Neteyam inhaled sharply as he emerged from the water to pull himself onto the dock. His heart was pounding as he sat down on the wooden surface before trying to calm it down by meditating as his guardians had taught him. His lungs were on fire and the air was like a medicine that saved him from this infernal burn. He had just broken his record in apnea and even if he was proud of it, he had thought he was fainting for a moment.

Luckily that hadn't happened otherwise it could have been embarrassing, he thought a little relieved with a hand resting on his chest.

His muscles were tired and sore from swimming so much, and he was eager to rest in his family's hut. He almost smiled as he dreamed of taking a long and much-needed nap under his mother's singing like when he was little. There was nothing more relaxing than her soft voice that rang tenderly in his ears before bedtime.

Still taking deep breaths, Neteyam stood up once his heartbeat had calmed down and took his stuff with him. He hastily stowed the saddle of his ilu on its perch before heading inside the metkayina village. Life was bustling in the middle of the afternoon, children were running and shouting together and fishermen were still casting their nets near the rocks to catch fish.

The village was beautiful and lively but sadly it still didn't feel like home. He could feel eyes on him from all directions examining his every move as if he were being watched. He still wasn't used to that feeling. The inhabitants always looked at him as a stranger even if he had already been around them for months and that made him miss the forest even more terribly. It was hard to recognize that their presence here was only hanging by a thread.

Neteyam let out a tired sigh. He didn't feel at home here yet, but he was learning to do it just like his whole family, even if it was difficult. They were together and that was the most important thing.

The young na'vi walked on the pontoon without really paying attention to what was around, then he suddenly stopped when he recognized a familiar voice ringing a little lower on the beach.

"I can't believe he really fell for this", Rotxo laughed, "he's as dumb as he looks"

Aonung chuckles in response as he emerges from the water with his gang by his side. "Yeah, I wonder how much time he'll take to come back once he realizes it"

"What an idiot," another added as they laughed together.

Neteyam didn't take long to figure out who they were talking about. His brother had quickly gone looking for them after their father's stern order. He knew the apologies were undeserved but it was to keep good relations with Tonowari and avoid unnecessary conflicts. Lo'ak thankfully hadn't objected to that but now he wondered if it was really the right thing to do.

Lo'ak hadn't been seen anywhere for a while now and Neteyam couldn't help the worry growing inside him as he listened to the mocking laughter of the young metkayinas. What did those assholes do to his little brother ?

Without hesitation, Neteyam jumped off the dock and landed on the sand with a thud as his wet braids swayed in the air. The teenagers jumped in surprise at his sudden appearance and paled when they noticed the dark gaze of the older brother watching them with barely concealed fury.

"Where is he ?" he growled in his hoarse voice without slowing down.

"Who are you talking about ?" Aonung replied, taking a few steps back as Neteyam approached him with a menacing look.

"My brother. Where is he ?", his voice was as deep as his anger showed.

The chief's son raised his hands peacefully and smiled falsely, "I don't know what you're talking about"

The corner of Neteyam's lips quirked up sarcastically. "You better remember it then," he said as his fists clenched tightly.

Aonung glanced at his fists and the omaticaya's enraged eyes. The bruises on his face and body were just memories of what he could do to him. He certainly hadn't forgotten what Neteyam was capable of when he threw himself into the fight his younger brother had started.

The young metkayina looked at his friends who had taken refuge behind him. Neither of them seemed to want to retaliate against the older brother and his protective impulses towards his siblings. He was without support and Neteyam could have felt satisfied if he hadn't already been racked with worry and anger at what those idiots had done.

Seeing he had no choice Aonung sighed in annoyance. "He's at Three Brothers Rock"

Neteyam blinked several times, "What the hell is he doing there ?", he exclaimed.

Lo'ak was so far from the reef. He himself had never been there. It was too dangerous for them and it was for a reason that leaving the village was forbidden to them. His stomach was suddenly hoarse thinking about his brother who was probably in danger again. He risked being lost, being attacked by a wild animal or being captured by the Sky people. There was so many danger that he didn't even know what to think about.

He should have been with him. It was his brother, his responsibility.

Aonung pressed his lips together and the other boys moved uncomfortably by digging their feet into the sand. Everyone ruthlessly avoided his fierce gaze, either out of shame or fear. They already seemed intimidated by him even though they had no idea of the intensity of the storm of emotions inside him that he was trying so hard to control.

He had to breathe calmly before he hit one of them or he was going to regret it.

Neteyam pinched the bridge of his nose as he felt a headache coming on. "How did he get there ?"

No one dared to answer him and Neteyam felt his patience slipping through his fingers. "Answer !" he snapped sternly.

Rotxo hesitantly spoke looking at the others who scrupulously kept silent, "we...we took him there"

"And where is he now ?", he approached him and Rotxo swallowed hard.

"We left him there," he muttered fearfully.

Neteyam saw red. "You what ?!"

Aonung walked past his friend and pulled him back by putting a calming hand on his shoulder to stand between the two of them. "It was my idea. Don't blame him instead of me"

Even if he could recognize his loyalty to his people, it was the last thing Neteyam could think of. All he could think of was his brother lost at sea with no one to guide him to safety. His little brother who didn't know the extent of the ocean nor the dangers it abounded and who was above all not known for his instinct for self-preservation.

He absolutely had to do something.

"Alright, then you'll be the one to tell my father," he abruptly grabbed his arm unrestrainedly and dragged him to his family's hut as the metkayinas watched their friend leave.

Aonung didn't even struggle against his tight grip and shamefully kept his head down in silence. Maybe he was realizing that what he had done was anything but funny or even a good idea but he couldn't waste his time expecting that from him.

He only had one priority. He had to find his brother.