invisible string ↝ ao'nung

II ; Everything Has Changed

"Is that supposed to be a tail? How do they swim?"

The boys both laughed and Sylwana took a deep breath to calm herself when her father glanced back at her. Lo'ak looked furious, but when he noticed his fathers gaze he looked at the ground.

A sudden calling caught their attention; they looked to their left to see a large winged creature flying towards them. If not for its long mouth and tail it would have resembled an ikran. A tall, powerful looking man dismounted and walked towards the family. Sylwana realised, based on his clothing and tattoos, that he was the Olo'eyktan, Tonowari.

They greeted him, mumbling "I see you," and Tonowari did the same, greeting Sylwana's mother and father by name.
Sylwana felt the air tense as the crowd parted to let a woman through. Again, based on her clothing, tattoos, and shell headpiece, she figured this was the Tsahík of the Metkayina, Ronal. This was who her father was worried about.

And she understood why. Her mother and father greeted her, and like the two boys, she did not return the gesture.

"Why do you come to us?"

"We seek uturu."

"Uturu?" Ronal sounded both angry and confused.

"A sanctuary for my family," Jake pleaded. Uturu was a law among the Na'vi; if a traveler invoked uturu, it must be granted.

"We are reef people, you are forest people," Tonowari said, watching his wife walk over to Neytiri. "Your skills will not be useful here."

Ronal grabbed Neytiri's tail, and then inspected Tuk's arm. "Their arms are thin," she announced to her people. Tuk backed away to her father.
Ronal lifted Kiri's tail. "Their tails are weak." Kiri grabbed her tail, exclaiming in pain and surprise. "You will be slow in the water."

Sylwana's eyes narrowed when Ronal seized Kiri's hand, showing the Metkayina her four fingers.
"These children are not even true Na'vi!"

She closed her eyes in defeat; she could hear Kiri defending herself but Sylwana was too exhausted to listen to this any longer.

Her eyes flew open at her fathers hard voice. "Look!"
He held his hand out to Ronal; four fingers.
"I was born of the Sky People and now I am Na'vi. You can adapt, we will adapt."
Though her mother mumbled her agreement, Sylwana knew she had no intention of adapting. 

"My husband was Toruk Makto," Neytiri announced proudly. Jake and his children cringed. "He led the clans to victory against the Sky People."

"This, you call victory?" Ronal mocked. "Running, hiding among strangers? It seems Eywa has turned her back on you, chosen one."
They hissed at each other, and Sylwana was almost certain there would have been an all out brawl if Jake had not stepped in.
"I apologise for my mate, she's had a long journey and she's exhausted." Neytiri looked scandalised. "Do not apologise for me-" Jake gave her a look. "Jake!" She huffed, but backed down.

There was an awkward silence.
"Toruk Makto was a great war leader," Tonowari attempted to break the tension. "Every Na'vi knows his story. But we Metkayina," he assured, "are not at war. We cannot let you bring your war here."

"I don't want war," Jake pleaded, becoming desperate. "I just want to keep my family safe." Sylwana lowered her head, gripping Neteyam's hand for comfort. She was exhausted, hungry, and she just wanted this all to be over. She just wanted to return to the forest and forget about this war. She wanted to learn how to utilise medicinal plants and ride Na'ru with her siblings and friends. She wanted to explore the forest and spend time with her grandmother. She wanted to watch Tuktirey grow up in the forest and complete her iknimaya. She wanted to go back to the way things were; perfect.

"Toruk Makto and his family will stay here," came the booming voice of Tonowari, effectively breaking Sylwana out of her stupor. She couldn't help the way her heart sank; they were granted a safe place to hide away from the Sky People, but that also meant they could not return to the forest.

"My son Ao'nung, our daughter Tsireya will show your children what to do."
Of course the cocky boy who laughed at her was the Olo'eyktan's son. That was why he was so arrogant. He tried to argue but his father silenced him. His sister, however, smiled and said "I will show you our village."

The Metkayina village was unlike anything Sylwana had seen before. The trees and the cave system were nothing like the open paths and marui's of the Metkayina. Integrated into the mangrove trees along the reef, their marui homes were beautiful, overlooking the reef and the atolls in the distance. Their paths were made of thin, bouncy fabric, with tension points dotted between. Tame ocean creatures yipped and squealed in the water as they walked, Metkayina watching them from their homes curiously.

Tsireya led the way, explaining the basic workings of the village and the kind of training the Omatikaya would have to go through in order to live comfortably.
Her brother and his friend trailed behind them. Ao'nung was attempting to poke fun at them, but the other boy was steering the conversation in a different direction.

"Are you okay, sister?" Sylwana asked, watching Kiri trail behind the rest of their family with a sour look on her face. With Spider being taken, and leaving the forest, Kiri had not been pleasant the past few days. Sylwana was starting to worry about her.

"I am fine," Kiri replied curtly. She was hugging her shawl tightly around her, her luggage strapped across her chest. Kiri had only a few, treasured belongings, and was the first of them to have everything she'd need packed.

Sylwana was about to say more when Ao'nung laughed louder, repeating what Kiri had said in a mocking tone. His friend didn't look impressed, and reasoned with him. Ao'nung rolled his eyes but stopped his impression.
Sylwana slowed and smiled at Ao'nung's friend. She greeted him with a gesture, which he returned. "What is your name?" She asked. "Rotxo. And you?"
"Sylwana." He smiled.
"It is nice to meet you, Sylwana."
"It is nice to meet you, too, Rotxo."

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