That night, Talibah fell asleep quickly and properly for the first time since Panya's nightmares started. Panya was not sweating nor crying as much in her sleep and Anat-Tire figured that they were already going to get in trouble for stealing supplies from the clan without asking, that adding eavesdropping to the list would not matter.
Once her sisters were asleep, she slid out of their pod. Although she was not a strong Warrior, nor knew how to yield a weapon, she knew how to be quiet. It was something her mother was rather special at, and one of the skills that she passed on. Light steps. No traces.
The Forest Navi may have the best hearing, but they were not accustomed yet to the light footedness of the smaller Navi that creeps silently behind them as they gather for a family meeting.
"Lo'ak! I do not want you risking your life for me again. I am a Warrior!"
"I know!"
"What you fear will not happen again!"
"Do not talk of it" muttered JakeScully "it hurts too much to think."
"Yes, Sir." They both replied.
"Are you in pain?" whispered Tsireya.
"Not at all. Go to your mother. I am fine. Trust me. I'll come see you tomorrow."
Anat slowly leapt across and out of the way as Tsireya left the tent with shaky hands. She slowly moved around the back in order to get better hearing, for hers was not good after all the explosion when the Sky People took her home away.
"Now listen. We have an important mission kid. The sisters. They are timid. Untrusting. Something is not right. I need you to figure out what, for your mother and Kiri think that they are a strange omen from Eywa."
Anat tried not to laugh.
"They are peculiar and do not talk to us much. It is as if they are unfamilar with our language. I was excited to have a friend the same age as me. But I do not get to see Panya at all for she is always at hut learning." Replied Tuk sadly. "But Talibah made me a wonderful bracelet yesterday. I have not seen such a thing. Look mum!"
"The eldest does not allow them to get comfortable with anyone. She thinks I do not notice. But I do." replied JakeScully. "The Metekayina will not allow such isolating behaviour. We need them to stick around. I want to learn more about the Ash people, but I do not see her allowing such questions."
"So, you want us to figure it out?" asked Lo'ak with exasperation, but desperation to please.
"They are a blessing my family!" sang Kiri and Anat felt guilt for blocking her out ever so the last seven moons. "I can feel it! Neteyam, you have been close to Eywa, can you not feel it too?"
"Something is strange. Anat-Tiye is not usual." He answered.
Lo'ak laughed and she could almost feel Neteyams sneer from where she listens in the dark.
"Focus! I really need you guys with me here. This information is important. It is for the clan. It is for our protection."
"What your father needs you to do is to look out for them the way that the children of the Ot' looked out for you. We are clan now, but do not forget what it was like to be an outsider."
"I do not think they care that they are outsiders." Replied Neteyam with amusement. "They have never had home to begin with."
"What do you mean?" asked Tuk.
"I heard the other Warriors talk about how their ancestors were once free spirits who roamed the land and never settled. And that is how their home tree was destroyed and how the Ash people murdered their entire tribe, for not enough of them stayed."
"I want you to try." JakeScully whispered. "Norm and the others can't get anything on the Ash people's movements. The Metekayina lost contact with them thousands of years ago. These girls are the closest thing we got to intel. It is a serious mission. Ronal fears that if they are pushed to answer questions that they will disappear in the night. I want you to keep an eye on them. All of you."
She had heard enough. She slowly made her way back to her own pod where her sisters both slept. Anat-Tiye collapsed and wondered what it must feel like to have parents looking out for her.
It was almost comical to Anat-Tiye to watch the attempts of the Scully children to follow their fathers' orders. She did not allow them to succeed in the first two days but one night when she watched Panya, she thought back to Tuk's comment and decided to allow such socializations.
It was almost sunset, and she sat on the sand watching her sisters play in the water. The three young girls came up to them with their llu with two at their side.
Talibah looked back at her sister with such hopeful eyes that she could not help herself and nodded in approval. She did not tell them of her eavesdropping, and she was uncertain as to why. Talibah smiled and her nod answered her elder sister's question.
I won't do anything I shouldn't. I will protect our sister.
The two brothers came shouting on their Skimwing's and landed in the water beside them. Their beast swam off and they came out laughing together after a successful hunting experience.
Neteyam watched her from where she weaved a necklace for their sister, Tuk. She wanted her to have one that matched her bracelet. He nudged his brother, as if not say 'come on, father insisted'.
