After Norm got to meet Mo'at, who praised him on speaking well in the Na'vi language to Grace, who looked like a proud Mother at that moment, Mo'at allowed Grace to go and speak with the children who used to go to her School. Lia, meanwhile, decided to show Norm around Home Tree since Jake disappeared with Neytiri, most likely to continue his training.
"This place is amazing."Norm said as he looked back at Lia, who nodded in agreement."You look great by the way. The Na'vi clothes suit you."He quickly added and Lia's smile grew at the compliment.
"Thank you, Norm."Lia said, moving aside some of the braids that were in her face. Norm stopped walking all of a sudden and started searching for something on his person causing Lia to raise an eyebrow at him, wondering what he was looking for, only for her eyes to widen when he pulled out a familiar book.
"Oh, uh, here."He held out her book for her."I remembered you were complaining about not being able to sketch some of your drawings properly, so I thought I should bring your sketch book."
Lia beamed brightly at him as she took the book before suddenly hugging him while repeatedly saying;"Thank you!" before they continued walking around. Unknown to them, Tsu'tey, Aten, Ka'ani, and some of the older Hunters were watching them as they walked around, chatting about what happened in different parts of the Home Tree.
"I think they're just friends."Ka'ani said to Aten.
"He gave Marali a gift and she accepted it."Aten retorted, scoffing. Tsu'tey frowned at this as something in his heart seemed to twist, especially when Lia threw her head back and laughed. He didn't like it. He didn't like how the outsider could easily make Lia laugh.
"Do you think he means to Court her?"
"Yes."
"The Tsahik and Olo'eyktan won't allow it."
"What? Why?"Ka'ani and Aten asked in unison, turning to the older Hunter who had spoken up.
"Because Marali is now a Healer. See, around her neck."The Senior Hunter said, gesturing to the necklace around Lia's neck and the boys stared with wide eyes.
"But it is not official. Not until she becomes Taronyu."Another Senior hunter said.
"True. But, the Tsahik and Olo'eyktan now see Marali as their Daughter, so they will not allow her to Mate with that Dreamwalker."A third Hunter reminded them.
As if sensing eyes on them, the duo in question looked over at them."Uh, Lia? Who are they and why are they watching us?"Norm asked Lia, his ears pinned back as he looked at the group of Na'vi men.
Lia huffed a laugh."You don't recognise Tsu'tey?"She gestured to Tsu'tey, who openly glared at Norm, causing him to gulp, but nod."The others with him are the Senior Taronyus. However, those two boys"She gestured to Aten and Ka'ani."are Tsu'tey's other students, Aten and Ka'ani."Lia explained to Norm."As for why they are watching us, I have no idea..."Lia suddenly looked thoughtful."Maybe they think you're a threat and are waiting to kill you."Norm grimaced, looking as if he was going to faint, causing Lia to laugh."I'm kidding, Norm."
"Haha, real funny, Lia."Norm said sarcastically, glaring at Lia. Suddenly having enough of seeing Lia laugh and smile with the other Dreamwalker, Tsu'tey stalked over to them, and Norm couldn't help but flinch at the scowl on Tsu'tey's face as he came to stand next to Lia.
"He should not be here."Tsu'tey hissed and Lia frowned."Go away."He echoed the same words he had said to Jake, in English to Norm, who backed away from him, putting his hands up in the air as if to say; I surrender.
"Tsu'tey, Norm is a friend of mine and he is with Grace, not the other Sky People."Lia said, frowning at Tsu'tey.
Tsu'tey turned to Lia."Friend? He gave you a gift!"Lia blinked owlishly at this, confused about why the Na'vi man was so angry."He wishes to Mate with you!"Norm's and Lia's jaws dropped.
"M-Mate?"Norm choked out in English, looking terrified at the idea of being Mated to Lia."Jake would kill me."
Lia merely shook her head, ignoring Norm's last comment."Tsu'tey, you misunderstand. Norm already has a Mate."Lia explained and Tsu'tey's eyes widened before Lia held up the book and opened to the first page, where there was a drawn picture of a woman holding Lia, who was a toddler."And this is not a gift, at least not from him, but from my Sa'nok."Lia pointed at the woman, causing Tsu'tey to look at the woman."Norm was merely returning it to me."Unsure of what to say or do, Tsu'tey walked away without a word to the duo."Well, he could have apologised."Lia said in English, frowning as she stared after the male Na'vi."What was his problem anyway?"She wondered and glanced at Norm, who shrugged and scratched the back of his head.
