Imagine: What happens when Na'vi! Caleb tries to protect a human?
~ Read pt1 here to find out how you met him ~
Content warning: blood, size difference, obsessive!Caleb, possessive!Caleb, feral behavior, pathetic and yearner Caleb (no surpirse lol), use of she/her pronouns.
Authors note: Translations from Na'vi to English are ordered according as sentences appear. You can find the translations at the bottom of the post. The translations I did may not be at all correct because I translated word by word trying to make each sentence coherent by using the dictionaries and translators of Na’vi language. Sorry for the incorrect grammatical pronunciations. Also sorry for grammatical errors, english it's not my first language.
This turned out to be longer than the first part jeje.
Credits to divider: @cafekitsune
It was starting to get dark.
The bioluminescent flora began to rise, nocturnal creatures began to crawl out from their dens and the sounds became more prominent and feral around you.
A shiver ran down your spine; you were definitely stupid to think you could make it to a safer place at night. What were you thinking!? God damnit, this is a forest where wild creatures lure around, and you were going to be their next meal.
You kept moving, running, making sure to avoid at all cost the plants that throbbed like a heart beat, waiting to spray their venom as a defense mechanism if you dared to pass near them.
Your bare feet began to hurt, your breathing became heavier at each step, you were starting to get tired, but searching for a place to sleep scared you at the mere idea of staying in an unsafe spot; every part of Pandora looked like it wanted to devour you.
For a second, you thought it was better to have stayed at Caleb's small hometree. “No!" You yelled at yourself focusing on reality again.
Caleb hadn’t listened to you, even if you lamely tried communicating with him by signs or with just some words you managed to learn those few days with him, it didn't seem like he wanted to let go of you.
Did he consider you as a pet?
That's why he was always looking at every move of yours?
Then what did all those gifts meant?
He always came back after long hours with small injuries in his body, but with that big dumb puppy smile on his face and something for you.
It seemed more like he was taking care of you as he was always making sure you would eat the food he had hunted. But why?
A sudden roar from an enormous creature made you almost lose all color from your skin, the sound was approaching fast in your direction. You quickly managed to hide under big roots from a tree, hoping that the creature wouldn't find you as it kept growling in a deep pitch tone. You saw as that gigantic beast passed dashing where you were seconds ago, running from something, but that didn't mortify you more when you saw a group of Na'vi riding six legged beasts as they went at the gigantic one.
The Na’vi were shouting between them, holding their bows with precise technique and shooting at the Sturmbeest.
You were in their hunting zone. You were definitely dead.
One Na’vi shot his last arrow at the Sturmbeest who fell to the ground lifeless with a loud thud. Another Na’vi with ash blonde hair climbed down from his Direhorse, accommodating the bow on his torso and kneeling in front of their hunt, his words inaudible to you. The last Na’vi followed him, kneeling by his side.
You looked at them, amazed by their hunting skills. So this is how Caleb hunted too, you thought.
In the RDA they didn't show you this part of the Na'vi culture, explaining that they were just big blue monkeys with primitive brains; even though you only had interacted with one Na'vi these days, Caleb didn't act like humans described. He was civilized, yes he had his own traditions, but he was no brute or primitive creature with no brain. They had a soul, a heart, a mind of their own to have this strong bond with their planet. Humans told you they were deeply connected with something called Eywa thanks to the neural queue.
The Na’vi who had shot his arrow at the Sturmbeest was still mounting his Direhorse as he was attentive to his surroundings; that's when he smelled you, a strange aroma, something new, not from Pandora.
His big yellow eyes glowed with intensity, searching, it was a small movement but noticeable for a skilled hunter. He saw you under those roots, immediately getting down from the Direhorse and shouting “Vrrtep!", he aimed his arrow at you but failed the shot incrusting on the dry root near your head.
You dropped to the ground trying to dig yourself under the tree, deeper, but it was useless, the soil digging under your nails and combining with your blood. The Na’vi went for you, crawling under the roots and yanking the shawl that Caleb had made you, making you hit your head with the same stiff root when another sudden force made you stumble in his grasp as the Na’vi let go of you falling to the ground. There was a beeping sound in your head as you tried focusing on your surroundings.
Na'vi! Caleb, who followed your trace with ease, your scent wasn't that far enough now, he ran in the opposite direction from the river, trails he already knew to will. “She is gonna get herself killed" said Caleb, frustrated as he recognized where he was. His territory, just a few kilometers from his hunting zone. Hometree.
He began to run, his heartbeat became quicker, his mind wandering to possible fatal scenarios when he smelled the blood combined with the reek of your fear in the ambience. Oh he was going to kill whoever dared to lay a hand on you.
