"This way." Tsireya says. There was an animal that came up from the water. Tuk giggled at the site of it.

"Tuk, let's go." I say

As we followed Tsireya, Tuk was jumping up and down. "This is for you." She says "Your new home."

"Yeah, this will work.  This is great.  It's nice, right?" Father asks. Mother sighs and drops her things. I set my stuff down and sighed. This was... Going to be an adjustment.

We walked inside and started to unpack our things and found out sleeping areas. I had a little corner to myself, I unpacked my things putting my clothes in a little basket. My necklaces, braclets, and riding mask when inside a Sky People box for safe keeping.

Tuk and Lo'ak were arguing about something stupid. Like always. Dad then called a family meeting "Okay, Sullys, fall in."

"Remember?" Lo'ak attempts to walk away out of the meeting but Neteyam grabs his arm. Neteyam asks Lo'ak. I grab him by his arm.

"Family meeting." I say

"Come on. Take a knee. Let's go." Dad says kneeling.

"Kiri." Mother says

"What?"

Father exhales. "I need you kids  on your best behavior.  I mean it.  Learn fast. Pull your weight.
Don't cause trouble. You got it?"

"Yes, sir." Lo'ak says. Neteyam chuckles softly and grabs his neck. Lo'ak snarles at him.

"I want to go home." Tuk whines and starts to cry.

"Oh, Tuk." Mom says

"Tuk, this is our home now. Now we're gonna get through this. We're gonna get through this." Father says "if we have each other's backs. All right?"

"What does your father always say?" Mom asks

"Sullys stick together." Neteyam and Lo'ak mumble. I don't say anything.

"That's right. Sullys stick together." Dad says "Now this time with some feeling. Sullys stick together."

"Sullys stick together." Everyone says I mumble it.

That concluding the little family meeting, I asked if I could go explore the beach and mother said yes but to be back before Eclispse. I walked along the beach looking around. Looking at the sand. It was a weird feeling, I looked at the ocean the waves crashing against some rocks. I sat down on the beach and played with the sand, I looked around myself. Seashells were everywhere. I picked up a shell and looked at it. Studying it. I sighed, everything will be okay. Just as dad said. Sully's stick together.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The following morning...

Neteyam, Lo'ak and I jump into the water. Soon followed is Kiri and Tuk we follow Tsireya, Rotxo, and Ao'nung down. Leading us somewhere. It was beautiful in the ocean, corals everywhere, fish swimming. Not long after we jumped in we had to go back for some air. I got back up for breath as do Lo'ak and Neteyam.

We gasped for air. I stick my head in the water and see Tsireya signing something and I look at her confused then she motioning us to follow her. We took a deep breath and dove again, not even half way we went up to the surface and gasped for breath. This was going to be hard.

"Are you all right?" Tsireya asks us.

"You're too fast!" Tuk complains "Wait for us."

"Just breathe. Breathe." She says

"You are not good divers." Ao'nung comments "Maybe good at swinging through trees, but..."

Tsireya hits his head, Rotxo laughs, and I hiss. "Don't talk to Turok Makto's children like this!"

"I can talk to them however I want." Ao'nung said "Besides there not even real Na'vi." I got over and hit him. We flip over and start going underwater. I punch him a few times before hands started pulling us apart. We got back to the surface and we were being dragged back to the beach.

"It's called a punch bitch!" I yell. Lo'ak let's go over me. I try to walk back to Ao'nung. Neteyam grabs me and backs me away.

"Go cool off." He says and pushed me away. I hiss and walk away.

I walk through out the village all pissed off until I bump into Ronal. "I apologize Tsahik." I say and bow.

"It is quite all right, child. Where are you going?" She asks.

"Away from your stupid-" I stop what I say and take a deep breath. "I took a break from lessons, your son is mocking my siblings and I. I decided to go...cool off."

She looks down disappointed. "He can be an ass sometimes." I hold back a laugh. "Come child." I follow her.

We walk into a healers tent as She sets down what she has and looks back at me. "I need something to do. This baby is tiring." She says rubbing her stomach. She smiles. "How about I teach you how to ride Ilu?"

I nodded eagerly, we walked into the ocean as Ronal calls two ilu. "These are ilu." She says "You must ride one of these if you want to live here."

She holds an Ilu in place as I get on. "Make the bond gently." I hold out my braid and connect it to the ilu. There is a soft crackle and the ilu moans. "Feel his breath. Feel his strength."

And soon I was starting to try to ride an Ilu. I didn't make it very far and I fell off. Then I tried, and tried, and tried...again, and again, and again.

"This is useless!" I exclaim coming to the surface for the millionth time "I'm not gonna learn how to ride an Ilu!"

"How about you try a diffrent way?" Ronal says and starts explaining.  "Finding your balance is key, Tsa'lu. Remember, the Ilu can sense your energy and respond accordingly. You need to be calm and centered."

"Now, let's start with some simple movements. Shift your weight slightly to the left and then to the right, feeling how she responds."

I followed Ronal's instructions, feeling the Ilu respond to my movements. I could sense the Ilu's  trust in me, and it gave me a surge of confidence. "I can do this," I thought.

As I gained more confidence, Ronal gradually increased the difficulty of the exercises. I practiced turning, diving, and even jumping out of the water. With each attempt, my balance improved, and I felt more connected to her.

After several hours of practice, the Ilu  and I were gliding through the water with grace and ease. My face beamed with joy and accomplishment. Ronal, proud of her progress, couldn't help but smile.

I couldn't contain my excitement. I  had overcome my initial struggles and had finally found my balance. I thanked Ronal for her guidance and patience.

As the sun began to set they started walk back to the Sully pod. "I know my son can be an ass, but he will warm up to you." They stopped in front of the pod. Ronal turned to walk away. "Plus I think he has eyes for you."

I stopped there stunned as she walks away.

I sat on the beach the following morning to watch my father with his training. "This is a warrior's mount. Not easy to master. Perhaps you should start with an ilu." Olo'eyktan Tonowari says

"Nah. This one." Dad says

"Now remember, when you dive back in, good position. Very important." Dad gets on the Ilu grunting. The warriors mount, a skimwing growls softly.

Someone sits beside me. "What do you want?" I asked.

"I just want to apologize for my words yesterday." It was Ao'nung

I look at him and laughed a little. "It's fine fish lips."

We watch as my father takes off but fails. The warriors by the Olo'eyktan laugh.

Word count: 1284