We landed on the sandy beach, sliding off our Ikrans' backs.

Neytiri helped Tuk before moving to the rest of us to see if we needed any help.

When she was satisfied that all of us had arrived alive and well, she grabbed her bow.

Jake noticed.

"Leave it," he said softly.

Neytiri glared at him before rolling her eyes and putting it back.

I soothed Aretha, checking if she was okay before joining Jake and Neytiri.

Ralu appeared beside me as everyone else dismounted or checked their belongings.

"On me," Dad ordered quietly. His arms were held wide in a peace-making gesture.

We all fell in behind him. Lo'ak trailed near the back again but looked more alert than he did a few minutes ago.

"Tuk," Neytiri called.

Tuk bounced over and took her mom's outstretched hand.

"Be nice," Jake reminded everyone.

"Who are they?" Tuk asked.

"Be nice," Neytiri said gently, discouraging any more of Tuk's questions.

My ears flicked around, taking in the new sounds, and my nose twitched as we made our way up the beach. 

Ralu grasped my hand, tightly. He looked uncharacteristically nervous. I gave him an encouraging smile and inclined my head towards the rest of the group. He nodded and took a deep breath.

As we got closer, I could see that the local Na'vi's coloring was a light blue, similar to mine. My eyes darted from one Na'vi to the other, and I took a small, sharp breath. These Na'vi looked like me. Or rather, I looked like them.

Why?

I frowned and shook my head to clear my thoughts as we arrived at the group and stopped. Ralu gave me a concerned glance, but I waved him off. 

The other Na'vi fanned out in a small semi-circle in front of us, wanting to satisfy their curiosity about us but not get too close.

Two of the younger ones who looked to be about my age came forward. Like the others, they had thick limbs, light blue skin, and azure eyes.

They circled our group, the lead one glaring at us. He had his hair in a bun on top of his head, his tsaheylu trailing down his back. The other had his hair volumed and cut in a fuzzy box.

In all honesty, the second one kind of looked ridiculous.

I pretended to study the sand beneath my toes so no one would see my smile. Neteyam noticed and bit his lip to hide his smile, trying to maintain a stoic expression. Ralu was too busy studying their hair to notice anything else. I wondered if he wanted to try hairstyles similar to theirs.

We did the 'I see you' sign, which wasn't returned by anyone.

Behind Ralu and I, Kiri clutched a woven blanket around her shoulders, looking more than ready to leave here and go home.

Unfortunately, I realized, we technically didn't have a home anymore. We left the forest, and this water clan certainly wasn't home.

I saw the second boy's eyes linger a second too long on Kiri, and I hissed softly.

"Easy, just be cool," Jake murmured, putting a calming hand on my shoulder.

I took a deep breath, but my eyes never left the second boy's.

He broke eye contact and elbowed the taller one in front of him.

"Look, look at that," he said, pointing to Neteyam's tail, which was twitching nervously. "Is that supposed to be a tail?"

There were a few mean chuckles from the crowd around us. My ears flattened, and I glared at the second boy agian. I noticed Kiri was also looking at them, but I couldn't read her expression.

Neteyam and Lo'ak's attention was suddenly caught by something in the water, so I turned.

It was another of the water Na'vi, only she was beautiful. Unlike the two boys who were eyeing us up and down like meat on a stick.

She gracefully exited the water, and I caught Lo'ak staring as she tucked a bit of her hair behind her ear. 

I smirked. I didn't blame him for staring because she was absolutely gorgeous, but I was totally going to tease him for that later. I noticed Neteyam and Neytiri glance at Lo'ak as well.  Neteyam made no effort to hide his grin.

The two boys were still being assholes.

"It's too small, how are they supposed to swim?" The smaller one was saying.

The girl slapped both of them on the wrist.

"Do not. Roxto, Aonung."

So those were their names. At least I wouldn't have to ask them later.

The two boys backed off, looking grumpy, and she turned to face us.

"Hey," said Lo'ak, flirtatiously.

The girl giggled shyly, looking at the sand.

Did I mention how pretty she was?

A sudden flap of powerful wings drew our attention back to the water.

Several more of the water Na'vi were arriving, and by the looks of the entourage following the one in front, he must've been important.

They were riding what looked like giant fish with wings. Not at all like our beautiful Ikran. 

I know this wasn't a fair thought because I knew nothing about their creatures, but I wanted to find something that made me feel like their equal, not their prey.

The leader (Tonowari was his name) and Jake exchanged greetings, and the rest of us followed suit once they were done.

Another water Na'vi was approaching, a woman this time.

The crowd parted for her as she got closer.

From her clothing and jewelry, it wasn't hard to tell that she was the Tsahik of this clan.

Jake exchanged greetings with her, as did Neytiri. Her name, as it turns out, was Ronal.

Ronal looked angry. I don't know if that was just her face or if she was actually angry.

"Why do you come to us, Jakesully?" Tonowari asked.

Jake spread his hands to indicate all of us.

"We seek uturu."

Ronal's ears immediately flattened.

"Uturu?" She spat, glancing sharply at her mate.

"Yes, I seek sanctuary for my family."

I felt a flicker of unease at being called his family. Did Ralu and I mean more than we thought to him? Or was he just saying it for appearance's sake?

There was a pause.

"We are Reef People, you are Forest People. Your skills will mean nothing here." Said Tonowari as Ronal began to circle us.

I completely ignored the other adults and just focused on her. Every one of my instincts was telling me that she was a threat. 

I noticed Ralu and Neteyam watching her as well, especially as Ronal started to get closer.

She wandered between the rest of the group and Kiri, picking up Neytiri's tail and examining it.

Neytiri flicked her tail out of Ronal's grasp, so she moved on to study the rest of us

She roughly grabbed Tuk's arm.

