Many moons had passed since Aonung's Tulkun had died and the Meteyania were angry and kept very busy preparing for things unforeseen. JakeScully was busiest of them all, alongside his mate and their sons.
She had ran into him early one morning and was able to ask him to teach her to ride a Skimwing. He looked surprised but he answered her with delight and promised to teach her.
"Why do you not ask my sons to teach you? Neteyam prefers Ikran but is a master at many things."
"I want you to JakeScully, for you are the one who wishes to know all about the Ashpeople. You teach me how to ride, and I will answer your questions."
He blinked and then smiled as he nodded his head with a 'yes mam.'
Anat-Tiye did not know what their plans were, but she watched them out of the corner of her eye diligently to be prepared for any sudden changes. She knew her sisters must leave soon for time was running short. She could not share her concerns with her sisters for they were rarely alone. She was unsure if she would tell JakeScully what she knows about the Ash People for she knew of the consiqeinces. And what if he did not believe her? What then?
She had to be cruel. Once she could master the creatures, she would take her sisters far from the Meteyania and their war and pray that Eywa show them a sign.
Tuk and Kiri had somehow ended up continuing the teachings of the Meteyania. Tsireya was often there too but she was preoccupied with many things. Preparing paste. Talking with her mother. Learning to battle. Looking out for Lo'ak's Ikran.
Anat-Tiye wanted to ask if they were promised to one another to mate but she did not dare. Panya was always in ear shot and she did not want to confuse her more than she already was.
She watched Tsireya come back one night with cuts all along her neck and tears in her eyes. Talibah and Panya had fallen asleep after such a long day of preparing many things for the Tashki.
Tsiyra was purposefully quiet and sent Anat-Tiye a look of plea. 'Please do not fuss. Please do not tell.' It spoke.
Kiri had her feet outside the hut and was watching the fish that swim beneath her, something that Anat-Tiye had noticed concerningly over the last few moons. She did not hear Tsiyra come in nor noticed anything was amiss.
Eywa had great plans for Kiri and Kiri's eyes always shone with so many questions. She looked so desperate as if Talibah held the key to all the answers and Anat-Tiye was an evil ghoul who garden those secrets diligently.
She did not have the answers and with the knowledge that Kiri searched for would only bring more unanswered questions.
"What happened" Anat-Tiye whispered, drying off her tears and cleaning her wound.
"I do not want to answer." She muttered, more tears pilling out of her beautiful eyes.
Anat-Tiye looked at Tsiyra carefully and wondered what could have possibly happened to cause her injury so close to the shores.
"You do not have to." And with that she smiled up at the princess of the Metekaynia and nodded at her, ensuring that she would not press her further.
She cleaned the blood off her wound and then applied one of the pastes that they had made earlier. Tsireya cried as silently as she could and Anat remained silent. She grabbed her hands and inspected the cuts on them.
It was not until her sobbing grew to cause ache within Anat-Tiye's chest that she began to tell a story.
"When I was little my mother taught me and Talibah how to fish when Panya was born. She took us across many beautiful lakes, rivers, and valleys. She taught me how to swim and how to dive. We met creatures like your llu and enjoyed the beauties of Eywa's sea creatures. I remember the first time I encountered a sea beast. We call them Yioi and they are unforgiving and hungry creatures. It was small, but to me, it was bigger than your Tulkun. It chased me in the sea for a long time until I thought I was dead. And when I watched its teeth open to take me to meet Eywa, something happened. A Ponyo, similar creature to your llu, jumped in front of it and died in my place. Water teaches us many things, isn't that what you always say? That day it taught me that Eywa has a plan for us all and many can suffer in-between her plans making."
She looked up at Anat-Tiye with more tears in her eyes and smiled. In the distance shouting could be heard coming from a pod further away from them.
"Uaw Te asked me to be his woman." She whispered. It was as if she had been keeping a secret for a long time.
"And you do not want this?" Anat asked in return.
