Chapter Text
Mom and Dad told me about Toruk Makto.
He was a legend, but at the same time, he was a man with a big family.
His mate was going to be the next Tsahìk for the Omatikaya.
His eldest son was born to reignite people’s hope.
He also had two daughters and another son.
I told Mom and Dad that I wished to have siblings.
They told me I already have two.
⬷
As the firstborn of a great war hero, Neteyam’s life was not exactly light and breezy. His name carried the meaning of hope, and his presence was always being watched by the eyes of his people. However, he was not the only child born after his clan suffered from great loss.
Nirveni te Tslìwa Niriä’ite came into the world a week after him.
Nirveni does not have a good temper. Neteyam found her easy to get along with most of the time, but when anyone crosses the line, then they are bound to get into a nasty fight. He vividly remembered witnessing a boy playfully yank on Nirveni's braids, only to receive a forceful punch to the face and a severe bite on his arms. The boy was left bleeding, and Nirveni faced a scolding from her parents afterward.
Jake once compared Nirveni to a cat, a creature on Earth known for its unpredictable emotions and behavior. He explained that this creature would scratch and bite humans if provoked, a description that seemed to fit Nirveni whenever she chose to retaliate against someone.
Despite being the same age as Neteyam, Nirveni could be quite immature at times in his opinion. She would often join in the playful banter and bickering with Lo'ak and Kiri. If Neteyam were to only look on the bright side, he would appreciate Nirveni’s negligence of his siblings’ human-like features. Nirveni was also one who would not shy away from interacting with Spider, treating him the same way Neteyam’s siblings did.
Many assumed that he and Nirveni would naturally get along as they grew up together. That was a fair assumption, given that Nirveni does hang out with him a lot. However, Neteyam believed Nirveni was around him so often because of his sister, Kiri. The two girls shared their love for nature.
Nirveni has an older brother, Hawnu, who was six years her senior. Hawnu possessed qualities that were the opposite of his younger sister—he was responsible, composed, and dependable. Hawnu was trained and became a fine hunter, providing for his family as he intended to. Neteyam was not familiar with him. Unlike Nirveni, Hawnu does not interact with them as much. The age difference was one of the reasons, but mostly because Nirveni does not get along with Hawnu.
Nirveni started her training of being a gatherer around the time Neteyam officially started his hunter’s training under his father. Even with their training started, Nirveni still shows up around Kiri and him quite frequently. One difference was that she would bring them fruits she gathered. She remembers their preference for fruits and always brought them the sweetest ones.
Kiri was somewhat training with Mo’at, but she mostly goes anywhere she pleases. If she is in the clan, Nirveni would be with her. But if Kiri went to visit Spider at Hell’s Gate, Nirveni would choose the hang out with Neteyam. Neteyam had asked why, and she answered that as much as she liked interacting with humans, she did not like the human base.
Unlike the constant attention he received due to his lineage and the expectations placed upon Neteyam, Nirveni lived free from such constraints. She inherited her father's passion for caring for animals and plants and her mother's love for dance. Neteyam's mother often spoke highly of Niriä, claiming she was the finest dancer in Omatikaya, and her craftsmanship was admired by many.
Nirveni’s father, Vakto, was a traveler. He had been to many places and seen many domains and biomes until he came to Omatikaya to trade and fell in love with Niriä. Vakto was originally from the Tawkami clan. He often tells his children stories of his travel, knowledge of botany, and how to read the sky. Nirveni loves listening to her father’s story. Sometimes, she would share those stories with Kiri, too.
Yet, love could only keep a traveler’s free spirit for so long.
Despite having a family here in the Omatikaya clan, Vakto decided to embark on his journey once again. Niriä said their kids were too young to be left alone in the clan and refused to go with him. His mate’s absence did not stop Vakto from leaving.
Neteyam was there the day Vakto left the clan. His sister, Kiri, insisted that they should be there for their friend. They watched from a distance as the family bit their farewell. Only Niriä and Nirveni went to see Vakto off. Hawnu was furious at his father’s action, saying it was irresponsible. He was not there to say goodbye.
Nirveni hugged her father for a long time before letting go. She said she did not cry, but Neteyam saw the redness at the corner of her eyes. Neither he nor Kiri pointed it out.
