Lo'ak threw his net of fish over his shoulder, panting as he handed it off to the caretaker's for the Ilu's.

He smiled as he saw two familiar faces coming towards him, smiles on both of their faces.

"Good hunting?"
Aonung asked, shaking the water from his hair. Ignoring the weight it seemed to have given him recently.

Lo'ak laughed, an arm swinging around Tsireya's shoulders. Her hand going around his wrist.
"It was, yes. How was duties?"

Aonung groaned, his eyes widening in exhaustion.
"Well, Jake wanted me to know learn how to shoot his weapon. I must say, my arms are sore."

Lo'ak smiled, sitting down on the shore with the other two.
"It is at first."

Aonung sighed, nodding as he rubbed his face.

Tsireya looked to the sky, her face falling.
She clicked her tongue, her lips parting as she moved her braids from her shoulders.
"Where do you think he is now?"

The other two stilled, both looking to the sky as well.
Lo'ak swallowed, smiling.
"Fighting. Somewhere far."

Tsireya swallowed, keeping her gaze high.
"I hope he's okay."

Aonung smiled, silently thinking the same.
In fact, there was not a day he had not thought of the Na'vis departure.

But still, he hoped everyday, he would come back.
He believed he would. He always would.

°^°^°^°^°^°

Neteyam hissed as he landed on the forest ground, keeping low to the ground.
"Hound, what's your location?"

Neteyam listened as he heard static over his teleband. Smiling at the familiar voice he heard through it.

"Red tree, over."

Neteyam smirked as the voice echoed against his ears, walked in between two fallen trees until he came up behind a young Na'vi.

He cleared his throat, smirking as the younger Na'vi turned around quickly.
"Uveyí, you must keep your voice a whisper."

Uveyí stood, carefully wiping off his body of the dirt and leaves.
Neteyam stepped forward, picking out leaves from his hair.

Uveyí was shorter than Neteyam, his body built for agility rather than muscle.
His face was slim, slim lips that were a dark blue. He had a smaller nose, freckles lying across it.
His hair fell to his jawline in tight braids. Beads at the ends, creating quiet the alarm.

Uveyí rolled his eyes, quickly picking up his knife.
"I've been training for years, I'm still not good enough."

Neteyam walked forward, carefully shoving the shorter Na'vi to their Ikran's.
"You are young, Uveyí. It takes time to master different settings. Just stick with it."

Uveyí nodded, quickly making the bond with his Ikran while Neteyam did the same.

Flying towards their new home.

Neteyam and Uveyí landed, quickly stelling off of the saddles.
"Watch them, yeah?"

Uveyí nodded, quickly leading the two Ikran's deeper into the hidden forest.

Neteyam walked throughout his clan, smiling at the familiar feeling below his feet.
He would smile at the elders, nod and wave to the women and warriors, play with the children.

It was peaceful.

"Olo'eyktan!"

Neteyam turned to the voice, smiling as he saw a familiar child.
Her elbow length hair flowing through the wind. Her light green top and loincloth dripping from the creek.

Neteyam kneeled down, picking the child up in his arms and swinging her around.
"Yes, Vàt'arä?"

Neteyam walked them to the tree of souls, carefully setting on the steps. Vàt'arä on his lap.

Vàt'arä smiled, her tail flicking back and forth against the stone.
"Can you tell me about the Metkayina Clan?"

Neteyam smiled, picking the girl up and setting her on his shoulders.
He began to walk along the trails.

Others kids joined, each skipping and walking around them. Some with their parents or older siblings.

"The Metkayina's ride Ilu's. Creatures who live in the big seas. They're fast in the water and can dive deep below the surface."

Vàt'arä laughed, the others kids joining with questions. Some in English, others in Na'vi.

"Do you have one?"

Neteyam smiled, handing the boy who asked his hand.
"I do. He was very sweet."

The kids laughed the more Neteyam talked about his journey.

The forest clan knew, one day, he would go back. But, it had already been almost a year.
The sky-people had just started to remove themselves from the forests, the flora replenishing, food and water making itself again.

Neteyam couldn't leave. Not yet.

"Olo'eyktan? Do you have a mate in their clan?"

Neteyam smiled at the question, his face flushing. He picked up the littlest of the children, holding her in his arms.
"Not a mate. But someone. I had to leave them there."

Neteyam looked up to the sky, seeing the eclipse begin.

Part of him, longed to go back. He missed his family, the water, Aonung. Neteyam wasn't expecting to truly just become the Olo'eyktan.
But within a week, it had happened.
The week after, he had started training to become Toruk Makto.

It was supposed to be short. Make them safe, and then leave.
But he couldn't.

He loves being the leader. He loved the people and forest. The fighting.
He wanted to stay forever, but he wanted to go back.

Ma'to had suggested merging the two clans. Or moving them closer to the shore.
But that would be difficult, and a hard process. The elders, the children. It was a harsh journey, and they would lose some.

It was otherwise suggested for Neteyam to maintain Olo'eyktan while he returned, choosing someone to act in his place.
This deal would require him to travel back every few months, maintaining his power and knowing his people.
But no one in the O'maticaya Clan had close to Neteyam's experience.

The whole thing was complicated.

But yet, he yearned to be back at the water. His heart still belonging to the forest.

It was an impossible choice, always being torn in half.