He stopped abruptly when his eyes landed on your terrified form under the tree roots as one of his clan members was trying to reach at you. Caleb didn't think twice, he lunged at the Na’vi, holding him by the neck with his bicep and hand, forcing him to the ground with a clean flip. The other Na’vi immediately got up hissing at Caleb, fangs at full display as they growled at each other with their hunting daggers in hand.
The Na’vi didn't understand Caleb's actions at first as his eyes lingered at the way he held the human to his chest with protection. “What is this, Caleb!?" The Na’vi dropped his hunting dagger as he stood straight again. "That is a demon! A skypeople!”
Na’vi! Caleb, who showed no fear in his face, still crouched in the ground as his tail swished with anger, looking at the other Na’vi eyes with challenge. “It is Eywa’s gift. A mate. My mate." Caleb didn't break pose, still defensive, if he needed to kill he would kill, at that moment he didn’t care he was dealing with a member of his clan. No Na’vi in their right mind would dare to touch another's mate, they considered a sacred will of Eywa.
"Those creatures are killing our home! Skypeople shouldn't be forgiven” the Na’vi frowned at Caleb's words.
"She isn't like those skypeople!” Caleb straightened up, he was careful to hold you in a better position in his arms, being alert to his surroundings. “She breathes our air, she has a growing kuru. It is more than enough proof to understand she has parts of us in her blood".
“She is like those four fingered walking demons, made in their laboratories!".
“Our Olo’eyktan won't accept her, Caleb" said the ash blonde Na’vi. He cleaned his hunting dagger, putting it inside the ornament crossing his chest. He walked to be in front of Caleb, looking at the human in his arms. " Where did you find her?”.
"Near the frontiers of the human base. You know they began expanding to my hunting zone, Xavier." Caleb took a step back.
Xavier observed with curiosity at the growing kuru from your nape, he barely lifted his hand to trace the end of your braid when Caleb was already hissing, showing his fangs as a slight warning. Xavier lowered his hand again, looking at Caleb with seriousness. “You know it’s a risk to us if skypeople get near our territory.”
"Neither is a risk I will take so our Olo’eyktan will kill her, she has been safer with me, far from our clan.”
"You will never be welcomed in our Hometree if you dare to protect a skypeople” said the Na'vi who had fought with Caleb. "This is the Olo’eyktan choice, you’ll just bring disgrace to us” his expression only showed pure disgust at you. “That thing has corrupted your mind”.
"Who are we to decide?” Xavier held a hand out to the other Na'vi to make him calm down. “The stories are true that Eywa chose Toruk Makto to fight for us, he is known for being a walking demon, descendant of these skypeople, but respected by all clans”. The other Na’vi only scoffed. Every Na’vi knew the song. “If it was Eywa's will to have given her to Caleb as a mate, then let her prove if she can be part of us Na’vi. Don't judge without understanding first what Eywa has introduced us today"
Na’vi! Caleb, who was not pleased that Xavier somehow convinced Zayne to go with him to his small home in his hunting zone. He used to fight with him when they were children, arguing over everything, even now as grown adults they didn't tolerate each other.
It was known in their clan that Zayne was an exceptional medic; no Na’vi in their sane mind would refuse his medical attention. Caleb didn’t deny it, but the mere thought by Xavier’s suggestion to let Zayne help you didn’t make him that happy.
“Don’t get too comfortable. Consider this just a favor to Xavier. I could've handled this myself”. Caleb entered first, moving aside with his stiff shoulder the curtains made with beads.
Zayne ignored him by following with calm steps, carrying some of his medical instruments and herbs in one arm; he almost snarled a curse when Caleb had intentionally let the curtain smack on his face. "Then I suppose you can handle the death of your supposed mate with no mortification. Don't know why I bother”, he murmured to himself that last sentence as he was willing to go back to Hometree.
Caleb grabbed his arm with force glaring at him, anxious. "Just do what you have to do and leave”.
Na’vi! Caleb, who is looking at each of Zayne's actions. Watching meticulously as Zayne’s hands touch near your nape, massaging and searching for any deep injury. He applies the ointment on some small scratches on your head from the hit and other parts of your body. “She has no commotion, just let her rest. Make sure she drinks this when she wakes up" he handles him the liquid medicine.
Caleb took it as he inspected it with his fingers. "If you dare to kill her with this…"
“If I wanted to kill her, I would have done it even before Xavier explained your situation to me. Not all of us think that most skypeople are bad.” He looked at your kuru, but took his gaze away immediately if he wanted to prevent a pointless fight. He knew how violent sometimes Caleb could be. "I can sense it in her”.
Caleb looked at him with slight surprise, strange coming from Zayne as it was known of him to spend his life confined in Hometree, never daring to explore beyond their territory. Zayne was no skilled hunter who flew with an Ikran, he preferred sedentarism than exploring. So why did he also believe that some skypeople weren't soulless creatures? Did he already meet one?
