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Chapter Text

Spider has absolutely no idea how he ended up here.

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Okay that was a lie, he did have some on how he ended up here. The thing that he didn’t know was where was 'here'.

He swears all he wanted was go for a swim. He knew about the dangers of the rouge currents that could sweep you to the middle of the open txampay in the blink of an eye, but the way the sea embraces him whenever he floats in it, it feels like warm arms are wrapped around him. It reminds him of those times he saw the Sully kids be comforted by their Sa’nok, it reminds of the motherly love that he could never experience fully. 

It’s not like he didn’t have a mother figure, really. Truth be told, Mo'at tried her best to be there for him but she was getting old, he couldn’t expect her to be there for him forever. He enjoyed those afternoons where the two just sat in silence while preparing medicine, it filled his chest with the kind of warm feeling that you could only get from spending time with a loved one. 

But enough reminiscing, he needs to search for anything that could tell him where he might be.

The beach he was on was covered in seashells which all varied in color, but the most common was beige and shades of pink. When he looked out at the water all he could see was blue for miles and miles. ‘Kiri is going kick my skxawng ass.' He thought to himself.

He sighed, dropping his head into his hands, expecting to hear the dull thump of his exopack hitting his palms but when his hands met his forehead instead, he froze. He quickly looked around the sandy ground and when he saw the device laying in the water, he begun to feel lightheaded before his eyes rolled into his head and he felt his body hitting the ground.

•••

In all honesty, Tsieyet expected her shell picking to be uneventful. Maybe the highlight of it would be finding one that she would consider putting on her Waytelem or one that she could use to make a pretty paint. However she did not expect to see a tan boy laying unconscious(hopefully not dead)at the western beach of Sum. 
She was pretty sure that it was a Skyperson, which made it even weirder since from what the Returned Sarentu told her, their kind needed masks to breath, but the boy’s chest seemed to fall and rise despite not wearing one.

Aside from his chest, she also noticed a multitude of purpling bruises and his ribs seeming to poke out of his skin. But the most shocking part were all the atokirina' surrounding the boy. Even if they were only floating around him, it felt like a shield made by the Great Mother herself.

“Great Seeds, please allow me to bring him to my Tsahìk so that I can help him.” She said, kneeling down and showing that she was harmless by showing her open palms. She eyed the angry red scar that ran across the boy’s chest with concern, hoping that it was still only in the early stages of infection.

The atokirina' didn't move for a long moment before lifting up and giving her access to the body.
She hurriedly poured her findings into her bag before picking him up in her arms and running towards the Tsahìk’s marui with the Seeds following close behind.

Ketxe has been worried ever since she woke up.

She was one of those Tsahìks who were bestowed with the gift of Sight, meaning that Eywa shared with her bits of things that would bring change to her people, be it bad or good.

And her latest dream had featured a boy with a scar across his chest, surrounded by the gentle golden glow that Ketxe had come to associate with the Great Mother in her visions. What caught her attention was the placement of the injury. It was in the place where the forest Clans cut someone if they were either banishing or (symbolically) killing them. But then a purple three fingered hand came to rest on the scar for a moment and when it was taken away, the red line was gone.

Such a peculiar shade of purple could only point towards two people: A member of the Zeswa Clan that sunbathes frequently, or a member of the 'Awstengyä Clan. Which shouldn’t have been so surprising, it’s not like this Clan was isolated or anything of that sort.

However much the previous two things shocked Ketxe, what happened next was even more surprising. Figures that looked like her and other members of her Clan surrounded the boy in a big embrace, mimicking the one Eywa had him in just a few moments ago.

Ketxe after that woke up, the dream proving to be too much for her to bear any longer.

The healer was broken out of her thoughts when she heard a young voice calling her. “Ma Tsahìk! Ma Tsahìk, rutxe!” Tsieyet Te Inarr Foehayo'ite, the best diver of the whole clan herself came through the entrance of the healing Marui, carrying what appeared to be a human. “Ma yawne, pefya tsun oe srung si nga? Peu lu keyawr?(Dear, how can I help you? What (is) wrong?)” Ketxe asked the slightly panting girl. “Oe run  fì'u tawtute wrrpa oeyä tsray, hu nítxan ayatokirina' pxaw 'evengan.(I find this human outside my village, with lot of seeds around (the) boy)” Tsieyet said, kneeling down to set Spider on the ground. “ Tsun nga srung si 'evengan?(Can you help (the) boy)” Ketxe sighed, rubbing her forehead,recognizing the boy from her vision. “Oe tìng nari  peu oe tsun kem si.(I look at what I can do)” 

The teen shot a grateful look to her aunt who just smiled before getting to work. She had a feeling she was in for a long healing session.

