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The Avatar, Master of all four elements

A Drop in the Sea - Chapter 3: Contemplation

Aonung x F!OC

The Metkayina and the Ta'unui reef clans have long had a close relationship. Ever since Aonung was born, the clans have come together every two years for a fortnight-long celebration. Following the attack on the Ta'unui by Quaritch and his men, tensions have been high between the two clans. In hopes of righting past wrongs, Tonowari invites the Ta'unui back to Awa'altu for the first time in four years. With the celebration comes the reunion of friends old and new.

It has been four years since Aonung has seen Payiva, the second daughter of Ta'unui's Olo'eyktan. They have known each other all of their lives, but things are different now. Aonung is eighteen years old and learning how to be a good leader. How will Payiva react to seeing him after all this time? Will they be able to rekindle their friendship, even as his clan harbors the man responsible for the attack on her own people?

CH1, CH2

Awa’altu was larger than Payiva remembered. As a child, she loved to spend her days running around the village and its surrounding biome. There was always something new for her to discover, a new place to hide from her mother. 

Now, all Payiva could do was compare Awa’altu to her own home, Seya’altu. The Ta’unui village had always been smaller, though never had it been more obvious to Payiva than it did now. 

“We just built a new section of maruis for this year’s celebration,” Tsireya was telling Pxe’ali and their mother. “Everything should be prepared for you already, but do not hesitate to let us know if you need anything.” 

Payiva resisted the urge to assure Tsireya that it did not matter if there was a hole in the ceiling, Ley would not be complaining about a single thing. It was not in Ley’s nature to complain to her hosts, it was much too rude for the Tsahik. Instead, she would air her grievances to her family, who had no choice but sit and listen.

The rest of the clan trailed behind them, waving and calling out to old friends as they passed. Payiva was happy to see them so joyous, the past few years had not been easy for her people. This celebration was a well-deserved reward for the Ta’unui. 

Behave, Payiva’s father had whispered into her ear after they dismounted their ilu. And be nice.

Payiva was not as politely demure as her sister, or entirely concerned about decorum, much to her mother’s dismay. She had a track record of being blunt in the most inappropriate of situations and an issue of not knowing when to hold her tongue. On more than one occasion, Ley had been heard saying that the Great Mother had blessed her with two daughters and thankfully, Pxe’ali was first. 

Payiva was not fit to be Tsahik, and everyone knew it. 

“Aonung was actually the one who made most of the maruis you will be staying in,” Payiva heard Tsireya say. 

Tsungetsa clapped the boy on the back, rattling on about the importance of an Olo’eyktan knowing craftsmanship. The scene almost made Payiva nauseous. Aonung was the son her father wished he had, and Tsungetsa was nothing if not obvious. Ley was no better. Payiva was certain she heard her mother coo something at Aonung as well. 

They treated Sreng, Pxe’ali’s mate, the same way. The young male had been chosen to become the next Olo’eyktan almost ten years ago, and Ley still treated him like he was an Eywa-given gift. It bothered Payiva more than she would like to admit - the amount of adoration her parents gave to Sreng over their own child, but it allowed her more freedom to do as she wished. 

Aonung’s back was to her, so Payiva took the opportunity to observe the boy while he was not staring at her like an ilu watching a fat fish. 

He had grown, both in height and in muscle definition. The last time they had seen each other, Payiva was the same height as Aonung, if not taller. She now only reached his shoulders, and he was likely to grow more. Payiva could not say why, but this annoyed her. 

She did not quite know what to think of him. They had been friends as children, such was the nature of being the children of clan leaders: you tended to gravitate toward one another. Aonung was never friendly by any means. Payiva actually remembered him being ornery and selfish, unused to not getting his way. But he would play games that Pxe’ali had long since grown out of, and that was all that really mattered. 

