Chapter Text
The sound of the horn blared across the village of Awa’atlu. The Metkayina girl looked outside her marui pod towards the shore to see people gathering. She sighed seeing her mother walk past quickly side eyeing her to join the event. She joined her mother’s side as she stepped out of the marui pod.
She looked behind her parents to see her other siblings standing next to their father before looking ahead to see what the gathering was about. She was shocked at first to see another clan in her home, a family of Omaticaya, it wasn’t normal for clans to mix...
Though..the family was respectful introducing themselves to her parents, the Olo'ekytan and Tsahik of the clan. Her father soon spoke up, "Why do you come to us, Jake Suli?"
Jake Suli, who the girl guessed was the father of the other Na'vi family responded with something no one was expecting.
"We seek Uturu (refuge)"
"Uturu!?" her mother sounded almost mad at the request.
"Sanctuary for my family", the Omaticayan father pleaded with the Metkayian leaders.
"We are reef people, you are forest people...your skills will mean nothing here", the girl's father spoke up while he nervously watched her mother encroach on the Na'vi family.
"We will learn your ways...alright", Jake quickly responded before looking back at his family in agreement.
Her mother walked around the family watching them..analyzing..before grabbing the Omaticayan woman's tail then moving to grab one of the younger Na'vi's hands, "Their arms are thin, their tails are weak, you'll be slow in the water..."
She picked up one of the girls' hands examining it before showing them to the crowd, "These children...are not even true Na'vi!"
The statement shocked the gathering even causing the Metkayina girl to cover he mouth in surprise.
The young Omaticayan girl ripped her hands away in protest, "Yes we are-"
The Metkayina Tsahik did not care as she moved onto the other Omaticaya kids showing off their hands, "They have demon blood!"
Jake ended up showing his hands that had four fingers as well to the Tsahik, "Look..Look!" He shoved his hand in her face making her finally turn to him, "Look I was born of the sky people and now I am Na'vi alright you can adapt. we will adapt...okay?"
The girl watched one confused how one could be born of the sky people and become Na'vi.
Jake's mate soon spoke up, "My husband was Toruk Makto, he led the clans to victory against the sky people..."
"This you call victory?", the Tsahik looked amongst the two in disgust. "Hiding...amongst strangers..?"
"It seems Eywa has turned her back on you, chosen one-"
Jake's mate hissed in response making the Tsahik hiss in return. Jake stepped in putting a hand between them, "I apologize for my mate she's-"
"Do not apologize for me"
"flown a long way and she's exhausted", he did his best to call off his mate before she finally backed off going silent.
The Metkayina Olo'ekytan looked off awkwardly before stepping next to Jake and putting a hand on his shoulder, "Toruk Makto is a great war leader, all Na'vi people know his story, but we Metkayina are not at war..."
He turned to Jake sympathetically, "We cannot let you bring your war here."
"I'm done with war...okay-I just want to keep my family safe", Jake looked up at the Olo'ekytan almost pleading.
Jake's mate knowing that the Metkayina couldn't refuse them, "Uturu has been asked..."
The girl’s parents looked at each other quietly making their decision before her father spoke, “Toruk Makto and his family will stay with us. Treat them as brothers and sisters. They do not know the sea...so they will be like babies taking their first breath. Teach them our ways so they do not suffer the shame of being useless."
Jake's family showed gratitude for being accepted into the Metkayina clan before Tonowari, her father called for his children to come forward introducing them, “My oldest Ne’eya, Ao’nung and youngest, Tsireya, will show your children what to do."
Ne’eya looked towards her father as he spoke of his children proudly before he pushed them to speak to the Omaticaya children. Ne’eya quickly glanced back at her mother confused as she received a dismissive nod from her. She took a deep breath before looking at her siblings' reactions, Ao’nung didn’t seem too happy and Tsireya looked just as nervous as Ne’eya felt.
Ao'nung tried to protest, "Father why do I-"
"It has been decided.", Tonowari's voice was stern speaking to his son before walking off.
Ne'eya's siblings came close to her as she walked up to the other children slightly towering over them, “So..what are your names?”
She carefully walked up to the children as they greeted her with Oel ngati kameie (I see you). “I’m Kiri”, the eldest girl spoke up before the younger one hopped onto her hip holding onto her, “And I’m Tuk!” Ne’eya stepped back smiling, “Well hello there Tuk~” She soon made her way to the boys, “And what about you two?” Who she suspected to be the youngest was too busy staring off into the distance until she checked who he was staring at before giggling and quickly popping up into his face, making him jump back, “I-I’m Lo’ak..” he grumbled rubbing the back of his neck. Soon Ne’eya made her way to the eldest child of the Sully family slowly circling him.
She picked up one of his arms slowly letting it go before letting her hand glide across his skin as she seemed to observe him. “Hmm..you’re strong, well built...you must've been a formidable warrior in the trees” She picked up his tail letting it drop out of her hand, “Mama was right, your tail won’t help you in the water..” She sighed chewing her cheek in thought. Lo’ak spoke up, “Leave Neteyam alone, we don't need you to keep reminding us how useless we are..”
Ne’eya responded confused, looking at Lo’ak with a slightly furrow brow, “I said nothing to offend you nor was I talking to you-” Lo’ak returned an irritated hiss which Ne’eya ignored before turning back to Neteyam repeating his name, “Neteyam..rolls off the tongue nicely~” she smiled.
Ao’nung grumbled, “Rolls off the tongue nicely, she’s already choosing favorites-” Tsireya elbowed his side, “I'm sorry about them, but we can show you around our village."
