The next morning was emotional. Full of sadness. Full of anxiety. Full of anticipation.

They were all ready to go, but they didn't know what the future held for them. The ceremony to pass Tarsem onto being the new leader was short and sweet. A parting of ways that was needed, but painful nonetheless. It wasn't easy leaving, but there was no other choice. They needed to do what was best for their family and their people.

Soon the two families were on their ikrans after saying their goodbyes and up in the air. The skies darkened as the group flew toward the sea clans, the horizon swallowed by a mass of churning gray clouds. A storm was brewing, and it wasn't long before the wind began howling, tugging at their ikrans and making flight increasingly difficult.

"Stay close together!" Jake's voice rang out, barely audible over the roar of the wind.

Zeyrala clung tightly to **Tsa'lora**, her ikran's powerful wings fighting to stay steady against the battering gusts. She glanced toward Neteyam, who flew nearby, his sharp gaze scanning the skies for danger.

The storm grew fiercer with every passing minute, lightning streaking across the sky and thunder roaring around them. Beneath them, the ocean churned violently, waves crashing against jagged rocks that jutted out of the water like teeth.

A sudden, deafening crack of thunder startled the ikrans. Tsa'lora screeched and bucked as a powerful gust slammed into her side, nearly throwing Zeyrala off. She tightened her grip on her mount, heart pounding as she fought to regain control.

"Hold on, Zeze!" Neteyam shouted, steering his ikran closer.

Before she could respond, another fierce gust of wind slammed into her, and a bolt of lightning struck the water nearby, blinding her momentarily. Tsa'lora panicked, bucking violently. Zeyrala's grip slipped, and suddenly, she was falling.

"Zeyrala!" Neteyam's voice was raw with panic as he watched her plummet toward the raging waves below.

The icy wind whipped around her, and the world blurred as she hit the water hard. The impact drove the air from her lungs, and she was immediately dragged under by the wild currents. She fought to resurface, her limbs flailing as the waves tossed her like a leaf.

Above, Tsa'lora screeched, circling helplessly as Neteyam and the others dove after her.

Zeyrala managed to claw her way to the surface, gasping for air as another wave crashed over her, forcing her under again. The saltwater burned her throat and eyes, and her body screamed in protest as the current slammed her against something sharp. Pain seared through her arm, but she gritted her teeth and forced herself to keep swimming.

Neteyam spotted her struggling form between the waves and urged his ikran lower, calling out to her. "Zeze! Hold on!"

Zeyrala barely heard him over the roar of the storm. She surfaced again, coughing and sputtering, and waved weakly toward him.

Jake and Zyren circles above, their ikrans screeching in distress. Zyren's face was a mask of fear and fury as he shouted to Jake, "We need to get her out now!"

Neteyam didn't wait. He leaped off his ikran and dove into the water, the icy waves slamming into him as he fought his way toward her. Zeyrala's strength was fading fast. Her body felt heavy, her injured arm dragging uselessly in the water. She saw Neteyam swimming toward her, his expression fierce, and she forced herself to keep moving.

When he finally reached her, he grabs her around the waist, pulling her close. "I've got you." He panted, his voice trembling with relief.

She tries to push him away weakly. "I'm fine." She gasped, her lips turning blue from the cold.

"Stop lying," He growls, holding her tighter as he swam toward his ikran, which hovered low over the water. "You're not fine, and I'm not letting go." With Jake and Zyren's help, they hoisted her onto Neteyam's ikran, her body trembling uncontrollably from the cold and the pain radiating from her arm.

As they took off, the storm still raging around them, Neteyam holds her close, his jaw tight. "You're not hiding this from me, Zeze," He said softly but firmly. "You're hurt, and we're going to fix this."

Zeyrala leans against him, her strength gone. "I didn't want to worry you." She murmured, her voice barely audible over the wind.

Neteyam presses a kiss to her temple, his heart pounding. "You're my best friends, I always worry about you," He said, his voice cracking. "I can't lose you." The storm continued to rage, but with Zeyrala safe in his arms, Neteyam refused to let anything else tear her away. 

"Sweetling, we need to get you checked." Sulyana worriedly said as she rushed over to her daughter, checking her for injuries.

