Shells | Lo'ak Sully

Part 13 - Tulkun

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A few more days went by, the Tulkun were still circling the same spots around the reef, wanting to play with their Spirit-Sisters and Brothers for longer, which Tsireya had explained. It meant that a Na'vi and a Tulkun could bond, creating a spiritual connection between the two, allowing them to converse as if speaking the same language.

During one of the days where Ni'teya was still supposed to stay within the hut, Tsireya and Aonung came by with different types of fruits to eat and ointments to try on the wound, which Ni'teya gladly accepted. Tsireya made sure to not include the pinky-purple berries, as she remembered how sour Ni'teya was towards them.

On another day, Ni'teya was left alone once again as the Sully family had to meet elsewhere to go and speak to the rest of the Metkayina clan after there'd been word of the Sky-People attacking clans along the reefs.

She'd yet again decided she was done with staying inside and attempted to sneak out of the hut for a small venture, knowing the Sully's wouldn't be back for a good while. Whilst stepping out of the hut however, Ni'teya's foot had gotten caught on the way down the steps, causing her to trip up and fall onto her arms. Her wound stung, and she knew it would hurt even more to try and get up from such an awkward position. So, she did the stupid thing and attempted to get up from said awkward position, getting caught by Lo'ak who had forgotten something in his own hut.

From then onwards, Lo'ak and Ni'teya were inseparable the whole time. They'd eat together, collect shells together, all sorts. Despite looking content with each other's company from a distance, the reality was much more frightening.

Ni'teya was being held captive, it seemed.

She'd be forced to stay and watch as Lo'ak went out to catch fish, having to stay with him the whole time as he cooked it and then proceed to eat with him too. They'd argue a lot, Ni'teya constantly asking Lo'ak to 'stop being so clingy' to which he'd deny all traces of.

Because of this, Ni'teya was having to spend less and less time with Kiri, and eventually, none at all. Ni'teya desperately tried to change this, however Lo'ak was adamant that she needed to stay with him in case of "accidents". It lead Ni'teya to question if Lo'ak was okay himself, knowing that he'd never wanted to stick around her for this long before.

Kiri had spotted them a few times, getting nearer to see if Ni'teya would beckon her over, however whenever Ni'teya did try to do just that, Kiri would already be turned away from her. This had happened so many times that it became routinely, and Ni'teya had just about had enough of it.

So, while she and Lo'ak were walking through the village one afternoon, Ni'teya decided to put her plan into action. She pointed in front of Lo'ak and away from her own direction, shouting "Look! Sky-People!" and darting off as soon as he checked.

She was gone, Ni'teya had rushed off to find Kiri, who she found crouched down near a puddle of water in the jungles that were behind the village. She wasn't alone, Tuk was with her, distracted by some funny looking flowers.

"Kiri! Kiri, please hide me!" She whisper-yelled, grabbing on to her friend's forearms and shaking them, her eyes wide and her breathing uneasy. "He won't leave me alone, it's like he's gone insane!" She persists, genuinely worried for her own safety.

Kiri looks over her troubled face, confirming that Ni'teya was telling the truth, making her attempt to hold back her desperate need to laugh at what she was saying about her brother.

She covers her mouth with her hand which was now free from Ni'teya's harsh grip, letting out a chuckle which her friend picked up on. "What's so funny? I'm being hunted here!" Ni'teya whisper-yells once again, distressed.