Chapter Text
It must’ve been the journey that did it.
The forest tribes did not visit the ocean ones often, mostly because there was no reason to, really, but also because of the sheer amount of effort and dedication it took to cross the distance. It took the Sully family almost two days to do it, not including the numerous breaks they had to take. The distance was gruelling even for the oldest of the family, who spent a large amount of time fighting tooth and nail to stay focused on the ride. So it was no wonder why the youngest of the family struggled immensely.
It was just a few hours into the trip, at the first break that Tuk started showing any signs of being troubled.
They had just spent a grueling twenty minutes in a storm, the cold rain soaking them to their bones. Tuk shivered in her mother’s hold and Kiri pulled the wet cloth around her shoulders closer, glancing back at Neteyam and Lo’ak, who were searching tirelessly for a good spot to land until the storm let off.
Neteyam was the one to notice the perfect spot to land, near some water so the Ikran and Sullys alike could rehydrate. His father signalled the rest of the family to follow and the group soon found themselves laying on the soft grass near a small river, stretching their limbs. Kiri wondered off to dry her shawl and Lo’ak ventured off somewhere in a similar direction, noting that it’ll just be a minute, he’s just going to check out something.
Neteyam groaned internally because he knew that meant that if his brother wasn’t back in ten minutes he’d be the one tasked with retrieving him, but kept the protests rising in his throat to himself, opting to instead lay down from his sitting position, stretching his back in a feline manner. Tuk sat next to him, dozing off and letting out soft, hot breaths. A stray leaf fell from the treetops surrounding the clearing and landed on her cheek. Neteyam noticed and scoffed softly before moving to get it off of her.
At the scorching heat radiating from his youngest sister’s skin, he paused, before calling out for his mother. She hurried over and felt Tuk’s forehead for herself. Her palm travelled from her forehead to her cheeks and neck, before stepping to her Ikran, now drinking from the river, and dismounting a small satchel from the rest of the cargo.
She took out an ointment and spread a small amount on the bridge of Tuk’s nose, putting away the rest just in time for Jake to glance over and ask what was going on. She reassured him it was nothing too important and he ran a hand down Tuk’s braids, before calling out for Kiri and Lo’ak.
Of course, neither of them showed up or gave a response, so before anyone even said anything, Neteyam stood up, glancing back at Tuk for the last time before taking off in the vague direction of his siblings, calling out their names.
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By the third break, Tuk’s body was overheating in the hold of her mother. She was passing between consciousness and unconsciousness rapidly, groaning and asking anyone in the vicinity where they were.
Upon landing, Neytiri passed her over to Neteyam’s hold, Lo’ak standing behind him, shoulders tense, and Kiri moving to pass their mother a small vial of ground leaves to spread above the younger sister’s upper lip.
On the rest of their stops, which were not numerous, while the rest slept, one always stayed awake to keep watch on the youngest of the family. They decided it’d be best to just keep going as fast as they could, knowing that they were unable to do much on their own until they could ask the Metkayina’s Tsahik for help.
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For the remainder of the ride to the Metkayina tribe, Tuk was held securely in Neteyam’s lap. Neytiri lent Tuk her shawl, wrapping it around her overheating body and placing a small kiss atop of her forehead before takeoff. Neteyam's gaze was focused ahead, where his father led the group, focused on the journey, almost counting down the minutes until they saw the vast ocean limited by rocky islands.
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The sound of a conch announced the newcomers’ arrival and upon landing, crowds of confused and frightened Metkayinans gathered around the beach on which five Ikrans now sat. The last time an Omatikayan travelled this far out of the forest was when they came asking for fighters against the ruthless sky people. But these weren’t warriors, Ao'nung noted, moving carefully between his people. The people made a path for him and his friends, now trailing along behind him.
The first to jump off of his Ikran was Jakesully, the previous Toruk Makto. Ao'nung had never seen him in person before, but he was just as the elders described. He walked with his arms spread wide, all weapons forgotten on the animals behind him. Ao'nung's breath hitched, he had been fearing another war ever since his elders told him of the previous one, before the sounds of more feet pulled his attention from the tallest member of the Sully family.
And that’s what they were, noted Ao'nung, his gaze shifting between the rest of the figures in interest. The first in line behind Jakesully was his mate, Neytiri, holding the hand of her apparent daughter, who gripped the shawl atop her shoulders tight under the scrutiny of Ao'nung's clan and friends. Behind them trailed a teenage boy, a bit younger than him, motioning I see you in respect, to which Rotxo scoffed in reply. Another of his friends laughed, saying something about their tails, but Ao'nung was not in the mood to agree. Something was troubling the family of Jakesully.
He heard his sister’s arrival, noticed the younger of the Sully sons greet her and her chide his friends for picking on the family, but he paid it no mind.
His gaze shifted to the last person to dismount, a boy his age. The last two people. In the boy’s arms was another of the Sully’s, a much younger daughter. Her face was sickly and her breaths were laboured, like she’d been running. The eldest of the children holding the youngest, seemed determined, motioning I see you to Ao'nung, willing himself from being distracted by the hot breaths his youngest sister was letting into his neck.
Ao'nung's gaze held the other boy’s and he almost took a breath to call out to them, before a disturbance of the water nabbed the attention of everyone on the shore. It was his father, gracefully landing his Tsurak, before joining Ao'nung and Tsireya in greeting the Sullys.
The two Olo'eyktans greeted eachother formally.
“What troubles you, Jakesully? Why do you come to us?”
Jakesully glanced back at his family before replying. “We seek Uturu.” His voice was mighty, but nervous, like he was hurrying to get somewhere.
“Uturu?” A voice called out from behind Tonowari, which Ao'nung instantly recognized as his mother.
The family greeted her formally, Jake motioning for the oldest son to come closer, passing his youngest sibling to him, during which his gaze caught Ao'nung's once again.
“Yes, we- We seek refuge but listen, my daughter has fallen ill on the journey. I beg you to help us.”
While Ronal moved closer to inspect the youngest of the Sullys, his father and Jake continued the conversation.
“We are reef people. You are forest people. Your skills will mean nothing here.”
“We’ll learn your ways,” he glances at Tuk, whimpering under Ronal’s hand. “Right?” He asked the rest of the family, earning himself an echo of agreement.
Ronal considered for a moment, before saying, “I will help your child. We will discuss further later. Follow me.”