Avatar, don't play with fire

4

I felt someone shake me, I opened my eyes and Lo'ak was crouched beside me.

"Wake up, it's time," he whispered.

"What are you doing here? I gasped but he placed his hand over my mouth so as not to make any noise.

"Shhh, you don't want to wake up your parents" my eyes were wide open and I nodded and he dropped his hand "I thought it was the perfect time to go to the reefs" he continued.

"And our parents? Mine will be worried".

"I'll bring their little girl back," he teased before walking out of the room.

I rolled to my feet and joined him at the exit of the crater, he put on his head a visor and saddled his ikran, I analyzed the object on his head which looked familiar.

"It belonged to Neteyam" I said softly as I approached him.

He turned his head to look at me, "Yeah, how did you know?

"I don't know, I just feel it.

"You know you scare me" he let out a little laugh.

« You better me » I smiled back.

"The ride will be long, we'll have to sleep there" he let out quickly as he turned to his mount to finish tying his gear.

"You're going to get me in trouble Lo'ak".

" Shut up and get on if you will " Lo'ak climbed on his ikran and gave me his hand to climb, I took it and sat behind him and put my hands on his sides.

Before leaving he took my hands and placed them on his belly "You should hold on" I heard him say before taking off. It was my first time on an ikran and I tightened my arms around him, surprised by the power of the wind on my skin. I looked down and the landscape was beautiful and seeing the village from this height was something else, I was not used to this view.

"Is this your first time on an ikran?" he said loudly in front of me so I could hear him.

"Yeah!" I answered, I spoke close to his ear so he could hear me.

"Why?"

"I never had a chance."

"You should definitely get one!" he turned his head to the side to try to see me in the corner of his eye.

"Maybe" I smiled as I enjoyed the scenery.

The trip took us a very long time, Lo'ak showed me the beauties of Pandora, pointing out some animals or landscapes that we could see from above. By the time we reached Awa'atlu there were only a few hours left before the eclipse.

I got off the ikran followed by Lo'ak and a group of teenagers from the clan came towards us.

"Lo'ak!" the only girl in the group exclaimed and threw herself on the boy beside me. The interaction between the two made me feel uncomfortable, who is she?

"Tsireya this is Äära" Lo'ak cleared his throat as the girl pulled away from him.

"I see you" she said with a big smile as she gestured towards me. I didn't do anything, but Lo'ak's jostling forced me to make the gesture in return.

Then two other boys came up behind and greeted Lo'ak "Aonung, Rotxo, this is Äära, the daughter of the Magmawati chief.

The one named Rotxo made the same respectful gesture but the other boy analyzed me from top to bottom without even a smile. I looked at him the same way, maintaining eye contact with him before Lo'ak spoke.