The Sullys stick together ⤝Avatar The Way of Water⤞

Chapter 16: There is a wall between us.

At the arrival of the tulkun there seemed to be an environment of joy surrounding the village. Aonung even became considerably nicer to the Sullys. Liläk took some time to go fly on Pìwopx as she had left her a bit on the side with all the Tulkun joy. Neteyam and Lo'ak joined Liläk and the three flew around the skies above the seas happily.

After Payakan, Lo'ak couldn't shake the feeling that nothing would ever come close to the connection he had with him, flying on his ikran confirmed that to him. He had decided that he was going to go talk to him when he had the chance...he needed to know the true story, the real reason why his friend couldn't share with the other Tulkun. But, he still enjoyed flying with his siblings.

Liläk knew that nothing would ever come close to flying to her. Swimming was nice, once in a while, but the forest and its ways still had her heart, she doubted that it would ever leave her. The sea she could get used to, but it would never be her real home.

Neteyam flew quietly alongside his brothers. He didn't care if it was flying or swimming, he enjoyed taking the time to be with them, to stop being the warrior, the perfect son...with them he could just be himself, no explanations.

They returned home as they giggled and teased each other. Things were starting to feel a little bit more like normal ever since the Tulkuns came home, maybe the happiness of the village was contagious.

Back home, Jake and Neytiri laughed as they enjoyed the time alone. They were happy too...but Neytiri's heart was undecided, Tonowari's proposal still arriving to her thoughts every once in a while. Her smile faded away as she became serious.

-We have to talk about it...-She told Jake softly.

-About what?-He asked worriedly.

-Liläk.-she replied. It was as if a cold wave of air installed itself in the room. As if she was summoned by her name, Liläk and her brothers were just about to get in the house when Lo'ak, who was in the lead, held his hand to command them to stop. Listening intently.

-I thought we had agree we wouldn't do it.-Jake said, his voice strained.

-Why did you think that?-Their mom asked, almost curiously.

Liläk, Neteyam and Lo'ak sat quietly. Liläk couldn't shake the feeling of deja vu that hit her as they did. She remembered the night they heard their parents argue as they decided they would leave...Had something happened? What in the world were they talking about?

-On principle alone.-Jake raised his voice a bit.-Aonung is an asshole for all I know...

-What about what Ronal said? What about Neteyam and Liläk's right?!-The mentioned shared a look at their mother's words.

-I'm not going to sell my daughter to the first person who offers their hand to her! She's too young, she's a kid!-Their father said, decidedly.

-It is the way here. I was her age when I was betrothed to Tsu'tey.-Neytiri said harshly. Liläk's heart dropped.

-Exactly! And she's just like you, you don't think she's going to find someone else regardless of who we pair her up with?! If anything it's stupid that we're even having this conversation.-Their father yelled. Liläk suddenly became nervous. They were speaking about her, they were speaking about pairing her up with someone and Aonung had been mentioned earlier. Neteyam and Lo'ak looked at their sister intently, searching for some type of sign of how she was feeling with the conversation.

-So we should ignore our duty then? To the people, to her birth right?-Their mom continued. Her voice urgent.

-I don't think taking a decision this big for her is what we should do. She hates Aonung, he called Kiri a freak and bothered her siblings...she has hit him like six times since we've been here, come on!-She couldn't believe her ears. The clarity of the situation daunting to her. She couldn't believe her parents were even considering such a thing and it hurt her that they were discussing it behind her back, with no regard for her feelings or her voice in the whole deal.