CHAPTER 22

       Erìhe and Neteyam had returned to the pod late last night - and to their surprise, neither Neytiri or Jake had said anything. Last time that they'd been out they almost could not hear the end of it.

And Jake still reminded Neteyam of it almost every day.

In the morning Norm and Max had arrived with their human technology. They hooked Kiri up into an IV and ran all sorts of tests, trying to find the problem.

After waking up, Erìhe had pretty much refused to go back into the pod - but she was also not even sure if she'd be allowed in. Anyways, she chose to not go until she'd heard news of Kiri.

It was around midday when Erìhe had heard that the Tsahik had gone over to help - and it was even later when she finally heard that Kiri was awake again.

She had not spared a second after hearing the news before running right back to the pod. "Kiri," Erìhe sighed a breath of relief as she saw the girl sitting peacefully by the fire. She really was okay. "Thank Eywa you're alright." Erìhe crouched down next to Kiri and wrapped her arms around her in an embrace.

Kiri nodded against her shoulder and Erìhe could tell that something was making her sad. Perhaps she had seen something saddening or unsettling while connected to the spirit tree. Erìhe knew that Kiri would not speak of it, so she did not ask.

Instead she leaned back and rubbed Kiri's shoulder while offering her a warm smile.

Neteyam sat with Lo'ak and Tuk in a far off corner of the pod. Tuk had been showing him her broken sturmbeest toy which he had broken - she was trying to make him guilty so that he would agree to making necklaces with her. So far it was working.

Neteyam held the broken off head of the wooden figurine, looking down at it sadly. He did feel bad about throwing it and breaking it - and he felt even worse now that he knew how much time Erìhe had put into making it. She was still working on the direhorse that she had promised Tuk she would make. Neteyam saw her carving it almost every evening after dark.

The now familiar horn sounded and everyone was immediately alerted. Tuk ran straight out of the pod with Jake by her heels as they both went to see what was going on.

Erìhe glanced at Lo'ak before following the two outside.

"What was that?" Tuk asked her father.

As Erìhe stepped out of the pod, she could see the Metkayina jumping into the water. There was a certain buzz in the atmosphere which made Erìhe believe that whatever was happing was a good thing.

Then Tsireya swam into their view, "The tulkun have returned!" She announced, "Everybody! Our brothers and sisters have returned!"

Lo'ak grinned widely before running down the path, jumping into the water as he neared the place where Tsireya was. The last thing Erìhe saw of them was him holding onto Tsireya as the two left to greet the tulkun.

With a bright smile, Erìhe ran back into the pod to fetch Neteyam, "Come!" She said as she stood before him.

Neteyam set down the wooden figurine and looked up at her - he quickly found himself unable to meet her eyes. Since yesterday he had realized that he got flustered every time he locked eyes with her - and he hated it. "What happened?" he asked, not making a move to stand up.

Erìhe rolled her eyes and leaned down to tug at his hand, "You'll want to see this," she assured him with a grin, "Hurry up!" She ushered when he took his sweet time getting to his feet. Her hand around his arm had distracted him and it had caused him to be frustratingly slow.

Erìhe had to essentially drag him all the way out to the path and then proceed to push him into the water. She did not have to do the last part - but she had wanted to.

Jake and Neytiri had watched the two with matching smiles and knowing looks. Their son could not hide his feelings from them.

Even if Neteyam had only realized his feelings the day before, his parents had seen this coming from way back.

"Dude!" Neteyam blinked the water out of his eyes when he resurfaced, shaking his head and causing water to fall out of his hair.

Erìhe laughed at him before clicking her tongue, calling an ilu. "Let's go meet the tulkun," she grinned before crossing her arms over her chest and stepping over the path, letting herself fall into the water.

Neteyam laughed as he swam closer. He could have called his own ilu, but quite frankly he would much rather share one with Erìhe.

Tuk watched her brother and Erìhe being friendly with one another with a wide smile on her face. Then she turned around and ran right back into the pod, her tail swishing from side to side as she marched over to her sister. "Kiri! Kiri, come on!" She called, pulling her to her feet. "Come on!"

"Tuk, leave me alone," Kiri protested, but gave in when Tuk pulled on her arm. "What do you want?" She asked as they walked out of the pod.

"Look!" Tuk skipped on the spot a little as she tugged Kiri's hand. She lifted a hand to point at Erìhe and Neteyam - who by now had gotten into a fight and were splashing water at each other. "They are getting along!"

"Get away from me!" Erìhe yelled at Neteyam just then.

Kiri frowned and tilted her head, looking down at Tuk who was still grinning. "That does not seem like they are getting along," she stated.

Tuk rolled her eyes and looked up at her sister, "Kiri - do you know nothing?" She shook her head, "Seriously."

Rotxo swam up to them on his ilu just then, stopping before them, "Kiri! Tuk, let's go! The tulkun have returned!"

Kiri's eyes widened and she looked at Tuk. Tuk only giggled, "Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you!" She laughed before jumping into the water to join Rotxo.

Meanwhile Erìhe was doing her best to convince Neteyam to get his own ilu. "Just get your own, dude."

Neteyam rolled his eyes, "If you hadn't made such a fuss, we'd be there already!"

Erìhe thought it over before sighing. She had no clue what his deal was, but she was no longer bothered. "Whatever," she said as Neteyam slid behind her onto the ilu's back. "Just mind where you place your hands," she joked, making him flush.

Neteyam tried hard to conceal the way his hands shook slightly as he carefully placed them around her waist. He was relieved when Erìhe took off, speeding across the waters and seemed to not notice his unsteadiness.

"Erìhe!"

Erìhe and Neteyam turned their heads simultaneously toward the person who had called for her. There they saw Riik'o, Níawi and Aluva swimming closer to catch up with them. Níawi and Riik'o shared an ilu whereas Aluva swam alone beside them.

"Come meet my spirit sister!" Aluva waved her hand, beckoning for Erìhe to follow her.

Erìhe laughed as she willed the ilu to turn and follow behind her friend, "Alright!" They had to yell as the splashes, cheers and whistles from the tulkun and villagers were simply so loud.

Riik'o and Níawi waved them goodbye as their paths became separate.

Aluva glanced over her shoulder, smiling as she saw the two of them following. She returned under the water, weaving around the tulkun that took up much space.

Erìhe and Neteyam watched in awe as the tulkun did tricks, swimming around their friends and having conversation with them. Neither of the Omaticaya had any clue as to what words were being thrown around by the tulkun, but it sounded like animated storytelling. Erìhe adored the relationship that the Metkayina had with these majestic animals - it was beyond anything that she had ever seen.

Following Aluva, the three of them arrived in front of a tulkun who was just as large as the rest of them. Aluva turned to look at the boy and girl behind her as she lifted her hands to sign, "This is my spirit sister."

Erìhe disconnected her queue and allowed the ilu to disperse as her and Neteyam floated in the water, admiring the tulkun. In the time that they had spent here, Erìhe had learned their sign language well. "She is beautiful."

Aluva smiled as they heard the tulkun humm in response. She signed again, "She says that you are as well."

Erìhe grinned, glancing over at Neteyam who was watching her. He smiled at her too, happy to see her so excited over communicating with the animal.

-
A/n:
Let me stress that this shit is slow burn-
Like first kiss in chapter 32 type of slow burn

But dw - once I've written this fic I'll start publishing way more than one chapter a day so it doesn't feel like that long.

Also the longer is stare at my painting at the beginning the more I hate it LMAO tell me it looks like our husband please