Ayla has spent her life among the towering trees of Pandora's forests, but when the sky people threaten her world, she and her mother are forced to flee to the reef-dwelling Metkayina clan.
She finds herself caught between an old childhood flame, an...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Ayla laughed as little Tuk's tiny feet bounced over the netted path back toward the Sully family's marui.
"Slow down, Tuk, you're going to fall."
They had just come back from a walk along the shore, with the younger girl chattering excitedly about what she was going to do with the shells she collected.
As they neared the Sully's marui, Ayla heard a familiar laugh.
One that belonged to her mother.
Her steps faltered, her eyes searching for the source, and when they landed on the scene before her, her heart stilled.
Her mother stood near a Metkayina man, both of them giggling softly as he tended to his skimwing.
The man guided her mother's hand over the animal's nuzzle, their fingers brushing lightly together.
They weren't looking at the animal, though.
Their eyes were locked on each other, soft and warm. Intimate.
Ayla's smile faded, her lips pressing tightly together. Her jaw clenched so hard she thought it might shatter.
All she could see was her mother, laughing in a way Ayla hadn't seen in so long. It was the kind of laugh her father used to bring out in her.
The memory of him washed over her in a flash—his strong arms hugging both her and her mother close, repeating his favourite words.
'my girls.'
A lump formed in her throat, cold and heavy.
Didn't Na'vi mate for life?
And...how could her mother move on so easily?
Ayla swallowed the bitterness that rose in her chest.
Her hands flexed at her sides, wanting to act but frozen. She took a shaky breath, forcing a smile as she looked down at Tuk, who was now tugging at her arm, confused by her sudden change in mood.
"Hey," Ayla said softly, crouching down to be at Tuk's eye level. "Don't worry about it, Tuk-Tuk." Her voice was light, almost playful, though she felt anything but.
"Let's get you back home, hm?" She ruffled Tuk's hair, trying to redirect the tension.
Tuk giggled, still not fully understanding, and Ayla led her the rest of the way.
Her heart thudded heavily in her chest, betrayal churning in her gut.
The sounds of her mother's laughter still echoed in her ears, making her sick.
When they reached the marui, Kiri was there, smiling warmly as she approached. "Hey, Tuk!" she called, scooping the little girl up into her arms. Kiri then turned to Ayla, her expression soft. "Thanks for bringing her back."
