!" Neteyam finally emerged from the brush, a serious look on his face meant to scold the boy.

"Neteyam!" The boy leapt into the future Olo'ektan's arms. Neteyam chuckled, picking him up and holding the youngster over his hip. 

Once the boy had comfortably settled, Neteyam's focus drifted to Leyra. He kept asking himself, since when had there been a white Na'vi in the clan? Had he really been so busy as to not notice such an extraordinary being? "Hello."

His presence was making her sweat. Her father always told her to avoid unnecessary attention, and here the future Olo'ektan was, trying to hold a conversation with her. "Hello, Neteyam."

Her voice was softer and nicer than he had been expecting from such an unusual creature. "Do I know you?"

"Oh, uh, no. I don't think you would. I just know of you, with you are the up-and-coming Olo'ektan and all."

He cursed himself for assuming they had met before and making things awkward for her. He had forgotten that his name was a well-known one. "Oh, right, yes. I think I would have remembered someone who looks like you."

A light blush tinted her cheeks in embarrassment and she looked down. Even the Olo'ektan's son was making fun of her. There really was no end to it all.

Neteyam took her blush to mean that his half-flirting attempt at pointing out her Eywa-given beauty had worked, and that she was flustered by his charm. He was, on this rare occasion, very wrong. 

"Walk with us back to the village?" 

Leyra was puzzled by him offering this after he had just insulted her, but she knew better than to try to disobey him. "Alright."

The three started off towards the mountainous village entrance. Neteyam shushed at Zi'um, who was now whimpering about seeing his mother and apologizing for wandering off. Neteyam reassured him on both accounts. 

Leyra enjoyed getting to see the soft interaction between them. People usually reserved their worst selves for when she was near.

Not long into the journey, the emotionally exhausted child fell asleep in the warrior's arms. 

"What were you doing out in the forest, all alone?" Neteyam questioned her in a whisper once he was sure Zi'um was going to stay asleep.

"Oh, I-" she wasn't sure of what response he was expecting, "I was exploring, like usual."

"So, you spend a lot of your time in the forest, then?"

Yes, her father dropped her off out of the mountain base on his ikran each morning after breakfast and picked her up each evening in time for dinner. "Yes, practically every day. I actually like having only the forest for company."

Neteyam hummed, intrigued by her response. In his eyes, the forest was a beautiful ecosystem best watched from afar. Too many dangers lurked just beyond one's line of vision. It was definitely a great circle, one that he was a part of, and it provided the clan with shelter and food. Though, he much preferred to look down on it from his ikran rather than from on the forest floor.

Leyra resisted the urge to ask him what exactly his indistinct hum had meant. Silence fell over the pair, and Leyra savored the adorably relaxed expression on the young boy's sleeping face. 

She was smiling at the boy's face when Neteyam turned to look at her, wondering what she was thinking about in the silence. She averted her eyes upon making eye contact with him, the smile quickly fading. 

Though, not before Neteyam saw it. And he decided he liked her smile.

They continued until they reached the bottom of the cave entrance and Neteyam called for his ikran to take himself and the boy up to basecamp. 

As he mounted himself and Zi'um onto the animal, he opened his mouth to say something to Leyra, but nothing came out. 

He didn't want her to walk off again and continue being alone in the forest. He knew firsthand how dangerous that was. Though, he could tell by her slightly turned away body that she had no interest in returning to the base with them. 

"Be safe," he settled on, accompanied by a sturdy nod. 

She smiled at him, but it wasn't like the smile he had gotten a glimpse of before. This was polite, obligatory. 

"You too, Neteyam."

Chapter Text

For the next few weeks, Neteyam watched for Leyra everywhere he went.

Startled by the experience with Toruk Makto's son, she began making herself even more scarce than usual. Her father dropped her off on the ground even before breakfast and she only came back when darkness was about to overtake the forest.

While she was out, she made sure to steer clear of anywhere anyone might find her. In her mind, being alone was the best option. She'd rather be eaten by a Palulukan than live a life of constant judgement.

