The Daughter Neytiri Could Not Look At
Story: you were born in the sully family, with five fingers, and a skin Like humans, so neytiri was never able to accept you (part 1)
Just click on any part you want and you will be able to read it: PART 2 /part 3 / part 4/ part 5/part 6 / part 7
You were born smaller than the others.
Not weak. Just…different.
While your brothers came into the world blue like the ocean and striped like their mother, you came out pale. Soft pink skin stretched over delicate features that still looked unmistakably Na’vi. Wide golden eyes. Long ears. Dark hair.
And five fingers.
The moment the clan women placed you into Neytiri’s arms, silence spread through the marui.
Not shock.
Disappointment.
Jake remembered it clearly.
He remembered how your tiny hand wrapped around his thumb immediately, all five little fingers curling tight. He remembered how your eyes opened first for him.
And he remembered the hesitation in Neytiri’s face before she held you closer.
She loved you.
But not easily.
Not naturally.
Not the way she loved the others.
You grew up understanding things children should never understand.
You noticed how Neytiri carried Neteyam against her chest for hours when he was small. How she laughed when Lo’ak caused trouble. How she kissed Kiri’s forehead absentmindedly when passing by.
With you…everything felt more careful.
Measured.
Like she was trying.
And trying was worse somehow.
You were the quietest child in the Sully family.
Neteyam was responsible. Lo’ak was loud. Kiri wandered like a spirit. Tuk climbed on everyone she saw.
But you?
You simply sat beside people.
You never fought over the wooden toys Jake carved. Never screamed when Lo’ak stole your things. Never cried loudly when you got hurt.
You only looked.
Silent. Watching.
Sometimes that made Neytiri uncomfortable.
Because you noticed too much.
Jake noticed it too.
He would find you sitting near the doorway of the marui while your siblings played, your tail curled around your legs quietly.
“You not gonna fight for your toy?” he asked once after Lo’ak snatched the carved ilu from your hands.
You shrugged softly.
“He likes it more.”
Jake stared at you for a long moment before crouching beside you.
“But what if you wanted it?”
You looked down at your hands.
“I do.”
“Then why didn’t you say so?”
Your voice was tiny.
“Lo’ak would be sad.”
Jake’s face changed after that.
Something heavy settled in his chest.
Because children were not supposed to surrender things that easily.
Especially not love.
You liked being held.
That was the strange thing.
Even though you rarely asked for anything, you always melted whenever Jake picked you up.
You especially loved sitting in his lap because your hands looked like his.
Five fingers against five fingers.
Sometimes you would compare them silently, placing your tiny palm against his larger one.
Jake once caught you doing it.
“What’re you thinking about, baby girl?”
You stared at your hands quietly before whispering—
“Mine look right next to yours.”
Jake nearly broke.
After that, he carried you constantly.
On his shoulders. Against his chest. Half asleep during meetings.
The clan stared sometimes.
Some whispered.
Sky demon child.
Demon blood.
Not fully Na’vi.
Jake heard every word.
And every single time, his arm only tightened around you.
But Neytiri…
Neytiri struggled.
She hated herself for struggling.
Because when she looked at you, she saw the people who destroyed her home.
The people who killed her father.
The people who burned the forests.
And then you would smile at her so softly that guilt clawed through her ribs.
You tried hard for her attention.
Eywa, you tried.
You sat beside her while she braided beads. You followed her during gathering trips. You memorized every herb she touched.
You watched her teach your siblings how to use a bow with longing so deep it physically hurt.
Neteyam’s lesson lasted hours.
Lo’ak’s lasted longer because he kept messing around.
Even Kiri got patient instruction despite wandering off repeatedly.
You waited every single time.
Excited.
Hopeful.
Your bow already made by Jake.
Small enough for your hands.
The day finally came when you thought it would be your turn.
You woke before sunrise.
Carefully braided your own hair even though your fingers fumbled.
You sat near the entrance holding your bow across your lap while your tail tapped nervously against the floor.
When Neytiri emerged, your eyes lit up immediately.
“Mother.”
Neytiri paused.
You stood quickly.
“Am I going with you today?”
For a second, something flickered across her face.
Conflict.
Then she looked away.
“Your father will take you.”
The happiness disappeared from your face so fast it hurt to look at.
“But…” you whispered.
Jake looked up immediately from where he sat repairing a knife.
Neytiri avoided your eyes.
“You learn differently.”
You clutched your bow tighter.
“That’s not fair.”
Silence.
Your voice cracked for the first time.
“You took everyone but me.”
Neytiri froze.
Even Lo’ak stopped moving.
You rarely complained.
Rarely protested.
That was what made it worse.
Your golden eyes were already watering, but you kept speaking anyway.
“I waited.”
Jake stood slowly.
“Baby—”
“I practiced holding the bow.” Your breathing became uneven. “I braided my hair like Kiri said mother likes. I woke up early.”
Neytiri finally looked at you then.
And the devastation in your face struck her harder than any blade.
“Why do you not want me?”
The entire marui went silent.
Lo’ak looked uncomfortable. Neteyam lowered his head. Kiri stared at Neytiri carefully.
Because none of them had ever dared say it aloud before.
But everyone knew.
Neytiri’s face tightened.
“That is not true.”
“You look at me differently.”
Her ears flattened instantly.
You stepped back before she could touch you.
“Is it because I look human?”
Jake immediately moved toward you.
But your voice became smaller.
“Am I ugly?”
“No.” Neytiri answered too fast. Too sharp. “Never say that.”
“Then why—”
Her composure broke suddenly.
“Because when I look at you,” Neytiri whispered painfully, “I remember everything they took from me.”
You went still.
Not understanding fully.
But understanding enough.
Your little fingers loosened around the bow.
“Oh.”
That single word shattered Jake completely.
Because you said it like things finally made sense.
Like you had expected there to be a reason all along.
Jake stepped forward immediately and crouched in front of you, grabbing your shoulders gently.
“Listen to me,” he said firmly. “None of this is your fault. You hear me?”
You nodded automatically.
But your eyes had already dimmed.
And Neytiri noticed.
Eywa.
She noticed.
For the first time, she truly saw what her distance had done to you.
Not anger.
Not rebellion.
Just quiet resignation.
Like a child slowly accepting she would always be loved less.
That night, Jake found you asleep alone outside the marui.
Your tiny bow still clutched against your chest.
He carried you inside carefully.
Half-asleep, you instinctively curled against him immediately, seeking warmth.
Jake kissed the top of your head silently.
Then he looked toward Neytiri, who stood watching from across the room.
“She’s just a child,” he said quietly.
Neytiri’s eyes stayed fixed on you.
On your pale skin. Your small fingers wrapped in Jake’s shirt. The face that looked so much like hers despite everything.
And guilt consumed her whole.