✦˚*𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 two* ˚ ✦

❝The forest boy❞

☀︎

"My son, Aonung, and daughter, Tsireya, will show your children where to go."

Aonung glanced at Hana with wide eyes before turning back to his father to object, "Father, why do I –"

"It is decided," he said swiftly, making Hana laugh to herself. "Hana, you should go too," he added, causing her to stop laughing, with Aonung nudging her with a smile.

"Come. I will show you our village," Tsireya spoke excitedly, while Aonung looked more annoyed than ever.

"Why do I have to go?" Hana asked Aonung, who looked a little too happy that she was being dragged along.

"Who knows, maybe if you said you saw something bad, then we both wouldn't be here," Aonung replied. Hana rolled her eyes at his words.

"You have no sympathy," she said, swiftly turning around, her long, dreaded hair adorned with gold bands lightly hitting him.

Aonung hissed in pain, "Ow! Did you do that on purpose?" he exclaimed, attempting to catch up with her.

Hana skillfully caught up with the Sully family, subtly slowing down beside the boy who had been discreetly eyeing her. As they walked together, she couldn't ignore the occasional glances he stole, prompting her to playfully address him.

"You like to stare, forest boy?" Hana teased, a mischievous twinkle in her eyes.

The boy, unabashed, responded with a nonchalant shrug. "Well, when I see a pretty girl, I can't help but stare." Hana burst into laughter at his candid admission.

"You're funny; I like that. What's your name?" Hana inquired, genuinely intrigued.

"Neteyam," he replied, nodding slightly in acknowledgment.

"I'm—"

"Hana, yeah, I heard," Neteyam interrupted with a chuckle.

Hana understood exactly how he would've caught her name. "I hope my ritual didn't scare you," she said, flashing him a sweet smile.

Neteyam, showing a mixture of curiosity and amusement, spoke, "If it's alright for me to ask, what were you actually doing?"

"Looking for a vision, a vision from Eywa," Hana replied, hoping Neteyam would connect the dots himself.

"So, you just hold someone's hand, get people to say a prayer, and hope for the best?" Neteyam questioned, his skepticism evident.

"Basically," Hana admitted with a shrug, inviting him to delve further into the mysteries of her unique practice. "It's real, I promise you," she added, making him laugh and shake his head as they stopped at a Marui.

"This is for you..." Tsireya said as Hana joined her side. "Your new home," she gestured to the inside.

"Yeah, this will work. This is great, this is nice, right?" Jake said, doing his best to reassure his family that their new life here would work.

Hana silently laughed as Neytiri, Jake's mate, dramatically dropped the carpet she was carrying with a sigh. She observed the family getting settled for a little bit, giving Neteyam a smile and a wave goodbye before leaving with Tsireya, the pair giggling like schoolgirls.

"So, Lo'ak, huh?" Hana asked Tsireya with a teasing voice.

"Hana!"

"What? I saw the look he was giving you. Couldn't be more obvious if he tried."

"Oh yeah, and what about his brother? Didn't know you liked older boys..." Tsireya teased, earning a light push from Hana.

"Shush!" Hana said while giggling. "But he was pretty hot..." The two fell silent before looking at each other and breaking out into laughter.

"What's so funny?" Aonung asked, appearing in front of the girls, his friends behind him.

"Hana here has a little crush..." Tsireya announced, earning a light slap from Hana.

"I do not," Hana insisted, crossing her arms.

Aonung rolled his eyes dramatically. "What, on those freaks?" he asked, laughing alongside his friends.

Hana's smile dropped. "You just sound jealous," she said, giving him a glare and a slight nudge as she walked past him, Tsireya covering her mouth to suppress a laugh as she walked with her.

Hana arrived home that day, wearing a bright smile that lit up her face as she entered her Marui. There, she found her mother and father on the floor, bowls in hand, enjoying their dinner.

"Hey, Mama," Hana greeted, kissing her mother on the cheek before moving to her dad's side and repeating the gesture. She then took a seat beside him.

"Where's Zion?" Hana inquired, noticing the empty seat usually occupied by her older brother.

"Ah, he's off with that girl again," her father remarked, waving off the notion and handing Hana the meal they had set aside for her.

"Was it Ki'ra or that other girl?" her mother pondered, attempting to recall.

"Doesn't matter. All you need to know is don't be like your brother," her dad advised, patting her on the back.

"Kaito! You can't say that!" her mother scolded.

"Why not?" her dad challenged.

"Because it's rude," her mother stated matter-of-factly.

Her dad dismissed her mother with a wave of his hand. "Pish posh, I can say as I please."

Hana's mother sighed. "So stubborn. You complain, but that's where Zion got it from."

"Got what from?" a voice suddenly chimed in.

"Oh, honey, you scared me," Hana's mother exclaimed, holding a hand over her chest.

"Sorry, Mum," he apologized before joining them at the table. "What's for dinner?" he asked, earning a glare from their dad.

"Air," he declared, sipping the soup in his hands loudly before receiving a light hit from his wife.

"Kaito! Give the boy some food."

"Ah, he can get his own!"

"Kaito—"

"Don't worry, Mum. I'm fine having some... air."

"Serves you right," her dad grumbled.

"Here, have mine," Hana offered, passing her bowl to her brother, who thanked her with a nod.

"That was sweet, honey," Hana's mother said, smiling.

"Hmph! Now you get air," Hana's dad mumbled to himself, making Hana roll her eyes.

"I think I might get some air outside actually. Is that alright?" Hana asked.

"Yes—" her mother spoke before getting cut off by Zion.

"Where are you going? Are you meeting someone? What are you hiding? Why are you being so suspicious?" Zion said.

Hana's eyes widened, and her dad began to laugh loudly, putting his soup down and getting up. "Ha! You sound like an old man," her dad said, chuckling to himself and shaking his head. He patted Lita on the back.

"I'll come get some air with you. Maybe then, Mr. Overprotective will calm down," he said before laughing once more, making Zion roll his eyes at his dad's childish remarks.

Walking down the beach with her dad, Hana felt at peace, the soft wind flowing through the golden jewelry she was adorned in.

"Why do you wear all that nonsense?" her dad said, eyeing her outfit.

"The tribe believes it brings my visions a better chance of—"

"No, no, I asked why you wear it."

"I...I don't know."

"You don't always have to do what other people expect of you, Hana. Besides, you look silly like that. You wear it just because you think it makes you look pretty."

Hana began to object, "No—"

"But you know what, you look beautiful without it," her dad said, making Lita smile before hugging her dad.

"Thanks, Dad."

"No problem. Now get off," 

☀︎