Through The Valley • Ao'nung

Chapter XVII

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̶̶̶̶  «̶ ̶̶̶ ̶ «̶ ̶̶̶ 　 Patience       ̶ ̶»̶ ̶̶̶ ̶ »̶ ̶̶̶  

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The way back to the shore seemed shorter on the Tsurak as it pushed itself further in the wind instead of the water. She noticed the animal didn't go as high as her Ikran but only lightly hovered over the sea and couldn't help but think at what these people were missing. 

The group of other fishermen joined behind them not too long after and they all arrived at the discharge post were all fish were stored safely. The chief of Metkayina and her own father not too far from them to not notice the young girl sticking out between the adults. 

More clan members and their kids joined the spot, helping them unload and see what had been caught that day. When the girl held the bag filled of Uhu from Ateyo, who passed it over to her, she was about to put it next to the other baskets filled with the fresh fish, but noticed the attention the object in her hand had attracted. 

The chief had started following Jake who was making his way towards his daughter who he hadn't seen returning home with her siblings, but was delayed from questioning her by Ateyo himself who greeted the highly respected man which he had to respond to. 

"Dad! look," the girl held the heavy net up to show and Ateyo addressed the chief by waving him over as well "fresh Uhu," Tonowari observed from next to the father and Jake's wrinkles on is head smoothed out as he noticed the chief's interested look.

"your daughter has fishermen hands, sir" Ateyo had made it to her side and patted the girl's back once. 

"Is this you?" Tonowari raised his eyebrows looking down at the small girl and he took notes on her anatomy. The girl was lean, but had muscle, round shoulders and a strong core as she held up the burdensome net. 

She nodded humbly and felt a spark of pride through her body as he tilted his head intrigued and looked at her father. "well," Ateyo cut off an length of thin rope before grabbing the bag from the girls hands and taking a handful of the red colourful fish out and tying their tails together. "finders, keepers." he handed the couple of fish to the girl who handed him the bag to put with the rest. 

"You could be teaching your father next." Tonowari joked as the girl walked towards his father side and passed the dead animals to him. Jake exhaled a laugh as the girl was ready to end the day. "Well done, At'anau." The girl ears twitched as the older chief voiced her accomplishments when she passed him and she bowed her head lightly in gratitude for the acknowledgement. 

The father walked with his daughter towards the marui pods and before she could forget the man who had the faith and patience to teach her, she searched for his eyes in the crowd and dipped her head to him, greeting in thankfulness. 

The man who caught the sight smiled genuinely at the kid before nodding in appreciation. And so the two separated, an envious boy between them eyeing the fish he never seemed to get his hands on in the years he had been trained as the chief's son unlike the girl who hadn't even been here for a month. 

At'anau followed behind her father who held the fish high up in the air as he walked in their pod. "Your sister brought dinner." Jake announced to the whole family, who looked up at the animals dangling together. Neytiri watching with a smile as she had already started a fire. The youngest sibling asking her father frantically to give her a closer look. 

The huntress herself entered the room and was greeted by her mother first, her cheeks pressed against hers lovingly as she could see the fatigue in her daughter's eyes. 

Kiri who finished the side dish preparations turned towards her big sister "Where'd you get those?" She questioned as the girl sat down next to the oldest brother who moved to give her more space to. 

"At the sea terraces, a man taught me." The girl kneaded the muscles behind her shoulder as best as she could and watched their mother clean the fish without wasting a second, cutting it open and throwing out its intestines before cleansing the remaining crimson colour out and lathering it in different herbs. 

At'anau overheard her father talk about how the chief told him the status of the fish and their likeliness to catch with a throwing net, but overlooked the hidden complement more focused on pressing around the muscles in her back as they had started aching by the force she had been putting on them. 

The eldest of the boys noticing this removed the girl's hand and asked where the ache precisely bloomed from before moulding the knots out of his sister's muscles. 

"You went beyond the reef?" Lo'ak won their father's immediate attention with the words and the girl glared at him "no," she scolded, averting for a second to her father's keen eyes "it's literally two dives from here." she didn't dare to look at her father in case he was doubtful. 

you idiot, her eyes screamed at her brother who couldn't help but laugh at his own teasing. "what you think she's a lunk like you?" the father spoke up again, noticing his daughter's smile between the discomfort as the youngest son shut down. "But I'd do like to know when you come home later than the rest, okay?" Jake directed the girl to which she nodded, ignoring the word he used for their residence. 

At'anau didn't want to admit it, but she was growing fond of the attention being charged at her that evening for something she had done on her own. She loved and absolutely adored being by her brother's side and missed him on her quest today, but couldn't help feeling like she had finally achieved something by herself for once. 

Just like when they were younger she was going to tell him everything from every word being said to every idea being thought that day. Including her future plans to ride one of the Skimwings and how she was going to make it work even if it had to be behind one's back. 

She didn't dare ask her father to allow seeking her Ikran yet, as it wouldn't be smart with the eyes searching for her in the sky and too soon since their department from home to not sound ungrateful of what they were offered by the Metkayina.

So for now, she would behave as was scheduled and earn her parents' ease and trust so they would comfortably turn a blind eye that opened a door of freedom to the girl.

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ao'nung could literally never 

this was a bit of a filler, but I liked it anyway as you get a deeper insight on At'anau's personality. 

At'anau the type to sneak out in the middle of the night and come back with groceries but 5 bottles of wodka up her ass. 

fun fact: I am actually terrified of the sea, deep waters and fish I can't eat it smell it or look at it without audibly gagging and needing to hold a hand so twow was really something for me