CHAPTER 10

       "I wish I'd been there," Kiri said. The young Na'vi had gathered around on a rock and Lo'ak was retelling what had happened after Ao'nung and his friends left him alone outside the reef. "The ocean has blessed you with a gift, brother."

'Kanu was in awe. Lo'ak had met a tulkun and become friends with him? How amazing was that?

Ao'nung - who stood beside 'Kanu - spoke up and bent down slightly, "The tulkun have not returned yet, and anyways no tulkun is ever alone." It was true, 'Kanu shrugged. They always travelled with each other and they were not going to arrive for another week or so.

"This one was," Lo'ak told them, "He had a - a missing fin. Like a stump on the left side," he looked at 'Kanu as he spoke, gesturing to his own arm.

All the Metkayina's eyes widened at that. Lo'ak looked around in confusion before his eyes landed on 'Kanu. She shook her head softly, "Payakan. It's Payakan," she said, turning to the other Metkayina.

"Who's Payakan?" Kiri asked.

"A young tulkun who went rogue," Rotxo said. Everyone in their tribe knew Payakan - the adults had always warned them about the bad tulkun that would eat Na'vi children if they ventured too far. It was a bit of a stretch - but it worked well with keeping the children safe, "He's outcast - alone. And he has a missing fin."

"They say he is a killer," Tsireya chimed in.

Lo'ak looked from her to 'Kanu as if to confirm this information. 'Kanu only nodded slowly. "No," he said.

"He killed Na'vi," Ao'nung told him, "And other tulkun. Not here - but far to the south."

"No. He's no killer," Lo'ak persisted.

"Lo'ak," 'Kanu said, placing a hand on his arm. Lo'ak glanced at her hand before meeting her eyes. "You are lucky to be alive."

Lo'ak placed his other hand on top of hers, "I'm telling you guys - he saved my life. He's my friend."

There was silence around them until Neteyam stood up, "My baby bro," he said, speaking up for the first time during their gathering, "A mighty warrior who faced a killer tulkun and lived to tell about it," he shook his brothers shoulders teasingly.

Lo'ak became angry and he stood up, "You guys aren't listening."

'Kanu looked at him sadly. She knew he expected them to all be excited and happy for him but instead he'd gotten this. She wished that she could react differently - but Payakan was dangerous, and he couldn't be allowed to see him again.

"Lo'ak, I'm listening," Tuk said as Lo'ak turned and walked away.

"Lo'ak - come back," Kiri said, "You skxawng," she told Neteyam. 'Kanu watched as he walked off and she stood up to follow him. She was sure he would go right to Payakan.

Just as she was about to step down from the cove her sister held her back by placing a hand on her shoulder, "Don't go, 'Kanu," she told her.

'Kanu ceased in her steps and looked back at her sister with a questioning gaze, "He will go find Payakan," she said, looking around at the other Metkayina.

"It is not our problem," Rotxo told her, shrugging. Neteyam and the rest of the Sullys looked startled that he would say that. Not their problem if he died?

'Kanu scoffed, "The elders will be furious if they find out that we did not prevent this!"

Tsireya sighed and stepped in front of her sister, her back facing the others so that they couldn't see or hear her well, "Lo'ak will be angry with you if you try to stop him."

"So let him," 'Kanu said, "At least he won't be eaten by an outcast tulkun."

"You don't understand," Tsireya sighed as she shook her head, "He will hate you. Do you want that to happen?"

'Kanu fell silent and she looked at the sand.

"Exactly," Tsireya said and pat her shoulder, "He will be okay. According to him, Payakan saved him once. He would not harm him now."

Finally 'Kanu nodded slowly and sat back down to talk to the others some more.

₊˚.༄

'Kanu swam through the water on the back of her ilu, admiring the life around her. She smiled as she glanced past her shoulder and saw the others behind her. Today was the day that they would take the Sullys to their most sacred place - The ancestors cove. Everyone was there besides Lo'ak. No one had heard of him since he had walked off.

When they swam up to the surface Tsireya spoke, "We are here," she said, "This is the cove of the ancestors. Our most sacred place."

'Kanu looked around her to see the others reactions and smiled at Rotxo when she saw all the Sully's looking around in awe. The view was truly a sight to behold. The floating mountains looked majestic as they levitated above the water, creating the occasional shadow on the surface.

