War of Hearts

*~• 7 •~*

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BEFORE THE FAMILY KNEW IT, they were on their Ikrans and all of the things they could afford to pack with them. They rode for days, at one point Neyira fell asleep making her and Tuk almost fall off of her Ikran. After that, Tuk rode with her mother.

After riding through different types of weather for God knows how long, and being turned away by a good amount of clans, they finally arrived at Awa'atlu, a Metkayina sea clan. A loud horn went off and Neyira winced as they circled the area for a bit, looking for somewhere to land.

They eventually found a decent sized patch of sand, as soon as they landed Na'vi from the clan started to crowd. Neyira had to stop her jaw from dropping as she looked around. Their tails and arms were thicker and longer, and dont even get her started on their hair.

Neytiri and Tuk were the first to get off, Jake following after and eventually Kiri, Neyira, Lo'ak and Neteyam followed. Neyira stood next to Neteyam and Lo'ak while Kiri stood a bit farther behind the three of them. Tuk started to wander and Neyira gave her a warning look. "Tirey, come." She held out her hand and Tuk rolled her eyes but came to stand next to her.

As the different Na'vi gave the family judging looks most of the family just ignored it. But whenever their eyes would reach Neyira she would give them a harsh glare back, making her mother nudge her slightly as the family walked forward. "Be nice." She warned and turned, saying the same thing to Kiri, knowing the twins were thinking the same thing.

Two boys emerged from the crowd and Neyira could immediately tell they had very punchable faces. The taller one had braids that went up into a curly bun, some of it falling out of the bun and the other just had short curly hair. Lo'ak and Neteyam were respectful and greeted them but neither of the boys said anything, making her narrow her eyes and her lip curled slightly.

They walked behind them and the shorter boy slapped the taller one's shoulder lightly, pointing at their tails. "Look, what is that? Is that supposed to be a tail?" Neyira glared at them and didn't hesitate to open her mouth. "And is that supposed to be a face, fish lips?"

"Neyira!" Neytiri hissed but Neyira kept her glare on the boys that seemed surprised at her comeback. After a moment, the taller one's suprised look faded into a small smirk and Neyira gave him a look before turning away, catching Lo'ak staring at a girl who had just come out of the water.

As the two boys continued to make fun of the family's appearance, Neyira was about to turn around and hit them. But thankfully, before she could give the clan a reason to send them away, the pretty girl who came out of the water slapped the boys hands away, giving them disappointed looks. "Do not! Roxto, Aonung."

The girl turned back to the family with apologetic looks but Lo'ak being the goof he is, gave her a lopsided grin and nodded his head at her. "Hey." The girl just laughed softly and looked down at the sand. Neyira gave Lo'ak a knowing look while Aonung glared at him.

The family jumped as two large creatures emerged from the water, flew over them, and dived back into the water on the other side of the sand. After a moment, two men came up from the water and walked towards the family. It was clear the larger one was the leader, Tonowari. He had markings that were like tattoos on his face, chest, shoulder, and biceps. Half of his hair was braided up into a bun while the rest fell down his back.

As he approached Jake they both signed 'I see you' to each other, dipping their head slightly. Jake glanced back at his family and gestured towards them, making them do the same.

Not long after, the crowd parted to let a woman through, Ronal. Neyira raised an eyebrow at her swollen belly but she couldn't deny that the woman was stunning. She gave the mother a small smile but she didn't return it, just nodded.

"Why do you come to us, Jake Sully?" Tonowari asked. Jake looked back at his family before turning back to the leaders, his hands raising before dropping back to his sides. "We seek uturu—"

Ronal face scrunched slightly. "Uturu?"

"—yes, sanctuary for my family." Tonowari and Ronal looked at each other before Ronal started to circle the family, making her husband sigh. "We are reef people, you are forest people. Your skills will mean nothing here."

Jake took a step forward. "We will learn your ways," he turned to look at his family. "Am I right?" Neytiri didn't hesitate to back her husband up. "Yes—" The mother turned as Ronal grabbed her tail.

The woman circled Neytiri then went to Tuk, grabbing her arm and raising it slightly. "Their arms are thin." Tuk pulled her arm back and gave the lady a look before backing up towards her father.

"Their tails.." She started, grabbing Kiri's tail, harsher than needed, making her yelp and slap the woman's hand away, grabbing her tail. "Are weak, you will be slow in the water."

She then looked a Kiri's hands and grabbed them, holding them up. "These children.." she held her hands up for others to see. "Are not even true Na'vi!" Kiri turned and looked at Jake. "Dad!"

Neyira scoffed at her father not stepping forward and so she stepped forward herself, slapping Ronal's hands away and standing in front of her sister, glaring up at the woman. "Yes we are!"

Ronal raised an eyebrow at her before she brushed past her and walked towards Lo'ak and Neteyam, grabbing Lo'ak's hand and held it up. "They have demon blood!" She announced, making the crowd gasp and back away as Lo'ak kept his head down.

Neyira took a step forward. "Listen lady—"

"Neyira." Jake gave her a warning look and Neyira huffed before stepping back in front of Kiri. Jake took a step forward, holding his own hand up, showing his five fingers. "Look, look!" He said, waving his hand slightly, making Ronal look at him.

"I was born of the sky people, and now I am Na'vi. All right? You can adapt. We will adapt." Neytiri stepped forward, hoping to help persuade them.

"My husband was Toruk Makto," Jake winced, seeing as he no longer held that title, still a touchy area. "He led the clans to victory against the sky people." She said as her and Ronal came to stand in front of each other.

Ronal scoffed. "This you call victory? Hiding amongst strangers?" Neytiri sighed at her words, her eyes flickering to the ground before going back up to Ronal. "It seems eywa has turned her back on you, 'chosen' one."

Neytiri hissed at her, wasting no time to back up her husband. Ronal hissed back. Before the two woman could get into it, Jake stepped between them.

"I apologize for my mate she's—"
"Do not apologize for me!"
"—flown a long way and she's exhausted."
"Jake."  Jake gave her a look and Neytiri huffed before turning away, Ronal doing the same.

Tuk walked away from Neyira and towards Jake. "Dad?" She looked up at him and Jake looked at her before picking her up and setting her on his hip.

Tonowari's eyes noticeably softened at them. "We cannot let you bring your war here.." Jake shook his head and Tuk leaned hers on his shoulder. "I'm done with war, okay? I just want to keep my family safe."

Kiri stood next to her mother,putting her hand on her shoulder and Neytiri placed her hand over top of hers. She took in a breath before speaking. "Uturu has been asked.."

Tuk raised her head from her father's shoulder. "Do we have to go..?" Jake shushed her and gently put her head back on his shoulder. "Shh..we'll be okay."

Tonowari and Ronal turned to each other and seemed to communicate with their eyes  before Ronal sighed and nodded. The corner of Tonowari's lip twitched slightly and he turned to the crowd of people.

"Toruk Makto and his family will stay with us."

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