~~~Superstes~~~UNDERGOING MAJOR EDITING

Washed up

Tsireya and Feya ran off together towards the shore, leaving Aonung and Lo'ak standing in an awkward silence. He rubbed the back of his head, "Well...I'm gonna go." He muttered sheepishly, before darting off back in the direction of their pod network. 

Once he arrived, Dad and Mom are conversating at the entrance in a heated manner. Warily, Lo'ak slid past them and into the dim light of the marui. 

Neteyam was sitting on his knees carving a small stick, appearing agitated. "So..." Lo'ak started, "I'm guessing you didn't get the answer you wanted."

His older brother shook his head, remaining silent. 

"What did he say?" 

Neteyam lifted his head, "Lo'ak, it's none of your business." he jerks the knife through the wood, shaving off an acceptable strip of bark. "I'm not allowed to go, and I don't think I will be for the next year." 

Lo'ak plopped down next to him. "We're not going without you. We'll wait, the gang and I already decided." 

Neteyam snorted which was one of the things Lo'ak wasn't expecting to hear. "Baby brother, you make me laugh." He said, "The 'gang'. Where did you learn that word?"

Lo'ak shrugged. "Dad says it." 

"Ah. Well, how is the 'gang'? How's your girlfriend?" 

"She's not my girlfriend."

"Did she tell you that?" 

Lo'ak rolled his eyes. "Okay, you cannot be talking. You brought a whole other female life force back with you. Anyway, what did surgery feel like? I haven't gotten to ask. Did it hurt?" 

Neteyam smirked, setting his carving on the floor and giving his baby bro his attention. "I wasn't awake, skxawng. I woke up and my lung was gone, simple as that. I'm not sure what all they had to do."

"Does it feel weird?" 

"Ehh," Neteyam shrugged, "A little bit. But I'm getting used to it."

Lo'ak pulled his legs into his lap. "Dad mentioned something about 'a few weeks ago'. What happened?"

Neteyam fidgeted with the knife, clearly choosing his words carefully. "Nothing." 

"C'mon, bro."

"Fine, but it's not important--I just passed out." 

"What? How is that not important?" 

"Why were you even listening to our argument?" 

The brothers hit a brick wall. "Uh, I was waiting for you to be finished." Lo'ak mumbled, "We were going to go to the cove, remember?" 

Neteyam nodded vigorously, "Yes, I remember."

Then Neytiri stalked by the brothers; her face contorted in an irritated setting. Without saying a word to them, she took the bowls from last night's dinner and began wiping them clean with a rag. She and Dad almost never fought, so when they did the atmosphere afterward was noticeable.

 Lo'ak wondered what they could even be arguing about right now.

"Boys," she spoke, irritated, "go outside. You father and I need to talk."

                                                                                           ~~~

"You are being a skxawng, Jake!"

Jake stood in the warm light that enveloped the big marui, holding his hands out in subtle desperation. "What is it you want me to say? Just tell me, please, so we can get over this."