━━━━━꘎༺ 𝐧𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐲𝐚𝐦 ༻꘎━━━━━

The reality began to settle in, in the hours approaching dusk, when the sky was casting golden flecks over the water. Soft waves rolled into the husk of the village, wavering beneath the rope and wicker-woven pathways connecting the pods. The coastal wind blew a gust of salty air onto his feet.

He perched himself at the edge of the pod and gazed out at the ocean, slight worry in his eyes and building in his chest.
He heaved a sigh.

He craned his neck to see his painted reflection staring back at him. Sweeping strokes of paint marked his face. Lo'ak had freshly applied them just ten minutes ago. The sharp yellow and green arches accentuated the deep blue of his skin.

But all he could see was himself, stripped bare.

Strong. Somber. Homesick.

Pathetic.

He collected his thoughts:

He was the eldest child. He bore the name Sully, the infamous name of his father. The Toruk Makto.

But he knew that meant nothing here. As much as Tonowari had tried to acknowledge its notoriety, it was of no significance to the reef people.

Toruk Makto was just a name. A title. Hollow and frail.

So was the notion of Neteyam Sully. He was not the Omaticaya he once was. He would never be Olo'eyktan like his father. He would never connect to his Home Tree again.

Here, he was just a forest boy. A fast learner, but nothing more.

By day, he laughed and smiled and swam, as foreign as it felt to him. Forced to put on a front of acceptance - though it was true that the way of the Metkayina clan fascinated him, he felt so separate from it.

Even so, it was his self-proclaimed responsibility to make sure his siblings never felt the plight of being different to the reef people. They'd had run-ins at the beginning; starting with Ao'nung picking on his gifted sister. Lo'ak had done the unthinkably irrational to defend her and all havoc was wrought; but in all honesty, Neteyam relished in the outlet. He felt accomplished in protecting others. 

And beating up that smug-looking prick was just satisfying.

But beneath all that, there was the looming sorrow of loss.

A lingering reminder that home was out of reach. There was a voice uttering in his head you don't belong here - you're different.

That was partly the blame of his mentor, Itaxri. The ravenette with the most flawless deep blue eyes he had ever seen.
Most of the others in this village had light blue eyes, bridging a shade of green; like seafoam, delicate. But hers were the deep blue of an early morning sky; the rich hues of ink mingled with light, if you could imagine that. He'd watched the sunrise many times, overlooking a view of endless foliage growing up.

Her eyes were a reminder of the longing he felt for that sunset view everyday.

But he knew there was a longing for more than just the forest when he looked at her.

Presently, he couldn't shake the feeling that had struck - displacement.

He'd been here six moons past, but he couldn't help dreaming of the towering trees and the hum of the forest.  The chirping of birds and fierce Ikran howling overhead. The forest animals and the sound of their feet treading through the mud and amongst the shrubs. He wanted to go home and climb a tree as stupid as it sounded. He wanted to feel the rich soils and damp grass convulse under his feet. He wanted to feel the memorable thrill of navigating Sehite amongst the hallelujah mountains. Of scouting for his adventurous siblings in familiar territory, instead of having to deal with miles of unexplored ocean.

In the forest, he never felt lost.

He got lost in coral reefs often, now.

The invasive water poured over his toes. Salty and warm.

The title of Metkayina beckoned him.

But what was any of that to him? He knew their ways but would he ever truly feel like one of them?

He was fiddling with the headpiece in his hand - he wore it routinely - to hunts in the forest, pretty much any time he was flying with Sehite, his reliable Ikran. But he had withdrawn from wearing it on his arrival at the village. Something about it was ceremonial, a display of strength. A display of being an Omaticayan warrior. He had not wanted to seem like a threat; or worse, an outsider.

He touched his collar...wanting to speak to someone.

Lo'ak? He's probably somewhere hanging with Tsireya.
Father? No, he could not bear being seen as weak or incapable.
And the women were all getting dressed for tonight's ceremony.

He would not bother anyone with his dullness.

He thought of Itaxri.

He put his hands back into his lap.

Tracking where it all started, his mind wandered to noon, six moons ago.

━━━━━꘎༺ 𝐬𝐢𝐱 𝐦𝐨𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐠𝐨 ༻꘎━━━━━

The Sullys had been flying for three days.

