So Peaceful
By SparklyTree3876

Rating: PG

Genre: Romance/Family

Pairing: Tonowari/Ronal

Author's Notes: Hi, readers. I would like to present another Avatar one shot. It is set during Avatar and shows Ronal sharing some unexpected news with Tonowari during a walk on the beach. The idea for this fic came to mind when I thought about the Metkayina enjoying a peaceful existence while the Omaticaya were having problems with humans stripping the rainforest to mine for unobtanium. The dorado verde is actually a species of banshee that lives in the ocean. It is the smallest of all the banshees. It is not known if the reef clans practice the tradition of betrothing a son to a potential tsahik or a daughter to a potential olo'eytkan. All dialogue is in italics. That represents Na'vi being spoken. The Metkayina have not been infiltrated by the RDA, so it would not make sense for them to speak English. It is very likely they will learn to speak it when Jake, Neytiri, and their children come to stay with them in Avatar: The Way of Water. I hope you enjoy this one shot. Constructive criticism is welcome.

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The midmorning sun beamed its rays on a pristine stretch of beach in late May. A gentle wind went through the trees, making their leaves rustle softly. Waves came in and retreated out to sea. More slithered through the sand. A dorado verde flew through the sky above the beach. It flapped its wings on occasion. It bobbed its head three times.

The dorado verde spotted a small boulder close to the shoreline. It headed downward with a soft squawk. It scratched its cheek with its claw. It emitted a soft snort. Laughter caught its attention. It looked up to see Tonowari and Ronal walking past it. He tried to tickle her side, but he missed when she moved away from him. She gave him a mock angry look.

"You need to keep your hands to yourself, Tonowari," she warned playfully.

"Which hand are you talking about more, Ronal?" he teased as he moved his eye ridges up and down.

"It is both hands equally," Ronal responded and cleared her throat.

"Okay," Tonowari said and stepped closer to his mate. "I am sorry for trying to tickle you so much."

"Good," Ronal said while coming up to him. "You get a little reward for your apology."

Ronal leaned in to kiss Tonowari. Her tongue entered his mouth and wrestled with his. He emitted a soft moan. She reached behind him and grabbed his tail. She tugged on it, causing them to pull apart. She ran off giggling. He growled in mock annoyance.

"You better come back here!" Tonowari warned. "I mean it!"

She looked over her shoulder and stuck her tongue out at him. She pulled it back into her mouth before looking ahead. He huffed and chased after her. He increased his stride. He managed to catch up to her and grabbed her around the waist. He wrapped his arms around her body. She struggled against his grasp, but she couldn't get free.

"Keep trying to get away from me. I am not letting you go," Tonowari said smugly.

"I wouldn't get so smug if I were you," Ronal answered, a big smirk crossing her lips.

He raised an eye ridge. "What do you mean?"

Suddenly, she elbowed him in the stomach, causing him to lose his grip on her. She turned around to push him away. He stumbled backward, but he managed to regain his balance. He gave her a mock-annoyed look.

"Very sneaky," Tonowari said, a sly smile forming on his face.

"I like being sneaky," Ronal said, walking up to him and touching his arms. "You are just as sneaky as I am."

He cupped her chin in his hand. "So true. I like being sneaky. When we first started our relationship, there were days where we did not return home until very late. We stayed away from the village all night twice."

She let out a soft giggle. "Our parents harshly reprimanded us both times."

"They were strict, but they loved us very much. We did not expect them to die when we were still very young," Tonowari whispered sadly.

"My father died of a lung infection. My mother was attacked and killed by a shark. Your parents headed out to sea on their ilus. They never returned. They were the previous leaders of the Metkayina," Ronal added, a soft sniffle coming from her.

"We had just become a mated couple when my parents died," Tonowari said a tear fell from his eye. "We had to take their place as the clan leaders."

"It was not easy, but we managed to adjust to our new roles," Ronal said, her ear twitching.

Tonowari nodded in agreement. "We helped each other and our fellow Metkayina. They hold a great deal of respect for us."

Ronal smiled. "Respect is earned. It cannot be demanded."

Tonowari and Ronal hugged each other tightly. They stayed this way for thirty seconds before pulling apart. She pulled her hair behind her neck and moved her tail up and down twice.

"There is something I need to tell you, Tonowari," she whispered.

"What, Ronal?" Tonowari asked confusingly.