Chapter Text

“Ma Sa'nok, lumpe tsun ke awnga mìmunge Spider? Poan lu le'awtu, ke kanom tirea sa’sem takìp Omatikaya.(Why can not we take Spider in, mother? He is alone, not get spirit parents from among Blue Flute Clan.)” Nupkaey Te Asam Uthaw'ite, a young member of the 'Awstengyä Clan asked her mother as they flew on her Ikran. Uthaw looked at her daughter with a sad smile. “Ma yawne, taluna poan ke kanom tswin krra 'ongokx. Lu ke kxuke luke pum krra poan kanom koak.(Because he not get queue when born, beloved. Is not safe without one when he get older/aged)” She said gently.

Uthaw herself couldn’t say she didn’t want the young human to have a family and so far the Omatikaya have failed at it, such behavior was disrespectful towards Eywa. All children are a gift from the Great Mother, so why didn’t the other clan treat him like it. Uthaw had to admit, she was disappointed in the Omatikaya, but at least Mo'at tries her best. Just like a leader, a Tsahìk should.

But she could also understand the worry, the directing away from activities that na'vi children were allowed to do. After all Spider was a human child, way more fragile than an adult one. His body was barely the size of a new born as it is and even when he gets taller, there will be the air. He cannot breathe without his mask, there will always be the fear that he can run out of air or that it could break.

He was eight, why couldn’t he go visit his purple friend on his own. Other children could go out into the forest alone at his age, why couldn’t he. When he asked Mo'at about it she just looked sadly at him before answering. “Taluna nga lu tawtute. Nga hì'i ulte meyp. Ma 'ewan 'evi, susyang.(Because you are human. You small and weak. Fragile, young child)” That made him back down for a month or two but then he was back at trying to get hunters or warriors to take him or help him get where he wanted.

Uthaw, the kind mother of Nupkaey, was good friends with the Tsahìk of the Blue Flute Clan therefore she came to visit often. And most of the time she brought her daughter along with her.

It was on one of these visits that he even met Nupkaey in the first place.

••

She was just searching the small river for pretty pebbles when she saw him, painted with blue stripes and wearing a strange thing on his face. He looked like an abandoned nantang. “Peu lu keyawr? Nga'ur keftxo.(What is wrong? You look upset)” The boy, startled, fell off the log he was sitting on onto the grass. Nupkaey winced. “Ngaytxoa…(Sorry)” The boy finally looked up and she immediately felt her hearth skip a beat. His eyes were so pretty, especially with the sun shining on them.

She must have said some of that out loud because the boy was standing and his cheeks had a red tint to them. “Tsakem lu sìltsan, kea kxu si.(It is good, no harm)” He had said, with surprisingly good na'vi for a human, brushing his tweng off. “Oe lu mi ngaytxoa. Fyape lu nga nìftxan tuvom adp lì'fya?(I am still sorry. How are you so exceedingly great at language?)” Nupkaey asked curiously. At the compliment, the smaller child smiled. “Oe rey hu Omatikaya.(I live with Omatikaya.)” The purple na'vi looked confused at the boy’s waist. “Slä oe ke tse'a waytelem sìn nga?(But I not see songcord on you?)” The boy’s smile fell and Nupkaey felt bad already. “Oe ke kanom pum.(I not get one)” He shrugged, hugging himself as if suddenly cold.

“Fyape syaw fko ngar? Oeru syaw Nupkaey Te Asam Uthaw'ite.(What are you called? I am called Nupkaey Asam Uthaw’s daughter)” She introduced herself. “ Oeru syaw Spider Te Soccoro Paz'itan.(I am called Spider Soccoro Paz’s son)” The girl smiled, showing off her fangs. “Oel ngati kameie, Spider.(I See you, Spider)” She touched her hand to her forehead before bringing it down, greeting her new friend. The blonde froze at the gesture before replying, albeit a bit hesitantly. “Oel ngati kameie, Nupkaey.(I See you, Nupkaey)” He greeted as well.