He was handsome, Payiva supposed, in the way that most Metkayina warriors were: tall, strong, and proud. Aonung had long curly hair like his sister, though his braids led back to a topknot, with half of the strands falling freely. Payiva rarely wore her hair unbraided - something that bothered her mother. While she liked the typical fashion with which Ta'unui women wore their hair, wearing her own hair like that annoyed her more often than not. Payiva could not understand how Aonung or the other Metkayina hunters dealt with their long tresses outside of the reef. 

Aonung glanced back over his shoulder at her, but Payiva quickly turned her gaze toward the village. The last time they had seen one another, Aonung practically overflowed with pride and arrogance. There had been times, between just the two of them, that he had been open - vulnerable even, but Payiva was not sure that she wanted to test those waters again. She most certainly did not want to add to what was likely an already overinflated ego.  

Tsireya led them to their maruis, which Aonung supposedly built by himself. Payiva would have to make sure the structure was sound before she could comfortably fall asleep tonight. 

Their party came to a stop. “We will let you settle in before the feast,” Tsireya said, her cheeks dimpling with a sweet smile. “Welcome back to Awa’altu.”

As the Metkayina siblings departed, Payiva did not gush over them as her parents did. She gave Tsireya a kind smile, but gave no such gesture to Aonung.

Truthfully, Payiva had no reason to ice the young man out. They had parted on good terms, but she did not know how to interact with Aonung anymore, and it was an awkwardness that Payiva did not appreciate. It felt like she was in unfamiliar territory. Being overly friendly with the next Olo’eyktan was not looked upon the same way at eighteen as it was when they were adolescents. 

Payiva had already squashed a number of rumors two years ago, when she became an adult, about her friendships with the young hunters in the clan. While she recognized the fact that she would likely end up mated to one of the young men eventually, Payiva did not intend for that to occur any sooner than necessary. 

Admittedly, the rumors were not helped by the fact that Payiva occasionally liked to experiment with one or two of the boys. 

Either way, Payiva was still deciding if resurrecting her friendship with Aonung was worth the potential hassle. She did not have as much patience for spoiled princes as once before.

Ley would have a field day if she heard that her youngest daughter was sweet on the Olo’eyktan’s son. Having not only one, but two daughters as Tsahik would be a dream come true for Payiva’s mother. Payiva’s ability to be a spiritual leader be damned.

The last thing that she wanted was to be shackled to such a position. Payiva had seen the life of a Tsahik through the eyes of her mother and sister, and it was not for her. Payiva lacked the patience for healing and the discipline for leadership. Even skills like weaving and cooking evaded her. 

Hunting, however? Payiva was born to hunt. She relished in the feeling of an early morning hunt, the cool waves beating against her skin as she cut through the water, and the silent moment right before catching her prey. Payiva did not care if she was using nets or spears, hunting was the one time she felt right.

There was no joy in killing the creatures, as Payiva once explained to Pxe’ali. It was more the thrill of being in the water and providing food for her clan. The knowledge that her people would not go hungry because of her handiwork was something that no one could take from Payiva. 

By no means could a Tsahik not be a warrior - Ronal was a prime example of such. But being Tsahik would always come first, and Payiva could never do that.

“Stop being so grumpy,” Pxe’ali whispered. “We are here. Let us enjoy the celebration.” 

Payiva took a deep breath in, then nodded. Being cordial and standoffish were two different things, and it would do her no good to be the latter. 

She put her things down in the marui before turning to her older sister. “I just hope our sister clan makes food as well as I remember.”

taglist:  @holysaladapricothero 

A Drop in the Sea - Chapter 2: Enamor

Aonung x F!OC

The Metkayina and the Ta'unui reef clans have long had a close relationship. Ever since Aonung was born, the clans have come together every two years for a fortnight-long celebration. Following the attack on the Ta'unui by Quaritch and his men, tensions have been high between the two clans. In hopes of righting past wrongs, Tonowari invites the Ta'unui back to Awa'altu for the first time in four years. With the celebration comes the reunion of friends old and new.

