Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Neteyam landed gracefully next to his ikran, just like his father had done mere seconds before him. The sand felt strange under his feet, a bit unstable. He was tired from the long trip, but he was more awake now on the ground than two hours ago. Several Metkayina were already surrounding them, and already he felt nervous, but he didn’t let it show on his face. He stood next to Loak, with Kiri next to his brother. Tuk was next to their mother. He gave a painful squeeze to his chest, right where he was shot, the pain kept him grounded in the present moment. Behind him he heard a whine coming from his ikran, but he stayed where he was, following his father’s orders.

Two boys approached the two brothers, and even though Lo'ak and Neteyam put their hands to their forehead and whispered ‘Oel Ngati Kameie’, the gesture was not reciprocated. The taller one continued to stare at them and the other Metkayina boy laughed “Is that a tail? Their skin is so dark” which was a bit rude, but Neteyam let it slide and focused on what his father was saying to the Olo’eyktan who had arrived quickly after hearing the horn sound. Everything seemed to be going well, Lo'ak looked to the side to see a Metkayina girl arriving on a sea creature then dove to resurface a bit closer. She approached them with a small smil. Lo'ak made a small “Hey” to which she responded with a giggle and a wave of hand. The Metkayina boy from earlier hissed at the interaction and the girl gently swatted his shoulder with the same hand she waved. Everything seemed to go swimmingly well between the Olo’eyktan and his father until the Tsahík arrived.

Ronal was a woman who arbored a severe expression on her face. Out of respect for her, his father did the ‘I see you’ gesture and all behind him did the same. She inspected every one of them beginning by Tuk saying that her arms were fin. She then grabbed Neytiri’s tail without warning, Neteyam’s mother barely suppressed a hiss.

“Their tails are weak”, she said loud enough for the gathering to hear.

As her inspection continued, she turned her attention to Kiri and Lo'ak, she sneered immediately when her piercing gaze fell on their hands.

“These children are not even real Na’vis! she declared.

“Of course, we are!” answered Kiri.

The Tsahík rounded Kiri and grabbed Lo'ak’s hand to hold it up for everyone to see.

"They have demon’s blood,” she continued.

This drew the attention of the crowd and gasps and whispers erupted. This didn’t feel right to Neteyam. His family was asking for uturu, they should feel safe and protected, but it seemed to him that his family was treated as common goods on a bargaining market. He looked around, worried and quickly his eyes met those of the taller boy who came earlier. His gaze shifted on his hands, and he seemed to relax a bit. Neteyam looked down, frowning wondering what had caught the attention of the other, only to realise he had been counting his fingers. That irritated the forest Na’vi even more. He was as Na’vi as his siblings, no matter the number of fingers on his hands or the extra patch of hairs above his eyes.

He came back to the reality when he heard his mother hissed at the Tsahík. That was definitely not good, and to worsen the situation Jake tried to apologise for his mate which enraged Neytiri even more. The Tsahík realised that she had one more to inspect. Him. She frowned as she approached, probably wondering why a male Na’vi was wearing a top laced on his chest, even though his was not feminine, male rarely covered their chest, too proud of showing off their powerful musculature.

The frown on Ronal’s face deepened when she understood that the piece of cloth looked like a baby swing that young mothers often wear to carry their infant to have their hands free. But, if it was indeed a baby swing, where was the baby or the boy’s mate? He looked so young, almost the same age as her own son who was among the crowd. However, the boy in front of her had already passed his iknimaya since he was also wearing his cummerbund on his waist.

When Neteyam had landed on the sand, he saw that no other male was wearing anything on their chest but straps of leather to hold their weapons. An uneasy feeling cursed through him as he felt a bit frumpy. He was pulled out of his thoughts by a tug too harsh for his own liking on his queue. A quiet hiss escaped his lips and immediately a growl answered from behind him.

‘Oh no’, he thought as he turned to his father who grimaced as well. The Tsahík had let go of his kuru as soon as she heard the menacing sound behind her. Everyone looked at the ikrans still on the beach. But one in particular had a small creature on its head.

The creature was small but when it taped its hands once on the head of the beast, the ikran lowered its head to the ground. The creature jumped on the sand, landing on wobbly hinge legs, both its arms spread to unfold a pair of stingbat-like wings, right under its armpits. Its wings flopped a bit and the creature arrived at the forest Na’vi’s feet where it quickly climbed. The creature laid its small body in the baby swing and took Neteyam’s queue in its hands while glaring at the Tsahík unblinkingly.

Aonung had never seen a creature like this, yet he knew deep inside that he had to be cautious. That was not a pet like the little crab that his sister liked to raise when she was five. That was a predator evaluating its chances. He tensed even more since the creature’s eyes had not waver once from his mother. The Tsahík turned slowly her head to Jake as she addressed him.

“You have a Navi’ka with you,” her voice was small and trembling.

Jake didn’t have the time to answer that the Tsahík added, shrieking.

“How dare you? They are Eywa’s wrath! They are sacred! How coul-"

“Eywa has chosen my son to hatch the Navi’ka’s egg,” interrupted Neytiri. “Neteyam and the Navi’ka have bonded as father and daughter,” she continued her explanation. “She has already scream for him,” she stated proud.

“Mother,” hissed the young forest Na’vi at her, as if embarrassed.

“Is this true?” Ronal asked, directly addressing him now.

Neteyam nervously glanced at his father who nodded his approbation. The forest Na’vi sighed and took the Navi’ka out of the baby swing and placed her back on the sand. Neteyam cooed softly at her when she whined in protest. He then proceeded to undress the piece of cloth and the baby swing which let appeared a fresh scar on his chest. If the gasps of horror were any indication, there was a matching one on his back as well, which mean that this Na’vi’s body had been pierced through.

However, the Tsahík didn’t have the time to examine the wound, since the Navi’ka had already climbed back to the boy’s chest to cover the scar with her wings, clearly uneasy that it was exposed. Even if she appeared to be a baby, she was sporting a set of impressive claws at the end of her hands on her wings. She was careful though, mindful of the delicate looking skin there. She was now looking like a prolemuris holding on for dear life to the forest Na’vi who put his hands to support the little creature now that he doesn’t have any clothing.

“Pähem,” Ronal murmured, mesmerised.

She turned to Tonowari to discuss, only their eyes moved. It didn’t take long though; the decision was made when the Navi’ka was revealed.

“The Pähem and his family will stay here,” stated Ronal.

“They don’t know these waters; they will be like babies taking their first dive. Treat them as our brothers and sisters,” announced Tonowari.

After that statement, the reef Na’vis went back to their previous business.

“My son, Ao’nung, and my daughter, Tsireya, will teach your children our ways,” Tonowari spoke with authority.

Upon hearing his name, Aonung woke up from his dreamy like state. Since arriving he had been intensely staring at the oldest Sully’s boy.

“Father, why do I-” Ao’nung’s voice came to vocalize his protests, but it was quickly interrupted by his father holding his hand up.

“It is decided,” he said sternly, before turning around to join his mate that was retreating to the woven pathway already.

Ao’nung sighed. He had no problem teaching. Actually, he was a great teacher, the kids loved him. No, what he was annoyed with was the fact that he had to teach demon’s blood like his mother had said. He felt relief wash over him when he saw that the oldest brother did not feature any sky people attributes. The other brother and the strange looking girl on the other hand…

Tsireya, graceful as always approached the family to show them their new home. The family quickly took their belongings from their ikrans before following the Olo’eytan’s daughter to their appointed marui as it is called here in Awa’atlu.

"Mum, I will take the ikrans inland,” the oldest boy said, before mounting his own creature and yiping to set the banshee into motion after receiving a nod from his mother. All of them followed.

"Ao’nung, you coming?" asked Tsireya.

“No, I will wait for the Pähem to come back to show him the way to his family marui,” explained the reef boy while bending down to retrieve the piece of clothing previously discarded.

“Give it me! I will give it back to Neteyam” said the youngest Sully brother.

His ears were pinned back, and he seemed to be in great difficulty since he decided to take everything he had on his ikran to make only one trip. He tried to balance all his belongings on one arm to free one to take the garment, but miserably failed.

“No, I will do it. You already have too much to carry anyway,” answered politely Ao’nung.

The younger brother clearly didn’t expect that answer.

“Give it to me,” he growled, showing his small fangs.

Ao’nung was about to bare his own fangs when Neytiri came behind her youngest son.

“Lo’ak! Don’t be rude!” she hissed at him. “Thank you, Ao’nung,” she added while turning herself to the chief’s son.

Ao’nung only nodded politely. That forest woman was fierce, she had hissed at his mother, the Tsahík, in a foreign land, surrounded by reef people. He didn’t want to be on her bad side. Ao’nung waited for almost half an hour and helped Neytiri to carry the rest of her belongings to the marui appointed to the Sully family. He could see that she didn’t like it but strangely took no offense, because he tried to imagine what it would be like to move from the Reef to a completely different land. At least, she had the grace not to voice her dislike, not while Tsireya or her brother was in hearing range.

Ao’nung went back to the beach where the ikrans landed earlier today. Right before she left, the Tsahik had casted a ‘Do not mess it up’ glance at her son. Ao’nung had understood and right now he was doing everything he could to not disappoint his mother. After a while, the Pähem was back. Just as earlier he landed gracefully on the sand. The forest boy sent back his ikran to whatever place he had found for them to stay. His steps were silent as he approached Ao’nung. The reef boy was quick to “repair” his previous rudeness when he and his friend Rotxo had ignored the formal greeting.

“Oel Ngati Kameie, Pähem”, he said while he gestured his hand from his forehead to the other boy. He continued. “I will show you th-”

“No!” The forest boy interrupted him harshly.

“No?” repeated Ao’nung, flabbergasted.

He then took notice of the fin tail swishing angrily behind the other Na’vi. His eyes landed on his face and yep that was irritation painted all over the place, even though his golden eyes looked bright, exhaustion was clearly there.

“I-I don’t understand, I-” stuttered a bit Ao’nung, at loss of words.

He clearly had no idea what he could’ve done to anger the other boy. The only one he should absolutely not make an enemy of. The Pähem sighed heavily, pinching the bridge of his nose.

“You will not call me that! I’m not Pähem, I’m not Eywa’s favourite, I am Neteyam te Suli Tsyeyk’itan. That’s all! Understood?” he yelled-whispered exasperated right in Ao’nung’s face, one of his finger jabbing at Ao’nung’s chest.

At the end of his tirade, the Navi’ka on his shoulder now wide awake, hissed at Ao’nung. As if the creature took personal offense in what just happened. Not waiting for an answer from the reef Na’vi that seemed mortified, Neteyam began to walk to the woven pathway between the marui. After a few steps, he stopped, realizing that he had no idea where to go. He sighed again and Hik’ki on his shoulder cooed reassuringly. He was about to turn around to ask the way to the boy he had just lashed onto to find him approaching.

“This way” he said with a blank face and a neutral voice.

Neteyam felt bad, all his frustration, his anger, his pain had bubbled up and exploded. He just yelled at a stranger who was probably polite because it was asked of him. He should apologize and- Neteyam’s thinking was interrupted by the Olo'eyktan’s son.

“Here, this is your family marui,” the boy said on the same tone.

Neteyam was taken aback by the structure, so different from home. When he came back to reality, he turned to thank his guide only to find him gone already. ‘Great. Just. Great’ he thought.

Chapter Text

Neteyam woke up tired. He didn’t sleep well. The Metkayina people did not sleep in hammock, they slept on woven mats… on the floor. Hik’ki didn’t like it one bit, probably thinking it was not safe, so she fussed during a good part of the night letting everyone knows she was not happy about the change. After she stood guard at the entrance of their new home, she finally went back inside to sleep curled up next to Neteyam an hour or so before the end of the eclipse.

Exhaustion was not the only thing he felt when he woke up though. His behaviour last night was unacceptable. He acted like a complete “jerk” like he heard his father says too many times. And no amount of exhaustion could excuse how he had exploded to the other boy. To the Chief’s son no less. He felt shame, uneasiness. He took his decision as he opened his eyes, he would apologise first thing in the morning.

“Sully, fall in!” Jake Sully ordered.

All the children and Neytiri squatted down next to patriarch to listen to him.

“I want you on your best behaviour! make friends, learn fast, pull your weight.”

Neteyam winced internally at the end of the sentence. Had he already compromised his family by yelling at the Chief’s son? He hoped not. The Sully children went out with their father who quickly went to Tonowari who was not far away, speaking with his own children. Tsireya welcomed them all warmly and explained that they would all swim together to see where to go from there. Rotxo the boy from yesterday joined them too. When they were about to dive into the cerulean water, Neteyam let out a breath and approached the boy from yesterday.

When Ao’nung saw the pa-no, Neteyam approached he tensed. He had messed up yesterday, he knew. But as he went home last night, fear changed into anger. He analysed their interactions and came to the conclusion that he had done nothing wrong. The forest Na’vi boy was probably treated as a sacred divinity back home. He had to be used to get everything he wanted whenever he wanted. He probably never provided for his clan, lazying around. Ao’nung despised people like that. He probably always had a easy life… He talked to Rotxo what had happened, and the other agreed with him that he had been on his best behaviour. His best friend had assured him of his presence for their lessons. Rotxo would not let Ao’nung down, never. Although, when Neteyam came into view, Ao’nung had worried anger changing back into fear again. He didn’t expect the eldest Sully’s child to be with them. ‘He’s probably doing it to keep up the appearance,’ he thought.

“Hey, can I talk to you before we get started,” he asked quite nicely, although he seemed a bit nervous.

“Hm, yeah sure,” answered Ao’nung feeling uneasy himself. ‘What does he want? Is he going to say something about yesterday?’ the reef boy wondered.

“It’s about last night…” began Neteyam.

‘Great! What will it be? Some more yelling? Here? In front of the whole village?’ Ao’nung thought bitterly.

He had considered the forest boy attractive even with his different built and skin colour, but he began to hate his personality. He wanted to do nothing with him anymore and it was just their second day.

“I would like to apologize for my behaviour, you didn’t deserve it. I just lost my temper last night and you happened to be right in front of me. I was tired, exhausted even but that’s not an excuse for me to act like a ‘jerk’. I’m truly sorry,” he apologised sincerely as he fiddled with the something between his hands nervously.

Ao’nung was taken aback by the apology, he didn’t expect it. He eyed the other boy critically. Had he misjudged him?

“What’s a ‘jerk’” he blurted out instead of accepting the apology directly.

“Oh, it’s a… the equivalent would be skxawng, I guess” Neteyam wondered as his ears perked up at the unexpected question.

‘Cute’ thought Ao’nung. “Okay,” he said.

“So, should we start over? I mean, I don’t even know your name,” said hesitantly the forest boy while looking at his clear blue eyes behind his lashes.

“Oh, I’m Ao’nung te Tonowari’itan, older brother of Tsireya and eldest son of the Olo’eyktan of the Metkayina clan” he stated proudly.

“I am Neteyam te Suli Tsyeyk’itan, eldest brother of Lo’ak Kiri and Tuk, and eldest son of Toruk Makto, former Olo’eyktan of the Omatikaya clan. It’s nice to meet you, Ao’nung” he sent a sweet smile to the other boy and Ao’nung felt that he had maybe misjudged him entirely.

They shook their arms just as their fathers had done the previous day when they greeted. Rotxo joined them right when they let go.

“Everything’s alright?” he asked cautiously looking back between his best friend and the Pähem.

Since their conversation last night, Rotxo had forged himself a rather poor opinion of the Pähem, agreeing with most of Ao’nung’s. So, when he saw him and his best friend speaking, mostly the Pähem actually, Rotxo thought that Ao’nung was in trouble again. Both Ao’nung and Neteyam turned their head to look at him.

“Yes! Thank you, huh,” Neteyam hesitated and glanced at Ao’nung for his help.

“Oh! That’s Rotxo, my best friend.” Ao’nung’s eyes slightly widened when he understood that Neteyam didn’t his name.

“Hello Rotxo! I am Neteyam, nice to meet you,” the forest Na’vi then introduced himself with a sweet smile.

“Huh yeah… me too,” Rotxo stuttered a bit disconcerted at the nice introduction.

Before it became awkward though, Tsireya called for them. She had been speaking with Tuk excitedly for a while now. When she saw the Pähem speaking, apparently nervously, with her brother, she had bit her bottom lip worriedly. Her mother had been stern about the Pähem and the fact that he should feel welcomed. To have a Navi’ka in the clan was something the Tsahík was proud of. Tsireya’s brother was not best known for his good manners when it comes to strangers. Tsireya didn’t say anything when the three boys joined the group. She noticed that Rotxo and her brother had a discussion behind the forest Na’vi’s back, using their sign language to at least be discreet about it. She dismissed it as a later problem and began the lesson, demonstrating how to jump in water.

‘He seems… nice’ signed Rotxo in the water. On the beach he had reiterated his question to Ao’nung about his conversation with the Pähem, but his best friend had reassured him.

‘Yeah… I think, maybe, I misjudged him last night’ the Chief’s son signed back.

‘Really?’ asked the other boy, surprised.

‘Yeah, he actually apologized to me this morning about hi lash out. He appeared to be exhausted’ he elaborated.

‘That’s not an excuse’ signed back Rotxo angrily.

‘That’s exactly what he said’ signed Ao’nung with a smile.

Rotxo seemed astonished, and turned around to see the forest Na’vis, searching for the Pähem with his eyes. To everyone’s relief, the Sully children could swim. Not fast, and not for long, but they could. It was clear that they didn’t breathe correctly from their stomach and thus they couldn’t hold their breath for long.

‘They are not good divers’ signed Rotxo turning a malicious smile to Ao’nung who smirked back.

‘Stop it! They are learning!’ chastised Tsireya.

She looked back at the Sully children who were yet again making their way to the surface to breath. She signed to Lo’ak who was looking down to come and join them, but it didn’t seem like he understood.

‘And that one looks stupid’ signed Ao’nung to Rotxo who puffed his cheeks trying not to laugh under water.

Tsireya just made a simple gesture to follow them which the forest Na’vis understood. After a few minutes though, they back at the surface. Ao’nung began to be annoyed, they hadn’t even swim for more than 50 meters. He looked around until his were drawn back to Neteyam. the forest Na’vi was not a bad swimmer, but Ao’nung couldn’t really judge his ability because he stayed near the youngest Sully girl. the child couldn’t be older than five or six, maybe seven, and it was obvious that she was growing tired as the time passed. Neteyam had constantly stayed with her and helped her the best he could, which was admirable really, since water was not his element of choice. Ao’nung and Rotxo followed Tsireya back to the surface even though they still have enough air to last ten minutes.

“Are you alright?” she asked as soon as she elegantly breached the surface without a splash.

“You’re too fast, wait for us,” whined the youngest girl.

“You’re not divers, maybe you’re good at swinging tree-” Ao’nung was stopped mid-sentence by a slap behind his head.

Tsireya looked sternly at him, strangely resembling their mother when she frowned. It was terrifying, truly.

“We don’t know what you’re saying, we don’t know this finger-talks,” explained Neteyam while gesturing his fingers.

He had the youngest in his arms, and if the darker blue circles under his eyes were any indication, he looked quite exhausted.

“Don’t worry, Pähem, I’ll teach you guys” she reassured the Sully children with a smile directed at the youngest brother.

Neteyam’s ears quickly flopped down, displeased upon hearing that title, but said nothing more. Tsireya noted the change of attitude and worryingly bit the side of her cheeks, not know what she could have done to provoke such a reaction.

“You all look tired of swimming anyway, we’ll teach you how to ride an ilu now,” intervened, knowing what cause the down attitude of the eldest Sully brother.

“Wait, where is Kiri?” asked Rotxo, looking around.

“Who?” asked Ao’nung.

“Kiri? Where is she?” the youngest asked worried, mirroring the concerned expression of Neteyam.

“Don’t worry, she can’t have gone far, I will find her,” Tsireya reassured once again. “Go with my brother and Rotxo while I search for her.”

Neteyam seemed unsure but after casting a glance at Ao’nung, he nodded, somewhat content that Tsireya had offered her help. On the other hand, Lo’ak looked devasted as Tsireya went to look for their sister.

“Hey! Eyes on me, twigs,” Ao’nung said, rolling his eyes at the hiss he got in response.

“Lo’ak! Don’t be rude!” hissed lower Neteyam. ‘So similar to his mother’ thought Ao’nung who recalled that Neytiri had said the exact same thing to her youngest son.

It appeared that the younger brother had some anger issues and insecurities. Ao’nung smirked. “If you want to survive here, in Awa’atlu, you have to ride,” explained the Chief’s son, then proceeded to voice a series of clicks and high-pitched calls.

As soon as he was done, four creatures surfaced and answered with clicks of their own. “These are ilus,” presented Ao’nung. He affectionately petted one on the neck.

At that moment, Tsireya and Kiri breached the surface of water and got paired up with Rotxo for her ilu riding lesson. Tsireya took Lo’ak and Tuk, probably to appeared less suspicious, but it was obvious that she wanted to spend some time with the former. Ao’nung looked pleased to be with Neteyam.  

“Alright, how do I ride this ‘sweetheart’?” asked Neteyam, gently petting the long neck of the ilu that came close to him.

The animal thrilled happily and Ao’nung couldn’t helped but smile, even if he had no idea what a ‘sweetheart’ was. A term of endearment most probably by Neteyam’s tone.

“You’re good with animals” he noted absently.

“Are you saying Hik’ki is an animal” teased the forest boy.

Ao’nung panicked for a second, but quickly understood the taunt behind his words. “I was actually thinking of your brother and how you shut him up earlier,” he smirked.

Neteyam gasped, surprised at the jab. “Do not insult my brother, please,” he stated with a hint of a smile.

“Plus, I would never insult a Navi’ka, I know how to pick my battles,” the reef boy added.

“And smart with that, hm?” his tone dripping of irony.

“You forgot to mention strong, handsome and-”

“Humble? the forest Na’vi interrupted him with a teasing smile.

Ao’nung lowered his head to hide his own smile. And when Neteyam laughed he joined him.

Some time later, Neteyam was on the ilu and was about to make tsaheylu when Ao’nung made him pause.

“Wait, your brother is about to go. Let’s watch.”

Lo’ak spectacularly failed, probably too occupied staring at Tsireya speaking rather than actually listening to her piece of advice. Everyone ended up laughing at his expense.

“Alright, forest boy, your turn,” Ao’nung challenged the other boy.

Neteyam gently formed the tsaheylu with his ilu, the animal squirmed a bit, probably not used to visualize so many trees in the memory of its rider but adapted quickly. Neteyam had closed his eyes and only when they both breathed in sync did he decide to open them again. His pupils still dilated focused on Ao’nung and the reef boy felt his breath hitched. Neteyam’s eyes were mesmerizing. The golden hue so exotic, Ao’nung had never seen it before. He shook his head, remembering where he was and what he was tasked to do. As he was about to explain to the forest Na’vi where to hold his hands and to correct his position, a shriek came from one of the maruis behind them. Neteyam grabbed the handler of the ilu and shot them both toward the scream at lightning speed. Ao’nung was impressed he stayed on, even though the ilu didn’t dive in the water, but Neteyam had probably commanded that way through their bond. The others, curious, followed after him, Ao’nung swimming and Tsireya with Lo’ak in front of her on a ilu, Rotxo doing the same with Tuk and Kiri. As Neteyam arrived in front of the family marui, the Navi’ka was there, jumping on his stretched, opened arms. Neytiri unfolded the draping at the entrance with a concerned expression written on her face.

“I’m sorry, ma Neteyamur, she woke up so suddenly, and with you nowhere in sight, she panicked I think,” she explained.

“It’s okay mum, don’t worry,” he reassured her. “Hey baby, what happened did you have a bad dream again?” the forest Na’vi cooed trying to see her face, which was glued to his neck.

Then the Navi’ka began to fuss and made her way to Neteyam’s back, twisting clumsily Neteyam’s wet piece of clothing in her tiny hands. To everyone, it seemed that the Navi’ka was playing with it, but Ao’nung narrowed his eyes and was shocked when he understood what the Navi’ka was doing; she was checking Neteyam’s wound on his back, then she moved toward the front, probably to do the same.

“What are you doing, Hik’ki,” Neteyam giggled at the probing.

“Is everything alright?” asked Tsireya, coming closer, but Lo’ak jerked her back rapidly when the Navi’ka growled at her approach.

“Hey, it’s okay, Hik’ki. Tsireya is a friend. She means no harm,” Neteyam tried to coax her back into her baby swing but to no vail. Tsireya was too close for comfort in her opinion, because she hissed menacingly while staring unblinkingly at her.

Neteyam propped himself up on the platform next the marui entrance and began to purr to smooth the creature in his hands back to sleep.

“You can go back to the lesson, I’ll watch from here,” he said.

“Is everything alright?” asked again Tsireya with a deep frown between her eyes, worrying.

“Yes, don’t worry. You did nothing wrong. When it’s like this, not even my own family can approach us. She’s just tired from last night,” he explained.

“You didn’t sleep well?” ask Ao’nung this time.

“Huh, I didn’t sleep much,” the forest Na’vi chose to answer diplomatically. “But it has nothing to do with you or the marui itself. In the forest, we used to sleep in hammocks after our rites of passage, and the sounds here are different from home, so Hik’ki stood guard outside the marui most of the night. it has messed up her sleeping habit I’m afraid.” the last part was more a comment to himself than an explanation.

All went back to their lesson except Ao’nung who stayed. He swam a bit closer to Neteyam but stayed at a respectful distance, especially when he saw that the Navi’ka was still awake and eyeing him.

“So, you did live in a tree, Tree Hugger,” he teased, proud of his new nickname.

Neteyam laughed quietly, trying not to bother Hik’ki. “So do you” he teased back, gesturing the mangrove tree roots supporting the maruis in the village.

“It’s not the same” snapped back the reef boy.

“Hum, I’d say it’s pretty much the same, but if it helps you sleep better at night…” he trailed off with a smirk of his own, showing his front teeth, while his small fangs barely poked out.

‘Cute’ thought Ao’nung for the second time today.

“You’re pretty annoying” he shot back, shaking his head, if as it would help him clear his mind.

“You think I’m pretty?” teased Neteyam again, grinning now.

“Not even in your dreams, forest boy,” Aonung hissed playfully.

They were having so much fun with their conversation that they almost forgot the Navi’ka. Hik’ki whined loudly when Neteyam was opening his mouth to say something more. He instantly redirected his attention to the creature in his arms.

“I’ll go back inside with her. She won’t fall asleep without me,” he said apologetically as he propped himself up from the platform to the woven pathway. “See you later,” he said over his shoulder, catching the reef boy staring.

Ao’nung’s gaze followed the movements of the powerful thighs, finding it difficult to avert his eyes. The only reason he did it was because of a shiver that went down his spine. The same shiver that one has when they are observed. His hair on the back of his neck raised up when his eyes met with the Navi’ka’s. Her pale silver eyes locked on his own. The unblinkingness made him uneasy, making him feel as if he was prey. His uneasiness formed into fear when, as Neteyam stepped into a darker part of the marui, probably to facilitate the sleep of the Navi’ka, her silver eyes began to glow in the darkness.

Chapter Text

As a new day came in Awa’atlu, the Sully children and their teachers went up to a smooth, flat rock formation not far from the beach. Last night, at the communal marui for dinner, many were disappointed not to see the Navi’ka. Neteyam was absent as well. Jake excused his son and the creature saying that they were both already asleep when they went out. Neytiri had retrieved three big shells with a grilled fish on it and some orange algae for later if her eldest son woke up and felt hungry. Neteyam apparently had to eat a lot, since he was feeding the Navi’ka through his own body by his kuru. That was also why he constantly looked exhausted.

Now, while they were walking through the village to arrive at their destination, some Metkayina stepped out of their marui, curious, to observe them. Unluckily for them, Hik’ki had tucked herself in the baby swing below the piece of cloth that covered Neteyam’s chest. They could only see the tip of her tail pocking out and occasional movements but other than that, nothing. Neteyam felt a bit nervous at the heavy attention he was receiving as if it was unnerving to have so many pair of eyes, staring at him, which confused Ao’nung. ‘Wasn’t he used to it by now?’ he thought. ‘Or maybe it was different in the forest?’

“Alright, here we are. Today, we will work on your breathing, please sit” explained Tsireya.

“We already know how to breathe,” Tuk giggled next to Kiri.

“It’s a special technique that will allow you to dive and play in the water for a long time,” clarified Rotxo as he sat next to the little girl.

Rotxo was good with children, he had a large with family and too many sisters to count them. The little looked enrapture as he began to demonstrate how to breath from his stomach and keep the air there, but he stopped when Neteyam let the Navi’ka out. Hik’ki seemed displeased to be taken out of her little cocoon but made no noise.

“Go explore, I’ll stay here for a while” he said.

The Navi’ka patted the volcanic stone suspiciously but began to explore the vicinity of the group. It was the first time that the Metkayinas could clearly look at the Navi’ka since the Sully had arrived in Awa’atlu. Rotxo was the most curious, Tsireya was a bit more cautious, certainly due to yesterday’s experience. and Ao’nung was torn: He found the Navi’ka kinda of cute like this, tumbling almost clumsily, but he remembered the fear he felt yesterday. One thing was for sure, he wouldn’t want to be left alone with a Navi’ka, even if it was a baby.

“Aren’t you scared he might slip?” asked Tsireya, concerned.

“Hik’ki is a girl” Neteyam corrected her. “And don’t worry, she has claws,” he then continued.

“And she can use them,” groaned Lo’ak who sat next to Tsireya.

“Oh, I’m sorry, I don’t know why I just assumed the Navi’ka was a boy,” she apologized.

“Don’t worry, apparently female Navi’kas are rarer than males,” he explained in a sweet tone. “And Lo’ak, it’s not my fault that you’re a restless sleeper” he snapped at the younger brother.

“It’s not my fault either, I am sleeping” he whined as he touched his ribcage that indeed arbored three little cuts.

“You big baby, I already put something on it this morning. Plus, you’re lucky you only have these little slashes, if someone like you had been trying to crush me in my sleep, I would have ripped your head off,” she grinned sadistically.

