A/N: I just realised, with the thoughtful review from one of my readers on Ao3, that I didn't really give a description of what Lia looks like, other then the fact that she is obviously a brunette and is short. So, I've decided that I'll use an actress to portray her, and that will be Anna Popplewell.
"Ok, let's run through them again."Grace said as they walked into the Link Unit Room the next day, holding up a screen which had a picture of the Na'vi. She was giving Lia and Sully a crash course on the Na'vi Hierarchy.
"Mo'at. Dragon Lady."Jake said and Lia spluttered, looking at Jake in disbelief.
"Tsahik."Lia stressed out the name and Jake rolled his eyes at her while Grace glanced at her, nodding for her to continue."She's the Tsahik of the Omaticaya, a Spiritual Leader or what we call a Shaman. She's also the Mate of the Olo'eyktan."Lia listed and Jake raised an eyebrow at her."The Olo'eyktan is the Clan Leader of the Omaticaya Jake."She added while Grace looked very pleased at Lia's knowledge before showing them the next one.
"Eytucan."
"Eytukan."Grace and Lia corrected Jake in unison.
"He's the Olo'eyktan and Mo'at's Mate."Lia added as they came to a stop next to Jake's Link.
"Got it."Jake said dryly before the next one was shown."T'su'tey. He's Lia's Teacher."Grace looked back at Lia sharply as she groaned softly under her breath.
"Ok, first, his name is Tsu'tey, not T'su'tey."Lia corrected Jake again before looking at Grace."Second, I was gonna tell you, it just slipped my mind."
"You do know that he is a Warrior, right?"Grace asked and Lia nodded, looking disgruntled at the reminder."You're a Doctor in training, you took a vow to never take someone else's life when you became a student in the medical field."
"I tried to tell them that."Grace raised an eyebrow at her, clearly not believing her by how meek her voice was at that moment."I did."She said more strongly."But Mo'at told me that their Healers are also Warriors, so my vow is null and void if I want to learn to be one of the Omaticaya."Lia explained herself and Grace sighed softly, clearly defeated at hearing this and looked at the young girl in pity, before turning back to Jake, who had managed to get himself up and onto his Link Bed, raising an eyebrow at him.
"Tsu'tey."Jake stated and Grace nodded.
"He'll be the next Clan Leader."She then showed the picture of Neytiri.
Jake took the screen and stared at the picture, staring at the Na'vi woman in awe."Neytiri."
"Of course you get her name right."Lia muttered under her breath but couldn't help but look at Jake, wondering why he was staring at her as if she was... Oh shit. Lia realised, inwardly groaning.
"She'll be the next Tsahik."Grace stated, placing her hands on her hips.
"Meaning she and Tsu'tey will be Mated."Jake's gaze snapped up to look at them, eyes wide before looking back at the picture.
"So, who's this Eywa?"Jake asked, changing the subject.
Norm looked at Jake in shock and disbelief."Who's Eywa!?"Jake, Lia, and Grace turned to him."Only their Deity. Their Goddess, made up of all living things. Everything they know! You'd know this if you had training whatsoever."Norm said insultingly and Lia's draw dropped.
"Hey!"Lia snapped, glaring at Norm, who was startled by Lia's sudden anger and backed away from her, seeing the dark look on her face.
"It's fine, Lia."Jake said, patting Lia's arm."Besides, who's got a date with the Chief's Daughter?"He asked, raising the screen in Norm's direction.
Lia tsked at Jake while Norm glared."Come on. That's-All right. Knock it off, you two."Grace cut Norm off, giving the duo a look that only a scolding Mother would give her Sons.
"Let's go."She looked between Lia and Jake."Village life starts early."She had Norm help Lia connect with her Avatar while she warned Jake to;"Not do anything unusually stupid.", causing Jake to smirk at her before he closed the lid.
"Dr. Augustine wasn't kidding, Village life does start early."Lia muttered as she walked around.
She noticed that the Na'vi were working, some of the Na'vi women were carrying baskets on their hips while others were half way done making looms, and a small smile formed on her lips when she saw the Na'vi children running around, playing.
"Marali."Lia looked over her shoulder at hearing Mo'at call out to her and fully turned to face the Tsahik as she came up to her.
"Good morning, Mo'at."Lia greeted her, bowing her head respectfully to the Tsahik.
"Good morning."Mo'at returned her greeting with a small smile."Tsu'tey is waiting out in the field, by the lakeside, with his other students."She pointed in the direction of the field.
"Thank you, Mo'at."Lia said, nodding and headed off in the direction of the field, where she found Tsu'tey and two young boys, Warriors in training, who all turned to her, having heard her light footsteps.
"You are late, Marali Suli."One of the boys said as Lia came to a stop in front of them."Tsu'tey doesn't like it when his students are late."
"Apologies, but this is not my real body and Dr. Augustine wanted to speak with my Brother and I before we came here."Lia explained herself to the trio and offered her apology to Tsu'tey, who seemed annoyed, but nodded dismissively.
Tsu'tey turned to the boys."Aten, Ka'ani, on ahead."He said, waving them off and they got on their Direhorses, forming their bonds quickly and did as they were told."This one is yours."Tsu'tey said to Lia, gesturing to the Direhorse he was standing next to.
