●"How long will you be gone?"

Tonowari watched Nalani get dressed with longing eyes.

"Not too long dear. I promised Tsireya to let help her with the shells today. Ao'nung and Rotxo want to spar later as well." Their children weren't babies anymore and were on their way to becoming young adults.

"No playing around this time, it makes you take longer."

She chuckled and finished tying her chest covering. "Missing me already?"

He only wrapped his arms around her from behind and she leaned her head back onto his broad chest.

Moments like this made her happy he was still taller than her. She had a great height compared to most of the women they knew and she stood above their wife. But Tonowari was a complete beast of a man and stood a good amount of inches above her.

"I'll take that as a yes." Her husband was a sweetheart and always wanted them close to him or at least in his field of vision.

"Don't you have a hunting party waiting for you?"

He sighed and reluctantly let her go, "Just don't keep us waiting like last time."

She winked as she walked out their marui. "No promises."

The sun shone brightly on her skin and she embraced the warmth of it.

"Mother! I was waiting for you." Tsireya happily skipped her way towards Nalani.

The girl got on her tiptoes to press her head against her mom's and the woman happily returned her gesture.

"Come, we should be quick today. I almost have everything we need."

Nalani had been planning on making Ronal a very detailed and decorated dress-like outfit to celebrate her pregnancy.

The reason it was taking so long was due to the fact she wanted it to be absolutely perfect. Random shells or gems wouldn't do her wife justice and so she searched for the best of the best materials.

Tsireya had caught on and offered her help and Nalani gratefully accepted it.

The two called their respective ilus and were soon soaring through the water.

♡

Nalani used her hands to sign, "We can stop here for today."

Tsireya nodded her head and Nalani let a playful smirk grace her face.

"Race back?"

The girl perked up and cheekily smiled then signed "Don't be upset when you lose."

Halfway through their race, Nalani decided to playfully pass over her daughter upside down and still holding onto her ilu.

Tsireya only grinned at her as they made eye contact.

They raced to the surface and Nalani easily took the lead but slowed down as a loud horn rang out.

Tsireya stopped alongside her, "Visitors?"

Nalani frowned at the sight of the very foreign ikrans starting to land on the sand of her people.

"Stay close."

She briefly let her mind wander to her family and dived back into the water with Tsireya right behind her.

♡

Ronal felt guarded as she looked at the Sully family. She was wary and suspicious of the mates in front of her in their reasoning of suddenly coming here.

If they were in need of a safe haven, that meant something or someone was targeting them. Allowing them to live here could bring harm to her family and her people. She could not be at peace with that.

She disagreed with allowing them to stay among them but the way Tonowari looked at her made her slightly annoyed. She hoped their wife would join them soon as she knew the wild woman would be on her side.

"My husband was Toruk Makto, he led the clans to Victory against the Sky people."

Ronal couldn't help the scoff that left her throat at that statement.

"This you call victory?" She looked to both Jake and Neytiri, "Hiding amongst strangers? It seems Eywa has turned her back on you, chosen one."

Neytiri could no longer hold her temper and hissed at the Tsahik.

Ronal only returned it but much stronger. The two powerhouses of women glared at each other and Jake and Tonowari both looked at each other, silently urging the other to step in.

But that wouldn't be necessary as a tall figure emerged from the crowd in a similar fashion of Ronal.

Both Jake and Neytiri noticed the way the people slightly bowed their heads as she walked past them.

Each step commanded respect and the people willingly gave it.

Around her neck was a thick necklace that consisted of only blue shells and pearls. Hanging down from it was a large purple shell that also connected to her chest covering by thin strings.

Her top was beautifully woven and similar to Ronal's in color but it covered most of her left side while a thin piece extended to cover what was exposed on her right side. It wrapped around her tightly in order to deal with the harsh currents of the sea.

Her bottom was also a woven piece of strings and seaweed but consisted of lots of different shades of green and blue. It stopped at various lengths along her thighs and the end pieces had small white shells.

Around her head is what set her status in the village. It was a large pearl connected to smaller ones by seaweed going around her hair.

Speaking of her hair, it was laying closely to her head from being still wet from her earlier adventures.

If it wasn't clear who she was, anyone would be able to see she was highly respected and loved by the people of her clan.

Jake became more nervous as she approached as he knew the woman was unpredictable and he hoped she would understand his unfavorable position. Nalani was known for being a mixture of laid back but also a no nonsense type of woman. Her opinion on them could really go either way.

♡

Nalani approached the crowd with a bored expression but she walked over to Ronal first.

She let her arm wrap around her wife from behind, a clear sign of possession, as she stared down the woman who hissed at her pregnant mate.

Ronal leaned back into her and reached a hand up to grab onto the arm that wrapped around her chest.

Nalani was only late to the party because she had to go hide the gems she and Tsireya had found earlier.

Both Ronal and Tonowari looked relieved that she had finally made her appearance.

She quickly motioned I see you to the adults and children in front of her. They returned it with different amounts of enthusiasm. Next, she nodded her head at her children who also greeted her silently.

"They've come seeking uturu." Tonowari quickly let his mate know what was going on.

At this Nalani's face turned into one of confusion.

"Why?" Her mind thought the worst case scenario that maybe something bad had happened to the clan in the forest.

The slightly taller woman looked down at Jake and then closer at his family. It was clear they were exhausted and uncomfortable with everyone staring.

Nalani could recognize the eyes of a desperate man and that sent off warning bells in her head.

"What are you running from?" Her eyes narrowed and her tone left no room for anything but the truth. He gave her a pleading look but remained quiet.

She noticed he didn't answer her question and she shifted her eyes to her husband.

He returned her cautious gaze then turned his attention back to Jake, "Toruk Makto is a great war leader. All Na'vi people know his story."

He gestured to his people, "But we Metkayina are not at war. We cannot let you bring your war here."

Jake bent down to pick up his young daughter who wanted his attention. "I'm done with war okay? I just want to keep my family safe."

Neytiri stepped closer to him, "Uturu has been asked."

Nalani still wasn't sure if letting them live here was a good idea.

There was too much that they didn't know about.

Tonowari glanced at Nalani first as he knew if he convinced her then Ronal would cave in as well.

The man looked at her with a shrug and a slight smile that let her know he wanted them to stay. She wasn't surprised by this though as her mate was often very sympathetic.

Ronal then tugged her arm softly and shook her head. Nalani knew Ronal was more wary just like her but she was a little more open to the idea.

It was clear her mates wanted her to be the deciding factor as usual and she exhaled sharply. She looked down at the woman leaning into her.

"If it was us.." Nalani trailed off with a slight tilt of her head. Ronal sighed and nodded as she closed her eyes and that caused Nalani to also nod towards their husband.

The man smiled fully and let his voice raise "Toruk Makto and his family will be staying with us. Treat them as our brothers and sisters. 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 shame of being useless."

Nalani watched them carefully and the sense of relief was obvious. Her eyes were cold and unwavering. She may have agreed with them being in the village but she was still highly on edge.

"Our sons, Ao'nung and Rotxo and our daughter, Tsireya will show your children what to do."

Ao'nung made a sound of annoyance, "Father why do I have to- '' Rotxo elbowed him as their father cut him off. "It is decided."

With that Tsireya began leading the family to their new home.

As they passed by her, Nalani smiled at them but it was anything but welcoming.

It was a warning.●

◇A/N◇

{Before anyone gets on my girl, she has no personal issues with the Sully family but she isn't stupid. She's not going to ignore the risks that come with this either.}