(THIS IS MY LONGEST CHAPTER YET SO, GET READY YA'LL 🤭)

Mei'lu was never one to openly express her feelings, and the ones that got to see her true feelings, besides anger, were very few.

Some na'vi on the island would say that it is lucky to get to know her true feelings since she is so closed off, but once you know how she truly feels, you'll wish you didn't.

BRUISES

"It'ey you know better than to be hanging out with a freak like that. Now get out of my sight." And with that, the man shooed his youngest son out. The young boy muttered a "yes sir" before running out of the marui.

Their father, Turi'tan, had just got done screaming at his youngest, angry at him for hanging out with Tuk, the youngest of the Sully family. He thought the whole family were freaks, having much hatred for their share of demon blood.

Mei'lu stopped her brother before he could exit and kneeled in front of him, Ka'ey was standing behind the younger boy. "I'll be out soon, okay It'ey? Just give me a minute." She spoke, holding his little hands in hers. The boy nodded through his tears, before hugging his big sister. "Ka'ey, go with him please." She spoke in a soft voice, not wanted to scare her brother further.

Ka'ey nodded, understanding what was going to happen the second they left, and as much as he wanted to stay and go against their harsh words, Mei'lu was strong, and if she told him to look after It'ey, he sure as hell was going to do so.

Taking It'ey's hand in his, he made his way out of the pod, but not before looking back at his sister. The two practically communicated with their eyes, one pair screaming "be careful", and the other saying "do not worry about me."

The second the two boys left the pod, Mei'lu turned around, meeting eyes with her parents. Her glare was threatening, letting the two know that she was not happy with how they were acting, not that they cared much about her opinion.

"You do not speak to him like that."

"I will speak to him how I please, he is my child."

"Exactly! He is a child! You are speaking to a child that way." Her whisper was harsh, she never played around when it came to her siblings.

"Mei'lu leave, now. I do not have time for your silly arguments." The father tried to wave another one of his children off.

"No, no! You do not get to wave me off every time I am right. You wanted him to make friends, am I correct? You shamed It'ey for so long because he was unable to make friends, and the second he does you shame him for that too?! Your standards are far too high for him. He is just a kid."

The man sighed, rubbing his hands down his face in frustration. His daughter looked at him in disbelief, why was he not saying anything? It was unbelievable.

Mei'lu looked at her Mother for some help, but it seems she couldn't even look at her. The woman's face turned to the side the second her daughter looked at her. The teen scoffed in disbelief, nodding her head in anger.

"You can be as rude to me as you please, but you stay away from them. And I mean that, or so help me Eywa-"

"Is that a threat Mei'lu?" Her father interrupted, walking to her in dangerously slow steps but still, she didn't back away and she didn't flinch when he looked down at her with such anger. She wasn't afraid of him anymore, and she wasn't afraid to prove it.

"Take it as you want, but leave them out of whatever this is." She spoke in disgust, waving her finger between the two of them.

She turned to leave but was stopped but her getting pulled back. The grip on her arm was tight, tight enough to bruise, but yet she still did not flinch.

"Or what?" His words were like poison, anyone that would've heard him at this moment would not believe that he is talking to his daughter.

The young girl glanced at her mother, only to find her staring at the two with tears in her eyes. Mei'lu scoffed in annoyance before harshly ripping her arm out of her fathers grasp.

"You don't wanna know."

Leaving the pod, the two boys can already hear the argument starting, making the younger boy cry harder. Ka'ey quickly led them away from the marui, not wanting him to hear another argument.

The two found themselves just at the shore, the water occasionally splashed against their feet and the wet sand was sticking to their damp legs.

It'ey had mostly calmed down by now, a few tears running down his face every now and then.

"Ka'ey"

"Hm?" The older boy hummed in response, staring out at the sea. "Do you think Mei'lu will be okay?"

Ka'ey's eyes softened at his words and he turned to face his brother. "Mei'lu is mighty. She is strong, but not only when she fights." Ka'ey took his brothers hand and gently placed it on the young boys chest, where his heart is. "She is strong here as well."

"Do you think I am strong?" It'eys eyes are watering again, he feels so silly, asking if he is strong while he cries.

Ka'ey scoffs in a joking manner before gently shoving his shoulder into his brothers, "Are you kidding? You are so strong, stronger than i could ever be!"

It'ey started to giggle when his brother suddenly started to tickle him which made the young boy wiggle in his grasp, trying to flee from the attack on his sides.

Both of them were smiling hard, happy to be in each other's presence, Ka'ey stopped his attacks on his brother after a while before falling serious again.

"It'ey."

"Yes?" The young boy giggled a little, "Do you remember the saying Mei'lu used to say to us?"

