Chapter Text
lo'ak had rode on his tulkun savior's fin for at least an hour before he saw another na'vi.
he had almost forgot that he should be trying to get "home"- how could he?
but it all came back when he saw the metkayina boy. ao'nung abandoned him out here; left him to die in the middle of the unfamiliar ocean. but this boy kept a watchful eye on lo'ak and the tulkun, despite not knowing them at all.
he sat on one of the rocky islands, calmly staring down at the water. occasionally, his gaze would flick up to the duo, but would immediately turn back down to his task.
"hey," lo'ak said to the tulkun. "will you take me over to them?"
the tulkun blinked and complied happily, swimming close enough for lo'ak to step onto the rocks.
"uh, excuse me?" the forest boy reached out to tap the other's shoulder.
"shh. you're scaring them away..." the metkayina's voice was hushed and calm, and his eyes stayed trained on one spot of the water.
"scaring who-?" before lo'ak could get his answer, he pulled a rope tight, pulling in a large net of fish. lo'ak hadn't even noticed it before.
the traces of a smile were on his face as he kneeled, proud of himself. quickly, he began sorting through the fish, throwing some back.
"why are you putting some back?" lo'ak kneeled beside him, watching his quick hands.
the fisherman picked up a fish and showed it to the forest boy.
"too small," he said simply. "best to let it grow before we eat it; too much bone and not enough meat."
he released the fish and carefully picked up another.
"and you see this one's spines? don't let them touch you, hurts like a stab wound- leaves a scar like it, too."
he stuck out his arm, revealing a series of small scars in a line, just like the spines on the fish.
"they're poisonous, too. most parts of it, at least. but it's enough that the part that isn't isn't worth trying to get." he threw the spiky creature back in the water.
lo'ak nodded along as he spoke, trying to compare the fish to the animals he hunted back home.
"oh, this one is about to have babies, isn't it?" lo'ak pointed to the fish in his hand before he could explain. "future food."
he grinned and nodded, gently placing her back in the water.
"you're smart for a forest boy." he elbowed lo'ak playfully as he spoke.
"hey!" lo'ak elbowed back, feigning offense, but his face quickly settled back into a smile as the boy's laughter filled the air.
"i'm lo'ak, by the way," he said. he'd completely forgotten to introduce himself.
"i know," he said simply, pausing for a moment before introducing himself. "i'm [name]."
lo'ak furrowed his eyebrows.
"you know?"
"i know." [name] repeated, stepping away from the fish to grab his basket. "it isn't every day you see a forest boy out in the water. we're all know who you and your family are. we're supposed to keep an eye out, and you know, help if you need it."
lo'ak felt as stupid as he did flattered. of course you knew who he was, he was granted uturu among your people. but besides, you knew more about him than that he was omatikaya, that he was a sully- you knew he was lo'ak.
"but what i don't know," [name] started as he moved the fish into his basket. "is what you're doing all the way out here."
"oh, shit, yeah-" the fisherman glanced at him as the unfamiliar word passed his lips.
"i came up here to ask for directions, back to awa'atlu. i guess i got distracted..."
[name] laughed softly and pointed off into the distance.
"stay straight that way. you need to leave now though, or you won't make it back before eclipse."
"right, thank you-" lo'ak stepped towards the water and then waited, seemingly waiting for [name] to join him. when he didn't, he spoke again. "are you coming?"
"i said awa'atlu was that way. my village is this way- and not absurdly far away from where i like to fish."
"oh." lo'ak said, trying not to look dumb. "yeah, i knew that. obviously." his cheeks darkened as he spoke, but the heat faded as [name] cracked a smile.
"i'm glad to have met you, lo'ak." he said, calling two ilus over.
lo'ak shook his head politely as he saw the second creature and nodded back towards where the tulkun had been swimming.
"you'll see me again soon, promise." he said in a cocky tone and dove back into the water.
"ah, but lo'ak! take the ilu, that tulkun-" [name] yelled after the boy, but it was too late.
[name] hoped he didn't die out there. it wouldn't be terrible to see the forest boy again.