Chapter Text
—-
When the Sky People come, you are not scared.
They have come before, and now they have come again. Ronal hisses they are a sore that keep recurring, something no herbs can fix. Tonowari soothes the clan- saying that it is not the Metkayina’s war. It is over the sea, he says, in the forest. We are reef people, not forest people.
The village is assuaged and life continues as it did before.
But with each wave, each whisper of wind, you can feel something changing. It has been a year since they came again- and you know it is happening.
You are not the Tsahìk, not like your sister. Ronal is the most talented Tsahìk you have ever known. She is in tune with the water, with Eywa. There is this air about her, this wisp of something. Like she knows more than you, and will not deign to tell you.
As her sister, you are awarded more of her kind smiles than most. Ao’nung even jokes that she loves you more than her own children. You know that isn’t true, but you humor him anyways.
Ronal is the sun, and you are the moon in her shadow.
It is hard, to simply be the “other.” To crave the light so much it aches in your ribs, but to be denied it time and time again by your own blood. She does not mean it, this you know, and it is not her fault. She probably thinks you content in the shadow, content to be the moon.
But you want to be wanted, want to be needed. To be loved.
Tsireya and Ao’nung love you, call your their aunt, listen to you, respect you.
Even Tonowari loves you in his own way. Although it is mostly just pity, a sorrow he feels for his poor mate’s sister. Alone and unmated, childless and teetering on the edge of useless. You are not a warrior like him.
Instead, your days are filled with trailing behind Ronal, carrying her supplies, holding her tools, helping her while she cures sickness and prays to Eywa. She is a force, like that. You swim with Tsireya, race your ilu’s near the edge of the reef.
It is something deep under your ribs, near your heart but not quite, this longing, this feeling- knowing that you are meant for something more.
When the Sky People come, you are not scared.
Tonowari says you are safe in the reef, in your village. So you contend yourself to your life, live with something growing under your ribs.
When the Forest People come, you are entranced.
—-
“Y/N,” Ronal says, looking into a steaming pot. It is full of herbs and sea plants, simmering and cooling down into a soup, meant to be fed to a injured man, to help with his pain.
He snagged his arm on a rock, and he is lucky to not have died. Ronal had only looked disappointed when she saw him, before diving into her work and effectively saving him. You stood in the background, listening to her commands, handing her what she asked for.
Normally it was Tsireya who helped her, but you had persuaded Ronal to let her go into the sea today. It was a beautiful day, and there will always be other injuries. She relented, eventually, and you had smiled at Tsireya as she leapt into the water.
You watched her disappearing figure until you could not anymore.
The morning is calm, and Ronal is in a good mood this morning. The news of her baby has put her in good spirits, and you are most happy for her.
You turn you attention back to her, looking over from where you are tidying some cases of herbs on the shelf.
“Will you get me some more seaweed?” she asks, glancing at you over her shoulder.
“Of course, sister,” you murmur, and collect a handful of the green plant and give it to her.
She looks it over, taking about half and putting it into the pot.
She starts muttering to you about what she is craving for the evening meal, and you indulge in the mindless conversation.
The morning is normal. You feel something in the air, like you have been feeling so often lately, a changing. This feeling under your ribs. It aches and wanes, and Ronal knows not what it is.
The ache flares when you hear the sound of the shell being called, warning you that outsiders are approaching. It is not the war call- but you and Ronal still share a look anyways. She leaves the pot to simmer, hand brushing your arm as she leads you out of the home and onto the sandy beach.
When you come out into the sun, feel the sand under your feet, you see people crowd around something. You can just barely see the figure of ikran, steady on the ground. You gasp. Ikran- forest people- have not come to the Metkayina in years.
Then, you see them, and the feeling under your rib aches. You suck in air, and Ronal looks at you. When you shake your head, she appraises you once more. She does not believe you are fine, but there are more pressing matters.
Her expression glazes over again, inquisitive and slightly worried. Neither of you know why the forest people are here. They are fighting a war, but your people are not.
The crowd parts for you and Ronal, and she looks around at the crowd before her eyes narrow. She stands next to you, although slightly in front of you.
Regardless of anything, you are still her baby sister. And without a mate, and without your parents, it is her and Tonowari who will protect you. Your sister’s mate stands in front of these strangers now- spear pointed up, ready to stand for battle at any moment. He shoots the two of you a glance.
The two of you come to stand next to Tonowari, and you finally see them. Forest people. Familiar, although not by face. The air about them is.
It is a man, a woman, and four children. Your eyes flick down to the youngest one, a girl, you think, and she cannot look to be more than seven.
“I see you, Ronal.” The man speaks, raising his fingers to his forehead. The woman copies him. “Tsahìk of the Metkayina.”
“Why do you come to us, Jake Sully?” Tonowari asks, hand extended, and you suddenly realize who they are.
It is Toruk Macto and his wife, Neytiri. And their children stand behind them, around your niece and nephews age. Besides for the little one, of course, who stands close to her mother.
