Dinner went over well and you found yourself flowing easily with the conversation with both mated pairs. It felt like the five of you knew each other for years and you would love to have more conversations like that with them. They had informed you right before you left the Marui with Jake and Neytiri that you will be joining the hunting party. Now, it was the next day and you were a little nervous. Clearly, Ronal and Tonowari had faith in your skills. Jake and Neytiri have gone on hunts already and you figured you never would which was fine with you. That changed and, you were surprised when Tonowari greeted you this morning and brought you to his marui where Ronal had paints ready. It was white and black. 

"Come here." You did as instructed stopping in front of her as she picked up the white and painted a line from your bottom lip, down your neck, and chest, and stopping above your loin cloth. You had to bite your lip from squirming but, your body betrayed you with blushing. You swear to Eywa they make you blush with everything. "This is to show you're a part of the Metkayina. There may be more tribes beyond the reef." You wanted to comment that no one wore black and white, maybe because you were a forest Na'vi and not a reef na'vi. 

"I like the patterns." Your voice came out soft as they flickered to Tonowari's whose eyes were trained on Ronal's hands tracing your body with the paint. She instructed you to turn around and you did as instructed. You tried hard not to twitch but, couldn't help the jolt and yelp when she stopped at the base of your tail. You didn't want to turn around because you felt both of their stares at you. Eywa take you into your sweet embrace.

"We are done." That voice was too close. You slowly turned around blushing to the tips of your ears at the way Ronal was hovering over you. She had a gleam to her eyes that you've only ever seen her give to Tonowari. You were unprepared as your breath hitched when she leaned in closer with a smirk. "What do you say Ma'yawntutsyip." Your eyes widen slightly tilting your head a little in shock.

"Thank you, Ronal." She hummed caressing your chin before stepping out of your personal space. 

"I will escort you." You removed your gaze from hers to meet Tonowari's and almost melted on the spot. He was checking you out slowly up and down as his tongue licked over his teeth. Oh Eywa, how you would love for him to bite- bad thoughts Y/N. You blinked just in time to see him stalking you, towering over you. Everyone did but, he was a foot and a half taller than you. "I'll be right behind you." He inclined his head down with a playful smirk that had your stomach doing somersaults. Before you did or say anything stupid you turned around with purpose missing the mischievous looks Ronal and Tonowari shared.

"Who's going to be leading the hunt?" You were walking evenly with Tonowari making your way to the more populated areas of the beach. He was quiet and you were going to repeat yourself thinking he didn't hear you but, you stopped yourself when you felt his arm wrap around your waist and pull you towards him in a hug. You were frozen not expecting him to do that but, your feelings for him overrode rational thought so you lifted your arms and wrapped them around his neck returning the hug. This must have been something he wanted because he let out a pleased hum and squeezed you tighter to him before letting you go altogether.

"Ranari will be leading it today, he is informed of you being there along with the rest of the Metkayina. Have faith Y/N. You are strong." Somewhere in your soul, you must have needed to hear those words because you felt an invisible weight lift off your shoulders as you gave him a sincere smile which he gladly returned.

"I won't disappoint you guys." He smirked lightly at that placing a hand at the nape of your neck and bringing his forehead to yours

"You're too much of a good girl to do that." You absolutely stopped breathing and your body temperature went up and God Eywa take you this is not the time to get horny. Please if he smells your sudden arousal you're going to let an Akula eat you. To your absolute horror, he sniffed, his ears flicking in interest as he gave a thoughtful hum. "I'm almost jealous it's Ranari and not me...Go along now, it's not polite to leave people waiting." Your body was on autopilot giving a nod as you made a beeline to the hunters. You had two hunting knives, your spear, and a net. When you saw the other Metkayina and Ranari you sighed with relief desperate for a distraction from these raging hormones.

"There she goes!" You smiled brightly at Ranari watching as he was caught off guard but, played it cool with a grin of his own. You clicked calling for your Tsurak who was already making a beeline for you without you having to call her. You greeted her as she spun in circles slapping the water happily making you shriek with happiness. "How cute." You finally got ahold of her and waited for instructions as Ranari ordered everyone to go. You had a grip on your Tsurak as she took off, you stood up holding on to her and out of the corner of your eye you saw Ranari swimming close to you.

"We're going beyond the reef right?" You just needed to say something ignoring the way his eyes traveled along your body eyeing the paint.

"You look pretty." You felt yourself blush and blushed even harder when he sniffed, his eyes dilating a little "You smell good too." His voice had dropped at that as your tail waved behind you anxiously. His eyes raked your frame again but, he shook his head to get out of whatever daze he was in. "We are going to where it's Akula territory for bigger prey but, don't worry we are strong. I won't- we won't let anything hurt you." You allowed yourself a little grin at the slip-up he tried to correct. 

"I trust you to protect me...I mean us" You grinned teasingly at him appreciating that he returned it in jest. No more was said as all of you focused on the hunt. You really hoped an Akula was not out here because you were joking about getting eaten. You got reasons to go home.  Once you arrived in the territory all of you were instructed to spread out and dive. You took a deep breath calming your nerves and went under with your Tsurak searching. You found a rather large fish and were going to get it but, it was taken. Frowning you went in search of another large one, it seemed to be 2 meters and just as you readied your spear, one of the warriors got it. Your eye twitched at the smirk he threw at you. You would try one more before needing air. You looked for anything and when you saw a smaller fish, you were going to grab it but, one of the female warriors grabbed it before you can. Pissed now you went to the surface for air. 

"Too slow demon." You turned to the three warriors who took your kills as you rolled your eyes. You didn't have time for this. You already knew not everyone was accepting of you especially now that Jake Sully and his family have come bringing a war they believed to them. You calmed your heart this time and dived again searching but, every time you went to grab something it was taken. Both your Tsurak and yourself were frustrated beyond belief. 

"Aww, the little demon is getting upset." You ignored all of them as you thought of a way to get a kill. 

"She can afford to lose weight, her baby tail looks even smaller than the rest. It's what's slowing her down anyway." How mature of them. How are they adults again? Where the hell was Ranari?

"She's a slow learner, not fast at all but, she will be okay." There he was and when you turned around for a split second you saw his face twisted in a nasty smirk. It was there for a second but, that was all you needed. Your face dropped and he must have caught on because his face twisted in guilt but, you didn't want to hear it. That confirmed how they all felt as angry tears sprang to your eyes and one embarrassingly fell in front of him. You turned then with a need to go away. 

"Y/N-" You threw a glare at him over your shoulder 

"Don't worry about me, I'll catch up." With that, you ordered your Tsurak to go as fast as she could. She was also frustrated with the other hunter and their Tsuraks as she shared your sentiments through the bond. With a shriek, she took off making sure to splash two of the Metkayina next to you. All Ranari could do was stare and was tempted to follow but, was stopped.

"Who cares what happens to her? She gets eaten that's one less demon to deal with." Ranari felt his stomach twist in knots with guilt. She looked so betrayed and hurt. He watched and listened to his fellow warriors not understanding how they can be so cruel. Why would he let himself be so mean when what he showed was the opposite of what he felt?

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