????? ?? ??? ??? || ??'?? ? ??????

I woke up to the bright morning sun, burning against my skin. I let out a yawn, followed by a stretch. "You are finally awake." I saw Rotxo standing in the frame of my pod. I stood up and made my way over to him. "Come the others are waiting for us. Well mainly you." I sighed. "Why?"

"Lo'ak is waiting to tell us what happened to him the other day. Come on." I frowned and started to remember what happened last night. "Why don't you go on without me. I have duties I need to attend to and I'm already behind." I nervously choked out. Rotxo gave me a skeptical look. "As do I. But we can wait till Lo'ak is done." Rotxo grabbed my wrist and pulled me out of my pod.

"Rotxo! Wait I do not wanna go! My duties are important, I must do them this very second." I shouted as I tried to get free from his grasp. "Y/n, there is no rush. It won't take long calm down." I was desperate to try and quickly get free. Unfortunately we got to the rocks before I could. He let go of my wrist and I stood up straight as I glared at him.

"Everything alright?" Neteyam asked. When I turned towards the rocks, I saw the others staring at Rot and I. I nodded my head and climbed up after Rotxo. I took a seat in between Kiri and Tuk. I could tell the others were confused, because usually when we gather at the rocks I sit between Tsireya and Lo'ak. 

"Oh brother, please do tell the story." Kiri cheered. Lo'ak began to recall his events from yesterday. The entire time I looked down at my fingers. Trying to keep it together until I could leave. I truly had no duties to do, but I can't stop hearing what Lo'ak said to me. There was still things that the Sully children needed to learn. But Tsireya, Rotxo and Ao'nung would have to teach them without me. I wasn't sure if I could risk bothering Lo'ak anymore.

I thought about why I felt so bad when I heard the way Lo'ak's father spoke to him last night. Why it hurt to hear him talk so badly about himself. Why it hurt when he told me I bothered him. I've only known him for less than a week. I mean, I was only trying to see if he was alright and I'm the one who gets yelled at.

My mind and emotions were all over the place. I felt someone tap my shoulder, it was Kiri. I looked at her and she gave me a questioning look. I gave her a small smile an returned to looking down. I promised myself I wouldn't say anything about what Lo'ak said. I didn't want to get him in trouble.

"I wish I'd been there. The ocean blessed you with a gift, brother." I looked over at Kiri, she had a big smile on her face. "The tulkun have not returned yet. And anyway, no tulkun is ever alone." Ao'nung bent over slightly, talking directly to Lo'ak. "Well, this one was. He had a missing fin. Like a stump. On the left side." My ears perked up, I felt the eyes of the others instantly land on me. "Poor tulkun." There was amount of silence. 

"What?" Neteyam asked. Tsireya got up and came over to me, pulling me to my feet. She dragged me to my correct spot between her and Lo'ak. "Would someone please explain what is happening." Neteyam shouted. "Payakan." I mumbled out. "What?" Lo'ak asked. "It's Payakan. He is still here you guys." A smile crept onto my face as I looked at Rotxo and Tsireya. 

"Who's Payakan?" Kiri asked. "A young bull who went rogue. He's outcast. Alone. And he has a missing fin." Rotxo explained. "They say he is a killer." As my sister spoke, I slowly became upset. "No, no." Lo'ak breathed out. "He killed Na'vi, and other tulkun. Not here, but far to the South." Ao'nung spoke softly. "He's no killer." Lo'ak and I both said at the same time.

I looked at him and we made eye contact. I quickly stopped looking at him. "Y/n. We've talked about this." Ao'nung said sharply. I nodded my head and stayed quiet. "Lo'ak, you are lucky to be alive." Tsireya gave him a serious look. "I'm telling you guys!" For a moment my mind went blank and I put my hand on Lo'ak's arm. Before I could take it away, he grabbed onto my wrist gently, but with a firm grip."He saved my life. He's my friend."