As she said that, Ao’nung saw Rotxo’s complexion becoming paler and paler with time, and he snickered.

“See, Sis! That’s why you will never have a mate! you are too dangerous to be around,” Lo’ak teased.

She tried to hit him, but he evaded. when she tried again Neteyam sat between the two and looked pointedly at Tsireya. Ao’nung sat between Rotxo and his sister.

“Let’s begin!” she said enthusiastically.

*

They breathed for roughly three hours. Tsireya tried to be subtle with Lo’ak and failed miserably, as the boy couldn’t in the end do the exercise with Tsireya’s hands on him. They changed the way they were seated when Ao’nung was paired up with Neteyam. Ao’nung, out of respect, and also because he could feel the Navi’ka’s eyes on him, asked the permission to touch Neteyam before he took his hands to place them on his body. There was no way he would put his hands on Neteyam’s chest, next to his wound, without the Navi’ka lashing out. He did not have a death wish, thank you very much!

“Do you feel it here? When my stomach expends?” he asked.

“I do, but I won’t be able to keep the air there for as long as you,” Neteyam whispered, as if afraid to disturb the others in their meditative state.

“Don’t worry about that now, you will build up your stamina with each dive you take,” Ao’nung reassured him in a low voice.

Hik’ki had come around to see what they were doing, then came next to Kiri. Rotxo who was checking on Tuk stopped mid-sentence. Kiri slowly opened her eyes to meet the silver pools of the Navi’ka. Then the creature opened her small hand and let fall on Kiri’s thighs a tiny blue crab.

“Huh, thank you?” said the forest Na’vi girl hesitantly.

Hik’ki kept looking at her expectantly.

“Huh, Neteyam?” she yelped when she realised that the crab was alive and trying to hide.

“What’s happening? Oh! Is that a gift, ‘baby’?” the eldest Sully child cooed as he sat in front of his sister.

To answer, the Navi’ka clicked several times her tongue making different noises in the process.

“Oh, I see! the crab is sick, and you thought Kiri could help.”

How Neteyam interpreted those sounds in full comprehensible sentence was beyond everyone else’s knowledge.

“It’s sick?” murmured Kiri as carefully cradled the tiny creature in her hands to have a better look.

Some more clicking sounds later, Neteyam learned that the crab had a missing leg, to which unfortunately Kiri couldn’t do much.

“It’s okay, ‘baby’, the crab can live like that, it will adapt, hm? It’s nice what you did. You wanted to help, and you did your best,” he praised. “Come on, let’s go home, it’s time to feed you,” he added just on time to hear her stomach rumbled.

She yawned and made grabby hands toward Neteyam to be picked up. Neteyam placed her back into the baby swing and readjusted the piece of cloth above her.

“I’m coming with you, Teyam, I’m tired too,” Tuk jumped to her feet and waited.

Neteyam gestured his hand and the little girl squealed happily.

“Where will you be in the afternoon?” asked Neteyam as he was heading to the village.

“Here as well but probably in the water to test your breathing technique, Pähem,” she indicated politely.

She saw the Pähem’s body stiffened, and a sour expression painted his features as soon as she finished her sentence. She watched him go hand in hand with the youngest Sully sister. Once they were far enough, Tsireya’s brother spoke.

“Stop calling him that.”

“What?!” she asked, surprised and confused.

“Pähem, stop calling that, just Neteyam is fine,” he elaborated.

“Why? I just wanted to be polite,” she sighed in a defeated tone.

“He doesn’t like it” Ao’nung answered.

“And who are you to decide what my brother like or not?” Lo’ak hissed angrily at seeing Tsireya down.

“Are you telling me I’m wrong, Twig legs?” the Chief’s son groaned.

He really didn’t like that one. The girl was weird but okay, the littlest was just a child, sweet and lively, and Neteyam… well he had to wait a bit more, but he can already say that he liked him.

“No, you’re not. But how do you know that?” asked the weird girl, her tone was not aggressive like her brother, just genuine curiosity.

“He told me so himself,” he said as he shrugged his shoulders.

After a short pause and some glances exchanged between the two forest Na’vis, Kiri continued.

“Just be careful when you speak with him.”

Ao’nung thought about the lash out that night, or the exhaustion digging deeper and deeper in Neteyam’s face as days passed.

“Why?” asked Tsireya curiously.

“The Navi’ka considers Neteyam, and Neteyam only as family. Hik’ki is very protective of him, especially since…” she hesitated, turning her face to Lo’ak who lowered his head in shame. “Since the incident, when he was shot,” she pursed her lips in a fine line.

“Can we talk about something else, please,” groaned frustratingly Lo’ak who seemed uneasy with the topic.

“Yes, just let me finish my explanation. So, even us, his family, cannot touch Neteyam whenever we want to. Forest Na’vis are very tactile, it was hard not to hug him or just slap his shoulder. We all had to adjust our behaviour around him. Before his injury, Neteyam would always carry Tuk in his arms, but now… Even if it’s a friendly gesture, the Navi’ka will take it as an aggression. So, be careful around him,” she finished her explanation, looking at Ao’nung.

“But the Navi’ka seems so cute, she just handed you a tiny crab because she thought it was hurt,” stated Rotxo.

“DO NOT!” yelled Lo’ak. “Do not think just for a second that this creature is cute, she is not! She -”

“Let’s dive!” loudly spoke Kiri over her brother.

*

As the group was swimming and exploring, Ao’nung noticed on the surface that Neteyam was back, alone. The forest Na’vi also spotted him and grinned, but his smile faded away when he saw Ao’nung sign to him. Neteyam dove in the water but quickly gesture to the surface. Ao’nung followed with a hint of irritation. ‘What is it with these forest Na’vis and their constant need of air’ he thought as he rolled his eyes. Just as he arrived, Neteyam’s grin was back on his lips, and there was a glint of amusement in his vibrant golden eyes.

“You know I still don’t know anything about that finger talk of yours, right? he remarqued.

“Huh? Oh, shit! I forgot… wait, that’s why you wanted me to go back to the surface?” he asked, his cheeks still purple from embarrassment.

Neteyam hummed his agreement then added.

“I think it’s important for me to understand what you’re saying. I mean, maybe you were saying that there was something dangerous and that I shouldn’t jump in the water, or the opposite, that you needed help.”

“Like I would ask a baby like you for help” scoffed the reef boy. “You can’t swim, you can’t hold your breath for long, you can’t fish-”

“I can fish!” interjected Neteyam.

Ao’nung rose a hairless eyebrow, clearly not believing that.

“In a river… with a bow, not with a spear, like you do not here,” he elaborated, not sure if it still counted.

“With a bow? I still have a hard time believing it,” said Ao’nung.

“I can show you if you show me how to fish with a spear” tried to bargain Neteyam.

“Are you trying to ask for extra lesson, forest boy?” ‘Are you trying to spend more time with me?’ he thought. As Neteyam was opening his mouth to answer, he added. “Fine, I’ll show you how real men hunt,” he grinned.

He wanted the impress him, he didn’t know why, it was stupid but the urge to do so was there. While they were speaking, Neteyam sat on a rock and Ao’nung was floating toward him, getting closer and closer with each wave.

“Did you pass your Ikinmaya as well?” Neteyam asked excitingly.

“Huh, no, not yet,” he deflated a bit. "Wait, did you?" he asked incredulously, searching for the specific tattoo, but he couldn’t really see well, since Neteyam was still wearing more clothing than any normal Na’vi.

“I did! When I was twelve,” he stated proudly as he revealed the cummerbund around his waist. “Then I had my Uniltaron at thirteen. It was not really pleasant but that’s when Eywa gifted me with a vision.”

“A vision?” asked the reef boy, enraptured.

“Yeah, it took me some years to understand but in the end I did,” he smiled.

“What was it about, your vision?”

Ao’nung had heard from his mother that sometimes the Great Mother needed to speak directly to the people, so she chose to one to be a messenger. To be a messenger was considered to be a blessing, to be so close to the Great Mother. He was impressed by the forest Na’vi in front of him. He didn’t realise how close he had gotten from the other boy, nearly touching his legs that were still in the water.

“If it’s not too personal” he blurted then, self-conscious.

Neteyam’s head shot up and he laughed. Ao’nung got a glance at the beautiful necklace he was wearing. Omatikayan were known for their weaving and for their beaded jewellery he had learnt from his father last night. When he lowered his head, Neteyam’s gaze flickered to something behind Ao’nung. When the reef boy turned around, he saw the others and specially Lo’ak swimming angrily toward them.

“Let’s go swim, I’ll tell you later about it, okay?” he suggested nicely.

Ao’nung nodded and, as the other boy was about to dive, Ao’nung extended his hand.

“Here, let me help you in. The waves can be strong sometimes,” he stated.

Neteyam looked unsure for a second but grasped his hand. Ao’nung was amused to see such a small hand in his. Neteyam must have thought the same, because he took his hand back quickly, as if he had been burned by the touch. They swam to the group, meeting Lo’ak mid-way through. He started a conversation with his brother and Ao’nung couldn’t help but eavesdropped.

“What were you doing?”

“Talking, Lo’ak.”

“About what?”

“It’s none of your business,”

“Was he bothering you?”

“Eywa, Lo’ak! We were talking about rites of passage. There! Are you happy, now?” Neteyam looked annoyed by his nosy little brother.

“I’m sorry, bro… it’s just that…” he tried but couldn’t finish his sentence.

“Hey, no, I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have snapped at you like that, but please don’t make me feel like I’m suffocating, dad and mum are already doing that since the incident, it’s unbearable,” he explained softly.

They joined the others, and they practiced their breath holding inside the reef for the rest of the day.

Chapter Text

A week had passed since the arrival of the Sully family in Awa’atlu. This morning, the usual group was going on the beach, away from the roots of the mangrove trees, near the edge of the forest that bordered the village.

“Today we will teach you to weave the Metkayinan way. We will make new fish baskets,” explained Tsireya.

Tsireya showed them the weaving technique they were going to use this afternoon. Neteyam and Kiri followed diligently the instructions while Lo'ak couldn't seem to focus on the task at hand. He began to ramble about the forest while his siblings worked. Tuk had been excused, she was playing in the water not too far from them with Nomin, one of Rotxo's little sister. It was not asked from children under ten to participate to the chores here.

Neteyam was seated between Kiri and Ao'nung, who sometimes pointed where he had to tighten his weaving. The Metkayina wove their baskets with dries algae or leaves from the trees that bordered the beach near the village.

“What was it like? To live in the forest with the constant battles?” asked Rotxo out of curiosity.

“It was like living an adventure each day, man! But the last battle was just epic, the Recom Avatar, my dad's old enemies, came back for him with revenge in their mind. They targeted us to draw him out. We were really in a tight situation, but that's when she did it, the Navi'ka I mean.”

“She did what?” asked Rotxo, enraptured by the story that his weaving basket laid on the sand totally unattended.

“She screamed. It was something so powerful it's hard to describe. It destroyed the sky people equipment in their airship! It was-”

“ENOUGH!” he screamed.

Everybody started at the outburst.

“Can’t you see you are upsetting her! Stop talking about her like a weapon, Lo’ak! She is just a six-month-old baby for Eywa’s sake.” he yelled.

It was the first time Ao’nung, Tsireya and Rotxo saw Neteyam angry, upset. The Navi’ka was in his laps and looked at Lo’ak with two big sad expressive eyes. Neteyam sighed then got up, leaving behind him his half-finished fish basket. Ao’nung followed him a bit later with the discarded basket and his own in hand.

“Well done, genius,” Kiri sighed and rolled her eyes.

“I didn't think it would upset him,” whispered Lo'ak, his head hanging low.

“Seriously? Bringing out the night he almost died? You're so insensitive!” she whispered back angrily.

“That's when he was wounded?” asked carefully Rotxo.

Kiri sighed and looked behind her where Neteyam now sat, leaning on the trunk of a tree she didn’t know the name of. He was far enough and with Ao'nung keeping him company he looked better already. They were talking apparently and Hik’ki was playing in the sand next to them as if nothing had happened.

“Yes, he was shot. Lo'ak Tuk Spider and I went to explore a part of the forest that was forbidden. That's when we stumbled upon the Recom Avatars. Lo'ak just had the time to contact our dad about it then they found us... They wanted to take us to their base and use us as bait, I guess. But mother came before that she immediately took out two of them. But one Recom had rounded her to shoot her at the back. Neteyam had been ordered to stay near the ikrans but if he had, we would be motherless by now." After a short pause to collect her thought, she continued.

“But shooting gave his position away... He was shot in the chest. You saw his scar on the beach the day we arrived... We had no time to take him back the to my grandmother, the Tsahík, he was bleeding out. When we thought all hope was lost, Hik'ki arrived. She had just learnt how to fly by then and she still lacked practice but as soon as she arrived, she linked one of her kuru to Neteyam's and the other directly to his wound. The fight was still going on and all we could do was to provide cover. Then the Dragon, one of the bigger ships, flew above us. They were going to shoot us when Hik'ki screamed. It was mighty, indescribable. The wave of it made the ship malfunctioned or something... by that time, more Omatikaya had come to join the battle. With their main ship out, the tables had turned, and we were on the winning side, but Neteyam’s near death experience was a wakeup call to everyone. That’s why our parents decided to leave the clan, because we were a target now that Quaritch was back,” she finished retelling the story by looking back at Neteyam, who now had Hik’ki in his laps playing with his tail.

Ao’nung said something that made both him and Neteyam laughed. Kiri smiled, it had been a while since she last saw her older brother genuinely laugh at something.

*

Ao’nung sat cautiously at a fair distant from Neteyam who was leaning back on the trunk of the tree with his eyes closed. His ears flickered up and he cracked one eye opened to look at who it was. He huffed, waiting for Ao’nung to speak, but nothing came. Ao’nung was just there, weaving silently his own basket. He had brought Neteyam’s with him. The unfinished basket was laying on the sand. His ears flickered again when he heard Kiri speaking but he was too far to listen to the group conversation. He puffed, feeling the anger slowly going away. He was so frustrated with himself, he didn’t know why he continuously loses his temper like this. No, that was untrue… He knew why. He just needed to focus and wait, soon he would find his calmness back, he would feel centred again. He felt something scratch lightly at his stomach and looked down to see Hik’ki, watching him carefully. She placed one of her little hands, smaller than Tuk’s, to his chest, where his wound was, and tilted her head as if she was asking if he was hurt. He wasn’t, at least not physically, and Hik’ki couldn’t ease the mental pain he was feeling. He smiled but it didn’t reach his eyes. He needed to be strong, for Hik’ki, for his family, for Lo’ak in particular because he still felt guilty about the Recom Avatar’s attack, for his new clan, the Metkayina… But first, he would need to apologize, again. He put Hik’ki back on the sand, in the shade, telling her to go play. She was uneasy about leaving him, but she still complied. She stayed close though. Neteyam reached for his basket and sent a glance to Ao’nung who seemed concentrated on his own task, but Neteyam had caught him peeping three times in his direction already. It was now or never.

“I’m sorry for lashing out… again. It wasn’t like this before, I-I… My grandmother said it was because I had bonded with Hik’ki. Before, I never so much as rose my voice at anyone. I was always calm and collected, but now my mind is mess. I snap at people way too easily, I have these-these,” he made a gesture with his hands, but still couldn’t find the word.

“Mood-swings?” suggesting Ao’nung.

“Yeah, I guess we call them that,” he relented after a short pause.

“My mother has them because of her pregnancy.”

“Are you telling me I’m pregnant?” he responded with a teasing smile even though it was impossible for male Na’vis to give birth.

Ao’nung frowned for a bit, then grinned. “Well, you do have a daughter on your own,” he said as he gestured at Hik’ki.

 “Alright, you got me there,” the other boy chuckled.

Hik’ki’s ears shot up. It was becoming rare to hear Neteyam laugh. She looked at the reef boy as if she was seeing him for the first time. Ao’nung didn’t mind the staring this time and proceeded to point out where Neteyam needed to tighten the leaf he was weaving on his basket. It was almost done by now.

“So, if I understood well, bonding with Hik’ki is messing with your mind, right?” Ao’nung asked after a short pause.

“Yeah, that’s just a theory, but a Na’vi and a Navi’ka are not made to bond, just like a prey is not supposed to bond with a predator. Imagine bonding with a palulukan,” the forest Na’vi stopped and lower his head. “Sorry, I’m rambling, you probably don’t even know what a palulukan is,” he sighed.

“Oh, I know that one” exclaimed Ao’nung.

“Really?” Neteyam’s ears perked up. “How?” he then asked confused.

“Well, your brother loooves to brag to my sister. He tells her a lot of stories and one of them was about your mother. You know, she just faced one during the first war and rode one to battle,” his last sentence was said in a higher pitch tone that was probably his best imitation of Lo’ak retelling the encounter.

Neteyam giggled at his poorly brother’s voice imitation, his hand coming up to his lips to cover his smile. He covered his smile whenever he could because he was ashamed of his small fangs. It was probably due human DNA. He couldn’t exactly complain about it because it was a less prominent trait than his siblings. But Neteyam couldn’t help but be self-conscious about it. Ao’nung responded with his own grin on his lips, his larger fangs poking out. He was watching him with half lidded eyes, happiness dancing in them. He couldn’t help the wagging of his tail on the sand. Suddenly, Neteyam gasped and put his hand on the other boy’s shoulder, looking behind them. Ao’nung froze at the touch, not sure what to do.

“Do that again!” Neteyam spoke excitingly.

“What?”

“Your tail! Move it again,” he elaborated.

Ao’nung did and slightly turned around his upper half body to see what was going on. Hik’ki was there, crouched on the sand, wiggling her hips from left to right, pupils completely dilatated, zeroing on his tail. Then she paused for a second and launched herself clumsily at his tail. She gave several rapid pats with her wingless hands, mindful of her tiny claws there. She managed to catch the tip between her arms and legs, her wings being folded tightly around her body. Ao’nung smirked and wagged his tail more. Hik’ki let out a happy squeal at being swung left and right. She opened her mouth and caught the tip of the tail between her lips.

“Hik’ki, be careful with your teeth,” warned Neteyam glancing apologetically at the reef boy.

“Her teeth are out already?” marvelled Ao’nung, not feeling anything sharp on his tail, just wet drooling.

Not responding, Neteyam wiggled his own tail in front of her eyes which immediately caught her attention. Neteyam made her pursue the soft tuft end until she landed on his laps, slightly out of breath.

“Good play, ‘baby’?” he cooed, and she cooed right back. “Let me show your teeth to Ao’nung. Open wide,” he said as he gently pried his tail out of her mouth.

The Navi’ka opened her mouth, not bothered at all when Ao’nung leaned on Neteyam to see better. There, piercing the lighter blue gum, little black teeth could be seen, sharp alright. Then, with a mischievous glint in her eyes, she unhinged her jaw to open her mouth even bigger than before.

“Wow! I did not expect that,” he chuckled, leaning back, which made Neteyam laughed as well.

As Neteyam was about to say something back, a frustrating shout coming from the group interrupted him. Apparently, Lo’ak had messed up his weaving so bad that it was beyond saving. A group of teenagers passing by gloated cruelly.

“Maybe it’s the extra finger,” one chortled, making the others laugh as well.

It was true that sometimes Lo’ak had difficulties finding his balance while holding a bow, but he, just like his father, had always adapted. Plus, Kiri was doing just fine, so the comment had been thrown intentionally to hurt him. Tsireya tried to comfort him and glared at them, but they did not move. It was when Neteyam was about to get up that Ao’nung’s booming voice made the group flinched.

“Aren’t you tired of being useless?” he questioned.

“But, Ao’nung…” a second one trailed off.

“Go tend the ilu pen, it was supposed to be done yesterday. And don’t slack off!” he ordered.

They looked between themselves and went away without protests. Ao’nung turned back to his own basket, finishing it. He let out a quiet huff before turning his head to Neteyam, ready to ask him if he wanted to continue or do something else but stopped himself when he saw that the other was already looking at him intensely.

“Thank you,” he spoke with sincerity.

“They needed to be put back in their place,” the Olo’eyktan’s son huffed, purple dusting his cheeks.

“Neteyam,” Lo’ak interrupted them, whining.

When Neteyam looked at his brother, eyebrows frown in concern, he saw him gesturing at the sand not too far from them, where, out of frustration, Lo’ak had pushed his unfinished basket, which had rolled off. His concern morphed into amusement when he saw Hik’ki, having the time of her life, completely destroying the… that definitely did not look like a fish basket. She Stared at Lo’ak while doing it and let out a happy thrill when there was nothing left. There has always been a feud between Lo’ak and Hik’ki. However, Neteyam hoped that it would dimmish with time. With a heavy sigh, he got up and looked back at Ao’nung expectantly.

“Let’s go,” he whispered while extended his hand.

Ao’nung lowered his head to hide his smile but took the hand in his, shocked by the force of the forest Na’vi as he pulled him up with ease. They walked back to the group and settled in the sand once again, Neteyam next to his little brother, Ao’nung right by Neteyam’s side, as Rotxo scouted over, all too happy to get closer to Kiri.

“Can you tell her not to do that?” Lo’ak said exasperated.

“Bro, it’s not like you could have salvaged your weaving. Plus, by throwing it away, she probably thought it was a game… Remember when you threw her a ball and she would catch it?” reminded Neteyam.

“Yeah, it was fun,” Lo’ak smiled.

“Then you tricked her, and she didn’t want to play with you again,” scolded the eldest brother, frowning at the memory.

“You did not!” gasped Tsireya indignantly.

“I did, I thought it was funny at the time,” he admitted.

“Maybe you can try to play with her again, it looked like she is over your dirty tricks,” suggested Neteyam. “How- Can we make a ball with these?” he turned around to ask Ao’nung who frowned at the leaves that Neteyam was pointed with his slender finger.

He looked thoughtful for a moment. “No, we’ll need something sturdier, like vine straps. I’ll go fetch you some, if you want?”

The other nodded and Ao’nung got up. Rotxo shot up too, declaring that he was going to help Ao’nung choosing the best material. When they were far away, Rotxo bumped his shoulder. Ao’nung groaned in response.

“Come on, bro, you have to tell me,” Rotxo said excitedly. “What’s going on between you and the Pähem?”

“Don’t call him that, I already told that to Tsireya, it upsets him,” he growled trying to divert the conversation, but no such luck.

He was thoroughly grilled by his best friend. Rotxo was truly a gem. He was a kind-hearted soul, always there for his friends, he supported them no matter what, but did not hesitate to tell them when they did wrong. They passed by the docks where Kopur and Nar’ju were tending the ilu pen as Ao’nung had told them to, but the two other boys that were taunting the youngest Sully brother were missing. Ao’nung sighed. Kopur and Nar’ju were not bad, but they tended to associate themselves with the wrong crowd, which led them to trouble. At the storage marui they found some vine and leftover leather straps that could be sturdy enough to make a ball. Happy with their haul, they went back to their group of friends. Neteyam was helping Lo’ak under the watchful eyes of Tsireya. Hik’ki was back in her swing, sleeping soundly and Kiri had managed to weave three baskets in record time. ‘Maybe the extra finger was useful, after all’, thought Ao’nung. The afternoon soon turned into the evening, and they separated to go back to their respective marui.

That night, at the dinner in the communal marui, the Metkayina were surprised to see the eldest Sully child with the Navi’ka. Many greeted him formally and Neteyam tried to answer everyone, while Hik’ki blatantly ignored everybody, hiding her face in his neck, just peeping sometimes. You can’t answer a greeting if you can’t see it. At this moment, Ao’nung realised that even though Hik’ki was just a baby, she could perfectly understand them speaking, and sometimes deliberately chose to ignore some Na’vis. He wished he had the same freedom.

Ao’nung would be lying if he said that he wasn’t curious. No one in the clan had seen a Navi’ka eat for generations and that was not an action transmitted in stories. Neteyam placed Hik’ki between him and his mother. Hik’ki had acknowledged her and Mo’at when Neteyam had been wounded. Neytiri put various shells containing fishes, grilled or raw, sauces to dip your food in, vegetables, and fruits that she had been picking herself inland knowing from her eldest son that Hik’ki would be attending the dinner tonight. The chant began and everyone started to eat. Hik’ki pointed out what she wanted to try and Neytiri put it on a shell as Neteyam chose what he would eat after. He spoke animatedly with Kiri about the flora of the reef as he waited. When Hik’ki was done, he took her shell, thanking his mother and connected his kuru to the one Hik’ki was presenting.

“Ready to eat, ‘baby’?” he asked softly.

To anyone else, the Navi’ka didn’t answer, but Neteyam knew that when she flickered her right ear, it meant yes. He smiled and started to eat. Hik’ki had closed her eyes as soon as the bond was made, tasting everything that Neteyam was eating through their joined kuru. At the end, only the orange fish was not to her taste and was carefully put aside with a grimace. As they were leaving, Neteyam made his way to the clan leaders. The Olo’eyktan and the Tsahík were seated together with their children. Ronal straightened her back at his arrival. Neteyam greeted them formally and they answered back.

“What can I do for you, Pä-” asked Ronal only to be interrupted by her son. “Neteyam.”

Both had a short conversation with their eyes, then the Tsahik turned her attention back to the forest Na’vi.

“What can I do for you, Neteyam?” she repeated.

“I just wanted to thank you for inviting me and my family to the communal dinner. It is a great honour,” he stated solemnly.

“It is an honour indeed,” she responded.

She took a sharp inhale when the Navi’ka poked her head out from the garment over Neteyam’s chest. She stared at Ronal, then slowly moved to observe Tonowari who looked fascinated by the little creature. After that, she turned her head to Ao’nung, who was seated next to his mother, Tsireya being at her father’s side. She cooed and made a strange wave with her hand. Ao’nung’s nose scrunched up, clearly not understanding that.

“She wants to know about your head,” translated Neteyam, a bit amused at the other’s facial expression.

“My head?” asked Ao’nung, confused.

“Yes, probably from when she landed on it,” he elaborated, and he could see the exact moment when Ao’nung remembered.

“Oh, yeah, I’m fine,” he said directly to Hik’ki, who seemed satisfied by his answer, and went back to her hiding spot. “What you put on it really worked wonder. My mother almost didn’t believe me when I told her that I had scratches there,” he explained as he placed his left hand on his head.

“Actually, since Hik’ki is making her teeth, I wanted to gift you this, Tsahík.” he proceeded to give her a small wooden container firmly sealed that he took from his leather pouch hanging by his right hip.

Ronal, curious, thanked him and took it to open it. Tsireya leaned into her father to watch what was inside. Ronal’s hands began to tremble as she analysed to strange thick black liquid.

“Is-is that what I think it is?” she asked while looking up to meet Neteyam’s gaze.

“Yes, Navi’ka’s saliva,” he confirmed. "May you never have to use it,” he prayed politely, which implied that he prayed for the health and the safety of the clan.

‘Smart’ thought Ao’nung as he took in the look of reverence his mother had. He didn’t see that often.

After that, Neteyam excused himself and joined his family who was leaving. Tsireya waved excitedly at Lo’ak who waved back, grinning with mania. Tsireya was reprimanded by her mother.

“Why can’t you act like this with the Pä-Neteyam? He looked like a real Na’vi at least,” she whispered angrily.

“Mother,” Tsireya whined. “Neteyam is Ao’nung’s age, plus he likes to spend time with him more than me,” she added to get herself off the hook.

“Is this true?” Ronal turned to her son who just shrugged.

“I don’t know if he likes me, but we do spend time together, even outside the lessons,” he admitted with purple cheeks, lowering his head in hope to hide his embarrassment.

“I’m proud of you, son,” his father praised.

Ao’nung’s head shot up so fast his mother winced at his cervical, but nothing could dampen his mood. His father was a man of a few words and did not praise easily, so hearing those words and seeing the look of pride in his mother’s eyes truly made him happy.

That night, Ao’nung fell asleep as soon as he laid down to his mat, heart still hammering in his ribcage. Perhaps, it wasn't so bad that the Sully family came to Awa'atlu.

Chapter Text

The next day, Neteyam woke up less tired than the previous couple of days. He silently rose on his elbows to look around and found Hik’ki putting Lo’ak’s braids in his opened mouth. His snoring probably bothered her. She was down to five now and his brother didn’t even twitch. Neteyam smiled warmly at the sight. Everyone thought that Hik’ki didn’t like physical contacts. It was totally untrue. They just didn’t know that she checked them up as they were sleeping, well Neytiri knew because she was such a light sleeper, but she let the Navi’ka traced her tanhì with her tiny fingers, connecting dots together to form a pattern only known by her.

Today was a big day. Neteyam had planned to ask Ao’nung to show him the Vitraya Ramunong of the Metkayina. He had asked for it the first day during their first lesson but when Tsireya had told him and his siblings that their Tree of Souls was under the sea and that their breathing was not good enough for them to dive and stay connected, Neteyam knew his family would have to learn how to hold their breath in order to stay in tune with the Great Mother. That news didn’t enchant their mother who was adamant to stay on land most of the time.

As he was the first to wake up, Neteyam got the breakfast started. A couple of fruits from last night and a mixture of purple algae that tasted sweet. After breakfast, Neteyam went to search for Ao’nung. He walked through the village, greeted by many. Hik’ki was following from above, in the mangrove’s branches. On the beach, next to a rock formation, Ao’nung was fishing with the same group of young Na’vis that were making fun of Lo’ak. One of them noticed him and shove his friend to get his attention. They were knees deep in the crystal-clear water where it was easy to see the fish. The two of them got out of the water when they saw Neteyam approaching. Neteyam cringed internally. Ao’nung was the furthest away and he had prayed that he could get to him without interacting with others. His prayer went unanswered by the Great Mother. They both arrived in front of him and greeting him politely. Neteyam returned the gesture but when he tried to pass by them, the taller one stepped on his right to cut his way.

“Can I help you, Pähem?” he asked.

Neteyam bristled at the title but didn’t do anything to correct him. He needed to keep his cool, he couldn’t lose his temper each time someone call him that.

“I wanted to see Ao’nung,” he simply said.

