CHAPTER 1
The arrival of the Sully family had alerted the people. The young Metkayina looked around her as her people dove excitedly into the water, eager to find out what was happening. It wasn't often that a handful of Na'vi would arrive to their reef on ikran. It seemed it hadn't even come to mind to anyone that their arrival could be bad news. But as she looked up ahead at the group of ikran soaring through the sky, she couldn't help but get excited as well.
"'Kanu! We must go see what is happening!"
'Kanu, the young Na'vi girl in question nodded at her adoptive sister Tsireya, watching as she dove into the crystal clear water. She laughed before clapping her hands near the water, watching as an ilu swam by. She wasted no more time before jumping over the creature into the water. She glided gracefully a few feet before taking a hold of the ilu, allowing it to help her arrive at the shore faster.
When she arrived, it seemed everyone was more wary of these people by now. The group which had arrived seemed to have just touched ground.
'Kanu looked to her left to meet eyes with her sister. Tsireya did a hand gesture, telling Kanu that they would fall back and check things out soon. The younger girl didn't seem happy by this, but she nodded and leaned on the ilu, wordlessly telling it to turn back around.
Tsireya led the way and as soon as 'Kanu was sure she wouldn't turn around for a little while, she bolted. She turned the ilu around and they were speeding through the water, toward the shore once more.
When Tsireya eventually glanced behind her, she sighed, "Let's go then." She had noticed her sister speeding ahead. She hadn't wanted to go yet, since their mother usually didn't take guests well and she'd hoped to spare her sister from that.
Their age difference wasn't much - a couple months at most - but when 'Kanu had arrived in their family as a scared little kid, Tsireya had chosen to take good care of her. And she'd stuck to this decision.
When 'Kanu arrived at the shore, she let go of the ilu, allowing it to swim off freely. She dove the last few feet until it was shallow enough to stand easily. Peeking her head out of the water, she saw one of the visitors already looking at her. She decided to stand up and walk out the water, she shook her wet hair out of her face, smiling at the boy who kept his eyes on her.
She'd seen his brows raise momentarily, as if she was a sight to behold. This made 'Kanu snicker silently to herself. She recognized the newcomers to be from the forest, given their thin arms and sky blue skin.
Tsireya got out of the water and ran up to her, pulling on her tail, "You must not run like that!" She scolded her.
'Kanu yelped as she felt her tail be pulled. She quickly swatted her sister's hands away, "I did not run away," she told her, "..I swam." Tsireya laughed and nudged her, causing her to stumble to the side, right into her older brother.
"Watch it, skxawng," Aonung pushed her away from him. It wasn't harsh, but it was enough to make her angry.
"You-"
She was cut off by Rotxo, her brother's friend, "Look. What is that?" 'Kanu looked at what he was referring to. She smiled when she saw a thin, feeble tail. "Is that supposed to be a tail?"
Though 'Kanu found their tails rather odd, she wasn't happy by how degrading and mean he sounded as he spoke like that about them. And when people around them laughed, she saw how the sky blue people looked uncomfortable.
"It's too small," Rotxo carried on, pointing at their tails, "How are they supposed to swim?"
Tsireya hit his hand and the boy looked startled, "Do not, Rotxo. Aonung," she scolded the boys. 'Kanu smirked and stuck out her tongue at the boys. Aonung did not take this well and he pushed her head back with two of his fingers.
This time 'Kanu simply laughed and turned back to the visitors instead of getting mad.
The boy who had watched her come out of the water met her eyes and spoke, "Hey," he said coolly.
'Kanu smiled back and would have greeted him had Aonung not pulled her behind him. She noticed how he gave the boy an angry look.
Just then there was the loud flapping of wings and they all turned to see the Olo'eyktan arrive on his skimwing. They flew above their heads and landed in the water, coming to a stop a few feet from the shore. Everyone watched as the man gracefully made his way toward them.
"Olo'eyktan," The chief said, bringing his hand to his forehead before letting it fall in greeting.
"I see you, Tonowari," the forest man said, mimicking his actions.
Eyeing the dynamic of this group, 'Kanu suspected them to be a family. She watched as the rest of his family greeted their Olo'eyktan as well, showing their respect. When her people started shifting out of the way of someone, 'Kanu's eyes met Tsireya's. Her sister grimaced in return, not keen on seeing what would happen.
