A couple of weeks passed, and the Sullys were beginning to master the Metkayina ways. Jake had finally managed to ride a tsurak without tumbling off, and the kids were learning to hold their breath longer with each dive. Pride swelled in my chest every time I watched them.
Neteyam and Ao'nung had also grown close—inseparable, whether during training or lounging by the marui, or walking along the beach, heads bent together in quiet conversation. They fit naturally side by side. I thought they'd make a great pair.
But Lo'ak didn't share my sentiment. He still carried resentment toward Ao'nung for teasing him and Kiri.
It came to a head one afternoon. Ao'nung and his friends—bad influences, I always thought—found Kiri alone on the beach, her body half-floating face down in the shallows as she communed with the sea. They mocked her—her strange tail, her five fingers, calling her a freak.
Lo'ak arrived and tried to defend her, but the boys turned on him instead, pulling his tail and jeering at his own mismatched hands.
Neteyam swept in, furious. "Leave them alone. Now." His tone left no room for argument. Ao'nung reluctantly backed his friends off, but Lo'ak, head held high, couldn't walk away. He shoved back at them, and a fistfight erupted.
I stood with Kiri, torn, before finally diving in myself. Tails whipped, fists flew, voices rose until I grabbed two boys by the scruffs and tore them apart.
"Skxawngs! Enough!" My voice cut through the chaos. I pinned Ao'nung with a glare. "Apologize. Now."
His face contorted with protest. "What? Why me? He started this fight!"
"You mocked his sister. What did you expect him to do?"
Grumbling, Ao'nung muttered a half-hearted apology. I turned to Lo'ak next. "Don't do that again."
Embarrassment flickered across his face. "Yes, mum," he muttered, barely above a whisper.
I let it slide and dismissed the other boys, dragging Lo'ak and Neteyam back to the marui. When Jake heard what had happened, disappointment clouded his features.
"He's the chief's son, Lo'ak. You can't go around beating him up. Go apologize."
"But Dad, Ao'nung bullied Kiri—"
Jake cut him off sharply. "I don't want to hear it. I know he was cruel, but you have to be better than him. Apologize."
I stayed silent, watching Jake's gravelly "dad voice" rumble through the room—stern, commanding, enough to send chills down my spine. Lo'ak huffed and stomped out. Hopefully, to do as he was told.
Neteyam lingered. Jake asked, "How'd the other guys look?"
"Worse," Neteyam admitted.
A grin tugged at Jake's lips. "Good. Now get out of here."
When the boy left, Jake slumped beside me. "They're exhausting."
I hummed in agreement. "I don't know how you did it—four kids. I can barely keep track of myself."
He barked out a laugh. "Not much sleep, that's how."
We sat reminiscing, trading stories of the kids—funny moments and painful ones. I confessed how Kiri once called Lo'ak a "penis-face" after a fight over a toy. The memory softened Jake's face, and in that moment, I realized just how much I'd grown attached to his family, just as I had to Ao'nung and Tsireya.
Evening came, and we joined the village feast. Lo'ak still hadn't returned. I brushed it off at first, eating beside Jake before we returned home to prepare for eclipse. Kiri sat outside, gazing into the darkening waves, her expression heavy.
"Kiri," I said softly, sitting beside her.
She glanced at me, then looked back down. "Ayla." Her voice was small, wounded.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing is wrong. Why should it not be?" Her voice rose, defensive.
I tilted my head. "Do I need to talk to Ao'nung?"
Her head snapped up. That was my answer.
She sighed. "Him and his friends teased me. Called me a freak. Lo'ak tried to help, but it only made things worse."
I took her hand. "Oh, Kiri... you are not a freak. You are special. More connected to Eywa than anyone—probably even more than Ronal." I dropped my voice conspiratorially. "But don't tell her I said that."
A faint smile broke through her gloom. "Thank you, Ayla."
I hugged her before slipping inside, leaving her with Jake, who was already worried. "He still hasn't come back," Jake said, pacing. "No one's seen him. It's like he vanished!"
"I'll look for him soon. Let me settle Tuk first."
Jake squeezed my hand in gratitude, then went back to sit with Kiri.
Moments later, Neteyam stormed in, dragging Ao'nung by the scruff. His eyes burned with fury. "Tell her what you told me!"
My stomach dropped. "Ao'nung. What did you do?"
The boy mumbled.
"Speak up."
"I left Lo'ak outside the reef."
My blood ran cold.
"Go back to your marui," I ordered, then turned to Neteyam. "With me."
We found Jake. "Lo'ak's outside the reef!" I cried.
Jake was already on his feet. "Kids inside, now. Tayala, with me—we'll tell Tonowari."
Tonowari and Ronal looked up sharply as we burst in. "Lo'ak is beyond the reef," Jake said.
Tonowari didn't hesitate. "Take a hunting party. Find him."
I led a group of warriors out on tsurak. My heart pounded, adrenaline rushing like fire through my veins. We swept the reef, searching outward. Then—movement on the rocks.
"I've got him! The boy is here!"
Lo'ak clambered onto the stones, dripping and breathless. Relief crashed over me as I pulled him onto my tsurak. "Thank Eywa..."
We returned to the shore, where the whole village had gathered. Jake checked him over, voice trembling between relief and anger. "Don't you ever do that again, boy. Don't be stupid."
Tonowari stepped forward, shoving Ao'nung down. "This was his doing. He knows better."
But Lo'ak shook his head quickly. "No. It was my idea."
Jake growled, frustrated. "Come. Now."
Reluctantly, Lo'ak followed, his face sullen. I wanted to defend him, but it wasn't my place.
Later, I found him wandering the beach. To my surprise, Ao'nung was already there, talking with him—not as enemies, but as friends.
"So... we're friends now?" I asked when I caught up.
Both turned, startled.
"Yeah," Lo'ak admitted. "We're chill now."
"That's good." I gave Ao'nung a look, and he nodded, retreating toward the village.
I crouched beside Lo'ak. "Tell me the truth. How did you make it back from Three Brothers' Rocks before eclipse?"
He hesitated, eyes wary. "I swam."
My brow rose. "Impossible. That's at least a day's swim."
He sighed. "Fine. I got attacked by an akula. I passed out. Then I woke up... on a tulkun's back. He carried me home."
My chest tightened. "But the tulkun haven't returned yet."
"This one had a missing fin. Left side."
The realization hit me like a wave. "Payakan. It was Payakan."
