The blowing of a conch shell signaled their arrival. Beautiful water stretched out beneath them, reflecting the light in shades of shimmering teal. The village that lay ahead of the Sullys was bursting with life. As their ikran's soared closer, Neteyam took in the sight before him. Below the water, light blue Na'vi rode on long necked creatures breeching the waves with ease only to drive back down beneath the waves in a graceful twist of fins. Many called out yelps of greeting from the shore and his mother did the same in return, signaling their descent with the trill of her voice. Neteyam urged his ikran forward, guiding her down to the sand bank below.
Awa'atlu. The place that was to be his home. Neteyam could not help but feel an ache in his chest. The village itself was centered off the roots of a sweeping mangrove tree. Structures and pathways were made and connected by intricate woven mats, stretching all throughout the branches, suspending the village above the water. Members of the Metkayina tribe began to approach them. His father held his hands out openly as he dismounted and Neteyam did the same. The people before him gave them strange looks and it was easy to assume why. While they bore the similar markings of the Na'vi the differences between the Omaticaya and the reef people were shockingly apparent.
"Tuk," his mother called, gesturing for the youngest Sully to stay near and hold her hand. Everyone seemed on edge.
"Be nice," Jake commented apprehensively, shooting a warning look at his two sons. The family came to a stop, all standing before the tribe with their hands out. To his side, Kiri wrapped her shawl tightly around her shoulders. Neteyam could not help but feel sympathy for his eldest sister. He knew the trip had been hard on her especially.
Many of the present warriors held their spears tensely at their side but none were aimed directly at them. His father called out a greeting as members of the Metkayina circled them cautiously. Lo'ak glanced at him nervously but Neteyam gave him a slight reassuring nod. Through the crowd, a boy his age walked closer, studying them intently. Both he and his brother brought their hands forward from their forehead as a sign of respect but it was not reciprocated. Neteyam bit his tongue silently but watched as this boy and his friends circled them closely. Something about him drew his attention. The taller boy's chest was a pale blue, with water like stripes crossing to his biceps. Around his neck he was a sharp curved tooth, held together by a beaded cord. Unlike the straight braided hair of the forest tribe, this boy's hair was bound in tight curls and braided atop his head in a bun. As he passed by, Neteyam locked eye contact with him. His blue stare was challenging and Neteyam's lips twisted into a frown. He was not used to seeing blue eyes on the Na'vi people.
The voice of the second shorter boy, trailing behind the first made his ears prick. "Look," he sneered. "What is that? Is that supposed to be a tail?" Laughter bubbled up from the tribe and Neteyam bit back the urge to growl as his tail twitched back and forth in anger.
"Take it easy, just be cool." His father reiterated. And the young warrior forced himself to breath out slowly and hold his tongue.
From the side of his eye he caught movement in the water and both brothers turned to see a Metkayina female dismount from one of the strange water creatures. She dove quickly beneath the waves and resurfaced near the store stepping up to the sand with agile grace. A sharp intake of breath came from Lo'ak as she approached and Neteyam could not help but smirk at his brother. Similar to the others her hair was braided into curls that fell easily down her back, shimmering in the water.
"-it is too small, how are they supposed to swim with it." Came the same voice from the smaller boy, followed by a sharp laugh from the other one.
"Do not!" The girl said sharply, slapping away the hand of the boy behind him. "Rotxo. Aonung." She scolded facing away from the two once more.
It was Lo'ak who spoke up first. "Hey," he said, offering a shy nod to the girl. Neteyam's lips twitched up at his brother's poor attempt at flirting but he quickly arranged his face back into a neutral expression. The reef girl quickly bowed her head and let out a small giggle.
A loud rush of sound came from behind them and both Neteyam and his family turned to see a large aquatic beast leap from the water, spreading a pair of bright orange wings as it soared above them. On its back rode a broad, tattooed Na'vi that let out a low cry as he held a spear above his head. The creature landed in the water and the Metkayina broke his tsaheylu with a firm stroke of his hands. The markings on his face and heavy cloak he wore upon his shoulders clearly indicated him as the chief. Around his neck hung a mantle of heavy teeth, their jagged edges framing the tattoos that extended down his torso.
"Jake Sully," He greeted in a heavy, commanding voice.
"Oel ngati kameie. I see you, Tonowari," his father responded. Both men bowed their heads and extended their hands down from their brows as a sign of respect. Once the chief stepped back Neteyam let out a breath of relief. Jake opened his mouth to speak but paused as the crowd before them parted. An older woman, dressed in shells and woven kelp stepped forward. The large shell, centered on her tattooed forehead marked her clearly as Tsahìk. "I see you Ronal, Tsahìk of the Metkayina," his father said reverently.