⬷
On a particular day, while Neteyam was crafting arrows with his mother, Hawnu and Nirveni came. They greeted Neytiri with a respectful gesture.
“I see you,” Neytiri smiled at them.
“Hi, Neteyam,” Nirveni then greeted him. He muttered a brief “hi” back as he continued to carve the arrowhead in his hands.
Neteyam’s ears perked up at the bickering between Lo’ak and Kiri. Curious about the commotion between his siblings, Neteyam looked to his mother, unsure if he needed to intervene.
Sensing his concern, his mother assured him, "Your father is there, don't worry." She then turned to Nirveni and informed her, "Go on. Kiri is up there, playing with Lo'ak." She motioned to the upper floor of the tree with a dip of her chin.
Nirveni could barely contain her impatience to join her friends. "Thank you!" she exclaims and swiftly climbs up the tree to join them.
"How is Niriä?" Neytiri asked the older boy.
"She is doing well, thank you," Hawnu replied. He looked up at the platform and appeared worried.
Neytiri smiled at him, “I’ll make sure she goes back in time for dinner.”
Hawnu thanked her before excusing himself to leave.
“He is old enough to find a mate,” Neytiri murmured, watching the boy leave.
“I heard that he does have someone he’s interested in, but he didn’t make any moves,” Neteyam said.
“Really? Who told you that?” Neytiri appeared amused, looking at her son.
Neteyam paused and pursed his lips as he admitted in a murmur, “Nirveni.”
Neytiri chuckled, finding the children’s gossiping entertaining.
Neteyam heard Lo'ak exclaiming, "I HATE you!" Neytiri remained unfazed, focusing on applying the poisonous substance to the arrows.
Lo'ak's bickering was met with Kiri's retort, "I hate you times infinity, Lo'ak! PENIS FACE!"
"Hey! That's enough! Don't make me come over there," Jake's voice intervened, but it was accompanied by Nirveni's laughter, which only added to the bickering chaos.
Neteyam looked up and witnessed Kiri and Nirveni jumping onto a tree branch together, snickering. Lo'ak continued his protests as they took the toy from his hand. Kiri tossed the toy to Nirveni, who leaped higher onto another tree branch. Nirveni caught it and started running away, with Lo'ak in pursuit.
"Give it back! That's mine!" Lo'ak screamed.
"Then catch me, penis face!" Nirveni laughed loudly, playfully using Kiri's words of insult. Kiri also laughed at her remark and almost lost her balance on the tree branch.
"Stop saying that word!" Jake shouted from the woven platform where he stood. The three children giggled at each other, running away and disappearing into the trees.
Neteyam averted his gaze, observing his mother's smile amidst the chaos, as she continued with the arrow-making.
⬷
On the day they were to make their own knives, Neteyam was immediately drawn to the challenge of climbing the towering tautral tree, known as the sky tree, to acquire material for his knife handle. Aware of the tree's great height, he understood the difficulty he would face. As he ascended halfway, a powerful gust of wind caused the tree to bend, leading to a momentary slip. Thankfully, he managed to regain his footing and slid down only a short distance. Taking a deep breath to steady himself, he persisted in the face of the challenging wind.
“You know, no one said you need to be on the verge of death just to make a knife handle,” Nirveni called out from atop another tree, not a tautral but still half its height. She sat on a branch, her golden eyes blinking at him. Neteyam caught a glimpse of the yellow feather in Nirveni's hair swaying in the wind before averting his gaze.
He huffed, “I want to use this one.”
"And you deliberately chose the tallest tautral," Nirveni chuckled and rolled her eyes. "You wouldn't have much to show off if you fall, Neteyam."
Deciding not to engage in further conversation with her, Neteyam resumed his climbing. With unwavering focus, he carefully calculated each movement. He extended his arm, pulling himself upward, steadily climbing the tautral. Eventually, he achieved his goal and reached the treetop. Letting out a breath of relief, he laughed in triumph.
"How's the view up there?" Nirveni shouted at the top of her lungs.
Neteyam looked down, spotting Nirveni standing on the branch she had previously occupied. From the distance, she seemed smaller, and he couldn't resist the urge to taunt his friend. "It's amazing!" he replied, brimming with excitement over his accomplishment. "Too bad you can't see it!"
