CHAPTER 11

When they had eventually arrived at the village it was pure chaos. Just as 'Kanu had expected it to be. The Sullys were panicking, not sure of what they should do and the villagers would want to come and see what was wrong. Obviously they weren't allowed to - not even 'Kanu went near the Sully pod.

The next morning when the sky people arrived it was chaos once again. The Metkayina were visibly stressed and 'Kanu did her best to calm the children with Tsireya. To maintain some sort of peace, none of them had spoken about the tree of spirits momentarily losing it's light to anyone but the Tsahik and Olo'eyktan. The leaders had of course been immensely concerned for it was their most sacred place - but when they had sent their children back to the place, all was good. The tree looked exactly as it always did. Glowing and beautiful.

It was the most peculiar thing. 'Kanu could not clear her mind of the situation no matter what she did - but to be fair she had not really tried to. She wanted to know what had happened.

Her thoughts were disrupted when someone sat down in the sand next to her. 'Kanu had been sitting by the shore in peace, replaying yesterdays events in her head.

"How are you?" Rotxo asked as he stepped next to her and looked at her intently, trying to read her expression.

"I'm alright," 'Kanu responded without looking at him, "Just worried for Kiri. Has she woken up yet?"

Rotxo shrugged, "I wouldn't know. They aren't letting anyone but the Tsahik in their home - and all those skypeople with their weird things."

'Kanu nodded, "I hope she wakes up soon," she sighed.

"Yes," Rotxo agreed, "It was pretty scary yesterday when the tree of souls just went dark."

"It really was. Nothing like that has ever happened," 'Kanu frowned in concern, "Did you notice that the tree went dark after I disconnected Kiri from it?"

Rotxo shook his head, "I had not noticed," he told her, "There is something weird about her." When he noticed how 'Kanu had narrowed her eyes at him, he quickly raised his palms up in a sign of peace, "Not like that! She's just - different from us. It could be good."

'Kanu sighed again and turned her gaze back to the sky, "I agree with you. She seems to have some kind of connection - to everything."

There was a moment of silence in which Rotxo gazed at her. She knew he was looking but she refused to acknowledge it. Instead, she kept her eyes locked on their village where she could see children running and their parents trying to keep up with them. The sight put a small smile on 'Kanu's face.

When Rotxo spoke up again he spoke very gently, "I'm sorry."

'Kanu finally looked at him, "For what?" She needed him to be specific - there were loads of things he could be apologizing for. They had been friends for years and in that time they'd both had plenty fights that he usually started.

Rotxo sighed and leaned back on his arms, "Just for annoying you every day since I've known you. I've expressed my feelings but I'm not great at not expressing them - you know?"

'Kanu nodded slowly. He was talking about how he told her he loved her every day. There was nothing wrong with being honest, but when she had told him so many times that she did not feel the same, it had gotten annoying, "You better not say it right now."

Her words were harsh but Rotxo could tell that this was her attempt at easing tension between them. He laughed and nudged her, "I will not say it," he assured her. 'Kanu smiled until he continued, "I will wait for you to say it first."

'Kanu sighed in frustration again, "Do not hold your breath," she said, "We are young and you will find someone you like. I will do so too."

"It can't be me?" Rotxo asked.

'Kanu met his eyes. They had talked about his crush a few times before, but for the first time ever she seemed sad while discussing this. Her eyes were usually filled with anger when he brought up his one sided feelings, "You are just a good friend."

Rotxo could tell he should give up now and he smiled, "Alright. You are a great friend too."

'Kanu snorted as she knew this was a lie. Ever since he had first expressed his feelings she had become rude. Well - she was nice enough as long as they steered clear of this topic.

"This is probably better," Rotxo laughed and stood up, "I can keep all my limbs since Ao'nung is not out for my blood anymore."

'Kanu grinned as she watched him walking away. "Oh yeah-" Rotxo said, turning around to look at her while walking backwards, "Don't forget the tulkun arrive today!"

'Kanu nodded and waved before he turned around and walked off. She sat alone for a moment before she decided she would go back to the village and try to get some news on Kiri. Just as she had stood up, she heard her name be called.

"'Kanu!"

She whipped her head to the direction of the sound and saw Lo'ak heading toward her, "Kiri woke up!" He said as he neared. 'Kanu's walked toward him to meet him halfway.

"She did? Is she alright?" 'Kanu asked. The two of them started heading toward the village together. Lo'ak had only come to her to inform her that his sister had woken up.

"Yeah," Lo'ak nodded, "Norm suspects that she has epilepsy."

