●Nalani woke up to the feeling of lips grazing her neck with the occasional nip from sharp teeth. It took a moment to register what was happening but she relaxed after knowing it was her wife.

Laying in front of her was their shared husband who she held in her arms from behind. Pressed into her back was a clearly awake Ronal.

Nalani gave no indication that she was awake other than tightening her grip on the sleeping man in front of her. Instinctively, she leaned her head to the side to give her mischievous mate more access to her neck.

Ronal smiled against her skin,"Goodmorning Lani."

Nalani started to let go of Tonowari to properly greet her wife but the man had other plans. He gripped the arm wrapped around his waist locking her in place. Unknowingly to both his wives, he had been awake for a while but was enjoying being in their presence and listening to their quiet breaths as they slept.

He didn't say a word and kept his eyes closed causing Nalani to sigh in content. Both of her mates seemed to want her affection this morning so she settled back into the middle of them. The warmth surrounding her made her want to doze off again. So she decided she would with Tonowari gently stroking her arm and Ronal nestling into her neck.

"Good morning my loves." And she was out. The rest of the day and her duties would have to wait a while until she woke up again.

♡

"Again! You are trying to fly but ilu does not fly. We will not leave here until you succeed." Nalani sat on top of the marine animal while attempting to teach Neytiri how to properly ride one. Her resistance to change was really starting to piss Lani off. She couldn't even force a joke to try to break the ice. "You must keep the bond."

Neytiri roughly attached her queue to the ilu then snapped, "I understand how the bond works." She held onto the saddle and dove into the water with the ilu trying to decipher her commands.

Nalani dipped her head under to watch as the currents threw Neytiri off almost instantly causing her to swim back to the surface snarling to herself.

"This is childish! How long are we going to sit here until you decide you actually want to learn? If you live in our waters then you must adapt or else you will be useless." Nalani was irritated from the wasted time she spent here. And what got her the most was the fact Neytiri was the one who approached her first. She had the suspicion that Jake had put her up to it.

Neytiri looked to the water in anger, "My husband and my children may learn but I will never forget where I came from." She gasped in between words trying to catch her breath.

Nalani's face softened briefly. Now she understood a little bit more why the other woman was being this way. She was reminded once more that the Sully family had been forced to leave everything they ever knew. Neytiri especially was used to flying more than anything.

An idea suddenly hit her. "The ikran...can it swim?" She mindlessly reached a hand out to help Neytiri climb back onto the ilu.

The dark skinned woman hesitantly took it and allowed herself to be pulled up. "Yes it can but-"

"Then you will ride it and become good hunter. Come." Nalani motioned to her own ilu and Neytiri got on behind her.

Nalani was silent as she used the bond to get them to a large boulder. It should be good enough for the ikran to land safely. She then looked over her shoulder at Neytiri, "Call for it."

Now this got Neytiri to smirk and feel more like herself. She yipped loudly and hopped onto the rock looking to the sky. A few seconds passed and a gigantic winged animal descended to the ground. Neytiri rose her hand up to greet it, "Do not look her in the eyes."

Nalani admired the cool-toned ikran from her place in the water. "She's gorgeous." Her mind briefly wondered how it felt to fly as high as the Ikrans would go. Maybe she could ask for a ride one day.

She shook her head and reached a carved spear to Neytiri. "Now you will use this to hunt the fish below. Remember you're coming from very high above and will have to anticipate where the fish will go. The moment you hit the water, they will try to escape you but focus and you will be successful."

Neytiri nodded sternly and took in all the advice she could get. She mounted her ikran and took to the skies.

Nalani followed after her, still attached to her ilu. She could see a school of fish swimming in a circle and yelped for Neytiri to stop.

Neytiri looked down at where Nalani pointed and hovered in the air. She waited a moment and picked out the prey she wanted. Within the next minute she leapt into the sea holding her weapon firmly in front of her.

Nalani looked under the water again and watched with bated breath. Neytiri was already riding the ikran again and it swam to the surface similar to how an ilu would. It broke through the surface tension spreading its intricate wings wide and taking off towards the sky.

Neytiri held the fish caught on the end of the sharpened stick high in the air looking directly at Nalani with a genuine grin.

Lani smiled showing off her fangs while holding her fist up and whooped at the achievement. They had been at this for hours and all that needed to change was the animal Neytiri used. She nodded to herself in approval and couldn't deny being slightly impressed.

♡

"From now on you use your ikran to hunt." The two powerhouses of women walked side by side throughout the village. Nalani had suggested they end training here since a successful kill had been made. "My wife won't be too happy but I can handle her."

"Why are you being so kind?" After the two had been hostile to each other on multiple occasions it was odd to Neytiri that Lani was going out of her way for her.

"I can't imagine leaving my home and being made to change so abruptly. I want you to be comfortable while also providing for the clan." She looked down at Neytiri with serene eyes. "You are a fine hunter and an even better warrior."

"Thank you." And she meant it. Neytiri decided that her husband was right. Nalani was a good person. A little bit rough on the outside but with a heart made of gold to those who earned it.

"Learning new skills does not mean you have to forget your roots. One day you will learn how to tame a tsurak just like your mate. But you will do it when you are ready." Nalani turned her attention back to the bouncy path they walked on. She was happy to have made a new connection and looked forward to the day Neytiri claimed a skimwing.

"Mother! Mother!" Tsireya and Rotxo ran over to them both clearly distraught. The fear and panic they gave off made Nalani tense up with protectiveness. In a blink of an eye, Neytiri watched the woman next to her transform into a completely different person. It was intriguing to see someone go from being relaxed to ready to kill in less than a second.

"What is it? What's wrong?" Nalani put a hand on Rotxo's shoulder and the other on Tsireya's cheek. She looked them over for any wounds and was relieved to find none.

"It's Kiri-" The sound of retreating footsteps filled all their ears and Nalani knew Neytiri had left by the swift breeze passing by her. But her attention was locked in on her children who were speaking over each other trying to explain the situation.

"Okay, slow down." Her voice was firm and silenced them. "What exactly happened?" She looked at Tsireya who spoke on command.

"We were at the spirit tree and suddenly Kiri began to shake while connected to the spirit tree. I broke the connection but now she won't wake up-"

"Tsireya, you know forcibly severing such a bond can cause harm."

The girl looked to her feet in shame but she truly panicked and did it without thinking. "I know, I know but I didn't know what else to do."

Rotxo grabbed her hand to comfort them both and she gripped his just as tightly in appreciation.

Nalani was once again reminded of just how young and fragile her children were. She took a deep breath to calm her own thoughts and started to guide her children towards their home.

"Let's go find your mom, alright?"●