Observing Nirveni's eye roll, Neteyam couldn't help but notice the persistent smile on her face. He chuckled, collecting the necessary materials from the tree, and began descending the tautral. When he reached a height suitable for jumping, he leaped onto another tree, only to find himself face to face with Nirveni.
"Come on," she invited, extending her arm to grab his hand, "let's weave our knives." Without waiting for his response, she pulled him down to the ground alongside her. She dashed ahead, and he followed suit.
They soon found Kiri who was also making her knife.
"There you are," Kiri greeted, seated on a rock by the river. "Let me guess, Neteyam went searching for a rare material for his knife."
“You guessed it,” Nirveni chimed in, skipping over to sit beside Kiri. She retrieved her knife and materials from the pouch that was tied around her waist.
Without acknowledging their conversation, Neteyam quietly approached the two girls and began the intricate process of crafting his knife. Immersed in his task, he could hear the giggling of laughter and playful banter between his sister and Nirveni, but he remained determined not to let anything distract him.
After a while, the cheerful sounds of the girls playing in the water reached Neteyam's ears. Their playful shrieks echoed through the air, and the water splashes came dangerously close to him. Deciding it was best to avoid getting soaked, he opted to distance himself from the river's edge.
“Oh, come on! Neteyam, don’t go!” Nirveni noticed him getting up and called out to him.
He was going to tell the girl that he was not leaving, but his sister interjected before he could say a word.
“Don’t mind him,” Kiri stuck her tongue out, making a weird voice as she said, “He always thinks he’s too good to play with us anyway.”
Neteyam gave his sister a disapproving look. Nirveni, on the other hand, was having a good laugh at Kiri’s mockery.
“You are childish,” He retorted, “BOTH of you.” He pointed his finger at the two girls, but none of them seemed to mind his words.
“ You are childish , meh meh meh MEH.” Kiri used a higher pitch to mimic what he just said.
Nirveni’s laughter only grew louder at their exchange. She laughed so hard that she almost tripped and fell into the water, but she quickly balanced herself.
Neteyam let out a defeated huff, resigning himself to their playful antics as he focused on crafting his knife. Kiri redirected her attention from teasing her brother and resumed splashing water at her friend. Not one to be outdone, Nirveni retaliated by kicking water back at Kiri. The two girls continued their playful water fight, engrossed in their own world until the sun reached its zenith.
Assuming his role as the responsible one in the group, Neteyam decided it was time to gather some small fruits to appease their growling stomachs. However, before he could make a move, Nirveni intervened.
"I'm the gatherer here," she argued, climbing a nearby tree. "Allow me."
Neteyam opened his mouth to protest, but Nirveni vanished into the trees before he could utter a word.
Kiri giggled at the sight, unable to resist the opportunity to tease her brother. "She moves faster than you in the forest anyway," she taunted, her amusement evident in her voice.
"No, she does not," Neteyam retorted instinctively, though deep down he acknowledged Nirveni's impressive agility and knack for locating fruits and plants in the forest. Undergoing the training to be a gatherer, she had undoubtedly honed these skills to a remarkable degree.
Nirveni's talents in weaving and crafting were also apparent from an early age. Just as Neteyam had undergone training in hunting and the use of a bow, Nirveni had been instructed by her parents in their specialized skills. Despite not being present, her father’s knowledge of botany certainly aided her in learning to be a gatherer.
"You know, Neteyam," Kiri said, a mischievous grin playing on her lips, "she's quite popular among the boys."
"Right, because after everyone witnessed her punching Rxoha, the boys just decided she's their dream girl," Neteyam responded sarcastically, doubting that Rxoha would ever develop a fondness for Nirveni after being on the receiving end of a punch to the face.
"You're so clueless," Kiri rolled her eyes. "Why do you think Rxoha pulled her hair in the first place, duh?"
"That was just childish behavior," Neteyam argued, unconvinced. "It doesn't mean anything."
"Suit yourself, brother," Kiri huffed, wringing the water out of her hair to dry it. "Don't say I didn't warn you."
Before Neteyam could press his sister for more information regarding her cryptic warning, a ripe pxorna fruit struck his head.
