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“For the last time,” Grace complained, though it came out halfhearted, “If you throw creations around in class you cannot yell random human words to get out of it.”
The group of students only giggled harder. Tails flicking and shoulders bumping together as they whispered conspiratorially.
She lifted the woven ikran that had struck her shoulder a moment earlier, examining the crooked wings. “And you better have better aim.”
She tossed the toy back into the circle.
The Na’vi children scattered with delighted shrieks, long limbs and tails tangling as they dove for it. Grace tried to hold the stern face a teacher was supposed to have, but it cracked quickly. A smile spread across her blue face, tail swishing behind her in quiet satisfaction while the children piled over each other.
She’d never get tired of this job.
Doctor Grace Augustine, the renowned xenobotanist and xenoanthropologist, reduced to playing referee to toy fights in a wooden classroom on Pandora. If someone back at Hell’s Gate could see her now, they’d never let her live this down. Still, she wouldn't trade it for the world.
She clapped her hands together. “Alright, circus over. Monkeys sit.”
The students shuffled back to their woven seats. Some still giggling, some pretending they had not just been wrestling on the floor. Neytiri slipped into place among them, eyes bright and alert.
She had begged her parents to come here.
The halfway school near the sky people had been a strange rumor at first. A place where Na’vi children and sky people learned together. Neytiri had latched onto the idea the moment she heard it whispered among friends.
It had taken relentless pleading. It wasn’t until her sister tag-teamed did they relent. Neytiri still remembered the triumphant look they shared when permission was finally given.
Though it came with about a hundred rules; Don't wander. Don't trust the sky people too quickly. Always stay together.
Those rules mattered less when Neytiri was here, surrounded by her friends and the strange, fascinating things Grace brought from the sky people world.
Her favourite were the tablets.
There once were more, Grace said. Many more. But accidents had slowly claimed them. A drop here, a cracked screen there, testing teeth everywhere. Now only two remained working.
Access was a prized reward. And that meant Neytiri tried very, very hard to be the best student.
She listened carefully. Answered questions quickly. Practiced the strange human sounds until her tongue couldn’t twist that way any further. All for that glorious five minutes during break where she could hold that tablet between her hands.
Break came, the other children rushed outside. Already chasing each other through the tall undergrowth between trees. Neytiri curled into the corner of the classroom instead, tablet balanced carefully on her knees.
Her fingers moved clumsily across the glowing screen. Engrossed by it.
The images shifted until she found the one she loved most. Creatures from another world. Two-legged beasts with strange plant-like feathers and long necks. Fields of endless green reminded her of the plains. A shadow fell across her shoulder.
“What’s that?” Sylwanin asked, leaning down beside her and peering over.
Neytiri did not look away from the screen.
“Grace calls it a ‘useless clone’.”
Sylwanin blinked at the tablet showing her these strange creatures. Her head twisted to look one way then another. Trying to make sense of it.
“Huh. It’s silly looking. That giant body and tiny head. Looks like a plant.”
Neytiri snorted softly. She had the exact same thought the first time she first saw it.
“Look at these things they used to have,” Neytiri said, tapping the screen.
She switched videos. Sylwanin gasped immediately and grabbed the tablet from her hands.
“Hey!” Neytiri barked, reaching to snatch it back.
“You showed me!” Sylwanin argued, holding it out of reach. She'd been there a minute and was already scrolling and ruining tablet time.
“That doesn't mean you take it, skxawng! Give it back!”
They tugged it back and forth, voices rising. Sylwanin laughed while Neytiri scowled, her tail thrashing in irritation. Insults were thrown.
The argument grew louder until a familiar blue hand swiped the tablet.
Grace stood above them and Neytiri froze immediately. Her chest tightened and tears pinched in the corners of her eyes before she could stop them. She was certain she had just ruined everything. Lost her chance at the tablets forever. Her whole day was ruined and it was all Sylwanin’s fault.
The older woman glanced between the two sisters.
“Wow,” Grace muttered. “Five minutes alone and it’s already a full blown war.”
They both tried to talk over each other before Grace shushed them. Sylwanin tried to look innocent. It was clear by their faces who the perpetrator was here. Grace pointed toward the door.
“Out. Go play.”
Sylwanin hesitated, glancing to Neytiri, then reluctantly slipped back outside.
The room suddenly felt too quiet.
Grace crouched down beside Neytiri, resting her elbows on her knees. She handed the tablet back slowly.
“I know your sister drives you crazy,” Grace said. “Believe me, I have a whole team back at base that do that for me.”
Neytiri sniffed.
Grace reached out and placed a hand gently on the top of her head, smoothing the braids there.
“She’s supposed to annoy you. That’s a best friend in the making right there. I can’t fire my team and you can’t fire your sister—As much as I’m sure we’d both love to.”
She leaned back with a sigh, glancing toward the open entrance.
Teaching plants was easy. Teaching feelings was definitely not part of her job description.
“So just... play nice or I’ll bang your heads together.”
Neytiri’s tearful eyes shot up. Widening with concern.
“Really?”
Grace winced instantly. Regretting her choice of words.
“No, sorry. Human expression.” She paused, searching her memory for the Na’vi way of saying it. “Your tails should be tied together until you find the same path to walk.”
That landed better. Neytiri’s ears lowered in understanding. She loved Sylwanin. Everyone knew that. Even when they fought like cats, she still followed her sister everywhere like a small shadow.
Grace gently wiggled Neytiri’s head once before standing again.
Outside came the unmistakable sound of more trouble. Another match to referee, probably. It caused Grace to sigh.
Of course there was more trouble.
She stepped out of the schoolhouse just in time to see a group of curious little Na’vi getting into a broken crate. Important papers fluttered into the air like startled birds.
Grace planted her hands on her hips.
“Are you all done causing trouble?” She called.
The children froze for a second, then bolted in all directions.
Grace groaned inwardly, seeing all of her well-curated work scattered. That crate had been written studies and equipment meant for pickup later. Leaving it outside had clearly been a mistake on her part.
“Alright, I’ll take that as a no. Break’s over. Come on you lot. Back inside.”
A chorus of complaints followed as the children slowly emerged from hiding. Tails dragging, ears flattening dramatically. Grace held back a smile at the sight of it.
Considering all the chaos they left in their wake, they did listen when called.
They settled back into the classroom. Neytiri handing the tablet over without being asked. Grace carefully placed it back on her desk.
“Now,” She said, clapping her hands together. “Can anyone tell me how plants get their luminosity?”
Ears perked up. A few hands shot up immediately.
Grace felt a quiet warmth settle in her chest as she looked over the eager faces.
For all the trouble they caused, she genuinely loved every second of it.