Summary for this part: After meeting up and training with Eetu, a cocky hunter. It seems a jealous Na'vi awaits at the Resistance base for you. You try you luck again with Ka'nat after some crafting but will it all go well?
I hope you like it, sorry the parts might come out slow because of health but I will keep trying my best!
You finally reach back at the base, pumped from learning new information on how to hunt with Eetu. Your body straightens up as you notice that So’lek is back in the armory, his body tense as if he’s annoyed or angry at something, as he looks over the ammo for each gun. Your cheeks heat up remembering how he sounded jealous when you contacted him at the Aranahe clan, especially when you spoke about Eetu, you knew he must have noticed how your voice wavered while you were speaking to him, Eywa he must have been weirded out by that. You decide to avoid him for now, heading to the other hall which leads to the kitchen. Ri’nela, who you pass by, must notice the look on your face as she comes towards you as you slide down the wall with your knees tucked towards you and head in them.
“What happened Y/N? I have never seen you like this before. Last I heard you were learning to hunt from a Na’vi named Eetu.” she decides to be down and sit as well with her legs crossed. You want to confide in her about these confusing feelings that you have and that even though you met so many different Na’vi, as well as Eetu who sounded a bit flirty, that these feelings that you have inside you are only reserved for one Na’vi in particular.
You lift your head as you sigh and decide that confiding in her might be the best course of action. You hesitate, the words in your throat getting stuck, not wanting to bother her but at the same time these feelings you have cannot be contained, Ri’nela must have notice the conflict on your face and gives you an encouraging smile, “I have these feelings in my heart that I do not know what to do and it only happens when he is around”
Now, Ri’nela is not stupid, she can immediately tell who the ‘he’ is in this scenario. She would have to be blind not to notice the tension that occurs when you and So’lek happen to be in one place. She hums thoughtfully, “Would this ‘he’ happen to be the Na’vi that saved us from TAP?” she looks at you curiously with a knowing smile on her face as if she already knows all the answers.
You nod as your heart races just thinking about him. You decide there’s no point in hiding anything and just let everything out to her, “I do not understand these feelings that I have, I see So’lek as a very close friend, someone that I can easily trust with anything, someone I know that will be there for me in ways I cannot understand. But I have never felt this with anyone else and I just wish I knew what to do. I feel pulled indifferent directions with my heart telling me to be true to myself and express these feelings to him while my mind tells me that I have to focus on our journey to figure out what it means to be Sarentu.”, you look her straight in the eyes, just wanting someone to guide you, “I don’t know what to do Ri’nela. I really don’t”
Ri’nela looks at you in a gentle manner, her eyes soft and understanding as she takes your hands gently, holding them to her as she explains what you have to do, “Follow your heart Y/N, always follow your heart”. Ri’nela then notices footsteps coming towards where they are and can tell that it is So’lek from the corner of her eyes. She decides to do a small test, wanting to see if what she thinks will happen, as she asks you, “How was training with Eetu ? He must have taught you all sorts of tricks as I heard he is the best Aranahe hunter in the clan.” Ri’nela notices that So’lek stops abruptly behind the wall, as if to listen to the conversation between her and you.
So’lek heard from one of the resistance members that you were back to the base and he went looking for you, his heart in a turmoil as his mind filled with thoughts of you and Eetu training. He had really hoped that he would be the one to train you, Eetu just rubbed him in the wrong way. Then there was your voice, the longing in it, for some reason just hearing it made him want to rush over and hold you in his arms and make sure you never leave. As he makes his way over to you, his mind focused on speaking with you, he can hear you and Ri’nela discussing something, he continues on his path to you, but then hears Ri’nela ask you what you thought of Eetu and for some reason he decided he wanted to hear your thoughts on him. So’lek knew that eavesdropping was bad and he didn’t want to do it to you, but he just had to know what your opinion was.
