The Power of Three- Lo'ak x OC x Neteyam

Chapter 4

The next morning the Sully children are called into their family's marui after a few hours of exploring the beach.

"Okay Sullys, fall in." Jake annouces, his voice booming out of the ocean structure they now called home.

"Remember, family meeting?" Neteyam quips, reaching out to tussle Lo'ak's hair. The male hadn't slept well, and hisses at his older sibling. Ava, sitting on her mat in the corner next to Kiri, rolls her eyes, also having not slept after their spat. Jake takes a seat, noting the tension between the members of his family.

"Okay, I need you guys on your best behavior. I mean it. Learn fast, pull your weight. Stay out of trouble." He levels a warning stare at Lo'ak and a second one at Ava. "Got it?"

"Yes sir," they both mumble.

"I want to go home!" cries Tuk.

"Oh Tuk," Ava admonishes softly, stroking the girl's hair from behind.

"Tuk," Jake reasons. "This is our home now." He turns to the rest of his family.

"We're gonna get through this. We're gonna get through this if we have each other's backs."

"What does your father always say?" Neytiri looks at each of her children.

"Sullys stick together." Neteyam and Lo'ak mutter at the same time.

"That's right, this time with some feeling." The kids repeat it together, more conviction in their tones.

A couple hours later, the Metkeyina's children invite the Sullys to swim in the tropical reef water.

Ao'nung, Tsireya, and Roxto led the way, gracefully diving into the calm waves. Tuk lets out a little shriek as she jumps in, Kiri right behind her. Ava steps out to the edge, peering down to the white sand below her.

"You ready?" Lo'ak pads up beside her, the two back to being as thick as thieves. She had never had the ability to stay mad at the male for long; he always found a way back into her good graces.

"Come guys, they're leaving us behind!" Neteyam exclaims, playfully smacking her with the end of his tail and leaping into the water.

"Skxawng!" Ava shouts after him, pushing off the woven dock and plunging to the water herself. Lo'ak is quick to follow, the bubbles from his breath creating an ironic halo around his head. The five Sullys look around in awe of the new world they had just stepped into. Fish of all shapes and sizes swam around them, wholly ignorant of the newcomers. A large, almost ikran shaped ray floats across Ava's vision, spinning gracefully away from her when she reaches a hand out to touch it. The three Metkayena children make their way to the bottom before turning to look up at the forest children. Lo'ak catches sight of them and points, drawing his brother and sister deeper into the sea. The oceanic teens continue along the bottom, only pausing when they catch sight of Lo'ak, Ava, and Neteyam fighting their way to the surface. They gasp once they reach fresh air, Lo'ak ducking his head back under to look at their new friends. Tsireya signs at him, but he shakes his head in confusion. Ava also sticks her head under, Tsireya smiling kindly and motioning for them to follow. The three teens linger at the surface, drawing a big breath in before submerging themselves once more. They try their best to keep up but head towards the surface when their breath runs out.

"Are you alright?" Tsireya asks, genuine concern in her tone.

"You're too fast," Tuk complains, rubbing the salt out of one eye. "Wait for us!"

"Just breathe." the girl says calmingly.

"You are not good divers." Ao'nung speaks once he emerges. "Maybe good at swinging through trees, but-" He's cut off by his younger sister smacking him upside the back of the head, encouraging a small giggle out of Ava. The future clan leader flicks his ears at her, a new interest catching his attention. The forest Na'vi smiles at him, ears darting forward now that he wasn't bullying them.