CHAPTER 7

A woman walked through the crowd of onlooking villagers and warriors. Something about the way she carried herself told Erìhe that she should be on her best behavior around this woman.

"I see you, Ronal. Tsahik of the Metkayina," Jake greeted her. Erìhe had guessed that she was the Tsahik by the way she was dressed and by how she walked over to stand beside the Olo'eyktan.

"I see you, Ronal," Neytiri repeated, making the woman look from Jake to her. The Tsahik seemed beyond confused and wary about the fact that they stood before her.

Tonowari extended an arm toward Jake, "Why do you come to us?" He asked.

Jake glanced back at his family and Erìhe. "We seek Ukturu," he said as he opened his arms wide.

"Ukturu?" Ronal repeated and glanced at her husband.

"A sanctuary for my family," Jake continued.

The Tsahik turned her eyes back on him before walking forward, toward them.

"We are reef people," The Olo'eyktan said as his wife moved through the Omaticaya, "You are forest people. Your skills will be nothing here."

"We'll learn your ways," Jake said.

Erìhe watched out of the corner of her eye as the Tsahik approached. She quite scared her. Erìhe saw as Neteyam smirked, his eyes on her - as if he knew she was nervous. Erìhe reached out to hit his arm, but he only chuckled silently and withdrew his hand out of her reach.

Ronal held onto Neytiri's tail, inspecting it. This caused her to turn around and look at the Tsahik. Then, the leader held Tuk's hand, "Their arms are thin," she proclaimed before letting go and moving forward.

Tuk stepped away from the Tsahik, closer to Neytiri, "Mom," she said and Neytiri held her closer.

"Their tails-" Ronal held Erìhe's tail, showing it to the entire tribe, "-are weak," she said as she let go.

Erìhe furrowed her eyebrows accusingly and stepped away, her eyes focused on the sand. She did not want to glare at the Tsahik.

"You will be slow in the water," Ronal told them and then moved on to hold both of Kiri's hands. "These children-" she lifted her hands up, "-are not even true Na'vi!"

Erìhe looked around as she heard the people gasp. Jake and Neytiri shared a look.

"Yes, we are," Kiri told the Tsahik, pulling her hands back.

Ronal let go of her and walked back over to where Erìhe stood beside Lo'ak and Neteyam. She had let Kiri be just to humiliate Lo'ak instead. She held his hand up, "They have demon blood!" She announced as she spread his fingers to show everyone.

More shocked gasps could be heard.

Erìhe stepped forward to say something but she was held back by Neteyam holding onto her arm. When she looked over at him, he merely shook his head the slightest bit.

"Look," Jake said and held up his own hand, "Look!" He showed everyone his fingers, "Look, I was born with the sky people and now I am Na'vi. Alright - you can adapt." he turned around to face the chief. "We will adapt. Okay?"

Neytiri stepped from behind Jake to look at Ronal, who had walked back to stand beside the Olo'eyktan, "My husband was Toruk Makto," she told her. Jake grimaced - as if he had hoped that she would not mention it. "He lead the clans to victory against the skypeople." She turned her eyes to the chief. Tonowari merely inclined his head as a nod.

"This you call victory?" Ronal asked, "Hiding among strangers." Neytiri looked down at this and Ronal took a step closer to her before looking back at Jake. "It seems Eywa has turned her back on you, chosen one."

Neytiri snarled, the Tsahik had gotten the better of her. Ronal was not phased - she merely growled back at her. The two men seemed at a loss for words as the women glared daggers at each other.

Finally Jake spoke, getting in between the women, "I apologize for my mate. She's-"

"Do not apologize for me," Neytiri told him.

"-flown a long way and she's exhausted," Jake went on.

"Jake," Neytiri hissed. When Jake only raised his brows, she stepped back - annoyance evident in her eyes.

Both of the women backed off, standing beside their husbands. When Ronal reached him, Tonowari stepped forward to place a hand on Jake's shoulder, "Toruk Makto is a Great War leader," he said as he looked around at his people, "All Na'vi people know his story." He let go of Jake and held his arms out. "But we, Metkayina, are not at war. We cannot let you bring your war here." He told them and watched as Jake picked up little Tuk who was tired from the journey.

Erìhe shifted her weight anxiously, nervous that they would have to leave again.

"I'm done with war," Jake said, "Okay? I just - want to keep my family safe," he told them. Erìhe saw as the Olo'eyktan and Tsahik looked at her. They must have known she was not one of his children.

Ronal and Tonowari looked away from them again to look into each other's eyes.

"Ukturu has been asked," Neytiri said as she held Kiri's hand from over her shoulder.

"Will we have to go?" Tuk asked as she buried her head in the crook of her father's neck.

Jake held her head, "It will be okay," he assured her.

The chief looked down at his wife and they seemed to be having a conversation without words. The intense eye contact was broken when the Tsahik finally gave the smallest nod. The Olo'eyktan turned to his people, "Toruk Makto and his family will stay with us."

Erìhe looked up, her eyes filled with hope.

"Treat them as our brothers and sisters," Tonowari said, "They do not know the sea - so they will be like babies, taking their first breath. Teach them our ways so they do not suffer the shame of being useless," he turned back to them.

Jake let out a breath of relief before turning back to his family and Erìhe, "What do we say?"

Tuk smiled up at the chief, "Thank you." Jake and the rest repeated this.

"Thank you," Erìhe grinned.

"My son, Ao'nung - my daughter, Tsireya will show your children what to do," Tonowari said, pointing to one of the boys who had made fun of them upon their arrival, and the girl who had caught Lo'ak's eye.

Tsireya smiled at the group whereas her brother turned to his father, "Father - why do I-"

The chief cut him off, "It is decided."

Erìhe chuckled silently at the boy. He noticed and shot her a glare, but her smile did not slip. It was Neteyam who had to make her look away. He did it by placing a hand on her shoulder and shaking his head. She merely scoffed and shook his hand off.

Tsireya stepped past her brother, "Come," she said with a smile, "I will show you our village."

Erìhe smiled and was the first to follow her. Tsireya seemed like a nice girl.

₊˚.༄

       Tsireya had shown them their way through the village to their new marui pod. Erìhe had asked where she'd be staying, but Neytiri would not even hear it. She told her she'd be staying with them, and she did not accept no for an answer.

Tsireya was warm and welcoming - she had even helped them carry their belongings to their new home. Erìhe quickly found herself liking the girl, and she knew that Lo'ak did too. She would never stop teasing him for it, even though she could not blame him for being interested.

"This is for you," Tsireya said when they finally arrived at the opening of a vacant marui pod. She set a basket that she had been carrying on the floor as she allowed the others to pass her. "Your new home."

Jake led the way in, "Yeah, this'll work," he said, "This is great! This is nice, right?" He asked the others and turned to look at them.

Erìhe smiled as she took in the place. It was beyond nice.

When Neytiri dropped the mattress she had been carrying, Erìhe could easily tell that she was not happy. Everyone knew that she was thankful - but she missed her home. She missed her people.

Tuk smiled as she set down her broken sturmbeest toy and glanced up at Erìhe, who walked over to ruffle her hair. Tuk giggled as she playfully swatted her hands away, "You'll live with us from now on!"

"Mhm," Erìhe hummed and grinned. Neteyam rolling his eyes did not go unnoticed by her, but she decided that she would not comment.

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A/n:
My school starts on Monday, so I'll be going back to updating a chapter around 5-6pm (EET)!