𝕱𝖔𝖗𝖊𝖛𝖊𝖗 - 𝕷𝖔'𝖆𝖐

𝕿𝖜𝖔

Today was the day set for the Metkayina clan to teach the Sullys the way of water.

Naya'il, Tsireya and their brother, Ao'nug and his friend, Rotxo, were all out on a swim with the Sully children.

Naya took no time in diving first towards the water, her siblings following her. After them, the rest of the Sullys emerged into the water.

Everyone swum around for a while until all four Sullys went up, back to the surface.

Naya looks to her sister, confused while Ao'nug and Rotxo snickered at them.

Both Neteyam and Lo'ak look back down in to the water and Tsireya signed, come swim with us.

Both boys were quite confused and motioned for them to meet them up at the surface.

"They're bad divers." Ao'nug signs and Rotxo laughs.

"Stop." Naya signs, quickly. "They're learning."

All four of them swim up to meet the other four Sullys.

"What's wrong?" Tsireya questions, moving the hair out of her face.

"You guys are too fast!" Tuk exclaims. "Wait for us!"

"You guys are bad divers." Ao'nug suddenly speaks up, his bestie laughing along. Naya'il rolls her eyes at her brother.

"Look man," Neteyam says. "We don't understand this finger talk."

"Whatever you say." Rotxo laughs along with his friend.

"You both are so immature." Naya speaks up, that being the first thing she's said all day.

"Look, we'll teach you how to communicate under water. But for now, just swim with us." Tsireya smiles and all of them go underwater again.

Naya'il leads them, with Lo'ak not too far behind her. She looks back at him and he smiles at her, Naya returning the gesture with a soft smile.

They swim by many colourful coral reefs and bright plants. Naya'il suddenly stops at one of the plants.

There are jellyfish type fish swimming around. These animals help to give breath underwater.

She places one along her shoulders and then looks at Lo'ak who is carefully watching her.

She motions for him to come closer and he obeys. She places her hands on his shoulders, a touch that sent shivers down both teen's spines.

She places the fish on his shoulders.

"It gives breath." She signs. "If you're ever in danger and you need to take a breath, use one of these."

Lo'ak simply nods, not fully understanding her.

Naya'il smiles at him before they both swim back to the rest.

Later on that day, Naya'il was with Ao'nug, teaching both Lo'ak and Neteyam how to ride an Ilu.

Naya'il was saddling up an Ilu for Lo'ak first. Lo'ak watched intently as Naya prepared it for him. He then noticed her fingers. She had five, just like him.

"Your fingers." Lo'ak says, Naya'il just looks down at her fingers and sighs.

"I don't mean any disrespect." Lo'ak quickly says, unsure if he offended her or not.

"It is alright. I'm used to it." Naya'il reassures him.

"What do you mean?" Lo'ak questions.

Naya began to answer him but stops herself.

"You wouldn't understand." She states, finishing tying the Ilu.

"What if I do. Understand, I mean. I am like you. We both have five fingers." Lo'ak admits, holding his hand up to show her. "My father isn't really a Na'vi. He comes from the sky people, but he transformed and adopted into Na'vi. But my mom is a real Na'vi. And Kiri isn't my biological sister. Her mother was a scientist and did the same thing as my father. Our family adopted her as well. That's why Neteyam and Tuk have four fingers and me and Kiri have five."

Naya'il raises her eyebrows at this. She hadn't expected Lo'ak to tell her all this, they barely even knew each other.

"Thank you for sharing this with me." Naya says as she pats the Ilu. She suddenly felt the need to tell Lo'ak about herself and who she really was. She had never felt this way before.

"You don't have to tell me about your story. It is alright." Lo'ak reassures and she smiles at him.

"Thank you." She thanks, "Now, we must teach you to board the Ilu."

She tells Lo'ak the proper sitting way to board the Ilu and how to connect.

"You must make the bonds slowly." She says.

Lo'ak nods and brings his braid and connects it to the animal. It screeches, ready to throw Lo'ak off, but Lo'ak holds on tight.

"Good, now be slow, yet steady." Naya commands and Lo'ak nods. He takes off and as soon as the Ilu dives Lo'ak is thrown off.

Her brother and Neteyam laugh from behind her at Lo'ak who miserably failed and she cannot help but laugh too.

"Perhaps you must go slower this time!" Naya'il calls out and Lo'ak just grumbles. Naya laughs and swims towards him.

"Come, let us try again."