I don't own any characters or anything but the story. Criticism is welcome but please don't be rude.
Har'ii pulled the string of his bow back and focused his eyes on the target in front of him. He took a deep breathe as he let go of the string and then watched the arrow fly through the air before it stopped a couple feet short of his target. He let out a sigh of frustration, not understanding what he was doing wrong. He been working for several weeks now on trying to get the arrows to hit targets from further distances with minimal success.
His father had taught the best methods to use, but had also tried to encourage him to figure it out by just practicing. While he trusted Aktamu to give him the best advice, it felt like all his practicing wasn't doing much good. He tried again, only for the same thing to happen, with the arrow falling to the ground just shy of the tree he was aiming at. His muscles were starting to ache so he knew he should probably stop for the day, but he really didn't want to.
Part of him didn't want to stop until he had made some noticable progress even if it took all day to do so. Before he could reach for another arrow however, he heard someone call his name. He looked up to see a group of children coming toward him Har'ii saw among them were Tsu'tey, Neytiri and his siblings. There was an older girl leading them and it took Har'ii a second to realize that it was Neytiri's older sister, Sylwanin, who was also the oldest daughter of Mo'at and Eytukan.
Har'ii had not seen much of her as she was usually either at Grace's school or with one of her parents, as she trained in hunting or how to be the next Tsahik. He couldn't help but wonder why she was here and what the others were doing with her. Before Har'ii could speak to ask, Neytiri excitedly exclaimed "Har'ii you should come with us to see the school." He just stood there for a minute confused and unsure what to say, when Sylwanin smile slightly and explained "I was givepermission to take some of the younger children to see schoolhouse and wanted to know if you would like to come.
He glanced at the others to see that Neytiri was smiling and nodding eagerly, Tsu'tey was frowning and Ro'an and Hirmi'ee were solemn. Har'ii wasn't sure what to do, on one hand he could think of a few good reasons to want to stay away from the skypeople as much possible. On the other hand he was actually kind of curious about the school he kept hearing about and he couldn't really think of a good reason he could give to refuse going. He looked down at the bow in his hand and decided that it would probably better than growing steadily more frustrated with his training. With some reluctance he nods and then made sure to collect all of his arrows before they head off.
Around him most of the other children were chattering happily with Neytiri sounding the most excited. Har'ii walked right next to Tsu'tey and he could tell that his friend isn't happy about being on trip like the others. While they had not talked about what they had seen during their first hunting trip, Har'ii knew it had affected Tsu'tey.
His friend had never been very trusting or accepting of the presence of the skypeople like the other children and his distrust of them had only grown stronger since they had seen what they were doing to the forest. He looks over at his friend wondering why Tsu'tey was now voluntarily going near a human establishment. Har'ii continued pondering this as they walked and a little later he looks around to see they are in a part of the forest he had never been before.
He looks up ahead to see what he realizes must be the school. It was a very simple structure, just a small square building that stood out amongst the trees around it. It was set several inches above the forest floor and the walls of the school was wood planks, but the board only went halfway up. The top parts of the walls being large square holes, with what appeared wooden shutters that could propped open. The roof looked like it was made of dried grass and there was no door and there was a porch surrounding it with a couple stairs up to it.
Har'ii tail flicked curiously as they made there way toward it and just before they made it to the stairs Grace stepped, smiling when she saw them. Sylwanin greeted her happily and Grace returned the it before turning the rest of them. "Hello children, I'm glad to see you here." Most of the children shouted their own greeting, though Har'ii, Tsu'tey, Ro'an and Hirmi'ee stayed quiet. Grace then lead them into the school and Har'ii gazed around the small room.
The floor was wooden planks and there were a few tables with benches spaced around the room. There was a board with different chart at the back of the room and to one side there was a shelf that had books and a few other things. Just in front of the board was a model of the solar system. Har'ii found it interesting how similar it looked to a classroom one would find on earth. There were some of the older children from the clan scattered around the room.
Grace walked around the classroom, pointing to different objects and explaining to the group of children the basics of what they are, with a couple of her students adding additional information. Grace also talked about what typical day of school was like "We usually have lessons in English, reading and science, but we may also cover some other topics as well. Now why don't we all sit down so you guys can experience what a day is like and if you might like to continue coming in the future."
Har'ii sat next to Tsu'tey, who was paying close attention, though he was still frowning and Har'ii couldn't help but wonder what he was thinking. As Grace taught, Har'ii found himself comparing her lesson to ones he was used to in the clan. He much preferred the one from the na'vi, though a good part of that might be he already knew quite a bit of what Grace was talking about. He learned a couple new things, but most of it he already understood. The other children were seemed fascinated by what grace was teaching them, because although she had taught them a little bit during her trips to the village, this was more extensive.
During the lesson Grace would sometime switch to English while speaking to the older children and Har'ii had to focus on making it look like he didn't understand what she was saying during these times. he could see his siblings were also struggling to do this, particularly Hirmi'ee, when Grace asked a question she knew the answer to.
When Grace started to teach them a few English words, Har'ii tried to be careful to only pronounce the words right after a few of the other children managed to do so. He was gratefully that the na'vi children seemed to pick up the language fairly quickly, which made things a lot easier, but he couldn't wait for the end of the lesson. Finally Grace dismissed, while happily inviting them to come back whenever they liked.
Har'ii wasn't sure whether or not to take her up on that offer. While he was still nervous about revealing too much, attending a couple classes might be a good way to cover up if he did slip up. The children around him were talking excitedly about what they had learned while they traveled back home. The only exceptions were his Ro'an and Hirmi'ee ahead of him, who were talking quietly together and his friend next to him. He glanced over at Tsu'tey to see that he appeared to be lost in thought.
Har'ii gently bumped his shoulder to get his attention "Everything okay?" Tsu'tey hesitated for a second before stating "I just don't understand them." "The skypeople?" Har'ii asked perplexed. Tsu'tey nodded "Some of them say they care for us and our world, while they allow others to just destroy it." Har'ii considered this before asking "Is that why you wanted to go to school to try to understand them?" "Yes, I don't like them, I don't trust them, I want to know what they truly want. We saw for ourselves the damage that they were doing to forest, but I heard my father ask the dreamwalkers about it and they all tried to avoid the subject or placate him about it." he said angrily.
Har'ii hadn't known that, but it did make the extra hostility that Tsu'tey had shown toward them recently make more sense. Since he wasn't sure himself what to think about the skypeople being there, he didn't know what to say to his friend to calm him down. He instead gently wrapped an arm around Tsu'tey shoulders in support and got a smile for his efforts. he returned the smile before dropping his arm and asking "So, you are going to continue going to school?" "Yes, the more I learn about them, the better."
He then looks at Har'ii and says "You should come to." Har'ii gives him a curious look "Why?" Tsu'tey shrugs and states "It would be nice to have someone there who know what they can do. Most of the other children are to enamored by the skypeople to see how destructive they are." Har'ii couldn't think of argument against so he just nodded and Tsu'tey smiled saying "Besides, it just be a lot better having my best friend with me."
Har'ii smiled back at him, somewhat amused about the fact his friend could go from sounding incredibly mature to sounding just like the little boy he was. Despite this, Har'ii was grateful to have such a good friend in his life, who had since the beginning of his time in the Omaticaya had been helping him with his new life. Even with his own doubts about going back, he figured it was the least he could do for him. The rest of the walk back was done in comfortable silence, both deep in thought about what was to come.