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chapter one. awa'atlu. ━━━━━━━━━━━━
Awa'atlu was easy to love.
The sound, and sight, of white waves crashing against the beige sand as it brought multiple packs of pearlescent shells to the land of beach.
It takes mere couple of weeks to fall in love with the candied and salty smell that graced the air, filling the Metkayina's nostrils so familiarly.
But, under the surface, held the real beauty.
Corals of different colours decorated the floor, sweet animals dancing around your body as you swam with them, the sight of their people collecting things they had seemed grateful for.
That is where Maleia sat.
Her body was perked onto a rock that seeped from the water.
Sounds of harmonic waves filling her ears.
Maleia leaned over the edge, dipping her soft fingertips into the turquoise sea whilst she swirled around and created patterns with foam.
A large smile beamed on her plump lips as she stared deep into the water.
Them being so clear, she could see the magic below her fingers.
Something about it sent Maleia to peace.
It could send her into a deep slumber if she tried hard enough, for that to happen.
Maleia felt her life was simple in the ocean— she felt free.
Free from all the responsibilities upon the sand, how Ronal had been training her to exhaustion as Maleia was to be the next Tsahìk.
Her mind could be full of worries and questions about becoming Tsahìk, but one dip into the crystal waters will drift that all away.
She didn't carry responsibility in the sea.
The sea was her place to escape.
Or, so she thought.
"Maleia!" Tsireya exclaimed.
Maleia twisted her body around, sitting upright on the rock as she watched Tsireya edge towards her body atop the ilu.
A smile bloomed on her face at the sight of her younger sister, "Morning, hì'i tsmuke."
Tsireya smiled at the warm greeting.
Her hand moved to block the sun falling into her eyesight, "Mother said to find you. You were supposed to be home hours ago!"
Maleia frowned at that.
She didn't want to leave the sea— she hadn't fully escaped yet.
But, that was when the sound of a horn came.
Both of their heads snapped to greet eyes, both not understanding what the sound could've been used for.
"Has something happened on land?" Maleia questioned before calling for an ilu.
Tsireya shook her head as Maleia mounted the peaceful creature, connecting her queue.
They both headed to shore, jumping off their ilu's and landing in the water beneath them.
Maleia opened her eyes to view the surrounding Metkayina, clearing a path for her to walk through them all with confusion.
Maleia missed the way the sea felt against her flesh, already. It was like a piece of her chipped away with the waves of the ocean.
But, her mind needed to be with her people.
What could've happened to cause such a huge commotion between them all?
"Do not. Rotxo, Ao'nung!" Tsireya warned their brother with a small slap to his flesh.
Maleia inched her way to them, prints furrowing at the sight of the darker-skinned Na'vi's that seemed to settle on their land.
And, that was when Lo'ak saw her.
His breath had been caught in his lungs.
Lo'ak's eyes scanned her features, soaking them into his mind.
He noticed her large, teal eyes had differed to the golden ones he became familiar with. Or, how her hair was curly and reached to the slim frame of her shoulders— they were also dripping wet, telling him she had just came from the sea. She stood much smaller than Ao'nung, but a little taller than Tsireya, her body being more filled out with curves as well.
A chocked laugh had fell from Neteyam.
He noticed the way his brother seemed to gawk at beautiful... stranger.
Lo'ak didn't even bother to glare at him.
His attention being stuck on Maleia.
"Hey..." He greeted with a small voice, scared to attract the ears of Ao'nung.
Maleia looked at him and tilted her head. Her eyes scanned across him with a huff, but a smile filled her lips once Tsireya nudged her waist.
"Be nice," Tsireya warned.
Maleia nodded, "I am being nice, hì'itsmuke."
She was being as nice as possible to the complet strangers that walked on their land.
What if they had come looking for trouble?
But, she had to keep an open mind.
They had come bearing children, the youngest being as little as eight.
Maleia crossed her face into something of sympathy for this family that began to seek uturu.
If they should stay, they would come to love and care for her land as much as she does. That would be her one rule for them all, and also, no hurting the animals.