The first two days of travelling were nightmarish - as soon as they'd left the village, the clouds overhead seemed to darken. The very air was heavy, moist and not only with the falling tears of his mother and the soft sobbing sounds coming from Tuk in her arms.

He mounted Sehite, feeling over his wings with his palm before making the bond. Fleeting specks of green and yellow flashed in his eyes, their breathing became one. He ran a stroke across Sehite's head and mounted him gracefully. After a rub behind his antennae, they lifted off the ground. He followed his behind his father, aligned with his mother. Lo'ak was at the back of the formation, Kiri rode beside him. Their father made a whistling sound and they each swerved uniformly in that direction.

Neteyam glanced at his family. Not even Kiri was smiling.

They all seemed to look back at the forest.

He felt a gaping ache in his chest.

Home shrunk behind them. The peaks of the trees became mere outlines far on the horizon as they flew further out to sea.

Neteyam felt a water droplet on his face.

The sky groaned, shaking the air in its wake.

It had begun to rain. He pulled his cape tightly around him - it was flitting in the steady breeze that was beginning to sweep over the ocean. He lowered his headpiece onto his brow and braced himself for the storm that was coming.

Torential rain soaked through his braids into the next day. He retrieved a fish he'd caught before the journey and fed it to Sehite, who chittered with gratitude. Neteyam smiled. He traced a loving palm over the Ikran's belly. In a small parcel attached to his thigh strap, he retrieved some berries and seeds that he'd packed for the journey and chewed on them.

On the third day, they reached a settlement woven among shelterbelt trees, that made swooping arches and domes over the wicker pathways.

The sea here was turquoise and so clear that you could see the seabed beneath it. The sand was white and brightened the entire landscape. When they drew closer, flying over tiered pools and strange animals he'd never seen before, the sight of another tribe came into view. The sound of a conch ruptured through the air rhythmically.

They circled the tribe, by the direction of their father and landed on a strip of sand, where a crowd of aqua-skinned Na'vi were gathering in fascination. Neteyam patted Sehite. They shared a moment. Neteyam closed his eyes in respect, as did Sehite. He removed his headpiece and tucked it into a satchel on Sehite's nape. The animal stood still as Neteyam walked behind his parents, towards the tribe.

"Be nice," their parents said, as they dismounted their own Ikrans.

Neteyam stood by his brother. They took in the people who were staring at them.

It was not only their aqua skin that set them apart. It was their wide torsos and fin-like arms. Their tails were wide, their eyes were blue.

"Oel ngati kameie," they uttered, gesturing respect with their fingers.

"Look! What is that? Is that supposed to be a tail?"

There was laughter.

Neteyam's eyes grew wide when he looked around him. His senses were overrun by the scent of sea-salt that mingled in the air. The unfamiliar sound of the swashing waves made his ear twitch and adjust to it. He felt the sand beneath his feet, slightly powdery compared to the sludgier sand nearer to the water body.

Some of these...water people were swimming in the ocean, atop marine animals of their own. Neteyam felt Lo'ak's eyes glue to something in the water - someone. A girl.

Neteyam smirked.

She slid off the animal with ease and smoothly stepped out of the water, her wet curls glistening in the sun.

Lo'ak shyly looked down.

"It's too small. How are they supposed to swim?"

"Roxto, do not! Ao'nung!" the girl scolded, her voice hushed.

Her eyes settled on Lo'ak.

"Hey," he said with a smile.

She laughed bashfully.

A woman bearing the attire of theTsahik walked towards them, with a confrontational demeanor.

Ronal, their parents had told them her name was.

She touched her necklace made of bright red coral.

Their leader, Tonowari emerged from above, riding an animal of some sort, with flat, vibrant orange wings. Its tail moved along the water in gliding motions.

Tonowari dismounted.

He towered over the Sully children, his muscular figure adorned with markings of organic shapes. He bore garments of the Olo'eyktan, bright orange and yellow feathers with falling tassels over his arms.

"I see you Ronal, Tsahik-de Metkayina," their father said.

"I see you Ronal," followed their mother.

Tonowari stood beside his wife, softly grazing her shoulder with his palm.

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

"We seek uturu."

