Surface| Neteyam

7.

We swam steadily back to where the group was waiting. I decided not to tell Kiri about the mysteries na'vi in the picture, I wanted to save it for someone else.

"You took your time," Aonung commented as we finally reached the others.

I ignored him, straining the water from my wavy hair while everyone waited for a response.

"She just took me the long way, wanted me to suffer I guess" Kiri sighed, I glanced over at her and she gave me a subtle wink.

"We'll it's almost dark" He retorted;

I shrugged while walking back to the shore as everyone else began to go their separate ways.

"You shouldn't have waited" I simply replied, he really didn't know how to drop a subject.

"I was worried, okay?"

I turned my head, at this point it was only me and Aonung in the water now, I lost my chance to talk to Neteyam and the others.

"Kiri can handle herself." He had never acted this way before and it was really getting on my nerves, if he cared so much about the forest girl's safety why didn't he go with her.

"I wasn't worried about her"

By now I had turned my whole body to face him, a small frown formed on my face,

"Im okay" I said,

I left the beach quickly, the whole situation was too bizarre and made me slightly uncomfortable.
The familiar route that led to my house made me feel uneasy, ever since the newcomers arrived everything felt different. 

I wish I could go back to that first night, I wish I never went into the sea, I wish Neteyam never ran into me with that stupid Ilu, I wish I never got entangled in all this mess, I wish Riuwe was still my friend.

No I don't wish for that last thing, in fact everything that is done is done, I played the scenario over my head a thousand times but It always ends with you, Neteyam.

"And where were you?" my father asked without looking up from his food; I knew this conversation was coming.

"Husking coconuts." I tried to say as unstifled as possible.

"Hm, you know that's really strange you say that because Srane was doing just that and she said you never showed up" My dads tone was serious, he picked up his bowl and poured the last bit of broth into his mouth.

"Now clearly there is something you're doing that you don't want me to know about."

I kept my cool, avoiding any kind of eye contact with him. If he saw my eyes for even a second he would know. I reached out for an empty bowl, a large pot sat in the middle of the room with a wooden ladle sticking out of it.

I peered inside and saw a bubbling soup, I scooped a hefty amount into my bowl and sat back down, still avoiding confrontation.

"Mmmm, clam chowder, my favorite" I drank the rest contently, I could still feel my dads harsh glare as I hurried back into my room,

"You are not leaving this pod until you tell me what's going on, the full truth!" He yelled back,

, I could hear him throwing something onto the floor as it clattered noisily.

"Father I was there, maybe Srane is getting a little mush in the head, you saw all the jelly reeds she ate the other day" I swallowed hard, trying anything to make an excuse.

"Get to your room, NOW!" He roared;

"Argh!" I stormed off and flung the curtain separating us with the makeshift wall.

I understood this "oh you need to be protected after what happened to your mother, don't want the same to happen to you" crap but it was driving me utterly insane.These- these forest freaks treated me better, at least to them I wasn't this helpless little girl with no arms, tail, or even arms!

He acts like I'm not almost seventeen, I can take care of myself, and I would show him.

That night, when the stars aligned parallel to the ocean, I took off; I strapped light gear to my waist and a small net. The only bulky item I could risk taking was my spear but it was a necessity.

That night I decided I was gonna finish what I couldn't do last time. I gripped my spear in my left hand before diving into the sea.

I wasn't just gonna kill an Akula, I would tear its skull out and drag it to the shore to let everyone see, finally wiping that goodie good smile off Riuwe's face. She got everything, the praise, the glory, the reward for running away?

I made a clicking sound with my tongue, just loud enough for Feui to hear but not enough to wake up my father. I was scared for a moment that she wasn't awake but sure enough she came swimming over.

At the sight of me, Feui started chirping and splashing water. I hadn't taken her out all day so she must have been bored.

"Shhh shh sh mawey Feui, mawey!" I tried to hush her, dunking her head underwater the slightest bit.

Eventually she got what I was implying, keeping her happiness as silent as she could. 

"Hey girl, we're going fishing" I grinned,
I made the bond and swiftly hopped onto her, leaning forward so my stomach was pressed against her back as she dove down.
She swam quickly and I had to keep myself from falling asleep while I rode her, the luminescent plants weren't helping with the whole stealth idea but no one goes this far into the water at night, right?

We slowly rose to the surface, just enough that I could bob my head over the water to take in a short breath.

As we continued north, leaving the safety of the reef I began to feel a wave of panic endorsed; the last time I was out here I fought an Akula, now I was gonna finish the job.

Feui's speed began to decrease, even the temperature of the water started to drop. The glowing annemini tucked under the rocks and it was like all the light had been drained away. The sight made me feel uneasy, it was one thing to head out into sea monster's territory during the day but in the darkest hour of the night, I shuddered at the thought of it.

I could feel Feui tense up, we shared the same worries but I knew turning back would only prove my father right. I looked over at my faithful Ilu, I knew if anything bad were to happen she would try to fight beside me but that would only end in more chaos.

"Go Feui, i'll find you" I motioned for her to take cover under an air pocket, at least then she would be out of sight. I made sure she was completely before I started making the call.

It was a low pitch sound from the back of my throat to alert the large beast, it was known as a death call.

'Alright you big fish, where are you'

I lowered myself under a large branch of coral, giving myself a little bit of protection. Pointing my spear through one of the gaps. Everything was quiet; the only sound was from my own heartbeat as it raced with adrenaline. I stayed for what felt like an eternity, slowly my oxygen was depleting and I had to surface.

This idea was stupid anyways, I thought to myself,
As I was about to break through the water I felt a change in the current, I spun around, trying to figure out where it was coming from.

The dim ocean made it hard to see, no shadows were present so I just assumed it was some seaweed drifting off. I returned back to my needs for air, as I reached my hand out for one last push something ran into me hard. It was nothing like the Ilu that Neteyam crashed into, its skin was like tough armor and I almost blacked out from just the force of it.

I hastily collected myself, clutching my spear and positioning it to the creature, as its mouth spread like a star fish I knew exactly what it was, Akula.

a/n

Definitely a shorter chapter but I wanted to make sure I could post something in time, and be prepared for the next part!

I also hope you liked the little hints of na'vi language I added but just to clear up confusion the characters in my story aren't talking in English it's just "translated" that way.
My plan is to make lots of little references and parallels I hope u can all catch onto 🤞