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Lone Wolf

*Part Four* (4.4k) Part one here; Part two here; Part three here Part five here

Teylan x fem!na’vi OC

Part four is FINALLY here (im sorry for the wait) It is very Teylan focused this time, i needed to boost his confidence so he went on an adventure! I want to clarify Tamtey and Teylan ARE NOT related, but very close best friends and because they grew up together they see each other as siblings. also i decided to make Tamtey x Ri'nela official in the background bc wlw. anywhoosit, ENJOY!!!!!!

Tags: platonic besties!Teylan x Tamtey, Tamtey x Ri'nela, Nefika likes to meddle, angst, fluff, smut is tbd, found family, emotional trauma (both of them), death, animal abuse (the RDA sucks), mental struggles, self-destruction, future mentions of grooming/manipulation, panic attack, PTSD, hurt/comfort

Summary: Teylan has to figure out if he wants to be bold or lose on something big.

When Elé woke up, she was in a dark tent, laying on her back with a soft woven blanket under her. She lifted her head and allowed her eyes to adjust to the darkness of the tent. She could vaguely make out Tamtey and Ri’nela asleep on a larger pile of similarly woven blankets turned towards each other, holding hands in their sleep. She could hear small bugs buzzing outside, and when she sat up, she ccould see the dark sky starting to lighten. As Elé yawned and rubed the sleep out of her eyes she realized that she never saw Teylan after she left with Ri’nela to get the herbs. She sighed softly at the realization and sat up, thoughts already heavy.

Elé glanced to her left and her hip pouch was next to her blanket. It had been placed neatly next to her soft pile, the strings folded and tucked under. She stared at the bag, moved with tenderness and her throat closed a bit. These na’vi had barely knew her but they showed her such warmth, it overwhelmed her for a moment.

Spending a year and a half away from all other na’vi had done something to her and she didn’t know what to do about it. Having someone be tender towards her, take care of her, felt foreign to her now. She longed to be with the people, to work not for herself, but for the others around her. Being with Teylan yesterday brought that spark back. Easy conversation about things she enjoyed, being able to laugh and be silly. All things she had given up to fight the RDA without knowing how it would deeply impact her. Being rejected by Teylan over her fear of humans shattered her heart all over again

Her mind started to think back over their shared day.

She remembered how warm Teylan had been against her back, warmer then Kxor underneath her, as they flew over the plains. His arms had felt strong, corded with muscles that wrapped around her stomach, that had been doing flips the entire ride. He had spent most of the flight staring at the ground rushing beneath them, looking for animals and keeping up a near constant stream of chatter about what he saw them doing. Elé had been urging Kxor to fly fast just so he would hold onto her tighter.

How easy it had been to talk to Teylan while they had spent the afternoon together. They had moved to a field away from the dead bodies because Elé wasn’t ready to part from him. She had spread out a tough woven mat after they finished looting all of the RDA cargo. She kept one rolled on Kxor’s back for times like this, and she got to work on a weaving a new ammo belt with more space for some of the explosives she had been toying with. Teylan had taken an interest in her work with explosives so as she wove and twisted the cord she had made of seaweed, they shared their knowledge.

Then, the fuck up.

Elé still couldn’t understand why Teylan would trust them. Even now her chest started to feel tight just from thinking about it. Ri’nela said the humans Teylan had been trying to take her to were kind and healers, but Elé had never met any kind humans. All she could think of was the soldiers she would spy on. Taking bets, making a mockery of their pillaging. Planning how to poison the land, kill more na’vi, bullets firing at poor animals. It came rushing to her when she thought of humans.

She wished that she had been able to swallow her fear and ask him. Hearing Teylan explain how he could have a relationship strong enough to allow them to heal her, maybe that could’ve helped her not shake with fear. But he shut down, and he left. She could tell he was clearly unable to be with a na’vi that’s terrified of humans. Even Ri’nela had pleaded on their behalf.

‘He hates me, I’d clearly never cut it in his world. I should just leave. It was stupid to care this much. It clearly didn’t mean anything him.’

