CHAPTER 7

"This means I understand, or got it," 'Kanu was teaching Lo'ak their sign language. In the past few weeks the boy had learned a lot. Ever since he mastered their breathing technique everything had come a lot easier to him. He had gained the confidence he'd lacked before.

Lo'ak mimicked her gesture, forming a fist above his chest with his left hand as he looked down simultaneously. 'Kanu smiled and nodded, "It is more formal. Like accepting orders," she told him and simply formed the fist again, "Without tilting your head down it is like responding to a friend."

Lo'ak formed the fist again, watching her while smiling. "Got it."

'Kanu laughed and nodded, understanding his trick. He'd simultaneously said he understood what she meant and that they were friends. Then, she lifted her hands to sign: "What did you eat today?" She asked without words to see how much he remembered.

Lo'ak smiled as he knew how to respond, "Fish."

'Kanu smiled and laughed again, "How are you liking your new home?" she gestured.

Lo'ak furrowed his brows in concentration. He was trying to understand her sentence. 'Kanu repeated it for him slower, taking breaks between each gesture. She'd learned to be much patient with him after that first time. Lo'ak kept his eyes glued to her hands but eventually he shrugged and groaned, throwing his head back in frustration.

"It is alright, Lo'ak," 'Kanu chuckled as she placed a hand on his shoulder.

Lo'ak grew nervous under her touch and he quickly shifted, causing her hand to fall off his shoulder. He made it seem like he had to cough to avoid hurting her feelings. "I never learn," he grumbled. 'Kanu sighed as he brought his knees up to his chest - she had noticed it was something he did often when he was sad or frustrated. "We learned this stuff yesterday!" Lo'ak said.

Lo'ak had turned away from her so 'Kanu moved to sit right in front of him, "We did," she nodded, "But Lo'ak, you cannot expect to be perfect overnight."

"Like you said, my siblings are better at learning that me."

"Hey," 'Kanu smacked the side of his head lightly - it was almost like a tap, "Do not bring that up. I said I am sorry."

Lo'ak looked shocked that she would hit him. Then he felt guilty - he hadn't said it to make her feel bad. He didn't want her to believe that he was a petty person.

"What I said is not true," 'Kanu told him, "I was trying to.. motivate you."

"But you were right," Lo'ak said, "You even took my brother hunting already."

'Kanu rolled her eyes. He sure was great at complaining and whining, "Stop being like a baby."

Lo'ak perked up, "I'm not being a baby."

'Kanu smiled, "Yes you are," she teased, "I cannot do anything! I am useless! I suck!" She mocked him, laughing as she did.

Lo'ak cracked a smile as well, though he tried to conceal it, "I am not like that!"

'Kanu gave him a pointed look, "Are you sure?"

"Of course!" Lo'ak stood up and she did the same. He tried to act annoyed but 'Kanu could tell he was having fun.

'Kanu laughed and started walking toward the water. She stepped onto something warm and smooth, so she lifted her foot to see what it was. A flat, small rock. The gentle waves had shaped it to be smooth over the years and the sun had warmed it up. She smiled as she picked it up. "Look at this," she said to Lo'ak as he approached.

'Kanu drew back her hand before flinging the rock forward, watching as it skipped one, two, three times on the surface of the water. She turned her head to look at Lo'ak who stared at the water with widened eyes.

"Cool, isn't it?" 'Kanu laughed upon seeing his expression. Lo'ak nodded and immediately threw his gaze to the ground in search for a pebble of his own.

Lo'ak stood back up straight, a stone in his hand, "How do you do it?" 'Kanu took one glance at his pebble before shaking her head and searching for another rock. "What?" Lo'ak asked.

'Kanu smiled and looked at him, "It must be flat," she signed to him.

Lo'ak groaned, "Why with the finger talk?"

"Because you must learn," she teased him, still signing.

Lo'ak smiled sarcastically before lifting his hands to sign as well, "Fuck you."

'Kanu gaped at him, her eyes widened comically. Lo'ak laughed at her expression of shock and a moment later she laughed along with him. She nudged him and chuckled when he stumbled into the water. He hadn't fallen, but he still narrowed his eyes at her playfully before kicking the water at her, successfully splashing her wet.

"Okay, okay!" 'Kanu held her hand in front of her face to protect it from the rain. When Lo'ak stopped, she crouched down to pick up a rock, "This one," she told him, taking his hand and placing the stone in it. She took a pebble of her own. "This is how you hold it," she demonstrated.

Lo'ak seemed concentrated as he watched her. He attempted to mimic her actions. He nodded as she threw the rock toward the water - this time it skipped twice. "Use a lot of strength," 'Kanu told him, "Throw it as far as you can, from as low as you can."

Lo'ak bent to the side slightly before flinging the rock forward. He watched excitedly as the stone skipped three times on the surface of the water before it sunk, "Look at that!"

'Kanu clapped her hands, "You did well!"

"Who taught you this?" Lo'ak asked with a smile.

"Everyone here did this growing up. We would have competitions when I was smaller," 'Kanu smiled at the memories, "My brother taught me."

Lo'ak scoffed, "That jerk?"

"He is nice," 'Kanu told him.

"He doesn't give a great impression," Lo'ak said as he picked up another rock. 'Kanu sighed as they watched the pebble skip on the water. It was true - her brother had not shown great hospitality for the forest people.

