alien; lo'ak

⥤ Chapter Eight : Adaptation ⥢

⥤ Chapter Eight : Adaptation ⥢

(Y/N) returns to her human body that night. She makes her video diary, before eating alone in Spider's bed. She still misses her brother.

Norm goes to watch her video diary, and takes notes of the chilling details of her Avatar's body adapting to 'a new aquatic environment'. (Y/N) doesn't mention her or Jake's location, for his privacy.

Norm calmly walks around the lab, thinking deeply about the science of everything. He wonders, "How could her Avatar — who's been created with forest Na'vi DNA — adapt so well to the water? How could her body change?" He figures it's because she took her Avatar so soon, allowing it to adapt so easily for survival.

He finally finds the teen. He's saddened to see her on Spider's bed.

"We all had to adapt quickly."

The next day, Tsireya and Ao'nung gather the Sully children and (Y/N) in the water. Ao'nung's friend is with him as well, Roxto.

Tuk has been excited to swim, so she jumps eagerly into the water giggling. Kiri jumps in to stay close to her. Neteyam soon follows.

(Y/N) hesitates, worried her body will react the same way it did the night before. She fears for how the others will react.

"Can't swim?" Lo'ak asks teasingly. (Y/N) doesn't know he saw her last night. She almost blushes, trying to come up with something to say.

Without a good response, she grabs Lo'ak's hand with a smile, jumping and bringing him into the water with her. The two resurface, Lo'ak still holding her hand.

"Not cool," he says laughing, gently splashing her. He realizes his other hand is still holding onto her, and he quickly lets go nervously.

"Come on!" Tsireya calls, trying to gather everyone. She dives down, ready to show them how to swim.

Lo'ak and (Y/N) swim to join Tsireya and her brother. Lo'ak almost struggles, and sees his brother resurface many times for air. Tuk can't keep up either.

"It was hard for the others to hold their breath and swim."

Lo'ak tries to swim again. He's unable to go too deep or swim too fast, before his chest aches for air again.

Before he resurfaces, Tsireya tries to encourage him. She speaks with her hands under the water, "Swim with us."

Lo'ak goes to resurface, Neteyam beside him gasping for air as well.

Ao'nung turns around, noticing no one is keeping up with him or Roxto. He goes to his sister's side. "What's wrong with them?"

Roxto joins in on teasing the new people. "They don't know how to swim underwater."

Tsireya elbows her brother, giving him and Roxto a scolding expression. "Stop. They are learning."

Ao'nung rolls his eyes, before swimming to the surface. Roxto and Tsireya follow.

"Are you alright?" Tsireya kindly checks on Neteyam, Lo'ak and Tuk.

"You're too fast!" Tuk tries her best to tread water, talk, and catch her breath. "Wait for us!"

Tsireya joins the little girl, motioning for her to calmly breathe. "Just breathe." She soothes Tuk, who is happy to meet someone so kind.

"You're not good swimmers," Ao'nung comments, frustrating the Sully brothers. "Maybe good at swinging through trees, but —" Him and Roxto try to laugh, but Tsireya isn't afraid to hit the back of her brother's head.

"Come on, bro," Lo'ak grumbles. "And we don't understand that finger talk." He tries to mimic the sign language the Metkayina use.

Neteyam looks around to make sure everyone from his group is there.

"We will teach you," Tsireya assures Lo'ak. She keeps her attention on the smallest Sully, though.

"Where's Kiri?" Neteyam asks. "And (Y/N)?"

Everyone's eyes look around for the girls, but Lo'ak turns to look for (Y/N) specifically. He thought she was right by him.

Tsireya motions for her brother and Roxto to stay, offering to find the missing teens.

Ao'nung looks at Lo'ak, seeing the teen's expression of worry for (Y/N).

"She with you?" He asks.

Lo'ak begins to stutter, which makes Neteyam smile. "She's n-not with-  She's with us. But she's not with-"

His nervousness makes Ao'nung chuckle, but this also answers his question.

Neteyam splashes his brother, knowing his embarrassment is entertaining to their oceanic rivals.

-

Kiri does not struggle to hold her breath, as she swims through coral reefs and watches all the creatures interact with one another.

(Y/N) had originally been following Kiri, but is by herself now. Her skin is slowly turning green. Her eyes blink differently now, as they make it easier to see in the water. Her fingers connect again, the webbing making it easier for her to swim.

She loses herself, feeling free.

"It was easy adapting to the water for me, though. My Avatar changed when it was underwater for so long... It all felt amazing. I felt superhuman."

Tsireya finds (Y/N), and smiles from afar at how the girl is easily swimming and enjoying herself.

Then, she notices her skin color looks more different than 'the light hitting it differently'.

She watches (Y/N), as the girl spins and swims. She notices (Y/N) blink with eyelids similar to her own.

The Ometikaya are new Na'vi already, but (Y/N) is different.

But Tsireya is kind and welcoming to all. She's also intrigued by the girl's differences. Different can be a good thing too.