Neteyam

Toe Dip

Tuk eagerly pulled the older girls towards the tent. Creatures with long necks were investigating the new people by stretching their heads onto the path. Viryn watched them curiously as they made a series of clicks and high pitched rumbling noises. "Those are ilu, you'll get to meet them soon." Tsireya the Olo'eyktan's daughter helped them transport their things to the tent as well as her brother. Merq'ena looked over her shoulder to see him looking  at them but quickly changing the direction of his eyes when she turned. The walk to the tent was quick. It was one close to the Sully's but still separate. "I love them! They're so cute and they take you where you want to go." Tuk giggled. "You ride them?" Merq'ena looked at the ilu following them. "Yes, they're quite friendly as you can tell." Tsireya smiled showing off her dimples. Merq'ena nodded with a smile. "Your house is here." Aonung said as he quickened his ice to be at the front." The homes were right above the water with open walls that let in the light and would probably made exiting really easy. "Just put your stuff down, you can unpack after we get you started." He lowered the larger bag full of Viryn's weaving equipment and other things onto the floor of the tent. "Right now?" She asked as she also put down her things. "Yes." The boy was hard for her to read. A mixture of curious eyes and judgemental stares.

"I'll show you!" Tuk bounced. "Actually, we have some gifts to share." Jake and Neytiri entered the tent and put down the last of their things. Viryn walked over to the bag Aonung put on the ground and loosened the strap that had tightly closed the lip of the pack. "For Neytiri." She held up the canvas of the soul tree. Viryn had spent the time keeping watch to fix the colours back into the right sections. The beading and the stains now matched. She held out the canvas to Neytiri. Viryn swallowed as she watched the woman's face go through a series of emotions, but she was happy to see joy being that last one. "Thank you." Neytiri smiled. Merq'ena reached into the bag and held out small case. Tsireya and Aonoung looked at it suspiciously since it did not look to be made by Na'vi hands. "It's safe, we flew across the ocean with this thing." Merq'ena handed it to Kiri. The younger girl blinked and slowly opened it. There was a display inside. "Norm says to press that button." Merq'ena pointed at a small lift on the side of the sleek design. Kiri followed instructions and pressed it making the tablet light up. A hand went to cover her mouth. "Mom." "You wouldn't be able to see her as often, so." Kiri hugged Merq'ena tightly before moving to hug Viryn too. "Thank you." She looked down at the video of Grace Augustine speaking to the camera in English. Still nonsense to the other girls but it was for Kiri so what did it matter.

"Here's Lo'ak's." Merq'ena pulled out a bright red scale that was made into a necklace. "Your friends wanted me to give it to you. A joke that you share." Lo'ak looked at the scale and rubbed his thumb against it. "We can't forget Tuk." Viryn knelt down and pulled out a wooden carving of a direhorse. It was small and simple but the wood was smooth and came straight from the mountains. "From home, and look." Viryn shifted the box so that a small opening was revealed. At that moment there was only a single smooth stone but there was room for more." Tuk gasped in delight. "Thanks!" Viryn stood up and pulled up a large knife and offered it to Jake. She held it up with her palms up for him to take. "A gift from the Olo'eyktan of the Omaticaya. He sends you well wishes." Jake looked at the knife and paused. "I'm done fighting." Viryn smiled. "Then I suppose you will never have to see its blade." Jake took the handle and felt the weight of the weapon. It was well made and the handle felt right in his hands. Viryn turned to Neteyam. "I'm happy enough as it is." He grinned at her. "I didn't fly across the ocean with this thing for you to not take it." Viryn lifted a brace from the bag and offered it to Neteyam. "You were working on that before I left." He whispered.

"And now that I'm finished I would be honoured to have you wear it." Neteyam stood up from leaning against the frame of the tent and held out his forearm. Viryn rolled her eyes but complied. She loosened the leather strings to fit it over his hand and onto his arm. He had one on the other already so she tried to make it a little similar. The design now displayed the light. It was a simpler brace, it was layered with sheets of hard leather but small bone beads were embroidered into the grooves. A few teeth were places by the ridges to be used in tactical im situations. Viryn turned his wrist over so she could tighten it to fit him. "Are you done?" Aonung asked with a hand held up. "Yes." Merq'ena narrowed her eyes but remained civil. Tsireya gently smacked her brother on the arm but smiled to the family. "Whenever you are ready." "No no." Viryn crossed her arms. "It seems that your brother is eager to get a move on. Best not test his lack of patience." Aonung narrowed his eyes which the girls met head on. He was not dead to the snark in their tone. "Come on, there's so much to see."