"I see you Ronal," His mother mimicked from his side. Unlike her mate, the Tsahìk did not return the respect. Instead she eyed them warily and said nothing.
"Why do you come to us, Jake Sully?" The Olo'eyktan asked finally, gesturing to his family.
His father glanced around hesitantly for a moment before opening his arms in a display of passiveness. "We seek Uturu."
Gasps of surprise came from the tribe around him.
"Uturu," Ronal repeated, her ears flicking down in disbelief.
"Sanctuary for my family," Jake reiterated.
For the first time, Neteyam heard desperation color his fathers tone. Ronal said nothing but she slowly began to circle them.
"We are reef people," Tonowari said. "You are forest people. Your skills will mean nothing here."
Neteyam had never felt more out of his element. He longed to be back at home, among his friends and family, safe. But that's the thing, they weren't safe. Not anymore. The forest he had grown up in was now a battlefield. His old life was gone. Now his only job was to keep his siblings safe and make his father proud.
A hiss from his mother drew his attention back. Ronal let go of Neytiri's tail with a look of disdain. "Their tails are weak. You will be slow in the water," she said. With a quick movement the Tsahìk grabbed Kiri's wrists and held them up for the people to see. "These children-" she seethed, "are not even true Na'vi."
Eyes widened and gasps and hisses sounded from Metkayina that had gathered as they observed Kiri's extra finger. Even Neteyam, with his carefully controlled temper, had to stop himself from bearing his teeth. What gave this woman the right to speak to his sister like that? If any of them were true Na'vi it was Kiri, with her strong words and connection to Eywa.
But Ronal was not done. Next she turned to Lo'ak and with a resentful growl snatched his hand and spread his fingers apart above his head. "They have demon blood!"
Lo'ak did not even try to pull his hand back as the reef people bared their fangs and stepped away, weapons drawn at the ready. Instead his brother let his head hang, eyes bitterly focused on the ground. Neteyam felt his heart clench in anger. He knew how much Lo'ak desperately wanted to fit in and now his flaws were being pointed out for all to see. Thankfully his dad was quick to intervene, holding his hand up before her, taking her attention.
"Look!" he exclaimed, extending his extra finger. "I was born of the sky people and now I am Na'vi you can adapt. We-" he gestured to his family, "can adapt."
This time it was his mother who spoke. Her voice was low and deadly. "My husband was Toruk Makto. He led the clans to victory against the sky people."
"This, you call victory?" Ronal spat. "Hiding amongst strangers? It seems Eywa has turned her back on you."
Neteyam's head shot up and he met his fathers eyes in anger only to be silenced by a vicious growl from his mother. Stepping forward, Neytiri bared her fangs and hissed. The Tsahìk did the same in return, the two circling each other for a moment, eyes flared and ears laid flat. Tonowari exchanged a nervous glance with his father before Jake quickly cut in and apologized for his mate. Neytiri tensed at his words and quickly leveled her glare back to her husband. Neteyam flinched. He had been on the receiving end of that glare one too many times.
"Toruk Makto was a great war leader. All Na'vi people know his story," The Olo'eyktan announced quickly, placing a welcoming hand on Jake's shoulder. "But we Metkayina are not at war," he concluded.
"Dad…" Tuks' voice whimpered as she clutched his hand nervously. With a quick scoop, Jake pulled his daughter up into his arms and gave a pleading look to the chief.
"Please. I just want to keep my family safe."
Neteyam looked worriedly between his family and the hostile Na'vi before his mothers voice cut in once more. This time her eyes were lowered and she placed a hand across her chest. "Uturu has been asked," she stated finally, letting the words ring in the air.
Ronal looked towards her mate sternly but Tonowari held her gaze. With a hesitant sigh she nodded her head and the chief turned back to the Sullys with a smile.
"Toruk Makto and his family will stay with us," he declared, holding his arms wide, addressing his people. Neteyam let out his breath, relief coursing through his body. He could practically see the weight being lifted off his fathers shoulders. "Treat them as our brothers and sisters," he continued. "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 same of being useless." Neytiri did not hide her scowl at his words but Jake quickly stepped forward and offered his hand.
"Thank you," he said sincerely. The Olo'eyktan grasped his forearm in return and nodded at his gratitude.