It has been four years since Aonung has seen Payiva, the second daughter of Ta'unui's Olo'eyktan. They have known each other all of their lives, but things are different now. Aonung is eighteen years old and learning how to be a good leader. How will Payiva react to seeing him after all this time? Will they be able to rekindle their friendship, even as his clan harbors the man responsible for the attack on her own people?

CH1

The Metkayina was a peaceful clan, and Tonowari has done much to ensure they stay that way. Part of that was keeping good relations with neighboring clans, primarily, the Ta’unui - one of the only other clans in the Eastern Sea. 

Both Tonowari and Tsungetsa respected each other as Olo’eyktans. Both men came into power at a young age, and it was Tonowari’s idea to bring the clans together periodically to retain a close relationship. Tsungetsa agreed, so every two years, the Metkayina and Ta’unui came together in a fortnight-long celebration.   

The last occasion was cancelled, due to the events involving the Sky People. Seya’altu, the village of the Ta’unui, was attacked by the demon Quaritch and his soldiers in their search for Jake Sully. Tsungetsa, honoring his word to Tonowari out of duty and respect for not only the Metkayina Olo’eyktan, but Toruk Makto, did not tell the humans where Jake Sully was. However, Tsungetsa did not take lightly to his clan or his mate being threatened. Seya’altu had been partially destroyed in the attack, and they had not felt fondly toward the Metkayina ever since. 

Therefore, this year’s celebration was crucial to rebuilding that connection between the clans. All of Awa’altu was in a tizzy, preparing for their guests. As an offer of peace and empathy, Tonowari insisted that the Metkayina host the celebration this year.

Aonung felt as if Ronal was practically breathing down his neck. Lo’ak and Neteyam had done a shit job building the maruis for the Ta’unui, and Aonung was blamed for it. It took him two days to tear everything down and build it back up again by himself. Blisters covered his palms by the end of it. Aonung named each one after Lo’ak, Neteyam, Rotxo, and his sister. He took carnal pleasure in popping each one, imagining that the blister was the Na’vi after which it was named. 

The nerves hit Aonung the night before the Ta’unui were set to arrive in Awa’altu. It was not a common emotion for the Olo’eyktan in training, and Aonung wished he could say that it was due to the responsibility Tonowari had been pushing onto him for the past week. No, it was not the fear that he would fail or embarrass his family in front of Tsungetsa. Nor was it worry over the importance of this specific celebration. The nerves stemmed from the fact that tomorrow Ta’unui would be here with his mate, his children. 

Aonung was almost sick to his stomach over a girl, and it drove him out of his mind. 

It only became worse the following morning, making him distracted. Lost in the memory of the last time the Ta’unui were in Awa’altu, Aonung did not hear when his name was called. That was, not until a fish hit him square in the face. 

Aonung hissed, swiping at the offending fish and baring his teeth at his attacker. 

“Lo’ak,” Kiri admonished. “Do not waste the food.” 

That morning, Ronal ordered her eldest children and the Sullys to move all the prepared food to the largest of the cooking maruis. The Tsahik did not want to appear disorganized in front of her guest, or worse: lacking in food. 

They were currently organizing the baskets they have gathered throughout the village. Cooking maruis were primarily circular to allow optimal space for preparation and storage. Baskets upon baskets were stacked against the walls in order of when their contents would be needed. The salted fish that Lo’ak threw at Aonung was intended for tonight’s welcome feast. It now lay limply on the reed floor at Aonung’s feet. 

Lo’ak was too busy laughing to listen to his sister. “Bro,” he wheezed. “You should have seen your face!” 

Aonung stepped forward, ready to pound the leaner boy into the ground. Lo’ak dodged behind Tsireya, causing Aonung to scowl. Coward. 

“We said your name like ten times, bro,” Neteyam said as he hauled another basket of fish onto a stack. He turned back to Anoung with a questioning look, wiping his hands on the outside of his thighs. “Could you not hear us?” 