Na'vi! Caleb, who kept watch all night, his mind was on full alert as his eyes begged to close for a bit, but he sacrificed it for your well being; he always would. After Zayne left past midnight, he made sure you were still breathing, letting your body process the medicine, analyzing each of your reactions as you adapted.
He observed your face, his hand cupping your head completely, caressing with his thumb your eyes, your nose, your lips, everything of you enamored him more and more. Just imagining losing you again made his heart thump quickly, he was scared at the thought of finding your lifeless body in the forest. His tail swished anxiously erasing those ideas, you were here now, safe and sound, that's all it mattered.
He just needed you to understand, he had all the time in the world to show you he was a perfect mate, a devoted partner for life and after this one, you wouldn't need anybody else, never; he was more than capable to protect you, be a strong warrior and husband who would take good care of his future family.
It was dawn already, and the heavy rain was going on for hours.
You began to stir from your sleep, opening your eyes as you saw the curtain of beads moving slightly due from the cold breeze. Where were you? The last thing you remembered was that Na'vi wanting to kill you.
Large fingers traced your waist, shivers running down your spine. You flinched looking behind you, scared; there he was, resting behind you as his yellow purplish eyes looked at you. Your mind finally understanding where were you.
“Ma yawne. Oe säfpìl oe han nga" his fingers gently caressed your arm, sliding all the way to your neck, his knuckles brushing your jawline.
“I just wanted to leave this place" you shivered at his touch, some tears accumulating in your eyes. “I don't want to feel like I'm trapped again”. Your hands scrunched on the pelts beneath you, your voice trembling “I appreciate you from saving me, but being locked up here just makes me hate it more. Please.” you whimpered that last word.
Caleb frowned at the tears welling up in your eyes, leaning on his elbow to have a better access at you. Had he hurt you? Did you have a bad dream? He didn't understand the words that came from your mouth but you looked anxious, his gaze searching in yours for a solution. “To tìtseri nga txopu? Oe ke sti, nìyey sngum”.
You tried to remember, tried to search in your memories the few Na'vi words that you used to hear or see in the RDA and the words he spoke. You needed to make him understand somehow.
"Fìtseng (Here)” what did you even mean by that, you thought as you pointed to the floor, you just wanted to make him understand that you didn't want to be captive all your life. “Fìtseng” you said the word again as you shook your head “Fìtseng kehe. I don’t wanna be confined all my life here, no more"
Caleb understood those two words like a stab on the heart; you didn't want to be here with him, you weren't happy, he was the reason you were crying. What did he do wrong to make you feel like this?
He immediately sat on the hammock, worried. His thumbs cleaned your tears, he hadn’t meant to make you scared of him, he just wanted to make you happy and feel protected. Eywa damn him if he was going too quick, maybe humans didn't show affection like their people did. Why was he selfish thinking you could immediately adapt to his lifestyle? Yes, you had a kuru to bond with his world, you had part Na'vi and he understood, but maybe you didn't feel the same way as he did. You just needed time, and he would give you all the time in the world, it didn't matter what he had to endure to make you happy.
“Ngaytxoa, oe ngaytxoa” he rested his forehead on yours as he closed his eyes.
You were shocked when he opened them and you also saw tears. Why was he crying? Did you say something wrong in his language?
Your hand traveled to his brown locks, your fingers dipping in the strands, something in you wanting to comfort him, make him understand. You knew there was nowhere to go, back to the RDA meant hell, being alone in Pandora’s forest would get you killed, and Caleb was your only and last choice to survive; maybe you could adapt but you needed to make him understand that you couldn't live like this, not like a prisoner.
Your heart fluttered when both of his big hands cupped your face and part of your neck, his lips kissed so gently your forehead, descending to both of your eyes, the point of your nose; your face felt hot as his lips left another kiss on cheek, near your lips, so near as if wanting to transmit his pain and regret. Caleb backed his face from yours.
Something wasn't right. Something deep in you made you tremble as he backed away, the sensation of his touch on your skin made you crave but it immediately vanished, transforming in anxiety. You turned your back to him, laying down on the hammock again and curling yourself on the pelts. The sensation scared you, but also excited you.
Caleb didn't touch you again after that, both of you going back to sleep.
The rain didn’t stop as morning came.
Vrrtep: Demon.
Ma yawne. Oe säfpìl oe han: My beloved, I thought I lose you.
To tìtseri nga txopu?: Than is apparent you fear? / What he meant: Are you scared? | Oe ke sti, nìyey sngum: I’m not angry, just worried.
Fìtseng kehe: Here no.
Ngaytxoa, oe ngaytxoa: Sorry, I’m sorry.
Authors note: I really liked how this second part turned out. The third and last part is gonna have the delicious smut I've been craving to write.
© finding-galaxys : Please do not translate, repost or use my work to feed ai.
