𖣘 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙉𝙮𝙖𝙡𝙖 𝘼𝙥𝙞 𖣘 𝙉𝙚𝙩𝙚𝙮𝙖𝙢 𝙎𝙪𝙡𝙡𝙮 𖣘

9.

She tapped his thigh before taking flight and returning back to the village.

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Lei and Percikan arrived back at the village, it was now time for the first meal of the day.

The two rushed to the Olo'eyktan's hut for food.

As Lei entered the hut she grabbed a few fruits from the pile, plopping down next to Awani.

"You're late." Awani squinted at Lei while taking a large bite of some sort of meat.

"Mouth closed while you eat." Lei grinned while gently pushing Awani's jaw upwards and closed with her index finger.

"Blah." Awani displayed the chewed food inside her mouth.

Lei snorted while looking away. "Immature—" She laughed quietly, avoiding making a large amount of noise. Everyone proved to be quite grumpy this early in the morning.

A young girl called Huli initiated conversation with the two, they laughed and joked for the rest of breakfast.

Neteyam couldn't help but gaze at Lei and her friends, he wondered what he had done to upset her.

"Neteyam." Lo'ak whispered, they were sat with Percikan, Hantu, and some other young Navi their age.

"What Lo'ak?"

"What is up with you, bro?" He sighed, putting his food down back onto a large circular leaf.

"Just stressed that's all." He shook his head, taking a large bite of some orange fruit. "Want some?" He smiled through a mouth full of food.

"No thanks." Lo'ak snickered.

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Lei stood in front of the Olo'eyktan and the Tsahìk, they were preforming the Koa ceremony.

Awani and 4 other female Na'vi their age were stood along side Lei, they had all completed training.

The entire tribe was observing the Koa ceremony, "Lei Atk'ina, Awani Uloka, ..." Tsahìk La'wan was approaching each Na'vi one by one, placing a flower with a orange and red hue in their hair.

Awani and Lei were hand in hand the entire event.

"You all are now Koa of the Nyala Api, you will protect the Ash People." Chief Katu announced proudly.

"You are to carve a bow from the tree located.." There were multiple trees that each Koa class carved their bows from, they were trees surrounding the Nyala Api's tree of souls.

"You are dismissed young ones." Katu dipped his head to the 6 girls.

Lei hugged Awani tightly. "We did it." She smiled, Awani kissed her cheek multiple times.

"My daughter." Palhar proceeded towards Lei, Awani scurried off to find her family.

"I see you." He placed his hand on her right shoulder, she leant into his grasp.

"I see you." She replied slowly, she had never heard these words from her father.

The rest of her family continued to congratulate her and praise her, the remainder of the day Lei spent carving her bow like she was instructed to.

———————————————————————

Lei was the first to reach the tree, and each Na'vi was informed the bow was to be carved on your own.

An hour into the process and she noticed a familiar sound, foot steps.

"Awani?" She called out, but it was not Awani that was walking towards her.

She recognized the blue skin tone of the Na'vi, along with the shoulder length braids.

"Mpmh." She grunted under her breath, shaking her head while she stood upwards. The wood chips that laid on her legs fell onto the ground, she aggressively shoved her dagger back into her sheathe and held the unfinished bow— a long strip of curved wood.

"Lei?" He smiled weakly.

"Must you always follow me?" She sighed, walking past him.

"What have I done to upset you?" He questioned her.

"Neteyam. It's not you." She stopped, partially turning her body towards the boy.

"Then what is it? I understand we're not close but I thought we were friends." He titled his head slightly, it was obvious Lei's actions had upset him.

"We shouldn't speak outside of training. That's all." She explained, avoiding eye contact.

"What?" He furrowed his eyebrows and took a step closer to her.

She stared up at him with a sorry expression.

He shook his head, "Fine." He shrugged, walking off.

Lei bit the inside of her cheek. Trust, the word echoed out in her head. She stared at his back as he walked away. She suddenly opened her mouth to speak.

"Who do you think you are?" She walked towards him.

Neteyam turnt around brazenly.

"I'm not obliged to talk to you just because you're clueless." She spoke coarsely, her tail curling in anger.

"I never said you are I just—"

"I've heard enough from you." Her eyes flickered up and down his body.

"You're actually unbelievable." Neteyam refrained himself from saying anything he would regret.

They gazed at eachother blankly, Neteyam noticed a thin scar on her right cheek bone.

"You don't belong here." Lei grimaced.

She shouldered him as she walked, he rubbed his neck.

"Bitch." He mumbled under his breath.