“Set tsaawnga omum fìtsap, tung oe srung si nga.(Now that we know each other, let me help you)” Nupkaey said, taking off one of the crystals off of her braids and held it out. It was a yellow one, in the shape of a water drop.“Fì'u tsun lu sngä'i te ngeyä waytelem.(This can be start of your songcord)” Spider shook his head. “Oe tsun ke mll'an fì’u, nga lu nìhawng tsrunwi.(I can not accept this, you are too kind)” Nupkaey did not accept that as an answer, so she just took his hand and pressed the bead into it.

Seems like Spider won’t have a choice in this.

Nupkaey landed at High Camp with her magenta colored Ikran, Talo. Max was the first to notice her. “Nupkaey, kaltxì!” He greeted with a wave. The teen waved right back. “Ma Max, kaltxì!” Just then Norm came out of the small building as well. He was reading something on a tablet before looking up.

“Nupkaey! What brings you here?” He asked, though he had an idea. “I am just here for Spider. The sickness that has been going through the Clan has finally subsided, so I came here as soon as I could.” Both men winced at this, which the 'Awstengyä noticed. “Why are you making that face? Did something happen that I should know about?” Somehow Nupkaey was able to raise a brow in question despite her lack of eyebrows. “Yeah…so a team of RDA avatars came and Spider and the Sully kids were nearby, then they escaped but he didn’t. So they took him about six months ago…” Max explained, watching the girl’s expression in case she erupted.

She just gaped before being able to speak again. “And where exactly is he right now? In some stupid Skypeople base?! Why have you not went after him yet?” Norm put out his hands in a placating manner. “Last time we heard he was at Awa'atlu, Metkayina Clan. We could even give you the coordinates of the village if you would like…?” The skinny man offered, trying to make peace with the pacing na’vi. Her tail lashed wildly while her eras were pinned down by the sides of her head, the beads and crystals making clanking sounds as she moved about.

Instead of answering she just called Talo, climbing on her the moment she landed. “I will now pack and find Spider, hayalovay!(until next time)” And then she was off

“…We should call Jake, shouldn’t we.” Max asked after a couple of seconds. “Yeah, we probably should.” Replied Norm and with that both men ran inside to warn the father that a worried teen was on her way.

Chapter Text

The ceiling of the marui was familiar but also not, thought Spider as he slowly woke with a killer headache. He could hear the waves of the sea as they crashed against the sand, could smell the medicine that was a characteristic of the healing marui.

He had spent quite a few days in the company of the healers' back at Awa'atlu, trying to help the injured as much as he could. Perhaps he felt responsible for their wounds, both physical and emotional. Maybe he was trying to get away from Kiri’s sad eyes or from Lo'ak’s soulless gaze. Little Tuktirey was also someone he was definitely avoiding, now that he thought about it.

“Nga lu txen.(You are awake)” A unfamiliar voice broke him out of his thoughts. “Oe sngä'i tsonta fpìl fwa nga ke piak si ngeyä aynari. Oe stum sngä'i tsonta snugm si.( I start to think that you not open your eyes. I almost start to worry)” A na’vi woman who he could immediately tell was a Tsahìk, Eywa’s presence basically covering her like a blanket, as if the All Mother was clinging to her, refusing to let go. She reminded him of Mo'at and Kiri, who also oozed from Her presence. “Oe lu Ketxe Te Teinewye Humär'ite, Tsahìk te olo'Ngimtsyokx.(I am Ketxe Teinewye Humär’s daughter, Tsahik of Clan Ngimtsyokx)”

“Ma Tsahìk, Oel ngati kameie . Oeru syaw Spider Te Socorro Paz'itan. (I see you, Tsahik. I am called Spider Socorro Paz’s son)” Spider said with as much respect he could put into his voice, even if it felt like his throat was as dry as a desert. Ketxe simply nodded in acknowledgment, returning the greeting. Something so small was much more than anything he got from the Metkayina.

Ketxe’s build was almost the same as the Reef clan’s, the only differences being the lighter colored skin and almost platinum blonde hair. She had a tattoo on her chin, across her shoulders, around her wrist that continued on to her hand and one on her lower belly. It was obvious by these and her long Waytelem that she had seen and done many things in her life. Spider barely knew her and he already had an immense amount of respect for the older woman before him.

