Ao’nung stood on the precipice of adulthood, having just passed the rigorous rites that marked him as a man in the eyes of the Metkayina tribe. For a brief moment, he reveled in the respect and admiration that came with this new status, enjoying the celebrations and the camaraderie of his friends. However, the joy was short-lived.

Two years after his rites, Ao’nung found himself reluctantly bonded to a Na'vi woman chosen by his parents. The match, while arranged, bore the familiar scent of obligation rather than affection. As the days turned to weeks, he couldn’t shake the feeling of being trapped in a cage of tradition. Despite his initial reluctance, he accepted his fate, even as he remained distant from her. The realization of her pregnancy hit him with an unexpected weight, the unique scent of her condition permeating their shared space—a scent only he could detect. Instead of feeling joy or excitement, a sense of dread washed over him, mingling with the responsibilities he felt ill-prepared to shoulder.

In the ensuing months, as his mate’s body transformed, Ao’nung grew more neglectful, absorbed in the distractions of tribal life. The thrill of newly acquired status, the admiration of his peers, and the weight of familial expectations consumed him, leading him to drift away from the very person he was supposed to support. He rarely checked in on you, dismissing your needs as trivial in the face of his burgeoning responsibilities as a warrior and leader.

"Ao'nung?" She walked over to him, he was with his friends likely celebrating the bonfire with a splash of alcohol and looked highly irritated that she was interrupting.

"We'll speak at home." He said, dismissing her before she could even speak.