“The Olo’eyktan’s son doesn’t want to be disturb,” the other one stated. “His words” he added when he saw Neteyam hesitate.

His tail flickered from left to right nervously as he debated internally what to do. A chortle to his left brought him back to reality as someone was approaching him from behind. He peeped just in time to see a grabby hand make its way towards his tail. He turned quickly dodged a third young reef Na’vi.

“Don’t touch my tail!” he hissed. “Tails and waists are sacred to the Omatikayas, you can’t touch them as you please!” he continued on the same tone.

The third male looked up at him with owlish eyes, then put his hands up in mock surrender. The first one arrived next to the other boy and ruffled his hair.

“Excuse my little brother, we didn’t know that. We didn’t mean to offend you, we were just curious,” he explained.

His words seemed genuine but something in his eyes made Neteyam shivered, the way that boy was looking at him as if he was prey, something fragile, that was definitely not to his taste.

“I will come back later, I do not want to keep you from doing your chores,” Neteyam spoke as he turned around to leave.

“Wait! Maybe I can be of help,” the taller one insisted and grabbed his wrist, which was the wrong thing to do.

“What did I tell you about touch me?!” Neteyam sneered.

“You said something about your tail and waist, but nothing about your wrist," he teased as he examined it. "Eywa, your hand is so small,” his last comment was meant for him, but it was loud enough for the others to hear, which made them chuckled.

He was so entranced by the forest Na’vi’s hand that he didn’t see the murderous look dancing in Neteyam’s eyes. As he was about to snatch his hand back, a voice came from the shallow water.

“Hey! Tèlan! You done with your chores? Rotxo called while making his way toward the group. The taller reef boy, Tèlan, huffed but had let go of Neteyam’s hand as soon as he heard his name.

“I’m almost done, I was helping the Pähem, actually,” he lied.

“Is everything alright?” asked Rotxo when he was closed enough. With just one look at Neteyam’s scandalous expression, he knew the answer would be no. Neteyam was rubbing his hand on his wrist as if to get rid of something dirty. ‘What did that Skxawng do to Neteyam for him to have such a look’ he thought as he sighed.

“I wanted to ask something to Ao’nung, but I’ll come back later since he is busy,” Neteyam said exasperated, but relieved that Rotxo was here now.

Rotxo frowned. “He is not. He finished like ten minutes ago, he asked me to fetch more baskets,” the smaller reef boy explained as he held the baskets in his hands. “Come, we-”

“Ao’nung told us not to disturb him” Tèlan said, defensively.

“That’s just for you, guys. Ao’nung is Neteyam’s teacher, so he can come to him whenever he needs to,” Rotxo sighed, apparently getting fed up as well with the other's behaviour. “And those are the orders of the Tsahík and the Olo’eyktan,” he added firmly when Tèlan had opened his mouth to protest.

“You think you’re so smart, do you Rotxo?” Tèlan snarled menacingly.

Suddenly, Tèlan shrieked as something dropped on his back. Hik’ki flopped her wings and planted her tiny yet razor-sharp claws on Tèlan’s back, then she wagged her tail right on his nose to glide to Neteyam who welcomed her with opened arms.

“Hey ‘baby’” he whispered quite amused.

“Hey! What do you think you’re doing? Stop slacking off!” Ao’nung’s booming voice came from behind.

The reef boys directly went back to the shallow water and didn’t even spare a glance to Neteyam. Hik’ki had a tiny teal blue fish in her mouth, taken from Eywa knows where.

“Hey, little thief,” Ao’nung said as he jogged toward them.

“Pardon?” asked Neteyam blinked his eyes owlishly, a bit sacred at the accusation, but quickly calmed himself when he saw the other’s smile.

Ao’nung gestured at Hik’ki and more precisely at the fish she had transferred from her mouth to one of her hands to hiss playfully at the Olo’eyktan’s son. Realisation downed on Neteyam, and he gasped.

“Hik’ki! Did you steal that fish?” he questioned while narrowing his eyes.

The Navi’ka then proceeded to click several times as if she was defending herself. Ao’nung watched the two interact, amused.

“It’s alright, she can keep it that fish is too small anyway, it would have been given to the mounts,” Ao’nung explained.

“That’s what she wanted to do, actually… She wanted to go to the ilu pen and give it to them,” Neteyam admitted.

“Then let’s go, I’ll just have to drop this off at the communal marui,” he said as he gestured his fish basket.

Rotxo was already collecting the last fish and putting it in his basket when he saw Neteyam and Ao’nung leaving. He smiled at the two, they were walking close together and speaking animatedly about something. His smile faded away when Tèlan came next to him.

“I still don’t understand how his tail works… I bet it would feel weird too,” he said with a dreamy expression plastered on his face and flexing his hands by his sides.

“How can he swim with a tail like that?” gloated Apelti, Tèlan’s little brother.

“Skxawng! His tail is different because it is not meant for swimming, it helps with his balance in the tree,” Rotxo cited what Kiri had explained to him. “And to touch it, you would have to initiate a courtship, and even then, you would still need his permission,” he added.

“So, the forest Na’vi wouldn’t be able to walk if they didn’t have their tail?” asked Kopur, joined by Nar’ju.

“I didn’t say that, maybe they would be less precise in their step. Why are you asking that, anyway?” asked Rotxo, concerned by his friend’s trail of thoughts, to which Kopur shrugged.

“They look close, too bad Ao’nung is already betrothed to Ta’ali from the Txampay clan,” spoke Tèlan. “I guess I’ve got my chance.” he concluded confidently as he trudged out of the water to bring his own filled basket of fish.

Rotxo rolled his eyes. ‘Not even in your furthest dream, boy’ he thought. Although, Ao’nung was betrothed to the eldest daughter of the Txampay Olo’eyktan, it was a promised done a long time ago when both had not been much older than four years old, and if Ronal could secure a Navi’ka permanently in the clan, she would certainly call off the engagement. But the question of the heir would be a problem, because last time he checked, Neteyam was a boy, thus he couldn’t give birth. Maybe Tsireya’s children, or the new life growing in the Tsahík’s womb would be the answer…

Rotxo was brought back to reality when Kopur hissed next to him. On the beach, Tsireya was walking with Lo’ak and Kiri.

“Look! Tsireya is always with those forest freaks now. And those two have five fingers, like those demons that hunt our Tulkuns.” Kopur snarled.

“Why are they so close to her? I thought forest Na’vis didn’t like physical contact?” asked Nar’ju exasperated.

“They’re not even real Na’vi,” went Tèlan further than Nar’ju.

Rotxo sighed, this was not going to end well.

*

Ao’nung and Neteyam were in the water next to the ilus pen watching as Hik’ki dove back in the clear little waves to play with a young female ilu. It had been a shock to everyone, even to Neteyam to learn that she could not only swim but breath underwater as well. It was in the morning of their second day of lesson. They had been meditating and breathing for an hour and were reading to go swimming. Hik’ki had been adamant to stay near Neteyam but was apparently apprehensive of the water. Neteyam had put her down on the beach and trudged into the shallow water. Hik’ki had called him back, but he feigned not to hear her. Tsireya happened to be right next to her and the Navi’ka made grabby hand gestures toward her when she saw her. Tsireya enthusiastically bended down to taker her when she was stopped by Lo’ak.

“Don’t do that. She does not see you, she won’t be carful with her claws. For her, you’re just a mean to her end, that would be dangerous for you,” indicated Neteyam who had turned around. “Plus, I’m carrying her a lot lately, that is not good. The muscles in her wings need more practice,” he added.

“But she’s… Tsireya started but deflated and entered the water, pouting.

“Just ignore her,” Lo’ak tried to comfort her.

Hik’ki saw Tsireya leave and tried with Rotxo who had every difficulty in the world not to look at her when she cooed to catch his attention. With every Na’vi in their little group now in the shallow water, already dispersing themselves into groups, Hik’ki resigned herself. She looked back at the mangrove tree roots, narrowing her eyes as she calculated her itinerary. She pondered for a few minutes, then she heard Neteyam calling her name. She sprang into actions. She was not a good runner, but she was an expert in climbing. She arrived at the top of the branch that advanced the furthest above the beach and jumped with a good momentum. She unfolded her wings and flapped them twice, then she glided to where the group was. Hik’ki was an average flyer, she was fine in the sky, but landing was a huge problem still. That time, she landed on Ao’nung’s head and painfully used him as a springboard to land more carefully on Neteyam.

“Eywa, Ao’nung! Are you okay?” Neteyam had asked, worry clear in his voice.

Neteyam knew by experience that Hik’ki’s landing could be quite chaotic sometimes. The other was about to answer that he was fine when he felt something warm running down his neck. Curious, he touched it and brought his hand back in front of his eyes to see for himself what it was. he was met with red liquid smearing his thick fingers. He blinked several times, before seizing that it was blood. His head was bleeding. Before he could do anything though, Neteyam had swam the short distance and was now right in front of him.

Here, let me help you,” he had whispered as if speaking louder would scare the reef Na’vi. This is a healing paste, a mix between Alna bark and… whatever. It is what was put on my chest when I got shot. It speeds the scarring over process,” he had explained as he took a small wooden box out of his side pouch, hanging right next to his knife strap.

He was about to apply it when he hastily retrieved his hands, as if remembering something. He worried his lower lips between his teeth before asking.

“Can-can I touch your hair to apply it on your skull? I know hair is a very sensitive subject for your people, just like tail and waist are for mine,” he had said.

“It’s okay, go ahead, you’re not braiding it or touch it with a hidden purpose”, Ao’nung murmured back, extremely relieved that Neteyam had asked his permission first before touching his hair.

The forest boy delicately cradled the dark curly locks to see where to apply the paste. Ao’nung knew it was something the other had to do, but still, it didn’t stop him to feel extremely uncomfortable to have a stranger touching his hair in such an intimate manner.

“So, tail and waist, huh?” he had asked to distract himself from the smaller, slender fingers running through his hair.

Neteyam then proceeded to explain him why it was inappropriate for a forest Na’vi to touch someone else’s tail or waist. His voice was soft and warm puffs sometimes came to tickle his ear. Ao’nung was so concentrated on what Neteyam was saying that he didn’t realise immediately that his ministrations in his hair were done.

“All done,” Neteyam voiced next to him.

Ao’nung, not trusting his voice at that moment could only nod his thanks, and hoping the look of gratitude in his eyes was enough to convey how he was feeling. Neteyam smiled clearing recognizing the expression. Hik’ki was perched on his right shoulder, tail circling his arm. She was on high alert. There were fish of all kinds approaching them and swimming around in schools. She didn’t like it.

“Okay, let’s go further in the water to practice your breathing, Tree Hugger,” Ao’nung suggested teasingly.

Hik’ki’s head snapped back up and looked at Ao’nung as if he had just betrayed her. The reef Na’vi dove silently under the surface with creating a ripple. Neteyam walked, now waist deep.

“Okay Hik’ki… I need to train. You can go back to the beach, or he can learn how to swim with me. What do you want to do, ‘baby’?”

Hik’ki whimpered to answer him. What she wanted to do was crystal clear. She wanted to go back on land with Neteyam. He sighed and rolled his eyes. She could be so dramatic sometimes.

“I’m diving now, last chance to fly to the beach,” he warned her as he lowered his body in the warm water until his shoulder were still submerged.

She was startled when the water touched her tail and immediately pull it out, hissing. She clung to Neteyam as he took a deep breath and immerged himself completely. He took in the view and saw that Ao’nung was observing them. He had been waiting for them patiently since he had invited them to dive. Neteyam marvelled at his capacity to hold his breath and wondered if one day he would be able to do the same, even if he was burdened with a weak lung due to his wound. Apparently, Hik’ki was able to hold her breath, just like the Metkayina babies, knowing what to do in the sea. Neteyam dove deeper and joined Ao’nung who took them both to see the coral tower near a small cove. While Neteyam marvelled at the schools of glowing fish swimming around, Hik’ki eyed everything suspiciously. The coral was vibrant with so many colours he didn’t know where to look. Ao’nung gently guided him and pointed at certain coral to show him how fast they would retract when a sudden movement happened near them. Neteyam took everything in awe and looked back at Hik’ki to see if she was watching as well. He turned his head slowly to stop dead in his tracks. Hik’ki was looking at him, with her mouth in an opened smile. Neteyam had never swam so fast in his life. Back to the surface in record time, he shouted at her to spit any water she had swallowed. She only stared back confused. Then she went back to the sea and opened her mouth again for Neteyam, and Ao’nung who had joined them, to see that little bubbles escaped some sort of gills at both sides of her throat. She then proceeded to go back exploring the coral, leaving Ao’nung and Neteyam flabbergasted on the surface.

“Did you… you knew about it?” whispered Ao’nung watching uncomfortably the Navi’ka gaining in speed as she copied the way the Metkayina swimmers were swaying their hips from one side to the other, using her tail, round yet thicker than the forest Na’vi, to propel herself forward.

“I didn’t know,” he groaned put a hand on his tired face to rub his eyes. “But to be honest, I’m not surprised, Navi’kas are Eywa’s first creation, so their bodies were made to adapt to any environment in Pandora. They can run, fly, swim and roam in the darkest cave within Pandora,” Neteyam added and Ao’nung noted that the forest Na’vis seemed to know more about Navi’kas than the reef people.

A splash from the ilu Hik’ki was playing with brought Neteyam back to the present. He watched amazed as Hik’ki muscles developed during the short time of their stay here. Swimming was doing wonder to her body. He looked back at Ao’nung who was already watching him. His eyes slightly widened at being caught and he turned around, cheeks purpling. However, his embarrassment quickly died down as he saw Rotxo spring in their direction. That didn’t bide well for them.

“Ao’nung! Neteyam!” he yelled.

“Rotxo? What’s happening?” asked Neteyam, eyebrows draw together in worry.

“It’s your brother” he said out of breath.

At the mention of Lo’ak, Neteyam’s shoulders stiffened, and he swam to the edge of the ilu pen to get out of the water. Hik’ki poked her head out, curious of the noise she was hearing.

“He is fighting with Tèlan and Apelti,” the shorter reef Na’vi continued. “And Tsireya is hurt,” he added looking toward Ao’nung whose eyes now widened for a totally different reason than a minute ago.

“Go find my mother!” Ao’nung barked the order as he rushed to the woven pathway to run toward the beach where he had last saw Tèlan and Apelti.

He tried to catch Neteyam who was running in front of him, but to no vail. Forest Na’vis were made to run after all, and he cursed under his breath as he watched the dark blue Na’vi putting even more distance between them. He fell something fall in his back and was only half surprised to see Hik’ki there. He smirked, so she could land on people without skinning them, meaning that she had hurt Tèlan’s back on purpose earlier. But with the way Neteyam seemed to be uncomfortable with the other reef Na’vi, something must have happened. Something that Hik’ki probably knew thanks to her bond with Neteyam. As he reached the fight, Kopur and Nar’ju had joined in. Ao’nung watched Neteyam kneed painfully Apelti in the stomach, leaving him on the sand, groaning. Hik’ki left his shoulder to glide somewhere in the forest near the beach, but he didn’t really care about her whereabout now, because he saw his sister holding her nose, blood dripping from her hands. Kiri was next to her, trying to smooth her.

“Hey, hey, Reya, what happened?” he asked hastily cradling his sister’s face in his hands, assessing the damages.

Ao’nung was no Tsahík or even Tsakarem, but he had watched his mother work and caught a thing or two. Tsireya only sobbed hard, unable to explain anything. Kiri gasped next to them which made him turned toward the fight. Neteyam had punched Kopur so hard that crunch of the bones in his jaw could be heard from a distance. He turned toward Tèlan who was gripping Lo’ak by the base of his kuru. Neteyam’s expression was near feral. ‘Beautiful’ thought Ao’nung before he could catch himself. Nar’ju had strategically retreated near Apelti, trying to help him up.

“Let him go!” growled Neteyam, a dangerous fire dancing in his eyes.

“Or what, Pähem? You will order your little pet to attack me?” Tèlan taunted.

“I’m perfectly capable of defending myself,” Neteyam shouted back.

“Oh yeah?” Tèlan mocked.

“That’s enough Tèlan! Let him go,” Ao’nung commanded.

“Oh so you’re on the five-fingers freak’s side now?” he snarled narrowing his eyes toward the Chief’s son.

“I’m on nobody’s side but my little sister. And I know Lo’ak would not have hurt her,” he hissed, ears pinned back.

“It was an accident,” Tèlan defended himself while looking over his shoulder to see Tsireya’s murderous glare on him already.

“So you admit it was you!” Ao’nung launched himself at Tèlan.

It appeared that Neteyam was not the only protective sibling here. The Olo’eyktan’s son made both Lo’ak and Tèlan tumble and Neteyam quickly dragged Lo’ak out of the way. Neteyam, now in a relatively safe distance, looked over Lo’ak bruised face, purple around his left eye, a cut on his right high cheek and many more on his chest.

“When are you going to stop turning everything into a fight,” he reprimanded his little brother, already searching for his little wooden box.

Lo’ak only groaned in response. Neteyam was about to apply the healing paste when his ears shot up. He could recognize that cry everywhere in an instant. It was Hik’ki’s warning. Paste forgotten, he grabbed Lo’ak’s wrist in his hand and hoisted him urgently. He looked back at the fight between Ao’nung and Tèlan, and just before it morphed into something nasty, a round object landed on Tèlan’s back. The reef boy was already in perilous situation, unbalanced, so the impact was sufficient to make him fall on Ao’nung. As it touched Tèlan, the thing exploded, leaving a dark green smoke behind. Ao’nung and Tèlan both breathed in the unknown substance. They both fell their body going lax not being able to move, their mouth filling with cotton, not being able to talk, just an occasional grunt. Hik’ki landed on the sand next to them after the air had cleaned up. She climbed on Tèlan’s back using her claws, but the boy couldn’t utter a sound. She looked back at Neteyam in a mischievous way and the eldest Sully child’s eyes widened.

“Hik’ki! Don’t!” he warned, already running back toward the two laying, unresponsive bodies.

A gurgle sound later, she emptied the bile of her stomach on Tèlan’s back. Ao’nung, who was laying on his back with Tèlan on him could see everything. He watched as the strange thick liquid that she just thew up on them, mostly Tèlan, began to react with the surface of the teal blue skin. He could hear Lo’ak howling with laughter before a painful bruise on his ribs made him hiss. Neteyam groaned and took Hik’ki in his arms, glaring menacing at the creature who just looked back at him innocently. Suddenly, Tèlan began to squirm, the effect of the substance fading away.

“Hurts, it… burns,” he grunted in pain.

Due to his squirming a bit of bile landed on his chest and, Eywa! it was really unbearable. He squeezed his eyes shot but soon felt relieved when Tèlan was taken away from him and he could hear his mother screams. When he opened his eyes, he saw his little sister explaining what had happened since her bleeding nose had subdued. His attention was caught up with Neteyam arriving on his line of sight, a leatherskin pouch in hand filled with water.

“Fortunately, Tèlan took the most of it,” he murmured as emptied it on the small burning patch of skin where the bile had dropped to clean it.

“Fortunately,” Ao’nung repeated with an amused smile.

Neteyam scooted over to let Ao’nung see that two hunter who accompanied the Tsahík were roughly bathing Tèlan in the shallow water. He wriggled and writhed, a pain expression displayed on his face.

“He was supposed to pass his Iknimaya in a week, I guess he will have to wait now,” Ao’nung added, smirking.

*

Three hours later, the aftereffects of what Ao’nung learned was a ripped fruit of the hahawutral were completely gone. Apparently, the fruit when mature enough falls down and explodes to scatters its seeds. The dark green gas is to dissuade the predator to eat the fruit when it’s still attached to the tree. That’s why the fruit must be manipulated with extreme precaution. But for adolescent reef Na’vis, their built protected them from falling asleep. Their bodies had just fallen into a heavy torpor that quickly disappeared. Ao’nung was being sequestrated by his mother in their marui. He was so bored, but he was not brave enough to go against his mother’s order. A chirp at the entrance of the marui caught his attention.

“Hik’ki!” he smiled.

He expected to see Neteyam, but the Navi’ka came apparently alone. At the mention of the Navi’ka, the Tsahík had stopped grinding whatever seeds in her mortar to look up. The Olo’eyktan, who was skinning the fish for dinner also paused his work. The Navi’ka stayed rooted where she was, but it looked like she was expectantly waiting for something.

“Come in,” Ao’nung invited the small creature.

That was the right thing to say since the Navi’ka immediately entered. She paused in front of the Ao’nung’s father, eyeing him up then she continued. She passed by the Tsahík as if the woman wasn’t there to arrive near Ao’nung who was seated on his mat.

“How are you doing? Do you need something?” he asked but didn’t expect an answer.

She clicked and made her familiar grabby hand gestures. Ao’nung carefully grab her under her armpits, mindful of her folded wings to place her on his laps. She took his left hand on her smaller ones, examining the bruised knuckles. She put her fingers in her mouth then applied some saliva that was gathered on her fingers. She did the same with his other hand then to the small patch of skin where the bile had burned him. The Tsahík watched, entranced as the Navi’ka worked on her son in silence. Hik’ki jumped on the floor, seemingly done.

“What about my face?” he attempted but knew not to push his luck.

Hik’ki turned to grin mischievously then made her way to the Tsahík. To everyone’s surprise, she put her hand on her forehead in the I see you gesture to acknowledge her. Once the stupor was gone, Ronal signed back the formal greeting. Satisfied, the Navi’ka left, peeping at the fish the Olo’eyktan had abandoned to the side.

Chapter Text

In the afternoon, Ao’nung was finally released from his mother watchful eyes, thanks to Rotxo who had mentioned that Neteyam was seeking Ao’nung this morning to go to the Ranteng Utralti. Apparently, Tsireya had deemed them ready to go, since their breathing underwater had improved greatly. Neteyam, who was carrying a sleeping Hik’ki in the baby swing, met with Ao’nung outside of his marui and they walked to the ilu pen. They could technically go to Ranteng Utralti by swimming, but the wound Neteyam sported in his chest was still rather fresh and sometimes it would ache. To avoid any pain, and because of the fight this morning, Ao’nung decided that the Omatikaya had already done enough for the day. Neteyam gently woke Hik’ki up so that she would not start as the water reach her. Neteyam mounted the same ilu Hik’ki was playing with this morning and Ao’nung led the way on his own ilu. It was a short ride, but Ao’nung stopped from time to time to show some coral reefs or coves to the Omatikaya. Neteyam will always loves the forest, but he couldn’t deny that the reef had its own beauty and charms. After taking a small detour for Ao’nung to show them where the sturaks were nestling, they arrived at the Cove of the Ancestors where the Tree of Souls was rooted. Neteyam marvelled at the quintessence of Eywa in this place. The tree was different from the one Neteyam knew back home, in the forest. It was under water, of course, but the branches coming from the mighty trunk were not vine-like, they floated in perfect harmony with the current there and they looked like the fern leaves growing on the forest floor. The light purple and the warm embrace coming from the tree itself was the same though.

“You can go,” said Ao’nung. “I’ll stand watch.”

“Why? Is there something dangerous here?” Neteyam asked, frowning a little.

Generally, Na’vis were safe when they communed with the Great Mother. The predators were kept at bay. Was it different here? It is true that they were in a vulnerable state, oblivious to the world around them.

“No, generally no. But just to be sure,” he smiled.

Neteyam, reassured, only nodded before taking a deep breath just like he had learnt to and dove under the surface. He joined Hik’ki who was already examining which branch they were going to connect to. He smiled at her. It had been a radical change in his perception when he had first linked his kuru to the Navi’ka. He was the firstborn son of Toruk Makto but also the Tsahík, yet he could only faintly feel the Great Mother, like any other Na’vi. Kiri had so much more affinities than him, hearing her mighty heartbeats pulsing through everything she touched. Now he could feel her too, in a much deeper level on his mind. He understood his sister more and thanks to that they had grown closer.

Once Hik’ki had chosen the one branch she wanted to link to she gestured to him to come closer. She could commune with Eywa alone now, she was big enough, but she liked to have Neteyam with her. They linked their kuru together and it took Neteyam a minute to adjust his mind to the connection, then Hik’ki took her other kuru and connected to the chosen fern-like branch. The images of the reef, the forest and a intricated large tunnels flooded his mind. Connecting at the same time as Hik’ki was always a bit chaotic but he was slowly getting used to it. It didn’t feel long but time was always tricky to measure when one was communing with Eywa. Neteyam emerged from his dreamy state to see the worried face of Ao’nung near him. ‘It has been two hours,’ he signed slowly so that the Omatikaya could understand. He was not fluent in sign language yet, barely at a beginner’s level to be honest, but Neteyam was a fast learner. So he would catch up any delay due to Hik’ki needing his presence.

“I’m sorry it took this long, you must have been bored to death,” Neteyam quickly apologised when they reached the surface.

Hik’ki stayed below a bit longer, apparently not done yet. Both her kurus were connected now and Neteyam could feel an almost imperceptible pulse going through the waves.

“Don’t worry about it. I’m not gonna lie, thought. I got a bit worry after 20 minutes because that’s a long time to hold your breath, especially for the beginner so he went to check on you, but I remembered that you could breathe through Hik’ki’s gills,” he explained, scratching the back of his neck nervously. “While I was there, I found this,” he finally said before second guessing his action.

He held his hand out to Neteyam who stretched both his to form a cup where Ao’nung dropped what he was holding. Ao’nung was holding his breath, waiting to see how his gift would be received by the Omatikaya. He let out a relief sigh when Neteyam smiled widely playing with the white pearl on his palm. Ao’nung had not exactly just found it on the sand. He had exacted it from a tightly closed crustacean shell he found clasped on the reef wall. And yes, he did it out of boredom. Getting excited with his great find he debated for a long time whether he should give it to Neteyam now or not. It was quite a bold move, since in the Metkayina people it was tradition to give a pearl to the one you were interested in. They had a rocky start because the Omatikaya had yelled at him for no reason, but their relationship got better after that. Ao’nung understood better now the outburst. He also knew that he was supposed to be betroth with the eldest daughter of the Txampay clan, but they hadn’t visited in ages, and he hoped that his mother had all but forgotten about it.

“It's really pretty, thank you Ao’nung,” the other boy grinned cheekily.

Ao’nung’s heartbeats soared up and yes, he knew now that he was falling in love. However, it dropped rapidly when he saw the Omatikaya taking a leather pouch at his side to put the pearl safely in. It clicked when it connected with the dozen already in.

“It’s the first one from the reef,” Neteyam stated. “The others are from the river that ran through the forest,” he continued.

Ao’nung smiled, so he was the first to have his intention known to the other boy here. He was glad. And now that he thought about it, it was quite normal for Neteyam to have a lot of suitors back home. Even here, he saw how some Metkayina hunters and warriors looked at him, but they were too afraid of the Navi’ka to make a move. Technically, Neteyam had completed his iknimaya back home, he was seen as a man in his tribe and changing clan should not impact that. The only reason he was with Lo’ak, Kiri and Tuk and not with his father taming his own sturak was to keep an eye on his siblings. And also, to take it slow, because of his nasty chest wound. But once he had regained his strength, he would tame his own sturak and patrolled around the reef like every man around the village. Ao’nung would still have to wait a year from now on before he could pass his iknimaya, since his father had not deemed him ready yet, which was a huge blow to his pride, but he took it with grace, or at least he hoped so.

*

Lo’ak’s anger had diminished when he saw the squirming form of Tèlan wriggled in the shallow. Lo’ak knew that Hik’ki had done it because of Neteyam, not for him, but he was still pleased with the outcome. That asshole had it coming, provoking him and Kiri, calling them names and then when Tsireya had tried to intervene he had hit her, on accident but still, that skxawng didn’t apologize to her. Lo’ak knew how to fight, had been trained by his father and the other warriors of the Omatikaya clan, but the Metkayina people, they fought differently. And their tails, while heavy and slow was a huge advantage to destabilize the opponent. Plus, their built, much larger, was another advantage. They were using brute force to gain control over their enemies. As he thought about a fighting style that could defeat that kind of opponent, he heard a group of older girls gossiping about matchmaking and possible courtships. Of Tsireya had a lot of suitors but her chores as Tsakarem took a lot of her time, so he didn’t know quite well the guys that were after her. Lo’ak then thought about how the courtship could be different here than in the forest. maybe showing that you were a good provider by making your lover their favourite meal was not standard here.

“Lost in your thought, forest boy?” someone called out to him.

“Here for a rematch, Tèlan?” Lo’ak growled defensively.

“Wow there, calm down!” he laughed. Just wanted to make peace, friend?” he added tentatively.

The two boys behind Tèlan looked at Lo’ak nervously, but the latter didn’t know why, since he was clearly outnumbered. Then understanding passed in his mischievous golden eyes.

“Did your parents put you up to this? Apologize to the Pähem’s little brother?” he grinned knowing he had caught the other when both boys behind tensed up even more.

But Tèlan let nothing show on his face. The bastard was good at hiding his true feelings. He laughed again instead.

“Damn! Was my apology not convincing enough? Yes, my parents told me to come to you, to make amend if you want… Maybe I can help you with something, to show you that I am sincere?” he asked, one of his hands coming to his heart.

He did look sincere, but Lo’ak was still wary of him.

“No, thank you,” he responded as he turned around to leave.

“If you change your mind, me and the other are going to hunt for pearls,” Tèlan informed.

“Pearls?” that peaked the young Omatikaya’s interest.

“Yes, you know? For courtship,” Tèlan explained.

“You people use pearls for courtship?” he repeated, probably sounding like an idiot.

“Yep, you coming? I know a good spot,” Tèlan said as he put his right arm around Lo’ak’s shoulders in a friendly manner.

The fact was the good spot was beyond the reef was soon the heart of the discussion, but Tèlan quickly convinced Lo’ak that Toruk Makto wouldn’t know about their little escapade. Plus, he had probably forbidden Lo’ak to go outside the reef alone, which was not the case here.

