CHAPTER 8

       'Kanu had been surprised when Lo'ak punched her brother. She - along with her brother -  had fully expected him to show a magic trick. Soon the whole situation became funny when Lo'ak punched him again and again - three times until Ao'nung fell on his back in the sand. 'Kanu covered her mouth with her hand as she tried containing her laughter. The fruits lay forgotten in the sand.

"It's called a punch, bitch!" Lo'ak told him as Ao'nung looked up at him in disbelief, "Don't ever touch my sister again!"

Ao'nung was helped back up by his friends and he snarled, charging at Lo'ak and pushing him to the sand. He landed on top of him and lifted his hand to punch him. Lo'ak was smaller than him, but he wasn't weak. 'Kanu watched as Lo'ak flipped them over, landing another punch on his jaw.

Ao'nung's friends pulled Lo'ak off of him by his tail. It was four against one - not very fair. 'Kanu grimaced as Wotxma turned around, hitting Lo'ak across the face with his tail. Lo'ak fell to the ground with a groan and 'Kanu turned to look at Neteyam, who chuckled and scratched his neck before joining the fight.

First he gave Wotxma a nice punch to the jaw before kneeing the other in the stomach. Soon the whole bunch of boys were rolling around in the sand, trying to land punches wherever they could.

"Stop it," Kiri said, though her voice could barely be heard over their grunts and the splashes of water. "You look stupid!"

By now 'Kanu was laughing at the sight before her. Ao'nung and one of the boys tried pulling Lo'ak off of Wotxma by his tail as he fought with him. "Pull him off!" They said.

"Ow my tail!" Lo'ak yelled as he fought to keep a grip on Wotxma.

"My ear!" Wotxma howled as Lo'ak dragged him along by his ear, "Let go!"

'Kanu covered her mouth with her hand as she fought to nor laugh.

"That's my ear!"

Though she could have watched this go on for ages, 'Kanu knew that the boys all had families to get back to so they could get scolded. "Alright," she said, walking over to them and clapping her hands to get their attention, "That's enough. Let's go."

When no one payed her any mind, she grabbed her brother by his ear and pulled on it so that he would turn to look at her. Ao'nung yelled and got ready to hit whoever had taken a hold on him but his eyes widened when he saw his own little sister. In all honestly, he forgotten she was there. 'Kanu gave her brother a pointed look and jerked her head toward Lo'ak. Ao'nung understood this and let go of Lo'ak's tail, allowing it to fall limply to the ground.

Ao'nung then stepped back and and pulled himself free from his sisters grip, "That hurt."

"It was supposed to," 'Kanu shrugged. Then she looked back at the others and sighed when Lo'ak had just gone right back to hit and scratch Wotxma again. "Call your friends off," she hit his hand.

"They are the ones hurting our friends!" Ao'nung pointed at Wotxma getting his ass handed to him.

'Kanu crossed her arms and glared at him. Ao'nung groaned and rolled his eyes before stepping forward and pulling his friend away from the forest boys. "Don't touch me!" The boy growled, swatting his hand away. Then he glanced at Ao'nung and immediately let go of Lo'ak's tail, "Sorry, Ao'nung. I thought you were one of them."

By then Wotxma had stopped putting up a fight and Lo'ak got off of him, stumbling to his feet. Lo'ak looked at Neteyam before holding his hands above his head, cheering, "We won, brother!"

"I have never seen something so childish!" 'Kanu told them as the boys all stood up. This wiped Lo'ak's smile off his face. Actually - she'd found it hilarious, but they didn't need to know that, "Go right home to your parents!"

"She sounds like her older sister," one of the Metkayina said. 'Kanu wasn't bothered to turn her head and find out who it was.

She turned around to walk away. When she did so and met Kiri's eyes, she smiled and winked so that the others couldn't see. Kiri chuckled as she watched 'Kanu walk past. Ao'nung jogged to catch up with his sister, "You are not going to tell mother, right?"

'Kanu cast him a look, "How else shall you explain your bruises?" She shoved his head back. Ao'nung hissed as her hand made contact with a forming bruise. "So disappointing.. you look worse than either of them - and you had more people on your side."

Ao'nung glared at her, not happy to hear this.

The two of them made their way into the village ahead of the rest. 'Kanu had to practically drag him into their home as he'd been scared to face their mother.

"Ao'nung!" Tsireya said the moment they stepped foot inside their home, alerting their parents, "What has happened to you?" She hurried up to her brother to inspect his injuries. Then she turned to 'Kanu, who had just let go of his arm which she had used to drag him there, "Did you do this to him?" When they were little 'Kanu and Ao'nung would always get into petty fights and Ao'nung would always look worse coming out of them. He didn't want to hurt his little sister after all.