"What's a Norm?" 'Kanu frowned.

Lo'ak chuckled lightly and 'Kanu smiled despite not knowing what was so funny, "It's his name. He is my dad's friend."

'Kanu nodded, "Oh - what's epilepsy?"

"It's a human term for this disorder. It can cause seizures and stuff," Lo'ak explained.

"..That's not good," 'Kanu said slowly. They were walking through the village by now and they could see Tuk and Kiri sitting inside of their house together.

"She'll be fine," Lo'ak assured her as they stepped inside the home. 'Kanu wasn't sure why she had followed him there, but she smiled and greeted both of his parents who also happened to be there. Neytiri looked surprised to see her.

"We told you that we're friends with her," Neteyam told his mother when he saw her looking at 'Kanu as if she were an alien that had stepped before her. 'Kanu smiled awkwardly and stood close to Lo'ak. She was standing in the same room as Toruk Makto and it was slightly nerve racking.

"Yes, of course," Neytiri smiled at 'Kanu.

Jake also smiled at her, "Thank you for making our children feel at home."

'Kanu just nodded, not quite sure of what to say. Luckily she didn't have to think for long because the horn sounded just then. 'Kanu smiled immediately and was already rushing out of the home.

"What was that?" Tuk asked, following close behind. Soon everyone but Kiri was out of the pod, looking around for sign of danger.

Lo'ak hurried to keep up with 'Kanu, "What's happening?" He asked.

'Kanu turned around to face his family as she continued walking backwards, "The tulkun have returned!" She cried in joy. Walking backwards was a stupid choice she had made. Because every time she did it, she would bump into someone or something. Today she walked into a tree that rose form the water.

Lo'ak grimaced as she turned around to face the tree while holding onto her head. "Are you okay?" He asked her, his hands hovering over her shoulders incase she needed steadying.

"Just fine," 'Kanu smiled, mentally cursing herself for embarrassing herself before Toruk Makto, "Never been better," she lied before clapping her hands above the water to call an ilu and jumping in. The excitement she felt overpowered the momentary embarrassment, and when she peeked her head from under the water she was once more wearing the brightest smile.

Seeing this made Lo'ak smile and he dove after her.

"Let's go!" 'Kanu said as soon as an ilu swam by and she had connected their queues, "Get on!"

"Wait for me!" Lo'ak said as he slid behind her onto the ilu's back.

All of the Metkayina were beyond happy that the tulkuns had returned. Everywhere you looked you could see them jumping in to the water or hurrying toward the center of the reef where it was assumed that the tulkun were.

'Kanu slowed down and looked over her shoulder at Lo'ak who was looking around in amazement. They had arrived to the place where all the tulkun were gathered. He'd already met a tulkun before but seeing so many in one place was something he hadn't even been able to imagine. The majestic animals swam around, greeting their friends with whom they had finally been reunited with after such a long time.

"Look! It is my spirit sister," 'Kanu told him, tapping his thigh to get his attention before motioning to a tulkun headed in their direction. Lo'ak turned his head to meet 'Kanu's eyes and smiled when he saw the large grin plastered on her face, he turned to look at the tulkun she was referring to. The tulkun was not yet full sized, but compared to either of them she was huge - just like the rest of them.

The tulkun in question poked its head above the water and splashed with its front fins, making both of the Na'vi laugh. The air was filled with cheers and cries of joy as the tulkun jumped out of the water out of joy for seeing their friends at last.

"Let's go see her!" 'Kanu said before diving into the water with her ilu. Lo'ak quickly held onto her waist so as to not be swept away by the sudden current.

Under the water looked just as magical as the surface. Countless tulkun swam around as the Metkayina raced to see their respective spirit siblings. 'Kanu let go of the ilu as they swam over to her sister tulkun, allowing the momentum to drift her closer. Lo'ak followed behind, his hand in hers to not get separated. He looked at awe as he looked up at the large creature, but he recognized that the two girls must have missed each other and it was not his place to be there.

Lo'ak tapped 'Kanu on the shoulder, letting go of her hand. 'Kanu looked over at him with a great smile and it was enough to make him grin as well, "I will give you two peace," he signed, making 'Kanu proud of how fast he had learned the language.

'Kanu shook her head, "You do not have to."

Lo'ak only smiled, "I will go and meet the other tulkun," he informed her before swimming off.

'Kanu turned to look at her spirit sister and smiled.

"Who was he?" The tulkun asked.

'Kanu could recognize the teasing tone of her voice and she grinned widely, "A boy that I like."