*

Convincing the five fingered freak of following them was even easier than he thought it would be. At first, Tèlan thought he would have to wait for his little revenge, but the taunt of courtship made the trick and that moron fell for it. He almost felt bad at the idea of abandoning him at the Three Brothers Rocks with the way he was enjoying himself on his ilu, jumping at the top the mighty ocean waves. The guy was clearly searching for some adrenaline, well he would have plenty soon. The plan was simple. tricking the freak into searching for pearls on the floor and when he was concentrated enough on the task, leave him behind and wait for him in the reef to gloat. Tèlan could take his revenge on the Navi’ka, he didn’t have a death wish, and Neteyam was out of the question even if he was the one who had lent a good punch on his face. Ao’nung, that was another story, he would have to be sly about it, so that he would be seen as a better person than the Chief’s son and discredit him in front of the whole village. For that he would have to wait, elaborate a better plan. Lo’ak on the other hand was the perfect victim. He too threw a punch on him, when he least expected it. He smiled evilly when he saw Lo’ak eagerly starting to search. Now was the time to leave.

*

On their way back to the Tree of Souls, the trio heard people laughing loudly. Curious, Neteyam and Ao’nung went to investigate what it was, only to find the boys from this morning gloating about Lo’ak.

“Did you see his face when I told him I would help him court Tsireya? He totally fell for it! I didn’t know that the five fingered freak could be so gullible!” laughed Tèlan.

“He must be crying like a baby now… all alone there,” cackled Apelti.

Neteyam had heard enough and decided to show himself. He dove, quickly followed by an annoyed Ao’nung, and resurfaced right behind Tèlan.

“What did you just say about my brother?” the Omatikaya hissed which scared the brothers and a third Na’vi that wasn’t there this morning, tagging along.

“Pähem?!” the third guy shrieked, his face paler than normal.

We put him back to his place, he has no right to pretend he could be a suitor for Tsireya,” Tèlan snarled, but he kept his distance the best he could.

Neteyam was wearing his baby swing but there was no trace of the Navi’ka. He looked nervously around in the water to spot her. His back still hurt from this morning even with the paste the Tsahík had given to his parents. He also remembered the scolding he received from his father as if he was a five-year-old and not almost a man in the clan. The shame burnt greatly in his heart, but it was quickly replaced by anger and fear to lose his position of a leader in his group of friends. He didn’t want to be seen as weak, especially if he wanted to challenge Ao’nung for the position of Olo’eyktan.

“My sister is old enough to refuse a courtship she deems unworthy of her, Tèlan. And even if that was not the case, it would be my job as her older brother,” Ao’nung bore his fangs and hissed.

The two smaller Metkayina boys shrunk at such an aggressive display, but Tèlan didn’t back down so easily. The tension was palpable between these two, and Neteyam was worried that should another fight occur, he wouldn’t be much of help. He was a fast learner, but water was not his favoured element for a fight.

“It was just a joke, really! I’m sure your brother is fine,” Apelti spoke finally breaking the tension between his older brother and the Olo’eyktan’s son.

“Where did you leave him?” Ao’nung asked pinching the bridge of his nose, feeling a headache coming full force.

“At the Three Brothers Rocks,” one answered.

A deadly silent settled in the group.

“Didn’t you know? That’s where an akula had been spotted two days ago,” he yelled.

“W-what?! wait! We didn’t know that! It was just supposed to be a joke,” Tèlan repeated.

“What’s an akula?” asked Neteyam as calm as possible but he already had an idea that it was probably not a nice little fish.

After a short explanation, Hik’ki chose that moment to come back to her swing and Neteyam commanded his ilu in the general direction that the boy had pointed when he had mentioned the Three Brothers Rocks.

“Wait! He can’t go alone!” Tèlan said ready to go after him but Ao’nung blocked him.

“No, you have done enough already! Go back and tell my father what you have done. Tell him to send a squad,” Ao’nung ordered, snarling at the other boy.

After that, he dove in search of the Omatikaya. He caught up with him and signed him to follow him. He was already slightly off course. Neteyam seemed relieved that Ao’nung didn’t try to persuade him to go back to the village. When they arrived Neteyam had to fight with all his might not to scream. Even if he could breathe under water through Hik’ki’s kuru, nothing could have prevented the water to enter his open mouth. Lo’ak had taken refuge behind some coral formations, but the same corals were being thoroughly destroyed by an akula. That beast was huge and its teeth probably as efficient in destroying as a palulukan’s. Before he could do anything, Ao’nung sprang into action and directed his ilu toward the akula to create a diversion. Neteyam would have to take his little brother with him to the surface to breathe then go as fast as possible, and that was just what he did. He dragged Lo’ak up and they both breached the surface at the same time.

“Bro! You don’t know how happy I am to see you!” Lo’ak exclaimed, relief clearly written on his face but that was probably due to the oxygen back in his lungs after his too long breath-holding.

Before Neteyam could reprimand his little troublemaker of a brother Hik’ki clicked loudly, as if to make her presence known.

“I’m glad to see you too, Hik’ki,” Lo’ak spoke with more ease now.

He was still a bit wheezing and too out of it to see that Hik’ki wasn’t even looking at them. Her eyes were drawn by the scene underwater. Neteyam dove to see Ao’nung madly zigzagging through the reef and some kelps, trying to lose the akula but to no vail.

“Damn! He is good,” he heard Lo’ak’s distorted appraising whistle from above.

“We have to do something! We can’t leave him here like this,” Neteyam said when he resurfaced.

“Bro, we have no weapons, and even if we had, that armour is too thick, believe me, I tried with my knife and I lost it,” he responded dejectedly.

Neteyam’s brain took the situation and turned it over and over to think about a solution that wouldn’t involve leaving Ao’nung here alone with the beast. What was the squad doing? Ao’nung had told him the surface that he had sent Tèlan to the Olo’eyktan to… Wait. That was it. He didn’t go the Olo’eyktan to give the warning. Hik’ki chose that moment to dive in the sea, unbothered by the agitation. Neteyam turned to Lo’ak with a determined expression on his face that the latter didn’t like.

“Take the ilu and go back to the village,” he began.

“Bro! What?-” Lo’ak interrupted him.

“Find dad and the Olo’eyktan, send a squad back here to help,” Neteyam continued as if nothing had happened.

“I’m not leaving you-” Lo’ak spoke again.

“THAT’S AN ORDER!” the eldest shouted.

Lo’ak was stunned for a second. His older brother rarely rose his voice, but when he did, he looked so much like Neytiri that it was disturbing.

“Okay, I’ll go,” he said reluctantly, mounting the creature.

“Go now and be fast!” almost pleaded Neteyam.

Lo’ak dove and shot at a lightning speed in the water. Neteyam watched him leave, relieved that his little brother was safe, before being started as Ao’nung resurfaced just in front of him.

“What are you still doing here? Why didn’t you go with your brother?!” he asked, almost out of breath.

“Where’s the akula?” Neteyam countered him with another question.

“Stuck over there, but not for long I’m afraid,” the Metkayina boy explained, gesturing a rock in the reef with a hole in the middle, just a few meters away from them.

Indeed, small cracks were forming on the rock due to the withering beast, its eyes set on them, mouth already opened toward its future preys.

“I couldn’t leave you here with that…” he trailed off eyes still locked on the monster so close to them. “Plus, do you really believe Tèlan is going to warn your father of this situation?” he added.

Ao’nung cursed, the Omatikaya was right. He had miscalculated that part. Before he could elaborate some kind of plan, the Akula freed itself from its improvised cell and was coming at them full force, seemingly fuelled by the rage of the being tricked. Ao’nung took out his knife. He knew it was hopeless but if he could take out one eye, maybe that could buy them enough time to flee. That implied getting really close of that mouth full of sharped teeth. A memory flashed back in his mind. His little self playing with the set of akula teeth on his father’s chest. He couldn’t have been older than four or five years old at that time. At that time everything seemed so easy, however, since the Omatikaya family came, since Neteyam came into his life, things had begun to appear clearer again. He smiled as the akula approached. Was this what the warriors talked about? That moment before you die, when you see your life coming back in a rapid motion in front of your eyes?

Suddenly, the akula stopped. It wasn’t looking at them anymore, but slightly below them. They both looked down and were shocked to see the Navi’ka idlily floating there, her tail moving from time to time to keep her steady. She stared back unblinkingly at the akula and let out a quick series of clicking sound. The akula, as if in trance, swam slowly toward her, although its movements were rigid, almost unnatural. Ao’nung wanted to intervene, it was the perfect distraction to blind the beast and escape, but Neteyam grabbed his arms to keep it right where he was. Neteyam saw the way Hik’ki’s kuru were moving. To anyone else, they were just floating along with the current, but he knew better, they were preparing to attack, or, no way, he realised what she was about to do and widened his eyes.

When the akula was in range, the Navi’ka unfolded her wings and propelled herself to the beast. She grabbed on of his kuru to the underside and didn’t let go. The akula, which was regaining some awareness, began to swim back to Neteyam and Ao’nung. He didn’t make it far though. Soon he began to contort itself and let out pain shriek that resonated in the reef. Neteyam and Ao’nung felt the vibrations through their body. They both resurfaced again.

“Is she trying to submit it to ride it back to the village? Because my father won’t be happy about it,” he joked, trying to imagine his father’s face.

The adrenaline seemed to have left his body completely, draining him, leaving exhausted. He turned to Neteyam who seemed to be strangely quiet all of sudden. Their eyes met and the Metkayina saw something sombre clouding the other’s golden eyes.

“No, she is not riding it, Ao’nung. She is feeding from its energy,” he uttered.

Ao’nung looked back down in horror, and he could see now that the akula was almost unresponsive, barely moving.

“That’s how a Navi’ka feed, with their kurus. That’s why Mo’at, my grandmother and the Tsahík of the Omatikaya was so scared the first time I told her I had formed tsaheylu with Hik’ki. No matter what food I would bring her, she wouldn’t eat, she had just hatched, and I was lost, I didn’t know what to do,” he quickly explained. “Come on, let’s go wait on that rock over there, I don’t want to watch,” he sighed, apparently just as exhausted as Ao’nung.

They swam to the rock that the ebbing tide had brought into view. It was small, just enough for the two of them to sit side by side. They were so close that Ao’nung was scared that Neteyam would hear his frantic heartbeat from where he was. If he did, he didn’t say anything about it. They waited for approximately ten minutes. Then Hik’ki breached the surface of the sea, her head turning around to spot Neteyam. She sawm toward them as soon as their eyes met. She climbed on his laps and Ao’nung gasped.

“Is she-” he trailed off not sure if he was imagining it or not.

“Yeah, she is bigger now,” Neteyam stated as a matter of fact. “I don’t think you will fit in here anymore, ‘baby’,” he added, worrying his lower lips between his teeth.

Not the least bit put off by that observation, she tried to go in the baby swing but quickly got out when she heard a distinct crack, indicating that she had torn the woven piece of cloth.

“Did you have to?” he tried to sound annoyed, but the way Hik’ki looked everywhere but him was too funny.

She acted as if she had no idea of what had happened. Ao’nung turned to the side to hide his giggle with a cough. It was strange that such a still small creature could act this cute and deadly at the same time. Five minutes ago, she was feeding from a freaking adult akula… The sun was about to disappear, the eclipse was fast approaching and already the reef was lit by the bioluminescence of the corals and the kelp bushes. Everything in this instant was so peaceful that they almost forgot all the problems. The booming voice of Tonowari and the piercing shriek of Neteyam’s mother’s ikran disturbed the quietness of the place. The trio turned toward the sound and Ao’nung’s ilu poked its head out of the water, wondering what the commotion was about. Tonowari arrived with Jake Sully and other warriors almost ready for war and not to hunt an akula. It would have been comical if the situation hadn’t been grave. Lo’ak had almost died because Tèlan lured him outside of the reef, this leading to put Neteyam’s and Ao’nung’s life in danger as well.

Ao’nung explained what happened, that there was no time for him to come back to the village, had he done that Lo’ak would have been dead now. Unless Neteyam would have tried to do something fooling to protect his little brother, which was not an option entirely ruled out. Hik’ki was back in the water, playing with Ao’nung’s ilu, looking as innocent as possible.

“And where is the akula now?” asked one the warrior, anxiously looking around.

“Huh, down there,” Neteyam gestured the bottom of the sea a few meters away from them. “Hik’ki fed from it, Sir” he added looking at his father.

Jake’s widened a bit, but he stayed focused on the situation. Tonowari and the warriors seemed surprised to hear that.

“Is it dead?” Toruk Makto asked, his tone even.

“I don’t know, but if the akula is still alive it will be very weak, Sir” he spoke to his father.

“Okay, let’s go back,” he ordered, helping Neteyam on his sturak, but Hik’ki hissed.

She was perched on the ilu’s head, eyes narrowed at Toruk Makto as if she was seeing him as an enemy, which was weird according to Ao’nung.

“Still on that, hm?” he muttered.

“Sorry, Sir. I can go back with Ao’nung, if that’s alright,” he suggested.

“Go on, but I want you home immediately after that,” he commanded.

“Understood, Sir,” Neteyam spoke seriously, but when he turned toward Ao’nung who was already on his ilu, he was beaming. The Chief’s son helped him up, placing Neteyam in front of him, then he turned to Toruk Makto to address him.

“I will bring him home safe, Sir.”

Jake’s lips twitched a bit at the foreign word, as if amused then nodded at Ao’nung to go. The akula wasn’t dead, but so weak that the warriors decided to put it out of its misery. They brought the carcass back to the village to feast on it. On the way back, Tonowari had reassured Jake that Neteyam was in good hands with his son. Although the formulation seemed to put him more on edge, and he quickly went back to his marui as soon as he was dismissed from his chores. There, Jake found a chaotic scene. A young man was about to be strangled by Neteyam, but he was restrained by his mother. However, Neytiri looked like she was about the strangle the kid herself, so he hurried up in hope to prevent a possible murder.

*

In the evening of the eventful day Ao’nung told Tsireya about the pearl he had given to Neteyam.

“I gave something to Neteyam this afternoon at the Cove of the Ancestors and he accepted it,” he started the conversation with an apparent ease, but he was boiling inside to share it to someone else.

“Of course he did, Neteyam is too nice, I’m sure he would accept a broken piece of dull-coloured coral if it was handed to him. He is too scared of offending someone,” she laughed lightly, while her brother’s hairless eyebrows drew together to form a deep frown, so identical to their mother that it was unnerving.

“I gave him a white pearl,” he said hesitantly, second guessing his action now. ‘Maybe Neteyam had been too polite to decline his offer?’ he thought.

“Brother! You did not!” she gasped loudly before covering her mouth with her hands, afraid of waking their parents.

“I did,” he said proudly.

“No! You don’t understand. It’s different!” she whispered-yelled, trying to make sense.

“What?” he asked, confused now to see his little sister so agitated.

“It has a different meaning in the forest, Lo’ak explained it to me. Giving a pearl to someone else it is considered as a token of friendship, not of courtship like here,” she whispered rapidly. “Please tell me you explained it to him that you were giving the pearl to him the Metkayinan way,” her tone almost pleading.

Cold sweat ran on his back as he took in the information he just received. He passed a hand on his weary face and squeezed his eyes shut.

“Fuck!” he cursed under his breath, the foreign word rolling almost naturally on his tongue now, courtesy of Lo’ak.

Tomorrow, he promised himself, tomorrow he would go to Neteyam to clear that up. He didn’t want his feeling to be misunderstood. He liked Neteyam.

Chapter Text

The next morning, even if he was tired from the event of last night, Neteyam woke up early. Hik’ki was nowhere in sight, so he decided to go look for her. He had just peeled off the woven piece of cloth away from the entrance that he was met with Ao’nung, face to face, nose almost bumping. They both gasped, clearly not expecting each other presence so close, and took a step back. Neteyam’s tail easily balanced his weight, but Ao’nung lost his balance on the woven platform in front of the Sully marui. Neteyam caught him just before he could fall.

“Eywa! You scared me,” Ao’nung began with a hand on his heart.

“If you think I’m scary, you haven’t met my mother yet,” Neteyam giggled.

Ao’nung grinned. Neteyam was always pleasant to converse with, if you exclude that one time when he arrived. Remembering why he was there for in the first place, he sobered up and put on a serious face.

“Can I talk to you about something?” he asked. “It’s about the pearl,” he added anxiously, twisting his hands together.

“Okayyy” Neteyam answered slowly not knowing where this conversation would lead them. “Wait, let me go grab it.”

He turned around and entered the family marui. He quickly found the white pearl given to him only yesterday. It was rather dull, but he knew what it meant. ‘Was Ao’nung second guessing this’? he thought. He cursed colourfully when Lo’ak sleeping form moved right where he was about to put his foot.

“Are you alright?” Ao’nung asked from the entrance, eyeing critically Neteyam’s split above Lo’ak.

“Yeah, my little brother moves a lot when he sleeps. He is lucky I’m flexible,” the Omatikaya explained, murmuring not to disturb his sleeping family.

Ao’nung chuckled at that. “Let’s go on the beach, I saw Hik’ki there,” he suggested.

“So that’s where she is,” Neteyam mumbled to himself, following Ao’nung.

It was still a bit dark outside, the eclipse just began to disappear. Neteyam watched Ao’nung’s broad back, his tanhí still shining in the dim morning light. Neteyam felt hot and bothered just thinking about trancing the tanhí on the other’s back with his finger to draw a pattern known to Eywa only. The Chief’s son’s braid protecting his kuru swayed leisurely with each step of his owner. The braid was long and ended near the base of Ao’nung’s tail, where his loincloth was attached, and then further down… Neteyam gulped and closed his eyes for a second. To change his mind from the dangerous path of thinking, the Omatikaya focus his eyes up again, on the Metkayina boy’s hair. His small braids came together to form a bun attached with a deep blue coloured leather strap.

On the beach, they found Hik’ki furiously digging the sand if as she was searching for something but when she noticed them coming her way she quickly swatted the sand back with her tail and acted as if she hadn’t been doing something suspicious just two seconds ago. She jumped in the water when they sat side by side next to her now closed-up hole. Neteyam watched her for a moment then turned his attention toward Ao’nung who seemed nervous again. The Omatikaya sighed and took the pearl out in his hand and showing it to the other boy.

“So, you wanted to talk to me about this, correct?” he asked.

Y-yeah,” he took a deep breath to calm his nerve, closing his eyes, but when he opened them again Neteyam was already watching him and he got lost in these beautiful yet usual golden irises. “I have to get the pearl back to you after properly”, he finally said.

Neteyam frowned, it didn’t make any sense and visibly Ao’nung realised that too. He put both his hands on his face and groaned loudly.

“Sorry, let me try that again. I would like to be honest with you. With my feelings towards you,” he sighed dramatically then took a deep inspiration. “Can you give me the pearl back so that I can offer it to you properly?” he stated.

“What do you mean properly?” asked Neteyam instead getting curious.

“Well, when I gave you that pearl, I offered it with the Merkayina tradition in mind, but you took with the Omatikaya tradition instead, so-”

“Ao’nung-”

“Let me finish this, please. I want to be honest with you and beginning any relationship, even a friendship on a lie, I don’t want that! The Omatikayan way, you guys offer a white pearl as a sign of friendship but here it’s different, it means-”

“You don’t want to be my friend?” Neteyam interrupted him again, and if Ao’nung had looked up he would have seen a teasing smile formed on the Omatikaya boy’s lips.

“What? No! I mean yes, but! No! I-” his eyes widened in fear.

How could this go so wrong? He had rehearsal all night this conversation in his head. His monologue explaining everything into detail was so perfect. That was why Tsireya generally did the talking and that was also why his dad had deemed him not ready for his iknimaya yet. He didn’t to work on his elocution. The Metkayina people didn’t deserve to have a chief that would mess up his speeches. He almost jumped out of his skin when he felt one of Neteyam’s hands stroking delicately his right cheek.

“Ao’nung,” Neteyam uttered softly. “I know you gave me the pearl the Metkayinan way,” he continued on the same tone.

“No, I gave it to… What? You knew?” Ao’nung struggled to inform a coherent thought with how the darker hand caressed his skin.

“And I accepted it knowing that you wanted to show your interest in me,” finished the eldest Sully child reassuringly. “Do you still want it back?” he couldn’t help but tease.

“No! I-”

“Good! Because it’s mine now, I don’t think I would have given it back to you,” the darker blue boy confessed.

That admission made something click in Ao’nung, deep down. Knowing that Neteyam was possessive with his things stirred something dark inside of him. He put himself on his knees to be taller than the other boy and took both sides of his face between his own hands. The teal blue boy peeped down to his lips then levelled up his eyes again. He wasn’t sure if it was what Neteyam wanted at the moment, so he gave him time to lean away or turn his head as Ao’nung slowly closed the gap between their faces. Suddenly, realisation hit him hard.

“I’m betrothed,” he blurted leaning away but keeping his hands glued to Neteyam’s warm skin.

“…What?” Neteyam felt stupid for the amount of time it took him to register that information.

“I told you I wanted to be honest with you. I’ll talk to my mother today to break off the engagement,” he stated.

“Who are you betrothed to?” Neteyam asked nervously.

“The eldest daughter of the Txampay clan. But we didn’t have any contact with them for years now, so I think the engagement is pretty dead already,” he smiled. I want to make this right. “I don’t want to mislead you or that you feel betray, so I will bare my heart for you,” he added sincerely.

“Thank you, Ao’nung” Neteyam said gratefully.

He leaned in and kissed Ao’nung on his left cheek and he watched amused how Metkayina boy’s brain short-circuit for a while, probably not expecting the affectionate gesture.

*

Neteyam wondered why the Chief’s son was so nervous about. If he was second guessing his actions, he could just ask him to throw the pearl away or tell him that he didn’t mean it… As he listened to the first few words of the teal boy sitting next to him, he understood the misunderstanding immediately and tried to put Ao’nung out of his misery since speaking was clearly not something he was good at when it came to strong feelings, but he was interrupted by Ao’nung stubbornness to get this right. Neteyam closed his mouth and enjoyed it, he found it a little endearing if he was honest with himself. He decided to tease the other and he was not disappointed with the reaction he got from Ao’nung. Then the Metkayina surprised him by coming closer. If Neteyam thought that giving him the pearl was a bold action, this was nothing compared to it. He stared at Ao’nung cerulean irises darken with something he couldn’t name yet but made him agitated in a good way. When he thought that maybe this would be his first kiss, he felt flustered but once again in a good way.

What he absolutely didn’t expect was to learn that Ao’nung was betrothed to another. Something inside him got cold in the area of his heart and he thought for a second that it was his scar, but the cold sensation was a bit lower. Although, it dulled when Ao’nung told him that he wanted to call off the engagement. He was happy to know that the Chief’s son was bearing his feelings, his heart, to him like that. Being who he is, Neteyam had received a lot of confessions even before having Hik’ki by his side. However, it felt different with Ao’nung. He smiled and thanked the boy. They stayed seated on the sand for some time, watching Hik’ki in the water, resurfacing from time to time to see if Neteyam was still there, before he was called by his father: Lo’ak had disappeared again.

*

Hours later, Lo’ak came back to the family marui. Neteyam had stayed behind in hope to welcome his brother.

“Lo'ak! Where have you been? Mother has been searching for you for hours now!” Neteyam reprimanded his younger brother.

“Bro! You'll never believe it! I went back to the Three Brothers Rocks to-” Lo’ak got interrupted by his older brother.

“You did what?! It's dangerous!” Neteyam scolded him.

“The akula's dead,” Lo'ak tried to defend himself.

“Oh because there's only akula in the entire ocean!” Neteyam responded sarcastically.

“I went back for my knife!” Lo’ak yelled, frustrated.

Understanding passed by Neteyam's eyes. This knife had been given to Lo'ak by their father the day he succeeded his iknimaya on his second try. Jake had looked at his second son so proudly, the image had been engraved in Lo'ak's memory. That knife meant everything to him.

“Lo'ak, you should have told me...” Neteyam said softly.

“You were busy with Hik'ki," the younger boy countered.

“It doesn't matter. You're my baby, and I will always make time for you," he smiled then hugged him.

A little taken aback by the affection, Lo'ak returned the hug with all his might. His brother was not angry at him, he was concerned for him. Neteyam’s anger often came from worry or fear for someone else.

“I'm sorry I made you worry, next time, I'll tell you right away," he promised.

Lo’ak enjoyed the familiar touch for a bit longer, nuzzling happily in his older brother’s neck before the eldest leaned away to look at his baby brother in the eyes.

“So, are you gonna tell me what happened? Did you find your knife?” Neteyam asked grabbing and squeezing his neck playfully. 

Lo'ak only hissed for the show, he secretly liked the affectionate touch provided by his brother. They both sat on the platform in front the family marui and Lo’ak told him about this giant whale-like creature that came to him. It was hurt by a Sky people device, a harpoon of some sort. It seemed friendly enough and even gave Lo’ak a ride back to the village.

“I’m glad you made a friend,” Neteyam concluded, after hearing this story.

“What about you? I always see you with Ao’nung these days,” Lo’ak teased, and seeing his brother’s ears perk up at the name of the Metkayina boy and the dusting purple covering his cheeks, he knew he had hit the right spot.

“Well, I could say the same about you and Tsireya,” Neteyam countered, quickly recovering from the shock of being called out.

Was he that obvious? On the other hand, Lo’ak spluttered, his face a dark purple now. Neteyam laughed but decided to confide his bloomsome feelings to his baby brother. He told him about their disastrous first conversation, well more like the angry yelling of a monologue Ao’nung had been subjected to, then to his apology and how from there they both grew closer from one another until Ao’nung gave him the pearl, which led to a bug misunderstanding in the morning, but everything had been clarified now, so they were good.

“He really asked you to give you the pearl back so that he could offer it to you properly?” Lo’ak was wheezing now imagining the scene of how strong and proudful Ao’nung would be a stuttering mess in front of his older brother.

“I was disappointed at first, but then when he explained it to me, I thought it was very sweet of him. He told me he had barely slept last night because he couldn’t stop thinking about what to say this morning,” explained Neteyam, trying to defend Ao’nung a bit.

“Wow! The guy fell hard for you, big bro!” congratulated Lo’ak.

“Who fell for Neteyam?” Kiri asked, arriving sneakily from behind them making them both jump. “Please tell me you’re not talking about Tèlan,” she added.

“Eywa, Kiri! You’re quiet,” Neteyam whined.

“Thank you,” she answered, gracefully taking it as a compliment.

“And no, we are not talking about that asshole,” Lo’ak spat, still furious about how he had been fooled more than his near-death experience.

“I still can’t believe he had the audacity to ask to court me after his apology, that’s just… scandalous!” Neteyam said at loss for a better word.

Both Kiri and Lo’ak groaned in disgust, remembering clearly the event from last night. How their father had come just in time before Neytiri and Neteyam jumped on the guy to tear him apart, like a pack of hungry nantang, to prevent Tèlan’s murder. Jake had politely declined Tèlan’s offer, saying that he couldn’t trust him near any of children in the future. Tèlan hadn’t tried to argue back, being quite scared of Neytiri’s posture, ready to pounce on him like he was just a banal prey.

“You are unworthy of my eldest son,” she had spat to his retreated form.

They watched him go away, making him feel unwelcomed near their marui or their family with their inquisitive stare. The next morning, Tèlan’s family came to apologize for his inacceptable behaviour. Neytiri blatantly ignored them while Jake made sure that anything like would occur again. Tèlan had been punished by the Olo’eyktan and by his family. Then, to top it all off, the Tsahík had knocked some sense into his head. Neteyam didn’t know exactly what the Tsahík had said to him, but it seemed to be effective because when Neteyam was in front of Tèlan this morning on one of the numerous woven pathways, Tèlan paled and turned around to walk quickly in the opposite direction with his tail between his legs. ‘No matter the clan, the Tsahík is always a scary being’, he thought.

A conch resonated in Awa’atlu, signalling something important. Neteyam looked at his siblings who looked back, equally bewildered. He peeped inside the marui, Hik’ki was still in a deep slumber, so she couldn’t by the cause of it. He went to slightly nudge her to tell he was going to see what was going on. She barely moved her ear to indicate she had understood then went back to sleep. Neteyam joined his siblings on the shore. Kiri was holding Tuk because she whined that she couldn’t see anything, but when she spotted Neteyam Hik’kiless she jumped in his arms. Being a Pähem has its perks as right now he was pushed by anyone just like Lo’ak and Kiri were to get a better look on what was happening. The Metkayina present even opened up a path to him to get to the front row untouched. His siblings followed closely behind him to take advantage of this and secured themselves a position in the front row as well. There was a lone reef Na’vi seated on a sturak, waiting. He was not from the clan. Soon the Olo’eyktan and the Tsahík came and beckoned the man to come closer. The man was greeted the Olo’eyktan and the Tsahík respectfully. He presented himself as a messenger from the Txampay clan. Upon hearing this, the Tsahík turned to eye critically her son. Something passing between them that Tonowari was still unaware of. The messenger delivered his message concisely. The Txampay clan Olo’eyktan wanted to come to the Metkayina to discuss an important matter, which concern his eldest daughter. the messenger waited for the reply he would bring back to his village up far to the north.

“This cannot be a coincidence, it has to be a sign from Eywa,” the Tsahík murmured the gave an approving nod to her mate, signalling she would allow the visit.

Tonowari gave his approval, waying they would wait for the arrival of the Txampay leader in the coming week. The messenger visibly relaxed at hearing this answer, his shoulders sagged in relief in fact. But apart from that he kept his face neutral and let nothing shown through. He departed, escorted by two hunters who asked him casual questions about the north and the other neighbouring clans.

Neteyam exchange a look with Ao’nung, and before quickly asking something to his mother, the teal boy was released. They both met on the beach to walk a bit further from the village to talk privately. Ronal watched her son and the Omatikaya boy closely before turning to her mate. They also had things to discuss.

Chapter Text

“When you said you would talk to your mother about breaking the engagement, I have to admit, I didn’t expect it to go so fast,” Neteyam teased knowing full well that it was a strange coincidence that the messenger came that day, but still a coincidence, nevertheless.

