Aonung waded in the creek. Running his head over the last few days.
Neteyam had been quiet. He would barely speak, to anyone.
At this point, hearing him speak was a miracle.

He would submerge himself in patrols, often sleeping in the forest rather than his hut.
It didn't just upset Aonung, it worried him.

'I could try to talk to him? But what if it goes wrong again?'

Aonung groaned, pulling himself out of the water and walking up the hill.

His eyes caught as he saw Neteyam, he looked peaceful.
His knife carefully working on a pile of sticks. Beginning to make arrows.

Aonung looked around, sighing as he walked over to the boy. Not sitting next to him.
"Neteyam."

Neteyam stopped his movements, turning his head to show tired eyes.
"Ronal and mom will have dinner done soon, you should go back."

Aonung scoffed, shaking his head.
"I don't want to be with them Neteyam, I want to be with you."

Neteyam sighed, picking the knife back in his hand.
"Aonung. Now isn't a good time."

Aonung walked Infront of him, standing so Neteyam had nowhere else to look.
"Then when is?! You talk to no one! I don't know how you feel and you're my mate!"

Neteyam hissed, throwing his knife to the side and standing up. The pile of sticks forgotten.
"You don't care! All you care about is how you're pissed!"

Aonung smiled, his hands forming fists.
"Yes, I am! Very much so!"

Neteyam walked forward, his face in a frown.
"So am I! You haven't asked, not once, how I feel. You don't want to listen to why I didn't tell you because you don't care! You wanna know how I feel?! Angry all the time! My friend, someone who was like my brother, is happily living with Miles! My mate only looks at me with hatred and disgust! My father is beyond upset at me for not telling him! I'm sad that our child isn't with us. I'm sad that I didn't get so see your face when I told you. I'm sad that we don't get to raise a baby together with our clans! I'm sad about all of it! And I'm sorry!"

Neteyam pointed a finger up at Aonung, reminding him of their fight.
"But you being pissed at me? Do you think that helps!? Do you think it makes me want to run and confess all of my heart to you?! Fuck, Aonung! This whole experience is my worst nightmare come true! Why would I ever want to try again?! Why would I even want to breathe again?! Because I don't! Seeing that look in your eyes, the pity on our families faces, the way my people walk on their toes around me, it's suffocating. I feel like I'm dying, every single day. And every time I wake up, I curse at Eywa for giving me another day. This is my hell, and you are keeping me here by not listening to me!"

Aonung opened his mouth, only to close it as Jake and Tonowari appeared.
Tonowari placed a hand on Neteyam's back, leading him towards a different place with Jake stayed with Aonung.

Jake turned to him, sympathy on his face.
"It's not working, is it?"

Aonung sighed, looking to where Neteyams knife was stuck in the ground.
"We've barely talked, only argued. I don't know what to do."

Jake nodded, crossing his arms.
"You don't know how to help him, you mean."

Aonung looked up, nodding slowly.
Jake waded back and forth on his heels, his hair hitting his back.
"Neteyam has always wanted to do everything himself. He doesn't ask for help, he doesn't have to usually. He grew up fast. Which is my fault. I expected to much of him too early. Him and Lo'ak."

Jake put a hand on Aonung's shoulder, carefully lowering his eyes to look at him.
"This is the first time Neteyam has no idea what to do. He's just as lost as you are. He doesn't want to ask for help, and he doesn't want to. But he's smart, he knows you'll be there for him. You'll be there for each other. It's why you're love is so strong."

Aonung smiled, setting his head on Jake's shoulder as they hugged.

The two were not particularly close, they never had been. They had a mutual respect for one another. They were family.
Now, Aonung saw him as someone to go too. He knew now why he had reminded him of his father.

°^°^°^°^°^°

Tonowari sat at the cliff by Neteyam, staring down to the forest beneath them.
"Ronal and I lost a child."

Neteyam looked to Tonowari, his eyes narrowed.
Tonowari leaned back, a hand on his thigh as he explained.
"It was before Aonung was born, right after we mated. She was further pregnant than you were, and she lost it. In the middle of the night."

"She didn't tell me. For weeks, but she did one day. Then few days later, it was lost. I was just like Aonung, angry and hurt. Lost."

Neteyam looked down. Sighing.

"I was so lost in my anger, I didn't listen to anything. Aonung is not angry at you, he is angry at himself. For not knowing sooner, for not having the right words, for not knowing how to help the one he loves."

Neteyam smiled, his hands beginning to find each other.
"I don't even know how to help me."

Tonowari smiled, looking to Neteyam.
"You do. But you are scared to see the person you will become. Scared to see how Aonung and your family will look at you after."

Neteyam tensed, his eyes dilating. His heart speeding.
Tonowari leaned closer to Neteyam, keeping his voice a whisper.
"So, Olo'eyktan, what is your plan?"

Neteyam looked up to Tonowari, his face showing nothing. Not a smile, nor a frown.
"War."

°^°^°^°^°^°^°

Aonung carefully removed the bracelets Tuk and the other children had made him, setting them aside.
He stood, jumping as he saw Neteyam in the doorway.

He was tense, his arms crossed. His eyes trained to Aonung. Unsure, but determined.
"Can we talk?"

°^°^°^°^°^°

I apologize this took a while to get out!

I had the worst writers block!

But it's here, enjoy~

Xoxo