✿✿Swim Good✿✿
Author’s Note - I kind of just came up with this one randomly! But I think it would be like a good concept for bringing Awpxey, Aiya, and reader closer together. It might be pretty long, so buckle up!! Please excuse any grammar mistakes! And, of course, enjoy reading!!
Summary - It was a good day, everything was going fine. The weather was perfect, the ocean relaxing you as you swam around on your Ilu with Aiya and Awpxey. What happened? What happened when you went past the reef? Why did this storm have to come now? Trapping you in a rock cave on an island, in the middle of the ocean, only being able to hope for a miracle.
Warnings - sneaking away in broad daylight, crying, fear of the deep sea — thalassophobia, fear of extreme storms — lilapsophobia, fear of the dark — nyctophobia, panic attack, trapped, fainting, mentions of injuries, mentions of genitalia, speaking crazy out of fear, comfort, rescuing
“Come on!” You whisper shouted, trying to discreetly leave with Awpxey and Aiya in tow.
“We’re right behind you Y/n!” Aiya whisper shouted back. “We can’t be swimming on top of you.”
“Why are we whispering?” Awpxey questioned, in a whisper.
“Oh. Right.” You scratched the top of your head. “I don’t know? It just happened, it adds to the secrecy anyway.” You shrugged. Aiya added her two sense. “I mean I guess.. We are literally sneaking away to go beyond the reef midday, anyone can probably see us leave, that’s probably why she was whispering.” You nodded, smiling for your defense.
“See Awpxey. Aiya agrees.” You say smugly, leaning towards his face. He rolls his eyes, pecking your lips before you can back away, mumbling. “Yeah, yeah.”
Aiya giggled, taking the front so she can lead you both towards the reef.
“When we’re out there, we should like look for a small little island that we can hang out on!” You propose the idea excitedly. “Is that okay though Aiya?” You asked, leaning onto her side, making puppy eyes. She smiled, agreeing. “Yes Y/n we can do that, you don’t have to make puppy eyes.”
An accent rolled off her tongue, since technically there are no dogs on Pandora, they don’t exactly know what a puppy is. So you obviously were teaching some things, to both Aiya and Awpxey.
“Okay!” You squealed, your Ilu following along and copying your own noises.
“You know sometimes I feel like we both can just talk to each other. She understands me and I can understand her, out loud. I speak Ilu.” You said randomly. Awpxey once again rolled his eyes. “Not surprised tìyawn, you are gifted.” Aiya giggled. “You know I do believe you, when you make noises back to her, her eyes follow along. Like a conversation between two people.”
You smiled looking down to your Ilu. “See, they know we have a bond.” Leaning down and kissing the top of her head. She squeaked in response.
“Oh Y/n, what is her name? I’ve never heard you say it before.” Aiya asked. You looked down, fiddling with the fabric on your loincloth. “Oh.. I didn’t know we could name them. I thought that like anybody just used anyone’s Ilu if they were around, so I never named her.” Aiya’s face softened. “I should have explained them better to you, sorry about that Y/n. But go ahead, give her a name.”
You looked towards the sky, chewing on your lip in thought. What would be a good name for your Ilu? She was a good listener, she came up to you and bonded with you, no hassle, she’s just a gentle creature. What would fit her the best?
After a couple minutes of pondering silence you finally chose a name and said it out loud.
“Toula.”
You smiled at the way the name sounded, it was pretty, and Toula had made a sound, a very high pitched one that sounded almost.. Grateful.
“That’s a beautiful name.” Aiya said smiling, Awpxey nodded in agreement not long after, a smile mirroring on his face.
“Yeah,” you looked down into her eyes whispering. “Toula.”
Now, about 20 minutes out riding your Ilus, you spot an idle island with a spacious rock cave, pointing to it and calling out its existence excitedly.
You tried to ignore the harsh twist in your stomach as you seen the irregularly large boulders unsteadily ‘stacked’ over the cave.
Guiding Toula towards the island, you dismount her as you carefully climbed the tricky rocks edge, successfully getting over the edge. Once you were up, you turned to tell Toula she could swim around, and pull Awpxey and Aiya onto the ledge.
The sky had turned grey, and little patters of rain started to fall from the sky, small sounds of thunder ringing through.
"Go on Toula, go swim, okay?" You say to her as you pull both Aiya and Awpxey on at the same time. You furrowed your brows in confusion as you seen only Toula looking back at you.
