Chapter Text
The Metkayina clan, much like any other clan, upheld traditions to ensure their prosperity. Each member specialized in something; there were talented hunters who kept the clan fed, gifted weavers who crafted intricate clothing, and singers who serenaded the people during celebrations.
Kiri was neither of these things. She was a painter, tasked with capturing the clan's beauty and the creatures within it. Her connection to the Eywa made her stand out among other painters. In her clan, she was considered one of the best. It was almost as if each small brush stroke would come alive under her touch. She was talented and gifted, often she was tasked to keep detailed paintings of the leaders and important events that would happen in the clan. A task perfectly meant for a woman so mighty.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
“You are quite jumpy today aren’t you Tsireya?” Kiri teased a small smile lying on her face. Her hand comes down as she rests the brush on the floor her gaze fixed upon the next Tsahik.
“Oh, I am quite sorry Kiri but I just - I have never felt happier” Tsireya beamed her dimples peeking through her big smile.
“I feel glowing can’t you see? Pregnancy looks good on me does it not?” The hand that rested on her lap comes upwards to her stomach, tracing soft, round circles as she awaited Kiri's response with widened eyes.
“You just found out a couple of days ago” Kiri giggles, a hand coming to her lips as she covers her mouth to prevent any more noise from leaving her lips.
“Of course, but do I not look radiant already? I mean after mating with your brother I could not have asked for anything better. I feel content.” Her voice is filled with glee, her smile never once faltering from her lips.
Silence falls upon the women as Tsireya thinks of how to correctly word what she is thinking about. “You know Kiri, I hope someday you can find someone who makes you just as happy as your brother makes me.” Tsireya reaches her hand out and lays it on top of Kiris. She stares at her with much woeful expression.
Kiri had never taken an interest in anyone. She never seemed to like any of the men who have tried to court her. It perplexed Tsireya, many fine hunters have asked Kiri to court but she never once batted an eye toward them. I mean even her friend Rotxo had tried his chance at courting her until Kiri flat-out rejected him.
Kiri stared at Tsireya with an uncomfortable expression, disliking the pity others showed her for something she simply did not care about.
“You know I don’t need the company of anyone,” Kiri stated plainly. She was meant to be an artist, not a lover, besides in her mind she never had time to keep a relationship. She was far too busy painting.
“Maybe Eywa has someone special for you in another clan” Tsireya retracts her hand back to her lap, and her smile falters into that of a small rise of her lips.
“We shall see.”
Silence falls onto the women as Kiri picks up the brush that she laid down to continue to paint Tsireya. For a couple of minutes, Kiri does what she knows best, capturing every detail that she is tasked with doing. In her painting, she captures every minor detail on Tsireyas face from the three freckles under her left eye to the four that lay on her chin. Then there is a knock at the mauri. A warm smile appears on Tsireya’s face. Lo’ak must be there.
“If you are waiting for your mate, I’m almost done you don’t have to get desperate” Kiri turns around to properly address Lo’ak. She's about to laugh until she notices the look on Lo’aks face.
“Someone is here for you Kiri they’re speaking with our parents in their mauri. They are looking for you.”
“Looking for me? Why would anyone be looking for me?”
Lo’ak chuckles before he says, “Why would I know I’m not the one looking for you” He snorts “Can you leave now I want to speak to my mate” He reaches for her and grabs her arm as he kicks her out of the mauri.
“Hey that's so rude” Kiri states her mouth agape as she stands outside the mauri.
“Yeah, yeah can you leave?” Lo’ak stares at her with widened eyes his head tilts to his side to get her to take the hint.
“I’m charging you extra materials for that damn painting Lo’ak.” Kiri walks away hearing Tsireya and Lo’ak giggle as she goes to find who this mysterious person was.
Anxiety builds inside her stomach. Had she done something wrong? All she's been doing these past couple of weeks is painting. She painted a portrait for Tuk when she had her rite of passage. Then Lo’ak asked her to paint Tsireya once it was announced that she was pregnant. She couldn’t think of a single reason why someone came searching for her.
As Kiri rounds the corner to her parent's mauri, she notices a woman covered in red face paint. She knocks on the mauri before stating “ Lo’ak says someone is looking for me?” She looks in between her mother and father before she eyes the woman up and down.
“Yes, Kiri please come in” Jake states as he signals to her with his hand to come in. Kiri apprehensively walks toward her father to stand in front of the woman.
“This is Ikeyni you know of her through the stories I told to you and the kids as children do you remember?”
Kiri shyly nods her head. ‘Ah’ she thinks ‘she must be from the Tayrangi clan’. Her father had often told stories about the first war when they had initially banished the humans from Pandora. He spoke about a woman who was covered in red face paint, an oloeyktan from the Tayrangi clan. She was a strong and compelling leader who stood by her father. Her father always remarked about her leadership and capacity, she was not weak and could stand her ground against anyone, so why was this oloeyktan searching for her?
“Oel ngati kameie” Ikeyni greets bringing her three fingers to the top of her forehead and slowly bringing them down. Kiri repeats the action.
“I do not understand my father has spoken about your leadership skills so why is it that you are here seeking me?”
“I have come in search of an artist” Ikeyni states. “I heard this clan has a woman whose connection to Eywa is seen through her art. And from what your parents have shown, your art is exceptional.” The woman tenderly smiles at her.
“Thank you.” She states sheepishly she will never get used to the praise she receives from her art. “Is there a special occasion as to why I’m being sought?” She tilts her head to the side.
Why is there a need for an artist if there should be plenty in the Tayrangi clan? Certainly, there were more warriors and healers in their clan, but they should have enough so there wouldn’t be a need to search for one.
“There are not many artists in our clan” Ikeyni breath deepens before she continues “My mother was one of the last artists to live and well she passed long ago.” She stares at Kiri a pained look in her eyes before she again continues “My child is going to be mated to another clan, I wish for you to make an art piece for me to keep and another for the day the clans come together to celebrate their mating.”
Paintings of mating ceremonies were often done by the mated pairs' family members. Often it was a painter from the woman's family who created the art. If the woman had no painters in her family, it would go to her mate’s side of the family. If neither had painters, then the best painter the clan had to offer would create the piece.
‘Guess the groom had no one then how weird’ Kiri thinks to herself before she realizes she has not given the woman an answer.
“I would love to paint your daughter it is an honor truly.” Kiri smiles at Ikeyni. To be considered an artist good enough to paint another clan’s daughter, especially one who was the olo'eyktan was truly an honor.
Ikeyni smiles brightly at Kiri. “Thank you, Kiri this means a lot to our clan,” Ikeyni's smile never leaves her face before she continues “My daughter will marry a while from now, I wish for you to stay in our home, so you do not have to travel from here to our clan.”
Kiri turns to look at Jake and Neytiri. Her eyes are glimmering in a pleading look as her parents look at each other with a small smile and nod. She nods back.
“I shall leave today then.”
Ikeyni nods at her. “Then I shall wait for you at the beach whenever you are ready.” Ikeyni nods towards Neytiri and Jake as she heads towards the beach to wait for Kiri.
Kiri gazes upon Ikeyni as she disappears with a glimmer of hope in her eyes, a smile like a gentle sunrise playing upon her lips. She sees the promise of something greater than mere art: the possibility of a connection to the great mother. She will be on her own to discover something new and that alone builds an excitement she has long forgotten since she had first arrived in the clan.