You, however, were confused by the sudden change in topic that Ri’nela brought out, you looked at her confused, your brows arched in a questioning manner but decided to just tell her what you thought of Eetu, thinking that she must be curious to know about the other clans, with her being Tashik and all, “Eetu…He’s really nice…He’s a funny character if you ask me, honestly he was really flirty when we first met, but he seems to be a good teacher. He cares a lot about his Ikran Zomey, he’s very passionate about hunting. I think I can get along with him well”, and you meant it. Eetu would also probably like a friend to you like Priya is, you noticed that you never faced the same feelings that you had for So’lek with Eetu even though he was flirty.
Just hearing your thoughts on Eetu, that you would get along well with him. "He is more cheery and adventurous.” So’lek thought bitterly, his tail swishing in agitation as a tight feeling rose up in So’lek’s chest. He did not like this, did not like it at all. He decided he’s had enough of eavesdropping on the conversation and continues on towards you a Ri’nela, his feet stomping loudly as if annoyed, his mind focused on one thing and one thing only.
Your ears twitch, hearing someone heading towards you as if they are on a mission. You nervously turn towards the sound, a squeak unconsciously falling from your lips, seeing that it was So’lek heading towards you with a stern look in his eyes as they zeroed in on you, as if completely ignoring that Ri’nela, who watches in complete amusement of the situation. Your tail curling around you as your heart started beating faster, you cursed under your breath, hoping that you didn’t look like a skxawng (Moron) to So’lek with you being all nervous.
So’lek stops right in front of your sitting form, he bends down and looks at you right in the eyes, his gaze filled with some sort of determination. He sees you blink at him innocently, your gaze on him making his stomach twist in a good way. A very good way. He’s brought out of his thoughts when he hears you voice calling his name in a delicate manner, not understanding why he wants to hear you call his name again and again.
“So’lek?”, You call to him, noticing his eyes dart around your face, you become flustered under his intense gaze, wondering what has gotten him so worked up.
So’lek hums thoughtfully in reply, finally as if coming to a decision in his mind, he opens his mouth, his next words coming as if a command, but not the forceful kind. “Sarentu, I have decided that we train from tomorrow. Learn to hunt as well as gather resources.”, his gaze sharpens again as he continues, “Eetu does not know nor see you as well as I do. I can teach you not only the bow but the gun as well. Can I expect to see you outside the base at dawn tomorrow, Sarentu?”
You were just shocked, if it hadn’t been for Ri’nela nudging you at your side, you would have continued to stare at So’lek like a skxawng (Moron). You break out of your thought, which becomes quickly filled with his words that repeat in your mind over and over, ‘He does not know you nor see you as I do’. You thought to yourself while your stomach fluttered, “What does he mean by that?”. Finally deciding to say something, your words come out in a rush, “Y-Yes ! I will be there, you can expect me, I won’t be late”, just hearing yourself you wanted to cringe, Eywa why were you like this. Why couldn’t you have sounded more calm and collected in front of So’lek.
So’lek looked closely at your face, his face became less stern as if seeing something that satisfied him. So’lek nodded at you and gave a nod to Ri’nela, though it seemed more like an afterthought and got back up to head back to the armory to continue his work. You, on the other hand, was left staring at his back in shock and even as he left your line of sight, you continued to do so. Your tail betrays you by moving in excitement at the prospect of being alone with him during training.
Ri’nela can only chuckle at the scene that unfolded before her. Happy that one of the youngest in the Sarentu clan might have found their someone. She could only hope that everything will go well with you two and that you both follow your hearts. Ri’nela chuckles again because she can tell that you two might dance around each other before owning up to anything. Her final thought comes to the front of her mind before she leaves to do her own thing.
This will be fun. I can’t wait to tell Nor and Teylan about this.
It’s the next morning and you’re up early, more like you were too anxious and nervous to fall asleep tossing and turning, thinking about the training that you’ll have with So’lek. What did he mean by that ? That he saw you ? Does the Na’vi’s phrase ‘I see you’ not mean I see your soul ? That they see you in your entirety ? With such questioning thoughts in your head, it’s no wonder you didn’t get any sleep. You had been inside the base for the night, deciding to lay on one of those comfy pillows nest stewed about.