‘All the other Ilus left already?’ You ask yourself in your head. You took note at how Toula was looking at you strangely, a distressed look and sound coming from her.
“Toula? What’s wrong?” You turned back to look at Awpxey and Aiya. “Guys. Guys I think something’s wro- Oh?” Once you turned around, Toula was gone.
Before you could even register it, a wave came up over the rock’s ledge, swallowing you into the Sea.
You got pulled down deep under, towards the sea floor. And the current that was throwing you underwater crashed your face into some coral, making a rough scratch on the corner of your forehead.
Trying to swim up, you were only forced farther down, your ankle getting stuck into another patch of coral. Even trying to attempt pulling your foot from it was a joke, the current of the ocean rocked you back and forth, your oxygen running low.
The push and pull on your ankle against the coral caused more scratches on the skin, making it burn so uncomfortably.
Just as your vision began to get blurry, a figure was swimming down towards you. You couldn’t see it clearly yet, but it was Awpxey, a rock in hand as he approached your leg. Caressing your calf before striking the coral with the rock, breaking your foot free successfully.
Just as black spots began to cloud your vision you were being brought to the surface. Black slowly began to encompass your vision, causing you to see nothing. You were slipping.
Slipping.
Slipping.
Slipping.
Color enveloped you again as you took a breath. The air filling your lungs giving you relief. Feeling as if you just took your first ever breath.
The screams around you were muffled. The only things you were able to register was Awpxey’s warm skin pressing against your back, the rocks ledge in front of you, the opaque white sea foam that was everywhere due to the harshness of the waves, and the push and pull of the water.
The Sea rocking you in what felt like a harsh lullaby. But that’s what Mother Nature does right?
Relief started to build in your chest as you felt yourself being pushed, then pulled onto the edge. Though it was short lived as another wave came crashing over you, wanting to swallow you back into the ocean. But with all of the force coming over you, all it did was push your body down into the rock, splitting your lip against the rough, wet rock.
That’s when all your hearing came back.
The wind, the rain, the thunder, the water, the screaming.
You were able to hear all of it.
You felt the warm liquid trickle from your lip, seeing it splatter then mix with the rest of the angry ocean, tasting the large sum that went into your mouth.
Soon, arms were on both of your biceps, dragging you hurriedly towards that damn rock cave that was giving you the creeps just earlier.
With the adrenaline, you started to walk too, at a pace that was too close to a run. Putting all that pressure on your ankle.
Once all three of you entered, getting shielded from the rain, you breathed out calming down for a little bit.
Just before a striking pain shot up from your ankle to your leg, through your arms, up to your brain. Hell, even to your queue if you would.
Shooting your head back, your knees buckled, not being able to handle the pain traveling from your ankle.
You were laid on the floor quickly, Awpxey coming down to your side to hold your face. “Tíyawn! Tíyawn are you okay?” He asked frantically.
“My foot.” You shook your head as you sobbed. Awpxey tried his best to wipe your tears before he went to examine your ankle himself.
You caught the way he physically flinched, reeling back from your leg, eyes wide in shock.
“What?” You asked breathlessly, scared to even know what it was yourself. “What is it Awpxey what’s wrong?”
It seemed like he snapped out of it when you called for him. “N-no! Nothing! It’s nothing.” His eyes flicked between yours and your ankle.
“No. There’s obviously something wrong. You’re staring at my foot as if I have fifteen penises for toes! What’s wrong!?” You exclaimed in fear, talking irrationally since you were beginning to become nervous at his suspensive look.
Once the silence became enough for you, you began to sit up yourself, and see why your ankle made both Aiya and Awpxey silent. When you finally sat up, you gasped.
It was ghastly.
Your ankle looked disgusting. It was all shades of pinks, blues, and blacks, it was tilt at a very, very unusual angle, and your bone could be seen under your skin, trying to pierce through.
“Oh.. Oh my Ey-” you passed out before even getting to finish your sentence.
“Y/n!” Aiya exclaimed, tapping your cheek with a firm hand to bring your consciousness.
You gasped as you sat up. The pain in your ankle continuing to throb. Gripping your hair, pulling at the strands. “M-my foot is ruined. I can’t believe I was running on it. I’m never gonna feel my foot ever again.” As you rambled on, Awpxey took hold of your hands, untangling each from your hair.
