Lo'ak & Neteyam's life. 16 drabbles.
NPOV - Neteyam's POV | LPOV - Lo'ak's POV | BPOV - Both

Birth of Lo'ak - NPOV

Neteyam was only one and a half when his brother was born. His mom went into labour early, his dad had said. Around three months early. Neteyam and Kiri were passed off to Norm while their grandma helped his mom. Despite Norm trying to distract them both, which was easy for Kiri: you just had to feed her. She was only a year old. Neteyam wanted his mom, hell, he'd even settle with his dad. But both had been absent for hours, nearly a day. Norm rocked him when he cried and put him to sleep when he yawned.

But a solid three days passed before anybody turned up. Finally, his dad arrived, looking worse for wear. He spoke to Norm quickly and quietly before turning to Neteyam and Kiri: who gurgled happily at his face. He'd picked them up and began walking back to the birthing hut. "Now guys, when you see your mom and new brother, they're gonna look bad. But that's ok: they're fine. Ok?"

They did look bad. His mom was barely awake as she bounced the baby, the very small baby, in her arms. Neteyam toddled over and balanced himself on his mom's knee. She smiled softly at him. "This is Lo'ak, Nete. He's your baby brother," Before he could do anything, his dad came and took the baby, disconnecting his mom's queue and replacing it with his own. His mom fell asleep quickly. Neteyam whined. "Now now, Tey. Here. You can hold him if you're very gentle," So, while Mo'at rocked Kiri to sleep, Neteyam balanced himself against his dad's chest and cradled his baby brother in his arms. "Why that?" He asked as he touched his dad's queue. "Well, because Lo'ak has been born so early, we have to help him grow. He came three months early, so we have to help him grow for three months, yeah? We help feed him and breathe for him, Nete. Your mom and I."

"I can? Help," He tried. "Not yet buddy. You're still growing," His dad smiled, flicking his leg with his tail. He felt sad but grinned when Lo'ak squeaked quietly against his stomach. "He likes you, I can feel it," His dad grinned.

And Neteyam was fine with that.

~

First steps - NPOV

Neteyam loved watching his baby bro grow. He was five when Lo'ak walked for the first time. He didn't know much, but he knew that his parents were worried about him. "He cannot walk, ma Jake," His mom would whisper. "He'll get there babe. Give him time," His dad would reassure. Neteyam took it upon himself to try and teach him. He would hold Lo'ak's hands tightly and stand with him, even as his little legs wobbled. Kiri would skip by with her tongue out, so Neteyam would trip her up. "It's not nice when somebody laughs at you," He said as she hissed loudly at him.

Spider sometimes helped, but at the age of six, he was only just a tiny bit taller than Lo'ak's four year old body. Most of the time, he'd be running after Kiri as she skipped happily. Neteyam would grab Lo'ak's hand and slowly walk backwards, which he himself was still learning to do properly, with a grin on his face when his baby bro would toddle with him unsteadily.

One morning, Neteyam was outside the hut watching the sunrise. His mom and dad argued the night before about Lo'ak and his walking again, so he didn't sleep much. But as he sat there, he heard unsteady footsteps. At first, he thought Kiri had risen as well, but no. When he turned, his baby bro was toddling towards him, arms outstretched as he wobbled. "Hey! There you go! Come on baby bro! Come on!" He cheered quietly. Lo'ak babbled happily as he stumbled the final few steps. Neteyam hugged him tightly, leading him back to the hut. "Sa'nu! Sempu! Lo'ak can walk!" He shouted. His mom and dad shot awake, gasping for breath. "Nete," His dad moaned, collapsing back onto the bedroll. His mom slapped his chest. "He can walk! He walked to me!" He gently pushed his baby bro in front. "Go on! Walk to sa'nu," He smiled. Lo'ak glanced back with a quiver in his lip. "It's ok! I'm behind you!" Neteyam smiled.

And so: Lo'ak walked to their parents.

~

Sibling fights - NPOV

Sometimes Neteyam didn't like it when Lo'ak tried to play with them: but that's not because he didn't like him. It's because his games were too rough, and he didn't want Lo'ak to get hurt.

Kiri didn't see it the same way.

After a morning of swimming, which their dad was still trying to teach Lo'ak to do properly, they all sat in the hut playing with some carved toys. Lo'ak loved his Torok Makto toy which his dad carved while his mom was pregnant, and never shared it. It was his prized possession. So when Kiri decided she wanted to play with it, they fought. She tried to take it out of his hands. "Let me play with it, Lo'ak. I want a turn," Lo'ak whined loudly. "No, it's mine!" He snatched it back. Kiri hissed. "Let me play with it!" She yanked it. Lo'ak yelled a war cry and charged at her hands, snatching the toy once again.

