༺chapter seven ༻
✧
⇝ night walks on the beach

The eclipse was absolutely beautiful when it began to rise from the hidden mountains, but they didn't get to enjoy it when their father called for a family meeting. "All sully's fall in." Jake brought Amiryat down with him as he kneel, making her wince. Why does everyone keep touching my back? She thought to herself.

"Remember? Family meeting." Neteyam yanked lo'ak down to the ground around their father. "Come on, take a knee let's go." Jake pointed down as Neytiri moved down by her husband, Amiryat watched Tuk come around taking her spot behind her. "Kiri." Neytiri sternly spoke her name.

Kiri sighs sitting back behind the rest of them, forcing her legs to her chest. "I need you kids on you're best behavior," Jake began glancing at each of them. "I mean it. Learn fast, pull your weight, and don't cause trouble, got it." He turned to lo'ak, who just nodded. "Yes, sir."

Neteyam smiles grabbing the back of Lo'ak neck facing him which too he responded with a hiss. "I want to go home." Tuk cried from above of Amiryat, clingy on to her braids, Amiryat turned back bringing her sister forward to sit on her lap. "Me too, Tuk." She whispered softly, into her ear, glancing up at her parents.

"Oh, Tuk." Neytiri cooed softly.

"This is our home now, Tuk." Jake took her smaller hand into his. "And we're going to get through this, we're gonna get through this and have each others backs, right?" Amiryat locked eyes with her father seeing that they probably won't be going back home any time soon like she thought.

"What does your father always say?" Neytiri asked turning from his husband to her kids. "Sully's stick together." Neteyam and Lo'ak replied within seconds, Jake turned to his eldest seeing her lack of response but he knew the change was killing her. "Amiryat." Neytiri warned her through her eyes, rubbing Kiri knee who wasn't paying any attention.

"Sully's stick together." They all spoke at once, with much more passion, after that Tisreya came to collect them for their first lesson of that day, "come on." Amiryat took Tuk' hand as they ran towards the edge and into the ocean with a scream.

Amiryat eyes sparkled at the beautiful creatures swimming around her, the smaller fishes passing through her fingers making her grin, a hand grabbed her arm taking her attention, Lo'ak held his breath pointing down where Tisreya, Ao'nung and Rotxo were.

Amiryat could only hold her breath for a minute before she and her siblings needed to swim up to shore to catch their breaths, they looked back down to Tsireya watching her hands make signs they didn't know what she was saying, she waved her hand back down.

Holding their breaths once again they swam back down into the ocean kicking their legs to be closer to them, Tuk took his sister arm taking her along with her above the shore. Amiryat exhaled turning to her. "Are you alright?" Tuk nods as lo'ak and Neteyam rose after them.

Soon enough the three others joined them above. "You're too fast! Wait for us." Tuk tells her when they reached them. "Just breath. Breath." Tsireya tells her softy.

"You are not good divers." Ao'nung told them smirking slightly making Amiryat cocked her head. "You may be good at swinging through trees." He finished off which Tsireya reached over smacking the back of his head.

"Come on, bro." Neteyam began shaking his head. "We don't speak this finger talk. We don't know what you're saying."

"I will teach you." Tsireya said, Amiryat smiled softly at the girl, she could see why her brother was suddenly so smitten by her, that when she noticed that there was only seven of them in the water, Kiri was not there. "Where is Kiri?" Tuk asked worried.

"Kiri." Rotxo repeated her words, "Kiri." Amiryat twisted in the water not seeing another figure around them. "She must be down there." Amiryat said immediately diving back into the water to look for her sister.

—

The following morning the sully kids sat by the deck of the Marui pod having their breakfest, as they enjoyed the breeze of the ocean. "It isn't forever." Amiryat commented to the conversation her brothers were having.

Kiri nods. "Yes, this isn't home." They all seemed to agree with one other about the sea not being their home, they wanted to go home, to the forest, to their people. But they knew what was to come if they went back, they had to get use to the sea.

"We just have to get through this, like we always do." Amiryat tells them patting Neteyam' shoulder which he gave her a small grin, she smile back moving to sit back on her butt letting Tuk climb onto her lap.

"What if I like it here?" Tuk asked them, as she continued to eat on the fruit. Lo'ak hums "then you will stay here and will leave." He joked with a laugh earning smacks from his siblings.

"He's kidding, doesn't know what's he's talking about." Neteyam reassured his baby sister, turning to lo'ak mouthing "skxawng." 

"Amiryat," her mothers voice came from behind them, she turned around lifting Tuk off her body. "You father wants to speak with you." She nudge her head towards inside the pod, she walked inside.

"Dad?"

Jake turned around asking. "How's your back?" placing the mat he rolled up down against the curved wall, Amiryat shrugs twisting her bracelet around, "I don't know, but it stings when it's touch but other then that it doesn't hurt as much." Jake scanned her face noticing a small scar beneath her eye, reaching up grazing a thumb over her cheekbone.

