You will fall (Neteyam x OC)

CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 3
JAKE AND NEYTIRI

The next day after Sao'Nae returned from her midnight swim she snuck into the Marui before anyone was awake. The cheeky girl crawled back into bed and stared at the ceiling for about ten-ish minutes. Ten peaceful minutes before Ronal poked her head in through her door-flap, an area of the hut Tonowari made for her many years ago to celebrate her bridge from child to young adult, and began clapping her hands, " Still in bed? Up, up. You have things to do today. Gather the children of the blue people and show them our ways!" She said, shooing the girl with her hands.

Sao'Nae groaned when her mother walked away, standing from her bed and rubbing her eyes, attempting to soothe her slightly dampened curls. She exited the Marui once again, though this time though the front, and looked up at the sky. It was another beautiful day.

The sun washed over her skin and warmed her bones, sending her straight to peace. Sao'Nae loved her home. She loved Awa'atlu. She was even laced as she walked along the threaded paths between the differing huts, enjoying the weighty scent of seasonings and ocean. She only stopped when Rotxo appeared in front of her, grinning as he did any other morning.

He pushed a stray curl out of his face, "What's th deal?" He asked, knowing that Sao'Nae would understand his meaning.

The girl raised her chin, "As of now. I am unsure. I must see where they are skill-wise, and then I shall see what they can handle." She answered.

Rotxo nodded with full rapture, seeming to hesitate asking his next question, "The girl. The older one with the four fingers. What is her name?" He asked, raising his thumb to be in his mouth, nibbling at the skin.

"Kiri te Suli Kìreysì'ite." Sao'Nae answered, giving a side-eye and a smirk, "Why?" She questioned.

The boy shrugged and feigned ignorance, " No reason. She is weird. I was merely wondering if there was a name to the girl." He assured, causing Sao'Nae to glare and hit his shoulder.

"You are worse than a child with your lies. But just so you know, today you will be nice. You will not utter any insult, because if I hear it, I will be the one to put you on your ass."

Rotxo scoffed, "Remember the last time your tried that?" He asked, recalling the day before, when the Sully's had first arrived.

Sao'Nae patted the boy on his chest, "Our battle was unfinished due to my father calling us to the shore. Had we continued, I would have won." She argued, to which Rotxo smiled.

"Now look who is telling lies, Nae-Nae."

The girl let out a hiss and pushed her friend off the woven path, watching as he landed gracefully in the waves, swimming down and then up, reappearing like he had done so many times before. No matter how much Sao'Nae pushed, Rotxo always came back.

Sao'Nae rolled her eyes upon seeing his smirk and kept walking, placing her hands in front of her, her fingers fumbling with the many different waist beads around her belly, before approaching the Sully's Marui. She stepped into the entry with her head held high, seeing the main area with Neytiri sat in front of a fire, poking the kindling flames and humming a beautiful song beneath her breath. The woman glanced up upon hearing Sao'Nae.

"I'm here for your children. My name is---"

Neytiri gave a gentle smile, " Sao'Nae. Eldest daughter of Tonowari and Ronal. It's a pleasure to meet you, young one." She said, waving the girl to sit beside her, "They will be out soon. Ma Jake is talking to them....." She said.

Slowly Sao'Nae sat next to Neytiri on her knees, staring into the fire and watching it devour the small twigs of mangrove wood. The Omatikayan woman smiled and tilted her head at Sao'Nae, " So, you're the daughter of the mighty Ronal? Tsahìk of the reefs?" She asked.

Sao'Nae tried not to show too much pride as she nodded and straightened her posture, "Yes. My mother is Ronal of Awa'atlu, head Tsahìk of this great ocean. I can only hope to uphold her title once I inherit the honor of Tsahìk..." The girl said politely, bowing her head as she explained to the woman in front of her. Neytiri watched as Sao'Nae inhaled deeply, smiling at the smell of salt and the sounds of outside laughter.

