Moon Child

02

{The Chief's Daughter}

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"What is your name?" Ixchel asked the oldest daughter as they all rested on the beach. They had been swimming for hours and the new children were in need of a break.

"Kiri," she mumbled, playing with the ends of her hair.

"That is a beautiful name," Ixchel smiled. "May I touch your hair, Kiri? It's very pretty." The girl nodded and Ixchel touched the top of her head, playing with a few strands of her hair. "It's not curly, that so interesting."

"Yeah, well—" Kiri held up her hand, wiggling her five fingers. "I'm not really full Na'vi, so...my hairs like my mom's."

"Your mother is from the Sky?" Ixchel asked, sitting up completely straight. "That is so exciting! What was she like? I'm sure she was very pretty like you."

Kiri shrugged, "I never got to meet her...but she was very pretty. I see her all the time. Or I used to. Back home."

"Do you miss your home?" Kiri nodded. "I've always wanted to visit your land, it sound so beautiful from what I've heard. All those trees, the grass."

"But the water is nice here," Kiri explained, running her finger through the sand. "It's so beautiful down there, I think I could stay for hours."

"You think you could breath under there...for hours?" The youngest son walked over, sitting in front of the two girls. Kiri laughed at his exhausted state. "I can't breath for more than five minutes."

"I have explained to Lo'ak that he must control his breathing, but his heart beats too fast," Tsireya explained as she sat down with them. "You shouldn't mind Roxto. He had to learn too."

"What, is he messing with you?" Ixchel asked. "The next time he does, you should tell him about the time he fell off his ilu—I think it was last week. He was riding and ran straight in some coral, flew off of his seat!"

"Oh, he'll curse you for saying that, Ixchel."

"Yes, well he has no reason to be a bully. Just following his mean older brother who also...is a huge softie, Aonung. He just isn't a people person is all. He'll come to like you all, don't worry."

"Oh, sister, we forgot to show them the ilus!" Tsireya laughed. "They are the best part! They're much like your...oh, wiya...I can't remember the word, I'm sorry."

"They're ikran. I think."

"Yes, ikran." The oldest brother walked up, standing behind Lo'ak to block the sun from the group sitting down. "You know a lot about the Omatikaya?"

"Yes, Ixchel is very well-versed in your culture," Tsireya doted. "She's always teaching me new stuff."

"Not very well-versed," she protested. "I know a little."

"Let us show them the ilus, sister." Tsireya helped Lo'ak up, waving over her brothers and Tuk, who was playing just by the shore. "Come, faza'u. You must see them, come."

The oldest boy helped Ixchel up as the others ran off to the docks. The girl smiled as she stood, holding his hands up. This surprised him, but he let her examine his fingers, watching her expression as she did so."