During the argument Neteyam had not noticed the young warrior from earlier make his way to the front of the pack. Now the boy stood at the chief's side.
"My son Aonung," Tonowari said motioning to the boy, "and my daughter Tsireya will show your children what to do." The light skinned Na'vi was the Olo'eyktan's son Neteyam realized. The pale blue stripes across his chest matched that of the chief.
Clearly unhappy with the arrangement, the warrior, Aonung, stepped forward. "Father, why-" he began to petition, only to be cut off by the larger Na'vi.
"It has been decided."
With a firm hand gesture through the air Tonowari turned away from his son. Frustration boiled up inside Aonung's eyes and he shot an angry glare towards Neteyam.
"Come!" A light and airy voice called and he turned his head quickly towards Tsireya, "I will show you our village."
The beautiful girl from the water- Tsireya, Neteyam corrected, guided them forward through the Mangrove roots. Quickly grabbing the packs from his Ikran, he gave her a reassuring pat on the chin before releasing her to go feed from the surrounding area. Lo'ak did the same and soon the family had gathered all their belongings and set off to follow the chief's daughter. Once sure his father had left, Aonung angrily disappeared within the crowd, leaving his sister to show the way. Neteyam didn't mind in the slightest, much preferring to get aware from the leering gaze of the Metkayina boy.
The village itself was bustling with life. Below the roots, in the clear teal water, the same eel-like creatures he had seen from above swam gracefully around. The mats he walked along bounced beneath his feet and Tuk happily jumped around before Neytiri called her to stop in a firm voice. As they walked, Neteyam could not help but notice Tsireya's tail. It was long and flat like a paddle with the same wavy stripes running over it. No wonder the others had found their tails so strange. The Omaticaya used their tails to balance and grab branches, it was clear they would be of no use in the water.
"This is for you."
Neteyam dragged himself from his thoughts as Tsireya came to a stop before a large circular pod with a blue woven cover. The Marui was large with many baskets lining the walls. A space was left open at the top to allow a small fire to be built in the center. Jake stepped inside and looked around at the reed sewn walls, patterned to look like waves of the sea. "This is great," he said kindly to Tsireya before setting his stuff down. The girl gave one more sheepish smile to Lo'ak before disappearing back into the tribe. Neteyam couldn't help but chuckle at the blush that colored his brother's ears. His mother on the other hand took one quick look around before dropping her stuff on the ground with a solid thud.
The sky darkened quickly and he began to settle his things into the Marui.
"Ok Sullys, fall in," his father called.
With a roguish grin Neteyam grabbed his brother's arm and pulled him down next to him. "Family meeting," he teased, poking Lo'ak in the ribs. Kiri settled herself down with a sigh and gazed out the door towards the sunset with an uninterested look on her face.
"I need you kids on your best behavior," Jake said. "I mean it. Learn fast, pull your weight. Don't cause trouble-" he looked directly at Lo'ak. "Got it?"
"Yes Sir," Lo'ak said dutifully and Neteyam couldn't help but pinch the back of his neck with a grin. He knew his little brother well enough to know that no pep talk would keep him being disobedient. With an angry hiss, Lo'ak turned towards him and Neteyam pulled his hand back, chuckling.
It was Tuk's voice who broke the silence. "I want to go home," she said sadly, pulling her knees towards her chest. With a forced smile Neteyam put his arm around his youngest sister and pulled her close. He silently echoed her thoughts but knew better than to complain at his age.
"Oh Tuk," Neytiti sighed. "This is our home now."
Those words ached deep inside of Neteyam. The idea that he would never return back to the forest was bitter at the back of his throat. But he could not. Not until the sky people left. So he had to be strong, if not for himself then for his family. They were relying on them.
"What does your father always say?" Neytiri asked, wiping a tear off Tuk's face.
"Sully's stick together."
"That's right," his father answered. "Now one more time with feeling."
"Sully's stick together," everyone said, though Kiri rolled her eyes and he could not help the words from feeling hollow.
"Good. Now everybody get some rest. I expect you to be at the top of your game together." Jake said. At his fathers words, he couldn't help but puff out his chest and nod.
The next few minutes were spent in silence as they unpacked. His mother quickly got a fire going in the center of the marui and after pulling out his own bed roll, Neteyam was quick to help Tuk settle into her own.
"Goodnight guys," Jake called as they all began to close their eyes. As the darkness grew Neteyam felt the weight of their travel finally sink in. With a heavy breath, he slipped into unconsciousness.