Neteyam caught glimpses of her white complexion here and there as she came and went. He found himself scanning the tree line during training and hunts, looking for that flash of white. Yet he never found her outside of camp.

No wonder he had not noticed her before their meeting. Most of the time, he wasn't entirely convinced that she was real. Until he saw her scampering off to her marui, or quickly hopping onto her father's ikran before they took off.

Why didn't she want to be around people her age? It appeared that her father was the only one she interacted with. What a miserable life she must live, being isolated from the people all the time.

Once, Neteyam grew too agitated by this idea and tried scouting out the place he had last seen her as well as the surrounding area. Where could one little Na'vi girl possibly go in a forest this big and dangerous? His scout was unsuccessful, and it left him frustrated.

After a couple weeks, she figured that his busy days would have wiped their interaction from his memory and she resumed her regular schedule.

He had not, however, forgotten her, and was delighted to be seeing her around camp a little more. She must be getting over her shyness, Neteyam assumed.

A few days later, Neteyam noticed Leyra's father leaving camp on his ikran unexpectedly, carrying two bowls of food.

Usually, Leyra fed herself lunch from the forest, eating some mixture of vegetation. But today, her father was looking to spend a little extra time with his daughter.

Curiosity grabbed hold of him, and Neteyam followed the man. Did he know where Leyra was spending her days? Neteyam wondered how someone who stands out so harshly could disappear like she has. Silent as an owl, he flew a distance behind the man, though ever on his tail.

Eventually the man landed near at the top of a waterfall and unloaded the two meals. Bidding his ikran goodbye, he made his way to the bottom of the falls before creeping along the small ledge of rock behind the heavy downpour of water. After a few steps along the ledge, he was gone.

What? Neteyam followed the man's footsteps, the gentle spray of mist from the waterfall gently wetting his skin.

Sure enough, there was an entrance to a cave not far into the ledge. He had to bend down a little to enter.

"And I was telling him that he shouldn't-" The man's words were interrupted by Neteyam's sudden presence.

"Hello, Neteyam." The man greeted, shielding his daughter from view as much as he could subtly manage. "Sorry, is this usually your spot? We can leave, if you want." The man was evidently nervous.

"No, no," Neteyam assured, "I was coming to find Leyra, actually."

The man gave his child a 'what have you done?' look, and she returned the glance with an expression of 'oh crap'.

"Me? What for?" Leyra forced her voice to steady despite the nerves gnawing at her throat.

"Just to check up, I guess. Make sure you were still alive after spending so much time in the forest alone."

She was very obviously offended. "I've spent years alone in the forest, I think I can-" a peak at her father's expression and she was correcting herself, "I think I can thank you! Very much, for worrying about me. But I am alright, as you can see. No reason for concern. Is there anything else that you needed?"

"Do I need a reason to come see you?"

"No, of course not. I just figured you were busy with your duties, that you had no time for purposeless visits." Her hands were sweating and she wiped them on her top. Why had he come? To spy on her for his grandmother? She had done nothing to stand out lately, and didn't understand what she'd done to catch the Sully family's attention.

"Ah," he sighed in understanding, "I am a busy person."

"Indeed. You usually have many duties to tend to at all hours. You should go eat with your family, while you have the time. I'll bet they miss you with you being out all day."

Neteyam took the hint directed at the man's own life and excused himself. Though, not before asking, "Are you here often, Leyra?"

"Sometimes." She replied. She certainly wouldn't be coming back for a while now that perfect warrior boy knew about it.

"Good." He nodded to them both as a goodbye, and returned to the village.

He knew of her spot now. That's why he hadn't seen her from the sky, she had been in a cave. And it was a beautiful cave, too. He could see why she liked it so much.

He planned to return there later when her father was not there. He suspected the man did not want to draw more attention than necessary to his daughter and risk something bad happening to her at the hands of other clan members, so the man wouldn't tell his father about his imposing visit.