Kiri screamed loudly and reached for it again, so in retaliation, Lo'ak pulled her clothing. In retaliation of that retaliation, she pulled his hair. At that point, Neteyam yelled for his parents. Lo'ak shrieked loudly and pulled hers. Kiri screamed shrilly and grabbed his queue, yanking it hard. Neteyam winced as his baby bro screamed. By this point, their parents had arrived. "What the hell happened?" His dad shouted, gathering the screaming six-year-old in his arms. His mom rushed in, placing a hand on his head. "Kiri and Lo were fighting. She took his toy, so he took it back, then she snatched it, then he took it, then she hit him, then he pulled her clothes, then she pulled his queue and he started crying. I tried to stop them, I did!" Neteyam rushed out. His mom absently tapped his head. "It's ok. It's not your job to do that."

"Ma Jake, his queue is bleeding," Mom said. "I know. We'll take him to Mo'at. Come on," Neteyam, angry with Kiri for hurting Lo'ak, hissed at her to follow. She did so sheepishly, holding the Toruk Makto toy in her hands. Lo'ak cried the whole way to their grandmothers, even with his mom blowing gently on the wound. Dad sat outside with them while their grandmother fixed his baby bro up. "Kiri," Dad barked. She sniffled. "I'm sorry Daddy," She whispered. "It is not ok, ever, to snatch toys. It is definitely not ok to pull a queue. You understand you could've really hurt him?" Dad told her off. "It's ok to want something, but you cannot just take it. Ever. Are we clear?" He continued. Neteyam glanced into the hut, watching as his grandmother rubbed some paste onto Lo'ak's queue. His mom held him as he cried quietly. He turned back to watch Kiri hand the toy over.

"No Spider for a week. And no leaving the hut either. You're grounded for a week. Are we clear?" Kiri kicked a stone. "Yeah," She mumbled.

Later, Neteyam snuck into the hut to see Lo'ak. "Tey tey!" He whispered in a childlike whisper volume. Neteyam hissed at him to be quiet but smiled anyway. "Are you ok?" He asked. Lo'ak rubbed his head. "It hurts," He whined. Neteyam shuffled onto the bedroll. It wasn't long before Lo'ak fell asleep again, curled against Neteyam's stomach. Much like he did as a baby.

~

Bullies - NPOV

Neteyam watched on sadly as Lo'ak trudged through the clearing, caked in mud and squashed fruit. He wiped his face furiously, stomping up to the hut. "Bro, Mom's fixed your bow," He commented lightly. "I don't care," Lo'ak whimpered as he stormed to their room. Neteyam sighed loudly. He slid down the ladder to the clearing and picked up some still-solid fruit. "Here boy," He whistled his Ikran down. He handed him the destroyed fruit. "Eat up,"

Lo'ak was bullied most days he was alone. Neteyam, Jake and Kiri followed him on one occasion. A loud commotion brought them from the hut they were in. "Lo'ak!" Neteyam gasped loudly. Neteyam rushed over while Jake cleared his throat loudly. Kiri cackled. "Young man, care to explain?" He spoke sternly. "He hit me!"
"Only after he threw a rock at my head! That's why I'm bleeding!"
"Because you're a freak!"

His family didn't visit the other family for a while after that. Lo'ak had pounded the boy into the ground, only being pulled off when Jake wrapped an arm around his waist, calmly walking on as he flailed in his arms.

~

Snide comments - NPOV

"Have you seen his feet?"
"Nevermind that, what about his face? What are those things on his eyes?!"
"Or his tail! He would die in battle,"
"He has no discipline,"
"Poor boy, such talent wasted,"
"He'll never mate,"

Neteyam walked on ahead, desperately trying to ignore the comments made about his brother, who was silent to his side. The sad thing was, those were comments made by adults - friends of his parents.

"Such a freak!"
"Sky-man!"
"Big feet!"
"Ska'a!" (demon)
"Sìltsan away ska'a," (go away demon)

Neteyam didn't let the comments slide: snapping at the children to, "Fuck off!" They scrambled off, but not before stern looks were sent in his direction. Lo'ak was gobsmacked, and even though Neteyam knew he'd get sticked across his legs, he shrugged. "If they have a problem, they know where our parents live,"

~

Birth of Tuk - BPOV

When Tuk was born, Neteyam had been out with Tarsem, hunting. Kiri was out with Spider, and Lo'ak was shadowing their mom, something he'd done ever since she fell pregnant with their new sister. But when mom went into labour, dad shuffled him off to Norm, which the six-year-old was very upset about. Neteyam didn't hear until he'd arrived a few hours later, but Norm was desperately trying to contain the young child. In the end, Mo'at arrived at the shack, taking the screaming child away with a flippant apology thrown at the scientist. Mom had apparently had the baby a little while ago but bled a bit, so they didn't tell the children until both baby and mom were safe.