“Lu nga nìltsan? Nga hahaw txankrr.(Are you well? You sleep for a long time)” She asked, genuine worry in her voice. She hadn’t even known this boy for long yet she already cared. Though her parents always said that she always loves too hard and too fast, no matter if it was a stranger needing help or a loved one in need of advice. “Oe lu nìltsan set, oe fpìl. Slä txal te oeyä re'o tìrsaw si. Irayo.(I am well now, I think. But back of my head be painful/hurt. Thank you)” Spider replied with a nod of his head. Ketxe frowned at the mention of his headache but she shook her head to get rid of unwanted thoughts for the moment and instead decided to ask more questions, in case she could find out more about her dream.

“Pxasik txantompa!(Screw that/this heavy rain)” Hissed Nupkaey as she and Talo braved the storm to get to the village of Awa'atlu. “Ma oeyä 'eylan, oe lu ngaytxoa. Oe ke srefey tsa'u tsonta lu fi'u fe'.(I am sorry, my friend. I not expect it to be this bad)” She sent a wave of regret and guilt through their bond, Talo sending a wave of ‘I understand but I’m still annoyed’ back.

“Come on, come on. Pick up!” Norm muttered as he called a certain father, tapping his foot impatiently. Max left, leaving him to deal with the situation alone. Traitor.

“Hello? Norm is everything alright? Why are you calling?” Jake’s voice came through and the other sighed in relief. “Jake, hey! So i may or may not have a certain purple teen on her way to the Metkayina. Like right now.” Silence, then. “What?! Nupkaey is on her way here? Why?!” That was Lo'ak’s voice. Norm could hear Jake swatting his son away from the communicator. “She came to camp and asked about Spider, so we told her what happened and now she’s on her way.”

A minute of silence, making the Avatar driver think that they hung up then Jake’s voice again. “…He’s not at Awa'atlu.”

.

.

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“WHAT DO YOU MEAN HE’S NOT THERE!”

Chapter Text

If Ronal had a pearl for every time a forest native showed up on her Clan’s shores, she would have two pearls. Which isn’t a lot but it’s weird that it happened twice.

This time however, it wasn’t someone from the forest-forest but rather a teenager from the mighty 'Awstengyä Clan. A clan that was known for their fierce warriors and strong bond with their Banshees. In a way the Ikran were to them what the Tulkun were to her Clan.

Just like when the Sully family came, a crowd formed on the beach. The Tsahìk watched from the back, for now.

The remaining Sully son, Lo'ak, made his way through the gathering Reef people to get to the purple girl, whose toxic green eyes immediately turned to him.

“Where is he?” Lo'ak gulped at Nupkaey’s hissed question, eyeing her sharp fangs that reminded of those of an Ikran, ready to pounce on its prey. He was certain that if she wished, she could tear out his throat with them alone. “He’s been gone for three days. The search parties were sent out the moment we noticed he was missing.” He explained as quickly and as calmly as he could, paying attention to his wording. He most definitely did not want to piss off an already irritated Nupkaey.

She stared at him for a moment before nodding in approval of his answer but her tail still lashed around wildly, so much so that you could hear as it cut the air.

Nupkaey tore her gaze away from the younger boy when Tonowari approached the two. “Is that the chief?” She asked in English and Lo'ak nodded. “I See You, Olo'eyktan. I am Nupkaey Asam Uthaw’s daughter. I am in search of the other half of my soul, I’ve been told that he resided here last but has been missing for a few days.”

'Oh, Kiri and Tarsem owe me so many chore taking overs.' Lo'ak thought as he tried to hold back his grin when he heard what Nupkaey called Spider.

“I See You, Nupkaey Asam Uthaw’s daughter. I am Tonowari, olo'eyktan of the Metkayina. The search parties have been looking everywhere for the young sky person, but there is yet to be sign of him. Perhaps you would like join with your flying companion?” The tall na'vi said, referring to Talo who was being stared at by a couple of curious young children.

The crowd parted slowly as a woman walked through, which caught the teen’s attention right away. The headdress, the long skirt woven together with her loincloth and the way she held herself told Nupkaey that this was the Tsahìk. The one she had to really convince if she wanted to stay for the search or just a night. “I See You, Tsahìk. I am here for Spider Socorro Paz’s son, he who is the other half of my soul. I was told he is here but then I was informed that he has been missing for three days. The Olo'eyktan has been oh so kind to offer to let me help with the search.” Ronal nodded as a sign for Nupkaey to continue when she looked at her with a question in her eyes. “However I do not wish to force myself on your clan, and letting me stay is as much your decision as it is his.”