Although you were up early, getting ready for the training and heading out seemed to be a big task. Even though you had taken out many of the RDA, You wanted to be confident and reliable for So’lek. You sigh, your tail curling around your feet as you are crouched, arranging the nest back together, deciding that there’s no point in stalling around any longer. You get up, take your bow and arrows where you had hung them on one of the notches around the base and head to the door that leads to the outside, from the front of the base.
While you had been internally panicking and stalling for time before heading out for training, So'lek was already outside the base, leaning on the edge of the walls of the door to the front of the Resistance base, his thoughts for once were so jumbled, he could not seem to think straight nor make any sense of it. He said that the Sarentu would have to learn on her own, even told her that the way to learn and be a Na’vi is to explore Pandora on her own and build her experiences and yet here he is, getting ready to teach her all and make sure she knows everything, just because he did not like that Eetu tried to do it.
So’lek sighs praying to the Great Mother for strength in this path he has chosen for himself, to help him understand his feelings. He has decided he will not ignore these feelings but at the same time, he needs to see how it is with the Sarentu before deciding anything more. It has been a long time that any such thoughts where there could be a possibility of something more with another have occurred and even then, they have not been to this degree where he feels he would be swallowed by it.
Some time has passed and So’lek moves from his spot of leaning on the base and slowly looks around, worried that the Sarentu hasn't yet arrived for the training, thinking that maybe she was hurt from learning with Eetu yesterday or that she is not well and could not get up. Cursing to himself, that he should have checked on her instead feeling heated and jealous over some Na’vi yesterday.
So’lek decides to head into the base quickly, only for a delicate and slightly smaller body to collide with him, as he turns to the base door. So’lek wishes that he could hate the way that he can recognise who it is instantly, not just by the feel of your body on his but even the sweet scent that always seems to emanate from you, his hands immediately raise to steady the Sarentu by holding your arms gently.
Your hands land on So’lek’s firm and broad chest for steadying yourself and you instantly gaze up at him, your face close to his, you could feel his heartbeat slowly beating faster by the minute as you blink innocently at him in shock. You can feel your own heart start to beat too quickly as well for your taste, making you feel embarrassed that So’lek could possibly hear it thundering as well.
So’lek cannot deny that the Sarentu was very attractive, with her body so close to his like this, her scent more prominent due to the proximity. His yellow eyes flickered to her lips, they looked even more soft and plumped up close than he thought previously , as her mouth was opened slightly in shock, her face so innocent causing unsavory thoughts to rise up, he just wanted to bit- he immediately pushed those thoughts down, shocked and slightly frightened at the images formed in his mind with her.
So’lek tried to calm his breathing which became slightly labored due to his thoughts and decided to just focus on you and the training for now. That he would get back to those thoughts at a later time when no one else would be there.
So’lek brought you closer to his body in a gentle manner, checking over you to see if you had been injured. “Are you alright, Sarentu? Forgive me, I must not have heard the door opening as I was lost deep in my thoughts.” His gaze only made you flustered as you meek out a simple “Sran (Yes).” Your eyes unable to focus on anything other than him.
You just nodded, still reeling from the shock of being so close to So’lek, that it almost felt as if your hearts were connected through contact. So’lek confirmed that you were fine before he stepped back, wanting to put some distance between you two before he did something stupid too early. Whatever he decides to do, he has decided that it would be done at the right time.
Both you and So’lek, head over to a nearby empty patch of the forest to practice your aim. It seems So’lek has collected some materials to be moving targets as well as selecting a place where a few plants of shelter fruit. You look around, taking in your surroundings as So’lek observes you, thinking about how you look at Pandora with such happiness and how you adapt so well to learning the Na’vi way. He calls out to you to start the training. You head over to him as he squats down, you do so as well looking at him curiously.
“Before we start our training, Sarentu, I shall tell you few things about gathering materials for your weapons and clothes. Ingredients for food.” So’lek decides to list out a few important basics for you to know. “Shelter Fruit requires a gentle tug to be pulled. It is best to be collected in the daytime and when it is raining. Fortune Fruit needs to be opened up before collecting it. Fortune fruit comes from the Fortune Leaf Cane. It would be difficult to get without an Ikran. They would make great ingredients with the meat that you collect from the hunt. They would be in best condition once we remove the RDA posts” You mentally note all of this, making sure to concentrate on every word. This would help in your survival out in Pandora.