Ri’nela gave a sigh as she shifted in her sleep, turning her back to Tamtey, who reached out to grab the girl's waist and drag her to her chest. Elé can feel the backs of her eyes burning, her throat closing more but the shifting broke her thoughts long enough to plan her escape. She waits long enough for both the na’vi women to fall back into deep sleep before she rises to leave the tent.

The only thing she had to collect was her hip pouch that contained her essentials and she steeled her back, grabbing the bag and stormed out of the tent, mind made up. She never should’ve come here, she has a mission to do and one day of being with Teylan wouldn’t stop her from finishing. Elé needed to focus on her mission.

‘This was a waste of time. He left; there was no point in entertaining this foolishness anymore. If he knows humans that are safe great, there are hundreds more that aren’t. I have a job to do. One pleasing day with someone like him…that isn’t more important than saving my planet.’

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Teylan had spent the night outside the RDA resistance camp, laying on a rock wall to stare at the stars and think of every mistake he’d ever made. Seeing how disgusted and frightful Elé had been couldn’t leave his brain. As he looked at the stars, eyes puffy and nose stuffy from crying he wished he had just taken her to Ri’nela from the start. Of course, she wouldn’t be okay with human help, but he just wanted to make sure she got healed as best as possible and the doc on base had proper surgical experience and medicine that could fight off any infection. But she was disgusted by him for even trying.

He was reminded of how her tanhì had glowed in the night just a few hours ago as he stared at the shining stars. He had wanted to trace the stripes on her face, feel the burn in his fingertips like when she had traced his sarentu mark, but he had no shot now. He doubted she would ever be with a freak like him that spent his time around humans.

He fell asleep begging Eywa or anything that could hear him to give him a second chance, to get Elé to stay with him.

When he woke up his body felt stiff and ached from sleeping on solid rock. He sat up and began stretching his body limb by limb to try and alleviate the soreness he had. His big hands rubbed his shoulders as he stood and looked out at the view of the plains. The sun was fully above the horizon, and he could see the na’vi at camp beginning their day and he’s reminded of Elé with a jolt.

‘I should go and find her. Maybe if I apologize, we can talk about last night. I’ve got to try something. I don’t want to lose her.’

Teylan’s brain was searching for the right words to apologize to her as he made his way back down the rocky plateau, heading straight to Tamtey and Ri’nela’s tent, on the edges of the na’vi campgrounds. Without realizing it, Teylan had been mumbling to himself, practicing apologies and shaking his head when he didn’t like the outcome. Arriving at the red and purple tent, he walked in without saying anything.

Tamtey was seated in-front of several bowls of paint, decorating her body in vivid colors. When she saw Teylan come in her face held surprise before morphing into pity. Teylan looked around and didn’t see Elé or Ri’nela.

“Tamtey! Have you seen Elé? Is she with Ri’nela? I-“ he looked at his feet and started playing with his fingers, nervously “I think I owe her an apology for last night. I shouldn’t have run out like that.” His voice was quiet and his eyes didn’t leave his feet. He heard Tamtey sigh and squeezed his eyes shut, already guessing what she would say next.

Tamtey rose, wiping her fingers on the grass under her, and took one of Teylan’s hands.

“Tey,” she swallowed, trying to think of the gentlest way to tell him Elé was gone by the time she and Ri’nela woke up. “I think she left this morning, and I don’t know if she is coming back… Nesim said that one of her scouts saw her flying away this morning.” Tamtey let her voice low and hoped it was gentle enough. The air was tense as Tamtey waited to see how he would react. She knew he would be upset and his face scrunched tighter and his shoulders started to shake. One tear started to bead in the corner of his eye and Tamtey pulled her little brother into a tight hug. When Teylan was little, they learned to give him deep tissue pressure to help ground him when his mind spiraled or when he was really upset.

Teylan wrapped his arms around her and cried softly into her shoulder. “Tamtey what do I do now? I don’t want to lose her when we just started to get to know each other. Please,” he begged and Tamtey’s ears laid flat against her head at the sound of Teylan’s weak voice, “you have to help me make it right. I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t try.” Tamtey squeezed him harder, wishing she could stop his pain instantly, but she was nodding her head as he spoke.

