Third Person POV:

Rotxo's suggestion gave Ao'nung an idea.

"Yes! that's it. You're both right. It'll make things fun," Tsireya looked at her brother and couldn't help feeling that he might be up to something, instead she brushed the feeling off and swam to the Sully siblings.

"Hey! Everyone, come here," called Rotxo.

"What is it?" questioned Neteyam as he dunked his head into the water and brought it out, Ao'nung subconsciously looked towards the Na'vi's possessed hair as it moved. The siblings finally gathered when Tsireya spoke up, breaking the daze Ao'nung was in,

"We have to go back to shore. We'll teach how to ride Ilus. They'll help you become more familiar with the water,"

"Ilus? What are they?," curiously asked Kiri.

Ao'nung rolled his eyes in annoyance and replied, "Just go to the shores then we'll show you,"

The team of teenagers all raced to the shores for the so-called riding lessons. Kiri, being a natural creature lover, was thrilled as Rotxo told her that Ilus were sea creatures. Lo'ak and Neteyam on the other hand seemed to scoff at the young teachers, thinking that the riding lessons would be easy because they ride Ikrans, sky creatures, and this lesson would be similar to riding such creatures.

The trio started calling out to the llus, "U-uuuuu" U-uuu," "Eeeuup Eeeuup,"

Soon several dark forms caused splashes and emerged out the water, these creatures were bigger than an average Na'vi with long round body, a short pointy tail and three pairs of fins, the larger one at its tummy. The Ilus are not as big as Ikrans. Stretching its neck towards the trio, and affectionately rubbing its head againist them. The Sully kids grew excited, unlike their Ikrans who are aggressive during first meetings, the Illus are playful and gentle. Lo'ak thought to himself that this might easier now looking at these gentle creatures,

"These are llus. If you want to live here, you must ride," said Ao'nung.

"Ok, so we start riding," Lo'ak said out in confidence. Ao'nung looked at him, smirking. He was about to say something, but Tsireya butted in,

"No, not yet. We'll teach in groups," she said.

Without noticing their surroundings, other young Na'vi gathered around to watch the riding lessons. Tsireya sorted the teams, Tuk, Lo'ak and Tsireya, Rotxo with Kiri and Ao'nung with Neteyam. Earlier, Tsireya had sent some nearby Na'vi to bring riding equipment. They strapped the items onto the respected parts of the llu and gestured at the Sully's to come near them, except Tuk, who Tsireya told, to wait on land because she'll get a separate lesson. Tuk didn't mind this and noticed friends that she made and ran to them joining in on their fun.

The allocated groups went their separate ways, Ao'nung and Neteyam out front, Lo'ak and Tsireya near shore, and Rotxo and Kiri farther away from everyone. Ao'nung rubbed the llus neck and looked at Neteyam,

"So, should I get on now?" asked an unsure Neteyam, but he also felt that Neteyam was eager to ride the creature.

"Not yet, Shxawng," Ao'nung replied, smiling at him. "Come closer, you can't ride an llu standing that far," joked Ao'nung.

The latter smiled at Ao'nung and obediently went closer and also started rubbing the llus neck. Ao'nung brought out some small fish from the pouch on the llus saddle and told Neteyam to feed the it for them to bond and be familiar with each other.

"First, you must be familiar with each other. Ilu are like playful kids, the more familiar you are with them, the more they want to be near you thus you both will make a great Tsaheylu (bond)," explained Ao'nung, "Feel his breather under his fin," directed Ao'nung.

"I can't find it," Neteyam said out in frustration as he continued to search for the llu's breather.

Ao'nung gave him a look of disbelief. He quickly took the others' hand beneath the Ilu and guided it to the llus breather near him,

"There feel it," instructed Ao'nung.

Neteyam was surprised by his action, but acted unaffected. Neteyam to wonder about the size of Ao'nung's hand, which was still over his, he then looked at the Na'vi and didn't seem to be bothered by it,

"Your hands are very big," said Neteyam.

"No, they are not. Your hands are just small," he replied.

Neteyam brought out his free hand, indicating that he wanted to compare their hands. Ao'nung scoffed at his action, and the latter shook his hand in the air, silently telling Ao'nung to just do it. Ao'nung gave in and put his palm against Neteyam's for comparison, and it genuinely surprised them to see the difference in size. Ao'nung felt proud of his size, and compared to Neteyam, his hand just seemed cute and small,

"Hahahaha, your hands are just as weird as your tail, hahahahha," laughed Ao'nung.