"They got me good didn't they." Amiryat joked with a smile, showing her dimples. Jake cocked his head staring down at her in disapproval at her choice of words. Amiryat pursed her lips staring up. "To soon."

Jake nods turning her around, touching her back lightly with his fingertips, "It will heal with time, no scars that's for sure." He told her patting her head, "go on, first lesson of day."

—

Amiryat arrived a couple seconds late to water where everyone else was waiting for her. "Sorry, I'm late," she apologized with a smile and Tuk immediately came over to her, Ao'nung chucked to himself turning away, Tsireya nudged him. "Stop." before facing the group.

"Today we will teach you how transport to one place to another." She moved away bringing her hands together, they watched Ao'nung as he clicked with his mouth closed calling out for the animals and they came circling around them. Tuk laugh touching the animals head. Amiryat smiled at the sight.

Ao'nung didn't understand the feeling he was having in that moment when Amiryat arrived, he shouldn't feel that way he should hate her and her family, though he wouldn't admit outloud that she was beautiful, and he wished she was annoying so that he can dislike her but she wasn't in the slightest.

"Ao'nung." His sister called his name, he blinked clearing his throat once then again. "These are llu." He pointed to the swimming animals. "If you want to live here, you have to ride."

Amiryat was placed in Ao'nung' care since he had chosen her to help her with making the bond which surprised his sister in many ways. "Make the bond." He held the ilu end of queue, she reached back for her braid making the bond, the ilu jumped as it's eyes dilated. "Feel her breath and her feel her strength."

Amiryat touch the ilu skin. "She's soft." She says lifting her leg but Ao'nung reached over bringing her leg back down leaving his hand on her thigh. "No, this isn't like a flying animal so you don't have to use your leg just your mind." Amiryat gulps at the skin to skin connected.

Ao'nung removed his hand hearing a few snickers from his friends from behind. "Hold on to here and take it slow." As he stepped back Amiryat immediately dove into the water, her grip tightened as the ilu moved faster letting her legs leave and sway in the water.

"She's good!" Rotxo cheered for her along with his friends, Ao'nung crossed his arms impressed by her swimming skills, Amiryat turned the ilu around rising above the water with a smile, stroking the ilu before slowly getting off it meeting Ao'nung from where he stood. "Does it have a name?" She asked him, petting its head.

Ao'nung couldn't speak at the moment because of the water that dripped down her blue skin, his mouth opened for moment staring at her but no words came to mind. "No, he doesn't have a name." Tsireya came to her brother's rescue petting the ilu. "You can name him." She smiled.

Amiryat choice to ignore the way Ao'nung stare at her which made her feel somewhat— well she didn't know what to feel, "Amiryat come feed the ilu with me." Tuk came over with a fish in hand waving it in the air.

Amiryat smiled deciding to join her sister in feeding the animals, slowly she adapting to loving the ocean and the animals even the people, something was changing and she knew it was for the better for her family's sake, they still had a lot to learn about the ways of the ocean.

—

"Please take this basket to Ronal, ma 'ite." Neytiri handed her daughter a hand-made weaved basket with all kinds of fruit, and some weaved baby clothes for her unborn child. "please be care out there." Amiryat nods heading out on her way.

The pathway way was jumpy beneath her feet as she walked passing the homes of the other na'vi, she gave a smile which some returned and others nodded with respect, but something else took her attention, Ao'nung in the ocean with his two friends, Rotxo and some other boy she hadn't met.

Amiryat had never felt that kind of pain in her stomach before, not a horrible pain more like a pain that makes you feel warm inside and makes you smile whenever that person shows up. it happened all the time, when he was around.

Before she knew it Ao'nung turned catching her eyes and her breath hitched, this was a feeling that wasn't going to go away, he started to make his way over passing the people until he reached her staring down at the basket in her hands. "Is that for my mother?"

Amiryat nods continuously walking down the path. "Yeah, my moms gifted for your mom, it's very traditional thing to do in the forest." Ao'nung turned downwards listening to her speak about her home, by her tone of voice he knew she missed it, but looking back he caught his na'vi friends smirking, Amiryat caught his glaze nudging him away.

"You should go to them." Amiryat says softly to him, Ao'nung turned back around, wanting to know more about her, he wanted to learn about her favorite things, was it possible for him to like a forest girl. "and what if I want to be with you?" His eyes gleamed peering down at her figure.

Amiryat pursed her lips cocking her head upwards, he was only a few inches taller then her but she still needed to look up at him, growing shy under his gaze until she shrugged saying. "I suppose you can join, plus I don't know were your mother is." Ao'nung hums smiling.

"Come." Ao'nung rested a hand on the small of her back guiding them through the village, heat rushed to her cheeks from his hand on her, no boy has ever made such a bold move on her though when they did Neteyam or Lo'ak would be there to put them in their place, sometimes the forest boys would be talking to her but Jake would just glare and they would run away. "did you think of a name?"

Amiryat turned up frowning. "What?"