“From the Night Tree Leaf you can collect the stems to make extraordinary bows. They are best during the night and when it rains.” So’lek gives you a gentle and firm look before continuing, “bring me them, and I shall make a bow for you that shall help you in your journey.” You blush at the thought of So’lek making a bow specifically for you. It felt rather intimate, but you didn’t mind one bit of it. “I’ll be on the lookout for it then.” You give him a confident smile to show him that you can do it.
So’lek nods before standing up, his hands subconsciously taking yours to pull you up. You stiffen up, not in an uncomfortable way but more like you don’t want him to take his hands away. It seems he doesn’t notice as he heads over to a few of the targets lying about which he had bought and places them in different locations.
He gestures to you to take out your bow and notch your arrow, as he comes closer to you. You make a stance as you did with Eetu when practicing with him, pulling back your arrow as you wait for So’lek’s signal. Finally when So’lek comes close to you, he circles around you, stopping at your back while observing your stance, and clicks his tongue against the roof of his mouth, as if dissatisfied. You tense up, feeling nervous that you made a mistake and also that you couldn’t see him. But So’lek wasn’t dissatisfied with you. No, not you. It was mostly at Eetu, thinking that with his cockiness, he might not have noticed the minute details.
So’lek comes closer as his chest presses up against your back, you take in a sharp breath as his arms circle round you, his hands press your abdomen, “mì Syeha si (Breathe in) when you pull the arrow back, Sarentu” His deep voice close to you as his lips caresses your ears, not fully touching. He pulls back as you let out a small shaky breath, not being ready for such a thing.
So’lek comes back in front of you as you follow his advice of breathing in and pulling back your arrow. He nods and looks over you again, you focus on the target ahead of you, because if you look at So’lek, you will lose all rhyme and reason.
So’lek seems to notice something and comes closer to your front, adjusting your arm which is holding the bow to the side of your body, to be parallel to the ground, while also adjusting the other hand as well, drawing back the string towards the anchor point, where that would be then the end of which you draw back before releasing. “Focus on their weakness, Sarentu. As you use your senses, it will be revealed to you. That is when you hit a precise shot”. He informs you, while holding onto your arms, his touch leaving a lit fire sensation, a good sensation, across your skin.
Although you know you should be paying attention to the stance that So’lek is adjusting you to be in, how can you when he stands so close, his breath fanning across your face. You decide to finally turn your head to look at him, wanting to see his expression, to see if his eyes hold this longing which you hold in you as well. As you face him, you gasp lightly at how intense his gaze on you was, your faces close to one another again, but this time with purpose.
Time seemed to standstill as you both gazed at each other. Each of you confirming what you both wanted and needed to know. As So’lek saw the soft look of desire and something else on your face that something shall not be named for now, he thought to himself ‘to hell with it’ as the humans would say, his face slowly leaning in close to you. You started subconsciously leaning in close as well, your heart thundering in your chest. It felt like there was some connection that drew you both close, not just in mind but in the heart as well.
Just as your lips would touch his, the static from So’lek’s radio starts up with Priya’s groggy voice informing So’lek that Alma wanted to see him about some plans and then Priya cheekily added that she wanted So’lek to ask you to come find her as she wanted to see you and have some breakfast together.
This makes you and So’lek quickly pull back from each other. Both of you felt too flustered and unable to look at one another in the eye after the moment passed. So'lek picks up his radio answers back in a gruff voice, as if strained from holding something back, that he would be there and that he would bring you back as well. You just fiddle with your bow, while internally your mind screams both in happiness that the moment stopped there for now and disappointment that the moment had stopped. You, being unable to make up your mind on focusing on one emotion.
So’lek finishes up the call, his hand coming up to his face to pinch his brow in frustration, while facing the same problem as you are with also feeling slightly angry that he couldn’t control himself looking away and started grumbling as he starts heading over to check on his bow with his cheeks tinted purple.
You see the look on So’lek’s face, even though after confirming previously from his expression about the longing for you, you can tell that So’lek is as affected as you are from this moment. This makes you look away, secretly smiling widely, while a warm giddy feeling arises in your chest.
