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tar • anti • sm
noun
overcoming melancholy by dancing; the uncontrollable urge to dance

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THE DAYS BLURRED TOGETHER and before she knew it, it was the time for the celebration. The sun slowly setting eclipse taking over the dark melancholy night that once was full of color, when a flash of green blue on an ilu hinted that Anoung had showed up. Neteyam glanced through the door watching as she waited, his fist clenched tightly in a ball.

The warrior quickly walked back into the hut asking Neytiri a question, "is this outfit good?" She asked glancing at her shell beaded top and blue wrap skirt, "yes, now go!" His mom laughed pushing the girl out the door, "I'll dance with you later Nete!" She yelled quickly going to wait outside the hut.

Elyä stood outside the hut waiting for the chiefs son twiddling with the seashell in her hair, "hey forest warrior!" Anoung yelled on his ilu, "you ready to go to the beach and have an amazing celebration?"

She nodded quickly calling her ilu diving into the water joining him smiling brightly leaving behind a jealous Neteyam and a very lost Sully family, "oh shit the celebration is tonight?" Jake asked his oldest son confused.

"Yes, sir," he sighed, "are we gonna go or not?" Lo'ak asked wanting to see Tsrieya.

"Yes, yes calm down," Neytiri chimed in not really caring kinda just wanting to try their alcohol.

Oh how fun this is gonna be.

ELYÄ FELT THE MUSIC in her veins as she and Aonung walked into the very lively place drums and singing, it was comforting like a little piece of home in a new place, "what do you think so far forest girl?" He asked putting an arm around her. "It's nice," she grinned her feet crunching under the sand feeling it trickle between her toes.

"Wait until you dance!" He smiled dragging her to the crowd dancing, "it is the Matikanya way especially when we dive into the water in the end," the chiefs son grinned.

She nodded along to the music joining the crowd Aonung dragging her.

"Come on it's about to start!" He laughed joining the dance circle as Tonowari and Ronal watched intrigued by everything that is going on by the two.

The music played the sounds of drums and singing echoed throughout the beach as people danced and kicked the sand, the sully's walked in taking in the aroma and atmosphere of the party.

Neteyam saw Elyä and Aonung dancing smiling and laughing, he glared at the two jealously aching into his veins.

"Sully's!" Tonowari's voice boomed making the music slowly go to a stop glancing at the family who was walking to the two who were now standing glancing at the adults.

"Welcome!" The chief grinned, "why stop the music let them dance! Have fun!" His voice commanded throughout the sandy beach as the music slowly started again everyone dancing.

Tuk ran off to go and join a game most of the other kids where playing but was unable too with them judging her, she walked over to Elyä who was dancing with Aonung having the time of her life not noticing Neteyam's many side eyes.

"Lyä can I dance with you?" The young sully asked breaking up the two teenagers who were dancing, "of course Tuk," she smiled asking the chief son with her eyes to say if it was okay, he nodded before walking off leaving the two.

Neteyam watched as his little sister and best friend danced smiling at the two happy now fish lips finally left her side.

The blue hues and fire shined off the warriors body making the dots around her body shining like a star. She was a star at least in his eyes.

"Neteyam is staring," Tuk whispered to Elyä who froze glancing over her shoulder to him, he held up a drink bowing his head at her, "he probably snuck some alcohol," she shrugged trying to not glance back at him even though she was feeling his eyes.

"Yeah sure that's something Lo'ak would do not Neteyam," Tuk told the older girl as the teenager girl twirled her.

"True," she laughed as chatter echoed around them along with the beats of drums and fire crackling, it was different, almost could be home if she believed it.

"Oh eywa I am thirsty," Elyä told Tuk parched, "I'm gonna go get something to drink I'll be back," she walked away from the girl going to get some water thirsty from all that dancing and moving around.

"So how was time with fish lips?" The oldest son of Jake and Neytiri asked drinking water.

"Oh you know fun," she grinned, "why are you jealous Nete?" The warrior asked taking a sip of her water questioning him with her dark eyes.

"No," he scoffed obviously lying, "now would her wonderful warrior care for a dance, I believe I'm owed one?" He held out his hand bowing a little as she chuckled, "why of course fine sir."

They laughed heading into the dance circle joining in when the giant group went into a line as a women started to sing, "do you have any idea how they are dancing?" Neteyam asked, "yes Aonung taught me," she told him showing him moving along with the music like she was made to be with the Metkayina.

"How are you doing this so well El?" He asked following her every move with his eyes trying to understand it.

"I'm a fast learner teyam you should know this," Elyä chuckled, "I am my mother's daughter after all."

"Yeah you are," Neteyam chuckled with her dancing freely, "now do you want to go see how Lo'ak is trying to flirt with Tsireya?" He asked laughing wanting to make bad decisions like they used too.

"Sure why the hell not skxwang," she nodded going to sneak over to a log where both Lo'ak and Tsireya where talking and hearing his bad flirting.

"How does she like him? He can barely get a good sentence out," she sighed, "Eywa must be tired good lord."

"Now let's cause mayhem I'm bored," she dragged him leaving the two blushing teenagers to talk pr listen to Lo'ak's terrible flirting.

"Why the hell not?" He let her drag him to where the parents were, "what are you two doing?" Jake asked holding some type of alcohol not seeming to have drank much of it, "nothing," they both muttered quickly wanting to run off with their ilu's and play hide and seek.

"You better not being doing what I think you two were gonna do!" He yelled as the two best friends looked at each other confused, "what do you mean by that?" Elyä asked before running off.

They were just being teenagers even if it was only for a little while.

ESME'S CORNER!
omg me finally updating, who would've thought? Jk I was working myself to death with school and barley had time to write but I promise you all I will be prewriting many chapters so I can publish them without a worry if I'm stressed or tired. PLEASE VOTE AND COMMENT!!! engagement gives me a lot of motivation so that's a definite yes!

I love you all so so much and yes the angst will be back quick bc I hate happiness <3333

word count: 1,240 words