Your eyes flick up- and the ache in your ribs flares again. Neytiri is the most beautiful woman you have ever seen. Her eyes shine in the light of the sun, holding that reserved sadness behind them. You faintly wonder why, before she meets your eyes.
You watch as her mouth parts. She looks at you like she is blown away- but it must simply be surprise. You do look a bit like Ronal, and to see you stand so close to her, she just must not have known that Ronal has a sister. You dismiss any foolishness in your heart, ignoring the ache in your ribs.
Jake Sully holds his arms out. “We seek uturu.”
The clan immediately jumps into whispers, and you bite your lip.
Tonowari is a revered warrior, a wise Olo’eyktan. But this strange man, this forest person, he is Toruk Macto.
You glance at Ronal, and she looks taken aback.
“Uturu?” she asks, looking past you and towards Tonowari.
“Yeah, sanctuary for my family.” He steps forward, and you see his face fall. He is… scared, you realize.
“We… are Reef People. You are forest people.” Tonowari says, as Ronal starts to circle them. “Your skills will be nothing here.”
“We will learn your ways, right?” Jake laments, turning towards his family. He looks at them expectantly, and you see Neytiri reluctantly nod. His voice is hurried, nervous and scared. And suddenly you cannot hold your tongue.
“You look scared, Jake Sully. Did something happen? To the Omaticaya People?” He looks towards you in the same way Neytiri did, as if noticing you for the first time.
“N-no.” He says, but you are not sure you believe him.
Ronal grabs Neytiri’s tail, the little ones arm.
“Their arms are thin,” she observes. The little girl whispers for her mother, bounding away over to her father. “Their tails… are weak.” An older girl takes her tail back from Ronal. “You will be slow in the water.”
She looks down, suddenly, grabbing the girl’s arms roughly. She grips her wrists, holding her hands up for everyone to see the five fingers she possesses.
“These children… are not even true Na’vi,” she hisses.
The girl she is holding looks to Jake, calling for him.
“Yes we are!” She says suddenly, and Ronal drops her arms and walks away. She grabs one of the boys next.
“They have demon blood!” The people gathered around jump back and gasp, the whispers rising again.
“Look!” Jake calls, holding his hand up to your sister. “Look, I was born of the Sky People and now I am Na’vi, alright.” He turns back to you and Tonowari, still frantic. “We can adapt. We will adapt.”
“My husband…” Neytiri starts, face blank and apathetic, “was Toruk Macto.” She points her chin up, stepping closer to Ronal. “He led the clans to victory… against the Sky People.”
When she looks to Tonowari, you watch as he nods. He cannot deny Jake Sully’s achievements, cannot deny what Toruk Macto has done.
“This you call victory?” Ronal asks, voice cruel. “Hiding, among strangers.” She steps forward. “It seems Eywa has turned her back on you.”
Neytiri bares her teeth and hisses, and you sister does the same. But Jake steps in just as you place a gentle hand on Ronal’s arm. She steps back, reluctantly.
“I apologize for my mate. She is-”
“Do not apologize for me,”
“-tired, we have come a long way and she is exhausted.” He gives Neytiri a small flick of his head, and Neytiri hisses and turns away.
Tonowari steps forward, placing a hand on Jake’s shoulder.
“Toruk Macto is a great warrior!” he proclaims. “All Na’vi people know his story. But we, Metkayina, are not at war.”
Your heart squeezes when Jake picks up the smallest child, cradling her to his chest.
“We cannot let you bring your war here.”
“I’ve done my war. Okay? I just wanna keep my family safe.”
Ronal and Tonowari share a look, and your eyes flick between the two of them.
“Uturu has been asked,” Neytiri says, arms wrapped around herself and chin pointed to the ground.
Ronal stares at them, mouth parted, as Tonowari turns and looks at her. You watch as they subtly move their heads, silently speaking.
“Ronal…” you whisper, and when they turn to you, you nod.
You know Ronal values your opinion, and Tonowari does by extent. You cannot let this family be turned away, left to travel the planet hoping for someone to take them in. Finally, Ronal breathes in and nods.
Tonowari stands tall, addressing the people. He breathes in.
“Toruk Macto and his family will stay with us. Treat them as our brothers and sisters. But 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.”
“Thank you,” Jake breathes, and the rest of the family follows.
“Our son, Ao’nung, our daughter, Tsireya will show your children what to do.”
Ao’nung steps forward, complaints spilling from his lips, but Tonowari stops him. He sighs, and Tsireya beams. You see her eyes fixed on one of the young boys, and you smile to yourself when you notice he is looking at her as well.
“Tsireya and Y/N, my sister, will show you the village.”
You look towards Ronal, eyes wide, and she only looks at you pointedly.
“Ronal,” you hiss, but she only touches your arm and pushes you forward.
When you look forward, Jake and Neytiri’s eyes are on you.
—-