“Well, believe it or not, but I can be very persuasive sometimes,” Ao’nung joked. “But jokes aside, I have no idea why the Txampay clan wants to visit us now, the timing is good though, because my mother is off my back,” he informed.

“Off your back? What do you mean? Did she give you any trouble? Neteyam asked concerned.

“Well, let’s say it would have been better if you had given me the pearl instead of the other way around,” he explained as he scratched his neck.

They both sat on the warm sand of Awa’atlu east beach, close to the village but far away enough to have some privacy. Then Ao’nung proceeded to retell Neteyam the rowdy discussion he had earlier with his mother.

*

“You did what?” the Tsahík all but shouted at her son.

it was still early in the afternoon and most of the marui around were empty, their dwellers went fishing or were in the communal marui, weaving in groups.

“I gave him a white pearl, the Metkayinan way, and he accepted it,” Ao’nung repeated bravely what he just said, facing the wrath of his mother alone.

“You cannot give a white pearl to just anyone like that, Ma’itan! Are you even sure the Omatikaya boy understood clearly your intentions?” Ronal groaned massaging her temples with two fingers.

“He’s not just anyone, Sa’nok! I like him! A lot. And not because the Pähem thing or the Navi’ka! I see him as Neteyam and nothing more!” Ao’nung all but exploded.

The Tsahík stared intently at him for long minutes. “Ao’nung, you’re already promised to someone else, you knew this, but you still show your interest to another. Do you know the implications?” she questioned turning around him like a hungry Akula, smelling a defenceless prey.

She was waiting for him to break and to see things her way, but this time she thought that it might be more difficult than usual.

“We didn’t have any contact with the Txampay clan for ages! They probably don’t even remember it! Please, Ma, don’t force me into a loveless marriage for the sake of old traditions,” Ao’nung pleaded but not yet defeated.

“Ma’itan, you may come to love Ta’ali just as you fell for the Omatikaya boy. Give her a chance” she reasoned.

“Neteyam! His name is Neteyam! Not Pähem or Navi’ka holder or Omatikaya boy. He is the one I will love, he feels the same about me, Ma!” he retorqued.

Ronal let out a harsh breath and turned her head to the side. Much more difficult than she expected it, indeed.

“I will fight for him, I will not back down now that I know my feelings are not one sided,” Ao’nung added.

“No! Do you even understand what you are implying here?” She spat angrily.

“I do! I will fight whoever in the Txampay clan to restore Ta’ali’s honour so that I can be with Neteyam!” he answered.

“That if you survive the fight!” Ronal clarified.

“Why are you so against it? Father did the same for you!” Ao’nung shouted back.

“Because I’m scared for you!” She all but screamed now.

They both deflated after that.

“Tonowari loved me dearly, but I was promised to another, you know that already. But when my betrothed came, your father challenged him. He did not kill him because of the way of the Tulkun, but Ma’itan the other was so close to Eywa we thought he may have died from his injuries. The Txampay clan lost their Tsahík, they have been without guidance for so long I fear they will not stop on time and kill you,” she murmured the last sentence, voice full of fear.

She came to embrace her son to the side, kissing lovingly his forehead and he leaned into the affectionate touch.

“Please, Ma’itan, I don’t want to lose you,” she said, calmer now.

“You will not Sa’nok, I will ask Father to train me, I’ll even ask Toruk Makto if I have to, but please Ma do not force me to be with someone else and watch him from afar,” he pleaded once more.

“…Fine,” she finally agreed reluctantly.

Ao’nung was stunned for a second. Then pure joy burst in his chest. He embraced his mother tightly but being mindful of her pregnant belly.

“Thank you,” he whispered repeatedly, leaving kisses on her forehead.

“Come on! Put all this energy into something useful and help me squash these grains or you will give me early contractions already,” she dismissed him to the other side of their marui.

She knew her son hated doing that, so she expected at least a disgruntled disagreement but when she didn’t even hear a displeased groan, she turned around to look at him. He was doing what had been asked of him, a happy hum fell from his lips from time to time as he added some grains into the mortar. It was as if her son had grown into an adult already in just a day. Long gone was the time when he came back running with Tsireya in tow to show her the most beautiful seashells from their harvest. She was rubbing small circles on her bulging belly, she couldn’t yet feel the baby move but she knew it was only a matter of time now. The sound of a conch rang through the whole village. They didn’t expect anyone, then again, the Sully family was not expected either.

*

Tonowari entered his marui, following his mate inside. She sat down and patted the floor next to her, but he decided to go around and sit behind her so that her back was against his chest, and he could alleviate some of her back pain from carry their child. She hummed appreciatively and they stayed like this for some time. She was thinking hard about something, he could almost hear her debating with herself in her mind.

“What’s troubling you, Ma Ronal?” he gently asked, running a hand in her hair absentmindedly.

“Your son,” she stated bitterly.

“Which one?” he asked teasing her.

They had this ongoing bet between them that their baby would be a boy, even if Ronal said it would be a girl. She had never been wrong before, but he liked to taunt her sometimes.

“I thought we agreed on this one! It’s going the be a girl, I just know it,” she huffed half amused half exasperated by her mate’s tenacity.

“You never know, did Eywa show you?” he asked.

It was rare that Eywa would send a vision to a Na’vi, and it was considered a blessing to receive such a gift. She shook her head though.

“It is not a Tsahík thing, it is a woman thing,” she teased back.

“Hah, I lost since the beginning then,” he laughed in her right shoulder. “What about Ao’nung?” he then asked more seriously.

“He wants to break the engagement to the eldest daughter of the Olo’eyktan of the Txampay clan,” she stated.

She could feel him tense behind her.

“Why?” he asked.

“He found someone else he loves,” she answered.

“He loves?” he repeated bewildered. “But I didn’t notice a thing,” he mumbled.

"He fell fast and hard for the other but I’m afraid, Tonowari, I am so scared to lose him. He said he would fight anyone from the Txampay clan, and they have the right to choose any seasoned warriors they want to restore the honour of Ta’ali. What if-”

“Mawey Ma Ronal, Mawey! Everything will be alright. I will convince him to back down, alright?” he tried to calm her again.

“You won’t. I already tried but he won’t budge, he will not give it up,” she groaned.

“Ma Eywa! He is really in love if you failed to make him see reason,” Tonowari said pensively. “And who the other party, maybe we can convince her to back down?”

“It’s the Pähem, the eldest son of the Sully family,” she murmured, she felt exhausted all of sudden.

“Ha… Indeed it will be more difficult to make him give up. Are you sure? They looked like friends to me, not lovers,” he attempted once again to reassure his mate.

“Tonowari, we both know you are blind to such feelings. Remember, I had to spell it out for you to understand that I loved you,” she reminded him, teasing him slightly.

Tonowari hummed. “What about another bet then, one that I might win this time since it doesn’t require to be a woman,” he suggested.

“Do tell, love,” she turned around to meet his gaze.

“I bet that Ao’nung and Neteyam are not lovers but just close friends,” he stated.

Ronal laughed. She didn’t tell me that it was a matter for the Tsahík this time and he didn’t need to know that. She could already see the energy shift differently between these two young Na’vi, that was also why she agreed that Ao’nung could pursue the other boy. If Eywa was favourable to this change, then who was she to interrupt it? Plus, the fact that the messenger from the Txampay clan came right after that conversation couldn’t be a coincidence. She knew something was up.

*

Neteyam and Ao’nung were on the beach. Just as promised when they arrived, Neteyam showed the Metkayina boy how to hunt fish with a traditional Omatikaya bow. Then Ao’nung would show him how to safely manipulate a speargun. Neteyam was really interested in the mechanism and Ao’nung promised to teach how it was done. But the bow was more complicated to wield than he first thought.

“My Eywa, your position is all wrong!” Neteyam laughed as a hand came to hide his smile, still self-conscious about his smaller fangs.

Before Ao’nung could tell him to correct him since the forest Na’vi was now the temporary teacher, he felt a hand gently patting his abs and another snaked around his arm was holding the bow as Neteyam positioned himself right behind him. Ao’nung didn’t know if Neteyam teaching him something was a blessing or a curse. On the one hand, he absolutely thrived in his touch and the way he was always close to him, but on the other hand, he paid zero attention to what was being said to him which led him to fail dramatically. He looked like an absolute skxawng in front of the one Na’vi he wanted to impress. Plus, every feathery touch ignited a fire in him that was difficult to control which made him fidget.

“Here, you need to strengthen your core before you draw the string,” Neteyam explained patiently.

When he looked up at Ao’nung he just saw the other staring back, eyes slightly glaze over, attention focus on him, well on his body, not on what he just said. He sighed then flickered the other’s forehead. The reaction was immediate.

“Ow! What was that for?” the Metkayina complained.

“You don’t pay attention,” Neteyam retorqued. “Here, breathe and hold it,” he continued patting his abs.

They continued like that until Ao’nung could decently draw the bow without an arrow notched. Then Neteyam took the bow back and they climbed on some rocks to be on a higher position. He searched for a moment then went rigid, his eyes followed his prey under water. His focus zeroed on it as he slowly drew the bow, his position perfect and finally loosed the arrow that flew into the shallow with a splash. The colourful feathered tip poked out of the water while at the other end a fish was pierced. Neteyam jumped into the water to retrieve it, praying for the life he took, to guide it back to the Great Mother. He turned around smiling to Ao’nung and the Chief’s son’s knees went weak. Fortunately, before he could embarrass himself by accidentally slipping and falling Hik’ki, who playing in the water until then came to Neteyam, yawning. The Navi’ka clearly wanted to nap so they decided to sit back on the rocks and sunbathed for a while. Just before they began to talk, Ao’nung whistled for one of the ilu to come and threw him the fish, but Neteyam stopped him.

“Here, let her feed it,” he insisted.

Hik’ki got back in the water, fish in hand and fed it to the creature. She came back on Neteyam’s laps and put herself in a tight ball. She was growing up fast and soon she wouldn’t fit anymore. She mourned the loss of her baby swing, but Neytiri was trying to weave her something different that Neteyam could put on his back instead to carry her around. They watched her fidget for a moment before she took a deep inhale and she was asleep, they talked about fishing. Neteyam told him how his father took him fishing into the river, it was one of his happiest memories.

“I was so scared to miss it. I really wanted to make him proud,” the Omatikaya confessed, putting a braid back behind his ear delicately. Ao’nung followed the movement with his eyes.

“I think he would have been proud of you either way,” Ao’nung hummed.

“That’s what my mother said,” Neteyam giggled.

Ao’nung shared with him in return his most precious memories as well. How the Olo’eyktan had took him in his Tsurak’s back for the first time. They rounded the main island, it was something Ao’nung had done it a million of times on his ilu, but it felt different to do it with his father, he was so proud that day. He was truly happy. And the day he was allowed to go fish beyond the reef, he felt an indescribable feeling of elation. Neteyam compared it with the first time he flew his ikran. He felt so free.

They both agreed to push back the speargun lessons for later, but Ao’nung already explained how the mechanism functioned and answered Neteyam’s questions with eagerness. That was until they heard Lo’ak coming their way on the beach.

“Woah! Look at that?” he shouted to gain their attention, brandishing the speargun in his hand, a smug smile formed on his lips.

Ao’nung’s eyes widened when he saw where the youngest Sully boy was touching the weapon.

“Hey! Be careful! It’s ready to-” Ao’nung’s warning was interrupted by a shriek, and he winced.

Neteyam sighed heavily, pinching the bridge of his nose and Hik’ki growled in her sleep, shifting slightly at the disturbance.

“My Eywa! Lo’ak, are you alright?” asked a panicked Tsireya.

The darker blue boy swallowed hard, still staring at the bolt buried in the sand, only a few millimetres away from his left foot.

“Ao’nung! Don’t leave your weapon like this on the sand,” Tsireya chastised.

As he was about to defend himself, Neteyam beat him to it.

“No, it’s not Ao’nung’s fault. My little skxawng of a brother knows better than to touch things that are not his own,” he reprimanded Lo’ak.

Kiri said something like ‘he’s right, you know’ and Lo’ak groaned, frustrated. She then came to them, but stopped at a safe distance, since Hik’ki was awake now.

“Dinner’s ready, Mum asked us to fetch you,” she smiled.

They all made their way to the communal marui where dinner was served in shell. Several kind of different fishes, various algae and since the Sully came, fruits were also in the menu much to some Metkayina’s joy. Their tastebuds discovered the sweetness and the bitterness of some fruits and how to cook some to season their plate the best. But fruits were not the hot topic of the conversation between the clan’s members tonight, it was the arrival of the Txampay clan, and everyone had their own guess as to why they were visiting. Some mentioned the engagement between Ao’nung and Ta’ali, others whispered about a possible conflict with the Sky People since more and more Tulkun were found dead on the ocean.

*

The week passed by slowly and fast at the same time. Ao’nung was nervous, since he was the one breaking the engagement, he would be the one to announce it to Tsu’lok, the Olo’eyktan of the Txampay clan. Finally, some patrollers spotted the members of the Txampay clan arriving. Not many were there, which was even stranger. Ao’nung was standing next to his father, Ronal was on the other side with her daughter. Five silhouettes stood out in the orange hues of the horizon.

“Why only five?” the Tsahik murmured, eyebrows forming a deep frown.

“My guess is as good as yours,” Tonowari responded.

They dismounted their Tsurak and arrived on the beach. Tsu’lok, the Olo’eyktan of the Txampay clan, stood proud, followed by Maa’tay, his second daughter, and Senul, his eldest son. The trio was flanked by two warriors. No traces of Ta’ali. Ronal exchanged a concerned gaze with her mate. It was decided that Ao’nung was to go talk to them first, the absence of Ta’ali changed everything. Tonowari put a grounding hand on his son’s shoulder. He would be the one to go talk to them.

“Tonowari!” Tsu’lok greeted warmly.

“Tsu’lok, it’s been too long,” Tonowari respectfully responded.

I know, since the death of my beloved mate, everything had been chaotic,” the other answered, seemed exhausted.

As Tonowari was about to invite him, Tsu’lok continued. It is one of these chaotic events that led me here today,” he said gravely.

Everybody tensed up when the Olo’eyktan of the Txampay clan approached Ao’nung and put a hand on his shoulder.

“You are Ao’nung, I presume,” Ao’nung only nodded to confirm his identity. You grew up well, you are almost a man now,” he stated.

“What is the meaning of this, Tsu’lok?” asked the Tsahik ready to pounce to protect her first born if needed.

“Ah! Excuse me Tsahik Ronal, my sight is not what it was anymore,” he apologized and greeted her formally. “I’m here to fulfil an engagement that was made a long time ago,” he started.

“You mean the betrothal between my son and your eldest daughter, Ta’ali,” Ronal clarified and didn’t miss how Tsu’lok clenched his jaws at the mention of his daughter.

The two other children tensed up as well. ‘This didn’t bode well,’ Ronal thought to herself. Tonowari came to stand by his mate side, her being pregnant was worrying him enough already.

“My eldest daughter cannot fulfil her part, because she… is mated to another, and dead to me,” he stated with venom in his voice.

Gasps and whispers could be heard among the Metkayina people gathered around the Olo’eyktans. Ao’nung had all the difficulties in the world to contain his cry of joy and quickly looked around to see if Neteyam had heard the same thing as him. Their gaze met and suddenly nothing more existed except them. Neteyam had a hand covering his mouth from the shock but the crinkles near his eyes betrayed his smile of happiness. They were free to be together, without a fight, without danger, without engagements on either side.

“This my second daughter, Maa’tay, and my eldest son Senul,” Tsu’lok presented his two children who hastily came forward and greeted Ronal and Tonowari. “Maa’tay is too young to be mated but Senul is older than Ao’nung and could make a suitable mate for your daughter,” he continued as a loud gasp could be heard from behind the crowd, not doubt Lo’ak choking himself with his own spit and Kiri helping him breathe while Rotxo was wheezing next to them.

Ao’nung wanted to laugh at the skxawng, but he managed to keep a straight face. Senul gave the girl a small wave to which she politely answered.

“Of course, that is if she isn’t betrothed yet, it’s been so long since we last saw each other and news do not travel that far…” Tsu’lok said calmly.

“My daughter is still too young just like Maa’tay, she is Tsakarem,” Ronal informed, placing a protective hand on her shoulder, the other coming to circle her bulging stomach.

“I understand, and speaking of training, Tsahík Ronal, I would like to ask you a favour,” he said.

“Speak,” she nodded at him.   

“I would like for you to teach Maa’tay the way of the Tsahík, since my mate is deceased and since the last time I let a daughter go to another clan to learn, she disobeyed me, I would like to put her in your care. You are trustworthy,” he complimented, but Ronal was not a woman easily convinced.

She turned to Tonowari to have a silent discussion then both nodded.

“Maa’tay can stay and learn with Tsireya,” she relented at last.

“I would like Senul to stay too, so that Maa’tay is safe and not alone in a new clan, just for a few weeks,” Tsu’lok suggested.

His demand was valid, and his fear understandable so Tonowari agreed as well.

“Come! Let’s eat!” Tonowari invited cheerfully.

As Maa’tay went to Tsireya to greet her personally, Senul tried to do the same with Ao’nung, but the Metkayina boy made a beeline to the crowd where the loud gasp sound had been heard earlier, some heavy coughing could still be heard in a distance.

“Ao’nung!” his father called.

“I have to help Rotxo with something, I won’t be long,” Ao’nung threw back as he disappeared in the crowd.

Tonowari excused his son’s behaviour, but Tsu’lok swatted his shoulder playfully.

“He is young still! Let him live a little,” the Olo’eyktan of the Txampay clan laughed.

Chapter Text

The dinner lasted until late into the night. The guests received their marui to pass the rest of the night: Maa’tay and her brother were sleeping in one, the Olo’eyktan in another one and the two warriors who accompanied him in a third one. Ao’nung had politely conversed with both Maa’tay and Senul during the dinner but then he had gone to join Neteyam on a night walk on the beach with Hik’ki.

“Senul is going to be a pain to be around,” he said while walking.

“Ao’nung! Don’t be mean,” Neteyam teased him.

“I swear I’m being completely honest and impartial on this matter. Just this evening he enumerated all the things he had already accomplished, since he had passed his final rite of passage into adulthood. Then he asked, ‘And you Ao’nung, what are you doing of your days?’ he incarnated the posh voice of Senul to the perfection and that made Neteyam laugh hard.

“I mean, seriously? Doesn’t he have eyes? Can’t he see that I don’t have any tattoos yet?” Ao’nung groaned dramatically.

“Hey, you’re two almost three years younger than him, you don’t have to be ashamed of anything,” Neteyam placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder and gently squeezed it.

“I know. It’s just… he is so full of himself…” Ao’nung trailed off. ‘And he is already considered an adult, just like you,’ he thought bitterly.

“Well, there’s something you did that he didn’t,” Neteyam said enigmatically.

“What?” he turned his toward the forest Na’vi, now curious.

“You got adopted by Hik’ki which is a pretty rare feat, I mean, it took time for her just to accept my family,” he explained, feeling proud of the Metkayina boy.

“Yeah… And I also taught Lo’ak how to ride an ilu without falling after three meters, it’s a pretty rare feat too,” he grinned.

“Don’t be mean to my little brother!” Neteyam chastised him, trying to swat his shoulder playfully, but the teal boy had good reflexes and evaded him.

They walked back to the village and Ao’nung accompanied him to his marui, bidding his goodbye with the promise of seeing each other tomorrow morning, Ao’nung headed toward his family marui too, too deep in his thought to feel that someone was observing him.

*

The next morning, Tsu’lok and his two guards headed back home in the earliest light. The Olo’eyktan couldn’t leave his clan without supervision for too long. The Ash clans could take advantage of the situation and raid the Txampay clan. It had happened before. It was how their Tsahík, Tsu’lok’s mate, died. The Metkayina didn’t have to worry too much about the Ash people, they were too far away into the ocean, the archipelago forming Awa’atlu was only accessible by water or by air. The Ash people didn’t have Ikran nor Tsurak, so Tonowari deemed his clan safe from them.

Maa’tay began her day determined to learn how to be a Tsahík, near Ronal. The Tsahík of the Metkayina had made sure that everyone understood that she was not betrothed to Ao’nung and wouldn’t be to anyone else due to her young age. Since her mother died, the Txampay clan had been without a spiritual leader for five years now. A lot of pressure was put on her shoulders, but she seemed eager to learn. They also learn more about what had happened to Ta’ali, Maa’tay her older sister. Ta’ali eloped with her lover from the Ta’unui clan, where she was learning how to be a Tsahík. She was supposed to be the Tsahík and Ao’nung the Olo’eyktan of the Txampay clan. The next Olo’eyktan of the Metkayina was supposed to be Tsireya’s mate. But everything changed now. Ao’nung would be the next clan leader and maybe Tsireya would be mated to another clan’s leader. This didn’t sit well with Tonowari who was very protective of his daughter. It also didn’t sit well with Lo’ak who was madly in love with the Metkayina girl, but he couldn’t exactly protest out loud, he didn’t even have a courtship gift in mind for her. He had thought about giving her a pearl to show his interest, but the arrival of the Txampay clan leader and his son had changed that.

Tsireya, learning next to Maa’tay, found it romantic to elope with a lover but Ronal reprimanded her immediately. Even if secretly, she thought the same. She had been pleased that Tonowari fought for her, she didn’t have to leave the clan, being uprooted was always hard for a Tsahík or a Olo’eyktan. Senul tagged along his little sister to supervise her, but soon he found himself being bored. Ronal suggested to him sarcastically to go perform some chores outside, to make the Metkayina people see how useful he was. The sarcasm was not understood but the effect was the same, Senul got up and went outside. The Tsahík could feel the bad energy going away with him and she sighed in relief. Senul quickly found the Olo’eyktan to ask him what to do when he was not watching over his little sister, but as he was asking, he stopped mid-sentence, subjugated by the forest Na’vi riding an ilu in the water nearby.

“This one of the Sully children,” the Olo’eyktan informed, remembering that the Sully family hadn’t joined the communal dinner last night.

So, it was probably the first time of Senul’s life that he saw another species of Na’vi. As Tonowari watched the Txampay boy observe the forest Na’vi girl, who was diving now with Rotxo, an idea popped up in his mind.

“Why don’t you join my son and Rotxo in teaching the Sully children?” he suggested as he put a large hand on the boy’s shoulder.

The contact made him jump but at least he was out of his strange trance. Senul nodded and made his way toward Kiri and Rotxo who had just resurfaced.

“Did you warn him about the Navi’ka?” one of the warriors asked, concerned.

“Nope, he’ll learn that by himself, he is a man after all,” Tonowari smiled mischievously.

“You’re the worst, Tonowari,” the same warrior responded with a chuckle.

*

“You have to position your hand right here, to steady the speargun and your other hand right under to activate the mechanism,” Ao’nung informed, placing himself behind the Omatikaya to help him in the right position. “Try it without aiming first to accustom yourself with the movement,” he continued, watching where Neteyam put his hands.

“Wow” the Omatikaya exclaimed, not expecting the recoil of the speargun.

“Yeah, I know, it’s more important here on land, but in the water, the recoil is less significant,” Ao’nung laughed when Neteyam almost fell back into his arms, but his slim tail managed to keep him balanced.

They continued like this for some time then they decided to go under water, to see the difference. However, when they were about to dive, they saw Kiri, Rotxo and Lo’ak approaching with another Metkayina. Senul. The man was eyeing Kiri and Lo’ak so blatantly that it made Kiri uncomfortable, but for the first time, she didn’t seek her brothers’ help, but Rotxo’s. Neteyam smiled sweetly as the short Metkayina boy put himself between them, creating a wall with his body. It was cute.

Ao’nung sighed, his one-on-one session with Neteyam was now ruined, but he couldn’t exactly complain about it and the only forest Na’vi on Pandora he was interested in had such a tender expression on his face. Neteyam truly loved his siblings.

“Yo, bro!” Rotxo greeted, a bit sheepish.

He knew that Ao’nung had tried to have some time alone with the eldest Sully child, so he knew he was interrupting.

“Your father wants you to go with him on the hunting party,” Rotxo informed.

“Right now?” Ao’nung almost whined. “I’m sorry, it’s the second time I try to teach you how to hunt with a speargun and we always get interrupted,” he said looking apologetically toward Neteyam, then turning toward Rotxo with an inquisitive face.

“It’s fine, we’ll finish later,” promised Neteyam. “Go, don’t make the Olo’eyktan wait,”

Ao’nung called for an ilu and mounted the animal swiftly. He looked back longingly. Three months ago, he would have jump out of joy for such an offer from his father, but now that he had to leave Neteyam behind… He sighed and commanded his ilu forward, diving to go faster. He was just about to go in an underwater tunnel to leave the safety of the reef that something latched on him. When he turned around, he saw that Hik’ki was there, perched on one his shoulders, decided to join him. When he resurfaced on the other side, he worried a bit. If Hik’ki was here with him, it meant that Neteyam was truly alone with Rotxo, Lo’ak, Kiri and Senul, and he didn’t trust the latter no to make a mistake around the forest Na’vi.

“Are you sure you want to come with me? Don’t you want to go and stay with Neteyam?” he asked trying to hint that she could be a great ‘guard dog’ or whatever that was that Lo’ak called her sometimes.

She totally ignored him but by the twitch of her ears, Ao’nung knew she had heard him, and probably understood him but decided to do what she wanted anyway. He grunted, exasperated. How Neteyam could make her do whatever he wanted was a total mystery to him. Suddenly, she tapped twice on his shoulder and pointed her wing forward at the same time. When he looked up, he saw his father waving at him, so he guided his ilu in his direction. When he arrived though the Metkayina warriors on the hunting party moved away as to not be too closed to them. They all saw in the end how the Akula was after Hik’ki finished her feeding. Which meant that she only decided not to attack them to grow up faster just because Toruk Makto eldest son had told her to behave around the Metkayina people.

“A surprise guest?” the Olo’eyktan asked a bit surprised but not disapproving the presence of the Navi’ka with them.

“Yeah, I guess so,” Ao’nung scratched his neck a bit embarrassed.

“Let’s go then, we spotted a Natsula near the reef earlier this morning,” Tonowari informed his son.

‘So that’s why he wanted me to come,’ Ao’nung thought. They all dove, guiding their mounts in the direction where the predator was last seen.

*

They were finally back on the beach of Awa’atlu, after too many hours of chasing off the Natsula. The creature just didn’t want to leave its spot and driving it away almost seemed impossible, but they managed to do it. Hik’ki had done nothing to help them, most of the time she had been on Ao’nung’s shoulder or lazily swimming around the group. She seemed totally unfazed by their efforts and didn’t contribute one bit. Ao’nung really wondered why she had tagged along, if it was not to eat something, then there had been plenty of opportunities… Could she be bored?

“There you are!” Ao’nung was taken away from his thoughts by Neteyam’s voice.

He turned back, already grinning but stopped short when he saw that Senul was to the Omatikaya, standing unbelieving close to the other boy. Senul was clearly ogling Neteyam and that didn’t sit well with Ao’nung. The forest Na’vi didn’t seem to be bothered though. Ao’nung gasped when he thought he had unwillingly let out a growl only to realize that the sound came from Hik’ki. She flew the rest of the way to Neteyam’s arms. That action finally seemed to snap Senul back to the reality.

“Wow! What’s that?” he asked as he tried to touch one of Hik’ki’s wings.

It was the combination of Neteyam moving away from him and Kiri pulling Senul’s arm that saved his hand.

“Do not touch her!” Ao’nung, Kiri and Neteyam yelled in perfect unison.

Hik’ki had snapped her jaw as soon as she saw something coming her way. Now she was glaring at the offending, retreating finned hand. Ao’nung had put himself between Hik’ki and Senul to be sure he wouldn’t try again.

Tonowari watched the interaction from a far with a fond expression and he found it funny that the Navi’ka and his son were glaring the same way at Senul, very protective of the forest Na’vi, just like friends should be. Soon Ronal joined him. She went out to fetch something from the healing marui and since it was not good for her to stay seated too long because of the pregnancy she witnessed everything.

“Let’s go, I can still show you how to use the speargun in the water with what little daylight there is left,” Ao’nung suggested while turning himself toward Neteyam.

The Omatikaya smiled brightly, but Senul voice came from behind Ao’nung, ruining everything.

“Oh, no need for that. I already show him and Lo’ak as well,” claimed out loud Senul happily.

Ao’nung’s eyes widened and looked back at Neteyam, an ounce of betrayal in his eyes. Neteyam stared back honesty shining in his golden eyes. He leaned toward Ao’nung and took his hand in his.

“Yeah, after Lo’ak almost killed Kiri under Senul supervision, and since he was so persistence I joined the training,” the Omatikaya responded in a rather assertive tone.

But his eyes spoke more than just that. They reassured Ao’nung that they could still go but probably on a different way so that Senul wouldn’t follow them. Ao’nung understood and lightly squeezed his hand before letting it go.

“Alright, I’ll go help with the cook then, they always need help to gut the fish,” the younger Metkayina stated, and he went to the marui right after he finished his sentence not waiting for an answer.

“I’ll go to the Tsahík to ask for guidance,” Neteyam said as casually as he could while carrying Hik’ki in his arms.

“I’ll go with you, I need to check on Maa’tay anyway!” Senul said as he approached Neteyam again, but this time Hik’ki’s growl made him keep a reasonable distance between them.

Hik’ki slightly tapped Neteyam’s chest to catch his attention. When he looked down to meet her gaze she yawned, and he mirrored the action almost instantly.

“You know what? On second thoughts, I’ll go later and have a nap with my baby here,” he said tiredly and turned to walk back toward his family marui, not leave enough time for Senul to react. “See you later,” Neteyam added when the Metkayina boy was about to open his mouth.

Senul found himself in the middle of the village a bit lost, but when he snapped out of it he trotted toward the Tsahík marui where he found his sister and Tsireya talking animatedly about some orange paste in front of them on a mortar.

As Ao’nung was rounding the communal marui to go back to the beach where he hoped, if he had understood well, Neteyam would be waiting for him, he was interrupted by his mother.

“I thought you said you were going to help the cook,” she said making him jump out of his skin appearing out of nowhere like that.

