Eywa's will / Ao'nung x Oc

Chapter 4

Tenima- The past week was spent settling into our new environment and getting familiar with the Metkayina people’s customs.Within that week I have thankfully only seen Ao’nung a handful of times, each encounter being more humiliating than the last. As soon as dinner ended last week Neteyam was quick to lead me to a deserted part of the beach so he could question me.

When I told Neteyam what had happened he burst out laughing, I swear I could even spot some tears prickling at the corners of his large eyes from how hard he was laughing. Of course he had to ridicule me in front of Lo'ak and Kiri once we had made our way back to the pod, so now both of my obnoxious little siblings are aware of my embarrassing situation. 

But besides my siblings taunting, Ao'nungs teasing, and my parents giving me a wicked side eye whenever Ao'nung was around, I never expected to find such beauty in such an unfamiliar place. The oceans vast sea seemed was the only comfort I have been able to find sense we had arrived here. Whenever I felt sorrowful and missed my home, i'd come to the ocean and let the sound of waves crashing gently against the large rocks lul me to a deep slumber.

I'd been reprimanded quite a few times by my mother for falling asleep on the beach. Although she sounded angry as she nagged me, her reprimand never followed with a punishment. I think she knows the ocean has been helping greatly with me adjusting here. 

Last night I had decided to fall asleep alongside my family in our pod, a great mistake on my behalf. I awoke to a familiar agitating voice piercing through my ears like nails on a chalkboard. I awoke with a stir, groggily rubbing my hazed eyes while looking at my twin beside me still fast asleep.

It took me a second to notice my parents, Tsireya, and to my dismay Ao'nung staring directly at me from where they stood at the entrance of our family pod. I cursed myself internally for laying my sleeping mat directly in front of the entrance's view. I was about to speak up but quickly got cut off by my dad's gruff morning voice. "The chief's children said your training starts today, do me a favor and wake up the rest of ur slumped siblings?"

Even tho it may sound like a question to outsiders, I knew it was a demand. I simply nodded my head before getting to her feet. My dad turned back around and told the chief's children something incoherent to my muffled ears before they both took off out of the pod. The chief's children stood near the entrance, talking amongst themselves.

Although Ao'nung was in mid conversation with his little sister, I felt a pair of watchful eyes burning holes through me as I made her way to Tuk, the easiest to wake up. I gently stroked my hand across little Tuk's cheek in a way that I have been doing since the girl was born. I had the softest smile on my face as I watched my little sister stir before her eyes flew open.

In a bubbly manor the girl sprung to her feet, clearly not knowing what morning grogginess even was. I woke Tuk up because she was basically an alarm, the little girl jumped from bed to bed, waking everyone up in her wake. I chuckled as my other siblings let out annoyed huffs or exasperated sighs.

It took about 5 minutes for everybody to be up and ready to head out. All but myself hadn't even realized the chief's children were watching them. It was pretty hard for me not to notice, seeing how Ao'nungs gaze never faltered. When they had noticed the two teenagers watching us, she noted how Lo'aks face shifted into a bubbly smile as he dashed towards Tsireya. Me and Neteyam shared a knowing look before walking out with Kiri and Tuk.

"Today we will be exploring the waters!" Tsireya bubbly spoke. I felt my posture straighten at this news, as much as I loved watching the ocean, I wasn't a fan of the idea of getting into the water. Ao'nung noticed my slight shift and smirked, making his way to walk beside me where Tuk once stood, she now was bouncing all over the stretchy walkways. "Don't worry forest princess, if you get scared you can hold onto me." He teased while poking my arm.