Losing Game ~ Lo'ak Sully

    We've been flying for days, having to take breaks in between to give our ikrans a rest. The conditions haven't always been the best, but it has to be worth it to keep the Sully family safe. I may not necessarily be one of them but I do care for them and I don't want them to be in danger, so I persisted... for them. For Lo'ak, for Tuk, Kiri, Neteyam, Neytiri, and Jake. We flew through thundering rains and raging waters. We the waters finally calmed down and daylight emerged, I looked down at the ocean below me. Even I had to admit how beautiful it was.

    The sea clans are a world unto themselves.

    The creatures were completely gorgeous along with the environment they swam in.

Thousands of islands.

An unknown territory

into which we could just vanish

without a trace.

    I could tell we were all getting extremely tired, especially poor little Tuk. I looked over at Lo'ak to see that he was already missing home. I could tell by the look on his face. I send him a small smile to which he smiled back. I drift my ikran over slightly to bump his and laughed a little when he started to bump me back. This brightened up his mood and I was happy with my accomplishment.
    "Are we there yet?" Tuk asked for the millionth time and Neytiri told her the same answer every time she asked.
    "No, Tuktirey," she said so the the most emotionless voice. "We are not there yet." I could tell she was getting tired of the child's nagging but she would never let her know that so she sent me a small smile.
    "Hey, Tuk," I said trying to get her attention. "Wanna come over her and ride with me?" I smiled at her.
    "Yeah!" she exclaimed, getting excited. Neytiri and I flew our ikrans close together so Tuk could easily transfer over to sit in front of me. One she got situated we separated again.
    "Thank you," Neytiri mouthed to me. I gave her a nod and we continued our journey.

~

    After a couple more hours I saw islands in the distance and thought I should wake up Tuk, who had fell asleep on my shoulder. I shook her gently until she woke up and rubbed her eyes tiredly.
    "What is it?" She asked me. I pointed in front of us to the island and she started to get excited that we were finally about to land. As we flew over the other Na'vis, that I learned were known as the Metkayina Clan, we start letting out our calls, announcing our arrival. We flew closer to the shore and one of the Na'vis blew a horn to alert everyone on the island of Awa'atlu. We circled around the island trying to find a good place to land our ikrans. We spot a sand bank and safely descend down to the ground until we land.
    I hop of my ikran and pick up Tuk as well to set her on the ground. I pat Azra before grabbing my bow, looking over to see Neytiri do the same.
    "Hey," Jake warns. "Leave it." I huff but put my bow back against my better judgment. "On me" We start to walk with him.
    "Tuk," Neytiri calls for her ex tending her hand, which Tuk gladly takes. Jake holds out his arms showing he means no harm.
    "Be nice," he tells us.
    "Who are they?" Tuk whispers to Neytiri.
    "Be nice," Neytiri tells her. As we walk closer the all surround us and I feel myself inch closer to Lo'ak while he takes my hand in his. I see two boys come to the front of the crowd, one with a man bun walking like he owns the place. He eyes me up and down and I make a face of disgust. Lo'ak grip on my hand tightens and he pulls me closer as he clearly saw the same thing I did. But we all make the 'I see you' motion anyways because we're supposed to be 'being nice.'
    "Easy. Just be cool," Jake says when he sees Lo'ak stiffen up.
    "Look. What is that?" the boy with the curly hair asks to the one in the man bun. "Is that supposed to be a tail?" They laugh and I feel myself grit my teeth together. I look over and I see a girl start to emerge from the water. She gives us a welcoming smile before. "It's too small," the boy goes on. "How are they supposed to swim?" They continue to make fun of us.
    The girl rushes over to them before swatting at their pointing hands.
    "Do not. Roxto, Aonung," She scold the two boys. They have an annoyed look on their faces but stop nonetheless. She sighs before sending us another smile.
    These flying things start to head towards us. They have wings but are definitely not ikrans. They have Metkayina riders on them who are shouting to announce their arrival. They land them in the water before emerging to come over to the sand bank.

Toniwari was the chief of the Metkayina,

The reef people.

    "Olo'eyktan," Tonowari acknowledges Jake.
    He responds with, "I see you, Tonowari." They signal 'I see you' to one another.
    "Jake Sully," he gives a more informal greeting.

Jake knew him as a thought leader.