“Very well. Aonung please show Nupkaey to a marui close to the Sully family’s.” The boy she hadn’t even noticed arrive nodded. “Please follow me.”

Reuniting with her friend Kiri and little Tuktirey was something she was expecting, in fact she looked forward to it. What she wasn’t looking forward to was meeting Neytiri Te Tskaha Mo'at'ite.

Even back at the Forest, the two of them didn’t like each other. Nupkaey mainly for how the older woman treated Spider and Neytiri didn’t tolerate the disrespect that came from the younger girl. Whenever she would look just a bit too long at the boy or whenever she hissed at him, Nupkaey was right there in record time to hiss right back at her and give her the deadliest glare she could muster.

It was evident that the 'Awstengyä teen didn’t care that Neytiri was the Tsakarem of the Omatikaya, she would not and will not accept her attitude towards her friend.

That night Lo'ak, Kiri and Tuk invited her over for dinner. She tried to decline, tried to say that she doesn’t want to disturb the family, but they wouldn’t take no for an answer.

When she walks into the Marui behind Kiri, she sees Neytiri sitting next to the little fire that is in the middle of the home, stirring something in a wooden bowl. The Omatikayan woman looks up at the sound of their footsteps and freezes the moment she sees Nupkaey.

“Hello, ma’am. Your children have been generous enough to invite me for dinner.” Short and to the point. Neytiri nodded. “I see. The meal is not yet done, it still needs a bit of time so you will have to wait.” The air is charged with tension while the two stare each other down. Golden yellow meeting toxic green.

Kiri quietly prepares everything for the meal, aware of the staring contest that takes place.

Jake walks in and stops in his tracks, clearly noticing the tension. He looks to his ( now only ) son for help who doesn’t even pay attention to the two women. He sighs before clearing his throat. “Nupkaey, I’m glad to see you could join us.”

The purple na’vi turns to him, a polite smile plastered on her face. Her glare gone, as if it was never there. “I should be the one thanking you for having me, sir. I wasn’t sure if I was welcomed but once little Tuk insisted, I just couldn’t say no.” Jake chuckles at the last part. “Oh I know all about her puppy eyes. I myself have fallen victim to them quite a few times.”

After that, the conversation during dinner is lighthearted and it’s mostly Tuktirey talking about her day.

It all goes wrong( because of course it has to )when the Search comes up. Sweet, innocent Tuk is the one to bring it up, who probably misses her other (technically) brother. “Sempu, tsmukan. How is the mission going? Have you found anything yet that could help?” She asks, tilting her head. “Not yet, Tuktuk. But we are trying our best and now that Nupkaey is here, I’m sure he will be home in no time.” Lo'ak answers, smiling gently at his youngest sister.

“I still do not understand why you must search for the Demon’s son. It is a waste, in my opinion.” Neytiri says with a frown and Nupkaey’s ears flatten against the sides of her head. She narrowes her eyes and sets her bowl down. Kiri and Lo'ak look at each other in alarm.

“If you do not have anything kind to say about this topic, then don’t speak about it at all.” The teen hisses. “It is obvious that your children and mate care about him, so what I don’t understand is why you must bring their mood down with your rude words, Neytiri.” The remaining sully boy almost slaps his hand against his mouth at hearing his friend call his mother by her first name. Kiri’s eyes widen and Tuk just looks at her siblings in confusion. Jake swallows, hard, at the obvious disrespect in Nupkaey’s voice.

Neytiri’s eyes narrow at the girl, her frown deepening. “I simply expressed my opinion. I do not see anything wrong with that.” She responds and that is when Nupkaey stands up and storm out of the home with a violent curse that rarely leaves the mouth of a teenager, directed at Neytiri and a barely heard muttered “Bitch…”

Chapter Text

The pain in his head had not subsided, in fact it has increased. It felt like something was trying to crawl out of his head.

He didn’t want to burden Ketxe with this so he didn’t tell her, thinking that she has done too much for him as it is. He was after all a stranger, an alien in her clan.