“Of course I’ll help you Teylan, and I think I know who to ask first.”

So’lek closed his eyes, arms crossed over his chest and wished he had stayed in the forest instead of coming to the plains.

“You want me to help you apologize to some random na’vi Teylan met?” He kept his eyes closed while he spoke, fighting to keep the exhaustion out of his voice. Tamtey was standing in-front of his tent, hands on her hips and the sun warming her body. Teylan was behind her praying to Eywa that So’lek would help.

“Hey! She’s not random, Teylan has had this crush-“ Teylan cut Tamtey off with a loud squeal.

“Tamtey,” he whined, “he doesn’t need to know that!” So’lek opened his eyes and looked at Teylan apprehensively.

“What is ‘crush’?” So’lek looked at Tamtey head slightly cocked, while Teylan felt his face getting flush, ‘This is so embarrassing.’

“It’s uh… think of it like he’s taken a special interest in her!” She finished optimistically before turning to look at Teylan. He had turned his back entirely to avoid the rest of the painful conversation. “Look, I just wanted to know if you had any ideas on how he could make it up to her for scaring her. Like some kind of na’vi- apology custom or something.” She threw her hands up in feigned exhaustion.

So’lek sighed uncrossing his arms and sending up a silent prayer to Eywa before thinking. “He could try giving her a gift to show how sorry he is? Speaking from the heart, young sarentu, will do you more than any gift, however. Im sure whatever it is you did, Teylan” He tried to soften his voice when Teylan turned to listen, “Tell her what you want if it means that much to you.” So’lek saw Teylan turning his words over in his head and looked back at Tamtey.

“That’s perfect. Thank you So’lek! Teylan? You got a plan?” Tamtey’s hands were back on her hip, her grin wide. ‘Ri’nela is gonna LOVE this.’ She thought to herself.

Teylan had been thinking of how to find Elé as he wandered around the artists area in camp looking for the perfect gift for Elé. There were groups of na’vi working as they talked or sang together, sitting in the grass and Teylan hoped they would be willing to trade with him. While he was walking, he saw Nefika by a large pot of dye, stirring in some fiber bundles. He figured she would know which of the weavers had jewelry for trade and walked quickly to her.

“Nefika! Hello!” He called as he walked up, arm waving and his tail was swaying behind him. “Do you think you could help me?”

Her ears pricked up and she smiled warmly when she saw him. She let go of the long wooden stick she was using to stir and opened her arms wide for a hug, “Teylan! Ma yawntu, how are you? Of course, I will help if I can, what is the matter?” She had pulled him into a hug before letting her arm settle on his shoulders. She leaned her head in close to his while she pulled him closer to the edge of the tent, giving them some privacy. His mouth broke into a soft smile, Nefika had developed a soft spot for the man and recently she had been teaching him how to weave clothing. He steeled himself for the embarrassment he could feel crawling up his chest, but Elé was worth the mild discomfort he would experience, and he kept that in mind as he opened his mouth.

“I need a gift for this girl I met. I-I think I scared her and she left camp because of it. Nefika,” He paused his eyes flicking to the others in the tent, “I just want to apologize and…and tell her that I want her to stay here and fight with us. It’s the na’vi who took down the big RDA ship a few weeks ago.” His dropped his voice low when he told her, so he didn’t lose his nerve while filling in Nefika. “Do you, maybe, know anyone trading some jewelry that I could give her?” When he raised his eyes to look at Nefika his heart was pounding, he stared at her weathered face seeing the small cracks in her white face paint. Her golden eyes searched his face, trying to read the words he hadn’t spoken.

When Tamtey had stumbled into her home tree weeks ago, Nefika never would have guessed that she would become a pseudo mother to all the remaining children of the sarentu clan, but she had loved every moment of it. Unlike the sulky So’lek, she was always excited to take them under her wing and teach them the na’vi ways. A smile split across her face as she fully understood what Teylan’s real problem was and she began thinking of a plan to (meddle) help the boy realize what he really wanted from Elé.