"You will not join them?" he asked as he came over offering a sweet smile.
Anat-Tiye tried not to smile in return as her brain was full of much knowledge. Some that was not for her. The Warriors had taken on the larger challenge – to try and get information from the eldest daughter. What brave Navi they were indeed.
"My feet are not yet healed from our battle at sea Neteyam, Son of JakeScully. It is not wise for me to yet ride an animal."
"That sucks Bro! I wanted to thank you, Anat-Tiye, for saving my life."
Lo'ak touched his fingers to his head and then pointed them at her. Neteyam did the same.
"It was not me, but my sister. She is a very good healer."
"I see. Did she learn that when you were in the Ashlands?" he asked, sitting down next to her.
Neteyam gave him a look of reproach, but he too sat down.
She thought for a while before replying.
"She knows many things. My clever little sister. Here" she said, handing Neteyam the necklace she made for his sister.
"What is this?" he said, blinking in surprise.
"It is for Tuk. She wears a bracelet woven by skilled hands, but she does not yet have necklace to match. She, just like her sister, is very beautiful and needs jewellery to match such beauty. You tell Kiri that I shall have a chest piece ready for her shortly."
He looked at her in disbelief and then nodded.
"I thank you, daughter of Masaki. I am sure she will love it. She mentioned that your sister had made her such a wonderful bracelet. It is apparent that you are all very skilled in crafts."
"Panya does not have the patience for it, but she makes up for it in her persistence and wit."
She smiled at them and got up to leave.
"Wait-" Lo'ak shouted, following after her. "Where are you going?"
"You are Warriors of the Metekayina in the middle of a War. With Sky people You do not have time to chat to me about jewellery making. I shall not take up your time." She replied with a smile and moved swiftly towards the healing hut where she would speak to other Metekaynia healers and learn from their wisdoms.
Her sisters returned with large smiles on their faces as they told her about all the beautiful creatures and lifeforms that lived under their waters.
It sounded similar to their home, the one that they were born in. It was a long time since she had seen those rivers and the wonderful amphibians that swim beneath the surface.
But they described its beauty, and it made her heart warm to see Panya's smile return.
"It is hard to socialize and keep everyone happy with a response." She informed her insecurely but, as always, Panya will persist and learn to adapt.
"I do not want them to know, sisters" Panya whispered after practising her weaving for many hours.
Talibah and Anat-Tiye looked up in surprise. Talibah almost had tears fall from her face as she hugged her sister.
"It is your choice to make, my little sister." Talibah answered, looking at Anat-Tiye for support.
"Why not, may I ask, my Panya?"
"I just don't." she answered, avoiding her eye.
"Then so be it."
It was the first that she had spoken of what had happened to her and although Anat was apprehensive, nervous, and unsure, she was also glad that it had been spoken about.
They continued in silence and ate the fish that Anat-Tiye had prepared from the catch of the Scully brothers. They offered her some as they passed their pod after a scouting mission with their mother.
Kiri was delighted with the chest piece that Anat-Tiye had handed her. She could tell by the warmth of her eyes that it was special to her.
"I do not have a sister to make me such things. Tuk is the spirit of a Warrior, and her heart is not focused on such things. I am delighted."
She put it on instantly and it did appease Anat to see, but she did not show it. Instead, she remained strong and reminded herself that Kiri was a danger to her sisters.
"Where is Talibah, I'd love to show her what you've made and how it looks!" she sang, spinning around.
Neytiri was close by and listening intently.
"My sister is tired for she is not feeling well." She informed her knowing that Talibah did not mind her knowing such information. Neytiri rose with interest and pretended to look busy with grabbing things from near where they stood.
"I will go to her warm water.!" She went to get busy, but Anat-Tiye stopped her.
"I have come to send her message. She apologizes for being unable to come to the Kelutral underwater with you, but she promised that to make it up, when she is better, she will teach you the ways of our ancestors with song."
Despite Kiri's disappointment, she was delighted by such news. Anat knew that this solution would suffice any queries, for offering to sing was a very spiritual place for Forest Navi.
"Your people are singers?" asked Neytiri, unable to help herself.
"Yes, Great Warrior. They were. But my sisters, my sisters are wonderful singers."
"You must sing for our family, and in return, we shall offer you feast." She said with child-like excitement, something so strange to see on someone so strong.
