Lei's breath was short and ragged and she sprinted through the jungle, keeping her pace with Percikan. Percikan has already earned the Koa title and he was instructed to assist Lei.
"Keep up!" He called from in front of her.
Lei bared her teeth, struggling to run beside the faster Na'vi. If she didn't pass him soon she would have to race him over, and over, and over again. Lei was not fond of that idea.
She gazed upwards as she frolicked to find a low tree branch, she propelled herself upwards. Lei clung onto the tree branch and swung towards the back of Percikan, grasping onto his shoulders and pulling him onto the ground.
He grunted harshly as he fell onto his stomach, he struggled to break free of Lei's grip.
She cackled breathlessly as she jumped upwards to continue running, "LEI!" He bellowed.
And due to the young girl's wittiness she had won the race.
She reached a fallen tree branch in an open patch of land which they agreed to be a finish line, she fell onto her knees and laid on her stomach. She laid her face on the ground and caught her breath, waiting for Percikan to reach her. Mazzy was positioned below the branch waiting for their return.
"You cheater." He gently pretended to kick her, sitting down as well.
Mazzy approached Lei and nudged her leg with her snout, she reached her hand out to stroke her soul sister. She then laid back down, her face positioned away from Percikan.
Percikan smiled at the sight of the Ikran, he reached over Lei to show affection to the animal as well. Percikan seemed to possess a deep connection to any animal he came across.
"Good girl." He whispered to Mazzy, Lei couldn't help but feel flustered. Her breath hitched as she retracted her hand from Mazzy.
Lei had always had a small crush on the older Na'vi, but she never saw him more than a good friend.
"Lei, are you awake?" Percikan had been calling her name for the past 30 seconds. He had been standing upward over Lei.
"Mhm." She mumbled.
"Well get up." He pretended to kick her a second time.
Lei pulled herself up on Mazzy's "reins" that Kiri had woven for her. The Omatikaya tribe was known for their talented weaving skills, while the Nyala Api was known for their specialized weapons and armor. Kiri and Lo'ak had also gifted her a riding mask from their home, she had been using it frequently.
She stood upwards as took her gifted riding mask from a small pouch she attached to Mazzy's "reins."
"Let me see that." Percikan gently held Lei's wrist from behind her. He always caught her attention by preforming that gesture, ever since they were young.
"This?" She turnt, placing it in his hand.
He ran his thumb up and down the tooth that were woven into the item. He gazed at it peculiarly before handing it back to her. "It's cool." He smiled bitterly— he was jealous. Not of Neteyam and his family, but that the Omatikaya tribe paid such respects and care for their Ikran.
Lei nodded, placing it on her head and above her eyes.
She casted him a cheeky smile before mounting Mazzy and connecting their queue.
Percikan stared at her for a moment, "Well come on." She mocked him from earlier. She held her hand out to assist him onto the Ikran.
He took her hand and sat comfortably on the back of Mazzy, he wrapped his arms around Lei's waist and laid his head on her shoulder blade.
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.
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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.