The day he first met Leyra, Neteyam had asked around about if anyone knew of a white Na'vi in the clan. The older ones knew of her, and asked if she was still around after all this time. The younger ones knew about as much as he had.

However, out of all the people he asked, none of them were happy to speak of her. A few called her 'a mistake in the bloodline' and demanded that he not bring it up again.

Neteyam couldn't grasp it all. How could a girl so beautiful be forsaken by her own clan-- his clan, the clan he had grown up in-- just because of her unique coloration?

Back in the cave, Leyra's father was digging into her.

"What did you do to attract his attention now? I thought you said he had forgotten about it and left you alone?"

"I don't know what I did! I wish he would just ignore me, but he won't."

Chapter Text

Rarely, Leyra would spend a day or two holing up in her marui instead of out in the forest. It was most often because she was tired or sick, but sometimes just because she could.

Today, she opted to stay in her marui because Neteyam would assume that she would be out in the forest, and was likely going to try to find her. She was out of hiding spots that he wasn't aware of.

She had tried so hard her whole life to not be noticed, to not upset Mo'at more than her existence already had. She could not figure out why Neteyam was so watchful of her. She hadn't done anything wrong or worth his attention, so what was the reason?

The day was passing at a rate that made her want to bang her head against the ground. It felt like she could live a lifetime and only a minute would have passed.

First, she practiced her weaving, but then ran out of material. She didn't dare show her face to get more when so many Na'vi were out and about. Next, she braided her hair, then unbraided and re-braided it. Then the boredom really kicked in and she started counting the stitching in the marui's wall.

Her father was supposed to bring her lunch soon-- she could tell by hearing the complaints of the Na'vi outside that "lunch couldn't come sooner".

Except, it was not her father that walked in the entrance.

"Neteyam?"

"Hello, Leyra," the warrior greeted with a friendly smile, handing her a bowl of lunch. "I was looking for you all over, but then I figured you must be here. So, I brought you lunch."

"Oh... Thank you. My father normally brings me lunch when I stay home."

"I told him that I would bring it. My father wanted to discuss a few things with him about a nearby herd of Pa'li." He walked further into the marui, looking to make himself comfortable.

"Neteyam," she sounded a bit exasperated, standing from her hammock, "I appreciate you bringing me lunch, but-"

"Look, you don't have to be so tense about it. I just want to hang out. That okay?"

She hesitated, thinking: preferably, no. But she knew better than to be rude. Perhaps if she was nice, he would see that everything is fine with her and lose interest.

"Of course, Neteyam. Come. Sit."

They sat on woven stools near the marui's firepit and started eating.

Neteyam was overjoyed by her acceptance. He adored being in her presence and found her too interesting and unexpectedly kind to leave her alone.

"So, how was the forest today?" He had his bow across his back, so she knew he had just been out.

"Good. Though, it seemed to miss you quite a bit."

"What do you mean?"

"Toruk chased us on our ikrans today, and the palulukan was extra fierce. It appears to me that the forest is protesting your absence."

"That is a kind thought, but I don't believe for a second that the forest ever noticed me, let alone missed me."

"How could it not notice you?"

Again, he was pointing out her differences. Why had he even come?

Neteyam figured he was doing great with his flirting. "Would you like to go on an ikran ride? The ocean looks beautiful at midday."

How awkward. "Well, warrior boy, I wouldn't be able to do that, now would I?"

His eyebrows furrowed at her attitude. "And why not?"

"It was your grandmother that forbid me from ikran bonding journeys, do not act like you don't know. Do not rub it in."

"What? Why would she do that?"

"She said I would never earn it. That I'm not worth risking lives on the journey."

"What?" He was dumbfounded. Is this how she thought of him and his family? As people who forbade her from freedom?

She merely scoffed in response, unbelieving that he honestly was unaware.

"Well, there must be a reason. Perhaps she thought you would not be able to win the fight-- no offense."

"Oh, no, no. She smade it very publicly clear that it was because Eywa had cursed me with my skin."