“Do not mind Aonung,” advised Rotxo. The short-haired Metkayina boy brought in the last of the food baskets, placing it in front of Kiri with a sweet smile. Aonung barely resisted the urge to roll his eyes. “He is just nervous about seeing the Olo’eyktan’s daughter.” 

Now Aonung had to restrain his scowl as he glared daggers at his friend. “That is a lie.” 

No, it was not. 

“The Tsakarem?” Neteyam questioned, looking intrigued. “Is she not already betrothed?” 

“And like ten years older than us,” Lo’ak piped. He gave Aonung an impressed look. “I didn’t know you were into older women, bro.” 

Aonung swung his head to Lo’ak, mouth agape. “I am not! Pxe’ali is only six years older than me, not ten.” 

Kiri tilted her head, shooting a questioning glance to Rotxo, who had made himself comfortable at her side. “Are you not already the heir of the Metkayina, Aonung? Do you plan to be Olo’eyktan of both clans?” 

Aonung groaned in frustration.

Rotxo shook his head. “No, he-”

“I can speak for myself, Rotxo!” Aonung snapped. He turned to the others. “I do not see Pxe’ali that way at all.”

Rotxo decided to chime in again. “There are two sisters. Aonung had been enamored with Payiva since we were children.” 

“Rotxo!” Aonung was going to strangle him. 

“What?” Rotxo shrugged, unperturbed. “It is true.” 

“Rotxo, do not tease Aonung,” Tsireya said. Rotxo’s ears bent back at the admonishment. 

“I am not ‘enamored’ with anyone,” Aonung stated. “Least of all Payiva te Tsyika Ley’ite.” 

Lo’ak bent forward to whisper in Tsireya’s ear, though everyone could hear him. “The use of her full name suggests otherwise.” 

Before Aonung could pounce on Lo’ak, Tsireya be damned, a horn sounded in the distance. Aonung’s heart rate picked up at the noise. 

Tuk came racing into the marui, her braids bouncing as she went. “They’re here! The Ta’unui have arrived!” 

“Shit,” Aonung muttered. They were earlier than expected. “We need to get to the beach.” Ronal would scalp Aonung if he and Tsireya were late to welcome the visiting clan.

They swiftly left the cooking marui, practically sprinting across the tightly-woven nets that connected the village together. Most of Awa’altu was already waiting on the sand. The Ta’unui party had already crossed the reef barrier. Aonung shoved past the others, shouldering his way to the front of the group. 

Soon enough, he was standing at the front of the gathering crowd, next to his father. Tonowari glanced at Aonung from the side, only giving his son a nod in greeting. On the other side of the Olo’eyktan was Ronal. The Tsahik held Kawnu on her hip, though she stared stoically ahead. Tsireya joined shortly after that, completing their pseudo-family portrait. 

Just as the Ta’unui began dismounting their ilu and tsurak, Tonowari bent toward Aonung, whispering in his ear. “Do not cause problems, Aonung.” 

Aonung simply nodded, keeping his eyes downcast. He could not keep his toes from burying in the sand, however. 

The Ta’unui Olo’eyktan and Tsahik stepped onto the beach, their eldest daughter positioned next to her mother. Aonung could not help but make comparisons between their family and his own. 

The Metkayina and the Ta’unui had much in common due to their close proximity to each other. They shared the same turquoise skin and bright blue eyes, as well as their broader frames that were so unlike the Na’vi of the forests or planes. Both sea clans rode ilu and tsurak, displayed intricate tattoos as signs of honor and prestige, and - most of all - they both made sacred connections with the tulkun. 

Tsungetsa was just as tall as Tonowari, though perhaps not quite as wide. Rather than being bare-chested, Tsungetsa wore a shawl around his shoulders. The Olo’eyktan kept his hair braided and pulled back, which was common for the hunters of his clan - something that Aonung had found odd as a child. 

