𝐋𝐈𝐓𝐓𝐋𝐄 𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐎𝐍 • 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐲𝐚𝐦 𝐒𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐲

setting the sun²

   chapter two
[ setting the sun ]

     Nakili and Ao'nung walk towards Tsireya, Rotxo, and all the dark blue children. they all looked to be getting along quite well.

the two caught Tsireya's eyes. "Kili, Ao'Nung. meet Tuk, Kiri, Lo'ak, and Neteyam." Tsireya introduced all to the two standing in front of her.

"it's an honor to meet you all. i'm Nakili, this is piss-log." she joked about her brothers name and tapped his shoulder with the back of her hand, the others snickering at the name.

Ao'Nung scoffed and threw his hands out. "no, it's actually Ao'Nung. greetings." the boy smiled sarcastically. "thanks a lot, Kili." he gritted through his teeth, and Nakili, but subtly, stuck her tongue out at him.

"how about we see what these jungle freaks can do?" Rotxo interrupted as all turned to him. he was looking at Lo'ak's tail, and he made it quite obvious.

"Rotxo. what did they tell you? brother and sister." Nakili defended their name when nobody else said anything.

"yeah. brother and sister." Tuk stuck her tongue out. Nakili and Tsireya wanted to giggle at that, however the timing wasn't right to laugh. Nakili only smiled a toothy smile, it wasn't a big smile, it was subtle. much like her mere existence.

"Tuk." Kiri warned. she only warned because her father granted her a duty. Kiri, she had a smile on her face too. she was only doing her job.

"what?" scoffed Tuk.

Nakili exhaled as she began towards the water. "shall we swim now?" her thick accent caught everyone's attention. Nakili shrugged and dove into the water. Neteyam looked at Lo'ak before turning back and jumping into the water soon after Nakili. then Lo'ak ran to the water, then Tsireya, right along with Ao'Nung, and Rotxo waited to jump in the water with Kiri and Tuk.

Nakili swam under water, deep she was. Nakili was an amazing swimmer. much like everyone else, she acquired amazing strength and could hold her breath a long time.

Nakili watched as the Na'vi swam back up to the surface. but she had also began to examine their being. first, Kiri. Nakili noticed that for the most part, when she wasn't with Tuk, she was in her own world. Kiri didn't need to be protected. her mind was also on the little picture, and Nakili admired it greatly.

then she watched Lo'ak. he reminded her of Ao'Nung. how he had his posture and the way he spoke of such words; particularly how he presented himself. however, Nakili could tell by just looking at him, that there was something else to him that a soul of insight could hardly make out; there was something that only insiders could truly see.

then Neteyam. Neteyam was a great brother. she could tell by the way he was always by his siblings side. mostly Tuk. he too, was hard to read. but, Nakili could tell that Neteyam was a sun peeking over the horizon, with a heart of gold, tired is he. but with a big heart it gets heavy, and you may feel it weighs a ton—Nakili could tell that Neteyam was just that as she was also.

along with Nakili's aquatic adaptation and responsibility, she would call herself an empath.

looking over at Ao'nung and Rotxo, Nakili watched as they did sign language to them saying 'what are the animals doing?'

'not animals.' Nakili signed back as she watched them at the edge of the water, breathing oxygen in which she did not need at the moment.

Tsireya shrugged. 'not sure.' her fingers spoke the words that one couldn't speak underwater.

Neteyam and Lo'ak began underneath the water once again. Nakili waved them down, and once they tried, they had to go back up. if Nakili was above the water, she would've sighed. instead she only rolled her eyes and swam in front of the others.

'we shall teach them to breath as we do.' Nakili signed. her people only looked at her as if she was speaking another language. 'yes or no.' she signed again. after a few seconds, and starting with Tsireya, they all nodded and began to swim to the surface.

they met the waters surface with the darker blue of people. "they are not good divers. maybe swinging through trees-" Ao'Nung began.

"don't." Nakili splashed her brother with water as Tsireya hit him in his head. the smile on his face faded as he looked over at his sister's.

"come on, bro." Lo'ak exhausted in sync with Nakili.

"we don't speak this... finger talk. we don't know what you're saying." Neteyam pointed out.

"we will teach you." Tsireya said, referring to Nakili and herself. Nakili nodded.

they pulled themselves onto the cool sand and the Na'vi did too. "the sun in setting." Ao'Nung stated as his teal eyes reflected off the warm sun.

Nakili flicked her dreads over her shoulder as she stood beside Lo'ak. "in the morning, we will teach you to breathe." she assured.

"i can breathe." Tuk grabbed Kiri's hand and shrugged.

"no, little one, to breathe the way of the water." Nakili put her hands on her knees in front of Tuk and smiled as she spoke.

Nakili was the girl version of Ao'Nung. everyone knew that. they looked the same, sounded the same, they were even the same height, same age. only difference was Ao'Nung was one to laugh and make fun of other when he felt the time was right. Nakili would never do and act of such. he was still her best friend though, and no matter how bad he or others thought he was, he listened to Nakili.

"impossible." Tuk rejoiced. Nakili laughed and stood back up straight.

the others laughed bit. "go get some rest, you all." Ao'Nung insisted.

as everyone began towards the maruis homes, Kiri jumped in front of Nakili. "hi." was all she said.

"oh. hi." Nakili smiled with her teeth.

"can you teach me to breathe now?" Kiri spoke fast with a smile on her porcelain lips.

Nakili's eyes widened. "now?" she squinted, but still keeping the smile to hide her concern.

Nakili knew that one shouldn't be scared of the ocean, however Kiri, she was new and Nakili would hate for Kiri to be in trouble on her second day here.

"yes. the sun is setting and last night, i thought the water looked pretty in the dark." Kiri seemed truly fascinated by the ocean. and to Nakili, she thought it was great.

"are you sure?" Nakili tilted her head down slightly.

"yes." Kiri nodded.

Nakili exhaled and looked down. she then looked back up. "okay." she nodded. she stood for a second, Kiri's eyebrows raised. "here." Nakili placed two fingers on Kiri's stomach. "breathe through your stomach. it's the easiest way," she then placed her hand on Kiri's heart. "and slow your heartbeat." Kiri nodded and closed her eyes in concentration. Nakili felt her heartbeat slow. "good." Nakili whispered. she removed her hands from Kiri and smiled. Nakili thought that Kiri was a fast learner. "i'd say you're ready. you could still use some practice, though. to be safe." Nakili smiled.

"thank you." Kiri giggled, rather eager to swim now.

"be careful." it came out as a question, but Nakili would say that she was simply being nice.

"of course."

a/n
as i've said. twelve minutes

xoxo-birdie