He could not believe it. Had his grandmother really done such a thing? He knew that everyone thought poor of her, that she was treated unkindly, but being banned from an Omatikaya tradition? And then something clicked in his head, why he had met everyone else but never her.

"You're not allowed at the Tree of Souls either, are you?"

She was silent for some time, processing his sincerity. "No."

"Oh, Eywa, I must speak to Grandmother about this. That must have been the old ways when my father was still considered a demon when she made that decision. She probably simply forgot to change it. I'll-"

He stood, and she stood with him.

"No, no! My father will end me if I make a ruckus about this. I'm not even supposed to be engaging with you like this, mister stupidly-charming-son-of-the-Olo'ektan!"

His heart fluttered, she thinks I'm charming? No. Focus.

"Seriously, Leyra. You deserve to meet your ancestors. And to fly above the treetops, not to hide in them."

To be honest, she had never wanted to visit the Tree of Souls. She was too afraid of bringing shame to her ancestors' hearts.

"No, Neteyam. Respectfully, you have no business meddling in something you know so little about." Her tone was severe, and he could sense her desperation.

He winced. "Okay, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you, I was only trying to help."

She sighed, irritated by the drama. "I know, I know. And thank you. But I didn't ask you to."

"I know, too. I really am sorry." He pursed his lips in frustration and pulled at the hairs on the back of his head. "Would you... want to eat lunch with me tomorrow as well? I promise not to be a sxkawng again."

Why wouldn't he just leave her alone? "Of course, if it's what you want."

"Yes, please."

Chapter Text

If she had to eat lunch with Neteyam again, she was at least going to do it in the forest this time, in her safe space.

"Tell Neteyam to meet me where we first met," She had ordered her father, and he did so.

When Neteyam showed up at lunchtime on his ikran, carrying two bowls of chopped fruit, she was surprised and honestly a bit impressed that he had actually remembered their first meeting spot.

"Hello." The genuine smile on his face was contagious. "I brought fruit."

"I cooked up some nantang for us." She had spent the morning hunting down the pack and picking out and killing the meatiest one. Currently, the skinned carcass was roasting above a small fire.

The sight of the roasting animal stopped Neteyam in his tracks. "You know how to hunt nantang?"

In his experience, they had been the hardest to learn how to kill. The palulukan were predictably territorial, and the talioang were slow and easy to kill from the air.

But nantang? They were feral, and would do things a hunter would never be ready for. Plus, they swarm. Even when you think there are a lot of them nearby, there are always more than you estimate.

"Yes, of course. Why would you think a full-time forest dweller like me would not know how to hunt all of its inhabiting animals?"

"I didn't mean it like-"

She scoffed dismissively. "Of course, of course. You would never mean it that way." Sarcasm.

Neteyam took a second to compartmentalize his pride and asked, "Will you teach me? How to hunt them, I mean."

She was thoroughly taken aback, not expecting a mighty clan warrior, let alone the Tsahik's own grandson, to want to learn her ways. "I- uh- yeah, okay. We can hunt some after lunch, if you want. For your family."

He had to take a moment to think, knowing that he'd be missing archery training. Everyone would want to know where he was, and he would need to end up lying. "Yes, I would."

They finished lunch while discussing hunting styles. Leyra was astounded that Neteyam had aided in catching 'angtsik a few times, not being able to wrap her head around how much meat would have to be hauled back home.

Eventually, Leyra was able to track down the pack of nantang with a sprinkle of helpful hints from Neteyam. He knew what the clan's warriors were trained to know. Knowledge that she would have wanted desperately a few years ago, but now took with a tad of mistrust and pride. Her methods were just as good as the well-refined practices of the clan.

Leyra showed him how the creatures behave differently than the other species, but were predictable by their instinct to kill by any means necessary.

"What would you least expect, but is still effective in killing? That's what they do. They want to throw you off," Leyra explained quietly. The two were laying on their stomachs behind a small hill, watching the pack from a distance.

It was hard for Neteyam to think outside of the box. He couldn't think of anything unexpected that they might try. "Right," he nodded along.