Ley was every bit the Tsahik that Aonung remembered the woman to be, if not a bit colder than the last time he had seen her. The Tsahik’s coral necklace clinked with every step she took. Unlike her mate, who stared straight ahead, Ley’s eyes were searching the crowd. Aonung saw the change on her face the moment she found Neteyam and Tuk in the crowd. The swirling ink on Ley’s brow rippled so severely that not even the string of shells across her forehead could disguise her glower. 

Aonung was reminded that it had not been easy to convince the Ta’unui to come for their celebration. He wondered how much of that resistance came from Tsungetsa or his mate.

Like her mother, Pxe’ali te Tsyika Ley’ite was regal and held her head high. Her disposition was much warmer, and if she saw the few Omatikaya in the crowd, she did not balk at them. The Tsakarem wore a net-like shawl woven with shells that matched the ones in her hair. While the Ta’unui had a different braiding style than the Metkayina, her hair was similar to that of Tsireya.

Pxe’ali had always been kind throughout their childhood, and beautiful in a delicate way. She and Tsireya got along well, both girls having trained closely under their mothers. Aonung had never been sure how to interact around the Tsakarem. As young children, Pxe’ali rarely wanted to play Aonung and Rotxo’s favorite games. Then, by the time he was ten or twelve, Aonung believed himself to be too cool to spend his time with girls. 

The last time their clans came together, a year before the Sullys arrived, hormones raged through Aonung’s body and he could hardly look at Pxe’ali, let alone interact with her. Now Aonung looked at the young woman, six years to his senior, and he felt nothing. 

Any and all anticipation that Aonung felt was due to someone else entirely. Somewhere in between ignoring and running away from Pxe’ali, Aonung became entangled with her younger sister. 

If Pxe’ali was a nice, cool breeze on a summer’s day, then Payiva was a hurricane coming to ruin everyone's plans. 

Aonung never intended to become friends with Payiva, it just happened. He did not know when exactly, or which of the celebratory years Payiva had cemented herself into Aonung’s life, but he suspected that she had forced his hand. Even when Aonung declared that girls were frilly and not worth his time, Payiva had thrown him to the ground and shoved sand into his face, showing Aonung just how frilly she was. 

After that, Aonung decided that Payiva was not a girl, not a real one anyway. Such mentality made it easy to disregard any pretty features Payiva may have developed by the time they were fourteen, when Aonung did everything he could to avoid her older sister. Payiva and Rotxo had teased him endlessly for it, which only served to cement the certainty in Aonung’s head that he did not have any of those odd feelings for Payiva. 

That was four years ago, however. Aonung was eighteen now, as was Payiva. Much had changed since the last time they saw each other. Aonung had changed, and he assumed that Payiva had too. Their lives were about more than games now. Despite what Rotxo told the others, Aonung was much more nervous to see his old friend than he was to see a pretty girl.

Regretfully, he should have been concerned about both. 

Payiva walked a step behind her parents and sister, hidden so that Aonung did not see her initially. That was good, he thought to himself, because if Aonung had seen Payiva approaching, he might have found somewhere else to be. Only one word came to his mind at the sight of her. 

Stunning.

The girl had always resembled her father most, if not in her features, than how she presented herself. Payiva walked like a warrior, exuding grace, though perhaps not intimidation. She was shorter than Aonung remembered, but then again, he had grown taller. Like Tsungetsa, Payiva’s hair was completely braided, though she let the long braids fall freely, almost reaching the small of her back. 

The youngest daughter of the Ta’unui Olo’eyktan and Tsahik was not as intricately decorated as her family members. The only thing that graced Payiva’s upper body was a simple shell necklace. It was not unlike what Metkayina women wore every day, Tsireya included, but standing next to her parents and sister, the choice almost felt too bold.