“Y/n.. I need you to listen to me closely okay?” Awpxey spoke softly. You nodded, listening to his calm tone.
“I need to pop this back in place…” He whispered, not wanting to even say it to you out loud.
“What!?” You screamed, your voice echoing through the cave. Thunder striking over your echoes, causing a rumble through the empty space.
“Yes Y/n, I know it’s going to hurt but we have to, okay?” He tried to reason with you calmly. But you were out of your mind. It’s not your fault though, was it? You were scared. And you had every right to be. You heard that popping dislocations and bones and such back into place hurt more than the actual break. You didn’t want to try and see if that was true yourself!
“No, no.” You shook your head, “we really don’t have to.”
When Awpxey approached your upper body with a frown, pushing you down softly by your shoulders.
You knew he was serious.
“Do we really have to?” Your meek voice killed him, Awpxey hated to see you in pain. It’s all the worse now knowing he is the one putting you through it.
Looking to Aiya — the only healer in their right mind — for confirmation, she gave him a small solemn nod. And that’s all he needed to know he could continue.
Aiya had to get you ready though. She knew she would have to restrain you, so she took both of your hands and held them to your chest lightly, holding your other leg down with hers.
Now you were becoming frantic. The reality of what was about to happen settling into your nerves.
“No, no, no, no, no!” You cried out. “Please no, don’t do it please!” Shaking your head side-to-side roughly, hoping they will somehow change their minds and not pop your ankle back into place.
"Aiya! Please don't let him do it to me, Aiya!" You pulled your hand from under hers, grabbing onto her forearm in pain, begging for her to not let Awpxey go through with his plan.
"I'm sorry Y/n but I have to. It's going to help you, I swear." She muttered to you solemnly, tears of fear and pain were streaming from your eyes. “But why?” You tried your best at stalling enough time, enough for them to get distracted and forget, but Awpxey was aware of this.
He was unfortunately a step ahead of you.
Before Aiya could even answer your question, Awpxey had grabbed your ankle, popping your split bone into its original position.
A sickening pop. Then a scream.
A horrible one.
The scream you let out was bloodcurdling.
It just went on and on and on and on. Awpxey blinking his tears back as he seen the way you shook. Aiya trying her best to rub your head and sooth you somewhat from the pain which she has seen a lot of.
“Let me see if I can find anything to wrap it.” Aiya whispered before she stood, walking a bit deeper into the cave to see if she could find anything, anything to help you.
After a few minutes, she came back with two handfuls of a slimy, seaweed like leaf.
“This is wur rìk.” She said with a small smile. “It is a cooling leaf. This slick on the outside is like a, uh, what do you say? Gel? Yes, yes, a gel. The gel absorbs heat and produces more of the cooling slick. This will help your ankle. It is a good plant.” Aiya explained to you and Awpxey, feeling happy that she was able to provide more assistance to you.
“Thank you Aiya.” You rasped out. With a nod, she approached your foot. “Let me get this wrapped for you. I will try to be as gentle as I can.” She gave you a worried look, but you offered her a smile. “Don’t worry about it Aiya, it’s okay.” You were trying to just learn now how to accept the fact that there will be moments where you’re fine, and then randomly end up like this. You’ll be fine.
You’ll get through this.
You tell yourself as you feel Aiya pick up your ankle. You hold back the sharp inhale you were close to taking, choosing to let Aiya just do her job in peace.
Through the whole process, you held your ground. Not yelping when your ankle was pressed on, not wincing when the leaf was pulled too tight in one area.
Awpxey frowned, not liking when you entered this solemn state of silence. Choosing to only stay to yourself, choosing to be alone with your thoughts.
After a silent agonizing several minutes, Aiya straightened her back. “It is done.” She said, giving you a small smile.
“Thank you Aiya.” Awpxey said as he stood, rubbing her shoulder before coming to kneel at your upper body.
All Awpxey could do was examine you. He felt somehow the pain you are in now is his fault.
“Tìyawn..” Awpxey said as he grabbed your hand, intertwining your fingers before kissing your knuckles. “I’m sorry..”
“Awpxey.” You say tiredly, “I’m not dead. I know you didn’t mean to hurt me. Yes it hurt very, very bad, but you only did what you had to do. It is not your fault.” You say as you pat his chest with a small smile.
He gave one in return, though the sorrow and guilt could be seen deep in his eyes. The injuries on your face looking devastatingly close to the ones from that night.