Neteyam looked at the laughing Na'vi feeling playful, he squeezed Ao'nung's hand, he felt the squeeze and returned the action but laughed harder cause Neteyam automatically admitted defeat and retracted his hand . Unknown to Ao'nung, Neteyam seem to have felt something for the water Na'vi, seeing him in such a joyful manner, stirred a foreign feeling in his gut, but he didn't put any mind to it.

Behind them, Lo'ak got on his Ilu, and Ao'nung saw this,

"Oh, this is gonna be good," he said.

Neteyam, who was laughing along, looked at him confused.

"If you want to get on your Ilu, hold this strap here and pull it gently. The Ilu will understand and lower itself for you get on, remember gently. Wait here for me. I'll be back," Ao'nung said.

"Where are you going?" asked Neteyam.

"To watch something fun," he answered.

Ao'nung wanted to teach Lo'ak personally and humiliate him, but it seemed like his sister was doing that for him without realizing it. He saw how Lo'ak's tensed form was and the way his legs positioned itself by hooking both the small fins in front, that's when he knew right away that he'll fail.

He and Tsireya were talking, then he decided to start, and as he went underwater, we all saw the way he struggled to hang on, to the manoeuvring Ilu. The Ilu even threw him off and squeaked at him and as he surfaced, splashed water at his face and swam off, and then he heard the Metkayina kids laughing at him, even Tsireya.

Ao'nung was still having his fill when Tsireya, again, butted in,

"Stop it, guys,"

"Little starfish, it can't be helped. It was funny that even you laughed," countered Ao'nung.

"Why don't you go and finish teaching Neteyam," ushered Tsireya as she went on to help Lo'ak.

Ao'nung just shook his head and went up to Neteyam, who was now on the Ilu, the same form as his brother. He clicked his tongue in disappointment,

"Shxawng, you're doing everything wrong, and don't you dare make the Tsaheylu yet," Ao'nung said out, stopping the lean Na'vi.

Up close, Ao'nung saw the placement of his feet and noticed that he was tensed,

"Hey, stop being tense, it won't be good if you ride the Ilu in this condition. First, what is with your leg position," complained Ao'nung, "Here, position only one of your leg slightly bent on the small fin. Relax, stop being tense, you're trying to flow with water not against it, shxawng," as Ao'nung was explaining, he was guiding the lean Na'vi's legs occasionally. He would slap his cuffs and sternly instruct him to stop doing this and that. To Neteyam, he couldn't help but tense. It was because the water Na'vi kept touching him. Initially, it was because Lo'ak failed, and he felt tensed by it. Now, the water Na'vi is touching his legs,

"Hey, are you listening?" asked a frustrated Ao'nung.

"Hm? yeah, yeah, I was listening. One leg, relax, and grip with one hand, right?" He answered.

"Yeah, you better do good. Now make the Tsaheylu," said Ao'nung. Neteyam brought forth his link braid, and made Tsaheylu. He looked at Ao'nung and nodded in determination before he went under. Unlike Lo'ak, Neteyam did well. Ao'nung got his head out the water and watched the lean Na'vi surface and let out a victorious cry. He looked back at Tsireya,

"That's how you teach, little starfish," teased Ao'nung. Tsireya just rolled her eyes and looked away. Lo'ak saw this, and Ao'nung mouthed,

'You're doing great,' and laughed at him like his sister. Lo'ak gave an eye roll and turned his back on him.

The lessons went on till the planet and sun were close to each other (they experience night time during eclipse because Pandora is a moon planet orbiting a larger planet so their eclipse is their nigh time) thus ending their lessons and went home.

"Ahh, you're finally back. So how was it?" asked their Father.

Ao'nung stopped where he stood and thought about today,

"Yeah, it was fun," he replied, smiling.

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Chap 3 done. I hope you are all enjoying this story so far. Earlier today, I was losing a lot of confidence in this story, but a comment boosted my spirit, so thank you. This story will also be a slow, not too slow, burn kind of love story.

There are errors in the stories but I have an irl who's editing !