Invisible String - Jake Sully

12

A few weeks after the incident, Tawn was back doing what she loved, teaching. She watched the children play the shell game. She threw three shells into the ocean, and the children scrambled to grab them quickly. 

"This will be the last one, okay," she said, "get ready," she watched as her students took a deep breath, "get set," they were in position, "go!" she threw the shells and watched her kids dived down to get them.

Tawn looked down at the water to supervise the kids while they tried to get the shells. She didn't want anyone to get hurt on her watch.

She smiled as Kia and Al tried to swim up as fast as their legs could. But when they tried to outdo each other, Kosta slithered past the two and reached the surface first, followed by Kia and Al.

"Congratulations Kosta!" Tawn clapped when her students were present, making them congratulate Kosta, "Kia, Al, try to be less competitive with each other," she said.

Kia pouted, and then she splashed water on Al.

"Hey!" Al groaned.

Tawn scolded them before addressing the other kids, "I think we should go now. I've worn you guys enough," Tawn smiled, erupting a cheer from her children.

Tawn walked behind them, making sure they were all accounted for. Kia held her hand up the shore, joking around with Tawn and sometimes yelling at Al when the boy tugged her hair.

"I hate Al so much!" Kia groaned, glaring at the back of the little boy head who was laughing along with Kosta, his best friend.

Tawn chuckled at her anger, "I'll tell him to stop bothering you," Tawn said.

Kia shook her head, "no, it's not enough. I swear, Tawnie when I grow up, I'm going to be the strongest warrior and beat that skxwang," Kia laughed, but her laughter sounded dangerous and menacing.

"You are so violent for a girl your age, Kiki," Tawn noted, looking at her with concern. Should she be concerned?

"Only for that skxwang," she shrugged.

Tawn smirked, "be careful. There's a fine line between love and hate, Kia," she teased as they walked up the stairs to the bouncy pathway between the tents.

Kia shuddered at the thought, "ew, Tawnie, no! My mate is going to be like Tuk's older brother, Neteyam!" she giggled.

Tawn laughed at her crush on the older boy, "pray hard to Eywa for that," she teased, making the little girl pout.

"Where's Tuk anyway? I thought she'd be here today," Kia asked.

"Why? Do you miss her older brother?" she teased, but when she noticed the deadpanned expression on Kia, she shrugged, "probably out with her siblings, learning with Tsireya or even Aonung."

Kia huffed when she noticed her marui up ahead; she let go of Tawn's hand, "I'll see you next week Tawnie," she waved.

Tawn waved back with a smile and turned to her marui. She walked briskly and kept her head low, trying to shield herself from the nosy neighbours who wouldn't let what happened weeks ago go. Whenever Tawn walked home, they whispered and gave her pitiful smiles.

She hadn't talked to the instigator Zovi since she was still angry at what he did, and she hadn't seen Jake for some time now. He was busy with his family and Tonowari, doing eywa knows what.

She huffed when she heard the whispers but successfully avoided their pitiful eyes and smiles. She grinned in triumph.

She looked up at her marui only to realise someone was already waiting for her. She sighed dejectedly, knowing so well it would be Zovi by the apparent tattoo on his back and his light blue skin.