Training at dawn is a wonderful way to start the day.
You head out to hunt after training with So’lek, feeling much more confident in your abilities now after training with him. After that incident, So’lek finished his meet up with Alma as you finished up with Priya. He came back to teach you more, but decided to keep some distance with his body tensed as he directed you. You too were able to concentrate and hit all the targets placed by So’lek.
Hence, right after the training you decide to hunt and ask Nefika to teach you how to use these gifts. As you tread through the forest at a quick pace, you can sense with your Na’vi senses that there were a couple of Strumbeasts feeding nearby.
You slowly approach them and stop at a suitable distance, making sure to keep your footsteps light. You focus your gaze on them as you straighten your back to take out your bow, breathe in and draw the arrow in a quick and smooth motion, using your sense to track the weak spot, which happened to be on the side of the neck of the Strumbeast. You breathe out as you release your bow, your arrow hitting true, in a clean manner.
The other Strumbeast runs away in fear feeling it’s fellow strumbeast fall, you approach the fallen one and bend down. Remembering Eetu’s word, you give your thanks to it as you motion your hands as if sending the Strumbeast off, “I See you. Your Spirit goes to Eywa and your body stays to become part of the people. Thank you for these gifts.” You collect the hide and meat, which seem to be in excellent condition. You also remember Eetu telling you that Nefika will show you what to do with the gifts. You take the gifts and set out towards the Aranahe clan. Hoping this time you would be able to speak with Ka’nat about joining the Resistance in your fight against the RDA if possible.
It takes you a while, but you arrive at the Aranahe clan as quickly as you could, you look around for Nefika and see that she seems to be arguing with Relun. You snort, finding their interaction to be funny. As you approach them you can hear Relun’s voice arguing loudly. “Yes, here I go! Come to look down your nose at me, have you?”
“Now, now. You know how I love your food. But I stand by what I said before. It is not exactly art, is it?”
“I swear to you, one bite of Yovo grilled in Sari seeds and you will be begging for more!”
You don’t want to interrupt them but you really want to keep the gifts fresh as it is, especially the meat. You call out to Relun, “I…have some meat from my hunt? Nefika said you-” Relun turns to Nefika with a frown on his face as he addresses her about you, “You sent this forlorn miscreant to bother me? Everything is a joke, as usual.” He didn’t even hear you out before deciding that you were playing a joke on him!
“Well she said you’re the best cook.” You decide to say in a sweet manner to him, hoping that by complimenting him you can calm the situation down. Nefika laughs at this, “Ah, the child knows how to charm!”
“And honesty from you, Nefika!” Relun continues. He shakes his head and looks at you in an exasperated manner, as if he was already used to these kinds of situations, “I suppose that is typical of her tactics. She thinks flattery will get her everywhere.”
Nefika just dismisses him and calls you over to her, “Come, come. Leave this grump for later! Now we move onto more serious arts. She leads you over to another section of the hometree, which seems to have a workbench. You decide to ask a question that has been bothering you for a while regarding the Hometree.
“Is there something wrong with your Hometree? Etuwa said it suffers…”
“Ah, the Kinglor are uneasy. We have provided for them since their flowers are closed, but…Their numbers are too many” Nefika sighs as she looks away for a moment “Ka’nat would prefer Etuwa to focus all her energies on them.” She then looks at you with a gentle and motherly smile, thinking about Etuwa “But, I think that child does her best.”
Nefika then gains back her vigor, her fiery gaze turns to you, as if fired up by something, “Now! Pay attention. Ka’nat should see you still have some Na’vi skill. And I should like to see it myself” She points to the beautiful woven workbench and watches you carefully with a smile as you approach the workbench with some apprehension and excitement.
You take a breath in and breathe out, trying to calm your nerves and create something that would knock the air out of Ka’nat and Nefika. Being a Na’vi was an important aspect, not just to them but to you as well. You could and you would not mess this up. You create some simple attire, a chest guard, a waistcloth and an armguard, which seems to be in great condition with the materials you have brought to be in great condition as well.