A flash from your face of that night racing through his thoughts before disappearing.
Then he heaved a sigh.
The wind was getting increasingly worse, the harsh breeze making you shiver.
Then, suddenly, a rumbling was felt throughout the cave. What is happening? Is this an earthquake?
Before anything could be registered out loud, the rocks that were unsteadily standing around and over the cave fell.
They all fell.
Trapping you three inside.
The sudden rush of darkness that swallowed the cave came unexpectedly, making your skin crawl with goosebumps.
You sat up quickly. “Awpxey? A-Awpxey where are you?” Feeling around frantically, your breath hitched as your heart felt as if it were about to leap out of your chest. Tears bubbled on your waterline, the panic getting to you as you started to slap the ground, looking for Awpxey.
You finally relaxed once you felt his familiar grasp on your hands.
“I’m right here, baby. Right where I’ll always be, here okay?” His hands came to caress your face, trying to calm you down.
You began to feel better as you seen his tanhìs begin to glow in the dark.
But reality kicked in when you noticed Aiya was gone, moreso, she hadn’t spoke. “Aiya. Where’s Aiya?” You turned your head, squinting, trying to make your eyes get use to the dark quicker. “Aiya!” You called out to the dark crevices of the cave.
There wasn’t a response.
“Awpxey. Awpxey, Aiya’s gone!” Before Awpxey could respond, there was a sound of engulfing flames behind you. Turning quickly, you both were met with the sight of Aiya throwing skinny twigs into a small fire.
“I’m right here Y/n. Sorry for scaring you Tanhì.” She said with a frown. You shook your head, a small smile — and blush from the nickname — on your face.
You looked to Awpxey with exasperated eyes. “Can you help walk me to the fire? I don’t wanna put pressure on this again.” You pursed your lips as you thought of the stupid coral that got you in this predicament in the first place.
Awpxey stood with no hesitation, and as you began to try to, he grabbed the back of your knees. Now you were held in a bridal position, a small yelp came from you as you didn’t expect it at all, covering your face with your hands as you began to feel embarrassed.
“Awpxey! I said walk me!” You muffled into your hand. Aiya giggled as Awpxey set you down, “I think that was good enough, if not better you know tìyawn?” You rolled your eyes, trying to discreetly fan your face. “Yeah, yeah whatever.. Thank you though, I guess.” You said with a smug roll of your shoulders. “Hmm, yeah. You’re welcome.” Awpxey said as he reached towards your leg, pinching your thigh. “Ow!” How exaggerated you were. He rolled his eyes this time.
“Aiya did I even pinch her that hard?” He asked the girl sitting across the fire, and she smiled. “She’s quite injured, probably sensitive. I would be careful Awpxey.” She stated with a teasing smile.
“Wha-? Aiya!? You’re supposed to be on my side!” Awpxey exclaimed, mocking offense. You giggled, pointing in his face. “See! She actually wants to help me! And let me feel better unlike you who’s only just assaulting me!”
Awpxey kissed his teeth, rolling his eyes again.
“I hope they get stuck like that, skxawng.” You say as you lay down against the ground, trying to get comfortable.
“I’m getting tired.. ‘M gonna try to take a nap, okay guys?” You yawned before talking sluggishly.
Aiya nodded from behind the fire. “Go ahead Y/n, injuries like that drain energy.”
Hours later, you awoke from the uncomfortable pull of your stomach.
Sitting up, you were met with Aiya trying to teach Awpxey a hip dance.
You laughed, “don’t even waste your breath or energy Aiya. He can’t dance.” You shake your head as you rub your eye.
“I’m trying!” Awpxey exasperated to you.
Looking towards the entrance to the cave, you frowned, the boulders still blocking the cave from any possible exit.
“Is it the next day yet?” You asked nervously. Aiya shook her head in response, “I don’t believe so, I don’t think it can actually. It’s most likely night.” Awpxey hummed as he agreed.
“Do you… Do you think they’re going to come look for us?…” You stated hesitantly, the question floated in the air, setting into stone.
“They have to.” Awpxey said looking towards the floor. “I know they are worried about us.” He lifted his head with a firm nod.
“They’ll come for us when the storm passes. As they know how dangerous it really is to go beyond the reef in the middle of one.” Aiya stated, turning around to grab more twigs she collected.