"Uturu?" Ronal interjected.

"Yeah, sanction for my family."

Tonowari laughed lightly, a sound of disbelief.

"We are reef people, you are forest people. Your skills will mean nothing here."

"We will learn your ways, alright?"

"Yes," Neytiri agreed hesitantly.

"We cannot let you bring your war here," Tonowari warned.

"I'm done with war...I just want to keep my family safe," Jake said.

"Uturu has been asked," Neytiri said. Her tone was flat, but it suggested patience wearing thin. Neteyam thought how it must be hard for her. His mother had grown up daughter of the Chief of the Omaticaya. She was practically royalty in the forest.
Doing this must have dented her sense of personal dignity.

It certainly affected her pride.

Neteyam saw Ronal's hand grip his mother's tail. Neytiri had a fierce look in her eyes, but maintained her calm.

"Their arms are thin. Their tails are weak. You will be slow in the water." Ronal seemed to address her people, instead of them.

She gripped Kiri's tail forcefully.

"Ow!"

Kiri withdrew, and took her tail back in her hand.

"These children are not even true Na'vi," she said with slight horror in her face.

"Yes, we are!" Kiri protested.

She suddenly approached the two boys. Neteyam straightened his posture. But she didn't go for him - instead, she grabbed Lo'ak's hand. She held it up and the people exclaimed.

"They have demon blood!"

Jake stepped forward and waved his hand.

"Look...Look! I was born of the Sky People and now I am Na'vi. You can adapt, we will adapt."

Neteyam saw the look on his mother's face. Her agitation grew.

"My husband was Toruk Makto. He led the clans to victory against the Sky People."

"This you call victory? Hiding amongst strangers," Ronal said with a sneer on her face.

The Tsahik turned to Jake. Neteyam took his place beside his father's side.

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

Neteyam's eyes widened.

Neytiri hissed at her. A mark of threat.

Ronal bore her teeth and hissed back.

Neteyam and Lo'ak shared a knowing glance. They watched their mother, knowing how she could get when she was angry.

His brother mouthed 'shit', scrunching his brows.

'Shit indeed', Neteyam thought to himself. He observed, as Jake tried to salvage the situation.

"I apologise for my mate. She's come a long way and she's exhausted."

"Do not apologise for me, Jake."

Tonowari had a moment of thought.

With his spear in one hand, he slung his arm around Jake's shoulders with the other. He turned to his tribe.

"Toruk Makto was a great war leader. Toruk Makto and his family will stay with us."

The tribe whispered among themselves, then listened intently to Tonowari's next words.

"Treat them as our brothers and sisters. Teach them our ways so they do not suffer the shame of being useless."

Jake sighed in relief.

He looked at his family, with an urging look.

"What do we say?"

"Thank you," Tuk chimed.

"Thank you," Neteyam said, his siblings following.

"My daughter Tsireya and my son Ao'nung will help you."

'So that was the girl's name that Lo'ak was gawking at.'

"Come, I will show you our village," she said with a kind smile.

They climbed onto the pathway that connected the pods together. It was woven of wicker, and bounced when they walked. The village was suspended above the ocean - Neteyam could feel a slight breeze slip through the slits in the weaving, cooling his heels.

"This is for you - your new home," Tsireya said, helping them with their belongings. They stopped at a secluded pod on the edge of the village, it was spacious inside, yet cosy. It wasn't quite home, but it was endearing.

"This is great! It's nice, right?" Jake said, looking to Neytiri.

She dropped a rug onto the ground, with a loud thump.

Her silence spoke volumes.

Neteyam went inside and dropped his bags in a segment of the pod. Tuk was already inside, trying to claim territory.

"Uh-uh, Tuk. This is my spot."

"Neteyammm, that's not fair I was here first!"

"I'm the oldest, shove over. You don't need this much space."

"But Neteyam-"

"Tuktirey," he warned.

"Tch, fine!" she pulled her bags and found a smaller corner where Neytiri was setting up her sleeping mat.

He chuckled to himself.

Tsireya was outside the pod, placing bags around the front. She was brave, to help unload the Ikran, considering she'd never seen one before. As she finished placing the last sack, Neteyam eyed Lo'ak hesitantly walking up to her.