"No. I…I want to be with Lo'ak. But he does not ask me to be his woman. And I do not know if he wants me. Or if we can even be together. And… and Uaw Te followed Neteyam, Lo'ak and I when we went to visit our sacred tree and he grew angry with me for ignoring him. Lo'ak and him fought, and I fell into a crustacean infestation, cutting my head and my hands. But that is not why I cry."
"I know why you cry, princess of the Meteyania. You do not need to explain yourself to me."
"This is my secret and I beg you not to share it with anyone. Nobody in the clan understands it….. Have…. Have you ever been asked to be bonded with anyone? You are almost a woman like me and must have had offers in the Ashlands… Why is it so horrifc? What do you do to avoid unwanted requests…. that is…if the rumours about you and your sisters living there for a while are true and you did not spend all of your life in isolation with just a mother at your side."
"I have not been asked to mate despite living there for many moons." Anat-Tiye answered carefully. "But it is now a new tradition that the Ash people do not need to allow a woman to choose her partner back."
Tsiyres eyes opened wide with surprise.
"That is not the Navi way."
"No. It is not. But there was this very sweet child who loved Talibah. He was much younger than her. But he loved her wholeheartedly and promised her that when he was adult, he would take her as his woman and care for her for all eternity. He was only child compared to her, but he would say things like 'You are my destiny'" Anat-Tiye laughed fondly as she remembered. "And he would always bring us flower soup in the mornings with such a smile. He was different to the rest. Outcasted by his family for being born without fingers on his left hand. They wanted a Warrior. But he was sweet and a true Warrior, but they just did not see it."
"What happened to him?"
"He died protecting us from the Sky people." She replied.
Anat-Tiye finished cleaning her wounds and blew on them gently, realizing she should not have spoken of such things. The yelling grew louder, and Anat-Tiye wondered how much trouble the Scully children were in for fighting.
Kiri joined them once she realized what was going on, but Tsireya was already healed and no longer filled with tears.
The days passed quickly, and it was almost one month since they had sought Uturu and Eywa did not send them any more signals to get to the Caves. The Atokirina had guided them across the deadly sea's and to the Meteyania but now they were here they had disappeared.
Talibah was certain that there was reason, but Anat-Tiye was trouble with the amount of information that Scully have been collecting. It was possible that he might soon discover their secret.
It was particularly difficult when they disappeared for over three moons and Kiri came to them holding Tuk's hand in distress while holding Ronal's young child, who was barely able to speak.
"The Warriors have not returned and Tsireya went with Aonung to find signs of them. I am worried for it is night and there is no light for them to see. Aonung is only just new Warrior like Lo'ak. They need our help."
"Our help?" asked Panya with confusion. Kiri was looking at them with desperation,
"Where have they gone?" Asked Anat-Tiye getting up with frustration.
"I do not know. But my brothers talked about scouting ships seen far out in the hunting waters. They did not think they would survive the Tulkuns strong hold, but I am worried for they should have returned by now."
"And what is it you want to do Kiri?" she asked in frustration. "Can you ride a Skimwing? Because even Tsireya only just learnt two moons ago."
"We have to try!" she cried.
"We will go as far as three brothers' rocks, where we were found, on llu." Demanded Anat-Tiye as she grabbed her knife from where it lay on her binding on the floor.
"Panya and Tuk, I need you both to look after Mauneatip for us, okay?" Talibah commanded. "This is important job for you both. That is why you cannot come."
The three girls heading towards the sea as Kiri called the llu. Light followed them as they travelled, beautiful bioluminescent sea creatures that Kiri loves to play with.
Kiri smiled back at them despite her fear, but her face was soon replaced with shock. She had not seen the sisters outside of their pod at night. And they were bright. Very bright. Almost as bioluminescent as the creatures underwater but not as much. And they were a peach colour that had surprised Kiri for she had not yet seen such creatures.
"You are both so beautiful" she tells them.
They ride fast and with haste. It is not long that they are met with a pod of Tulkun sending them all into confusion.
They swim underwater and inspect the creatures, all four of them. Talibah places her hand on the largest one's head and soothes it as she whimpers.
