CHAPTER 2

       Tsireya had told 'Kanu that perhaps they should just show they Sully family to their new house for today. They must've been tired from their travels after all. 'Kanu was slightly disappointed she wouldn't get to know the new kids and show them around just yet, but she still followed behind her sister as they took the Sully family to their marui pod.

'Kanu laughed as she looked over her shoulder to see the youngest Sully child greeting an ilu. She slowed in her tracks and waited for most of the family to pass by. "That's an ilu," she told the little girl as she caught up with the rest, "You can learn how to ride tomorrow, if you wish."

The little girl giggled and the other daughter placed a hand on her shoulder, "Tuk, let's go."

"Just up here," Tsireya told them, leading the group. 'Kanu was helping the family by carrying a basket of their stuff - and she almost spilled that stuff when Tuk unexpectedly started jumping about, enjoying the elasticity of the terrain they had built.

Still, she smiled and hopped along with the little girl, passing by a few of the other family members. She saw from the corner of her eye as the boy who had greeted her earlier smiled as he watched her pass.

"This is for you," Tsireya said as she came to a stop by a marui pod, "Your new home."

Jake stepped past her to go inside and Neytiri did the same, "Yeah, this will work," Jake said, looking back at his family who had arrived inside, "This is great. It's nice, right?"

'Kanu was smiling until Neytiri dropped the rolled up fabric in her hands. It fell to the ground with a thud.

Tsireya and her met eyes - something they always did when they did not dare to speak. Tsireya jerked her head in the other direction and 'Kanu nodded, they would leave the family to settle in. The two said their goodbyes before walking along the path back to the mainland.

"Oh.." Tsireya suddenly said, stopping in her tracks. This made 'Kanu bump into her.

"What is it?"

"They don't know when it's food time," Tsireya said, turning around to go inform the Sully's. She'd had no time to take even one step before she noticed 'Kanu up ahead, running back to their house.

"I'll tell them!" 'Kanu looked over her shoulder at her sister, waving at her.

"Watch out!" Tsireya called. But too late.

'Kanu turned her head just in time to see someone standing in her path, she'd had no time to swerve or stop, thus she crashed right into them. "I'm sorry!" 'Kanu said as she felt herself stumbling over the edge. She was about to fall, but she hoped the other person wouldn't be angry. It wasn't the first time she'd lost focus and ran into an innocent villager.

Tsireya grimaced and turned her back on the scene. She walked away, telling herself that her sister would be just fine.

Before 'Kanu tipped over the edge she felt a hand hold onto hers, pulling her upright. "Are you okay?"

'Kanu looked behind her at the water, happy that she had prevented falling into it. She beamed as she turned back around, her face falling when she met the eyes of the man she had bumped into. "Sorry.. so - sorry," she said quietly.

The man sighed before waving his hands in dismissal, letting her know it was alright before he walked away again. Whoever he was, he surely had heard the villagers talking about the reckless daughter of their chief. It was common occurrence for her to accidentally hurt something, herself or someone.

'Kanu hung her head in embarrassment and was only brought back to reality when she heard laughter to her right. She looked up to see one of the newcomers laughing at her. She recognized him to be the one had stood beside the boy who had greeted her upon their arrival. She assumed he was the one who had saved her from toppling over into the water.

Narrowing her eyes, she decided to ignore him laughing at her, "Did you ask me a question?"

The boy stopped laughing, a smile still on his face, "Yeah - I asked if you are alright."

'Kanu nodded, "I am alright," she confirmed. "Thank you for helping me."

"No problem," the boy said. Then he extended his arm.

'Kanu regarded his hand with great skepticism, unsure of what he was doing. Was it a threat?Then, finally she held out her own hand, unsure what she was to do with it. These forest people sure were strange.

The boy grasped her hand and started shaking it. 'Kanu's eyes widened, but after she had gotten over the initial shock, she started shaking his hand roughly. She laughed as she shook his hand and would have gone on for ages had the boy not let go first.

'Kanu looked back up at him to see him smiling at her. He must've found her amusing. She did not know what she should have done. "My name is Neteyam."

'Kanu cleared her throat and stood up straighter, "I am 'Kanu, daughter of Ronal."

