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ू *𖥔 ͙ࣳ

Ocean Genesis

Avatar: The way of water

The damage had already been done, though she was presented in front of Eywa and gifted with her first tattoos even Li' Aeyana could tell that the damage she caused between her family was irredeemable.

They did not have to say it, but she could see it in the way her mother and father looked to her. So much heartbreak and disappointment, and all that because she chose to follow her own destiny.

She did not regret the choice she had made, but she somehow wished she could have done it without hurting Ronal or Tonowari.

Aonung did not speak to her anymore, which hurt the most. They argued like a brother and sister but always found their way back to one another. He was furious with jealousy and she could understand why.

He was the future of the Metkayina clan, and without even saying or showing it, it was clear to Li' Aeyana that she embarrassed him. Took the moment meant to prove himself away from her.

Though Tsireya attempted to console her, she knew this would always have been the outcome. She would always have planned to fight for her own hand and she would always have claimed the tsurak before Aonung.

Tonowari could see it in how she carried herself. She herself was untamed and strong. Li' Aeyana was an unreachable being. He could never hate her for what she did, nor could her mother, their only wish was to understand her better. In many ways she was like the ocean.

He often thought of beautiful things like the ocean and all she carries and that is how he saw his eldest daughter. She was strong but beautiful and both are what made the ocean- ocean.

"Why don't you just talk to them? I'm sure they've had time to calm down." Kiri suggested as they sat by the a small cove of rocks above the water. Li' Aeyana had been abnormally quiet for the entire day- more than usual

"I don't think it's that easy. They barely look at me now." Li' Aeyana huffed as she rested her head in Kiri's lap "Plus it's not just Aonung, it's all of them."

"It may not seem so, but this will pass." Kiri answered playing with the beads in her hair "Just look at my brothers. They always get into trouble by not listening to my father and yet he always forgives them."

"It's the way they look at me now. Like I've killed and become a monster." Li' Aeyana added "I just want things to be different, a good different."

"They'll understand, eventually." To this groaned in frustration

"You've never met my mother then. She can stay angry at me for a while. It's always my father keeping peace but even he can't fix what's happened."

"What if we went out tonight? That always cheered you up." Kiri suggested as Li' Aeyana sat up again. Taking hand of Kiri's as her thumb soothed over her friends palm. Between Kiri and Tsireya forcing her to leave the Marui pod, Li' Aeyana would be stuck in her dark mood. She did everything her mother expected of her. Her lessons, being home before dark but Ronal did not care anymore, which hurt her so much more than just yelling at her. Her silence was the killer.

"As sweet as your offer is, I can not." Li' Aeyana replied "I need to get on their good side again, that won't happen if they don't see a change in me Kiri."

"I know, I just wish there was something I could do to make you feel better."

There were many things that bonded Kiri and Li' Aeyana. Besides being the eldest daughters to a great chief they were both outsiders in their own way. This only strengthened the bond the two shared with another as it came so natural for the other to confide in.

"Just being able to talk to you is more than enough." Li' Aeyana replied placing a kiss on Kiris hand.

Li' Aeyana had grown used to being alone but this was the first time she felt alone. She knew she had Kiri and Tsireya but this did not soothe the wave of unhappiness inside of her. She sat by the pods , feet dangling in the water as she rethought every choice she made. Should she have accepted her fate? Should she have abided by her mother's rule? Would she have been happier?

She just had her freedom and that was all that could console her. There was so much she wanted to do in her life, a family - ever since she was a child Li' Aeyana could not envision herself having a child or mate. She did not plan a life ahead for herself because she did not know if she would make it so far.

"Can I sit?" A deeper voice asked her. Without looking back she immediately knew who it was. Who it could only be. She had not spoken to him since that night, they would pass one another during their lessons as she had decided to help Tuk instead but she noticed the glances he gave her.

"I don't know, can you?" She replied turning to face him. To this Neteyam chuckled as he sat next to her. His eyes glancing between the water and her. Li' Aeyana looked different. Her forearms were now tattooed along with her chin. She wore her hair upward and loose strands braided back and she now wore a headpiece with a blue gem in its middle. This only drew further attention to her green eyes.

"You seem unhappy." Neteyam stated "Can I ask why?"

But before she could answer a group of elders passed them and even he could not turn a blind eye to their sneers , only it was not towards him as he had become accustomed to but rather her.

"I've failed as a daughter. I've disgraced my family." She calmly stated with a cheeky smirk on her face, as it lasted a split second before faltering "It feels like they all hate me. My brother, my mother even my people."

"No, they don't." Neteyam quietly answered as her eyes softened on him. "There's a lot of girls that think you are brave for what you did. Even Tuk looks up to you know."

"Thank you, wish I could say it feels that way." She noted "I'm doing everything my mother expects of me but now Aonung is angry with me and I don't know why. If it was him who claimed the tsurak, I would be happy for my brother. I can't do anything right."

