"I apologize for my mate she-"
"Do not apologize for me-"
"She's come a long way and is exhausted,"
"Jake," my mother huffed as she locked eyes with father as they, argued. With a huff my mother backed down resiliently.
"Toruk Makto is a great war leader. All Navi people know his story. But we are not at war," the chief said addressing his people. I wished so much to step forward and announce that they were indeed at war. The humans didn't care about the clans. That they only saw Navi as an obstacle to get to there goal. Instead I stayed silent. Tuk tugged dad's tail so he turned around and picked her up holding her close.
"We can not let you bring your war here," the chief said apologetically.
"I'm done with war ok. I just want to keep my family safe," he said. The chief looked over us all. A pathetic image really. The chief eyes rested on my bound shoulder.
"Auktoro has been asked," My mother stated.
The chief looked at his mate as they spoke silently with their eyes. They seemed to come to an agreement as he turned to his people.
"Toruk Makto and his family will stay with us. Treat them as our brothers and sisters," he announced relief washing over my father.
"They do not know the sea. So they will be like babies taking their first breath. Teach them our ways so they do not suffer the shame of being useless," the chief made a point with those words. He wasn't just going to take us in, we need to work for that.
"Alright what do we say?" father asked. Different thankyou's passed from our mouths. Kiri's with a roll of her eyes.
"Our son Aonung our daughter Tsireya will show your children what to do," The chief said. The boy from before didn't like this at all.
"Father why do I have to" he spoke up in protest.
"It is decided," the chief cut him off.
"Come, I will show you our village," Tsireya said with a bright smile. We gathered our things and were led through the village. It was beautiful. Huts hung up in the mangrove, water underneath. And it was bouncy. Tuk jumped up and down as we made our way through the village. People gave us curious but cautious looks. Then we came to our hut.
I was busy unpacking when I went to have something up but flinched as my shoulder twitched.
"Damn, "I hissed. Instantly dad was at my side.
"It's fine," I tried to dismiss it but he was having none of it.
"Give us a look," he said pulling me around. Unwrapping my shoulder he sighed. The healing had been good so far. The inside had healed. It had come to just a scab, the final stage of healing.
"It's looking a bit infected," he said.
"My mother is a great healer. She would be happy to examine your wound," Tsireya said.
"Yeah, go get checked out," father said pulling the bandage back up.
Hesitantly following her we came to a large hut, myself stopping at the entrance.
"Mother," as she entered her mother smiled at her only for it to fall when she saw me.
"What is she doing here?" she asked.
"She is injured mother," Tsireya said gently placing a hand on my shoulder and gently pulling me in. Now in the hut, I could see the chief and the son there as well. Aonung stood his eyes examining me.
"It's fine. My father worries for nothing," I said trying to dismiss it again.
"Come," she ordered. Hesitantly I walked up to her. Pushing me down I lowered into a sitting squat. She cut the bandage away and paused. The front had healed up, and only a small blue circle scar remained. The back was different, however. The exit wound. It was a plam-sized star-shaped wound which thanks to the science guys and skin grapes the skin was almost smooth. Yet the scabbed skin upon inspection was red and weeping slightly.
"What did this?" she asked.
"A gun," I murmured.
"What is a gun?" Tsireya asked curiously. The chief and Aonung were also curiouse.
"A human weapon," I whispered.
"What happened?" Tsireya asked sympathetically.
"An evil man found us. I was trying to protect my sister when they shot me. They were going to kidnap us but my father and mother saved us," I gave a brief explanation.
"We were hunted," I added solemnly. The chief shared a look with his wife.
"I didn't know demons hunted demons," she said as she smeared paste onto my back. I pressed my lips together at her words.
"I am not a demon," I whispered. She huffed in disagreement wrapping my shoulder up in some wet seaweed.
"It's done, Go," she said shoving me away slightly in the direction of the opening. Walking over to the hut entrance I stopped. Spinning around I made eye contact with Ronal. There it was again. My father's stupide temper.
"My grandmother was a tsahik," I stated.
"She told me to never judge someone by how they appear. After all, Eywa doesn't. As a tsahik neither should you," I stated. A glare settled onto her face but I only squared my shoulder as she walked up to me. I kept my gaze on hers.
"Mind your tongue," she warned.
"I mind it very well. With all due respect, I will ask you not to call my sibling's demons, they have been through enough," I said strongly. She looked like she was about to slap me.
"Saying that I understand the risk you are taking by welcoming us. I understand you are scared for your people and your family. Yet have you ever seen your children under the knife of an enemy?" I asked softly. Her eyes flickered to her children. He had not, yet she knew if she did she would kill the person holding said knife.
"That is what my parents saw. If this bullet had been a few inches to the left," I poked my heart. "I would have died," I stated. I pressed my lips into a thin line as I regarded my words. I had almost died. My parents had almost lost a child.
"So with all my heart, thankyou," I whispered the whole heartedly making her eyes go wide slightly. Stepping back I respectively bowed.
"May Eywa bless you and your family," I said before leaving.
When I returned Mother pulled me into her side looking over me.
"Alright Sully's fall in," Father called us all in as we crouched down.
"Rember, family meeting," Neteyam said pulling Loak down.
"Ok I ,need I you kids on your best behavior. I mean it. Learn fast pull your weight. Don't cause trouble," Father's last words were pointed to Loak. Neteyam smirked gently pinching the base of his queue.
"Got it?" father asked.
"Yes sir," Loak nodded.
"I want to go home," All our attention turned to Tuk as she started to cry.
"Oh Tuk" Mother whispered. Gently reaching out I pulled Tuk into a hug.
"Tuk, this is our home now," father said gently taking her hand. He looked over us all.
"Our home is wherever our family is Tuk," I whispered squeezing her gently and kissing her head.
"We're gonna get through this. We will get through this if we have each other's backs. right?" he asked.
"What does your father always say?" Mother asked.
"Sully stick together," we mumbled.
"Yeah, that's right Sully's stick together. Now next time with some feeling," he said with a smile.
"Sully's stick together," we chorused more loudly.
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