Eylan saw how Tiva avoid getting close to Neteyam. It oddly satisfied her. She felt disappointed about unable to win Neteyam when her sister got him. But out everyone now its potentially Tiva.
Meanwhile both of them were completely oblivious of the fact that Eylan was watching. Neteyam went close to her no matter how much Tiva tried to avoid him.
" If Yomiting is your mate leave me alone"
" She don't want me. She clarified that already..."
" But you still love her.... Don't you"
" I am trying my best not to...please Tiva. Isn't that what you wanted from the beginning?"
" You could have keep your mouth shut before hurting others. It's not that easy... You don't understand what I'm went through... You can never understand... I also thought love would heal me.... But it only hurt me more"
" I may can't understand you. But that doesn't mean I won't try...both of us can do this together"
Neteyam hugged her after that which made Eylan clenched her fists. Neteyam was about to kiss Tiva but he saw his mother Neytiri and stopped that immediately. Tiva felt glad that he stopped.
" What is going on?" Neytiri asked bluntly. She wasn't mad. She wasn't troubled. She rather felt a guilt of exiling an orphan.
" Mother, I can explain..."
" So you like her?",
" Yeah...."
" I see...." Neytiri said getting little bit amused. " So, this girl likes you too?"
Tiva nodded. Eylan was more frustrated than ever. Neytiri was the most stupid woman in her clan according to Artsut. So, her approval means Eylan's straight up disapproval.
But now she's the traitor's sister so it made things very much hard for her. Tiva was still resisting him but deep down desiring him anyway.
" Neteyam... And Tiva... You should go back to lead our people... If you are recovered"
" but mother.... You should come with us too... And Tuk, Lo'ak, Kiri..?"
" They will come don't worry. But you have to lead the people before they attack us again"
" We have to go right now?"
" Not right now. But anytime soon. We will join you after wards..."
Neytiri hugged them and she was sad as if its the final departure with his son. Tiva wanted to say she isn't his mate. But now it's too late.
Auonung wanted to get Eylan's attention as always but no matter how hard he tries it was a futile attempt. Besides he was bored. Even Zaxtu was on good terms with him and Lo'ak was with Tsireya all the time. Besides even Tuk was playing with Raktun and Palun.
Tiva went to see Nivi. Now she was the Tsahik of Ta'uni. Sometimes Tuk go there to play with her kids. Tiva talked a lot with Nivi which made Neteyam wait for few hours so that he could make his departure more comfortable.
" Bro, you really have to go?" Lo'ak asked. He was quite sad. Spider also felt missing them.
" Tiva is one of the best friends I've ever seen" Spider said.
" I see. She was exiled after trying save you" Neteyam said.
Everyone had an awkward silent after a while. Spider twitched his mouth think how stupid that decision was. After all, though he didn't talk to her that much she was way more nicer than Jake and Neytiri were.
" I'm sorry bro... I fought with you a lot" Lo'ak said almost in teary eyes. Neteyam hugged him.
" We will meet soon, Skxwang."
" I hope so " Kiri said.
" I will go with them" Eylan said without thinking twice.
" I am coming too. I miss that forest" Vawmipa said.
Paw'ri looked at Raktun and Palun. They were chilling out being clueless all the time until that point. Tuk was about to cry.
" We will think about it" Palun said getting nervous. He wanted to go to his clan but he wasn't ready hear pile of accusations. Besides these days Tuk was almost like his little sister.
Meanwhile, Tiva was talking a lot with Nivi. Both of them didn't want to leave. But Nivi was already devoted to that village. Her kids were mischievous as Nivi was.
" You can do it Tiva. Don't worry about that. Besides we can meet often"
" I guess so"
After a few days it was a warm departure. It looks like Jake has already retired from his leadership. Neteyam was very much nervous about becoming the leader but that's what he was already prepared for. Lo'ak felt slightly relieved of his perfect older brother wouldn't overshadow him much but at what cost.
Raktun and Palun decided to go back to there clans after hours of thinking. Anyhow Paw'ri wanted to stay. Zaxtu was named as next Ole'eyktan again for his services. He wasn't the tough guy he used to be and he respectfully apologised from Tsireya and tried his best to make things right. Besides Auonung was in good terms with him as he was way older than him.
They watched them leaving. Eylan was quite relieved to depart from them. Out of nowhere all she could think was Aonung's face. Vawmipa was quite sad to leave Zaxtu but she realised it was just a crush nothing serious.
" Damn, I don't know I can lead" Neteyam said.
" You can" Tiva said instantly.
" Of course he can. He will do exactly as his father was" Eylan said in a despair.
Others noticed that sarcasm. But none responded to that.
" Well, I do admit some of his decisions are far from perfect"
" Half breeds can never rule better" Eylan muttered only Neteyam heard that. He was obviously angry but he said nothing.
" We are supposed to take that anyway. Besides Eylan can.."
" Never..." Neteyam said. " You are my mate."
Vawmipa had a grin. That instance Neteyam realized she is far from behaving like Yomiting.
" Someone is blushing already." Vawmipa said.
Eylan sighed in displeasure. She didn't know how to face her grandmother. Besides it was very awkward to talk with Vawmipa.
Ometikaya people welcomed them with pure joy. Artsut hugged Vawmipa and Eylan just when they arrived. This wasn't the same grandmother Eylan knew. Artsut hugged Tiva after that but it wasn't warm but a polite gesture.
After a while Neteyam became the leader and Tiva was named as Tsahik. At first week there was nothing much to do. Tiva finally connected with tree of souls. It looks like dead souls were ready to welcome her.
" You took a long time" Tiva's mother said. It was obviously Ninat.
" Mother..."