"You know, technically, you're now part of the Omaticaya Clan because you're a trained Healer, right?"Lia nodded, still frowning as she turned back to Norm."Well, I'm not. I'm just a guest, an Outsider unlike you,"He couldn't hide the bitterness in his voice and winced when he saw Lia's frown grow."so maybe because you're, technically, now one of them, they won't allow you to Mate an Outsider, not without being banished, at least."Norm theorized and Lia nodded in agreement with that theory.
"Sounds reasonable."Lia stated."But I thought he would have been glad at the idea, considering he dislikes me and is only training me because Mo'at said so."
Norm stared at her in disbelief, having seen the way Tsu'tey would look at Lia. He doesn't dislike her... He likes her... Norm froze at his own thoughts, remembering that Tsu'tey was to be Mated to Neytiri.
Later that evening, after Norm and Grace left, Lia found herself sitting away from the rest of the Clan, and was looking at her drawings, more importantly, she was looking at the drawings she drawn of her Family.
Someone suddenly sat next to her, causing Lia's head to snap up."Scared ya, didn't I?"Jake asked, smirking and she shoved him gently.
"You are so mean!"Lia said, but was smiling at him, and he laughed before glancing at the page she was on.
"You thinking of home?"He asked, a slight frown forming on his face as he looked at the drawn picture of his late Aunt and saw the deep look of sadness in Lia's eyes, mistaking it for a longing of wanting to return to Earth.
"No."Lia said softly and glanced back down at the picture and traced her Mother's features.
"Who are they?"The duo looked up to find Neytiri and Tsu'tey crouching down in front of them, looking from the drawing to the, startled, Sully Siblings with open curiosity in their eyes.
"This is me when I was a child and she is my Mother."Lia gestured between her toddler self and her Mother."Her name was Maia Sully."
"Your Mother looks pretty, Jake, Lia."Neytiri said, smiling at them and their eyes widened before sharing a look.
"Oh no, Neytiri, Maia isn't my Mother. She was my Aunt."Neytiri and Tsu'tey looked at Jake in confusion.
"But you two are Brother and Sister."Tsu'tey said in English, frowning.
"Yes, but we're not directly related. Jake's parents adopted me after my Birth-Parents were killed. Jake and I are actually Cousins."Lia explained before flipping the page to show them another drawing."This is my Aunt Lucy and my Uncle William, they are Jake's Mother and Father."
"Why have you drawn two Jakesully's?"Tsu'tey asked, looking at the drawing of the two boys, who stood on either side of Lia, in confusion and his eyebrows were furrowed as he frowned.
"That is Jake."Lia said, pointing at the boy on the right."And that is Tom, Tseyzilin. He and Jake are Twins."
"Twins?"They echoed the word, not understanding it.
"Twins are two children who are born from the same birth."Jake stated, realising that the Na'vi didn't have Twins.
"Tom was born five minutes before Jake."Lia added in her two cents."Some twins look exactly alike, some look different to each other."She tried to explain as best as she could."Grace could explain this better then we can."Lia said with a soft sigh before smiling as she flipped through the pages, until she came across the picture she had drawn of Neytiri."Do you like?"She asked, showing the drawing of Neytiri, who eyes widened and she took the book.
"This is of the night we met."Neytiri realised, smiling."May I?"Lia nodded and allowed her to look through the pages with Tsu'tey looking over her shoulder, and she paused on one page.
"You drew Izia."Tsu'tey stated, looking up at Lia.
"I did say he was gorgeous."Lia answered, smiling at Tsu'tey.
"Who is Izia?"Jake asked, eyes narrowed at the unknown name.
Lia giggled at Jake's sudden show of protectiveness towards her."Izia is Tsu'tey's Ikran, Jake."
"Oh."Jake said weakly, looking embarrassed.
~~~Preview~~~
~~~Becoming A Taronyu Pt. 1~~~
The Animal that they were prowling after was a Hexapede, or as the Na'vi called them; Yerik. It was grazing when the duo finally found it. Lia, who was crouching low to the ground, paused, watching the Hexapede briefly, before she took a deep breath and took aim. And just as it looked directly at them, Lia, with a little bit of regret in her eyes and in her heart, released the arrow, letting it fly. It hit the animal with no difficulty and it fell to the ground with a moan of pain.