"Do you remember when I fell asleep during our council meeting three days ago?" Ronal wondered.

"Yes, I do," Tonowari admitted. "I was asking your opinion about the approaching cyclone season. I didn't hear you answer. I looked over and saw you had your head propped up on your elbow. I heard you snoring. I shook you awake. You craved crab for lunch. I looked at you like you were insane because you hate crab."

"The next day, I snapped at you when you kept asking me if I was okay. I regretted it," Ronal said with a frown. "When I went for a walk after dinner that night, my stomach felt queasy. I went behind a boulder. I threw up everything I ate. I went to see Hi'i to find out what was going on. She told I was showing the same symptoms our mothers did before we came. "

"You mean—" Tonowari started.

"Yes," Ronal responded, nodding. "I'm pregnant."

Tonowari felt his jaw drop. He opened and closed his mouth, but he could not get any words to form. Ronal took a closer look at him, wondering when he would say something. Just then, he walked three steps away from her. She came to his side.

"I am sorry for springing this news on you," Ronal apologized. "I just wanted you to know."

"I didn't think I would become a father just a few years after we became the clan leaders," Tonowari whispered, his ears swiveling.

She went over to the front of her mate. "Tonowari?"

"How far along are you?" Tonowari asked.

"About two months," Ronal admitted and licked her lips. "Hi'i says I will give birth in a little over six months."

"That is when fish will be most plentiful for us to catch," Tonowari pointed out warmly.

"I know," Ronal said with a giggle. "That will help me keep my milk up. A healthy mother will produce a healthy baby."

"Of course," Tonowari said, chuckling softly. "I can't believe we are having a baby."

"Me neither," Ronal said, tears forming in her eyes. "Without a doubt this is the happiest day of my life."

Tonowari cupped her chin in his hand. "It is the happiest day of my life too."

The lovebirds hugged once more. Ronal felt her tears fall down her cheeks, some merging with each other. She emitted a joyful sob. Tonowari began to cry as well. Tears fell from his eyes. They pulled away from each other. They wiped their tears away.

"I can't believe a man like me is crying," he said sheepishly.

"It is not a bad thing for a man to cry. He needs to let it out from time to time," she responded gently.

"I have to admit I am a little nervous about being a father," Tonowari said, touching her stomach and rubbing it gently.

"I am a little nervous about being a mother," Ronal admitted. "Children do not come with instructions."

"No, they do not," Tonowari agreed. "Every child is different. They have their own wants and needs."

"Children are born with a selfish desire. Parents have to teach them how to control it," Ronal pointed out truthfully.

"Do you want our child to be a boy or a girl?" Tonowari wondered in much curiosity.

"I do not care what our child is as long as it is healthy," Ronal commented and bit her lip.

"I feel the same way," Tonowari responded and smiled in much warmth. "I am a firm believer of our child choosing its own mate once it comes of age."

"I am too. I never understand the tradition of betrothing a son to a potential spiritual leader or a daughter to a potential clan leader," Ronal said while shaking her head in disbelief. "The mainland clans practice this tradition. Some children rebelled against betrothals and were exiled from their clans."

"The reef clans practiced this tradition for a long time, especially ours. After multiple rebellions against betrothals, they stopped it altogether," Tonowari explained. "We value our independence. We would rather not get involved in the affairs of others."

"That is not to say we won't help someone if they need it," Ronal murmured and suppressed a yawn.

"It is not often we are asked to help someone," Tonowari said and inhaled deeply. He exhaled slowly before yawning. "We have to be careful because we are not sure what they could be hiding."

"I know," Ronal agreed. "One thing is clear. I am determined to be a good mother to our child."

"I am determined to be a good father to our child," Tonowari responded lovingly. "Whatever happens, we will get through it together as a family."

"I would die to protect our family," Ronal said in determination.

"I would die to protect our family too," Tonowari whispered. "I love you."

"I love you too," Ronal answered in a loving voice. "Always."

Tonowari and Ronal shared a passionate kiss. They wrapped their arms around each other. They broke apart and resumed walking down the beach. She slipped her arm around his waist, as did he with his around her shoulder. They knew they would have to raise their child to be tough in order to survive the ocean. They were aware nature did not like weakness and would root out the weak for the strong to carry on to the next generation. They would stick together through thick and thin, no matter what.

THE END