Payiva’s eyes, one of the deepest sets of blue irises that Aonung had ever seen, examined the crowd. It was not the searching look Ley had done earlier, with a target in mind. Nor did Payiva have the same open curiosity that her sister did. She just appeared to be taking the Metkayina in, assessing the situation. 

When her gaze landed on Aonung, he instantly stood taller. His back straightened on its own accord, shoulders pinned back and chest slightly puffing. 

Her eyes moved straight passed him.

Aonung blinked. 

Payiva hardly glanced at him. As if he was not worth the time. 

Annoyance quickly took over Aonung’s confusion. Even if they had not known each other their entire lives, Aonung was the next Olo’eyktan. He was worth more than a simple glance, especially from some rebellious second daughter without an official title. 

“I see you, Tsungetsa te Tsyìka Lì'itan,” Tonowari boomed, bringing his hand up to his forehead and then away toward the other Olo’eyktan in greeting. Ronal and the siblings copied the gesture. “I see you, Ley te Tsyika Pe'ite.”

“I see you, Tonowari, my friend,” Tsungetsa replied, foregoing the more formal usage of family names. It was a silent message to Tonowari that their grievances were to be put behind them. “I see you, Ronal.” 

Aonung did not dare glance at his mother to see what she thought of the informal greeting. He doubted that Ronal would allow her reactions to show on her face anyway.

Tonowari reached out and grasped Tsungetsa’s forearm. “We welcome you back to Awa’altu, old friend. It has been far too long.” 

A smile spread across the other man’s face. He returned Tonowari’s grip, slapping his hand on the other man’s shoulder. “That it has. Your family has grown!” 

All heads turned to Kawnu, whose head was resting on Ronal’s shoulder. 

Tonowari grinned. “Kawnu, greet the Olo’eyktan and Tsahik.” 

Kawnu pressed himself closer to Ronal’s chest but brought his hand to his head in greeting nonetheless. 

Tsungetsa laughed. “A bit scary am I, boy?” 

Aonung tried not to tense. Kawnu was a quiet child, and unused to meeting new people, let alone someone who held the same rank as their father. He was only three. 

Ley stepped forward, placing a gentle hand on her mate’s shoulder. “Leave the child be, Tsungetsa. He is only small, and you are quite large.” She turned to Ronal with a sweet smile. “You have birthed a beautiful child, Ronal. Though that is no surprise to me.” 

Ronal did not easily smile, but still, she dipped her head in thanks at the other Tsahik’s praise. “I have glad you can now meet him.” 

“As am I,” Ley agreed. The Tsahik then proceeded to fawn over how beautiful Tsireya had gotten over the past few years. Aonung held back the roll of his eyes. Typical. 

“Maybe we should settle our people before interrogating poor Tsireya, yawne,” Tsungetsa suggested. 

“Of course,” Ley sighed, returning to her eldest daughter’s side. 

The sisters stood quietly the entire time, Payiva looking more bored than anything else. Aonung’s hackles continued to rise at her blatant lack of decorum. 

“Aonung and Tsireya will show you to your maruis. Then, of course, we eat!” Tonowari announced. 

Aonung groaned internally. His father was always offering him up as a tour guide. Nevertheless, he dutifully moved to follow Tsireya, who was already making conversation with Ley and Pxe’ali. 

Before he passed Ronal, Aonung’s mother grabbed his arm and yanked him down. She whispered into his ear, “Tell the Omatikaya to keep their distance from Ley. She will not take kindly to them.” 

Gulping, Aonung nodded. He could only imagine how well Lo’ak and Kiri would take that advice. Aonung could only hope that Lo’ak would not try to push any buttons this week. Eywa knew that it would come back to bite Aonung in the ass. 

With every SJM book I read, the more confused I get when trying to keep track of characters.

The Hammer, Harpy, Hawke, Hind and all the rest of them got me needing a chart

the bond between a girl and their favorite fictional man is both an unstoppable force and an immovable object