“I hope they’re all okay.” You held yourself, your hand rubbing at your shoulder. Aiya smiled, “they’re okay Y/n. As long as they stay put in their maruis, they’ll be fine.” You relaxed your body before smiling and nodding.
“They’re smart, they’ll wait until the time is right.” You reassured — yourself — out loud.
Your stomach growled, and then you remember the reason why you even got up.
“I’m hungry.” You whisper into the air quietly, embarrassed as you feel like you shouldn’t be thinking about food at a time like this.
“Me too.” Aiya said shortly after.
“Mh.” Awpxey hummed, thinning his lips into a line as his eyes unfocused in thought.
“Maybe there’s something in here we could eat? Like berries, or something?”
You nodded quickly not opposed to the idea at all.
“That’s true. Should we split and try looking for something?”
Looking towards the direction where the cave continues, you see how dark it really is.
“It looks like a bottomless pit.”
You shook your head as you spoke again, “I’m not going over there. Hell no. I’m staying by this fire. I’ll starve if I have to.”
You lowered yourself to the floor, groaning as you felt a strain in your ankle before it settled.
“It’ll be fine Y/n, we’ll go.” Aiya nodded, but you shook your head.
“How will you see? It is too dark!” You tried to protest, your fear getting the best of you.
“Maybe we should just stay here and wait?” You tried to convince not only them but yourself too.
Were they really going to come for you? They hadn’t forgotten?.. Had they?
Behind the trees, weeps were heard. Stifled sobs and choked up cries and coughs were what could be heard behind the jagged, hot rock Lo’ak was pushed up against.
“We’re gonna find you Y/n. Promise.”
Once the promise was set to the quiet air around him, he broke down once more.
Though the obvious shrill shrieking that came from the water in front of him caused him to snap out of it.
There, in the water, swam Toula — your oh so precious Toula — swimming in circles crying out in distress.
Where were you? Why is it only Toula here?
Lo’ak snapped up as the realization dawned upon him.
Standing up quick, he turned to run and tell his new discovery.
Aiya hung her head, sighing as she put her hand to her nape. She then turned with a quick ‘I’ll make use of myself’ before she slowly faded into the dark jaws of the cave.
You swallowed nervously. “G-go with her Awpxey, make sure she’s okay, please? Don’t stand here with me.” You inhaled the musk air around you deeply.
Awpxey looked at you reluctantly, but when you give him a reassuring nod, he turns to the darkness, trying to find Aiya.
No later then ten minutes, you hear light patters of footsteps and cheery voices. Turning your head from the fire you see both Awpxey and Aiya walking towards you, holding a few mauti te pays in their hands.
“Look what we found!” Awpxey said excitedly as he settled down in front of you, you smiled — happy to see him smiling since he was so down earlier.
“And they’re ripe, which I’m shocked.” Aiya said as she settled down a little ways away, you pursed your lips.
“Aiya, come closer, you look so far.” You beckoned her closer with your hand.
The girl’s face flushed, and she hoped that neither you or Awpxey were able to see, and if you did, just hope it was from the fire.
“A-Alright, if you want me to.” You gave her a reassuring nod as she came closer.
Picking up a mauti, you turned it around in your hands. “It’s not much but it’ll definitely hold us over until they find us, the storm must have stopped or something. I don’t hear anymore of that wind.” You nod, trying not to dwell on it too much.
“That should give them enough time to try and search for us, we didn’t go that far out.”
“Mh.”
Awpxey pulled out his hunting knife, taking one of the idle mautis off the floor before cutting around the stem, stopping when a small hole was made and juice came out.
“Here tìyawn, try to get your energy up.” Awpxey said quietly as he softly handed you the fruit.
Thanking him, you began to take eager gulps of the not-too-sweet juice just as he began chopping another fruit and handing it to Aiya, a small smile on his face.
“I’ll cut a bigger hole into it when you guys are done, so you can eat the skin from the inside.
You and Aiya nodded without hesitation, not opposed to his offer.
Three mautis later, you flop your back against the ground of the cave. “I’m full.” You groan out, placing a hand on your bloating stomach.
Aiya giggled, “well at least you aren’t malnourished, huh?”
You nodded quickly, “oh yeah, that would suck. Wouldn’t it?” You turn your head to her and she gave you a exaggerated nod.
A involuntary yawn slipped from your mouth. “Hm.. I got tired again, sorry I’m sleeping so much guys, I don’t usually take naps like this.”