“Mamaaaaa! You scared me!” he whined.

“The cooking marui is the opposite way,” she continued on the same tone.

He was facing her now, she had her arms crossed over her chest and was wearing that deep frown she always had when he did something wrong. He sighed, there was no way out of it, was there? But suddenly she uncrossed her arms and her facial expression morphed into a proud one.

“I’m happy for you, Ma’itan! It was your first silent conversation, wasn’t it?” she smiled tenderly.

Then Ao’nung recoiled, he didn’t even realize it. He did so naturally what mated Na’vi took years to master. Before he could open his mouth to answer something, too flabbergasted, Ronal hugged him.

“I’m proud of you, you truly are destined for each other. I couldn’t see it before because I was afraid for you, but I can see it clearly now,” she explained as she put her forehead on his. “Now go, don’t make him wait,” she concluded as she turned around to go back to the healing marui to retrieve what she needed.

A wobbly smile crept its way on Ao’nung’s lips. He was so happy. It was exactly what he needed to hear. He all but ran to the beach where he was teaching Neteyam this morning. He couldn’t help but feel disappointed when he found it empty. Had he misunderstood? Was it somewhere else? When he swallowed the lump forming in his throat, he heard someone’s breath right behind him.

“I have to admit you were right,” a low voice murmured.

Ao’nung jumped again but calmed his beating heart when he recognized the voice’s owner.

“Eywa! You all have to stop appearing out of fine air like that. My heart won’t take it,” he teased as he put a hand on his chest to add some dramatic effects.

Neteyam laughed quietly, not to wake Hik’ki up.  

“What was I right about?” He then whispered.

 “Senul,” Neteyam responded.

The one-word answer made his heart quickened. What did he say about him again? He didn’t remember, what he did remember though was how the guy ogled Neteyam shamelessly. He felt a pang of jealousy in his heart and this time he clenched his hand for real.

“He is a real pain to be around,” Neteyam added mischievously.

And just like that, as if a weigh had been lifted from his shoulders, he felt happy and light again.

“What?” Neteyam asked slightly frowning his eyebrows, intrigued by the change in the Metkayina in front of him, then he gasped. “Ao’nung! Don’t tell me your jealous of Senul?”

“What?! No! Of course not,” he lied quite obviously.

“Come on, let’s go! Let me unteach whatever horrendous methods he showed you!” Ao’nung chuckled as he entered the shallow water.

Neteyam put Hik’ki down on a smooth stone on the beach and joined Ao’nung in the water, giggling.

Chapter Text

“You saw a Navi’ka? There’s a Navi’ka here?” Maa’tay asked incredulously, almost not believing her brother.

Had it not been for Tsireya confirmation, she would have deemed her brother unsalvable. Too much seawater swallowed up in his youth, like she liked to tease him. It was rare to see a Navi’ka, according to the legend they all went to sleep after a time of great sorrow and the Great Mother needing protection. Navi’ka were Eywa’s wrath, after all.

"Hik’ki is still a baby, but she is already strong, she took out an Akula,” Tsireya informed, happy to provide more details.

“I didn’t know there were Navi’ka in the region,” Maa’tay muttered, frowning to herself.

“Ah! Hik’ki doesn’t come from the archipelago, she came with the Sully family who asked for Uturu some time ago. Lo’ak’s brother, Neteyam, is the one who bonded with the Navi’ka,” Tsireya continued.

“Bonded? A Na’vi and a Navi’ka? That should be impossible,” Maa’tay exclaimed.

“They bonded as parent and child, Neteyam is taking care of her and Hik’ki protects him,” Tsireya concluded when she saw her mother coming back, but Maa’tay wanted to know more on the subject.

“But isn’t it dangerous to have a Navi’ka living in the village?” she nudged Tsireya.

“Enough! We will resume where we stopped. Tsireya, what is the property of this paste?,” she questioned.

“An antiseptic property, Tsahík,” Tsireya recited by heart what she had learnt.

Ronal hummed approvingly and continued her interrogation about the new ingredients coming from the healing marui. Their lesson lasted until the evening meal. Maa’tay and Tsireya walked side by side, while Senul walked behind them looking absentmindedly.

“I’m sorry for earlier, but I really wanted to know more about the Navi’ka,” Maa’tay apologized.

“It’s alright! You didn’t know that it was my mother who agreed first to let the Sully stay here, you didn’t want to offend her by implying it was not safe,” Tsireya explained kindly why her mother had been so harsh.

“It was not my intention, indeed. But you’re soo lucky to have a Navi’ka here. It’s like a gift from Eywa herself. I can’t wait to meet her!” Maa’tay said excitingly.

“Well, maybe you will see her this evening, the Sully family sometimes joins us in the communal marui to share the meal,” Tsireya responded with a smile.

When they entered the communal marui, they immediately spotted the Sully, their darker skin among the teal blue of the Metkayina’s was as noticeable as a tunnel in the deepest part of the reef. However, Maa’tay’s excitement was short-lived, because Neteyam hadn’t joined his family. She still went to greet the family, Senul following her closely.

“Oel Ngati Kameie” she greeted respectfully, then she introduced herself, and her brother.

Kiri didn’t acknowledge Senul, but the action didn’t go unnoticed by her mother.

“Ma’Kiri! Don’t be rude!” Neytiri reprimanded.

“I’m sorry Mum, but I still remember clearly how I almost lost my left ear this afternoon because of these two buffoons,” she hissed pointing an accusatory finger toward Lo’ak then looking angrily at Senul as she got up with her food to go away.

Senul didn’t seem to react to the insult, so Jake didn’t apologize for his daughter. What the guy didn't know wouldn't hurt him, right?

“You promised not to say anything!” Lo’ak groaned, betrayed.

“Lo’ak!! Is this true?” Neytiri asked concerned for her daughter.

“Hello! I’m Tuktirey, but you can call me Tuk!” the little girl introduced. “You’re really pretty!” she added with a smile.

“Aww! Thank you! I’m Maa’tay! You’re really pretty too!” Maa’tay answered.

On their way back, Senul went near Tsireya.

“What is a ‘bufons’?” he asked curiously.

Tsireya sighed, she didn’t see her brother anywhere, so it meant that she would have to help their guests on her own for the whole evening. She could feel that it would be long, very long.

*

The dinner in itself didn’t last long, fortunately for Tsireya. Maa’tay asked her thousand of questions on the Navi’ka but she didn’t have the knowledge to answer them all, which left the other girl puffing air out of her nose loudly. Fortunately, or unfortunately, Tèlan came near Maa’tay, since he liked to gloat to whoever wanted to hear about the time the Navi’ka vomited on him only for him to survive. He sat next to the girl and proceeded to tell her his epic story in details, showing how strong he was to the girl at the same time. Tèlan spoke about everything, how he thought that Neteyam wasn’t a good guardian for the beast to the strange fruit the Navi’ka threw at them to stop the fight, immobilizing them for a few minutes. Their conversation went on well into the night, they were almost the only one left in the communal marui. Senul stayed to keep an eye on her sister since Tsireya said she would go to sleep as she had to wake up early tomorrow.

The next few days blurred in together. The way of the Tsahík was hard and Ronal was not going easy on her daughter or Maa’tay but neither girl complained. One day, they both had their afternoon free, so they decided to join their brothers. They found Senul with Rotxo and the Sully children minus Neteyam. However, after some minutes, the eldest Sully child came to join them too. He was accompanied by Ao’nung, both discussing about some hunting strategies. Hik’ki was on Ao’nung’s shoulder. She seemed to like to perch herself there recently. Maybe it was because Ao’nung was slightly taller than Neteyam. When Neteyam had asked about it, the Navi’ka just shrugged. If she didn’t want to share something with him there was no way for him to force her to tell him. Neteyam didn’t really mind, as long as Hik’ki was careful with her claws around Ao’nung, he was happy to let her on him. To say that Maa’tay was ecstatic was an euphemism. She still kept a safe distance because Rotxo had warned her, but she all but bombarded Neteyam with so many questions that he had a hard time to answer them all. But at the end, Neteyam managed to quench Maa’tay’s thirst for knowledge about the Navi’ka.

When Ao’nung and Neteyam went to fetch some baskets to put the fish the others caught, Maa’tay asked to the group.

“Are Neteyam and Ao’nung courting each other?”

“WHAT?!” Lo’ak all but shrieked.

“I wouldn't be astonished to see him ask for dad’s permission soon,” Kiri muttered.

“But aren’t the Olo’eyktan’s son supposed to mate with a Tsahík?” Senul asked, frowning his hairless eyebrows.

“Is my brother not good enough for Ao’nung? Is it what you’re saying?” Lo’ak hissed.

“No! No, forgive my brother, it’s just that we never saw this kind of situation before, since our mother died…” she trailed off, her eyes slightly glazed over when she mentioned her mother’s death.

“Skxawng!” Kiri groaned at her little brother lack of tact.

“You’re right, normally the Tsahík and the Olo’eyktan are individuals sharing a strong bond, such as a mated pair, but even though it is rare, it is not uncommon to see a brother and a sister being Olo’eyktan and Tsahík,” explained Tsireya.

“I think that in the clan on the coastline near our home, the Olo’eyktan and the Tsahík is one person,” Kiri spoke.

“Anyway, I think that they are cute together,” Tsireya sighed with a lovely, dreamy smile. “And Hik’ki seemed to have adopted my brother so it’s like he is already accepted as a family member,” she chuckled.

Maa’tay made a strange face, scrunching her nose but said nothing. Lo’ak, on the other hand, was loud about his complaining. He didn’t especially have something against Ao’nung, he actually liked and respected the guy, and as Tsireya’s brother he wanted to be liked as well, no. What he didn’t like was the perspective of someone mating with his older brother, because it would mean that all the responsibilities would fall on him instead, and he sure was not ready to face that. Their conversation died down abruptly when Neteyam and Ao’nung were back with fish baskets.

“Well, that’s not suspicious at all,” Neteyam smiled at his siblings’ antics.

Ao’nung eyed his sister, then his best friend, but they both signed a zipped up mouth, indicating that they wouldn’t say a thing. Ao’nung hummed then turned around.

“Okay, keep your secrets for now, Hik’ki listened to everything, she will tell Neteyam later,” he grinned.

Everyone gasped, noticing that Hik’ki was indeed lazying around a branch of the mangrove tree not far from them. She eyed them critically as if she was judging them. Her unblinking gaze stopped on Maa’tay then Senul, who suddenly excused himself, not feeling well.  

*

A week after their group conversation, Maa’tay presented herself in front of the entrance of the Sully marui. She was happy to find Neteyam cooking with his mother. Apparently the Tsahík had asked for some medicinal herbs from the forest. So, Maa’tay had naturally come to the Omatikaya, hoping he would guide her. Senul was going to accompany them for their safety. Both Neytiri and her son winced at that. With time, everyone could see that Senul was loud in everything he did, and discretion was a key element to be in the forest. But still, Neteyam didn’t want to say no to the young girl, she seemed so lively, like Tuk and so hungry for knowledges, like a good Tsakarem should be. As soon as he got up though, Hik’ki was on him. Maa’tay, who always seemed to enjoy the Navi’ka’s presence, deflated a bit. Probably due to Tèlan who told her some ineptness again. Neteyam rolled his eyes, remembering some of Maa’tay’s questions because of Tèlan’s extravagant stories. It was really absurd. He guided them to the beach then entered the mangrove tree roots intricated network to arrive in the forest further away. Maa’tay described the different plants she needed on the way and Neteyam guided her to the best of his ability to the place where these plants normally grew. Neteyam felt an odd impression as they were about to call it a day, since they were back near the beach among the mangrove tree roots. As if something was watching him intently, but he brushed it off as Maa’tay’s eyes were almost always glued on him or Hik’ki.  

*

Neytiri finished the food she was preparing. It took her more time than she initially thought since Neteyam who was supposed to help her went to help Maa’tay. She pulled out of their boxes some of the remedies she took with her when she left her home and gathered them in a woven basket to take them to the Tsahík’s marui. That woman was way too proud for her own good, but she was the Tsahík and Jake had said not to cause trouble, so if she went and showed her some recipes maybe Ronal would forget their feud from the beginning. At the entrance, she announced herself, and Tsireya went to welcome her. Ronal wasn’t there. When Neytiri was about to ask where the Tsahík was, Ronal appeared, concerned, in the entrance of her marui. She seemed surprised to see Neytiri there.

“Why are you here? Do you need something?" Ronal asked dryly.

“Is there something wrong?" Neytiri countered, sensing that something wasn’t right indeed.

“Maa’tay and her brother disappeared,” the Tsahík sighed deciding to trust the Omatikaya woman.

“She was in my marui an hour ago,” Neytiri frowned.

“Really?” the reef woman’s eyes widened.

“You sent her to go search for medicinal herbs in the forest,” Neytiri informed her with a neutral tone as to not sound too sarcastic.

“I didn’t! Are you saying that she is in the forest now?” Ronal panicked.

“Don’t worry, she is with Neteyam and her brother is with her as well,” the Omatikaya woman tried to reassure the pregnant reef Na’vi.

Before Ronal could respond, Ao’nung screaming for her to come to the healing marui interrupted their conversation. Only seconds later, he appeared in the entrance, blood all over his chest, face pinched in worry.

*

As Maa’tay was gushing about the plant she just found near Neteyam, Senul picked something on the ground, acting so casual about it that Neteyam didn’t notice anything. Senul looked up to where Hik’ki was laying on a branch and threw what he just picked up. Hik’ki growled but it didn’t last long as the gas worked through her lungs, putting her body in a lethargic state. When Neteyam heard the crash and saw what happened his fury rapidly soared. How could Senul be so stupid? How did he find that fruit? As he leaped to attack Senul, he got restrain by two hands on each side of his shoulders. Two adult reef people had appeared behind him and he groaned for dismissing his instincts earlier. Maa’tay positioned herself in front of him.

“It would be better for you not to resist, please,” she spoke in a cold tone.

Neteyam smirked then, he had it worst. He knew he hadn’t been in the reef for long but Ao’nung had shown him some moves that their fighters privileged when fighting hand-to-hand combat. And these reef people were absolutely not familiar with the Omatikaya style, or Jake’s style of combat. Quickly, he threw his head back connecting the back of his head with the nose of one of his opponents. The other, surprised by the unexpected move, stayed immobile for a second too long which allowed Neteyam to target his throat. Three or four well placed punches later, these two were down, whimpering. Neteyam faced Senul who hissed, clearly not expecting that. Neteyam gave a peep to Hik’ki who by reaction, had stiffened all her muscles, so she was still laying on the branch with only one of her wing hanging flabbily in the air. Neteyam focused back on the reef Na’vi in front of him and hissed back, he didn’t care anymore that his fangs were small, he was stronger than Senul, he knew he could to take him on. Early on, Neteyam noticed that Senul tried to target his chest, probably to touch him where he got hurt months ago. They circled each other for some time and Neteyam managed to place himself between Hik’ki and the group of assailants. Senul snarled, he had a black eye and a busted lips. Out of nowhere, another fruit crashed on the branch where Hik’ki was and Neteyam cursed. The quantity of gas she was currently absorbing could be fatal to her, she was still quite small. He himself, being right under it, coughed some out of his lungs. Apparently the breath holding lessons of Tsireya were paying off. As he was launching himself toward Senul, something hard collided with the back of his skull. He fell on the ground, his vision was blurry but he distinguished Maa’tay’s feet in front of him. She had the paddle of a canoe in one hand and a tissue in the other. She put the tissue on his nose and after a minute or so of struggles, he had to breathe. Whatever was on that piece of cloth knocked him off immediately.

“Do I really have to do everything by myself here?” Maa’tay whined. “Let’s go before someone notice his disappearance,” she ordered.

“What about the creature?” Senul asked as he carried Neteyam on his back.

“Leave her, she can fly!” the girl commanded.

One of the guards took the still unconscious one with him and just like that Hik’ki watched them go, taking Neteyam away from her as she felt powerless, useless. This was what happened when you let your guard down. She wanted to scratch to claw to scream, she wanted to kill these teal blue Na’vi who were taking the one she considered a father and a mother to her. Her left wing dangled uselessly in the air, but she desperately wanted to take it back on the branch because as the group of Na’vi left, a pack of Nantang soon arrived, probably attracted by the ruckus of the fight. The pack of predators rapidly understood that the Navi’ka was unresponsive and with no one around to protect her she was an easy prey. She wanted to screamed when she felt the jaws full of sharpened teeth closed on her left wing and tore it apart. If she survived this, she would kill the whole pack, because their cries similar to manic laughter made her crazy. But before any hunting trip she would have to find Neteyam, that was her priority.

*

Ao’nung was bored. So. Bored… Lo’ak was not good company because when Tsireya wasn’t around all he did was talked about her. Tuk was playing with other children of her age and Rotxo had asked his best friend to have one afternoon free with Kiri all alone. Ao’nung had said yes as the good friend he was but he was seriously regretting his choice now. While floating around, Ao’nung had tried to deviate the conversation from his sister’s beauty, wanting to know more about courtship in the Omatikaya clan but Lo’ak was unusually quiet about it, not really useful, babbling about the obvious. Ao’nung sighed and looked around thinking about how Neteyam and Kiri’s courage to endure Lo’ak’s incessant blurt of words about Tsireya. Suddenly, something caught his attention on the horizon. A canoe. A big canoe, not from the Metkayina clan, and when he creased his eyes he saw Maa’tay and her brother. Nothing too strange, but the two guards who accompanied them, and who were not supposed to be here, yeah, that was strange. He followed their trajectory to the beach where he saw something moved in the middle of the roots of a mangrove tree. He began to breathe harder, something called to him, his instincts told him to go fight but he didn’t what. He also knew to never ignore a gut feeling so he took his spear with him, the one he had abandoned some time later on the rocky pier, and made a beeline to the shore, leaving Lo’ak behind. When he arrived close enough he heard the manic cries of some forest creatures. They moved in pack and his father always told him to never engage a fight alone with them, that it was too dangerous, but what he saw froze his blood in his veins. They were happily tearing apart one of Hik’ki’s wing. The Navi’ka seemed totally unresponsive and there was no trace of Neteyam. With a loud war cries he diverted the beasts attention toward him and he didn’t wait a second before impaling the closest one. He took his spear with the wriggling body still at the end, howling in pain, and creating large circles around him, bashing the Nantang that wanted to jump on him. Finally the body slipped off his spear and collided with another beast. He empaled another one and also took his knife out and hissed, showing his fangs. He was determined to kill the whole to save the Navi’ka, and when the Nantang understood that they left, growling, with several individuals whimpering and hopping on five legs instead of six.

Ao’nung knew he should never turn his back to a predator, even a wounded one, but he was dying to take a look at Hik’ki. After an endless minute, Ao’nung hissed again and rapidly turned around to assist Hik’ki, but his feet crushed on something he was now familiar with, that dangerous gas fruit… He looked up again at Hik’ki’s state, that would explain why she was like this. He winced audibly when he saw the way her left wing was torn apart. There was no skin left for her to fly and on some places the bone structure was apparent. After a quick scan, he tried to detached her from the branch and his heart leaped in his throat when he heard a tiny growl. Which meant she was conscious, and probably had been the whole time. Her claws where sunk too deep in the wood, which was a good thing, because otherwise the Nantang would have eaten her whole. Ao’nung cursed and before cutting a small part of the root where her claws were he sent a prayer to Eywa, asking to be forgiven. It lasted way too long to his taste but finally he managed to get her. He was worry about the blood loss. He ran toward to village at full speed with Hik’ki in his arms. He put her immediately in the healing marui. He cursed lowly when he found it empty and prayed to find his mother or sister his their marui. He quickly told Hik’ki that he was going to fetch the Tsahík to help her heal. Hik’ki growled again, a bit louder this time.

Chapter Text

Neytiri didn’t hesitate to go after Ronal. The blood she saw on Ao’nung’s chest brought her reminiscence of the war and her beloved home. However, when she arrived at the healing marui, she was shocked to discover a bloody Hik’ki, without Neteyam.

“What happened? Her wing is in shreds!” Ronal yelled with frenzy.

Neytiri turned herself slowly toward Ao’nung who was explaining that he found Hik’ki in that state not too far from the beach in the network of the mangrove tree roots. He fought a small pack of Nantang, they were responsible for her wound.

“Where is my son?” She asked with a deadly tone.

When her voice was heard, Ao’nung turned to look at his own mother, worried. She gave him a sign to answer.

“I don’t know, I didn’t see him near where Hik’ki was,” he confessed. “But…” he trailed off not sure if it was important to mention.

“Yes?” Ronal encouraged him to talk.

“There was this fruit, the one with the gas on it, that’s why Hik’ki is like this, I think. The ground under her was covered with smashed fruits,” Ao’nung explained.

Hik’ki growled louder this time and Neytiri’s gaze flashed on her.

“Quick, Tsireya, the basket I left in your marui, go fetch it,” she ordered as she kneeled near the wounded Navi’ka.

Ronal was next to her in an instant, worry creasing her eyebrows together.

“With her wing like this, she won’t be able to fly,” she muttered as handed some bandages to the Omatikaya woman.

“No, she will heal, but the question is, will she let us touch her when my son is not here,” she groaned as Hik’ki’s eyes were glued on her and the Tsahík.

Ao’nung, not really useful anymore, got out, following Tsireya who told him that the last time Neteyam was seen he was with Maa’tay and her brother. Suddenly, something clicked in his mind, as if he had just solved a complex problem all by himself. He let Tsireya go back to the healing marui, he himself had to go back where he had found Hik’ki. He needed to investigate something and act quickly. He arrived to where he had found Hik’ki and started to search around. He was no tracker, but he could read a fight scene quite easily since his father had taught him. Suddenly, he froze. His trembling hand picked up something on the floor he thought he wouldn’t have been able to touch so soon. A songcord. Neteyam’s Waytelem was laying on the ground. Fortunately, it detached itself from the string of Neteyam’s loincloth, so it was intact, no pearls, beads or irreplaceable trinkets from the forest scattered on the floor. Ao’nung manipulated it with reverence. He had seen it before and even asked Neteyam about it, but the Omatikaya had been shy about it and had only revealed some small details about it. As he found the object, he knew something wrong must have happened because Neteyam would have never separated himself from his Waytelem. He saw again in his mind how Maa’tay had looked nervous, how two guards from the Txampay clan had appeared out of nowhere, how Senul had difficulties to handle the canoe when there was almost no current inside of the reef barrier that surrounded the village of Awa’atlu. The destination, they were heading to the north. They were taking Neteyam back home with them. Maa’tay to learn the Tsahík way and Senul to be here to watch over her, it had all been a ruse. Tsu’lok coming here in person was a stratagem to make them lure them away from his primary goal. To get a Navi’ka, and what is the easiest way to have one than to take the person they are linked to? Of course, Neteyam was their target since the beginning… Ao’nung fought it had been a genius plan, but it didn’t take into account one thing, the love Neteyam had for his family. He knew Neteyam would fight to come back here, but he also knew that Hik’ki would try to get to him as fast as possible, so he needed to act fast as well, because she wouldn’t swim far with her left wing in such a state.

Ao’nung quickly went back to his family marui, the village was calm for now but as soon as the new of Neteyam’s kidnapping reached Neytiri or Jake’s ears, chaos would ensue for sure. He took his spear back and a smaller spare one, three knifes completed his choice of weapon. He mounted his favourite ilu and commanded forward, to the north, to the Txampay clan.

*

Neteyam woke up with the worst headache of his life. When he tried to touch his head though, something hindered him. He blinked several times for his vision to stop swinging. He was inside a marui, but the structure was different from the one he knew. He frowned. He could hear the sound of the waves crashing on the shore just like in Awa’atlu, yet the temperature was colder. Was it the rainy season already? He grunted as he tried to sit up, but he couldn’t. His hands were bound. At the realization, he began to panic. Why were his hands tied? Did he do something wrong? His headache worsened when he tried to remember. Neteyam let out a breath out of his mouth similar to Ronal or Tonowari when they were angry, to calm him down. It didn’t work, maybe he wasn’t doing it right? Then, he remembered Tsireya’s teaching about breathing, how one had to slow down their heartbeat to be able to stay longer underwater. He took several deep breaths and he managed to calm down. If he couldn’t remember what had happened, then he would certainly get his answers by himself. He had to be rational about this situation. First, he needed to speak to someone and for that he needed to go outside since there was nobody by his side at the moment. And to go outside he needed to untie the strap that linked his wrists to one of the pillars of the marui.

He let out a curse below his breath when he saw that he didn’t have his knife on him as usual. Again, he took a deep breath. The next sharp object that came to his mind was his fangs. It was true that he didn’t have prominent fangs like his mother or siblings. Eywa, even Tuk had bigger fangs than him. But his were razor-sharp. Some of the members of the Omatikaya clan, when they were just children used to make fun of him. Young Neteyam had just wanted to prove them that he could bite just as hard as any other children. He didn’t intent to pierce the muscle AND the bone below with one swift angry bite… Long story short, no one made fun of him after that, and he felt really guilty about hurting someone else.

It took him approximately two full minutes to cut the sturdy straps. Now free of them, he got up slowly on four and crawled toward the entry of the marui. As he opened the piece of cloth obscuring the room, his eyes widened in surprise. A feeling of dread took place in the pit of his stomach. The scenery was beautiful, sure, but unknown to him. He was not in Awa’atlu he concluded grimly.

“What are you doing out?” Someone from his right shouted.

Spooked, Neteyam turned to face whoever was there. The surprise showed on his face when he recognized Maa’tay.

“I-I don’t know… what happened?” he asked, thinking Maa’tay was actually here to help him, but her shout drag the attention of some nearby warriors.

He was promptly ceased by his shoulders, arms painfully bend back. He hissed at the way he was manhandled back into the marui he just came out.

“Be careful! Don’t you know who he is?!” Maa’tay growled.

It would have been funny, to seen fully grown warriors getting reprimanded by a teenager girl if the situation had been any different.

“We can’t have you wandering in the village like that, it is dangerous,” he said to him as she sat by his side. “Here, have some water, you must be thirsty,” she gently held up a cup of water. “I will tell you everything while you drink,” she reassured him.

Everything in his body told him not to trust her, but he couldn’t remember a thing, and he was so thirsty. Just as she mentioned it, his throat almost burnt from dryness. How didn’t he feel that before? Against better judgement, he drank all of the cup. He didn’t even feel the cup slipping from his hand, he was out cold before his head touch the ground. Note to his self, never trust Maa’tay ever again.

*

When he woke up again, his wrists were tied to the wooden branch above his head this time, and he was caged in a wooden structure that resembled a big crab trap. His head pounded but now at least he remembered everything. He had been captured, he was held captive in a foreign clan, the Txampay clan, and neither Hik’ki nor his family members were there. He was alone. He had already escaped once, he would do it again, and this time he would run far way from this forsaken place. He didn’t waste any time, analyzing the structure of the wooden cage to find its weak points. He was so absorbed by his task that he didn’t even hear people coming in the marui.

“You are awake I see,” a deep voice startled the Omatikaya.

Neteyam turned around the best he could to face the Chief himself.

“I see you, Neteyam te Suli Tsyeyk’itan” he made the respectful gesture from his forehead with his hand extended toward him as if nothing was amiss.

“I don’t want to appear rude, but I can’t exactly respond to that politely,” the younger gritted through his teeth sarcastically, mentioning his tied arms over his head, put some pressure on the branch that actually creaked.

He wanted to rile up the Na’vi, to provoke a reaction, but he was disappointed by the answer given.

“No offense taken,” responded Tsu’lok almost too joyfully.

Before he could continue, Neteyam interrupted him.

“Can I ask you why I am a prisoner? What did I do to deserve such treatment?”

“Prisoner?” the Olo’eyktan repeated dumbfounded. You are certainly not a prisoner, you are our most honoured guest. This wooden structure here around you is just for your protection,” he explained as he caressed one of the pillars of the cage.

“You’re the one you will need a protection when Hik’ki comes!” Neteyam threatened in a low voice.

“Ah! Your Navi’ka will be welcome here as it should. You both will stay here after the ceremony is done,” Tsu’lok purred, his eyes never leaving Neteyam’s.

“What ceremony?” Neteyam spat anxiously.

“My! Your mating ceremony of course,” the other Na’vi grinned.

Hearing this, the Omatikaya found his blood turning cold. They couldn’t force a bond, right? This was against everything Eywa has taught to her first children. Then he remembered. The Txampay clan didn’t have a Tsahík anymore. She had been killed by a foreign clan a long time ago. They have been without guidance for so long, and now they seemed totally lost. Or deranged like the Olo’eyktan in front of him, disconnected from Eywa, his mind following the path to madness instead.

“Bring Maa’tay in!” the Olo’eyktan ordered. “We will leave you two for a moment, then the ceremony will begin,” he announced as his daughter entered the marui and the two warriors who accompanied their Chief left.

Neteyam was facing Maa’tay once again. He couldn’t believe that just last night they had eaten together in the communal marui of the Metkayina clan, peacefully.

“I know what you think,” Maa’tay started. “That we are barbaric, to force a bond like this, but try to see things from our perspective,” she elaborated.

“The only thing I see right now is this cage, to which I’m bonded to against my will,” the Omatikaya sneered.

My clan is under attack, constantly we have Na’vi from the Fire clan coming here and raiding everything, killing people, my people,” she explained harshly.

There was a pregnant pause. Neteyam tried to understand what his role was in all this. Then the glint in his eyes sharpened.

“You want to use me, and Hik’ki as a threat, a shield,” he murmured.

“When the news of a Navi’ka, a bonded one came to our village, we knew it was what we needed. Maybe it was even a sign from Eywa! You coming half way into the ocean, don’t you think it’s a coincidence?”

She was smart, Neteyam could concede on that. Trying to turn his kidnapping into something that the Great Mother wanted. Maybe if he had been more credulous, he would have believed her.

“If it was truly a sign from the Great Mother, my family would have ended up here, and not with the Metkayina. Stop trying to bend the truth as you wish,” he snarled.

