The Waters of Destiny ( English Version of " Les eaux du Destin"

Chapter 18: Lessons and feelings

Hi! It's Sully and Koltyan's first day with the Metkaniyas. We hope you enjoy it. Feel free to vote, if you do, and to comment.

A'onung's point of view

It was the first day of learning with these cursed visitors. So, we dived into the water, soon joined by the Sullys. We swam with ease, the ocean our home and admiring Eywa's aquatic wonders. Soon, we noticed that our apprentices were struggling, quickly returning to the surface to breathe.

Rotxo in sign language: What's wrong with them?

I couldn't understand it myself. After all, swimming was easy, and the fact that they were having so much trouble made me realize just how weak they were. Once they'd caught their breath, they'd dive right back in, looking at us.

Tsiyera in sign language, smiling: Come on! Swim with us!

They stared at her in incomprehension, not seeming to understand each other. We soon wondered why they were having so much trouble, using sign language. Afterwards, they swam for a few more moments, before coming back up. For me, it was simple. It didn't take a keen observer to figure it out.

Me in sign: What's wrong with them?
Roxtxo They're bad divers.

My sister gave me a reproachful look, before replying in sign language.

Tsiyera : Stop it, you two! They're learning!

I shrugged, not seeing what she could see in these aliens. Suddenly, something caught my eye. There she was, holding her brother by the hand, swimming calmly, not looking disoriented. Her brother seemed less at ease, but contact with her seemed to soothe him. As for her other sister, she swam with a certain enthusiasm, her eyes sparkling with curiosity and wonder at the sight of aquatic fauna. Nevertheless, I couldn't take my eyes off the young woman. Her slender, dark-blue figure seemed to dance in the water with a certain gracefulness of movement. Her beautiful half-length hair was well highlighted, as were her beautifully drawn orange eyes. I was impressed by her ability to stay underwater longer than others, not being born a Metkaniya. Nevertheless, she had to return to the surface and I was shaken back into reality. I turned my gaze to see my little sister watching me with concern.

Tsiyera: Are you all right?

Me: Yes...

But my gestures betrayed the turmoil in my mind. Tsiyera stared at me worriedly, before returning to join the Sullys. I shook my head to get these thoughts out of my head and hurried back to the surface, watching the Sullys catch their breath.

Tuktirey: You're going too fast! Wait for us!

Me, smiling: You know how to walk in the forest, but when it comes to swimming...

Voice: I'd love to see you in the forest. It's easy for you. You've lived here all your life. Water is your living environment. If you were in the forest, I'm sure you wouldn't have delivered a better performance than we did.

I turned my gaze, annoyed, towards the source of the voice, when I saw the magnificent orange eyes watching me with irritation. I was about to retort, but the beauty of the gaze cut me off.

Lo'ak: Where's Kiri?

This brought me back to reality.

Me: Kiri? Who's Kiri?

Tsiyera: Have you seen her?

Twaly: She can't be far.

So she breathed in before diving back into the water. I dived in and followed her to make sure I could catch her if she lost her breath. Watching her swim, I was impressed by the calmness of her movements, seeming at peace and in control. She hadn't been born a Metkaniya, yet she already seemed to have a certain ease about her. Where did she get such knowledge, knowing she was from the forest?

I couldn't help watching her beautiful figure swim and her hair seem to fly in the water. Giving her a divine allure. I continued to follow her, admiring her beauty. The young woman watched another swim, seemingly in complete awe. Twaly returned to the surface to catch her breath, while I shook my head. What was happening to me?

Later,

We had to learn how to ride ilus, before thinking about Tsuraks. So, with snapping tongues, I called the ilus, before staring at the group.

Me: If you want to live here, you've got to learn to ride.

The ilus weren't complicated species, being very sociable with us. So I left Tsiyera to manage her apprentice, watching him from a distance, and took the opportunity to try and get closer to the young woman who had attracted my interest.

Me: So...is your name Twaly?

Twaly: Indeed. And you're A'onung, aren't you?