Part 2 of this
So’lek and Eetu silently fight over you.
So’lek was helping tie an arm band around your bicep, it was neatly woven, beautiful beads and stones decorating it. His hands were gentle, making sure to secure it tightly, but not too tight.
“There, ma’eylan” he hummed, quietly admiring his own work. His eyes flicked up to your face, studying you, giving you the same look he would give someone he cared about deeply. It reminded you of when he would have quiet afternoons with his Ikran.
“Thanks, So’lek, it looks great!” You smiled up at him, he looked away and nodded. “You are much welcome, it is my pleasure to help you find your way, even in small ways such as these.” He finally met your eyes again, not smiling, but you could tell he was contempt, happy.
“How long did it take you to make?” You ran your fingers over the colourful stones, feeling their smoothness.
“Not long, I spent maybe a week or so in my spare time.” He looked down once again, like he was embarrassed to meet your gaze. He wasn’t used to doing these kinds of things for people. The truth was, he spent much longer, he spent up to a month studying you, seeing what you liked to decorate your own things with, what colours. Then he spent a considerable amount of time picking the right things, carving the beads, weaving the band, tying the stones. However, he couldn’t bring himself to admit he spent so much time and energy on you, it felt much too personal, for now anyway.
“You should teach me sometime!” Your sparkling eyes met his once again, a smile plastered on your face. Great mother, how those sparkling eyes of yours made his stomach flip, he felt like a teenager again.
“If you would like me to, then I shall, I would be glad.” He cleared his throat, trying to calm his beating heart, slow his swishing tail.
You admired the band for a short moment, before springing to life again. “Thank you, so much! But I have to go, Eetu is supposed to teach me how to hunt!”
Eetu… the name made his gut twist, but he curtly nodded and tightened his lips. Eetu was younger, livelier, not burdened by the trauma of battle, not like he was. “Go, I will be here when you return.”
You bid him goodbye, but not before giving his hand a squeeze, before finally fleeing off for the Aranahe hometree.
Eetu was fixing his headband onto his head, before finally spotted you walking into hometree.
“Sarentu! It is lovely to see you again. You are here for your lessons, I assume?” He gave you a boyish smile, although it held an air of friendliness.
“Eetu! Yeah, I’m here for the lessons you promised yesterday!” You giggled, and oh the sound made his heart flutter, it made him giddy inside.
“Great! Actually, I have a gift for you.” He bent down and rummaged through his belongings, finally pulling out a string. “For you. It is a bow string for when you hunt. I hope it will suffice better than the one you have.” He handed it to you, it was sturdy, and decorated with beads and dyes, in Aranahe fashion.
“Oh it’s beautiful! Thank you.” You admire the work, holding it up to its full length.
“Come! Let us put it on” he beckoned you to follow him, up to the Ikran landing. He sat with you on the edge, smiling to himself as you sat close.
He let you attach the string yourself, mentally patting himself on the back for having taught you how to switch out strings a few lessons ago.
His eye caught the armband around your bicep, it complimented you beautifully, the colours being ones he always associated with you, ones you always wore.
“Your armband is beautiful, did you make it?” He complimented
“Oh, thank you! Actually, So’lek just gave it to me today! He did a great job, didn’t he?” You smiled down at the band briefly, before going back to tying the string onto your heavy bow.
“So’lek?” Eetu felt his mood sour, a frown on his face. He was just glad you were too distracted with his own gift to notice it. “Yes, he is a mighty warrior, respectable. He did a good job.” He felt himself force out. He knew all of those things were true, but that was the exact problem, he felt a pit of jealously in his stomach each time you mentioned him. Each time you talked with him he felt himself become bitter. It was silly, really, he shouldn’t be this childish about something so small, yet, he couldn’t help himself.
The rest of the lesson went just as he had planned, lingering touches, his hands gently readjusting your position as you aimed at a target. You finally caught your own Yerik (hexapede), a clean and merciful kill. He felt pride swell in his chest, if it were not for him, you would not know these things.
You both made your way back to hometree, laughing and talking, when you spotted Etuwa talking with So’lek. “So’lek? What are you doing here?” You jog up to him, that smile that made his breath catch.
“Sarentu… Priya asked me to come and deliver some things to Etuwa, that is all.” He gestured to Etuwa, before spotting Eetu trailing behind you. The sight of the young hunter made his lips twitch into a small frown.
“Eetu.” He gave a greeting nod, only wanting to acknowledge the young man out of obligation.
“So’lek.” Eetu nodded back, feeling much the same about the older, hardened man.
There was a moment of tension between the two, So’lek noting the new string on your bow, and Eetu already having taken note of your new armband.
“Well, I must not keep Priya waiting, I will be going now.” So’lek looked back to Etuwa, giving her a nod, then both you and Eetu and nod. Although Eetu definitely took note of the hand So’lek placed on your shoulder before he left.
Eetu huffed quietly to himself at the action, turning back to you. “I must leave as well, one of the camps has requested my help with a hunt.” He smiled at you, putting a hand over his heart and making his leave.
Etuwa hummed, almost amused by the situation, if it were not for the uncomfortable tension. She sighed and turned to you, “please, be gentle with their hearts.” She gave your shoulder a squeeze before walking off her own way.
You were left standing there, confused, not sure if you should go help So’lek with Priya, assist Eetu on the hunt, ask Etuwa what she possibly meant by that, or go off on your own to think why everyone was being so weird today.