"It is okay. They are not harmed. The Tulkan passed Aonung and Tis many hours ago. They came here to warm the rest of the Metekaynia that a war is ranging at sea at their command. The first fleet of the Sky people have come." She replied.
Kiri started to hiss and panic, and her loving creatures scattered at her behaviour.
"I must fight with my family. Scully's stick together!"
She began to move quickly to her llu but Anat and Talibah caught her in time.
"And what will you do but get in the way? Where is your weapon? Where is your Ikran? And will you take Tuk? She is too eager to fight in that battle and she will die. You listen to me, Kiri, daughter of Neytiri. Daughter of Eywa."
Kiri looked up in surprise. Talibah smiled at her sisters' words and grabbed Kiri's hand.
"Our job now is to pray. You and I must go to sister tree and pray."
The Tulkun swam away at her words and Talibah noticed with a sad smile they were all the pregnant Tulkun. Worth millions to the Sky People.
Three more moons passed, and Kiri, Talibah and Panya spent most of it praying to Eywa. The people in the Metekanyia also prayed, but not as frequently as those two.
Anat-Tiye had kept herself busy looking after Ronal's child and making sure that Tuk did not runaway on her llu.
Tuk was angry with her but at night she noticed that she curled up close to her feet while she sobbed. They had moved to the Scully's pod while they waited for it was easier to keep an eye on Tuk, and the technology that had been set up would occasionally beep, with Kiri insisting that if noises were coming from it, that Norms coms systems hadn't been shut down.
It was confusing but it was enough to settle her at night.
"Your sister is a gift from Eywa, as is mine. Their prays will reach her. They will be safe." She would whisper to her while she slept.
It was hard work looking after a child, and a very young one at that, but she managed to keep Mauneatip fed and soothed while his mother was at sea.
Talibah made sure that Kiri was busy, and the pair held hands tightly as they watch the night sky come each night the Warriors were away.
Panya did not have her nightmares and she helped Anat-Tiye with looking after Mauneatip for Tuk kept her busy at her attempts to sneak out.
The three moons passed slowly, and it wasn't until sunrise that they awoke to the sound's of Neytiri's war cries.
Kiri and Tuk ran quickly screaming in response with joy. Soon Ronal was there as she ran to her child, Mauneatip, who was asleep in Panya's arms.
Her eyes watered with joy, and she nodded at Panya with a smile.
There was no blood on her, but she was still rabid from the war and Talibah offered to take her to her pod for rest.
"Your wounded?" she heard Talibah ask.
"My mate has cut himself, but he will not allow it to be healed. He is to suffer for that is his cost at the loss of life out a sea. Nobody else alive is harmed."
Tuk was crying and hugging her mother tightly. Anat-Tiye smiled, and she watched the family with a distant sadness.
The two brothers came landed with their Ikrans shortly after, smiling and yelling in victory.
Tsireya was with her father and her brother came quietly out from the sea with angry still etched on every inch of his face.
"I must find my mate and enjoy my time with my young son. Children, go and prepare the feast of mourning our lost ones. Our Warriors are tired and hungry."
They did as such, with many of the gathers quick to help. Many families were rejoicing, and Talibah came back to watch with gleeful eyes at such a reunion. Many families were also grieving, but Talibah never saw these with her eyes. She only sought beauty in things.
Anat-Tiye eyed JakeScully with suspicion but was interrupted by Neteyam and her thoughts turned to how exhausted he looked.
"I want to thank you for looking after my sisters." He whispered and gave her a small smile before retreating to their pod. His brother followed with Kiri and Tuk following close by like little ducks.
"I see you" whispered Neytiri, gesturing to them with the way of their people. Her sisters copied politely.
"Anat-Tiye. I wish to speak to you alone." JakeScully requested, he too, looking as tired as his son.
She looked over at her sisters who were extremely distracted by the preparation of food. They went to help an exhausted Tsireya.
Anat-Tiye and JackScully walked over to the edge of their pod, where Kiri often dangles her feet and hides from her family.
