Moving Against Water

03

'She doesn't like me,' Sola said as she walked next to her father.

'She doesn't seem to like you're mother very much,' Jake said as he watched her walk, the strength being seen coming back, 'But she is Tsahik, we can ask.'

Jake led them to the pod of Tonowari and Ronal, his presence instantly gathered by the chief.

'Jake Sully,' Tonowari said as he greeted him, getting greeted back, 'What can we help you with?'

'Sola was hurt before we got here,' Jake said looking at his daughter, her gaze on the floor, 'Our clans tsahik said she would be okay, but I wanted to make sure before she got in the water.'

Sola looked and saw Tsireya and Ao'nung staring at her. Her ears pointed down as she looked away.

Ronal stood next to her mate in front of them, Sola hesitantly looking up at her.

'Tsireya and Ao'nung were just leaving, we can look now,' Ronal said as she looked down at the girl.

——

Sola tried not to move when Ronal grabbed her tail, fighting the urge to fight what felt like someone pushing into a bruise.

'She will be fine to go in the water,' Ronal said as she stood.

Sola turned to stand, looking at the women.

'Thank you,' she said as she watched her nod her head.

'Go, have fun,' Jake said with a smile at her, her smiling down as she tried to hurry to the beach.

'Hey,' she heard from next to her, Ao'nung coming to walk next to her.

'What?' she asked as she didn't stop.

Her height came to his shoulders, his tattoos more prominent in the midday.

'Is your tail okay?' he asked, noticing as it was swaying as she walked.

'Yes it's fine,' she said as she kept her eyes forward.

She continued to walk, the two of them making it to the beach before she instantly froze.

She felt Ao'nung grab onto her tail, making her instantly stop moving.

'What are you doing?' she said as she tried to turn to grab it back, his grip was relentless.

'It's so small,' he said, curiously holding it in his hand.

'You don't just do that,' she said annoyed as she finally was able to step away from him, 'Did you not learn that?'

He looked down at her, her hard expression coming back to him, but a smile crept on to his face.

'Come, everyone is waiting for us,' he said as he continued walking.

——

Sola sat on top of the ilu, trying to get comfortable. She could feel the stares coming to her from her brothers as Ao'nung stood next to her helping her. The glares starting as soon as he was first to offer to help her.

'You have to relax,' he said as he adjusting her back posture.

She instantly froze, again. She turned slightly and saw her brothers' faces and how they looked like they were going to run over.

'Got it,' she said as she shook off his touch.

She relaxed as she took a deep breath.

Ao'nung watched her try and relax. Her figure smaller than him but the obvious muscles being shown from years of training.

'You're too tense, you're going to fall when you dive,' Ao'nung said as he watched her.

'I am relaxed,' she said as she turned to look at him, 'This is me relaxed.'

'No it's not,' he said as he motioned for her braid, 'But whatever you say.'

He watched her make the connection, her eyes dilating slightly as she took a deep breath. He waiting till she relaxed, and hit the back of ilu.

She instantly took off into the water, her legs tight as she held on. When it dived her grip didn't faulter as she held on for dear life.

'Slow down,' she thought, but other distractions came to her mind. She felt like she was going for 5 minutes before her grip slipped, her flying off the back.

She surfaced with a gasp as she looked around, the laugh of Ao'nung coming towards her. She rolled her eyes and made her way back over to the group.

'You lasted very long for you're first time,' Tsireya said with a smile as she helped Lo'ak, a smile coming back towards her from Sola.

'I told you you need to relax,' Ao'nung said as she walked over to him again.

'I was relaxed,' she said as she watched the ilu come back to them. She climbed on its back as she tried to position herself again.

He smiled at her as he put his hand on her leg, her flinching away from him.

'You have to place your leg here,' he said as he moved her leg.

'You are very touchy,' she said as she looked at him.

He laughed as he looked back at her.

'You are bad at riding,' he said as he watched her expression turn back to annoyed, an annoyed growl coming from her chest.

'What was that?' he asked confused as his hand stopped, turning to look down at her again.

'Forest people thing,' she said as she felt her cheeks turn pink.

'We don't do that,' he said with a smirk as he looked at her.

She was about to reply when she felt someone walk up to them.

'Roxto said we should switch partners,' Neteyam said as he glared at Ao'nung. She turned to look at Roxto, who obviously was confused on what was happening.

'Okay,' Sola said awkwardly, Neteyam helping her off the side.

'Good luck brother,' she said as she laughed, walking towards Roxto.

'Sola right?' Roxto asked as she approached him.

'Yes,' she said with a smile, 'You didn't really say we need to switch partners right?'

'Um no,' Roxto said, making her laugh, 'Neteyam was busy shooting glares as Ao'nung, same with Lo'ak. Maybe they will actually ride.'

Sola let out another laugh, many turning to look at the two.

'I can tell if you really did, you'd want to be partners with Kiri,' Sola said quietly, Roxto's ear instantly perked up.

'Uh what? I don't know what you mean,' he said with a laugh as he helped her get seated, being way less touchy than Ao'nung.