“Ouch!” He turned to the source and spotted Nirveni crouched on a tree branch, her laughter echoing through the air. With a graceful leap, she descended from the tree, holding two more pxorna fruits in her hands.
"You skxawng!" she exclaimed, a playful glint in her eyes.
Neteyam couldn't help but chuckle, picking up the fruit. "You were right, Kiri," He said in a bitter tone, "She's so charming."
Kiri playfully shoved him on the shoulder and walked over to Nirveni, taking one of the fruits from her hand. The two girls settled by the river's edge, their feet dipping into the cool water as they savored their lunch.
Neteyam took a bite of the fruit, savoring its sweet taste as it spread across his palate. His gaze drifted to the back of Nirveni's head, his eyes tracing the intricate braids and the colorful beads woven into her dark hair.
He was not one to indulge in childish antics, and the thought of pulling her braids never crossed his mind. Instead, his eyes remained fixated on the yellow feather delicately tucked behind her ear. He couldn't help but appreciate how the vibrant color of the feather perfectly complemented her golden eyes. It seemed to suit her effortlessly, adding a touch of brightness to her already captivating presence.
Nirveni is beautiful. Neteyam would not deny that.
Maybe those boys Kiri speaks of only like her look. He thought.
Soon, he finished the fruit, and he returned to his task of making the knife. Meanwhile, the two girls continued to frolic and play on the rocks in the river, their laughter echoing through the surroundings.
After a while, the laughter gradually subsided. Intrigued by the change of atmosphere, Neteyam lifted his gaze to witness Nirveni gracefully initiating a spontaneous dance. Kiri, following her friend's lead, lent her voice to the air, blending with the soothing hum of the melody.
Nirveni's movements were a display of grace and fluidity. Her braids swayed and intertwined with her dance, creating a mesmerizing visual spectacle. The yellow feather woven behind her ear swayed in sync with her dance as if caught in the rhythm of the moment. With effortless agility, she leaped from one rock to another, executing captivating dance moves that adorned the river with her artistry.
In a fleeting instant, their eyes met as Nirveni spun around, her arms gracefully gliding through the air.
Neteyam felt a sudden flush of embarrassment, realizing he had been caught in the act of staring at her.
Thankfully, Nirveni appeared blissfully unaware, lost in the joy of her dance alongside Kiri, as the river became their stage.
The two girls continued to laugh, dance, and sing, reveling in their carefree moments, until their reverie was interrupted by the arrival of Hawnu.
Emerging from the bushes, Hawnu appeared, his bow in hand. He glanced at his sister, a frown creasing his brow as he noticed her damp hair.
"Have you finished your knife, Veni?" Hawnu inquired, his tone tinged with mild exasperation.
Nirveni, still immersed in the river's embrace, replied nonchalantly, "Almost. It's not urgent, and I can weave quickly." She shrugged, effortlessly executing another elegant spin as she leaped onto a larger rock in the midst of the flowing water.
Hawnu sighed heavily, feeling like losing patience with his sister. “I know you weave quick enough, so why not finish it now?” Nirveni simply ignored him and leaped her way farther into the river, and Kiri closely followed after her. Their siblingship was never peaceful, especially after Vakto left. Nirveni often rathered gathered her own food instead of eating the prey Hawnu brought back. Their mother was the only one who could settle their fight.
Recently though, Nirveni had been telling Neteyam and Kiri that Hawnu would soon get off her back.
“You know, seeing me minding my own business and playing around means that Ìstowa is free,” Nirveni raised her voice deliberately, not turning around to look at Hawnu.
Neteyam saw Hawnu visibly flinch at Nirveni’s words.
Ìstowa is the one in charge of training Nirveni to be a gatherer. Yet, due to Nirveni’s learning speed, he soon ran out of things to teach. He basically made her his gathering partner, already having her doing gathering tasks with him on a daily basis. More importantly, Ìstowa is Hawnu’s love interest.
Since the moment Nirveni found out Hawnu was into Ìstowa, she had been putting a lot of effort to set them up.
“Just…finish your knife before dinner,” Hawnu eventually caved in and left, no doubt going to find Ìstowa.
Neteyam watched the hunter leave. When he turned back to look at Nirveni, she was looking at him with a mischievous smile.
She is such a menace. He thought.