He took a calming breath, without the hissing of the air filter on his mask following, which was still something he was getting used to. It was his dream for so long, to be able to breathe the same air as his siblings and other half. For so long he wanted to be free from the burden of his mask, from the fear that if he was too rough with the device he could die. Spider never really feared death, since it meant Eywa’s embrace but he did fear the way he would get to that point. Would it be by suffocation, by a thanator or an angry viper wolf, by accident or on purpose(Neytiri).

He shook away those thoughts when Tsieyet, his founder, came in. “Hello, Spider. How are you feeling?” She asked, a gentle smile on her face that seemed to never go away. He tried to smile back but it probably looked like grimace instead. “I am feeling fine, however my head still hurts. But not in like a headache way, if you get what I mean.” Tsieyet nodded before asking Spider to let her take a look.

Once his back was turned, she lifted his blonde hair so that she could get a better look. “Oh Great Mother.” The na'vi exclaimed which alarmed the human. “What? What is it?” Was there a parasite there? Or a gaping wound? “Spider, the people of the forest, from where does their queue grow?” Huh? Why is she asking this? “Like right after their hair roots on the top of their head, why?” Concern was evident in his voice.

“I don’t know how to tell you this, but it seems like you are growing a tswin.”

“Hm, it does seem like you are getting a queue. But I don’t think that that is the only thing changing about you, yawne.” Spider just furrowed his brows, looking at the older woman in question. The Tsahìk sighed. “I’m sure you’ve noticed that you can breathe our air, despite being human. However there are other physical changes, such as this; the faint stripes and your Tokxsnatanhì is starting to show. I believe Eywa has Seen you and decided to bless you, Spider te Socorro Paz'itan.”

His eyes widened. “Huh?” Was his very intelligent reply. Spider raised his arm and squinted and, yep there they are, could see the stripes which were a somewhat darker shade than of his skin. In fact he could see the faint glowing dots that indicated that he had bioluminescence like the Na'vi.

“I have also noticed that when Tsieyet brought you here, you had quite the large wound on your head, right where your queue is coming from. A wound that large would have made you bleed out before you ever had the chance to make it to our shores.

I have also went to search for your breather, just in case it was needed. However, it was broken right where I assume your nose is when worn.” Ketxe hesitated for only a moment before saying what she had been leading up to. “…I believe the All Mother has saved you from certain death, child.”

~Her blood pumping in her veins, her legs tiring but she knows she can’t afford to stop and rest. The creature is fast, faster than her.

Finally, she arrives to a somewhat sheltered place. Corals rose around her, beautiful shades of red, purple and pink as rays of sunlight hit them through the water. 'I shouldn’t have went for a swim…’ She thought to herself. Just as her breathing calmed down, something hit the structure behind her with great strength.

‘Right, not the time to take a break.’ Then she was swimming again, as fast as her tan legs could carry her( tan? ).

Just as she wiggled the last of her limbs out of her hiding space, she heard beeping. The kind that signaled that her mask was about run out of air, if she didn’t change the battery soon( mask? battery? ). ‘No, no, no…Why now? This was just exactly what she needed.’ The sound had distracted her, because of course it had,causing her to slam hard into a sharp corner of a rock, with enough force capable of breaking the covering of her breather.

Salty water rushed into her mouth as she tried to breathe, causing it to fill to her lungs. Just then the thing caught up to her, its mouth opened into three parts revealing its sharp and dark teeth. She feels one of them stab the back of her head, right where the roots of her hair at the top end.

Just when she thinks that her stomach is next, she feels a warmth at her back. Like someone was hugging her from behind.

The next thing she knows is that she is collapsing at a sandy beach, seeing a pair of blue legs with four toes on each walking then rushing towards her, then darkness~

Nupkaey wakes with a start. Her eyes wide, the dream she just had obviously a vision. A memory that did not belong to her, but to someone she knows very well.

She rushes out of the mauri, running through the woven pathways, getting startled or weird looks in the process. Only slowing when she sees her companion, Talo in sight.

“Wait, Nupkaey! Where are you going?” Kiri shouts after her, Lo'ak and a Metkayina girl close behind, but she is already in the saddle.

“I know where Spider is, and I’m going to find and bring him back.” She says with determination in her eyes, then she was off.

Chapter Text

He doesn’t know how to feel. He had always  dreamed of being like his siblings, dreamed of looking like he actually belonged on the planet he was born on. Longed to look like he was a part of his home and not just an alien.