“Teylan, if this is important have you considered making something for her yourself?” She still had her large grin, but she could see the panic in his eyes at her suggestion. “I can show you how to make it of course,” she continued, “but I think it would mean a lot more if you made it specially for her.”

“Me? No- I- no I wouldn’t make anything good enough Nefika.” Teylan was laughing nervously as he spoke and he had raised his hands, shaking them open palmed as if he could erase the suggestion that Nefika had given him.

Nefika’s chuckle was deep and it caused Teylan’s ears to lay flat against his head.

“My young sarentu, trust me! I can help you make a necklace that is sure to prove… how apologetic you are.” When she paused her smile got wider for a moment as she looked away from his face, lest he saw through her words. All these years in clan life, taking in the younger na’vi, showing them how to carry the traditions of the ancestors and she still loved helping them realize what love truly is more than any other lesson. Teylan felt anxiety in his stomach, and he wished to squash the fire of self-doubt before it took his body over.

He let out a huff and squared his shoulders, “Okay Nefika, I’ll do it. What do I need to gather?”

Teylan spent most of day with Tamtey out in the bright plains looking for the materials Nefika had told him to gather. She had several different colored spools of thin fiber she had most likely gathered from the bruise moss in the Kinglore forest before they made the journey to the plains, that she was letting him use but he needed to find some pieces of wood and some colorful rocks. As he walked up and down a riverbed for hours, he was thinking of what colors he wanted to find. He had asked Nefika if he could dye some of the string she was letting him use to black so Elé could wear it all the time, even when she was spying but he wanted some color on the necklace.

He was looking for something that matched the colors on Kxor or maybe something yellow but he as he searched the rocks, nothing seemed good enough. Most of the pretty rocks he found were too big or too small or dried a weird color or had some other flaw that made him discard it. ‘It has to be perfect.’

Teylan started to search deeper in the water and when he dove down, he would scoop up as many little rocks as he could hold to bring to shore and sort through. Tamtey had long wandered off to do her own thing in the river and guessed Katir was sunbathing somewhere near her.

On his next rock scoop, he found an almost clear blue stone with cracks throughout the stone, and he instantly thought it was the rock he had been looking for all along. It was about the size of a human's thumb, and matched the shade of water in sunlight, and he figured it would be the perfect center piece of a necklace. He imagined what it would look like sitting on Elé’s chest and he felt warmth blossom in his cheeks. ‘The dark blue of her skin would match perfectly!’ he thought with a swoon. He began searching for smaller version of the stone he found so they would match. Once he had his rocks he shouted for Tamtey so they could fly to the massive trees, he just needed the wood to carve into beads.

When Tamtey came over to river where he was, she insisted on seeing the stones he had found and reassured Teylan that he had indeed picked out the perfect rocks. As they flew to the red woods, Teylan couldn’t help but notice how different it felt when he was flying with Elé. Sitting behind her, he had been able to be surrounded by her smell the entire flight. His arms had been tight around her, and he would pretend that it was just because he was nervous by how fast Kxor was flying, but he really just loved holding her. It set his whole body into shivers when he thought about it, how smooth her skin had been with tight muscle behind it. He prayed So’lek’s plan and Nefika’s guidance would win Elé over.

When Tamtey landed near the tree line she hopped away shouting that she would be looking for some of the plants Ri’nela needed and to radio her whenever he was ready to head back to camp. He laughed at his older sister as he watched her run and hop over a hill out of view.

The ginormous red trees had thick bark, and he tried to remember what conditions Nefika had told him to look for to find the right quality of the wood he could carve, but he didn’t find any sticks laying on the ground that were strong enough. He looked around hoping to see any dusk leaf trees anywhere and spotted a cluster near his left, closer to the next big crimson tree to his right. As he got closer, he began to inspect them, again keeping the advice Nefika had given him in mind. He found a branch that was roughly the same width from the tip down to its connection to the tree and he pulled out a serrated pocketknife that Alex had given to him. He made quick work of it, working up a little bit of a sweat. After he cut through half he snapped the stick the rest of the way off the tree. He took a moment more to run the knife along the smaller twigs attached at the tip of it, letting them fall gently at his feet.