The other Na'vi kids looked at each other before following the Metkayina kids. The three siblings helped the Suli's gather their things and led them to the marui pod they would be staying in. "We know it will take you a while to get comfortable but hopefully you like what we picked out for you", Tsireya and I hummed as we stepped into the empty marui pod.
Jake seemed to be happy as he stepped inside, "This'll work..this is great, it's nice right?"
His mate didn't seem too eager as she paused dropping her things.
Ne'eya and Tsireya looked at each other awkwardly before slowing backing away from the marui pod to join Ao'nung.
As her and her siblings walked away Neteyam’s eyes were stuck on the back of the Metkayina girl before his sister, Kiri waved her hand infront of his face, “Earth to Nete, Nete you good?”
“Uhh y-yeah I’m good” Neteyam looked away trying to avoid looking his sister.
Later that day the suli's came together for a family meeting. Jake had his kids sit around him as he laid down some ground rules.
"I need you kids on your best behavior. I mean it-you learn fast, pull your weight and don't cause trouble. Got it?"
After the Suli family meeting finished they made their way to the beach to see Tsireya and Ao’nung friends playing in the water while Ne’eya was nearby sitting atop a rock watching them. Tuk ran into the water yelling, “We’re here to start learning!”
The Metkayina girls turned to them before making their way over. Ao’nung and his friends trailed a bit behind Tsireya and Ne’eya. Ne'eya urged everyone to sit down in the sand before introducing their lesson for today. “For our first lesson you'll have to learn how to breathe underwater, well more specifically how to hold your breath under water. You will be able to choose who you want to teach you but because there’s three of us and four of you, two of you will go with one of us”
Once everyone split up, Kiri and Tuk with Ne’eya, Lo’ak with Tsireya, and Neteyam with Ao’nung, Ne’eya sent off her siblings on their own before turning to Kiri and Tuk. Tuk looked at Ne’eya confused, “Why do we have to learn how to breathe when we can breathe just fine?”
“That my little Tuk is a question about to be answered if you just follow me~” She smiled patting Tuk’s head before going into the water as Kiri and Tuk followed her. Ne’eya continued to swim farther into the water reaching a rock while the Sully kids were far behind her. Tuk called out, “Wait for us you’re too fast!”
“I told you, you were going to be slow in the water, it’s not my fault” Ne’eya climbed the rock waiting for them. Once Kiri and Tuk reached the rock Ne’eya was on they were out of breath, “What are we going to do now..?” Kiri sighed looking up at Ne’eya. She smiled down at them, “You have to climb up here to find out”
Kiri groaned as Tuk held onto her back and she had to carry her up the rock. The two sat in front Ne’eya waiting for her next move...they waited for a while just watching her. She was just sitting there..huming. Tuk and Kiri looked at each other confused, Tuk broke the silence, “What’s going on..?” Ne’eya spoke up scaring them, “The lesson-”
“What do you mean the lesson, we’re not doing anything?” Kiri looked confused.
“The lesson is to be calm and to breathe, you two must learn to calm yourselves and be able to hold your breath” Ne’eya smiled as she took a deep breath and got into a meditating position. Tuk and Kiri shrugged copying her, “Soo uhh what are we supposed to be doing??” Tuk broke the silence once again.
Ne’eya sighed, “think of something that makes you happy that calms you no matter the situation, you’ll need it if you ever start to panic in the water”
Kiri then spoke up, “So what do you do?”
“I sing to myself..a lullaby my mother sang to me and my siblings when we were young”
“Can we hear it-?” Tuk sprung up getting excited.
Ne’eya opened her eyes surprised, “Uhh...”
“If you’re nervous that’s alright”
“No it’s just that the song is personal to me..”
“Oh..”
“I apologize for letting you two down..” Ne’eya sighed looking away, her ears hung down as she started to fidget with her hands.
Kiri and Tuk looked at each other nervous, “You didn’t let us down it's really okay if you don’t want to sing it to us”
Ne’eya got quiet before taking a deep breath, “Let just go back home it seems our lesson is done for today..”
“Wha-what about learning how to breathe??”
Ne’eya was already getting ready to jump off the rock as she looked back smiling at them.
“Why don’t we have a pop quiz then?”
She jumped off the rock swimming off back to the shore. Tuk and Kiri looked at each other thinking one thing before following Ne’eya.
“This girl is crazy”
Ne'eya walked onto the shore to see Tsireya with the rest of the Sully kids. Tsireya looked at Ne’eya worried, “Where have you been me and Ao’nung finished our lessons and brought the Sully kids back here a long time ago?”
“I never mentioned a time limit on our lessons” Ne’eya shrugged.
“You shouldn’t get careless with the newcomers Ne’eya and speaking of which, where are the kids you were supposed to be teaching?”
“Swimming back right now-”
“Ne’eya!”
“They’re fine dear sister, they’ll be here any minute-”
As Ne’eya finished her sentence Kiri and Tuk came out of the water running up to Ne’eya. Tuk was excited, “We made it Ne’eya! We did have to stop a few times though..”
Ne’eya smirked at Tsireya, “Well won’t you look at that they survived their first lesson~”
Kiri and Tuk met up with their brothers as they collectively talked about their lessons before Ne’eya grabbed everyone’s attention, “Since everyone has finished their lessons for today I’ll let you all free and we’ll start back up tomorrow morning!”
The Sully kids just nodded and walked off each giving their personal goodbyes. Ne’eya watched them leave before looking at Tsireya and walking up to her, “So what happened during you and Lo’ak’s lesson~?”
Tsireya shrugged, “Nothing much”
“Oh come on something had to happen”
Tsireya giggled, “Fine I’ll tell you after dinner”
The two girls laughed with each other as they made their way home.