It was then that Neteyam realized that they were more alike than he thought. Both barely keeping head above water from the pressure that is put on him. Only where he is rewarded by his good deeds, she is punished. Because she does not follow command and follows her own mind and yet still their fathers see no fault with them but their brothers do.

"What do you usually do when you get sad?"

"Sleep till the day is over." She bluntly replied

"I'm being serious." To this she scoffed as the cries of tsuraks flying over head drew her attention. Her eyes lit up like a sky full of stars as she looked back to him

"Anything." She muttered "Anything to keep me away from my thought. Why?"

Neteyam held his hand out to her as she took it "Come, I have something that can cheer you up." He challenged her. Li' Aeyana bit the corner of her lip as she walked alongside him, her hand in his. It felt different to Kiri or Tsireya. With them it felt calming and safe but holding his hand alone made her heart hurt as she could feel it beating against her chest. Walking alongside him, she felt dumb. Everything about him made her feel so- the way her cheeks felt warm, her sweaty palm and she found herself unable not to glance back to him, finding new things about him she liked.

The sun was starting to set as Li' Aeyana realized where he was taking her. His ikran was broad and dark blue just like him with eyes that pierced through hers. He was beautiful

"Have you ever flown on one?" Neteyam asked sealing the bond between him and his Ikran. Noticing her eyes on his arms as she cleared her throat

"No, I um-" she stammered "We don't have Ikran here... so."

"Have I made you shy? That is a first." He sheepishly smirked as she returned the gesture. He could count on his hand alone how many times she had been rendered speechless. It was rather strange seeing her like this.

"No." She quickly defended "You just-" Li' Aeyana scoffed as she petted his ikran "I did not know how to answer your dumb question." She remarked to which he only laughed

Neteyams breath hitched as she climbed behind him. Her arms wrapping around his torso. Her breath on the crook of his neck as the smell of fruits and the sea intoxicated him. "You can go now." She softly commented as Neteyam shook his head for focus.

They took to the sky as the warm sunset comforted their cold skin. Neteyam felt his heart race as her laughed bellowed out of her chest, so hard he could feel it against him. Her grip loosed as one hand remained on his torso as her hand glided across the winds of the sky. She noticed the warm glow of the sky on his shoulder as his marks lit up like a star. He was beautiful. They flew across the reef , as for once in days she did not care for what would be waiting for her at home.

They flew to the cove as they watched the sun set. Li' Aeyana could not bear with the silence , her strength to control her urges becoming unbearable as she decided to rather make another lesson in signing while they had time.

Again Sully. She signed as he was barely able to keep up with her signing as her method was learn along the way. He wanted to speak the language , understand what she was saying whenever she was around Kiri or Tsireya. Lo'ak had put it in his head that whenever he was around she spoke their sign language because he made him nervous, the thought had not left him but understanding it, no less mastering it proved harder than he thought. He was frustrated with himself because he did not want to let her down.

'Awsiteng. She sighed again, meaning together.

"Team?" He questioned out loud as she lightly tapped his head.

"You know the tongue, but focus on my hands." She teased signing again as he refocused his eyes on her but it seemed impossible as focus could not come as they sat across from one another, knees brushed against each other.

Neteyam extended his hand , his thumb tracing her cheek "What are you doing?" Li' Aeyana nervously asked

"You um-" he softly spoke "You had sand on your cheek." He lowered his hand as Li' Aeyana wished she had said nothing instead. His touch soft and gentle despite how coarse his hand looked from the saddle.

Thank you. She signed as the words could not leave her lips. Li' Aeyana knew he had no clue what she was saying but the air felt thick around her and this made her nervous. He made her nervous.

You are welcome. He signed back to her and her heart felt like it could drop. Finally progressed had been made in her lesson but Neteyam had no care for it anymore as it felt like he could finally speak with her. See her.

"You look flushed." Neteyam observed "Do I make you nervous, Li' Aeyana?" Neteyam smirked as she played with the beads around her wrist which Tuk had made her. As a warm smile reached ear to ear on her face

"Skxawng." She muttered as she placed her hand on his knee "Thank you Neteyam. For lifting my spirits. I needed it."

Neteyam felt stunted as he looked to her "You called me Neteyam. You have never done so." He noted

"Would you have me call you skxawng again?" She sarcastically remarked "I have many things I can call you, but you won't like them."

"I'll take Neteyam instead. You're too sharp with your tongue."

"Good."

"Good."

"Fine."

"Fine." She noted "Sun is getting low. We must go back Neteyam." He agreed as his mind could not help to enjoy the sound of his name rolling off of her tongue. More than that he liked how it sounded from her.

Authors note:

The ship has been boarded and is planning to set sail yall
🛳🛳
An entire chapter dedicated to these fools who are in DENIAL about how they feel. It so fun to write