₊˚.༄

Tuk ran up to 'Kanu, "'Kanu!" She said as she flung herself into the girls arms. Not expecting to be trusted with holding the girls entire weight, 'Kanu had fallen over into the sand. The fruits she had been carrying flew in the air and dropped randomly in all directions, sending the sand flying.

Tuk laughed as she looked up to meet 'Kanu's eyes. "You are lucky those fruits must be peeled," 'Kanu chuckled as she sat up straight, "What is it, Tuk?"

"Where can I find the fairy fish?"

'Kanu smiled at the nickname Tuk had given the creature. Last night 'Kanu had shown her the jellyfish-like animal and it seemed as though Tuk had brown a liking to them. "They can only be found when they are needed," she gently pulled her ear.

Tuk giggled and pulled her head away from her hand, "That's not true!"

'Kanu laughed. She was right, it was not true. But they had no need for them, therefore they should not go looking for them. 'Kanu was so distracted by Tuk that she barely heard her brother and his friends walking toward the beach. Tuk didn't seem to notice them either, because she scrambled to her feet and collected the fallen fruit into one pile beside 'Kanu. "I'll see you later!" Tuk said before running off.

'Kanu laughed as she gathered the fruit in her arms before getting up. Then she saw the group of Metkayina who were laughing at the water. 'Kanu squinted and could see Kiri laying peacefully there, looking at the sand. Her brother had not yet seen her, so she had the privilege of being an onlooker.

"What is she doing?"

"I don't know."

"She's just looking at the sand," her brother laughed. 'Kanu furrowed her brows.

Ao'nung and his friends laughed as Kiri rose from the water, "Huh? What did you say?" She asked them, getting to her feet.

"Are you some kind of.. freak?" Ao'nung asked with fake sincerity.

"He asked if you are a freak!" One of the boys repeated when Kiri did not reply immediately. 'Kanu watched as Wotxma laughed - she would give them both a scolding later. She didn't like to say that she was a tattletale - but when she could get her siblings into trouble, that's exactly what she was.

Kiri shook her head and started walking away, "No."

The boys followed her as she made her way out of the water, "Are you sure? I mean you're not even real Na'vi. Look at these hands," Ao'nung made a move to grab onto her hand as the others laughed, "I mean - look at them!" He had managed to grab Kiri's hand as the girl glared at him.

"Enough!" 'Kanu called as she approached them. Ao'nung rolled his eyes and let go of Kiri.

"What will you do, sister?" He taunted.

"Oh you just wait-" 'Kanu threateningly held up one of the fruits she was carrying, getting ready to fling it at her brother.

Both of Ao'nung's friends were still mocking and laughing at Kiri - it was then that Lo'ak walked over to them, "Hey! Back off fish lips," he said as he approached Ao'nung.

Ao'nung held onto his shoulders to keep a distance between them, "Oh - another four-fingered freak," he said sarcastically and laughed as the group of boys taunted him.

"Look at his little baby tail!" The curly haired boy laughed and held onto Lo'ak's tail. 'Kanu shook her head in disbelief.

Lo'ak turned to push the boy, "Don't touch me!" He turned back around and pushed Ao'nung as well.

"Leave us alone!" Kiri said.

The boy was being laughed at as the Metkayina formed a circle around him, all laughing and mocking him. One of the boys hand flew up to hold his own head as something hard collided with it, he turned back to see 'Kanu, already taking another fruit into her stronger hand - getting ready to throw it at one of the other boys.

"Ah, baby tail!" The others continued their taunting and laughing. 'Kanu spotted Neteyam walking toward them and suddenly she couldn't wait to see what would happen.

Neteyam came up from behind Ao'nung and harshly pushed him away from his brother. The was no humor on either his or Ao'nung's face, "You heard what she said," he said darkly, "Leave them alone," he pointed a finger at his chest.

"Ah.. big brother coming-" Wotxma was cut off when 'Kanu hit his shoulder. He looked down at her accusingly.

"Back off," Neteyam told Ao'nung, his finger pointed right in his face, "Now."

Ao'nung stared at Neteyam for a moment before reluctantly holding his palms up to show peace.

"Smart choice," Neteyam told him, "And from now on, I need you to respect my sister," he looked directly at him. 'Kanu gave her own brother a disgusted look, wordlessly telling him to be more like Neteyam.

Wotxma snarled at Neteyam, but Ao'nung pushed him back. Kiri stuck out her tongue at them. "Let's go," Neteyam told his siblings as he pushed Lo'ak behind him.

"Bye bye," Wotxma said sarcastically, waving at them.

The Sullys were going in peace when Ao'nung decided to speak, "Look at them. All freaks. The whole family."

Lo'ak stopped in his tracks. He sighed before slowly turning around to face them again. "Lo'ak," Neteyam said warningly. "I got this, bro," Lo'ak assured him.

'Kanu watched with interest as he walked back over to Ao'nung. "I know this hand is funny," he held up his five fingered hand, displaying his pinky - the extra finger that the others did not have. "Look - I'm a freak. Alien." The Metkayina boys laughed, "But it can do something really cool."

The Metkayina boys grinned and watched his hand. Even 'Kanu watched with interest, wondering what he would do.

"Watch," Lo'ak told them. He used his other hand to dramatically fold his fingers into a first, "First, I ball it up really tight, like this. Okay?" He asked, making sure they were still with him. Aonung remained where he stood, watching with interest at what Lo'ak was doing, "Then-" he never finished his sentence because he threw a punch at Aonung, hitting him square in the face.