"Their arms are thin," She said, letting go of Tuk, who was quickly ushered behind Jake and Neytiri. "Their tails are weak."

Ronal yanked Kiri's tail out in the open for everyone to see.

"Ow!" cried Kiri.

"You will be slow in the water."

I quickly moved in front of Kiri, breaking Ronal's hold on her.

"They do not wish to be touched," I managed through clenched teeth. I was trying to be polite while also not flying into a rage and trying to kill Ronal where she stood.

Ronal gave me an appraising look.

"Except for this one," She pointed to my tail and arms. "This one is a cross between Reef and Forest. I wonder which Na'vi decided to bring shame to both clans and bring this mistake into the world."

I heard gasps from all around us and noticed more of the locals peering over each other's shoulders, trying to get a closer look at me. Ralu quickly moved to my side and hissed at any clan members that got too close. 

My ears flattened completely to my head, and I bared my teeth, breathing hard. My cheeks burned, and I felt close to tears. I was not a mistake. And I was full Forest, not a hybrid. My abnormalities were just birth defects. This woman was wrong.

...Right?

"And on top of that," She added, completely ignoring the fact that we did not want to be touched. She lifted both of Kiri's hands up to show the crowd. "These children are not even true Na'vi."

"Yes, we are!" Protested Kiri, wrenching her hands from Ronal's tight grasp.

Ronal headed over to Lo'ak to check his hands, ignoring the dangerous glares both Neytiri and Jake were sending her. Ralu ushered both Kiri and I into the middle of the group to hide us from the burning stares of the water people. Neteyam moved in front of us, making sure we were as sheltered as could be.

Tonowari looked worried and a bit ashamed at what his wife was doing.

One of Lo'ak's hands was forced into the air, his five fingers spread to show everyone present.

"They have demon blood!" Declared Ronal.

Lo'ak looked down in shame and embarrassment.

There were gasps from the crowd, and several Na'vi stepped back.

"Look!" Jake exclaimed, butting into Ronal's criticism of us. "Look!" He showed Ronal his own hand, which also had five fingers on it.

"Look, I was born of the Sky People, but now I am Na'vi, alright, you can adapt."

He turned back to Tonowari.

"We can adapt! Okay?"

Ronal made her way back near her mate's side.

"My husband was Toruk Makto. He led the clans to victory against the Sky People." Neytiri said proudly, stepping out from behind Jake's shoulder.

Jake looked embarrassed, his expression begging her to stop.

"This you call victory?" Ronal asked quietly. "Hiding among strangers?"

Neytiri narrowed her eyes at her.

"It seems Ewya has turned her back on you, Chosen One."

That was the last straw for Neytiri.

She swiftly moved closer to Jake's side, snarling.

Ronal came nearer, growling.

Jake moved between them, his hands up in an attempt to placate Ronal.

"I apologize for my mate. She's-"

"Do not apologize for me!" Neytiri hissed.

Jake interrupted her.

"-flown a long way, and she's exhausted."

"Jake," Neytiri said, irritated.

He gave her a warning look, and she finally backed off with a scoff.

Ronal did, too, returning to Tonowari's side.

"Toruk Makto is a great war leader!" Tonowari announced, placing his hand on Jake's shoulder. "All Na'vi people know his story."

He continued. "But we Metkayina are not at war."

"Dad?" Tuk asked softly, tugging on his arm.

Jake bent down and scooped her up, settling her on his hip.

"We cannot let you bring your war here."

"I'm done with war," Jake replied firmly. "Okay? I just want to keep my family safe." He put his other arm around Tuk, as though afraid she could be ripped from him at any moment.

And I guess she could be.

Tonowari and Ronal looked at each other like Neytiri and Jake do before making a big decision.

"Uturu has been asked," Neytiri bit out, clutching one of Kiri's hands over her shoulder.

Neteyam looked away, and I placed my own hand on his shoulder. He grabbed mine, in the same way Neytiri did Kiri's, rubbing circles on the back of my hand with his thumb. Ralu stood protectively behind us, glaring at Tonowari and Ronal. 

Tonowari sighed, looking his wife in the eyes.

"Do we have to go?" Asked Tuk in a small voice.

"Shh, it'll be okay," Jake soothed, stroking her hair with his free hand.

Ronal gave a barely perceptible shake of her head.

Tonowari looked her in the eyes agian, communicating silently.

After a moment, Ronal sighed and closed her eyes, nodding as she opened them.

Tonowari inhaled sharply, turning to face the rest of the gathered Metkayina.

"Toruk Makto and his family will stay with us." He announced. "Treat them as our brothers and sisters. They do not know the sea, so they will be like babies taking their first breath."

I felt affronted by the comment. A jab made for the locals to not treat us as equals until we learned their ways.

"Teach them our ways so they do not suffer the shame of being useless." At these words, Tonowari looked significantly at Jake.

Jake gave a relieved sort of chuckle.

"Okay, what do we say?"

We all said our thank yous, though I noticed Kiri's wasn't sincere. She sounded upset, but I didn't have any doubt why. Ralu's sounded angry, but he managed the two words before shutting his mouth and clenching his jaw.

"My son Aonung and my daughter Tsireya will show your children what to do."

Aha. So Asshole #1 was the chief's son. 

Aonung protested, but Tsireya seemed delighted at the prospect.

"Come," She said happily. "I will show you our village."

We followed her up the beach and onto the walkways leading between the tent-like structures.

The locals cleared a path, allowing us to pass, but their expressions were in no way friendly.

Well, we've met the new neighbors. Now, it's time to learn and act like them if they were ever going to accept us.

This was going to be hard, especially with the clan members continuing to treat us coldly.

I sighed tiredly as I trailed after Tsireya.

I just really wanted to go back to the forest.