We all exchange the Na'vi greeting with him. He acknowledges us back with kindness.

But I knew it wasn't Tonowari

Jake was worried about.

    The Tsahik of the Metkayina Clan walked up to our group without a drop of emotion represented on her face.
    "I see you, Ronal," Jake exchanges the Na'vi greeting and we all do the same. "Tsahik of the Metkayina."
    "I see you, Ronal," Neytiri acknowledges.
    "Why do you come to us, Jake Sully?" Tonowari asks.
    "We seek uturu," Jake states.
    "Uturu?" Ronal exclaims.
    "Yes. sanctuary for my family," he responds with a pleasing look on his face. Lo'ak start to gently rub his thumb across the back of hand for reassurance.
    "We are Reef People," Tonowari reminds Jake. "You are Forest People. Your skills will mean nothing here."
    "Well, we will learn your ways. Am I right?" Jake says and looks at us to back him up.
    We all nod and Neytiri says, "Yes." Ronald starts walking around us and grabs Neytiri's tail. Neytiri is clearly not a fan. I can tell by the look in her eyes.
    "Their arms are thin," Ronal stated while grabbing Tuk's arm. Neytiri moves her away towards Jake as ronal continues to circle us. "Their tails..." she grabs ahold of my tail. Did this bitch really just? I look at her with disbelief. "Are weak. You will be slow in the water." She continues her way moving over to Kiri. She grabs both of her hands and holds them up in the air to show her five fingers. "These children are not even true Na'vi."
    "Dad," Kiri says looking over at him. "Yes, we are!" Ronal walks over and holds up Lo'ak's and I's conjoined hands, separating them to show them our fingers.
    "They have demon blood!" she exclaims. The whole clan gasps while Lo'ak and I look down in shame. When she walk away Lo'ak quickly rejoins our hands for some comfort.
    "Look. Look," Jake says while holding up his hand to show that he has five fingers as well as us. "Look, I was born of the Sky People, and now I am Na'vi. All right? You can adapt. We will adapt. Okay?" Jake pleads with them.
    "My husband was Toruk Makto," Neytiri reminds Ronal. I see Jake cringe at her bringing this up. "He led the clans to victory against the Sky People."
    "This you call victory?" Ronal asks. "Hiding amongst strangers?" Neytiri looks down knowing she made the wrong call. "It seems Eywa has turned her back on you, Chosen One." Neytiri hisses at her while Ronal reciprocates the gesture.
    "I apologize for my mate. She's..." Jake starts before he's interrupted by Neytiri.
    "Do not apologize for me," she tells him.
    "flown a long way, and she's exhausted," he continues anyway.
    "Jake," she warns while he gives her a look that says 'calm the fuck down.' Ronal walks back to Tonowari while he walks over to Jake and puts his hand and his shoulder.
    "Toruk Makto is a great war leader," Tonowari says to the clan. "All Na'vi people know his story. But we Metkayina... are not at war." Jake picks Tuk up while she rests her head on his shoulder. "We cannot let you bring your war here."
    "I'm done with war," Jake tells him. "Okay? I just want to keep my family safe.
    "Uturu has been asked," Neytiri says clearly running out of patience.
    "Do we have to go?" Tuk asks.
    Jake reassures her and says, "We'll be okay." Ronal and Tonowari look at each other and although they aren't saying anything I can tell they are having a conversation. Their eyes say it all. Ronal gives a swift nod and Tonowari turns to face the clan.
    "Toruk Makto and his family will stay with us," he finalizes. I turn to Lo'ak and give him a relieved smile which he reciprocates and squeezes my hand so i know we will be alright. Treat them as our brothers and sisters. Now 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." My head quickly spins in the direction of Tonowari and my smile vanishes.
    Lo'ak squeezes my hand again and give me a look which I know means he's saying 'calm the fuck down.' There something with the Sulky boys giving women those looks.
    "Okay, what do we say?" Jakes ask all of us. We all give our thanks while Kiri and I roll our eyes.
    "My son Aonung, our daughter, Tsireya, wills how your children what to do," Tonowari tells Jake.
    "Father, why do-" The boy starts but gets quickly interrupted by Tonowari.
    "It is decided," he states making his decision final.
    "Come. I will show you our village," the girl, Tsireya says as she smiles at us. I smile back at her as she's been the nicest here so far.