He had been moved by the unnecessary death of the villagers, but there were other ways to help them, like asking the neighbouring tribes to unit and fight back the intruders, just as his father had done when the Sky People came the first time.

“I’ll never accept you as a mate, Maa’tay. My heart lies with another,” he concluded with a deep breath.

“I don’t really care about your heart, to be honest. What I am excited about is to find out if I will be able to control the Navi’ka too,” she smirked.

For the second time this day, Neteyam’s blood ran cold. He never thought of that, and he hoped that Maa’tay was wrong. But before he spiralled down, the Chief entered the marui once more. This time, he had ornaments of some sorts in hands, probably for the ceremony, his mating ceremony. Cold sweat ran on his back. He was scared. He didn’t want that. He refused to be bonded against his will. But he couldn’t allow himself to appear weak. He would face this new challenge with a brave face on and fight each step with all his might.

After a short recitation, a distorted prayer to Eywa, he was asked to bear his kuru. To which he answered by showing his fangs, growling. He would bite if needed. And bit he did. He was a real fury, he fought teeth and nails. But at the end one of the warriors snatched his kuru and pulled painfully. Maa’tay watched him still tried to stale the inevitable with cold eyes as she approached her own braid, tendrils already out.

“DON’T!” he yelled. “If you have ounce of respect for Eywa, you know that forcing a bond is against everything she taught her first children. Don’t you dare disrespect her like that!” he hissed, making direct eye contact with Maa’tay.

For the first time, he saw her faltered. Her mask of strength cracked. She looked around but the warriors only looked down, not meeting her gaze. This flair hope in the young Omatikaya. However, when her eyes met her father’s, he nodded his approval, and everything shattered. Neteyam closed his eyes, ready for the mental fight, since the physical one was lost. He blocked everything in his mind. Only thought about darkness, no sound. Maa’tay would only find void. He still felt the bond when both kurus got connected. A strange sensation overtook him. Was it what one feel like when bonded? Was he bonded? How could Eywa allow this? He felt his rage extend like a raging fire. Yet the sensation didn’t disappear, like cold hands slowly wrapping around his body.

*

Ao’nung arrived in the late afternoon after taking a longer route. The Txampay clan members were patrolling, as if they were expecting company. They heavily guarded their borders. But that worked into Ao’nung’s favour for now because it meant that he wouldn’t have to worry much about warriors in the heart of the village, where Neteyam probably was held. The young Metkayina still didn’t understand completely how the Txampay clan would convince Neteyam to stay here. It didn’t matter, by the end of the day, he would have the Omatikaya back to the Metkayina clan. He urged his ilu forward, even if the odds were in his favour for now, he still had a bad feeling in his guts.

*

He cracked one eye open, and his gaze directly fell on Maa’tay own eyes. She lay on the floor next to the cage. You could still make out the surprised expression on her face, eyes looking up to Neteyam, opened, but unseeing anything. With shocked horror, Neteyam realised that she was dead. And the cold sensation he was feeling was her death, affecting him, because their kurus were still connected together. With a cry, he started to squirm away and finally it paid off. His kuru detach itself, but the strange sensation was still there, with a thousand questions assaulting his brain. Was it what his mother had felt like when Seze, her first Ikran, had died in battle while she had been riding it? He leaned forward and emptied his stomach then curled up, not paying attention when the Olo’eyktan ordered the two warriors to take his daughter away and to go fetch for his son. According to him, the master of the Navi’ka needed a strong mate, not a Tsakarem. He disappeared as well, leaving the Omatikaya alone, nearly broken. Neteyam didn’t have the notion of the time, but he didn’t look up when someone entered the marui. He couldn’t care less in his state of mind. He wanted to go home and forget about this entirely. A rough voice made him emerged, like a ray of light reaching the forest floor, brightening the dark place where his mind was.

“What did they do to you?”

His heart skipped a beat when finally looked up.

*

Ao’nung approached the village as silently as possible. It had begun to rain lightly. The village that came into was in a wrecked state. Like there had been a battlefield in the middle of it. It was sombre, gloomy, no children playing around in the crystal-clear shallow water. Nothing like the bustling life filling Awa’atlu. It was a sore sight to see. He began to search for the young Omatikaya on torn-up, misshape marui. He almost ran into two warriors apparently searching for someone as well. Maybe Neteyam already escaped on his own? Ao’nung cursed and hid in a still decent looking marui. His relief was short lived. As soon as the two warriors passed by his location, he relaxed but felt the prickle of an intense gaze on his neck. When he turned around, ready to fight, he only found an elderly woman seated on the floor, weaving. She was half hidden in the shadow but the part of her face that was visible sported patches of melted flesh. Ao’nung winced internally. He quietly left the place and continued to search for Neteyam. Further away he saw the Chief leaving a good-shaped marui. Anger boiled up within him but breathed out to calm down and not act impulsively. Tonowari would proud. Even if he really wanted to punch the man really bad. He slipped into the marui lit by a single torch. There, he found a rather desolating spectacle.

Chapter Text

In a wooden crab trap-like structure, the Omatikaya was curled up. Ao’nung knew the difference in size, due to their environment, but Neteyam appeared to be so small like that. He swallowed the lump forming in his throat, he didn’t have the time to stare. He carefully approached and his eyes zeroed on a wet splash in front of the younger Na’vi. Vomit. His head hang low, pitifully. ‘What did they do to you?’ he thought. However, Neteyam reacted. So, he probably spoke these words aloud. He was met with teary golden iris, full of sadness, pleading him to do something. It shattered something inside of him and he couldn’t refrain the pained groan that escaped from his lips. He took out his knife and began to cut the rope binding the surprisingly sturdy wooden structure.

“Are you really here?” Neteyam croaked miserably.

Ao’nung froze for a second. He had never heard his voice like that, and he wished to never hear that tone again.

“You must be an hallucination, then,” he murmured dejectedly when the young Metkayina took too long to respond.

“Hey, hey! I’m here! I came to save you! Don’t worry, okay? You’re safe now.”

He knelt to cut the rope on the opposite side, then he heard some shuffling. When he looked up, Neteyam was trying to break the branch he was bonded to by pulling on it with all his weight. Ao’nung hissed when he saw the red marks around his wrists and the torn flesh. He got up and sliced the rope viciously. It went faster since the binding rope used on the Omatikaya was thinner. Neteyam winced and rubbed his wrists after making a quick work of the piece of rope.

“Give me your second knife, it will be faster if we do it together,” he commanded.

Ao’nung smiled. That attitude was already much better.

With two branches out of the way, the Omatikaya managed to get out. For once the smaller and thinner frame of the forest Na’vi was a blessing. It didn’t take long, two minutes at most, but for them it seemed like hours. Neteyam swayed on his legs at first. Two hits on his head and staying huddled up in that cage for hours didn’t help. He leaned heavily on the Metkayina and often tripped over his own feet. He was mentally exhausted. As they excited the marui, they heard some voices coming their way.

“It's him,” Neteyam whined painfully.

Ao’nung didn’t even need to ask who it was, he knew. He cursed and they both ducked into a closed by marui. They stayed silent but Neteyam grabbed the other’s arm in a vice grip. Ao’nung frowned and turned over to see what provoke that reaction. It was dark already outside and there was no torch in this marui, but several meters away from the entrance, Senul was hunched over something, protectively. Neteyam hid his face into Ao’nung’s arms as if he could somehow become invisible. Senul growled and shifted so that now Maa’tay’s sleeping body could be seen in his arms. Ao’nung didn’t understand what was happening but in an instance, he was ready to fight, even with Neteyam in his arms.

“Leave,” Senul hissed in an icy tone.

The Metkayina was stunned. It was certainly another ploy.

“And let you sound the alarm? I don’t think so,” he responded calmly.

“You don’t understand. I want you to leave! And take him with you,” he snarled while nodding at the Omatikaya, who flinched. “He is not the saviour we thought, he only brought death!”

Ao’nung took a sharp intake and let his eyes fell again on Maa’tay. She was not asleep, she was dead. And somehow, Senul was accusing Neteyam. But tided up like he was, it would have been impossible for him to hurt or even kill Senul’s younger sister. Ao’nung’s ears turned toward the exit to be sure it was free and slowly backed away. With the stars now out, he could make out Senul’s face better in the shadow. His icy blue eyes bore into their retreating forms, but the teary cheeks betrayed his weak state. He was mourning his sister.

“Let’s go! I want to leave this place fast!” Neteyam pleaded.

As they exited the village a conch sounded. Neteyam’s break out had been discovered. They both turned around to face to noise. Every patrol in the border would hear it too. Ao’nung’s ilu was already next to them but they had no chance to pass by the Txampay warriors. Ao’nung briefly connected his kuru with the animal to indicate it to go around the island and to wait for them there.

When Neteyam saw Ao’nung take his kuru in hand, he went pale, Fortunately, the other boy didn’t even notice when the younger turned to face away, because he couldn’t stand to see a bond right now. He was breathing heavily when he heard the war cries of the warriors approaching, but when he closed his eyes to calm down, all he saw were Maa’tay’s eyes locked with his.

“Hey, hey!” Ao’nung took his face between his large hands to get the other boy to focus. “It’s okay, we will take a different route, alright?” he reassured.

Ao’nung’s eyes were fortunately not entirely blue like most reef people. He had his mother’s eyes. More pale green came to the mix. Right now, it was a blessing because the Omatikaya would have a hard time to look into blue eyes. His gaze went further behind the Metkayina boy and as if Eywa finally decided to help him, he saw the forest bordering the beach. It was like home was calling for him.

“Come!” he said, taking Ao’nung’s hand in his as he started to run.

Once his feet left the unstable sand to meet the concrete forest humus, he felt like the warrior he was back home. Suddenly, what happened before didn’t matter anymore. He knew he would be affected by it later, but that would be a problem for his future self. Running was a second nature to him and the time he spent with the Metkayina in the water couldn’t erase that. Ao’nung, on the other hand, tripped on every root they came across and almost fell twice face first in the mud. The only thing keeping him upright was the Omatikaya and his formidable newfound strength as if being in the forest was invigorating. It probably was.

Then Ao’nung almost crashed on the back of Neteyam as the latter stopped abruptly. Before he could form any words, his eyes widened. They both couldn’t believe their eyes. Ao’nung didn’t know what it was exactly, just that it didn’t belong to any forest or anywhere on Pandora. Neteyam knew exactly what it was, but it still shocked him to see it there. They had stopped in front of several metal crates: some had little strange drawing on them, others were featureless.

“What is it doing here?” Ao’nung asked incredulously. “It’s from the Sky People, right?”

He turned to Neteyam who just nodded in confirmation. His eyes surveyed everything and the Metkayina could see the gears in his head starting to wheel. He was planning something. Ao’nung had heard stories about the younger one, how the elders had praised him for being a great strategist, just like his father.

“It cannot stay here,” Neteyam finally spoke.

“What do you want to do about it?” Ao’nung answered surprised.

“We will kill two birds with one stone,” he shot back as if it was logical.

It probably was, to him at least.

“Care to explain?” Ao’nung groaned, annoyed to be left in the dark.

“We blow everything up and we create a distraction to allow us to escape,” he smiled.

That was… extreme and smart and so much like Neteyam. He loved the idea. If Ao’nung wasn’t already falling in love with the Omatikaya, he would be now.

“Okay so, what do we do?” he grinned.

Neteyam rapidly explained him the plan that he thought of and the Metkayina was impressed. Had Neteyam stayed with the Omatikaya, the clan would have had a great Olo’eyktan.  

*

Tsu’lok was furious. After giving the order to ring the alarm, he examined the wooden structure and the straps. Weaken, broken and cut down. The Omatikaya had help from an outsider. No one from the Txampay clan would jeopardize their future like this. But who could it be, not the siblings, maybe the mother, she was a fearsome warrior or Toruk Makto himself. But no one came from the sky, he had been clear to his warriors, they should not only look around the sea but also monitoring the sky. An Ikran would not have been unnoticed. A Metkayina warrior then? He went outside while thinking about what he would do to them when he caught them. As he was about to address his people, a deafening noise came from the heart of the island accompanied by quakes. A light so bright that it was almost blinding arose fear among the warriors. Was it a sign from Eywa? Was the Great Mother unhappy? The only who could interpret her will was dead now.

“Let’s go and check that!” Tsu’lok ordered. “Senul” he hailed once he saw his son in the crowd. “Where were you? The Pähem escaped! We need to find him” he spat angrily. “Go. Take a squad with you and search the water, they couldn’t have gone far!” the Chief growled.

Senul wanted to argue. He wanted to mourn his sister in peace. He had only gone out to see what the commotion was. He was frustrated. The few days passed with the Metkayina showed him how a real clan should work, like it was before for the Txampay clan. The dream his father was pursuing was hopeless at best and bordering madness now. They couldn’t continue like that. He couldn’t continue like that. Still, he took two warriors with him and whistled for a Sturak. He shouldn’t ride one yet, since he didn’t pass all rites of passage into adulthood, but his father had assured him that Eywa would forgive him.

Senul didn’t know if it was a sign of Eywa for them or if those two were running out of luck. He only had been riding for fifteen minutes at best when he spotted an ilu with two riders, one being significantly darker than the other. At first, he wanted to ignore them but one of the warriors with him spotted them too. He had no choice but to follow.

One of the warriors readied his spear but Senul stopped him. He was angry at Neteyam at first, but he didn’t want him to be hurt. He knew that blaming Neteyam for the death of his sister was puerile, that it was just his mind demanding justice. Neteyam was just a victim, as his sister was, of his father’s madness. Even if they were to bring the Omatikaya back to the clan, he would never stop fighting to get away, because that was who Neteyam was. He was a warrior, not a precious delicate flower to be kept inside of a marui.

“You could hurt the Pähem, we need to proceed with caution,” Senul warned the two others, but his voice was loud enough for the two fugitives to hear him as well.

Ao’nung turned when Neteyam cursed. “We are being followed, they spotted us.” he informed the Metkayina leading the ilu as fast as he could.

“An ilu cannot outrun a Sturak, they will catch up soon. Prepare to fight,” he declared, as he handed the Omatikaya his second knife.

He took the spear attached to his ilu and breathed deeply. Ao’nung had never been trained to fight, especially other Na’vi, he only knew how to hunt. He kept repeating in his mind that it was the same, but it wasn’t. He was about to fight to protect someone special to him.

“Turn to the left,” the Omatikaya ordered behind him.

Ao’nung didn’t even think to question the other, he just did as told, but as he turned something flashy caught his eye, flying toward the trio pursuing them. A cry indicated them that his second knife was now lodged into one of Txampay clan members.

“There, to that rock formation,” Neteyam yelled. “We will have a chance to fight them there.”

Ao’nung communicated his thought through the bond and pushed the ilu further toward what seemed to be a small archipelago. There was no vegetation to hide, the rocky ground was just above the sea level. At least, Neteyam would be fighting on equal footing there, since he didn’t have the lung capacity yet to fight in water.

“Here, that’s mine, so no throwing, okay,” Ao’nung attempted to crack a joke.

“No promises,” the Omatikaya smiled tightly.

They were both nervous as the trio arrived. Neteyam put himself in front of Ao’nung, protecting him from the spear. They probably didn’t care about the Metkayina heir but he knew they needed alive so they wouldn’t try anything while he was in front of him. Neteyam was only half surprised to see Senul there. Ao’nung hissed when he saw him too. Both sides put themselves into position.

“Come back with us Pähem, and we will let him go,” one of the warriors promised.

“I’ve heard enough of lies coming from your clan, I don’t believe anything you say. Plus, I see the glint in your eyes, you want to fight!” the Omatikaya responded.

The warrior threw himself at him and for a second, Ao’nung feared he would be crushed, but the Omatikaya bravely stood his ground against the other Na’vi twice his size. Although the Metkayina didn’t have the time to be amazed as the other warrior came at him, spear readied. They clashed, he was an adult, probably more experienced than him, but Ao’nung grinned when he saw his knife attached to his strap and the bloodied bandage around his left tight. Like an Akula sensing a weakness, Ao’nung exploited it. At one point, Ao’nung stumbled back into the water, pulling with him the warrior. He just had the time to hear Neteyam saying his name in panic. Nothing to worry about though, the fight would continue under water.

Neteyam cursed when he saw Ao’nung trip, but he couldn’t do anything about it though. He had two opponents in front of him. Even if Senul couldn’t be considered as a real opponent. He didn’t contribute to the fight and sometimes hindered his fellow clan member. Neteyam didn’t dwell on the whys though, he concentrated his full attention on the other warrior once he understood that Senul was a threat. He managed to get him in a headlock blocking his pipe so that the other couldn’t breathe. The Omatikaya didn’t want to kill him, just make him unconscious would be enough. Yet when he saw Senul charging with the discarded spear, he knew he had miscalculated. However, instead of retrieving, like all his instincts were telling him to, his mind told him otherwise. So, he decided to take the blow. A blow that never came, well not for him at least. Neteyam, out of fear or reflex had closed his eyes but he heard the cracking noise, typical of a wooden stick meeting bones. Enough dangerous games with Lo’ak and Spider made him familiar with the noise. No pain erupted though. He was even more surprised to feel the body he was restraining slackening. He couldn’t believe his eyes, he had to blink several times to understand that Senul had hit his ally instead of him. Annoyed, Neteyam got back to his feet, knife still in hand.

“You can’t be that maladroit, what do you want?” the Omatikaya hissed, showing his fangs.

“The same as before, I want you gone,” Senul grunted.

“If you think I’m going to fall for that, you’re more stupid than you look,” Neteyam spat.

Senul looked barely hurt by the comment. Yet when the second warrior came out of the water instead of Ao’nung, Neteyam heartbeat soared before plummeted when Senul did the same blow. Ao’nung emerged from the water on the other side, taking a defensive stance near Neteyam.

“There’s only one left, we can win this,” remarked the Metkayina out of breath.

“No, it’s over. Let’s go,” suggested Neteyam as he took several steps backward and called for the ilu.

“But-”

“Didn’t you hear when he said? Go already!” Senul groaned.

Ao’nung mounted the ilu followed by Neteyam who handed him his knife, noticing that the Olo’eyktan’s son had already put back his second knife in the sheath. They were ready to dive when Neteyam’s hand signal him to wait.

“What is your plan, Senul?” he asked.

“Go alre-”

“You can’t go back. The warriors here will tell your father what happened. Being the Olo’eyktan’s son won’t save you…” the Omatikaya paused. “He will kill you for this” he added quietly.

“I… I don’t know,” murmured the other. "I have been so lost for so long. This, helping you, felt right, like it was a path I needed to take, as if it was a challenge or something” he sniffled. “After Maa’tay’s death, I didn’t think I would find another purpose than protecting her yet seeing you free makes me feel like I did what was right for once,” he explained as silent tears were rolling down his face.

The waves crashing to the rock formation was the only noise around for a long time, until Neteyam took a very important decision. He felt like Eywa was testing him as well at the moment. It was with a poised and calm voice when he spoke next.

“Then come with us.”

Chapter Text

Their return had been chaotic. Senul hadn’t been accepted in the Metkayina village, which was expected. However, he was given food and fresh water to travel to his older sister’s new village. He planned to go there, to ask uturu. It was his only chance. Otherwise, he would be clanless, alone, and a lone Na’vi never survived long.

Jake was the first of the Sully family to meet them. Worried, yet he didn’t let it show. He took Neteyam to his Tsurak while Tonowari did the same with Ao’nung. The Tsurak were faster, and they reached the village in no time. Neteyam kept a strong face until they arrived on the beach. There, his mother’s ikran landed, with Hik’ki on her shoulder. The Navi’ka almost forgot her damaged wing and tried to fly toward Neteyam. She ended up in Neytiri’s arms, but she didn’t complain because Omatikaya were fast and no more than ten steps were needed to be reunited. They were all together again, finally. It was in the safety of his mother’s arms that Neteyam collapsed, from mental exhaustion and everything that had happened before.

It was only back at the Sully that they all understood the delicate situation better. Hik’ki, being so stressed about the involuntary abandon, was aggressive towards everyone, but especially to the Metkayina, including the Tsahík. Neytiri had to take care of Neteyam’s wounds while eavesdropping Ao’nung retelling how he found Neteyam. She was furious to learn that her son had been put into a cage, like he was some kind of animal captured by the Sky People. If she ever met that Olo’eyktan again, he wouldn’t survive long.

After some hours, she reluctantly left the family marui. She informed Ronal that there was something wrong with her eldest son. Physically, his wounds were only superficial but mentally he was in a very dark place, and she feared for his life if he stayed withdrawn like that. He didn’t talk much, only some reassuring words to the baby Navi’ka who was glued to his side. Neytiri also noticed that Neteyam had refused to bond with Hik’ki, which worried her and made Hik’ki even more stressed out. The bond was not only how she communicated with Neteyam but also how she ate. Her wing wouldn’t heal if she didn’t eat. Technically she could force a bond or bond with Neteyam when he was asleep, but she didn’t.

As hunger and frustration to be shut down set in, Hik’ki became even more aggressive, if that was possible. So much that only Neytiri was accepted in the marui now. It had been two days, and it became dangerous even for the Sully to come close to their home.

Yet Neytiri was determined to get answers. She went to the Olo’eyktan’s marui in the evening to ask Ao’nung more details. Afterall, he was the only one who was there with her son. When she arrived, she found her mate and Tonowari in an ushered conversation, talking about the Sky People weapon depot that had been destroyed. It was concerning indeed but it was not Neytiri’s priority for the moment.

After answering all the question to the best of his knowledge, Ao’nung felt as if it didn’t help.

“The only one who might know something besides Neteyam is Senul,” Ao’nung suggested. “He was there and…” he hesitated to continue looking anxiously towards his mother.

“Go on, speak your mind, child,” Neytiri coaxed him softly.

"Neteyam was weird. I had the impression that he was wearing a mask until he came back here. Senul also accused him of being the main reason behind Maa’tay’s death,” Ao’nung explained. “But he can’t be. When I entered the marui he was in, he was attached in a wooden cage, so I’m sure he is innocent. And Senul told him after that he was sad and angry that he couldn’t protect his little sister and he had put his anger on Neteyam, so…,” he quickly added when he saw Neytiri frowned.

“Maa’tay’s death would have to do with his state then…,” Neytiri concluded thoughtfully.

Ao’nung could only nod, not knowing what else to do.

“Did the Navi’ka eat?” Ronal asked, concerned.

Neytiri shook her head. “No, Neteyam refuses to form a bond, since his arrival in the marui he has this haunted look on his face, I fear for him.”

“It would be best for me to examine him but, it won’t be possible, not with the Navi’ka with him,” the Tsahík concluded, frustrated to come up with dead-end ideas.

“Since they have been reunited, she hasn’t left his side,” Neytiri sighed, worried. 

 Ao’nung huffed after Neytiri left. Ao’nung wanted to help, to do something for Neteyam, but each time, the ‘problem’ was the Navi’ka. If that situation continued, Hik’ki would die, or eat someone to survive. He went for a walk after lunch, deep in his thoughts, he didn’t see Kiri on the beach. It was only after she hailed him that he acknowledged her presence. He knew Kiri was different, special, but that fact didn’t bother him as much as he thought it would.

“I see you,” he said accompanied by the hand gesture.

She replied and did the same as Ao’nung sat down next to her. They didn’t speak for a long time and at first Ao’nung believed it would be weird to just be there together and say nothing. However, he was wrong, no awkwardness between them, just pleasant silence. Then, Ao’nung straightened his back and looked at the Omatikaya girl with resolve.

“What happened to Neteyam when he was shot?” he asked.

Kiri blinked several times as she didn’t expect the sudden question.

“Why do you want to know that?”

“I want to know if Hik’ki had a similar reaction,” he responded.

Kiri hummed. “What does your heart tell you?”

Ao’nung rolled his eyes, speaking with Kiri was like speaking with a Tsahík… Fortunately for him the Tsahík was also his mother, so he knew how to hold a conversation.

“I can’t tell you what my heart says, because it is none of your business, but I can tell you what I think,” he murmured as some warriors passed by.

Kiri smiled. “Your mother raised you well. Go on, tell me then,”

“I think something similar happened before but not to that extend, and it was more easily handled in the forest because a Tsahík could get access to Neteyam to heal him,” Ao’nung exposed his theory. “But I’m more interested in what happened after, how did the Navi’ka understood that you were an ally and not an enemy?”

“Eywa, you’re smarter than you look,” Kiri laughed. "Alright, I’ll tell you the whole story, then. As you know, it all started with Neteyam finding the egg. He was searching for Lo’ak and Spider who had gone on an adventure as they called it. He brought it back but didn’t show it to the Tsahík and Olo’eyktan immediately. Before he could take that decision though, the egg hatched and Hik’ki was born. She fed on him. At first not so much but soon my grandmother, Mo’at, noticed that Neteyam ate more than usual but was getting more tired as well, less accurate when it came to tracking or hunting. Soon she confronted him and that led to Hik’ki being introduced into the clan. She was just a week old at that time and quite small, she couldn’t scream, couldn’t fly at all. She entirely depended on Neteyam. My father was not very happy about it when he learnt how Navi’ka feed, but Neteyam proved to be responsible, and they were already bonded so there was little he could do about it. Neteyam’s amount of duty was reduced for him to take care of the baby Navi’ka. With time, Hik’ki became more aware of the people surrounding her, even if she wouldn’t stay long with someone that was not Neteyam. It all changed when Neteyam got shot, I guess. We had been captured, me, Tuk, Lo’ak and Spider. Neteyam had followed Mum and Dad against Dad’s order. It paid off, he saved Mum from being shot, but as we were running away, an Avatar aimed for Lo’ak. Neteyam tried to push him away from the trajectory but instead the bullet went right through him. It was the first time that we heard Hik’ki scream. The Dragon, a colossal airship went down, and some Avatar died. It was chaotic. Many Omatikaya thought that the Navi’ka had been sent by Eywa to help in the fight against the Sky People. But Neteyam was gravely injured. Hik’ki saw who hurt him somehow. A blue figure similar to a Na’vi but with five fingers and hairy eyebrows,” she told him and wiggled hers to demonstrate.

Ao’nung smiled sadly. “It’s fear by association, right?”

Kiri nodded. “It took a tremendous amount of time for Hik’ki to approached me again.

“But we don’t have that kind of time right now,” Ao’nung frowned, the crease forming between his eyes deepened. “There must be another way.”

Kiri looked thoughtful for a moment, her gaze directed toward the peaceful scenery of the teal blue sea in front of her, then she turned her head to observe Ao’nung.

“Maybe you could do it…” she trailed off.

“Do what?” Ao’nung asked hopeful.

“Talk to her. Hik’ki didn’t bond with you, but she listened to you in the past when you talked. I saw her. You could definitely convince her to start to associate people with a face and not traits. And you saved her once, without you, her wing would have been worst,” she concluded with a determined look on her face.

Ao’nung was not really convinced at first, but he couldn’t deny that he saw Hik’ki showing signs of understanding sometimes, it was just that most of the time she chose to ignore what was told to her. He got up, swiftly swiping away the sand from the back of his tights and walked back to the village. Kiri was definitely weird, but a good kind of weird he decided.

*

Ao'nung entered with precaution the Sully marui. Hik'ki's head snapped up and she started to growl menacingly.

“I know," he started with both his arms rose up. "I'm not welcomed, but I also know you are smart Hik'ki," he continued, kneeling to the ground near the entrance. "You think you're protecting him, but you're doing worse than good, believe me," he said while gesturing to the sleeping form of Neteyam.

And it was true, Neteyam hadn’t really suffer any physical injuries, safe for the rough manhandling, still he stayed holed up in his part of the marui, not seeing anyone but Hik’ki and his mother, barely eating. The Navi’ka would get aggressive with anybody who tried to approach him. The issue here was his mental health: the trauma of being forcedly bond to another and to experience death on the other side of his kuru with the tsaheylu must have been horrific to say the least. But no one knew of that but him.

"Just like when you understood that Toruk Makto, Lo'ak and Kiri, even if they look like the Avatars that hurt Neteyam, they are safe to be around. You have to see that it is the same here, that not all reef people are bad, you have to start to acknowledge them so that you can make the difference," he almost pleaded at the end of his explanation.

Ao'nung decided to get up, all fight gone from his body. Hik'ki hissed, positioning her bad wing near her body and spreading the other out. Her little black teeth more prominent now.

“I don't want to fight you. I want to help you, and Neteyam," he stated.

At the mention of Neteyam, her ears pressed back to her skull and her kurus began to move behind her. Ao'nung knew it was dangerous, but he pushed on. He needed to convey his message.

“Look at him! He is not good, Hik'ki! You're isolating him, it is NOT good for him," he yelled-whispered, exasperated now that the Navi'ka didn't seem to want to understand.

Then an idea came to his mind, and he gasped.

"I don't want to use you Hik'ki, nor Neteyam, I..." he closed his eyes and took a deep breath before continuing. “I like him. A lot."

The Navi'ka seemed to react to that and looked back at Neteyam. It was the first time since Ao'nung entered that her eyes left his form. She looked longingly at the sleeping form then turned around to the Chief's son. She eyed him critically inclining her head to the side while staring at him unblinkingly and the Metkayina boy felt like she was looking at his very core. That was even more unsettling than to see her black pointy sharp teeth. Whatever she saw, she seemed satisfied, and she finally blinked her eyes, making a small clicking sound before leaving the marui. Ao'nung sighed in relief and moved to the mat at the end. Neteyam had favoured it to the hammock the family had taken with them from the forest. He was about to sit when something shifted in the shadow on the other side of the marui. Panic flared up again, thinking he mistook the acceptance of the Navi'ka but then he saw Neytiri silently emerging from the shadows, her arrow still notched on the string of her bow. The pointed end dipped into the mortal neurotoxin. His breath hitched, not knowing who would be worse, Hik'ki or Neytiri.

"That was either very brave of you, or very stupid" she stated gravely, putting the bow back in its place on the woven wall. "I'm glad you talked some sense into her. It needed to be done," she added.

Ao'nung didn't know who her target was, him or Hik'ki and at this point he was too afraid to ask. Just as he sat down Neteyam's eyes snapped open as if sensing his presence near him.

