𝗧𝗘𝗖𝗔𝗡𝗗𝗔 | 𝙣𝙚𝙩𝙚𝙮𝙖𝙢 𝙭 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙭 𝙖𝙤'𝙣𝙪𝙣𝙜

01.

"AGAIN! GET UP!" The shouts of the Chief echoed through the marui pod.

His posture was straight, back never bent, palms rested against his knees as he sat. His eyebrows raised and his tatted chest heaved up and down while breathing slowly as his eyes roamed on the figure who lied helplessly on the ground. Moments later, his eyes laid on another na'vi who stood tall, opposite of the one lying on the floor. Their knife that was once out slowly made its way back into its pouch. The standing figure sighed, bending down to the other na'vi who was trying their best to get up.

"I think it is time we rest, sir." The Metkayinan boy who was still faced down on the ground spoke.

"Rest?" The Chief questioned. "My daughter has only just begun her training and you request rest? Not being able to admit defeat is shameful. You are welcome to leave the pod, Kä'ey."

The standing figure, Leyra, only watched as the boy beneath her struggled to get up. Reaching for his forearms, her father's voice had put her in a halt.

"Leave him, Leyra. Let him get up."

She sighed, fixing her posture, still watching the boy get up.

As Kä'ey got up, he looked at Leyra, he only smiled at her weakly; his teeth blood stained shun as she cringed mentally.

"My apologies, Kä'ey." Bowing her head down. Seeing his scratched forearms and bruised shoulder.

Still smiling, he turned his back awkwardly and left the Chief's marui pod.

She sighed and looked towards her father's direction. "I do not think it is a good idea to go full out during this type of training, father. This can injure warriors we may need if war is to come-"

"Then how will anyone know if they are fit to fight? You should have made him bleed more. Our marui floors are clean. No sign of blood-shed. You are to know about the realities of war and how the sky people will show no mercy. The reality of how sky people are. We never know when it could happen, but we will stay prepared." He shook his head disappointingly.

"Tomorrow, your training is two hours before eclipse. Have Ao'nung and Roxto there with you." He explained.

The Chief finished with his words stood up. Walking right up to where his daughter was, glaring down at her. "Do not disappoint me, Leyra."

"Yes, sir."

"Now, go feed the ilus near the reef."

Leyra nodded, hurrying her steps out of the pod that her father owned.

-

"So, you're here to see me I assume, Ley?" A voice spoke, a smirk creeping onto his lips.

"Do not be foolish, Ao'nung. To you, I am Leyra, not Ley and I am here to seek your father." The stern girl stood eye to eye with the taller Metkayinan boy.

"Well here's a younger version of him! Even better for you. How may I help you, dear?" Grinning from ear to ear with a hint of mischievous.

"Humorous, really. Where is your father?"

"Well," Ao'nung peeked into his shared pod, pretending to look around the big space. "There's no sign of him here, Ley."

Lying through his teeth, as if the first glance anyone would have taken if they walked through his pod was to see his father sleeping soundly on the ground.

"Just I. My father had left to put up his market before sunrise had begun." He looked down at the na'vi girl.

"Lies. I went to search for your father near the market. He is not there, Ao'nung. I need fish for the ilus near the reef."