Laughing silently to himself, Neteyam watched them in the doorway.

"Hi," he said.

"Hi," she said with a dimpled smile.

"Um-"

"Tsireya!" A voice beckoned from beyond the pod. There was a swashing sound along with it; the sound of water moving as something sped through it.

Lo'ak looked down and walked back into the pod, giving Tsireya a polite nod and a forced smile.

Neteyam's eyes lingered on his brother for a moment.

He totally had a crush on Tsireya.

Neteyam laughed at the hopeless boy.

"Skxawng," he muttered, as Lo'ak entered the pod in a slight huff.
Lo'ak tossed his sleeping cover at Neteyam who couldn't help laughing at his starstruck brother.

Lo'ak began setting up his section of the pod, which he entered through a beaded doorway connecting his and Neteyam's rooms together.

Neteyam's eyes fleeted back to the entrance, where Tsireya was standing. She seemed to be conversing with someone.

There was another reef girl in the water, atop one of those things all the Na'vi around here were riding.

He couldn't see her properly from where he was sitting.

That was, until she hopped off her water animal. She had a bow in her hand, and a pack of arrows slung over one shoulder. He caught a glimpse of her face; high cheekbones and dark eyes that seemed to glow in the sun. Part of her hair was up in a bun that sat with a crest of bright green feathers embedded in it. The rest was down in braids, small shells, much like the beads his sisters wore, strung in between them.

She had dark tattoos, like Tonowari and Ronal did, only on her left shoulder.

"I'm told I missed quite a lot," the girl said, slightly out of breath. She ran a hand over her wet hair, shaking it out.

"You did! How was the catch?"

"As it usually is."

Tsireya smiled and embraced her friend, her back to the pod.

Her voice changed to a whisper.

"We have guests, from the forest."

"Omaticaya?" the girl asked, blue eyes widening in shock.

Tsireya nodded.

"I haven't seen them, Roxto said they look different. Where are they?"

"Itaxri, keep your voice down. We are standing outside their pod. Roxto was being rude to them."

"That skxawng. Don't worry I'll give him a good whack when I pass by his pod."

"It will be dark soon, you should take the catch back to the elders."

"I will."

The girl looked into the pod and accidentally met Neteyam's eyes. He could tell it was accidentally, because she seemed to ignore the smile and wave he gave her.

She mounted the reef animal she'd arrived on and made a calling sound, before she retreated underwater and disappeared out of his view.

---

As sundown approached, Jake called a family meeting.

"Alright Sullys, everyone fall in."

Neteyam and Lo'ak entered the pod - they had just been settling their Ikrans into the mangrove forest behind the village. Neteyam hoped it would be some consolation for Sehite. He must be missing home, too.

"Remember, family meeting," Neteyam said, pulling Lo'ak in by his arm.

Jake started.

"Okay...I need you kids on your best behaviour."

The three elder siblings shared a glance.

"I mean it. Learn fast, pull your weight. Don't cause trouble. You got it?"

"Yes, sir," Loak responded.

Neteyam grabbed the back of his neck playfully. Lo'ak hissed, routinely. At least that hadn't changed.

"I want to go home," Tuk sniffled.

"Oh...Tuk," Neytiri lovingly exclaimed.

"Tuk...this is our home now," Jake said. He comforted the little one, caressing her hand.

"We're gonna get through this if we have each other's backs," he assured them.

"What does your father always say?" Neytiri asked them, a hopeful tone in her words.

"Sullys stick together," they managed, weakly overlapping.

"Yeah that's right, Sullys stick together. Now this time with some feeling."

The family looked to their father. Neteyam straightened his back.

"Sullys stick together."

-----

a/n: sup folks. this is my first fanfic literally since three years ago lmao. atp i've accepted that my wattpad is just an archive (iykyk no pun intended tho) of all the fandoms i like. literally just a fandom dump. so yeah, i have bts and aot stories but i hope that doesn't stop you from reading this :) i love avatar too. someone normalise having multiple interests with only platform to share it.
my writing is in uk english. so yes, expect favourite with a 'u' and apologise with an 's' (and anything else i've most definitely missed in this extremely brief list).

sending love to all my readers. you're special n cute <3

oh yeah, votes and comments are ALWAYS appreciated :)