"I see you, Ronal," the father of the newcomers said as he saw her approach, "Tsahik of the Metkayina."
That was when 'Kanu recognized the man. This was Toruk Makto, the great warrior. And the people with him must've been his family. Wanting to see more, 'Kanu stepped around her brother, but growled quietly when his arm flew out to stop her.
"Why do you come to us, Jakesully?" Tonowari asked. 'Kanu could see the confusion on her mothers face as she stood beside her father.
Jake looked around at his family before lifting his arms up in a sign of peace, "We seek ukturu," the man replied.
"Ukturu?" Ronal repeated, almost disbelievingly.
"A sanctuary for my family," Jakesully sounded pleading.
Ronal merely looked at Tonowari before walking forward, toward the family.
"We are reef people," Tonowari told them, "You are forest people. Your skills will be nothing here."
'Kanu kept her eyes on her mother, who was moving through the newcomers. She took a hold of Jake's mate's tail, causing her to look at her. Then she took a hold of the little girl's arm, "Their arms are thin," she stated before moving on to the older girl, "Their tails are weak," she said as she held onto her tail.
"Ow!" The girl protested.
Ronal let go, "They will be slow in the water," she said as she held the girl's hands, "These children.." she held up the girl's hands, displaying her five fingers, "Are not even true Na'vi!"
Even 'Kanu herself gasped along with her people.
"Yes we are," the girl told the Tsahik, pulling her hands out of her grasp.
Ronal walked over to the two boys and held the younger's hand in the air, showing his five fingers once again. 'Kanu watched with a saddened expression as the boy looked at the ground. He seemed ashamed. "They have demon blood!" The Tsahik declared, earning more shocked reactions from the people.
"Look," Jake said, not wanting his children to be ridiculed in front of him. He held up his own five fingered hand, "Look!" He waved it before Ronal, "Look, I was born with the sky people and now I am Na'vi. Alright, you can adapt."
Ronal let go of the boy and started moving toward Tonowari again.
"We can adapt," Jake said, "Okay?"
Neytiri stepped from behind him, "My husband was Toruk Makto. He lead the clans to victory against the sky people." 'Kanu could see Jakesully grimace - as if he hadn't wanted her to bring this up.
"This you call victory?" Ronal asked, "Hiding. Among strangers," she took a step toward the woman as she looked down at the ground, "It seems Eywa has turned her back on you, chosen one," she told Jake.
Neytiri snarled at Ronal and she did so too. 'Kanu shifted uncomfortably as she watched the scene unfold. Jake got in between the two women, "I apologize for my mate. She's come a long way-"
"Don't apologize for me," Neytiri told him.
"-she's exhausted."
"Jake." Jake looked at her and she sighed in frustration before standing beside him again.
Tonowari seemed to hesitate before stepping next to Jake, "Toruk Makto is a great war leader," he said, placing a hand on his shoulder, "All Na'vi people know his story. But we Metkayina are not at war." He turned back to Jake as he picked up his little daughter, "We cannot let you bring your war here."
"I'm done with war," Jake said, "Okay? I just want to keep my family safe."
Ronal and Tonowari met each other's gaze. 'Kanu had been around her father long enough to know that he was about to give in. This put a small smile to her face.
"Ukturu has been asked," Neytiri said.
Tonowari sighed and looked at his wife. They seemed to be having a negotiation without words. At long last, Ronal seemed to nod slightly and Tonowari turned to face his people. "Toruk Makto and his family will stay with us. Treat them as brothers and sisters. They do not know the sea, so they will be like babies, taking their first breath." 'Kanu laughed quietly at that. "Teach them our ways so they do not suffer the shame of being useless."
Jake looked grateful and he placed a hand on the back of his youngest child, "What do we say?"
"Thank you," the girl said with a smile.
"Thank you," Jake repeated and soon his whole family was thanking the Tsahik and Olo'eyktan.
"My son, Aonung - our daughters Tsireya and 'Kanu, will show your children what to do." Tonowari said, gesturing to each of his children as he said their names.
Aonung looked at his father with utter disbelief written on his face while Tsireya and 'Kanu seemed pleased. "Father, why do I-"
"It is decided," Tonowari said as his son began to protest.
"Come," 'Kanu stepped from behind Aonung to greet Jake's children. "We will show you our village," she gestured to Tsireya who was right behind her, before turning and leading the way.