"I-I'm fine, we can keep going. It's been a long flight and we don't have much left to get to the sea clan." She tried to reassure her mother, though the adrenaline starting to fade. She suddenly felt lightheaded and swayed slightly where she sat on the ikran. Neteyam's arms immediately tightened around her, his sharp eyes catching the telltale signs of her worsening condition.

"No, you're not fine," He says firmly, his voice leaving no room for argument. "You're pale, and you're shaking. We're stopping, and that's final."

Zyren lands nearby, his face a storm of emotions as he quickly approached them. His sharp gaze swept over Zeyrala, taking in the way her injured arm hung limply at her side and the dazed look in her eyes. "She's not continuing like this," Zyren growls, his protective instincts flaring. "She needs to be treated now. The sea clan will wait." Zeyrala opened her mouth to protest, but her words were cut off by a sharp gasp as pain shot through her arm. Her head lolled back against Neteyam's chest, and she squeezed her eyes shut against the wave of dizziness that followed.

"Zeyrala!" Sulyana rushes forward, her hands trembling as she reached for her daughter. "She's burning up—her body's going into shock."

Jake crouches beside them, his face grim. "We need to find shelter, and fast. This storm isn't letting up, and she won't make it if we don't get her warmed up and patched up."

Neteyam nods, his jaw clenched as he glanced at the raging storm around them. "There's an outcropping nearby. I saw it earlier. We can take cover there until the worst of this passes."

"Lead the way." Jake ordered.

Neteyam carefully shifts Zeyrala in his arms, cradling her against his chest as he mounted his ikran again. "Hold on, Zeze." He mumbled, his voice thick with emotion. The group flew low, battling the howling winds and pelting rain as they made their way to the rocky outcropping. Once they landed, Zyren and Jake worked quickly to secure the area while Sulyana knelt beside Zeyrala, assessing her injuries with a practiced eye.

She frowns at seeing the injury, her fingers lightly prodding the wound. "It's deep, and I'm worried about the chance of infection." Sulyana glances at him, her eyes softening at his determination. "We need fresh water to rinse the wound and stop the bleeding. Zyren, do we have anything in the packs to bandage her properly?"

Before Zyren could answer, Neytiri lands with Tuk clinging tightly to her back, both looking frantic. Tuk slid down and ran to Zeyrala's side, her wide, tear-filled eyes darting to the injured arm and Zeyrala's pale face. "Zeyrala, are you okay? You look really hurt," Tuk whispered, her voice trembling as she reached out to touch Zeyrala's good hand.

Zeyrala musters a weak smile, squeezing Tuk's fingers lightly. "I'll be fine, Tuk-Tuk," She said, though her voice was hoarse. "It's just a scratch."

"It doesn't look like a scratch," Kiri said as she knelt beside Sulyana, her healer's instincts kicking in. Her sharp eyes took in the wound, and she winces. "That's deep, and it's already starting to swell. We need to clean it now, or it'll get worse."

Lo'ak approaches next, his usually carefree demeanor replaced by visible concern. He crouched near Neteyam, glancing between his brother and Zeyrala. "She fell into the waves? D*** it, that storm was relentless." He mutters as he looks at her with worry and concern. "You should've called for help sooner." Zeyrala opens her mouth to respond, but the pain in her arm spikes, cutting her off. Neteyam's grip tightens around her as he murmurs soothing words in her ear, trying to calm her despite his own panic. 

Neteyam's jaw clenches, guilt flashing across his face. "It happened too fast. I wasn't close enough to catch her before she hit the water."

Neytiri placeda hand on Neteyam's shoulder, her touch grounding. "This isn't your fault, Neteyam," She assures him. Her gaze softens as she looked at Zeyrala. "We're here now, and we'll get her through this. Lo'ak, help Jake secure the area. Kiri, assist Sulyana." Lo'ak nodded and moved to help Jake, though he cast a worried glance back at Zeyrala. Kiri immediately began digging through the packs for any medicinal supplies they had brought, her hands moving swiftly.

"Let me help!" Tuk pleads, her small hands eager to assist. "I wanna help Zey." 

"You can help me mix the herbs, Tuk," Kiri said gently, handing her a small mortar and pestle. "We need to make a paste for her wound."

Zeyrala watches them all with a mixture of gratitude and exhaustion. "You're all fussing over nothing." She sighed heavily. 

