The Way of Eywa

02

The mornings were always spent with Ronal, listening to what she had to teach and Ayvey was always ready to listen, but she was always ready to leave.

'I know Tono has said to be welcoming,' Ronal finally said, 'But I want you to be cautious.'

'I doubt anything will go wrong,' she said as she looked at her.

'There has been no history of what you are,' Ronal spoke softly as she held her face, 'I do not pray anything to happen to you.'

'Nothing will,' she said with a smile.

——

She walked down the the group showing the Sully's how to ride.

'Ayvey,' Ao'nung said quickly as he said hello.

'Ao'nung,' she said as she went to stand next to him, the eyes following her.

'We are just showing them the Ilu,' Tsireya said as she helped Tuk on one.

'It is going well?,' she asked with a smile as she walked towards Tuk, the little girl looking intimidated.

Ayvey smile down at her and pushed a strand of hair out of her face, making her giggle.

'Why are two different colors?' Tuk asked making her brothers shoot a look towards her.

'It is a long story, one I will tell at a different time,' she said with a smile as she looked down at her.

'How are you both finding it?' she said as she turned towards Neteyam and Lo'ak.

'Easy,' Neteyam said quickly as he went to sit on his Ilu.

'Sure,' Tuk said making most laugh.

'You have to be gentle,' Ayvey said as she walked towards him. She adjusted his hold, 'They are more sensitive to your emotions.'

He looked up at her as she petted the Ilu.

'Go on,' Ao'nung said, an annoyed expression on his face.

Neteyam set off in the water, going faster than intended, falling off in the water. The rest of the group laughing and she sent a dirty look towards them.

'He is learning,' she said towards Ao'nung, making him roll his eyes.

'He is awful,' Ao'nung said as she looked towards him.

'You will be able to say someone is awful when you have champion beads laced in your hair,' she snapped, making Tsireya cover her laugh.

Neteyam came back to the group, Ayvey looking up at him.

'You will learn quickly,' she said as she excused herself to leave.

'She is fated to Ao'nung,' Tsireya whispered to Lo'ak, 'That is why he is angry. He can see her curiosity.'

——

Ayvey was usually nervous to walk to the hunt for the Sully's, food in her basket as a gift.

She approached and just saw the parents sitting down.

'I have brought gifts from the tribe,' she said as they looked at her.

'Thank you,' Jake said as he smiled at her, taking them out of her hands as she looked up at him.

'Tell me,' Neytiri began saying as she moved, signally for her to sit down, 'why are you to be the next Tsahik and not Tsireya?'

'Eywa lives more greatly in me,' she began saying as she watched Jake take out the gifts, 'She allows me to do such things.'

'What things?' Neytiri asked as she looked down at her.

Ayvey looked towards the opening and motioned for Neytiri to look as well. She held out her hand as the water began to climb towards them, lightly splashing Jake.

Neytiri stared down at the girl in surprise.

'Don't say I showed, Ronal doesn't like it being used to play around,' Ayvey said and Neytiri nodded.

'How are my boys doing?' she asked as Ayvey began helping her weave the baskets.

'Neteyam is learning quick, I cannot say I know how Lo'ak is doing,' she answered truthfully.

'Neteyam has taken a curiosity in you,' Neytiri said, but stopped when Jake sent her a look.

'I can say I have to, it is not everyday a Na'vi is 4 fingered.'

'It is also rare that they are both water and forest,' Neytiri said back quickly.

'Many questions it must leave us,' Ayvey said back with a smile.

——

It was dark when Ayvey left her hut, red paint stripped her body as well as Toawso's.

'Come,' she said softly as she climbed on his back.

She rode quickly through the darkness as it led her to the lit up part of the water. Many gathering around and cheering as it was now far away enough.

Many cheered from the crowd as she rode closer to the rest of the riders.

'It seems Tsireya has brought the freaks,' Rotxo said to Ao'nung, but the rest of them heard.

She turned her head and saw Neteyam, Lo'ak, and Kiri now standing with her. She waved as she saw the now glowing red paint, making her wave back.

'I could always win this bead for you,' Ao'nung said as he rode closer to her, his green paint glowing bright.

'Why would I when I can win it myself?' she smile back making him laugh.

'Welcome!' she heard Tonowari yell, making everyone cheer, 'Now we will ask the riders to dedicate their race, bring honor to themselves and their chosen!'

Ao'nung rode to Tsireya, his sister placing her handprint over his heart, as the rest of the racers went to their chosen.

'No dedication again?' Tonowari said quietly to Ayvey, making her smile. She called for Toawso to ride towards Ao'nung.

'It's impolite to say no,' she said as she stared up at Neteyam, Lo'ak trying to hide his smirk at his brother's shocked face.

He dipped his hand in the red paint and climbed down in the water with her. He placed his hand print in the center of her chest as he looked at her.

'Ready to find out what it means to win here?' she asked and he smiled at her.

He climbed back up and sat down with the rest of them.

'What does she get if she wins?' Neteyam asked Tsireya.

'The bead of a champion will be braided in her hair,' she said as the realization clicked in their heads.

'That's a lot of beads,' Kiri said as she watched her ride back to the rest.

'She usually never dedicates, as I always do for Ao'nung,' Tsireya added and Lo'ak nudged him in the side.