"She is a beautiful Pa'li."Lia said as she came to stand next to Tsu'tey, looking at the Direhorse in awe, not noticing that Tsu'tey was staring at her, rather than the Direhorse.
"Yes, she is."Tsu'tey agreed, watching as Lia placed her hand on the side of the Direhorse, running said hand along said side.
Lia looked back at Tsu'tey."Does she have a name?"
"Not yet. She is yours, so you will name her after you bond with her."Tsu'tey stated as he got on his own Direhorse, quickly making the bond with his Direhorse.
As he made the bond with his Direhorse, he gave Lia a look that told her to hurry up and get on, which Lia did, although she was not as graceful as Tsu'tey was. She then grabbed one of the Direhorse's tendrils and grabbed her main braid. Lia watched in fascination as the pink nerves were drawn together and intertwined.
"Wow."Lia breathed out, eyes widening before she laughed softly as she glanced at Tsu'tey."This is the bond?"Lia asked, looking amazed as she felt the connection between her and the Direhorse.
"Yes, that is the bond. The Shahaylu."Tsu'tey said, a small smile forming on his lips as Lia exhaled excitedly."Feel her."Tsu'tey watched as the Dreamwalker closed her eyes."Feel her heartbeat. Her breath."Lia not only heard the Direhorse breathe, but as Tsu'tey said, she could feel her breathing."Feel her strong legs."Tsu'tey paused, letting the information sink in before telling Lia the next set of instructions."Tell her what to do."Lia opened her eyes and looked at him questionably and he tapped the side of his head gently."Inside."He said sharply."Say where to go."He added.
Walk forward, gently. Just a light trot around in a circle, please. Lia softly asked through the connection and her eyes brightened as the Direhorse did as she asked."Look, Tsu'tey! I'm doing it!"Lia exclaimed, glancing back at Tsu'tey, who was clearly surprised. He had thought that because Lia was not a real Na'vi, the bond wouldn't work for her like he thought it would, but seeing that it did caused him to smile widely back at her before realising what he was doing and his smile dropped into his trademark scowl. I am going to name you; Aarin. It means mountain of strength. What do you think, my friend? Lia asked and got a huffed snort from the Direhorse, causing her to grin before asking Aarin to go back to Tsu'tey.
"You have named her."Tsu'tey said, almost knowingly and Lia nodded.
"Aarin. Her name is Aarin."Lia answered and Tsu'tey looked pleased.
"Come, we will ride with the others."Tsu'tey said before taking off and Lia got her new companion to follow after him to where his other Students were already on their Direhorses, and Tsu'tey told them to follow him.
The trio followed Tsu'tey around the corner of a tree, and Lia's eyes widened at seeing Jake on his hands and knees, in the mud, and had said mud on his face. The moment Jake caught sight of them, or rather, caught sight of Tsu'tey, he looked away briefly in embarrassment. The group trotted over to where Jake was, their Direhorses splashing muddy water that they walked in, and they came to a stop beside Jake, who got to his feet, trying to brush off some of the mud on his arm.
"You should go away!"Tsu'tey said in English, sneering at Jake, who looked equally surprised as Lia, who glanced at Tsu'tey with wide eyes, was.
"Nah. You'd miss me."Jake said as Neytiri came to his side with his Direhorse."I knew you could speak English."He added, pointing at Tsu'tey, who smirked slightly.
"This Alien will learn nothing."Tsu'tey said to Neytiri."A rock sees more."He added, causing his Students to laugh while Lia frowned."Look at him!"He growled out.
Jake tried to get the mud off his face, but failed, before sticking his fingers on his tongue, hoping to get rid of the dirt that was in there, however, that didn't work either and he coughed."That was stupid."Lia said, giggling as Jake coughed."Use your head, go take a bath."She made a gesture in the direction of the river.
"Yeah, yeah."Jake said, rolling his eyes as Neytiri smiled as she watched the Siblings."Having fun?"
"Lots more fun then you, obviously."Lia said rolling her eyes."Have you even named your Direhorse?"
"Have you?"Jake shot back.
"Yes, I have actually. Her name is Aarin."Lia said, a tad smug as she smirked at Jake, who groaned while Neytiri's smile grew wider as she listened to the Siblings bicker before shaking her head.
Neytiri walked over to Lia's Direhorse, tapping it slightly on the side as she said;"Ka.", causing Aarin to start moving, and Tsu'tey was quick to follow and take the lead, but not without glaring over his shoulder at Jake.
"Tsyeyk will learn."Lia said as Tsu'tey came to her side and he looked at her."Just give my Brother a chance."
"Why bother?"Tsu'tey asked but didn't give Lia a chance to say anything as he rode ahead of her.
"Because this is the first time he actually wants to learn something Cultural, rather than destroy it."Lia mumbled under her breath in English and strongly believed her own words.
~~~Preview~~~
~~~The Hallelujah Mountains~~~
"Neytiri... Tsu'tey... Sylwanin..."Lia whispered to herself, her fingertips ghosting over the imagine of Sylwanin, whom she could only recognise through some of the similarities she shared with Neytiri, and a small frown formed on her lips as she looked at the happy picture with sad eyes.
A/N: So I haven't gotten many votes for a Na'vi Name for Tom on my Poll, and considering he's gonna be mentioned a bit more in my story, and in the next chapter. I won't be updating until I get enough votes to decide on a Na'vi Name for Tom.