As he was folding the knife to put it back in one of his vest pockets, he pressed the speak button on his comms to summon Tamtey. He couldn’t stop the grin spreading across his face, it had been more fun than he had imagined, and he felt a great sense of accomplishment just for gathering a few things.

‘Time for step two, making a beautiful necklace! Let’s hope I don’t screw this up.’

“Nefika, look! It’s doing that splitting thing again!” His voice was a bit more whiney than he meant it to be, but the sun was setting and he still had a long way to go. She huffed a low laugh as she set down her bowl of paint. Nefika patted Ri’nela’s knee as she rose from sitting crossed legs on the floor in front of her.

Ri’nela was allowing Nefika to paint her face while Tamtey re-braided some of the smaller bits of hair she liked to hang charms in on the back of her head. The tent was warm and Teylan could hear the festivities had started to kick off in full swing. Spending the evenings by the fire, some Zeswa were doing their fight dance game and others just sang from the sides. People were eating and he was positive that the Kame’tire were passing around their fermented fruit drink that made his head swim and fire pool in his belly when he drank it. He saw few na’vi rise and begin to dance along to the music and he could smell all the food being shared. Nefika had fed him and Tamtey as soon as they came back but after working on the necklace, he had grown hungry again and his stomach growled as Nefika walked towards him.

“Ma yawntu, you must twist as you tie the knots this way while you create the space for the knot.” She held his right hand showing him how to twist the fiber tight as he tried the knot again. He had finished the little net that was made of small knots crossing in intervals that would hold the largest stone under the choker but making all the small twists and knots to make the choker itself were giving him a hard time.

“Good! Now, tie off those two strands and bead one of your little wooden beads before doing that pattern again. When you get to the next stopping point thread on one of the little blue stones you found Teylan.” She watched his fingers try to follow her instructions, but she could see he wasn’t twisting the thread as he created the knots. “Twist Teylan.” She reminded him. Teylan had his brow furrowed in concentration as he continued to work the black thread.

When he did finish the necklace, it was late in the night. Ri’nela had dragged Tamtey into the ring of dancers and they were glowing in the firelight, dancing together. Nefika had sat down near Teylan snacking on some of the spitting seeds she had roasted. Her eyes were watching everyone, and her smile was unending. There were lots of dancers as the Zeswa had pulled out some stringed instruments and drums to keep the music alive.

Teylan had been watching the crowd intermediately as he worked but he was focused on his project. Nefika had to help him less and less as he continued and by the time he finished, he had been silent for almost an hour. He tied off the main ends of string and held it up in the light. The largest stone hung down below the choker like he had imagined, the little beads he had carved were nestled in the threaded design of swirls. He had intended it to look like curls of clouds to remember their flight together. There were two stones matching close in color to the largest stone, and he thought it looked fantastic.

“Look! Nefika, I finished!” He shoved the necklace above her hands full of the seeds she was cracking open. She looked down and inspected it closely. There were a few knots that were looser than the rest and the swirls were uneven in places, but she grinned proudly at the younger na’vi in front of her. “Do you think she will like it?” Teylan’s voice was coated in insecurity, soft and weak as he waited for the master weaver to give her opinion.

“It’s beautiful Teylan, you did well.” Nefika spoke decidedly, placing a comforting hand on his forearm. She knew he had been reluctant to make this necklace, but she was so proud of him for not giving up. That was one of her favorite qualities of Teylan, once he made his mind up, he had fierce determination. Sure, he was very cautious, and at times his fear consumed him, but she could see he had a brave heart underneath it all. He just needed a push now and then. “She is going to love it. Now come, put that away and enjoy the night!” Nefika gave him a small push out the door and he stumbled laughing to Tamtey and Ri’nela.

The two sarentus laughed and embraced him tightly. Tamtey, full of energy, rushed to get Teylan some of the Zeswa juice and Nefika sent up a thanks to Eywa and Elé. That girl had saved the clans allowing them peace to celebrate together and was going to bring Teylan out of the human's shadow, she was sure of it.