As Nefika watches from the sidelines, she looks impressed by your crafting and places a hand on your shoulder, “Good. Now show Ka’nat how you have mixed the colors with our own. Just as your people once did.” She must see the nervousness in your face at that, and turns you around to face her, one of her hands placed on your head in comfort. It has been a very long time that someone has ever done that for you. Her voice soft and motherly as she says, “Do not be afraid of him. His bark worse than his bite. I will follow shortly”
You nod at her, and head up the Hometree to find Ka’nat. His ear twitches as he hears your footsteps and turns around to face you, he looks over you, assessing you just as he did when you first arrived at the HomeTree, He nods in appreciation as Nefika comes up behind him, a silent support to you, “Nefika has had her way. Now you look more like the Sarentu we remember.” He places a hand on chest, his eyes filled with understanding and sorrow, “The loss of your people pains us. We valued their counsel. But, we know you are not here to offer their wisdom.”
You decide now is as good a time as any to convince Ka’nat about the ongoing havoc that the RDA are causing and hope that he would help in the fight, “The Sky People…The Resistance fights them, but they cannot do it alone.” You plead your case with him.
Ka’nat seems greatly disappointed by your words, His face pulled in a frown, his voice raising as he speaks, “This is why you have come? You stand in the heart of our Hometree. It’s warm embrace. Even you, lost one, must feel it.” You can understand him as well as not at the same time. You do not remember how you lost your clan, having been taken as a small child, you have forgotten everything. It is why this fight is necessary, so that more do not suffer. He continues as his voice sounds pained, “And you ask me to bring war here? No” Nefika looks on in worry at Ka’nat’s dismissal.
“They bring war with them! Please…” You try once more, pleading with all your heart to Ka’nat. If he does not do anything, the Kinglor will suffer, the Aranahe clan will suffer greater loss than ever. But Ka’nat is not convinced, “We Aranahe do not seek conflict. And yet, you goad us, desperate for a fight.”
Desperate for a fight ? You ? You who had only ever wanted to live with your family and friends in peace. You do not understand how Ka’nat can come to such a conclusion. Is it because of the loss of his mate? That he cannot lose anyone else now because of it.
Ka’nat looks at you in a serious manner as he asks, “Do you remember your family?” You do not remember much of your father, but you knew he was the jokester of the family, always making everyone laugh or smile, your mother just as cheerful and full of life, her smile always calmed you and your sister, the ever brave and strong-willed, who you always looked up to.
You wish you could say that you knew, that you had strong memories with them but all you could say was the truth, your voice deflated, “A little. My mother…her smile. Her warmth.” You wished you could be curled by her side once more.
Ka’nat presses on, his voice strained with sorrow and anger, “Did you see her die? Did she smile at you then, helpless, desperate to reassure you? Have you seen Eywa’s light leave someone you love?” ‘yes so stop it’ you think. If he goes on like this, you’ll remember that day. The day your sister left you. ‘Please stop…Aha’ri come back’ You think as tears gather in your eyes, but you refuse to let them go. Ka’nat breathes heavily, his gaze intense, before leaving the area without a word.
Nefika must see your face frown in saddness, her tone taking on a joking manner in order to cheer you up, “Well, you certainly made an impression. Ka’nat is not really rattled. Be careful, ma’yawntu.”
“I wasn’t trying to anger him.” you try to sound strong, but it comes out shaky and like a child who is scared, you look down. Nefika comes closer, and lifts your chin with her hand, her voice gentle and cheery, “Keep your chin up. Pay a visit to the very top of our tree. Our tsahik is back” She points up as she urges you to run along. You smile at her in gratefulness, thankful that the older woman is the way that she is.
You take a deep shuddering breath in and hike up to the top of the Hometree. As you go up, the thought of failing the Resistance, the Sarentu clan and So’lek, makes your determination come back stronger.
You will not give up, no matter what.
∘ Kinglor - moth-like insect native to the Kinglor Forest.
∘ tsahik - Matriarch/Interpreter of Eywa.
∘ Eywa - Great mother, world spirit, Gaia.
∘ Ma - Generally means to refer to someone or address them.
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