Moon Child

03

{Exchange}

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"Neteyam!" Ixchel jumped around and through the groups of people around the bonfire, making her way to the boy. She sat down next time, looking over his plate. "You're done already!" she laughed, rubbing his back. "You must've been very hungry. You are free to get more, we have plenty."

"No, no, I've eaten enough," he assured.

"Would you like some of my vegetables, I don't like them all," she offered, showing him her plate.

"Do not give you food away, Ixch," Tsireya fussed, coming to sit with them. Lo'ak, Kiri, Tuk and Ixchel's friend Amiryat all followed behind her. "Where are your silly brothers?"

"Your brothers are over with their silly friends," Ixchel pointed, moving closer to Neteyam to make room for everyone. "Amiryat, meet my new friend, Neteyam," she introduced. "This is my friend, Amiryat, we've known each other since we were babies."

"Yes, I've been stuck with her all these years," the girl smiled, shaking the boys hand. "It's nice to meet you, 'eylan. Do not let Ixchel bully you into taking her food, she needs her nutrients."

"Oh, but I hate these vegetables, they taste like the Earth," the girl complained, shaking her head as she looked at them. "And they look gross too."

"Here, you prrnen," Tsireya sighed, taking a few of her vegetables. "You are lucky I'm kind." She turned to the little girl who had taken quite a liking to her. "Tuk, are you still hungry?"

"No, thank you."

"Are you sure, Tuk?" Neteyam asked her, nudging her foot. "You can ask for more."

"No, I'm okay," she smiled.

Ixchel liked to see the new family smiling. She even saw her father and Jake Sully bonding in the distance. And Neytiri too, chatting with another Metkayina mother. She liked to see them all get along.

She turned to Neteyam while their younger siblings spoke amongst one another. He was already looking at her when she turned, though he tried to play it off. "Your beads," she said, touching the braid that held them. "I have a few, if you'll put them in my hair."

"Sure, yeah," he nodded, watching her turn her back to him. She handed him the beads and he started to braid a small piece of her hair. He was nervous, being so close to her. Nervous that her parents would see, or her brothers. Nervous because her hair was resting on her shoulders in this very particular way that made him fail to think straight. "So...you guys use...what is it, sign language, right?"

Ixchel nodded carefully, "Just for when we're under water, yes. Sometimes, though, my siblings and I, we will use it behind our parents backs when they're yelling at us, it's fun. You'll learn it soon enough, bits and pieces."

"Do you think you could help me?" He finished off the braid with the last bead, catching his brother watching him. Lo'ak slowly turned around, trying not to laugh. "There, done."

Ixchel turned around with a huge smile on her face, "It's beautiful, Neteyam, thank you, irayo." She held up the braid, looking at it happily. "I love it, I'll have to show all of my friends tomorrow. They'll be so jealous. Now I feel that I must do something for you, in return."