𝐈𝐧 𝐓𝐨𝐨 𝐃𝐞𝐞𝐩 ➤ Lo'ak & Neteyam

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟏

"Hmm... Favourite drink?"

"Night Blossom for sure. My turn! Favourite sea creature?"

"Oh, that's a tough one." Kiri laughed, shifting slightly. "I think I have to go with the ilu, but the tulkun are a close second. Now let me think..."

Kiri hummed, mulling over which question to ask next. She and Elli had decided that they wanted to get to know each other better, and so they'd begun asking each other a series of questions about their likes and dislikes. After a moment, Kiri opened her mouth to speak, but was interrupted by what sounded like distant shouting. The two girls shared a worried look.

"What the heck was that...? Do you think we should check it out?" Elli murmured.

Kiri nodded, getting to her feet and helping Elli up. The two dashed towards the direction of the noise, which slowly became clearer as they approached the front of the village.

"... Put down the spear at once. There is no need to resort to violence."

"I will if I must. Tell me where she is, now!"

Finally, the two girls broke through the rapidly forming crowd to find Tonowari and Ronal staring down what appeared to be a pair of adult Na'vi - a female Omaticaya, and a male Metkayina. Elli's eyes widened upon seeing the pair, rushing forward before she could even think.

"Mom! Dad! What the hell are you doing!?"

"Elhlli!? Oh, thank the Great Mother you're safe!" the Omaticaya cried, running towards the girl to embrace her.

However, Elli was wary of her mother's approach, backing away and hissing violently, her tail flicking around with nervous energy. Momentarily eyeing the now silent crowd, she turned her attention back to her shocked parents.

"We need to talk." she spat, walking down to the shore uncaringly. Still confused by their daughter's reaction, the pair of Na'vi followed her.

Countless thoughts rushed through Elli's head. She recognized the two of them the moment she saw them – Uraya, an Omaticaya healer, and Nu'i, a Metkayina hunter. Her mother and father. But how did they know she was here? And why were they threatening Tonowari? She had barely even noticed that she had stopped walking, her parents paused behind her.

"... Elhlli? Are you alright?" Nu'i finally spoke.

"I was fine before you two got here. Explain – why the hell were you threatening the Olo'eyktan?" Elli snapped, turning around and glaring at the two of them.

"We were just worried for your safety, dear..." Uraya replied, still confused as to why her daughter was upset. "Why are you angry? We can go home now! I don't know what they did to you or told you, but-"

"Shut up! My home is here! My family is here! I'm never going back with you!"

"Elhlli! That is no way to speak to your mother!" Nu'i admonished. "What has caused you to resent us so?"

Elli scoffed, a sarcastic grin creeping onto her face. "Are you serious? You're even more cowardly than I thought. You could at least own up to it."

"A month ago, you found out about the war between the Na'vi and the Sky People. You learned about their struggle to survive, and yet you refused to help. You refused to help your own people! And you didn't even tell me! You're spineless cowards, both of you!"

"There is a reason we didn't want to help, my dear-" Uraya began.

"And not only that, but you also raised me in complete isolation! Thanks to you two, I never had a friend until two weeks ago!" Elli seethed, tears pooling in her eyes. "My leaving was the best thing that ever happened to me. I've been able to see the world for myself, and meet all kinds of different, amazing people and creatures... You can't take me away from that!"