"Oh, so formal? Alright," Neteyam also straightened his back, "Neteyam, son of Toruk Makto."

'Kanu broke into a smile. Then she remembered what she'd ran back over and crashed into the villager for, "I was told to come inform you that food is at eclipse."

Neteyam nodded and looked back over at their new home. Then he chuckled, "I think my brother wishes to be friends with you."

'Kanu glanced past his shoulder, her eyes falling on the other Sully boy. Only his head was visible as he peeked at them from within their marui pod. She smiled at waved at him. The smile of hers faded slightly when the boy's eyes widened and he disappeared into the pod. 'Kanu looked back at his brother quizzically.

Neteyam was already laughing at his brother's reaction, "That is Lo'ak." he told her.

"He's shy," she stated.

"Just because I am here," Neteyam assured her.

'Kanu hummed in reply to that. "You should go tell your family when food is."

Neteyam nodded, "Alright, see you at eclipse!" Just as he turned around to walk off, his father emerged from the home, gathering all his children together and saying something about a Sully family meeting.

₊˚.༄

       'Kanu sat beside Aonung at food time - much to her dismissal, that was. She loved her brother, but at times he could be rather infuriating. Like just now.

"But aren't they so weird?" Aonung was talking with a bunch of his friends, pointing at the Sully kids. "I mean - those tails are good for nothing, I'll tell you that." His friends laughed along with him, all casting their eyes at the forest people.

'Kanu huffed and stood up. She grabbed her cooked meat wrapped in a leaf and walked off, not forgetting to step on her brother's tail as she passed. Tsireya was sitting with their parents, Jake, and Neytiri, so she wasn't there to scold her.

Aonung hissed as he glared at his sister. She merely turned her back to him and started making her way toward the Sully children who sat alone as their parents were eating with hers. "May I sit with you?" She asked Neteyam when she reached them.

Neteyam - who seemed to be the only one of the Sully children to be keeping his cool - turned his head in her direction when he heard her speak. He smiled at her and nodded after briefly glancing at his brother.

'Kanu smiled and sat cross legged beside him. As she looked around at the children, they all looked back at her. She coughed uncomfortably. Neteyam was the first to look away and he pushed his brother's head, causing him to hiss in protest.

There were four of the Sully children around the fire. The oldest girl seemed quiet and sad, Tuk seemed happy to see her, the other boy - Lo'ak - ate his food quietly, and Neteyam was smiling from ear to ear, as if he knew something 'Kanu didn't. All of them had seemed surprised that she'd joined them.

She hadn't thought she'd interrupted anything important - they hadn't seemed to be in conversation or anything - but now that no one spoke, she felt awkward. 'Kanu looked over her shoulder and saw as her brother watched her. He did not seem pleased.

Tuk was the first to cut the silence, "Are you the princess?"

'Kanu turned to the little girl. She did not know the meaning of that word.

"Er - that's daughter of the Olo'eyktan," Lo'ak explained when he saw the confusion on 'Kanu's face.

"Oh," 'Kanu nodded, looking at him. He dropped his gaze when they met eyes. She'd never heard the word - it must have been some weird sky people word their father had taught them. Then she smiled and turned back to Tuk, "Yes, I am."

"So am I," Tuk said proudly.

The girl next to her nudged her, "You are not anymore, Tuk."

"Oh yeah.." Tuk nodded sadly after remembering that their father had given up his position so that they could flee.

'Kanu looked at the girl, wondering why she would bring down Tuk's spirits like that. But seeing her face she saw that she was in pain. 'Kanu shifted, "But you are daughter of Toruk Makto. The great warrior."

Tuk smiled again, "Yeah, I am," she nodded.

The older girl who sat beside Tuk suddenly stood up, "Thank you for the food," she told 'Kanu, who nodded in response. She watched in confusion as the girl walked away.

'Kanu looked at Neteyam, as if to ask if she'd left because of her. Neteyam merely waved her off, "That's Kiri. She had to leave a lot behind to come here. I think she'll be in a better mood tomorrow."

'Kanu nodded and turned back to Tuk. Neteyam smiled as he watched 'Kanu conversing with his siblings. He was happy that one of the people had no problem getting to know them. It eased their minds a lot.