"Hey" Ao'nung greeted softly.

“Where is Hik'ki?” asked the Omatikaya anxiously.

"Don't worry, she went out, probably for a swim, " then he added sitting straighter. "We spoke. Well, I spoke," he rectified when Neteyam did a funny face. "And she hissed... a lot but we reached a compromise, I think? And now I can basically approach you again without risking my own life in the process," he explained smiling at the other boy who laid back on the mat.

Neteyam smiled but then a wave of sadness overtook him. He really liked the Olo’eyktan’s son, and he would call himself a liar if he denied imagining them together and bonded even if no descendances would come from such a union. But everything was different now that he knew he couldn’t bond with another Na’vi. He closed his eyes and immediately Maa’tay’s lifeless eyes came back in a flash, haunting him mercilessly. He left nauseous suddenly and just had time to catch an empty bowl of fresh water to throw up in it what he had managed to ingest. Ao’nung looked distraught by the action and only seemed to react to Neytiri’s voice who told him to get the Tsahík. He got up so fast that he almost tripped on his own feet. He never ran so fast in his life and was out of breath when he reached the family marui. His mother was up and next to him in a matter of seconds. They rapidly spoke in an ushered conversation; Ao’nung explaining everything that had happened. When he was done, Ronal turned her head toward her daughter who was eating a snack between her weaving duty.

“Tsireya! Prepare me the red berry and blue algae medicine,” she ordered.

“You’re not feeling well, mother?” she asked, concerned.

“No, my child, it’s not for me. Join me at the Sully marui,” she commanded as she left.

“But mother, it’s dange-“ she didn’t finished her sentence that Ao’nung put a grinder and a mortar in her hands.

“It’s safe, Reya. What else do you need?” he asked as he got near the shelves full with colourful powder in pouches, dried leaves and algae.

Once reassured, the young Metkayina girl went into Tsakarem full mode and ordered her brother to prepare the mixture needed just like her mother had taught her. She had to be efficient and fast.

Chapter Text

Neteyam felt miserable but he resigned himself. He still needed to take care of Hik’ki, the Navi’ka couldn’t stay unfed for long. He shuddered when he made the bond with her. She just fed but he could feel her in his mind, she was curious as to why he wouldn’t let her connect her kuru to his, but she never forced the bond to look at his memory. She started to learn patience. When he was ready, Neteyam would tell her. When she was finished with her meal, she shared her fear when the pack of Nantang had first cautiously approached her to realise she could move. She let him see her memories but saved him from the pain she felt when the pack of predatory tore her wing down. Neteyam felt all her emotions, her helplessness, her fright, her rage and finally her relief when Ao’nung came to rescue her. Then he felt her loneliness, as if she had been abandoned. Her fear morphed into aggressiveness as some Metkayina and the Sully family tried to provide for her when Neteyam was gone. He still felt the void present in her mind. When she disconnected, she turned her attention to him and cooed, feeling that the Omatikaya was still sad about something. She was still so small and so many people wanted to use her as a weapon. He carefully lifted her up in his arms, mindful of her injured wing.

“I’ll tell you in due time, okay? I’m not ready to do it now,” he murmured. “Let me see your wing,” he then asked.

Hik’ki spread out her right wing with pride. But Neteyam tickled her to reprimand her.

“You know I’m talking about the other one, precious little one,” he whispered.

She unfolded her other wing and Neteyam grimaced and winced. He touched the bone structure to evaluate the possible damage, something not even the Tsahík managed to do correctly.

“Okay, I think it’s just the skin tissue that were damaged, but it should grow back soon. But for that you need to eat, and I know a specific pack of Nantang that needs to learn their lesson. No one hurts my little baby and go on their merry way. They will know not to mess with a Navi’ka ever again,” Neteyam promised as he got up to fetch his bow and some arrows.

Over was the time he would just uselessly lie around and do nothing. He went outside of the empty family marui and stared up at the beautiful night sky. The eclipse had started some hours ago, but he still had time. Awa’atlu was truly a breath-taking scenery at night. The soft glow of the corals and the kelps reminded the Omatikaya of the forest back home. He missed it but less so now than before. His family was here with him after all, he still felt a pang of pain in his heart when he remembered that he would have to satisfy himself with the love of his family until his old days, that he would never feel the joy of having a mate or founding a family of his own. Even if he adored children, he knew he would have to renounce to them. And the sooner he would accept the harsh truth, the better it would be for everyone, himself included. He set his path toward the forest of the island. He passed by the marui where his family was currently sleeping. They all had to relocate because of Hik’ki, the only exception being Neytiri, but now that he was back, she had preferred to spend some time with her youngest and leave some space for Neteyam, which was appreciated.

The mangrove tree was easy to climb and from there, it was just muscle memory. Climbing, tracking, hunting, he had learnt it all from a young age and it was still ingrained in his body, no matter the amount of time he spent swimming in the clear blue sea. It was after twenty minutes of running on the canopy branches that Neteyam heard the tail tale of a Nantang laughter. Hik’ki growled but the Omatikaya made a silent gesture toward her. He still needed to be stealthy if he wanted to kill some of them to feed the Navi’ka. He dropped to the ground silently and advanced cautiously. He was almost lying to the ground to stay out of sight and allow Hik’ki to observe the pack of predators. She linked her kuru to his to signal him that it was not this pack that had attacked her in her weakest moment. The patterns on their skin were different. They retreated just as silently as they had arrived. Neteyam quickly climbed up a large tree. Back in the high branches he continued on his way, toward the heart of the island. They crossed path with some nocturnal creatures such as rití and insects. The atmosphere made Neteyam nostalgic of a distant past when it was only a few months ago.

They found another pack but again it was not the one that had attacked Hik’ki. Neteyam thought that they were perhaps searching on the wrong territory. If there were already two packs in the middle of the island, then maybe a third one was hunting on the periphery, near the beach area. It could explain why the pack had ventured so close to the village. The duo tried their luck and this time they were successful. Hik’ki hissed lowly as she recognized the alpha male that had launched the attack. The markings on their skin corresponded to the ones Neteyam had seen in the Navi’ka’s painful memories. The Omatikaya bended his bow, an arrow already notched, ready to let it go. He breathed down slowly and let his memory muscle take control. By the time he jumped down, he had had already taken two Nantang down, killed on the spot. Hik’ki was fighting another, doing rather well now that she wasn’t immobilised. Her small black teeth and claws did enough damage for her to sink her kuru and kill the beast. Neteyam was keeping the rest of the pack away until a bold young female decided to attack him. He easily deviated her with his bow, but she bounced back, fuelled by her fury and Neteyam had no other choice than to take his knife out. He planted it right on her heart ending her life quickly. He caught a brief movement on his left and cursed. However, when he turned around, he was startled to find a Nantang there as if the animal was waiting for something. Then the Omatikaya noticed the totally dilated pupils of the small predator. Neteyam jumped out of surprise when the animal started to move weirdly, going toward Hik’ki. Her eyes were fixed on the animal as she produced low clicks in her throat. Neteyam felt a sensation of déjà-vu and remembered the Akula. The similarities were too close not to be a coincidence. Hik’ki was done with her first meal and the other Nantang approaching her didn’t even flinch when she sank her kuru in it. By the time Neteyam was done watching the scene, the rest of the pack was long gone. It was for the best, the pack of Nantang so close to the beach area could be dangerous for the children of Awa’atlu. Neteyam bonded with Hik’ki’s other kuru, but he couldn’t help the flash of Maa’tay face to resurface for a second. Hik’ki started as she didn’t expect to see her face pop up like that. She stopped feeding from the Nantang to look worriedly at Neteyam. The Omatikaya sighed. Now was a good time as any other to retell his abduction he guessed. He shared his memories Hik’ki. It was hard to see everything again and he thought of a thousand things he could have done to change something. At the end he had expected Hik’ki to lash out or to be furious but she simple approached him and carefully swiped away the tears which were rolling down his cheeks freely.  He didn’t even realise he was crying. He sniffed and hugged the Navi’ka.

“At least I have you. I’m happy to be back,” he croaked, his voice breaking at the end.

Hik’ki cooed affectionately and nuzzled her small nose on his and bumped their foreheads together.

“Now, enough about the sad feelings,” he sniffed. “Tell me, how did you do that?”

Hik’ki smiled as one word popped into Neteyam’s mind. Hypnotise. The Omatikaya blinked several times, not believing what he just thought.

“You hypnotised that Nantang?” he asked bewildered.

Hik’ki just leaned her head to his should, moving her ears in confirmation.

“That’s amazing! You’re amazing, Baby!” he chuckled.

The eclipse was starting to fade slowly, but the sky was still dark enough for Neteyam to stargaze. An activity he enjoyed doing even back in the forest. When Hik’ki finished all her meals he joined him to look at Polyphemus pointed out. She seemed better already, and some skin was back on her injured wing, signalling that the reconstruction process had kicked in with the supply of enough energy. As they returned to the village, Hik’ki felt drowsy, so Neteyam carried her to the marui. He lay down with her for an hour or two, but he couldn’t find sleep. He got up after fidgeting so much Hik’ki almost woke up. He got up and padded to the other side of his mat, squatting and searching through his stuffs. It wasn’t long until he found what he wanted. He had moved Ao’nung’s pearl to another smaller leather pouch to mark the difference with all the others he had collected. It was just a pearl, but the weigh now seemed heavier than before. He rolled it between his fingers like it had done a thousand times at least before going to sleep. He had felt so happy and nervous when Ao’nung had given it to him. It was just a white matt pearl but the significance behind it was unbearable for the Omatikaya. This pearl meant a happy mated life with Ao’nung. Yet he knew now that he couldn’t offer it to the other boy, and even though it was difficult for him, he couldn’t mislead the Olo’eyktan’s son into believing that one day they would be together. It would be hard to see Ao’nung move on and court someone else. Neteyam didn’t even feel he was crying until he saw the tear drops falling down on his tights. He quickly dried them with the back of his hands, feeling ridiculous and ashamed for thinking about himself when Ao’nung would be suffering just as much. Outside he could hear the first fisher beginning their day. Since he couldn’t sleep anyway, Neteyam thought it would do him good to go outside as well. There were probably some tasks he could do.

*

“Ma’Ronal, what’s happening?” Tonowari asked his mate, worried.

“I don’t know, I just have a bad feeling, like a premonition, about today,” the Tsahík answered, wearing a deep frown.

“Ao’nung, stay in the village with your mother today. Just in case something happens,” the Olo’eyktan ordered.

“Yes, Father.” Ao’nung dipped his head low to show his respect.

A year before, he would have been annoyed by such a decision, but now with his mother pregnant and the arrival of the Sully family he had grown more mature. After Neteyam abduction, he understood that danger could truly lurk everywhere and take many shapes. Plus, He was finally on speaking terms again with Neteyam and Hik’ki, well he never truly spoke with the Navi’ka but there was a certain level of understanding between them. So, staying in the village felt perfect for him at the moment.

“I’ll begin the day with my morning chores and come back home to check on mother from time to time,” Ao’nung said to his father while they walked outside on the woven pathway.

Tonowari nodded his approval and continued further while Ao’nung stopped first at one of the elders marui. They liked to have fresh water right in the morning, but he was surprised when he learnt that Neteyam was already taking care of that. Grabbing some more empty waterskins with him he ran toward the place where the river of the island joined the sea. It was a half hour walk or ten minutes riding an Ilu. Ao’nung favoured the latter option and jumped into the sea while voicing some clicks to call his preferred Ilu. He felt disappointed when he saw no one at the river mouth and decided to quickly fill the waterskins he had and walked back. He was almost back at the village when he noticed something drop on the roots of the mangrove tree, elegantly jumping until the silhouette touched the sand. His frown mouth was quickly replaced by a huge smile when the svelte darker blue silhouette turned out to be none other than Neteyam. He called and ran toward him. He was welcomed by a sweet shy smile that warmed his heart.

“Hey!”

“Hello, Ao’nung,” Neteyam greeted.

“How are you doing? You seemed better!” Ao’nung chatted excitedly.

“Yes, I’m feeling good today,” the Omatikaya agreed, as he put down all the waterskins on the sand.

“I was surprised when the elders told me you went to the river to fill the waterskin with fresh water and-”

“Ao’nung, can we talk?” Neteyam suddenly asked, nervous.

“Of course! Is there something wrong? Is it Hik’ki?” he asked, feeling Neteyam’s nervousness as if it was his own.

“Hik’ki is fine now, she is recovering, actually. But that’s not the matter I wanted to talk about,” he became serious all of the sudden. “Here” he simply said as he extended his hand after searching for something in a small leather pouch attached to his loincloth.

Ao’nung put his hands on a clamp form, ready to receive whatever Neteyam was ready to give him. He was dumbfounded when he saw the white pearl he had given to Neteyam many eclipses ago when they were at the Cove of the Ancestors.

“Wha-” the Omatikaya put a finger on his lips to shut him up.

“Please, let me talk,” Neteyam’s pleading tone made the other boy’s heart stop for a second. “I give this back to you, not because I don’t love you, but because I can’t be what you want me to be. I can’t be your mate, and I want to be completely honest with you. I don’t want to mislead you, because you are very important to me,” Neteyam explained as calmly as he could, but he felt his heartbeat racing uncontrollably and rapidly unshed tears gathered in the corner of his eyes.

“I don’t understand. Is there someone else who you lik-” the Omatikaya interrupted him again.

“No! There is no one else, I promise. But I can’t mate with you because I-I don’t want you to-to die,” he stuttered.

“What do you mean? Why would my life be threatened by-”

“Maa’tay died after she made the bond with me,” Neteyam almost lost his calm.

“Maa’tay mated with you?” the Metkayina repeated, flabbergasted.

“And she died as a result!” Neteyam snapped. “I love you too much to see you die. I still-I’m still haunted by her. When I close my eyes, I see her dead gaze looking at me, I still hear Senul accusing me of her death! I don’t know how, but I caused it! It’s my fault!” Neteyam was openly crying now.

“Neteyam, they forced a bond on you. That is against everything Eywa has taught us. You are not responsible for that,” Ao’nung tried to resonate but he was also shaken by the information he just received.

“She is dead, Ao’nung!” he whispered-yelled, taking a step back toward the forest behind them. “I don’t want the same fate to happen to you,” he continued, taking another step backward. “I love you too much for that,” he added. “I prefer to stay mateless than to see you die in front of me,” concluded before turning around and flee.

“Neteyam! WAIT! Let’s go to my mother! I’m sure she…” it was too late, the Omatikaya was gone.

Ao’nung sighed. He knew it was a waste of time to chase the other boy in the forest. It was not his element at all. It was too much information for him to handle alone. He had the presence of mind to take all Neteyam’s waterskins back to the village. After he dropped off all the waterskins ha made a beeline to his family marui but found it empty. He cursed under his breath and ran to the healing marui, where his mother most probably was. A sigh of relief escaped his panting mouth when he arrived there and saw the Tsahík inside, teaching Tsireya and Kiri the way of Tsakarem.

“Mother, I need to-”

“I’m fine, Ma’itan. You can continue your chores,” she said with a dismissing hand toward the exit.

“I need to speak with you. It is urgent!” he stressed on the last part of his sentence.

If Ronal didn’t have that nagging bad feeling since this morning, she would have rebuffed her son, but the panic written on his face added to her own frown.

“Let’s take a short break,” she addressed the two girls in front of her.

Kiri and Tsireya looed at each other but promptly got up and exited the marui for a swim. Ao’nung rapidly took their place and began to retell everything Neteyam had told him.

*

After breaking down in front of Ao’nung, Neteyam wanted to fly with Keya. He missed flying a lot since he had arrived in Awa’atlu but had never complained about it. Now felt like a good time. He ran quickly in the forest, jumping, balancing his weight on a branch, one after another, it felt like all the swimming lessons would never be able to take back his memory muscles. He was surprised to see Hik’ki having a cooing conversation with his Ikran.

“Hey girls! I hope I’m not interrupting something important?” he tried to joke but it fell rather flat.

Both creatures came at him and cooed at his state. He must still have tears streaks on his cheeks and his voice sounded shaky after crying.

“I’m sorry, but I really want to fly right now. To clear my mind, okay?” he said as linked his kuru to ones of Keya.

He just put a saddle on her, since he had left all his flying gears at the family marui, so it would almost be like his first time flying. Like the old times. He heard Keya yip happily as Hik’ki climbed as well. She connected one of her own kuru to have access to the Omatikaya’s mind. She was confused to find him like that. Neteyam gave the command and soon they soared up in the morning blue sky. Once they were steady, Neteyam showed Hik’ki what had happened with Ao’nung on the beach. She cooed again if to reassure him, but Neteyam just sniffed.

“It’s okay, Hik’ki. It needed to be done,” he muttered so low that Hik’ki wouldn’t have heard it with the roaring wind if they weren’t bonded.

It seemed that the Navi’ka wanted to say something, but a weird noise caught her attention below them. They were high in the sky and some inoffensive white clouds were popping up unexpectedly so they could immediately see what was happening under them. The sound appeared to be close to a cannon, Neteyam had heard that awful noise way too many times, yet it was impossible, they were not in the forest anymore, and there was no aircraft nearby. The sea was supposed to be peaceful, that was why his family had come here, to be away from the war. Hik’ki hissed and growled as she helped him spot a white ship that looked like was pursuing an animal underwater. They were firing shots in the water, probably to scare a predator. However, the Omatikaya rapidly understood that the Sky People on the ship were chasing after the animal, which seemed more desperate as the time passed by.

“Why doesn’t it dive?” Neteyam asked aloud to no one in particular.

Then Hik’ki made him see that there was a smaller form beside the animal. It downed on Neteyam that the Sky people were hunting a mother and her baby. There was no time to go back to the village to sound the alarm and Neteyam cursed as he didn’t put his micro collar this morning, so he couldn’t even alert his father. Hik’ki informed him that the animal was a Tulkun which made the Omatikaya cursed again. He needed to do something, like divert their attention, maybe. He couldn’t attack them, he only had his small hunting bow and a few arrows attached to his saddle, but Hik’ki sent him her own command. They would attack and destroy that ship. It was way too close to their new home. Neteyam stared at her then nodded his approval. They plummeted toward the sea, the Omatikaya gave a quick prayer to Eywa as he notched his first arrow and aimed to the sky person who had launched yellow buoyant thing to the mother Tulkun, making it impossible for her to dive and hide. Neteyam felt like it was a ‘now or never’ kind of situation as the sky person was ready to fire again.

Chapter Text

The Tulkun arrived earlier than usual in Awa’atlu, much earlier. The normally happy and joyful whistles gave way to urgent and scared whines. Their matriarch was missing. The Tsahik’s spiritual sister was being hunted with her calf. Quickly the warriors got ready and mounted their Tsurak. Ronal in her marui knew that something bad was looming, she just didn’t know what yet. She just hoped the bad omen wasn’t about her baby. He caressed her belly lovingly when she heard the commotion outside. She was trying to find out in the ancient tales of the olden days how a forced bond could result in the death of one of the Na’vi. She had been shocked to hear the story of Neteyam’s forced bond to Maa’tay from Ao’nung. And to top it all, Neteyam felt responsible for the girl’s death. She thought it was a noble act to reject Ao’nung’s love but it was as well an act of love. Ronal knew her son, he would be heartbroken until his very last breath and wouldn’t accept anyone except Neteyam.

“Mother!” Tsireya barged in.

“Ma’ite, I’m busy, jus‒”

“It’s the Tulkun! It’s about Ro’a!” she cried.

Ronal turned around and left the marui without listening to what her daughter was telling. She dove as soon as she got out of the marui. Outside it was chaotic, many Tulkun took refuge near the village, afraid of the Sky People’s weapon. Her heartbeat was frantic as her eyes search for her spiritual sister. She grew desperate when she heard about a ship pursuing the pod and singling out Ro’a, probably because the Sky People knew a mother would never abandon her calf.

Then finally, a joyful whistle, one she would recognise anywhere. Her spiritual sister was there with a calf by her side. She had something ugly attached to one of her fins but she seemed fine. The warrior got ready to respond to an attack, excepting to see the boat pursuing the female Tulkun until their village.

“If they are intelligent, they will stay away from the village,” one of the hunters said.

As Ronal dove, she didn’t hear the echo of the Navi’ka’s scream. She reunited with her spiritual sister but her happiness was short-lived, as Ro’a confessed that she only managed to escape the Sky People thanks to a brave forest Na’vi who rode a teal blue and brown Ikran. It couldn’t be.

“SULLY!” she screamed as she breached the water.

Jake was gone with Tonowari to fish this morning but Neytiri, Kiri with Tuk in her arms and Lo’ak were there.

“Neytiri!” she shouted as she mounted her Tsurak.

Neytiri approached rapidly the pier, she knew something was amiss.

“Your son, Neteyam, is at sea fighting the Sky People!” just as she explained, Keya came to the village shrieking madly.

The Ikran landed on a marui, almost crashing into it. Keya was injured and bloodied but she didn’t stop shrieking. She was sounding the alarm for the other Ikran. The danger also came from the sky.

“We ride!” Neytiri yelled.

She ran to her marui to take her gear and her bow.

“Mum!” Tuk came in crying followed by Kiri and Lo’ak.

“You three stay here!” she ordered.

“But I can he‒” Lo’ak tried.

“STAY HERE!” she repeated. "And protect your sisters!” she hissed as she tossed him his bow.

As she got out, her Ikran, one of Seze’s offspring, appeared. The other Ikran came but they stayed near Keya to licked her wound and tried to reassure her. She jumped on her Ikran making the bond as she was already high in the sky.

“Follow her!” Ronal ordered as she led the warriors to the ocean.

*

Neteyam let his arrow go as he breathed out. The aim prefect as it killed instantly the shooter. His next arrow lodged itself in the yellow buoyant, piercing it. Neteyam jumped on the Tulkun’s back ready to fire his next arrow.

“DIVE!” he screamed to the Tulkun, hoping she would understand Na’vi language, and not only the sign language used by the sea clans.

He fired his next arrow as he dove as well, avoiding bullets shot in burst. The boat was small, yet it contained several humans running around chaotically. They weren’t trained military, they acted way too in disarray for that. The forest Na’vi swam near the boat ready to board it when he heard his Ikran shriek. When he poked his head out, he saw that Keya was fighting with another Ikran. It couldn’t be. On the horizon, an enormous ship arrived. It was still far away but it was heading in their general direction. He cursed at being distracted because when he turned around, he saw that a Sky Person had their rifle aimed at his head but their eyes were strangely glassy behind the mask they wore. The stillness was unnatural and unnerving for Neteyam. He decided to climb stealthily on the small boat but nothing could prepare him for the vision of horror he got. The human with the rifle was held in place by one of Hik’ki’s kuru while the other was planted in another Sky Person. She was feeding and she was voracious. Neteyam gulped, he had never seen her eat like that, like a real Navi’ka, without restriction, without care. Her gaze was turned to the sky where Keya was still bravely standing her ground, but soon the other ship would be there and their small victory would be rapidly forgotten.

The thud of the dead body falling to the ground made Neteyam start. Hik’ki had grown again and her wing was almost completely healed. The forest Na’vi marvelled at the fast regeneration of the muscle and skin tissue. She made a special call for Keya to flee. Neteyam hid himself on the boat, he knew what was about to come. He rapidly took out his device that Norm had given him before their departure. They two small circle he needed to press to his ears and he should always have on him at all time. He carried it on a small pouch attached to his loincloth. He knew that even if the scream wasn’t directed at him the damage could still be great. He learnt it from the story told through generations by the elders. Most of the noise around him was cancelled yet he heard his heartbeat soared franticly. He still heard her scream. He thought it would last forever. There was no way the village didn’t hear it, actually he wouldn’t be surprised if the whole archipelago did.  He slowly opened his eyes that he had closed on his instinct. Hik’ki was in front of him, she was probably cooing at him to let him know that she was done here. He put the device back on his pouch and followed her. He thought they would go back to the village before the arrival of the huge ship but Hik’ki pointed something out in the opposite direction. Totally against it at first, Neteyam saw that the enormous ship had stopped moving forward. Still nervous, he indicated to Hik’ki that they would go quickly and go back to the village directly after. In the sea it was weirdly empty, just like in the jungle when a predator hunts. Neteyam sighed in relief when he noticed that the female Tulkun and her calf were gone. What the Sky People had on that small boat was no light gear, he could only imagine what disastrous wound it could do to an animal.

Neteyam suddenly recoiled and swallowed some water. He breached the surface and coughed it out. He was so absorbed by the fight that just occurred that he didn’t see where Hik’ki had led him. Near him, a dead Ikran was floating. The animal must have taken the full force of the destructive wave from the Navi’ka’s scream, which meant that its rider must still be alive somewhere. His nervousness shifted into horror as he watched Hik’ki climbing on the dead animal and hissed. He swam around to have a better look at the scene even if all his primal instinct told him to flee. There, with a foot stuck in a synthetic saddle, a barely conscious Avatar looked at that Navi’ka with fear in his eyes. Suddenly, Neteyam got a flash back from the forest, from the attack, when he had disobeyed his parents, when he had saved his mother in extremis, when he got shot. That Avatar was the one who had shot him. The Avatar opened his mouth but only a silent scream came out as Hik’ki’s kuru dug painfully into him. Neteyam watched in morbid fascination as the life got drained from the Avatar. He saw how fear switch into terror then death. He closed his eyes and put one hand on his gunshot scar on his torso. It was like a weight got lifted from his shoulder. He needed closure on that accident and Hik’ki had brought it to him. The distinct crack of bones made him snap his eyes open only to see Hik’ki munching on the arm of the Avatar. Her black teeth now sharp and solid were crunching bones as if they were twigs.

“Eww! Hik’ki! Why do you even do that? You don’t eat with your mouth like me,” he complained.

What Neteyam didn’t know was that she linked her kuru to the Avatar’s to get the knowledge of the enemy.

*

Neytiri flew high in the sky, her eyes searching franticly the sea below her. When Neytiri finally spotted her son, he was near a fallen Ikran, swimming. Her heartbeat slowed down when she noticed Hik’ki there as well. The Navi’ka seemed better. That only meant one thing, she ate. The remaining of the small white boat with Sky People bodies scattered around only confirmed her theory. She knew rejoicing about death was not supposed to feel good, yet she couldn’t help the feeling of happiness to grow in her heart.

“Ma’Neteyam!” she shouted to catch the attention but also to warn Hik’ki about her approach.

“Mom, over here!” Neteyam smiled and waved.

Neytiri managed to hover long enough for her son to jump behind her. Hik’ki was on his back already. She made a grimace when she saw the state of the Avatar, but she didn’t comment. After making sure the large ship was not anywhere near them, they turned around, leaving the wreck of the small boat behind. The fish made a quick meal out of the human bodies in the water, but the Avatar body was strangely left untouched, maybe because it had been a Navi’ka’s meal. Landing on the beach near the village was easy. Facing a panic Olo’eyktan and Jake was not easy. Still Neteyam and Hik’ki were left alone for the time being. The Navi’ka, upon feeding from the Avatar and his Ikran without restrain had grown bigger, her wing almost completely healed now. After climbing up and down the mangrove tree roots several times, as if Hik’ki wanted to assess her new strength, she came back on the sand where Neteyam was brooding. Meeting again the Avatar who shot him, who almost killed him, didn’t sit well with him. But more importantly, that Avatar had an Ikran… how it was possible was beyond his comprehension. He knew his mother saw the flying animal too. The Iknimaya, the Pathway to Heaven, was part of one of their most sacred rites. No one in the forest would think about guiding Avatars, especially enemies, all the way up to the nests of the Ikran. He let out a breath when he felt a headache coming. Hik’ki was looking at him unblinkingly. Her serious expression changed to a sad one as if she knew what he was thinking. Then she took one of her kuru in her hands to present it to Neteyam. Her hand was still smaller than his but not tiny anymore. He had been so used to see her small that watching her grow almost twice her size in not even a day was difficult for him to process.

“Do you want to feed again? Didn't you have your fill already?” he teased and poked at her stomach which made her hiss playfully, but she insisted so he brought his own braid to the front.

He didn’t know what he was expecting but seeing Spider in the jungle was not on his list of probabilities. He gasped as he understood that Hik’ki made him see what the Avatar had seen, some of his most recent memories. Spider seemed free to move so why was he staying near them? Maybe they were holding something against him? Neteyam heard his father saying more than once that Quaritch was extremely good at convincing someone. If the colonel knew someone’s weak spot, then it was over. He felt Hik’ki nudging him, a signal for him to pay attention.

“Once this is over you won’t need that,” one of the Avatar told Spider, mentioning his mask.

Spider hissed at him and swatted his hand away from his head.

“Be careful Colonel, that one is half savage like the rest of these stupid blue monkeys,” a female Avatar said, chuckling when the other Avatar close to Spider tried again to ruffle his hair.

‘So, this is the colonel’, Neteyam thought. He could feel a low angry rumble near him, probably Hik’ki.

“Miles is not savage, Soldier. He will be very useful for our next victory,” the colonel replied as he moved closer, letting Spider go away to the small river nearby them.

“I can’t believe soon we will be flying… do you really think he will guide us to where the monkeys get their banshee?” their Avatar asked.

It was definitely a strange sensation, to see through someone’s else eyes and to hear them talk.

“No way,” Neteyam gasped to recoiled, breaking the bond with Hik’ki.

The Navi’ka didn’t seem fazed by the sudden move. She even presented her kuru again as if to ask him if he wanted to see some more, but he declined. He had seen and heard enough. Spider had always been a part of their life. He didn’t spend much time with him personally but he knew he was a dear friend to Kiri and like a brother to Lo’ak. No matter what Quaritch had over him, it didn’t justify what he did. With a heavy sigh, he got up, he needed to talk to his parents and probably to the Olo’eyktan and Tsahík.

“You coming?” he asked Hik’ki.

The Navi’ka just shook her head and started to bat her wings, probably to train her muscles.

“Great, leaving me alone to the big talk, I see,” he groaned, but he wasn’t angry.