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Chatters. Hearty laughters. Raised glasses and cheers between the adults. The Metkayina heir fiddled his fingers. Sitting crossed-leg on the woven palm stem mat, he wiggled his toes. At the age where his thoughts were mainly about pranking other kids and playing with his ilu. Ao’nung raised his head to the girl in front of him. There were some differences between them and the guests. Like how the skin were an ashy blue, how their tail looks rougher, how their eyes were red rubies, their clothes, well it’s a given since they are from another clan. Just like the Jake Sully’s family except with no demon blood. His eyes followed her every movement without realising, when she looks to her side, looking at her family and his, discussing about..engagement? He could care less. The young boy just wants to go out and play with his friends instead he was stucked with these adults laughing and talking boring stuff.
Ao’nung’s only entertainment was the girl in front of him.
When she fiddled her nails together and looked at his own fingers, trailing her eyes at him, and finally met his gaze-. Ao’nung dropped his head, caught off guard. It was the first time, a first, where his head felt havoc. His ears felt warm.
His ears were taken aback with the sudden burst of emotion. What is this?
In the droopy vision, a thin hand pushing a plate of steamed sweets he likes towards him, suddenly entered his view. Aonung’s head was raised first then followed by his eyes. The girl was now leaning to him, rubies met the sea. Eyebrows raised proving her innocence of her age the same as his. Her pupils were dilated. Just like his. Just like his.
Oh Eywa, why is his heartbeat so loud?
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It has been 7 years since you have met the Metkayina heir. Being the daughter of the ash tribe really was no ease. Engaged at 15, with a certain mean looking boy were one of the main pillar to strengthen the diplomatic friendship between the water and fire. It has been awhile since you felt the beach in view riding your Frerhwi. The light-feet bull with a stone body and the height of 3 Na’vi.
As the olo’eyktan descendant, taming one was a hurdle you successfully leaped. Therefore making you a suitable candidate to be one of the clan’s guardian. These predators lived underneath the active volcano mountains and have an arrogant temper however they are no different than a harmless fluff toy (despite their body being literally made out of volcanic stones) once bonded with. You pat the mighty antler of your Frerhwi and he let out a huff of blue smokes, grunting about the long journey of walking in seas to finally reach the village.
Leading your parents and some of your family members, accompanied with warriors from your clan, you stood in the frontier. Proud and mighty, said one of father’s advice about the ash tribe. And never once have you strayed from his expectations.
You were wearing a skull mask and skinned rib as an armour, with a loosely woven silver thread clothing underneath. Each gaps of the clothing reveals the streaks and patterns of an ashy blue skin with splashes of bioluminescent freckles on your body. The dress droop nicely on your shapes with the material being easy to move and loose yet also hugs the praising curves of yours.
As you get closer, you can hear the welcoming horn sounds and the Metkayina warriors riding on ilus, side by side with their ‘guests’ Frehrwi to guide their arrival. You looked at your sides. Of course, the Metkayinas are famous for their nice build since they use their muscles in swimming. Yet, a guide stood out to you most. Nothing really triggers your interest other than his trained back muscle when it stretched or his flexed arms as the grip on his ilu is tight but gentle- no.
The view of the tsahik and olo’eyktan standing at the front lines snap you out of your daze. And another figure whose excitement is as clear as a day with how bright her smiles and jumping mannerisms, Tsireya.
You just wanted to hop off from your Frehrwi and dive towards her but you decided to contain your cry of joy for later. The bulls stopped as it reached an inch from the beach sand. They lower their body and you get off from the sadle, taking off your mask as soon as your feet kissed the sand. The armour was still intact on your body, wary habits from your trainings. The crowds gather in number to see the honourable guest of theirs.
The actions were then followed by your family members and your parents were nothing but balls of joy as the tsahik and olo’eyktan open their arms to hug them.
“Welcome! Oh my dear brothers and sisters,” the olo’eyktan voiced outloud as they had a series of hugs and laughters. The tsahik turned to you and when you were about to give a slight bow and say your greetings, you were cut with a hug. Her tender hugs always felt like soaking in warm bath when the day is cold. “Oh my daughter have grown more beautiful than ever!” she exclaimed arms still wrapping around you. You returned the hug and eyed the Tsireya whose feet is fidgety. You freed an arm to include her, and she squealed and ran to joined in the reunion.
“By Eywa, we have missed you so much,” the tsahik, Ronal, continued.
“Forgive me on not visiting for so long, tsahik,” you replied with an apologetic grin. “I had to wait for my adult ceremony and undergo guardian trainings throughout these years,” you create no lies. The trainings were considerably harsh but that is what it takes for for you to honour your own name.
“I am so lucky to be blessed with such a strong woman as my daughter in law,” Ronal said with a wide smile. “It seems that you successfully tamed the Frerhwi. Impressive.” She adds, circling your mighty predator, Dawan. Dawan gave a slight bow and huffed happily at the tsahik. Your grin was stern and awkward as soon as you heard her. The sting that sat at the back of your head rises and you clenched your jaw. “right,” you replied short.
Ronal send a proud look at his husband, Tonowari the olo’eyktan with a grin and Tonowari nod with a downward smile of approval. “I hope our kids could finally get along during our stay here,” your mother chimed in and the elders of both families laughed. Tonowari announced his people that they were going to have a welcome party that night and shooed the crowd away to prep. As the number died down, both family elders went with their talks while your family being led to their respective pod.
You wanted to follow along therefore you finally took off your armour and let one of the responsible villagers to tend to it. Whilst patting and reassuring Dawan, you hear a loud happy cry of the ilu. You turned your head and noticed one of the warriors that rode on the ilu get off, immediately dived into the water, then slowly poke his head out of the water to reveal their presence. Your eyes widened. That is-
“Aonung!” Tonowari called his son. Your betrothed.
“How could you let your fiancé wait?” he raised his voice as the said male walked closer and closer.
How could he grow so much after 7 years? His broad, droopy shoulders, compliments his tattooed body parts like the sea and the sand? With how his necklace that flexed his collarbone danced for each step he took? And of course, the eyes. how could you forget? but how-
Aonung plastered a smug grin on his face. Of course, the smile that shouts 'he's up to no good' never strips from himself. The intense gaze he had on you caught you off guard when you realised he have been staring. You turned your head away, feeling the heat rise to your cheeks and unconsciously your ears flickered. Of course, Ao’nung is an adult now just like you. Of course he has got to be so fucking hot, he has always been attractive. However, remembering your actual reasons for coming, you collected yourself and remained a calm exterior. You looked at him again and raised your fingers to your forehead and signed;
‘oel ngati kameie’. I see you.
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