"Eclipse is the best time of day to be here," 'Kanu told the forest people as she held her hand before her eyes while looking up at the sun that was disappearing. In just mere minutes it was already dark, making everything that much more beautiful as the life around them glowed with bioluminescence.

The group carried on in their journey to the spirit tree. When they arrived, it was impossible to miss it. The water glowed brightly in the darkness that surrounded them. Directly below them was the spirit tree.

"This is it," Tsireya said, "This is the spirit tree."

"Let's go," Rotxo said and he was the first one to dive back into the water.

'Kanu shot one last look at the beautuful floating mountains before she too followed the rest of the group. It wasn't hard to overtake most of the Sullys in the water - they were rather busy looking around at their surroundings. 'Kanu couldn't help but smile at the look of astonishment on their faces as she passed by. As she caught up with Tsireya and Rotxo she lifted her hands to sign, "Did you see their faces?"

Rotxo grinned, "They look so stupid."

'Kanu's smile was replaced by a glare, "Do not be rude."

Tsireya smiled, "He is just jealous that they get your attention."

'Kanu smiled once again when Rotxo furiously began signing, trying to convince them it was not the case. However, it was easy to ignore him. All they had to do was swim forward.

When the others caught up with them, 'Kanu let go of her ilu, allowing the animal to go back up to the surface. Tsireya and 'Kanu mimicked her and soon the other kids did the same. Arriving at the spirit tree, 'Kanu took a moment to admire its beauty - something she would always do when visiting. The underwater spirit tree was humongous and beautiful. It's glow provided light as they swam towards it.

Tsireya beckoned Kiri to connect her queue to the ancestral tree and 'Kanu looked around her with a smile. Even Rotxo knew how to be kind as he showed Tuk a branch she could connect to. 'Kanu found it rather odd that Rotxo - who did not have to do this - was taking up her brothers responsibly and teaching the forest people.

'Kanu took a hold of her own braid and connected her queue, closing her eyes as she felt close to her ancestors and the planet once again.

The sense of calm that had taken over her quickly dissipated when she noticed there was a commotion next to her. Kiri seemed to be having some sort of seizure. She flailed around in the water and in her panic, 'Kanu quickly reached over to disconnect her braid from the tree of souls.

'Kanu shot Tsireya a panicked glance before both of them helped Neteyam get his sister to the surface. No one knew what to think of the situation, Kiri's bioluminescent dots were going haywire - as if flashing on and off. When the tree of spirits suddenly lost its glow, 'Kanu gasped from the shock and mistakenly inhaled a load of water.

Kiri no longer flailed in the water, but 'Kanu was unable to help Neteyam get her to the surface. She let go of the girl to give them a better chance of getting her to the surface quicker. Now no longer holding on to Kiri, 'Kanu swam for the surface, desperate for air.

Rotxo saw her struggle and hurried to help her rise above the surface to breathe. When their head were above the water, 'Kanu coughed out the water she had breathed in.

"Are you alright?" Rotxo asked, still holding onto her as he swam toward their ilu's.

"I'm fine," 'Kanu assured him, then she looked around, "Where is Kiri? Is she alright?"

Rotxo pointed at the others behind them. 'Kanu quickly released herself from Rotxo's grip and swam toward them, "Is she okay? What happened?"

Neteyam placed Kiri on the back of his ilu before he got on, "It was a seizure," Neteyam told them before pinching her nose and blowing air into her lungs.

"Is she breathing?" Rotxo asked, "Is she breathing?" He repeated when Neteyam did not answer him but instead continued giving his sister air. Finally Kiri gasped and breathed again - though her body remained limp and her eyes shut.

"Get her to the village!" Tsireya called.

"Hurry!" 'Kanu added. Neteyam did not wait around for the others and 'Kanu spared no time before connecting her queue to her ilu and swimming after him hurriedly.

-
A/n:
Two chapters today because I finally finished writing this fic! Thank you so so much for 25k and all the lovely comments <33 if you have any criticism or questions don't be afraid to comment, I love reading and responding to comments.
There will probably be more than one update every day from now on since I have completed the book!
Plus! This book is currently being translated into both Spanish and Portuguese! I have a reading list on my profile dedicated to these translations so feel free to check those out if one of those languages is easier for you to read <3
Thank you again for all the love!