Anat-Tiye only knows this for she overheard her confiding in Talibah such information.
"I want to apologize for our sudden disappearance. I know I had promised to show you how to ride a Skimwing but the appearance of many ships surprised me. It was unexpected such an attack so early on."
"I accept your apology JackScully."
"I met with a strange male." He whispered.
Her heart began to race and fear was etched all over her face.
"He was elderly, and he appeared out of nowhere and saved my life. He disappeared quickly back to the skies. He wears nothing I know of any Navi. He wore feathers across his headband and his legs were covered in vines. If I can take for granted a question, and for the answer I will promise I will take you to learn to fly an Ikran if I have to. Was he a Navi from Ash people?"
"No." she said, smiling as she stood up with glee. "That is Mitriala. He is nomad! Outcast. He is the spirit guide of my people!"
"Alright, sweetheart, calm down. What do you mean?"
"He saved you?" she asked in disbelief.
"Yes. His Ikran grabbed me before a bullet hit my chest as I fell to my death."
She contemplated his words for a long time. This was Eywa's sign, but she did not understand it. What was Mitriala doing so far from his resting place? And why was his spirit so strong that it can touch another Navi?
"Are you sure it isn't just an old friend from the Ash clan?"
She clattered her teeth at him, but he began to laugh, nodding, gesturing that he believed her.
"That is enough questions from you, JakeScully. I wish to sleep. Your daughter has kept me very busy the last few moons. Her heart is one of the strongest Warrior hearts I have ever met. She is quick to escape when she thinks nobody is watching her."
He began to laugh. She was reminded of a time her father was alive and he would laugh at that when someone would tell him stories of her and Talibah. It is shame he never got to hear stories of Panya, she thought sadly.
She retreated to their pod to pick up her and her sisters' things. She picked up their weaving baskets, their blankets, a few bracelets, and fish nets they had made and then she grabbed Panya's doll. It was embarrassing for her as she realized that they had made themselves at home in someone else's pod.
Lo'ak's snoring was loud, and she was grateful that nobody was paying attention to her as she packed everything away and went to leave.
"Would you like help to carry these items home?" asked Neteyam quietly from where he lay with his eyes closed.
"You are tired. Do not mind me."
"But I do mind. Your footsteps appear quiet at first, but I am starting to get familiar their sound."
He stood up and grabbed the basket from her hands.
"Thank you, Son of JakeScully." She offered with a small smile.
"I hear you have asked my father to teach you how to ride a Skimwing. Why?"
"I wish to be able to leave this island if War breaks out. It is not safe her for my sisters." She replied honestly. If he was surprised by her honest answer, he did not show it.
He was walking slowly, and it bothered her for she was excited to be alone with her sisters once more.
"It is safe here." He states. "Many Navi are joining forces to fight in this war."
She looked at him warily, but she does not argue. He is tired from battle and his hands are blistered from using his bow to frequently.
"Neteyam. Thank you for returning, for I fear that your sisters would drag me back to the deadly sea to find you if another moon was to pass us while we waited."
"And would you have come?" he teased.
"Tuk is stronger than you think, and I do not think I am as resilient as I appear." She answered, taking her basket from him, and retreating to her pod.
Later that night many Navi grieved and went out to sea to send their loved ones back to Eywa. Kiri and Tuk cried together as they stood tall with their family.
Panya was by Ronal's side holding her child and Anat-Tiye grabbed Talibah while she had a chance and whispered to her about Eywa's sign.
"Why JakeScully?" she whispered.
"He promised to teach you to ride an Ikran? It must be it! That must be the only way to the caves my sister! Eywa has shown us a way!"
"But the caves are underwater." She answered.
"But perhaps to get to them you must go high into the mountains!"
"Perhaps my little sister. But what I don't understand is how JakeScully saw him."
"Eywa once choose him to become Navi. She must have a plan."
"She can be cruel, little sister, you do see that, don't you?" asked Anat-Tiye without malicious but with sentiment.
"Yes sister. I do know but I love her still."