Chapter Text
The first thing you heard was the loud blaring of a horn, more like the horn. A familiar sound in the Metkayina clan, whether it was a good noise or bad noise couldn’t be told until at the village center. Standing up would’ve been easy if your long braids and curls weren’t tangled in your face along with the thread of your hammock around your feet. Almost tripping as you attempt to stand once again.
The bright sun flashed your eyes, taking you a while to adjust as you fix your hair. Your muscles were sore in the best way, doing your usual chores the day before and going for a late night dive had made you push your limits. But before you get the chance to daydream about diving underwater in the star light night, you make it to the crowd of villagers. Pushing your way to the center with a muttered “excuse me.”
As you reach the front, it seems Aonung—your little brother—had beat you to it. Him and his no good friend.
“Is that supposed to be a tail?” They snickered as they walked circles around some people. Some… forest Na’vi? What are they doing here? The only different clans that came around here were the air Na’vi, and they’d only come to trade or for temporary rests before being back in the air.
Just as you start to get lost in your thoughts, the feeling of someone staring at you makes you look up. It was one of the forest Na’vi, a boy your age. Looking to his side there was a younger one, maybe his brother, but his eyes were stuck on someone else. You followed his gaze to see Tsireya, and a smile spread on your tired face at the sight of your sunshine sister.
“Do not. Rotxo, Aonung.” She scolded them before you got the chance, the tiredness shaking off you as your father arrives quickly. You wouldn’t forget the look tisreya gave that boy though, you definitely have to tease her about him later.
Being honest, you’d be more focused on your own thoughts and plans (along with today’s communal meal and the soft feeling of the sun on your face) than listening to your father do his usual ‘yup, I’m the chief! This is my territory, what’s up?’ Greetings for the thousandth time.
“I see you, Tonowari.” “Jake sully.” Before you could relax fully, you feel the presence of your mother pass. How was that possible? Best not to think about it. Ronal was one of the most intimidating women you’ve ever met, and that wasn’t just because she was your mom. You see the way people make space for her, the way they always approach your father first in fear of your mother.
Straightening your posture with a flick of your tail before deciding to actually pay attention to the conversation.
“Why do you come to us, Jake sully.” Your father spoke. “We seek uturu.” Mom came to a halt “Uturu?!” “Yes, sanctuary for my family.” Mom didn’t seem too happy by what ‘Jake sully’ had to say. Uturu—shelter, sanctuary, a place to be safe and live for however long. Asking for something like that wasn’t taken lightly.
“We are reef people, you are forest people. Your skills mean nothing here” Father replied since Ronal started to walk through the family. Inspecting each of them, grabbing the older women’s tail—who you could now assume was Jake Sully’s wife, Neytiri. You remembered your dad speaking her name whilst greeting her.
“Their arms are thin… their tails are weak. They will be slow in the water.” Ronal spoke as she picked at each of them, eventually stopping in front of a girl, who you couldn’t remember the name of, before holding her hands up. “These children.. are not even true Na’vi!” “Yes we are!” The girl spoke back, but Ronal had already moved onto the boy that was sharing glances with Tsireya. “They have demon blood!”
At this point your gaze had faltered to the boy standing next to the one Ronal had picked to embarrass. He’s gaze wasn’t on you anymore, but rather his brother. You started to tune out the conversation as you let yourself step to the side, trying to get a fuller look at him. Just as you moved an inch, his eyes shot up to yours. Bright yellow, with unwavering confidence and no sense of embarrassment. But he was humble enough to avert his gaze.
Before you could look away once again, mother and the mother of the sully family- neytiri, had started a hissing match. Uncomfortable glances were shared between father and Jake sully. In the end, dad had the final word.
“We cannot let you bring your war here.” “I’m done with war” he explained “I just wanna keep my family safe.”
Father stared back at him before Neytiri spoke up. “Uturu has been asked.”
Your father and mother shared a glance, doing the silent conversation made up of glances and facial expressions. You had no concern. Sure, father could sometimes make confusing calls and mother can be harsh but… things always work out. You had no reason to fret.
“My son Aonung, and our daughters Teyra and Tsireya will teach your children what to do.” You faltered, and it seemed you weren’t the only one taken back by this statement as Aonung tried to fight back. Only to be shut down with a word from your father.
Teach? Them? It wasn’t troublesome to teach kids—and the sully family’s skill level was way below the average Metkayina child—but as the eldest, you already had a handful of chores. You didn’t want to spend all day sitting in the water trying to teach someone the basic needs to survive.
Now that you said it in your head, sitting in the water all day didn’t sound too bad. It was better than most of your chores anyways.