“Tanhì! You have no reason to apologize! With the injuries you’ve sustained, you have every right to sleep for as long as you’d like.” Aiya scolded you, tsking as she watched you blink rapidly to keep your eyes open.
“Go to bed Y/n, you need it.” Awpxey whispered behind you gently.
“No, no I’m okay…” The end of your sentence was dragged out and sluggish as you succumbed to your fatigue while you were talking.
Aiya and Awpxey smile towards each other, giggling softly. Thier night ends with them saying goodnight to each other and Awpxey cuddling up next to you.
Jake trailed behind your Ilu desperately, keeping up the exact same pace Toula was. “C’mon, c’mon, c’mon.” He whispered to himself, his nerves starting to run hot and cold from the pure anxiety he felt.
Where did the three of you go?
Did Quaritch find you?
He’s snapped out of his thoughts when he hears Toula screech, slapping desperately at the water near the rock ledge of a beach that had a completely covered up rock cave.
Is he here?
Are you alive?
Are any of you alive?
What the hell? Are you all in there?
Acting quickly Jake hopped off his tsurak and onto the rocks wasting no time, the other villagers who offered to help search unmounted their animals also.
Loud bangs and clangs around you woke you up. It was still completely dark in the cave, pitch black if you will.
But there was this sound, sounds of voices and harsh movement.
Getting up as slowly as you can, grunting quietly here and there as to not wake Awpxey and Aiya, you stand.
Albeit you’re a bit wobbly since you haven’t stood on your own these past — how many hours?
Cautiously, you limp your way toward the rock barricade, placing your hands against the surprisingly smooth rock. Placing your ear against it, even though you barely heard anything else, a familiar voice was screaming.
“—it the rocks as hard as you can! We —ave to —reak them up of —ere!” The voice was going in and out between the thick layer of the rock, but you knew any day who that was.
That voice belonged to your father.
Your eyes widened in an exciting realization.
“They’re here!” You turned slightly, leaning onto the rock for support. “Guys, please wake up! They found us!”
Aiya and Awpxey snapped up as all they heard was you yelling.
“What did you say?” They say in unison, shock written on their faces as they began to register the bangs against the rocks.
“Dad!” You scream towards the rock wall, hoping it would somehow travel through.
Jake’s ears snapped up, he lifted his hand against the shoulder of a man bashing the rock with his sphere, a silent plea to stop.
“Did you hear that?” He asked no one in particular, but the Na’vi next to him had nodded, “I did.”
Jake stepped closer to the rock, waving Neytiri over with his finger. Leaning his head against the barricade he spoke.
“Babygirl?”
“—ad!”
Neytiri gasped, tears of happiness rimming her eyes as she began to thank Eywa for letting Toula lead them right to you.
Jake swallowed the lump in his throat, breathing out a big breath of relief before he began to speak again.
“We’re gonna get you out babygirl, we’re all working out here, okay? Who’s in there with you? Just Awpxey and Aiya right?”
“Yes, it’s o—ly us!”
“Are any of you hurt?”
Silence.
“Y/n. Are any of you hurt.”
“She’s hurt pretty severely Mr. Sully.”
A new voice echoed to Jake, and he lifted his head away from the rock.
“Break this thing down until we can retrieve them!” Jake ordered to the many awaiting Na’vi, and they all acted quickly.
Within half an hour, the work of the many Metkayian people paid off. The work also getting done quicker as the three of you hit against the rocks with your own hunting knives and stones scattered around the cave.
It almost didn’t feel real.
The sun blinded your eyes as you limped out the cave. You covered your eyes and groaned as Awpxey held onto your shoulders and walked you towards your distressed parents.
“Y/n!” The first voice to ring out was Lo’ak’s, his nimble body crashing into yours as he gave you a bone-crushing hug.
“Don’t scare me like that ever again.” His voice warbled as he only hugged you tighter. “I’m sorry Lo’ak. I’m here now, okay?” You whispered against his head.
Your parents were at your sides in seconds, your mom grabbing the sides of your face lightly.
“Oh Y/n…” She whispered with tears in her eyes as she looked the bruises and scratched littered on your face.
Jake stood to the side of you, his face contorted into a look of pain.
Your face…
All he can think of is that night. That horrid night where you took one of the most violent beatings just to protect your family.
His babygirl.