Dad rushed off to get Neteyam and Kiri, while Mom helped six-year-old Lo'ak hold the little baby. "Do you want to feel her as well?" Mom asked. Lo'ak grinned widely as the baby squeaked. "Yes p'ease," Mom connected his queue to the little baby sister, sending a shiver down his back. Mom laughed. His sister was happy, he thought. There wasn't much going on in her mind: just that she was a little cold and hungry. He voiced these thoughts to his mom. "I'll feed her then, shall I?" She asked with a smile. He let her pick the baby back up and feed her. Lo'ak was asleep against her leg when Neteyam, Kiri and Dad came back.

Jake wished he had his camera still.

~

Sickness - NPOV *rly long bc I love me some lo'ak whump*

Neteyam felt good and bad. Good that he'd avoided the sickness working through high camp. Bad because it had ripped through his family quickly, leaving only him and Lo'ak to look after everyone. His poor brother was not good with puke, so they made an agreement: Neteyam deals with that, while Lo'ak helps with the other stuff.

After a rough three weeks, Mom and Dad were better and took over looking after Kiri and Tuk, leaving Neteyam and Lo'ak to pray to Eywa they didn't catch it.

The week following seemed almost too good to be true.

After a rough night thanks to Kiri catching the same illness from Spider, Neteyam was woken to the beaded cover of the hut moving. He blearily opened his eyes, wiping the sleep away when he caught sight of his younger bro. Neteyam followed him out curiously. "You're not tired?" He asked instead of a greeting. Lo'ak just blinked slowly. "Very," He croaked. "Then come sleep. Everyone will be awake in a few hours." He grabbed Lo'ak's arm and began gently pulling. "If I move, I'll puke," He warned. Neteyam frowned. "You feel sick?" He asked. Lo'ak hummed lowly. "Have you eaten? You don't feel warm," He said as he pressed a hand to his forehead. "It's probably lack of food. Come sleep it off," Neteyam wrapped an arm around Lo'ak's shoulder and began gently leading him back.

He was woken up yet again with the beaded cover swinging softly. Neteyam sighed softly and followed his brother out. "Bro? Are you-" Lo'ak answered the question with a lurch at the wooden railing and a retch. Neteyam patted his back until he pulled back, groaning softly. "Can you hold on long enough for Dad?" He asked softly. Lo'ak dry heaved over the railing. "No!" He gasped out. "Not Dad!" Neteyam squeezed the back of his neck gently. "Ok, ok. Calm down. No dad. How about Mom?" Lo'ak was grabbing the railing so tightly, his knuckles were pale blue. "Fine,"

Neteyam walked into his parent's section quietly. "Mom," He hissed. "Mom." Her vibrant amber eyes shot open with a sharp gasp. "Oh, maitan. What?" She whispered. "Lo'ak's unwell. He needs help," By this point, his dad had also woken, which made things a little harder. "What's wrong with him?" He asked. Neteyam glanced back briefly. "He's not warm, but he's been up twice feeling sick. He's outside now, actually being sick," His mom sat up straight with a soft sigh. "It's ok, I'll deal with it, babe. Go to sleep,"

Oh, dear.

Neteyam trailed after his dad quietly. Lo'ak was leaning over the railing again, crying softly. "Aw, buddy. You feeling unwell?" Dad asked softly. Lo'ak's crying continued. Neteyam moved to his side, feeling his head again. "He's still not warm, Dad." Dad began to rub Lo'ak's shoulders as he vomited some more. Dad pulled Lo'ak's braids out of the way as he dry heaved. "Have you eaten anything funny? Could be food poisoning," Dad mused quietly.

"But surely we'd all have it?" Neteyam asked. He pulled a face when his younger brother threw up loudly. "Not necessarily. Could just be the bug everyone's had." Lo'ak gagged again. Jake patted his son's shoulder firmly. "Any better?" He asked in vain. "Maybe," Lo'ak answered. Neteyam placed a hand on his head again. "He's a bit warm now Dad," Neteyam said. Dad hummed. "Wanna go back inside? Or lay down?" Lo'ak said nothing. "Still feeling sick?" Dad asked instead. "Maybe," Lo'ak answered softly, practically falling onto the railing. Neteyam lurched forward to grab him, but Dad beat him. He grabbed him under his armpits and held him against his chest. "I don't feel well," He cried softly. Neteyam decided there and then to get his mom: both would be helpful for Lo'ak right now.