"Stop talking," Neteyam said softly, his forehead pressing against hers for a brief moment. His voice dropped to a whisper. "You scared me, Zeze. You scared all of us. Just let them take care of you."

Neytiri turns to Zyren, her voice steady. "We'll need to find a way to keep her warm. The storm has dropped her body temperature. If we don't stabilize her soon, it could lead to worse complications."

Zyren nods, already scanning their surroundings for resources. "There might be dry wood in the shelter we can use to start a fire. I'll find it."

As the storm raged on, the family worked together with a singular purpose: keeping Zeyrala safe and alive until they could get her to the safety of the sea clan. Despite the chaos outside, their bond was unshaken, a testament to the strength of the family united by love and loyalty. Eventually, they were able to get the wound cleaned and bandaged, and Zeyrala was able to rest. Tuk stayed by her side, curling up against her uninjured side and wrapping her arms around her protectively. Neytiri and the others kept watch, ready to fight off any danger that came their way.

The storm raged on, but they stayed safe, tucked away in their shelter, their hearts full of hope. And as the rain finally eased, and the clouds parted, the first rays of sunlight shone through. It was a sign, a promise of brighter days ahead. A reminder that no matter how dark the storm, there would always be a dawn. As the sun broke through the clouds, bathing the world in golden light, everyone eventually woke up. Zeyrala claimed she was feeling better, and they set off once again, determined to reach the sea clan and begin their new life.

They were a family, and nothing would tear them apart.

****

After days of battling storms, exhaustion, and fear, the shimmering waters of the reef finally stretched before them, glowing under the mid-morning sun. The sea clan's village came into view—beautiful, intricate homes suspended above the water, connected by woven walkways and vibrant, floating flora. The soft sounds of waves crashing against the coral reefs and the distant calls of ilu welcomed them.

Neteyam tightened his grip on Zeyrala as their ikrans descended. He glanced at her pale face, her exhaustion hidden beneath a brave smile. "We made it." He murmured softly.

Zeyrala nods, her voice steady but quiet. "We're here."

Jake and Neytiri landed first, their landing gaining attention of the sea clan members nearby and all came to gather curiously. Murmurs and whispers filled the air as the group tried to remain calm and be nice (like how Jake suggested). Two boys had walked over to them, glancing at them with raided eyebrows and walking near Zeyrala, Neteyam, and Lo'ak. The two boys did the gesture 'I see you' an understanding within the Na'vi that could mean many things. And in this case it was as a greeting. But the other two boys didn't do it back. They just chuckled as they looked at their tails.

"Look what is that?" One of the boys said. "Is that supposed to be a tail?" He laughed along with his friends who stood nearby.

Zeyrala notices Lo'ak's stare lingering on a girl swimming over to the shore. She smiles knowingly and nudges him teasingly, catching a glimpse of Neteyam's expression to see he felt the same way. Lo'ak quickly looked away shyly and she smiled in amusement. Looked like he already had a crush. The two boys kept taunting them as the girl walked up. "It's too small. How are they supposed to swim?"

"Do not." The girl scolds the boys and swats at one of their hands. "Roxto, Aonug." She paused as she turned when her gaze met Lo'ak.

He smiles, a shy one as he nods at her. "Hey." The girl didn't reply, but she smiled shyly and chuckled a little before she looked down.

Zeyrala couldn't help but smirk at the interaction. Lo'ak's awkward charm was on full display, and the girl, clearly intrigued, seemed just as shy as he was. She leans closer to Neteyam, whispering so only he could hear, "Looks like someone's smitten already." 

Tonowari, the leader of the clan, stepped forward, flanked by his wife, Ronal, as they did their normal greeting with them. "Jake Sully." Tonowari greeted, his voice calm but curious. His gaze swept over the newcomers before landing on Zeyrala, who was still leaning heavily against Neteyam.

"We seek sanctuary," Jake began, his tone respectful. "Our family means no harm. We've come to live among you, to learn your ways."

Ronal wasn't easily swayed, especially after finding out the kids (besides Zeyrala) have demon blood but Jake quickly assured they can adapt just like he did. Ronal though wasn't convinced as she looked at them more thoroughly, noticing their skinny arms and their tails were weak, adding they would be slow in the water. She and Neytiri didn't even get along, the two had hissed at each other too, but Zeyrala blocked out the rest. She suddenly felt very dizzy and leaned on Neteyam more.