" Yeah, it's me. I'm proud of you ma child. You grew up fast without us"
Tiva's father Ka'ani hugged her with his wife. It was a very emotional moment. Neteyam watched that in a distance. His grandfather Eytukan patted on his shoulder.
" Grandfather?"
" Yeah. Glad we've met" Eytukan said.
" Yeah"
" I hope you will protect our people with her"
" But grandpa... I am not sure..."
" Neither were I. But after ruling I got used to it. You look just like your mother"
" I see"
" I believe in you son.."
After that Neteyam saw Tsu'tey. Tsu'tey was quite proud looking at Tiva. It was like something mixed with genuine happiness.
" At least she wasn't unlucky like me"
" Uncle?"
" I said what I said. Neteyam."
Tsu'tey said without real bite in it. Neteyam didn't understand what he said.
" both of you got the rightful place" Eytukan said.
" Yeah, if her parents were alive she would do even better. But they were reckless enough to fight after your grandfather's death. And those people were very brutal. They cut Ninat's abdomen when Tiva was just 6 months. And cut her Kuru... And put a new one in her body... I saw that by myself.. But they shot me too. She was starved for a week... "
It was very disturbing to Neteyam. Yet, Tsu'tey continued. Though Eytukan signed him not to.
" But they already cut my Kuru. It was very much painful... I couldn't explain about that and I was here afterwards"
Neteyam couldn't handle that truth but it almost looks like Tsu'tey wasn't stopping the story. He wondered why didn't he tell this before when he connect to tree of Souls with his brother.
" Arvok brought Eylan and Yomiting here. My mother willingly raised them forgetting all about her. Ka'ani was brutally murdered in front of Ninat. They weren't just some shooters. They were monsters. They had a sick pleasure of murdering him..maybe Eywa kept the child alive."
Neteyam looked away. Tiva was explaining everything she did to her parents. Three of them were very happy.
" Ninat was the best singer but she could not even sing a lullaby to her child.."
Tsu'tey paused talking for a while. Neteyam sighed in the middle of it.
" She was supposed to born a year after you. But both of you were born in the same day. They tortured them for months. Keeping Ninat for 6 months there... But none couldn't help her. It was an area even Jake didn't know. Trudy Chacon got her out of that Hell's Gate. But that kid was captured again... After Trudy's death they put her memory in the child in an unknown way... You know the rest Neteyam... "
" Enough Tsu'tey. Neteyam is still young to bear that up"
" I said that because I couldn't save my best friend's child"
Neteyam departed from them after Tiva departed from everyone. Tiva noticed his discomfort but didn't see the depth in it.
" Don't worry. We can do this together..."
" Do you really forgive me that easily?"
" I told you that's the last chance." Tiva said in a little hiss.
Neteyam couldn't help but smile. This time he pulled her closer without hesitation. It had been already 2 months and they haven't mated.
" cute, Skxwang "
" What are you doing? " Tiva asked despite already knowing the answer.
" will you say yes pretty lady?" He asked. Tiva nodded. It relieved him.
" Oel Nagti Kameie " Neteyam whispered to her ear. Her smile revealed everything to him.
Neteyam kissed her cheek and sniffed her. Then rubbed his face against her. Tiva couldn't believe whether she is dreaming or not.
"There's no turning back now pretty lady
Then without even thinking he kissed her lips. His hands wrapped around her waist. Tiva felt a strong grip on her hips. He touched her without any restraint. He loved the sounds she made.
" Eywa's plan is always a crazy one like you"
" This means forever"
" Yeah, I don't regret it. You've seen my worst and still stayed"
Tiva was awfully flustered when he got inside of her. He kissed her for a long time till she dropped on his arms.
" We were just starting Yawne. You are already clumsy"
He kissed his cheek as he remembered how he slapped her. It was a guilt he could never recover but has a solution for that anytime.
" Looks like you're good at hitting me in both ways"
" Forget the first one Yawne."
" Why?"
" Because you didn't deserve that"
" It's Ok. You came to help anyway."
" Ah... You're too forgiving."
Tiva kissed his forehead. Neteyam groped her back tight. It was a mixture of black and white in him. He wasn't the same person Tiva knew for years at this point. She never thought she would witness his unhinged desires.
" You aren't hurt right? Don't be silent if you're"
" I like it..".
" Damn, you're giving me a guilty pleasure Yawne"
He went hard on her. But she loved it. It was something very new to her. At this point there were no place in her body which wasn't marked by him.
" you're so good at this, Yawne." He whispered on her ear. Tiva's innocent smile warmed his heart even in this wild hours. He had so much unhinged things to say, but he realised some things need more time.
Midnight was quiet. He admired her beauty which was hidden for a long time. He kissed her hear and there. After a while he was done.
" You're safe with me, Yawne."
He wrapped his arms around her. He felt that he is the luckiest man today. Tiva was so happy that she began to sing without thinking.
"Oel ngati kameie,
ma txe'lan, ma skxawng sì tìrey.
Ngaru lu oeru,
ke tsun oel livu mawey.
Eywa ngahu,
srung si oeyä txe'lan.
Nga yawne lu oer,
nìwin… nìwin… ke heykahaw.
Fì'u oeru ke tsun livu,
slä oel ngati lu.
Ma yawntu,
ma tsmukanä txe'lan…"
( I see you,
my heart, my foolish and gentle one.
You are within me,
and I cannot be calm.
Eywa with you,
holds my heart steady.
You are beloved to me,
softly… softly… without escape.
This feeling I cannot name,
but I know you are in it.
My beloved,
my heart's breath…)
Her voice was barely above breath and it was almost unconscious. Hearing that something clicked on Neteyam's mind. She used to sing like that often. He thought it was Yomiting and Yomiting played him with that.
" Beautiful..." Neteyam muttered but Tiva was already asleep in his arms.