“Dad..” You whispered with your head lowered, ears tucked close to your skull in shame.
“I-I’m sorry that I snuck off. It was my fault, I convinced Aiya and Awpxey to sneak out with me, I’m so sorry.” A sob broke through you mid sentence and Jake did nothing but shake his head and grab you tightly, holding you to his chest.
“I don’t care, I don’t care babygirl. As long as you’re all here standing with me I don’t care about anything.” He said as he held all of you close to his chest.
The ride back, you felt a sense of peace as you leaned up against your father’s back, nostalgia taking over you as you think of all the moments when you were little and he would give you piggyback rides.
You didn’t notice until you were being shaken that you fell asleep.
“Hm?” You hum groggily as you peel your face off your father’s back. It was Ronal, a gentle look on her face.
“Come, I wish to tend to your ankle.”
You swallowed the lump in your throat before nodding. “O-okay.” Your father dismounted his tsurak before coming to lift you off the creature’s back and carry you out the water.
Tears bubbled on your waterline as you tucked your head deeper into your father’s neck.
“Dad..” Your voice wavered as you looked at the bruised, swelling skin of your ankle. “I’m really scared.”
Jake furrowed his eyebrows, why were you scared? “Why?”
“My ankle’s broken… The bone snapped and it had to get popped back into place and it hurts so much, dad please I’m really scared.” You rambled out.
Jake didn’t really know what to say.
Why’d you have to get hurt? You’re always put into bad situations and he never knows what to do.
Why can’t he ever protect you?
Why is he such a bad father?
Jake snapped out of his thoughts when he walked into the shade of one of the healing tents.
“Place her down on that mat right there, I will gather the supplies I need.” Ronal said as she walked to another side of the mauri.
“You’re gonna be okay babygirl, I’m right here.”
You nodded reluctantly, squeezing tightly onto his hand as Ronal approached your swollen ankle, taking off the wrapped leaves Aiya had left on you.
Within 15 minutes, Ronal was able to apply creams and re-wrap your ankle, the coolness on it making the pain feel more dull.
You did everything to try and distract yourself from the uncomfortable throb.
Once Ronal declared you were finished, a hand coming down to rub your shoulder, you looked up at her and smiled. Ronal giving a small one in return.
Jake picked you up once more to bring you back to your family mauri, and when you both arrived, everyone was sat scattered about waiting for you both to come back.
Even Aiya was there.
“Y/n!” Tuk yelled out as she ran towards you quickly, she gripped onto your arm and pulled it closer to her head. “I missed you so much!”
You giggled, “I missed you too, Tuk.” You rubbed the braids on her head around. “For your forgiveness, I’ll rebraid your hair for you.”
She nodded quickly, jumping excitedly. “That’s perfect! I’ll make you a bracelet as a thank you!” You don’t mind having more of her little messy creations being added to the already growing amount on your wrists.
“Well then it looks like you’re going to have to rebraid my hair too.” Neteyam said as he walked over to you, his arms crossed in faux disapproval.
“That makes me three.” Lo’ak said coming to stand next to Neteyam.
“No.”
Lo’ak’s faced dropped. “Why not!?” They said in unison.
You pointed your finger to Lo’ak. “Because my hands are going to end up hurting more than my foot and your head too big Lo’ak! Bigger head means more hair and I’m not doing all that!”
“My head is not that big!” He retorted.
“Yeah you’re right, it’s fucking huge!” You laughed in his face.
“You head is fucking huge!” He yelled back.
“Language!” Was the only word echoed throughout the mauri.
After a bit you, Awpxey, and Aiya all ate a well-needed — and well-deserved — meal made fresh by your mother.
When night fall came, Aiya had left to return to her mauri for the night, wanting to catch some sleep. You let her go reluctantly although you wished she could stay.
After all the ‘good nights’ and ‘I love yous’ were exchanged, you rested peacefully.
Eyes shutting knowing you were now safe with your family.
Silently, Jake sat up and look around to everyone in the mauri.
That night, Jake swore to himself that he would be a better man and protect his family better than ever before.
Hi! I am so sorry I have taken so long to update! Life has been busy but doing me pretty well! Four months! I am so sorry for that gap in updating! If any of you have requests, you could send them in and if it doesn’t work try dming me! Please this writers block is getting to me… But besides that! Please excuse any spelling mistakes or errors! And take care of yourselves, love you all so so so much 🤍!