"We cannot yet sing. I am sorry Neytiri. But I promise that when the moon is full, we shall come and show you the traditions of our lost people."
This satisfied her muchly and she offered her a smile that reminded her of forgotten times.
The call of her mate was heard in the distance and her eyes moved at rapid pace.
"What is wrong mother?" Kiri asked.
The Scully's landed and Jake was holding a strange device in his hand. Red and large.
He nodded at Anat-Tiye's presence and then began frantically informing his mate and daughter of what happened out at sea.
A Tulkun had been killed. Anoung, the song of Tonorowi, spirit brother was murdered by the Sky people after an attack by a lone ship occurred. The body of the humans now lay at the bottom of the sea, as Eywa had will it to be.
"Where is Tuk? You took her to learn to spear hunt not fight in our war!"
"Calm my love. She is with Lo'ak."
"And my other son?"
"He is on his way to be healed. I suggest you go and assist, baby girl." He said to his daughter, "His chest wound has opened again and is bleeding. Ronal is with him, but I worry she is not as gentle as you."
Anat-Tiye followed Kiri for she was to make herself useful to the clan and this seemed important to them all. Ronal instantly began to demand things of them. His wound was not deep, nor was it fresh.
Tisrya was working hard at her mothers' orders.
"It has just reopened. There is nothing to worry." He replied with a smile. Anat-Tiye watched them fuss over him and she began to wonder that perhaps there was reason as to why Talibah was so curious about Neteyam and the stories of his great battles.
He watched her cautiously and she thought for a moment he almost seemed embarrassed at by her presence. She grabbed the pins for Tshaik, and she began poking at his chest and muttering in old Metekayinaian.
It was strange for her to witness such rituals.
"It has not bled this much before." Whispered Kiri in fear.
Anat was soon commanded to heal another Warrior who JakeScullyand Lo'ak brought to them in haste. Her leg had been stabbed.
"Tisrya, you and Anat-Tiye are to work on her." They nodded and got to work. Anat was not as skilled as the others and her ways were different but somehow, they managed to work together and stop the bleeding.
She was asked to leave, alongside the others, to create space for the Warriors to sleep. Anat-Tiye tried to disappear and find her sisters for they would worry for her absence.
Her heart was racing. She did not like that war and danger was so close to her at shore. It was time to start thinking of ways to find the Caves.
Neteyam was right, there was not much to worry with his wound for the bleeding stopped and he was soon standing up and following Anat to her pod.
She could tell there was fear in his eyes, for perhaps he sensed what she was thinking. His father needed more information on the Ashpeople and if she took her sisters and left, they would be less informed than they already were.
"Anat-Tiye!" he called after her. "What is wrong?"
"Nothing. You are the one who I should be asking this question."
"You look as if you are preparing for something." He stated following her quick steps as he clutched at his chest.
"I just wish to go and find my sisters. Talibah is not well, and I must tent to her."
He stood in front of her and blocked her from further movement.
"That is not truth."
"Is it not?" she tested trying to push past him. He grabbed her wrist and stopped her from moving. His grip was not tight, but the touch of his skin made her stop.
"Why do you not trust us?" he whispered.
"Why should I trust you? Trust is for Skxqwng's." she countered. "And you do not trust me either!"
He let go of her as she pulled back and she walked off, angry as she rubbed the part of her arm his hands had touched.
That night she listened closely for the sound of footsteps and sure enough she had heard them. It sounded as if they were taking turns to keep watch, to make sure they didn't leave in the middle of the night.
Anat-Tiye could not do such a thing, for when she arrived home, Panya was crying in pain on the floor, as she must have had horrible memories come back to her as she clutched at her chest.
Such movement would be too much on her heart, and for now, they were all safe. If what JakeScully said was true, it was a lone ship, scouting for Tulkun.
And Anat-Tiye and her sisters no longer had her mothers raft, so they would have to trust that an llu could take them on a long journey, and this she knew not possible.
The sisters realized that they now must learn to ride the skimwing to leave the island.
Panya sobbed all night, and she grew anxious for she knew that the Forest Navi had perfect hearing. Now they knew of her suffering, and she was worried that there would be questions for Neytiri's mind was sharp and her instincts strong. She was worried about the questions. The questions she could not answer and would not even know how to if she was asked.