"Which one?" The older boy only smiled at his words, proud of his sister for being such a good figure for the both of them.

"To be a strong warrior, you have to be strongest in your heart."

"Oh! I remember now, that one is her favorite!",the young boy smiled, remembering all the times she would tell him this when he was on the verge of falling asleep. "Yes, but do you know it's true meaning?"

It'ey thought for a minute before muttering a small "no", ashamed for not knowing what his sister had truly been saying to him.

Noticing his distress, Ka'ey quickly reassured him that it was alright for him not to know. He told him how he also did not know what it meant for a long time and that there was no shame in it. "It means that to have a strong body and if you want to win fights, that you need to be strong here." He tapped on his chest, to his heart, "and here", and then places a finger against his temple, making the boy close his eyes.

"Do you understand now tsmukan?" He nodded repeatedly in response and the older boy smiled at this, "Then what does it mean It'ey?" He jokingly questioned, placing his finger on his chin, making it seem as if he was in thought.

"It means that- that if I want to be a might strong warrior like you and sissy, I have to be the strongest in my heart and head."

"Hmm, and why is that?"

"Because just because someone has muscles, it doesn't make them strong. Being strong comes from your head and heart, and- and what you think is right.."

"Ahhh, great job brother, i think you might be an even better warrior than Ao'nung now!" He spoke before pausing, "But don't tell him I have said that." He pursed his lips, and his words made his eyes shine with joy. "You really think so?!"

"Think? No, I know so! You are the mightiest warrior in all of Awa'atlu!" He threw It'ey into the air before catching him, making the boy laugh in utter joy.

"It'ey!" The two brother heard a small voice yell from across the beach and when they look back they see a full group, including all of the sulky children, much to Ka'ey's surprise.

It'ey looked up at his brother for permission to go to Tuk, scared his father would yell at him again but when Ka'ey mutters that Mei'lu has dealt with him, he happily runs off to the young girl.

Once his brother is out of sight Ka'ey's ears fold down, sighing in distress. He muttered something to Tsireya and Ao'nung, making the two look at the boy with sympathy to which he waves off. "Have you seen her at all since? Is she okay?" Tsireya questions her cousin.

"No, no i haven't seen her." Ka'ey's hushed voice was worried, worried for his sister, and worried for his brother. A hand clamped down on his shoulder and he turns his head to be met with Ao'nung, "Do not fear, she is strong."

Roxto nods in agreement, "It is true, Mei'lu is the strongest i've met." Ka'ey sighs, trying to shove his worries down, "Yeah. Yeah, yeah you're right, I have no reason to worry." At this, Ao'nung pats him on the shoulder for reassurance.

"Hey guys." A voice breathes out from behind the group, making them all jump in surprise. "Woah, didn't know warriors could be so jumpy." Mei'lu teases, slapping both Ao'nung and Ka'ey on the shoulders. They both try to shove her but she had moved too quickly for them to do so.

She hesitantly nods at the Sully teens, greeting them before returning to speaking. "What are you guys-"
She began but was cut off by a loud gasp. Mei'lu's head whipped to the side, trying to see where the sound had come from.

It was Tsireya, she covered her mouth with her hand before quickly grabbing her cousins arm. "What?" She spoke in confusion before looking down at her arm.

The deep purple mark on her arm was now very obvious to those surrounding her and Mei'lu was quick to pull her arm out of Tsireya's and cover it with her hand.

Ka'ey had closed his eyes, he had many feelings right now and if he didn't stop and think for a minute, he might do something that banish-able. He clenched his jaw at the thought of his Father putting his hands on his sister, but looking at the deep purple bruise, he realized that anger would not help the situation, it would only cause more pain, whether that pain being  mental or physical.

"Mei'lu that is bad, let's go to my Mother, she can help heal th-" Tsireyas idea was quickly shut off by a harsh voice. "It is nothing."

"No- Mei'lu it is not nothing."

"Tsireya, leave. it." Mei'lu spoke through clenched teeth, and before she got any angrier she quickly walked away, holding her arm in the process.

Though it was pretty obvious what had happened to the girl, still the Sully teens have said nothing, they had no right to speak in this situation, having just met her. So they all just glanced at each other from time to time. Worry filled their eyes, even if it was for girl they had just met.

Because deep down the whole group of teens agreed on one thing, nobody deserves that.

M SPEAKS!!
Hi guyssss 🤭
I literally wrote this whole thing today, AND ITS MY LONGEST CHAPTER YET???
But I hope you all enjoy, i'm really tired so i apologize if there's any errors (pls lmk if there is!)
Enjoy!! 💓💓

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