_______ 🌊 _______

lit • ost
noun
a state of agony and torment

_______ 🌊 _______

THE FEELING of sun beating down on them as the calm water broke as the three Metkayina dived into the water, "should we follow?" Elyä asked fiddling with her hands used to only swimming in small creeks in the forest not giant oceans that probably goes on forever.

"Of course now come on!" Neteyam said grabbing her hand before running off into the clear water as the Metkyain trio continued to swim deeper into the clear water.

She sighed before following after him doing a canon ball into the water.

Water splashed around them as they all followed the trio minus Kiri who went to look around at the different creatures.

Elyä swam deeper the feeling of losing her breathe was getting stronger, the air escaping when she crushed through the clear ocean.

She looked back into the ocean to se Aonung looking up at her confused Elyä shrugged her shoulders pointing at her throat in a way to say can't breathe for long.

"Come on let's go back down!" The girl told the three before following Tsireya who spoke some type of finger language the three looked confused at each other than back at her.

They all quickly breathed than went back under water taking in the scenery while also trying to keep up.

Water filled her every vein as she saw deeper and deeper, her legs burned as the three continued to swim easily, Elyä pushed herself to try and keep up but you have to come up for air eventually.

Lo'ak pointed to the surface his lungs about to give out from the pressure.

Neteyam followed as they all crashed through the surface again gasping for air like they just escaped a burning home as it crumbled behind them.

"Are you alright?" Tsireya asked the group, "your too fast wait for us!" Tuk told her rubbing her eye not used to the salt water, "just breathe," the chiefs daughter said to Tuk also most of the group not noticing that Kiri had disappeared.

"You are not good divers," Aonung said at the forest Na'vi judging them, "maybe diving through trees-" he started but was stopped by his sister slapping him.

Elyä laughed a little at his reaction, "come on guys we don't speak this finger talk like you do," Neteyam told them tired of him bullying them, "I will teach you," Tsireya said kindly when Roxto asked, "where's Kiri?"

She looked up from the water going to search and look around for her friend.

"Who?" Aonung asked, she glared at him, "are you stupid? Their sister dumbass the one who your mom called not full Na'vi," she spat.

They all looked around finally finding her, Kiri rejoined the group for their second lesson, Ilu.

She's gonna do that perfectly.

THAT WAS A TOTAL LIE. Elyä was not a master at riding the ilu, it's almost like it wants to drown her, "can I give up?" She screamed to Aonung who was forced to teach the stubborn warrior who has reached her peak. "I think she wants to kill me!" The warrior rubbed her face annoyed.

"You need to learn, feel her energy, her soul, become one," he said calling for the ilu who seemed very proud of herself, "whatever you say."

She swam over to him, "now try it again, peacefully this time don't force yourself too much," he said as she got on the star styled ilu it's purple color standing out.

Neteyam watched the two jealously evident in his face, "what got you mad?" Lo'ak asked his brother who was staring at the two.

"Nothing," he grumbled before calling his ilu, he did it before Elyä now he had something to gloat about.

"Whatever you say," he said as he went to Tsireya still trying to understand his ilu and just like spending time with her.

Elyä felt Clai's breathing and heart, she closed her eyes letting the ilu take charge when she muttered, "let's go," and they zoomed off into the water the two slowly bounding as the water traveled through them sticking to every surface of their skin.

She came back up, "Aonung I did it! I did it!" The warrior cheered celebrating the fact Clai finally understood her and they understood each other.

"You did it!" He smiled at her when she hugged him, "thank you Aonung," Elyä said quickly letting go.

The jealousy in Neteyam spiked, why was he feeling like this? She was only his best friend nothing else or was he just telling himself that to continue to bury the feelings he had hid for so long?

"No problem, so did you hear about the welcome celebration you all are getting tomorrow?" He asked the raven haired girl who's braids now slowly getting seashells into them.

"No?" She said confused glancing at the chiefs son intrigued by the idea of a celebration.

"Well you are in for a treat, come with me to it," he grinned glancing at Neteyam noticing his clenched fist hoping she says no mostly just begging in his mind.

"Sure, why not?" She laughed agreeing before calling her ilu wanting to get to know her better and just mess around in the water.

Now breathing under water was a even more difficult task, the third lesson, the one she was mentally not prepared for having never been calm in her life.

"Breathe in, breathe out imagine a flickering flame," Tsrieya said as they all sat in a circle learning how to breathe well enough underwater.

"You must slow down your heart rate," she continued Elyä copying her every move trying to get it down and failing again not being able to get it but continued to try again and again.

Everyone watched as Lo'ak struggles blushing a little as she helps him, Neteyam and Roxto looked at each other chuckling a little to themselves.

"He's so obvious," Elyä whispered to Neteyam watching him barley keep his composure.

Kiri rolled her eyes at her brother and her friends.

the day went on as normal learning a little but still having fun but that can only last just a little while sometimes death can still haunt you even when you try to run.

ESME'S CORNER!
heres another chapter! Genuinely so excited to write the welcome celebration, please tell me what you thought about this chapter! It's just a little light and breezy chapter, I thought I might as well give you some happiness before I crush your soul and make you cry in the next couple chapters. Please vote and comment it really makes my day!

I love you all so so much and thank you so so much for 700 views on it already <333

Word count: 1,054 words