[LOOK AT ME] Nᴇᴛᴇʏᴀᴍ.S ˣ ᵐᵃˡᵉ ʳᵉᵃᵈᵉʳ

[Friendship and bitterness]

You don't know how it happened, but your little 'group of friends' managed to get themselves rounded up close to the edge of the water, all of you sitting in such a way that everyone could face each other.

Granted, everyone was anticipating Lo'ak's side of the story. You weren't particularly interested, but you'd be lying if you said you weren't a little curious as to how he managed stay alive.

You listened as Lo'ak's sister, Kiri gushed about how Eywa had apparently 'gifted' Lo'ak, because seriously...he wouldn't have made it out if he didn't have some type of help. Right?

Neteyam glanced over to you in particular, wanting to know whether you were paying attention or not. Surprisingly you were. He could understand why you would be interested, maybe not with Lo'ak entirely, but his experience out in the open ocean.

You noticed him out the corner of your eye, but pay little mind to it as you focus on Lo'ak. To your surprise it's Ao'nung who urges him to continue his story after Kiri's exclamation.

Somehow they were...friends? Maybe not entirely, but you could clearly see the progress. This made you slightly uneasy.

You have no clue as to what their earlier conversation was about. The fact that Lo'ak had even wanted to talk to either Rotxo or Ao'nung was something to be concerned about. Just why?

Now all of a sudden they acted friendly? It was almost comical pure irony compared to how they behaved previously.

You glare at your brother as Lo'ak continued to speak, but there was clearly something that caught all your attention.

He was describing something-- a 'friendly creature' he had met along the way that had helped him. The terms he used to describe this creature was kind, as if he had known it beforehand.

"The Tulkuns have not returned yet." Ao'nung firmly stated, crossing his arms as he done so. They were the only creatures that fit Lo'ak's description after all.

They were like family to the reef and its people. They have not come home yet, though they're closely on their way.

There was no chance Lo'ak had actually met them. The chances were even slimmer for him to have met one. The Tulkuns never and by that you mean never travel alone.

Lo'ak looked at Ao'nung confused by his words.--It had to be one of them he had seen. It had to.

"They don't travel alone." As if reading your thoughts, Ao'nung responds to Lo'ak's confused claims.

"This one was!" He tried to argue back which causes you to scoff and sink your head.

Lo'ak shifts his attention to the noise and frowns.

"What did the Tulkun look like?" You ask as you use your hand to motion him to continue his 'totally believable story.'

Even though you allowed Lo'ak to continue, it was obvious you didn't trust what he was saying.

Neteyam, who also turned his attention to you once he heard your disapproval, was eager to hear his brother's explanation.

Lo'ak had no reason to lie. Neteyam knew his brother...he had a habit of lying to get out of trouble (his lies always seemed to catch up to him far too quickly regardless of how good it was) ,but this was just unbelievable.

"It had a missing fin." Lo'ak explained the Tulkun's main feature he noticed when he had encountered it. Out of everything- that had to be its key detail.