"Are you okay?" He whispered, his gaze worried, wrapping his arms around her gently.

She didn't reply, instead, she closed her eyes, focusing on taking deep breaths. She didn't know why she suddenly felt hot and cold all at once. She knew the trip had exhausted her, but the pain from her injured arm was still bothering her. Though she tried to hide it, Neteyam had noticed the subtle grimace that would flash across her face when he touched her arm.

She blinked rapidly to try to focus on what's happening, her head pounding. Neteyam held her close, his presence comforting and grounding. She overheard snippets of the current conversation between Jake and Tonowari. It sounded like they might not be able to stay here. Tonowari didn't want the war brought here and Jake understood, he admitted he was done with war and just wanted to protect his family.

"Please," Zyren chimes in, concerned for his daughter's state. "I understand that you don't want to bring the war here, that you don't trust us yet, but my daughter needs care. If nothing else, allow us to stay until she recovers." His voice was steady, but the worry in his eyes betrayed him.

"Do we have to go?" Tuk frowned as she buried her face in her dad's shoulder after Jake had picked her up to hold her.

"Shh, we'll be okay." Jake murmured to her, placing a hand on the back of her head and stroking her hair.

Tonowari turned to face his wife with a sigh, having a silent conversation with her after spotting Zeyrala's situation getting worse. Zeyrala was barely conscious now, her body trembling uncontrollably. Finally, after a tense moment, Tonowari turned back to the group.

"Toruk Makto and his family will stay with us. Treat them as our brothers and sisters." Jake sets down Tuk carefully as Tonowari continues. "Now, they do not know the sea so they will be like babies taking their first breath. Teach them our ways so they do not suffer the same of being useless."

Jake chuckles softly, placing a hand on Tuk's shoulder. "Okay, what do we say?"

Tuk smiles gratefully at Tonowari and Ronal. "Thank you." Her words are followed by thank you from her parents and a quiet one from Kiri. Tonowari added his son and daughter will show the kids what to do which his son wasn't pleased about though his dad had the final word.

Zeyrala tried to focus on the conversation, but her vision blurred, and a wave of dizziness hit her hard. She felt herself sway, her legs buckling beneath her. Neteyam reacted instantly, catching her before she hit the ground. "Zeyrala!" His voice was sharp with panic as he lowered her carefully to the sand. Everyone turned at the commotion. Sulyana and Zyren rushed forward, their expressions stricken with fear. Sulyana's hands trembled as she reached out to touch Zeyrala's forehead, her lips pressed into a tight line.

"She's burning up," She notices worriedly, her voice shaking. "We need to get her out of the sun. She needs treatment immediately."

Zyren looks to Ronal and Tonowari for help, his stern but desperate tone breaking through. "Please, I beg you. My daughter is strong, but this infection is beyond our means. We need your healers' guidance." Ronal stepped forward, her expression unreadable, but there was a flicker of sympathy in her eyes. She knelt beside Zeyrala, her practiced hands gently examining the wound on her arm. The area around the injury was inflamed, angry red streaks spreading ominously along her skin.

Tonowari steps forward, concern etched across his face. "Can you help her, Ronal?"

Before Ronal could respond, Sulyana steps forward with quiet determination. "Please, let me assist. I've treated wounds like this before and succeeded many times before."

Ronal turns to face her, her gaze sharp with skepticism. "You are not Tashik. What could you possibly know about healing such an infection?"

Sulyana straightens, her voice calm but firm. "I've spent years training under our Tashik and caring for my people in times of war and hardship. There is a paste I've made before—a remedy that draws out infection and promotes faster healing. If you have the right ingredients, I can make it."

Ronal hesitates before she looks at Sulyana curiously and impressed. "What do you need?"

Sulyana addresses Ronal directly with a hopeful glint in her eyes. "Do you have insrigienta? It's a plant with thick, waxy leaves and a bitter sap. Combined with heat and seawater, it can create a powerful healing paste."

Ronal's brow furrows in thought before she nodded slowly. "We have it. It is rare and precious, but if it works as you claim..." She pauses her tone cautious but intrigued. "Show me how."

Sulyana inclines her head respectfully. "Thank you. I'll need clean seawater and some of your finest herbs. Together, we can save her."

A/N honestly came up with the name for how sulyana makes the paste thanks to chat gpt's help lol