Ao'nung dropped his hand as they approached his home, facing her completely. "the ilu, you said you wanted to name him." Amiryat nods then shook her head. "No, no actually."

Ao'nung started at the frown on her delightful face before greeting his mother, Ronal turned to the girl beside her son touching her stomach, she wasn't showing yet but it was visible. "Kaltxi Ronal." (Hello Ronal) Amiryat bowed her head holding out the basket. "My mother has sent me to gifted you this weaved basket."

Ronal eyes lit up taking the hand-made basket from her. "irayo, Amiryat." (Thank you) She smiled down at her, Ao'nung grins facing Amiryat. "You must thank your mother for me."

Amiryat nods smiling.  "Of course," Ronal faced her son with a pointed look on her face before she left the pair, Amiryat sighs stepping out the Marui walking away. "Hey! Wait."

Ao'nung grasped her arm keeping her from moving, she raised her eyebrows at him, but his eyes didn't meet hers since they were lingering down on the hand he held, she cringe scrunching her nose forcing her hand back crossing her arms.

"Sorry." He apologized softly. "I wanted to ask you if—" he took a paused staring down then up at her, tilting her head she asked him what he wanted. "Would you join me on a walk?"

Amiryat drop her arms looking around for a moment then back, "yeah, yes I would like that." Ao'nung smiles at her words, before they knew it, the teens went off down the beach away from the village talking with each other, he told her about the tulkun, he had a spirit brother called luta and that he hopes that the tulkun will returned to them soon, Amiryat got to learn a lot about the na'vi, he admit he was a softie it made her genuinely laugh, in a good way.

"—I guess what I'm trying to say it that maybe the ocean isn't as bad as I thought." Amiryat told him, staring out at the ocean listening to the waves crash and the wind blow through her long hair. "I just hope to see my home again, someday."

Ao'nung couldn't understand how she felt since he never stepped foot out of the ocean, it's been his home for fifteen years there was no reason for him to leave it, "tell me about the forest." He said which came out like a question to her, Amiryat turned smiling with excitement. "Okay, well..." she began telling him about the late night adventures she had and the animals that glowed around them in the nighttime.

"Though I don't think they are dangerous but my dad doesn't like us around them." Amiryat inhaled facing Ao'nung, "wow, it's sounds beautiful." He leaned forward grazing the sides of her face pushing a stray of hair back, Amiryat lips parted at the action, "you could show me one day, the beauty of pandora."

Amiryat smiles and nods, "yeah, we could fly on my ikran." She stood up from the rock they sat on, staring out the sunset, Ao'nung furrows moving away from the rock, "what's a ikran?" But his question was forgotten when Amiryat cried. "oh god!" she noticed the sun was no longer shining, she moved away from him calling for her ilu, Ao'nung frown following after her. "What's wrong!?"

He asked her, she was rushing trying to get back to the village, he didn't understand why, they were having a good time, weren't they? "It's past eclipses, my dads gonna kill me!" She told him diving down into the water, it was a faster way home.

"Go home, I'll be fine, okay?" Amiryat ran up the beach pushing Ao'nung further away from her as her family's marui came to view. "Are you sure I could take the fault?" He told her, she shook her head"I promise I'll be fine, go Ao'nung, please." She plead to him, he sighs nodding. "Okay, see you tomorrow?"

Amiryat could see her father from where they stood, but she chose to ignore the way his arms were crossed over his chest with a glare on his face, he would have let her being late slide but the second he saw her with a boy he didn't know what to think.

She didn't want to come to forward with her answer so she nodded with a smile, Ao'nung shyly grins bowing his head slightly. "hivahaw nìmwey." (Sleep well) Amiryat nods back watching him leave from her view to the main village.

"Where the hell were you?"

Amiryat exhaled rubbing her face reaching her father who blocked her from entering the home. "We have rules for a reason, I can't have you past eclipse, this isn't the forest, you don't know your way around here."  Jake glared down at her, Neytiri stood up at the sight of her oldest.

"I'm very aware that this isn't the forest, dad." Amiryat ducked under his arm entering the home, Jake stormed in right after her. "and what we're you doing with a boy huh, i don't trust that boy."

"What boy?" Lo'ak stood up immediately with Neteyam. Amiryat closed her eyes turning to her mother for some help "majake, please she's a teenager I believe she knows what she's doing, yes?" Amiryat nods immediately. "yeah, dad you said make friends, that's what I did, I was just listening to what you told us."

Jake sighs nodding his head. "Okay, yeah. I just don't want you out that late especially not with a boy, alright?" He said pointing down at her figure, she nods walking to her hammock. "It won't happen again."

Lo'ak raised his brows turning to his brother then his sister, they both were thinking the same thing. "Who was the boy? Do we know him? Don't tell me it was Ao'nung." Amiryat groan rolling around. "Drop it, please."

They did for a second laying back in their hammocks staring up at the roof of the marui. "Just tell us a name." Neteyam utters twisting around facing her back. "letam rutxe!" (enough please!) Amiryat covered her ears.

—