Tyane watched as Lo'ak stomped away from where he was sitting with Tsireya, Aonung, Rotox and Neteyam, Tuk and Kiri.

She was standing near a long tree watching them all talk about Eywa knows what debating whether she should go check on Lo'ak regardless of if he might perceive it as embarassing

she was about to leave when the conversation got heated and her baby bro decided to leave the group, an angry expression on his face.

She thought about giving him some alone time but decided against it, her brother had a tendency to do the most... "Lo'ak"  things when he was alone.

So she caught up to him and slung her arm around his shoulder, he looked at her but didn't say anything so she asked "Where we going?"

"Paykan"

Thank Eywa she was here.

~~~

They were riding in silence for the past few minutes.

Lo'ak opened and closed his mouth a few times since they left Awa'tlu, gathering his thoughts. and she waited.

After a few more quiet moments he spoke, his voice barely above a whisper "Do i bring shame to our family?"

her head swiveled in his direction "Of course not. Why would you say that, Lo?"

he sighed "Dad said-"

She tensed then sighed through her nose in attempt to calm the anger rapidly rising within her

"Dad is wrong" she said firmly

Jake is the one bringing shame to this family. What kind of Olo'eyktan abandons his people and flees? What kind of father projects his anger from the consequences of his actions onto his son? What kind of Na'vi leaves his people behind to seek shelter among stranger and force his family to abandon their home?  No Na'vi would ever do that.
Jake was the one bringing shame to this family. Not Lo'ak.

Tyane bit her tongue to keep from voicing her thoughts.

~~~

as they neared the reef Tyane saw something familliar floating on the surface right outside the reef.

Lo'ak grinned as Payakan sprayed water in the air as if in greeting.

a few seconds later he dismounted his ilu and climbed onto Payakan's fin while Tyane remained seated ontop of Sai'leen.

The Tulkun seemingly smiled at her. she returned it, touching three fingers to her forehead "Oel ngati kameie, Payakan"

He made a sound that she couldn't quite interpret but guessed he was saying it back

Lo'ak was beaming at the both of them

~~~

They spent about two hours with Payakan before Tyane reminded her brother that it was time to go back.

They were near enough to see an airship land on Awa'tlu, her father stood closest to it, other villagers were not far behind but no one seemed alarmed. 

Since everyone was to focused on keeping their feet planted on the ground no one payed them any mind as they dismounted and made their way through the people in time to see  the door open and watch Norm, Max and...

"MAR!"

She couldn't believe her eyes! Mar is here! like really really here! she thought she would never see him again! But there was walking towards her while doing his best to maintain steady footsteps. nothing changed about him, his hair was a little longer but his smile remained the same

once he was in arm's reaching, she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him into a bone-crushing hug but he didnt complain, instead he wrapped his arms around her waist and returned the favor.

they stayed like that until they didn't have to fight air to stay on the ground

"what are you doing here?" She asked

"your father called max and Norm, for Kiri, i thought i'd tag along" she guessed her confusion was showing on her face because he frowned and added "you don't know?"

when she shook her head he pursed his lips "come with me" he took her hand in his and started in the direction

~~~

let her friend lead the way and as they her family's home she realized what had happened in her absence

"No no no no no no" she said softly mostly herself

She stopped writing front of the pod flaps "what happened?" she asked Neteyam who was sitting right outside the tent flaps

"I-I don't know you're in the cove of the ancestors together and then she just started seizing out of nowhere I brought her back here as fast as I could. I didn't know what else to do" Neteyam explained hurriedly

she rubbed his back soothingly giving him a quick hug "you did good, Ma'teyam, she'll be fine"

she walked into the pod where kiri laying, unconscious but breathing, as norm and max attached her to some weird machine that started beeping wildly.

Neytiri was pacing the tent nervously, she went to her first, wrapping her arms around her mother whispering small comforts in her ear.

all of which had one meaning: It's gonna be okay.

it had to.

~~~
6/8/2023