He remembered those days where he stared at his body in the mirror, in his small and oh so lifeless gray room. He wondered why he wasn’t as tall or skinny as his new friends. He painted blue stripes on himself to look like them, and later on added a few purple ones to match a certain girl( how long has it been since he last saw her? Has the sickness gone away from the 'Awstengyä yet? Or have their numbers dwindled in the time he was away? ). His hand, now dotted with tanhì, wandered over to his Waytelem, specifically to the first bead on it.

The water droplet shaped yellow crystal, the one Nupkaey gave him. The thought of finally being able to connect with her entered his mind. Something he thought impossible, something he had given up on a long time ago. He had always felt guilty, knowing that if Nupkaey chose him as her mate, then she would never experience tsaheylu with a person. Never have that type of deep bond with another individual.

But now…

The beach was covered in tiny;colorful sea shells, there was not a single duplicate. Or at least Nupkaey couldn’t see any. But that wasn’t why she was here.

As soon as her and Talo landed, a woman came out from amongst the woven homes. The richness of the blue of her shawl wrapped around her told the teen enough about the stranger’s status in the clan.

“I See you, Olo’eykte.” She greeted, bowing her head. The leader hummed in acknowledgment. “I See you, new comer. Why have you come to the Ngimtsyokx Clan’s home? Perhaps I could help you find what you are here for.” As Nupkaey made eye contact with the other woman, her eyes darted over to the heavy scarring on her left side. It looked like as if an explosion went off on that side.

“I am Nupkaey Asam Uthaw’s daughter. My dream has led me to believe that my other half is here. His name is Spider, perhaps you have encountered him…?” The Olo’eykte studies her for a moment, tilting her head up a bit since the teen is taller by more than half a head. “I am Wawyiu Putxì Kualyonoay’s daughter,” Said the older na'vi. “Come, I shall lead you to Spider.” The confirmation made Nupkaey’s ears perk up.

The bouncy material of the walk paths were similar to the Metkayina’s, but they seemed to be wider, maybe to help people not bump into each other. Since the homes were built into a giant cave along the water, it reminded Nupkaey of her village a bit.

Guessing from the direction they were taking, the marui  in the middle of the right row was their destination.

The sound of footsteps caught Spider’s attention, especially when one of them was familiar. His suspicions are confirmed when he hears a quiet “Oeyä Spider?” from the entrance. He still turns his head around, the burning sensation in his neck indicating that he did it too fast, his eyes widening when he sees familiar green eyes staring at him, just as wide as his. Before he can take in the sight of her fully his arms are suddenly full of a purple body, knocking him down on his back with the force of it. Strong arms come around his waist, pressing him close to her body.

Her hold is tight, as if she was afraid he would disappear if it was any looser. Not like Spider isn’t gripping onto her the same way, so he can’t exactly judge her. “Oeyä Nupkaey.” Oh Eywa, he sounds like he’s about to cry, maybe he is already.

•••

Wawyiu leaves the two teens to their reunion, after all this is a private moment, meant only for them. She instead goes to find her co-leader, Ketxe.

She doesn’t have to go far since the Tsahìk’s home is nearby the Healing hut for easy access.

“Perhaps this girl is the purple hand you saw in your dream.” The younger woman hums in answer. “Perhaps.” Wawyiu settles down at her right, but Ketxe doesn’t even give her a glance, keeping her gaze trained on the herbs she is crushing in a bowl.

“What is wrong, dear? Is it about your vision?” The elder one asked, noticing the younger one’s quietness. Ketxe sighed before putting the bowl down and turning to her co-leader. “Why would Eywa save a skyperson from certain death? Especially by gifting him with our features? I simply do not understand, She hadn’t shown such favoritism towards the humans in the Resistance who helped the Returned Sarentu. So why now and why him?”

Wawyiu could see why Ketxe was troubled now and while she herself didn’t know the answers to her questions, she had a few theories. “From what he has told us, he grew up on Eyweveng, perhaps the Great Mother Sees him as Her child, in the way that all na'vi are. After all, he did grow up in our ways rather than the skypeople’s. He respects the balance and never takes more than he needs. He does not show the greed that I have witnessed in those people in the plains.” Ketxe looked at her with thoughtful eyes, nodding as she processed everything.

“For now we should leave him be, to heal and to spend time with the new comer.” She finally says and Wawyiu nods in agreement. Indeed they should let him be.