'Kanu scoffed, "He did this to himself. Picking fights - what are you? Ten?" She looked at her brother.

Ao'nung snarled at her insults but fell silent when their parents walked over to them. He looked down at the ground, not wishing to meet their eyes.

"Is this true?" Their father asked, looking from 'Kanu to his son, "Who did you fight with?"

Ronal had concern in her eyes as she held her sons hand, inspecting his bloody knuckles.

When Ao'nung did nothing but continue his staring contest with the ground, 'Kanu spoke up, "Neteyam and Lo'ak."

Their father's concerned expression was immediately replaced with anger, "Why would you fight them?" He demanded.

"Lo'ak - that freak - punched me first!"

"After you provoked him by making fun of his sister!" 'Kanu said. Ao'nung looked like he could have lunged for her.

Their mothers nostrils flared, "Ao'nung, is that correct?"

Ao'nung opened his mouth - presumably to deny it - but then he looked down again and nodded slowly.

Tsireya sighed in disbelief as their parents looked at him furiously.

"You are supposed to teach them!" The Olo'eyktan said, disappointment evident on his features. "Why are you going around making fun of them?"

"Because-"

"Because they're different?" 'Kanu challenged him.

Ao'nung looked disappointed in himself. To this day, he'd always acted first and came to regret his decisions after - though usually only once he'd get told off by their parents.

"You have disappointed me, Ao'nung," Ronal said slowly, "If this happens once more - there will be consequences."

Ao'nung hung his head but nodded.

Their father looked like he wasn't going to let him off that easily, but Tsireya spoke up, "Father, he is bleeding."

Tonowari looked down at his son, "Get cleaned up," he said sternly, "And you shall apologize to their entire family."

Ao'nung nodded, "Yes, sir."

Their father walked toward the exit of their home before he turned back around, "Make sure he does this," he told 'Kanu and Tsireya, who nodded in response.

When their father left, Ao'nung sighed and turned to his mother.

"What are you looking at?" Ronal asked him, "Do as told. Wash yourself."

Despite how she had acted, 'Kanu didn't enjoy seeing her siblings getting scolded. When their mother turned around and walked to the exit, Kanu placed a hand on her brothers shoulder, "I am sorry, Ao'nung."

Ao'nung shook her grip loose before turning and leaving as well.

Tsireya saw this interaction and walked over to wrap an arm around 'Kanu who had been standing as she watched her brother walk off, "He loves you," Tsireya told her, "He just has a temper."

'Kanu rolled her eyes and left her sisters embrace, leaving her behind in their home as she walked outside. She could see Ao'nung walking down the path, so she turned in the opposite direction and walked on.

The people she wanted to see least right then were her friends who had helped Ao'nung with mocking the Sully's - but as she passed by the Sullys pod and saw them getting scolded by their father, she walked past. She would find Wotxma and demand to know what the hell had been going on in his head.

She found her best friend by the shallow waters where the fight had happened. Knowing him, he surely had not told his parents what had happened yet. Beside Wotxma was Rotxo - also washing himself with the cool water. 'Kanu payed him no mind.

"Wotxma!" She called out. This time it was not an excited, happy way of calling his name. Wotxma seemed to shrink as he saw her approaching him, fury in her eyes.

"'Kanu," Wotxma said slowly, splashing water on his face.

"What in the name of Eywa was that?" 'Kanu demanded. She came to a stop in front of him.

"You know how your brother is-" Wotxma sighed and started to explain himself.

"Don't you dare blame this all on my brother," 'Kanu narrowed her eyes, pointing an accusing finger at his chest. She was well aware that Ao'nung had played part in the fight, but he wasn't the only one to blame. Rotxo seemed like he was a millisecond away from diving under the waves to get away.

Wotxma said nothing as he held his hands up - as if to ask what he should have done then.

"They are just like us."

Wotxma scoffed, "I know that," he said, "We were bored and that freak was doing weird stuff."

"You mean minding her own business?" 'Kanu challenged.

Wotxma looked done with the conversation. He started walking out of the water, passing her by, "You are right," he told her, "I will apologize to them." 'Kanu had known him long enough to know that he was too proud to do so. "Come, Rotxo. Let's go apologize to these forest people."

Rotxo looked back at 'Kanu before hurrying to catch up with their friend, "I'm sorry, 'Kanu," he said, desperate to not be hated by the girl. 'Kanu was about to yell at him that it was not her he should apologize to. But he was already gone.