"We try to find the weak ones, and separate them from the pack as well as we can." Neteyam explained.

"The weakest? Like, the young, or the sick?"

"Yes. They're easiest."

"That's terrible! If you want to eat something, you should earn it. If you can't face the strongest of them you do not deserve to receive their nutrients."

"But why put in the unnecessary risk? The weakest are least likely to injure one of our own."

"Maybe, if you put the balance of the forest before yourselves, you would understand. It is for honorability."

He could tell she was getting heated and raised his hands in defeat. "I see you, I see you. Though, I do not agree."

She sighed, having hoped that she was getting somewhere with him. "Yes, of course. You don't need to agree."

He could see the fire and passion in her eyes die out and, shockingly to him, it hurt him. He wanted to support her, he just couldn't justify her putting herself at more risk than necessary.

"I mean this with all due respect, but it surprises me that you're still alive. You favor the forest more than yourself, and the forest is not kind to anyone."

"I suppose I have been lucky."

"If you think about it that way, I guess I am, too."

Soon enough, Neteyam knew he had to return to camp before people started worrying. They had decided not to catch any nantang, as the pack had already suffered one loss that day.

After debating internally whether to ask him the favor, Leyra finally gave in for fear of the dark. "Can you give me a ride up to camp? I'm pretty sure my dad's meeting is going to run late."

Leyra was annoyed with herself to be relying on such a person, but Neteyam was elated that she was comfortable enough to ride with him. Though, he hid it well via chivalry and obligation.

"Absolutely, Leyra. We wouldn't want you to be alone in the forest at night, now would we?" She could read right through him to his smugness. She rolled her eyes, despite the small smile peaking its way out.

He called his ikran right to where they were, wanting to ride with her as long as he could. The sun was setting and he could sense she liked the view while flying.

He sat her in front of him on the animal and adjusted her by her waist so he could see clearer.

"You good? Ready to go?" He had a plan.

"Mm-hmm." She nodded, looking back at him. She was confused on why he was grinning so widely.

He took off from a standstill, and shot straight upwards. Leyra reached around and grabbed onto the outside of his leg as support.

"By Eywa, Neteyam! What are you do- aagh!" He suddenly swooped down into the forestry, dodging between trees. She shriveled into him. Had her father never messed around with her on his ikran?

"Neteyam!" she shrieked, too terrified to be ashamed of how her voice sounded. Her eyes were slammed shut and she was squeezing his ikran for dear life.

He finally relented, emerging over a cliff and gliding above the water of the ocean.

"Leyra, open your eyes." His tone was gentle and encouraging enough that she obeyed. And she was glad she did.

The sunset was reflecting off the water in shades one could only imagine. The waves were peacefully swishing. Neteyam ordered his ikran to dip its wing in the water, effectively spraying the two Na'vi with ocean water.

Leyra only laughed, her annoyance and fear dissipating immediately at the view.

"This is amazing!" She shouted over the air rushing past them.

"I know. Don't you want your own ikran? The freedom of flying?"

Her demeanor fell, her curling in on herself.

"If only it was that simple. Take me home, please?"

He could sense her depression at the subject and dropped it completely, doing as she asked of him.

Chapter Text

Chapter Text

"What are you talking about? We aren't just going to stop seeing each other." Neteyam was flabbergasted by this request.

Her voice started quivering for reasons she didn't understand. How long had she known this boy, a few weeks? "I like you, Neteyam. If you have to-- want to-- pick someone else to be your Tsahik, that's fine-"

"Maybe you will be my Tsahik," he blurted. She had no idea how incredibly vulnerable he was being. He was asking her to be with him. He was proposing her to be his mate.

Though, she never in a million years thought he could was being serious. "Be realistic, Neteyam. Your family would sooner arrange my murder."

His chest ached at what he interpreted as her rejecting him. But he cared too much for her, enjoyed her presence too much, to let her slip away. If she would not accept his offer of forever, he could settle on having her just for now.

"Please, Leyra." He grasped her hands in his. "Even if you will not be my Tsahik, we still have a year. Please, please, don't give up the time we do have."