"I'm sure you'll be a good." Neytiri spoke.

Before Sao'Nae could find the time to reply, Jake and his children entered the room, surprised to see the eldest child of the chieftain sitting in their living room. Lo'ak nudged Neteyam and smirked, to which the boy glared and playfully punched his arm.

Jake cleared his throat, "Uhhh. Hi? You'reeeee Sao'Nae, daughter of the chief, right?" He asked awkwardly, and unbeknownst to him, the girl hated that she was only known by her parents. It was clear he had trouble remembering the girl's name, but thanks to his wife mouthing it from behind, was able to answer.

Sao'Nae stood up and nodded her head with a smile, ignoring the slight bitterness in her heart, "Yes. And you are Jakesully. The mighty Toruk Makto. Fighter of the clans. Rider of the last shadow." She greeted, bowing her head, "It's a pleasure to meet you."

Jake seemed surprised as he rubbed the nape of his neck, "Just Jake will be just fine, I am no chief now." He said with modesty, "Here are my kids. If they give you any trouble let me know and I'll straighten them out for you." He said, and as he said this his youngest son grumbled and rolled his eyes.

Sao'Nae scoffed and looked the four up and down.

"I doubt they'll give me enough trouble that I can't straighten them out myself." She said with a sure known look of reassurance.

Lo'ak titled his head and narrowed his brows, "Don't be so sure, Tanhì."

Sao'Nae smirked and thought about all the ways she could make his life awful with the Metkayina...though she found Lo'ak lucky that she was a kind person and a generous future tsahìk. She simply stared at the boy before glancing at the others, looking Neteyam up and down before stopping at Tuk, the youngest.The child looked nervous, her tail tucked between her legs and wrapping around her tight. She clung to her brother like he was her lifeline and this caused Sao'nae to frown.

It must've been so scary...

To be uprooted from your home and sent thousands of miles across the ocean where you know no-one. Having almost nothing. Sao'Nae too would've been scared just as any. Defiant and determined but scared beneath layers of rage.

She sighed and waved her hand, "Small one, please come." She said, watching as the child glanced at her parents unsurely. Jake nodded with a smile, a look of expectance in his eyes that reminded me of my own parents.

The small Tuk slowly walked to stand in front Sao'Nae, ignoring the stares of her family, and looked up through her braids, "Yes...?" She asked politely, her voice hardly louder than a fan-lizard during its rotation.

Carefully Sao'Nae reached for the girls arm, lifting it as gentle as a an out-of-season flower. Tuk did nothing to fight but did stare in confusion at the girl. Sao'Nae felt the child's growing muscles. She was still weak. Still small. Smaller than any of the Metkayina children at her age. Then, Sao'Nae reached for the child's tail, feeling its thin build and gentle whip.

Ronal was right. Even Tuk would be slow in the water.

" You are small, and you are lean." Sao'Nae whispered, ignoring the stares of the other Sully's.

Sao'Nae watched as Tuk tried to look away, almost as if ashamed of her meager frame. The older girl shook her head and used two fingers to lead the little ones eyes back to her own, "That is not bad. You were made for jumping between tall and winding trees. Now you will be good for hunting in small spaces underwater. You will be able to hunt things the other Metkayina's would find difficult...Do not ever be ashamed of being different. Use it. Embody it." Tuk stared in quietly at the curly haired Na'vi, causing Sao'Nae to grin and leaned towards her ear, "Eywa lives in all, big or small."

Neteyam just stared at the daughter of the chief, also smiling at his sister. Seeing how she was bringing such hope to the little girl. Like a skipping stone disappearing beneath shouting waves, Tuk's fear of being somewhere new vanished into thin air. Now the little girl stood with her chest puffed out, her held high.

Jake and Neytiri glanced at one another and then at their eldest son. A look of remembrance flashed in their eyes and one sentence rang through their heads...

"Eywa, not again."