She was already up. "I'm already coming," She whispered softly, stepping over Tuk. Once his mom was there, Neteyam stepped back and retreated to bed. Lo'ak would be fine.

~

Injury - NPOV *again, some lo'ak whump my poor bby*

Lo'ak bit back a sob as he lay by the river. He'd just, rather stupidly, stormed off, injured, after an argument with Neteyam. If his dad hadn't forced him to make amends with some kid, he probably would have said no. He hadn't flown properly since he fucked up his iknimaya a few months ago. But when he hesitated... he saw in Neteyam's eyes that he pitied him.

And it hurt.

The eyes used to hold respect and an urge to beat him in a contest... for the Lo'ak before his trial. He told himself bitterly. For the now: worry and pity. Lo'ak had roughly stitched a wound on his abdomen with some emergency medical thread Dad forced them all to carry. Just enough to keep him from bleeding out. No doubt it was infected as well: if the throbbing and horrible burning was anything to go by, then it was quite a nasty one. He shivered painfully. It was there he wished his dad hadn't saved him. It would have been a better ending: quick and painless. Not... shivering and dying of infection alone. His tears burnt as they raced down his face. He pressed his fist into the wet ground and screamed.

~

Neteyam felt horrible. He walked on with Kiri, who stood as he felt. They hadn't made it very far when he heard a shout. He stopped. "What was that?" Kiri asked. "I don't know... it sounded like Lo'ak," Spider mumbled. "Spider, you stay here. Keep in the zone."

"But-"

"It wasn't an ask," Neteyam interrupted a little too harshly. He turned away and stalked off, Kiri scampering after him, leaving Spider alone.

He walked over a small crest back to where the jet had crashed. He looked around slowly, looking for danger. There was nothing. Not a single footprint, minus his own. It had obviously rained briefly in the time he left and came back. They walked over the hill, tripping over a stick. Only it wasn't a stick. "Oh my Eywa," Neteyam spoke softly

"Shit, Kiri... he's gonna die if we don't move him," Kiri continued to blink. Neteyam's eyes fell on his brother. His face was as white as the clouds, but the small blood stain by his ribs contrasted greatly. "I had no idea he'd storm off like that," Kiri weakly argued. "Nobody did... I think it was an episode triggered by the iknimaya." He huffed. "I told Dad he wasn't ready to go in the air, goddamn it."

Lo'ak form suddenly shook violently as he cried out. Neteyam jumped back, unable to do anything but. "Tey-come on. Wake up! We need to help him!" Kiri snapped, clicking her fingers. Neteyam shook his head, shaking out the numb worry. "Right... check the wound. Lo'ak's dumb, but he's not stupid. He'd've stitched it with the medical thread at the very least... I hope," He reached for the small pouch on his loincloth. "I've got some paste grandma gave me when I broke my leg. It should stop it bleeding," He offered, handing the bag to his sister. Kiri frowned at it as she peered in. "Tey, there's nothing in here. Certainly not enough to last him. Did Dad put some more in?"

Neteyam snatched the bag back, rifling through it. "Damn it! I leant it to Spider the other day." He rubbed his forehead. "He must've forgotten to fill it. Shit."

Kiri looked around and sighed deeply. "God, here... I have some pain meds. Norm gave them to me a while ago," She handed Neteyam the pills. "I dunno how they'll work on dumbass, but it's all I've got." Neteyam pulled open Lo'ak's jaw and shoved the pills in. Kiri cupped some river water and poured it down. Lo'ak sputtered but swallowed them anyway.

Neteyam rubbed Lo'ak's shoulder softly as Kiri checked the wound. "It's not great stitching, but it'll do. It should keep him alive until we get to Mom and Dad." Kiri said, putting a leaf over the wound. The guilt raging through his heart was too hard to ignore: he should've fought harder against his dad... maybe then Lo'ak would be in better health. "Damn it, we shoulda pushed harder with Dad. I knew he wasn't strong enough to do this." Neteyam snapped, kicking a stone.

"We both did. Dad wouldn't have listened: he's too stubborn. Come on. We need to move him," Neteyam lifted Lo'ak up by his armpits, rousing him enough to wake. "What's happening?" He mumbled with delirium. Neteyam pushed away the guilt. "We're going home." He spoke. "But you've left me... oh I'm dying... aren't I?" He mumbled again. "No, Lo'ak, we didn't leave you. That's the fever talking. If we left you, we wouldn't be here again, would we?" Kiri said, grabbing his legs. Lo'ak didn't speak again.

Somehow... the guilt raged even stronger.