She didn't like hearing him so desperate. "Neteyam-"

"No, no, wait. I have something for you." He tried to distract her, to remind her of all the good parts of him and not of his obligations. He pulled the gift out of the small pouch in his loincloth.

Leyra made the mental connection as he slipped the bracelet on her wrist, her eyes flitting to his necklace. Just as she suspected, it was missing a row of beads.

She knew what a big gesture of affection this was.

"Neteyam." Her tone was serious, almost scolding. She reached out to touch his neck garment. "Why did you maim your necklace like this?"

"I wanted you to have something of claim on you. This should ward off all the other scrawny loser boys for a while."

She rolled her eyes. "Right, because I have masses of guys chasing after me at all times."

Eyebrows furrowing, he commented, "You should. If only they knew what they were missing! Actually, wait, no. Never mind. I prefer things the way they are; no competition."

She sighed, contemplating his earlier request to try to cherish their remaining time. After a pause that seemed to stretch on forever for Neteyam, she said, "How am supposed to enjoy you when I know you are not mine, hmm?"

He sighed, confused by the girl's feelings when she had just turned down his mating offer. "I don't like it either, but I don't want to lose you."

She pressed their foreheads together and Neteyam's heart faltered in its rhythm. He closed his eyes, willing the moment to last.

"Let's enjoy it while we can, right?" She relented.

"Yes." He seconded instantly, happy to hear her agreement.

And so they continued on with their afternoon, now enjoying everything more after realizing their time is limited.

They went for another ikran ride, and Neteyam took the peaceful route this time. He took them someplace he knew no one would spot them.

They didn't speak many words but communicated much based on how tightly they held on to each other.

At one point while coasting, Neteyam intertwined his fingers with Leyra's. She squeezed his hand and looked up at him to find him watching her and not where he was flying.

"Eyes on the sky, 'Teyam. If we hit something or crash land, I'll kill you." She hadn't thought twice about saying the nickname out loud when she usually only calls him that in her head.

Neteyam's ears perked up and his tail swished. He certainly thought twice about it. More than that, in fact. What did she mean by this? She had rejected his mating proposal less than an hour ago, and now she was giving him cute nicknames that made his heart swell?

"Yes, ma'am," He teased at her authoritarian request. She smiled and he was proud to be the cause.

She breathed in the crisp mountain air and leaned back into him, closing her eyes in peace. He didn't mind, and wrapped the arm that had their hands intertwined around her torso.

Soon, Neteyam knew he had to get back before people came looking for him. "I hate to disturb your pretty self, but I have to get back about now."

She sighed and opened her eyes, a frown weaving its way into her features. "Okay. Drop me off at the cave? I'd ask you to drop me off at camp, but I don't think you want us being seen together."

Neteyam's eye flinched. She was right; he had been successfully avoiding his parents finding out about him hanging around her. He wanted to cherish her while he could, before the wrath of his family fell upon them. "Yeah... Maybe that would be better."

She was heartbroken by his confirmation of her fears. He was ashamed to be hanging around with the freak. How had she ever convinced herself otherwise?

"Yeah, thanks," she managed, swallowing away the lump forming in her throat.

He dropped her at the cave entrance, kissing her forehead. His hand lingered on her cheek longer than he should have let it. She made it clear, she did not want to be his Tsahik.

She took this with pain. She wanted him more than he could ever understand, but she loved him too much to ask him to be with her. He was all she wanted but he could never be hers. Every possible odd was against them, and she didn't think he cared enough for her to try to fight against them.

She watched him fly away as eclipse approached, and her father landed above the waterfall not soon after.

"Daughter? What happened? Are you hurt?" Her father asked, circling around her and looking her over.

She didn't understand why he reacted this way. "What? No, I'm- I'm fine."

"Then why are you crying?"

What? She swiped her cheek, and sure enough, there were tears dripping down her skin. "Oh, I..."

He waited for her to continue.

"I'm fine. It's nothing, father. Let's go home?"