oli. an ilu and fights to protect
╰ avatar: the way of water

"You can bond with this Ilu, her name is Bela."

Neteyam stilled, unsure as what to do. Bonding with a direhorse was much different than bonding with an Ikran, what made the water creature so much different? How was he supposed to mount the water creature without sliding off its body? He bent his knees, reaching out softly and placing his hand on the top of the Ilu's head. "Hello, Bela."

The creature moved away from Neteyams hand, choosing to swim around him in circles for a few seconds before it's head emerged and the Ilu smiled in its own way, flashing its teeth and looking up at Neteyam with big eyes.

"Mount her." Ao'nung stated quietly, pressing his warm hands against Neteyams shoulder.

Feeling the hand against his skin, he felt almost calmer and a wave of reassurance filled his body. Neteyams swung one leg over the creature, finding its skin to be awfully slippery. He's happy that Ao'nung had been so quick to help keep in steady him as he situated himself on the creature. He gripped the saddle handle that was placed on the ilu, his hand fitting almost perfectly.

"You must hold on tight, or you will not succeed." Ao'nung moved his hand away from Neteyams arm, placing it on the hand that was wrapped around the saddle handle. He closed his fingers around the forest boys, feeling the others muscles in his fingers.  "Breathe, and tighten your grip, Neteyam."

Neteyam did as told, tightening his grip. "Now what?" He looked up, fascinated by the pair of eyes he looked into. They held a soft colour, specs of green hidden among the blue.

"Make the bond." Ao'nung gently grasped the ilus queue, holding it in his palm for Neteyam to take. He nodded, reaching behind him and holding his own queue in his hand. The creature and Neteyam connected; becoming one. "Now tell them to go, use your voice. Do not think, Neteyam."

"Forward." And the Ilu swam forward, diving underneath the water with a small splash. Neteyam gasped at the actions, having not been prepared for what happened.

🌍

As Neteyam rushed off to find his siblings and cousins so he could tell them all about his ride on the ilu — it's been a little bit since, he had to tell his parents first — he unfortunately stumbled into a sight he wish he hadn't — or soon to be a sight the other would wish he hadn't stumbled upon.

In front of him was Ao'nung and his posse harassing his younger sister, Kiri. They were grabbing at her hands, teasingly chuckling at the girl. Neteyam clenched his jaw the moment he took a step towards them, his tail swaying angrily behind his. "Hey!" He yelled, catching the attention of the teenagers, "Back off."

Ao'nung raised his brows at the boy that stood in front of him, Neteyams glare staring right back at him. Ao'nung heard his friends laughing in the back, yet his attention was set on Neteyam. "Oh, another jungle freak." Ao'nung grasped Neteyams hand, unclutching the first he held and showcasing his palm where there were visible veins, "You have demon blood. You're not even true Na'vi."

Neteyam's glare was harsh, his eyes practically drilling holes into Ao'nung's head. Before He could speak up and defend hisself, a familiar voice called out to them. Inkire, who was much older and much more feisty. "Hey! Back off, fish lips!" The Sully girl turned his gaze away from Neteyam, having it on herself.

Ao'nung released Neteyam's hand from his hold, moving his line of sight to Inkire and Lo'ak, "oh, another four-fingered freak, and the abandoned child."

Oh that was definitely a line he shouldn't have crossed. Neteyams wasn't sure how Ao'nung had learnt that Inkire had become an orphan because of the war. Neteyam clenched his fists by his side as Ao'nung's friends grabbed Lo'ak's tail, continuing to make comments. Neteyam went to step forward, but Kiri grasped his forearm, knowing that the older boy would do anything to protect his younger sisters and cousins. She didn't want to risk the chance of Neteyam getting into something he couldn't get out of.

"Leave us alone!" Kiri yelled as Lo'ak fought against the hands that gripped his tail, pushing him from side to side in the circle they had formed around him. Neteyam shook his arm out of Kiris grasp, advancing towards the boys hassling his cousin. He pulled Ao'nung away from Lo'ak and Inkire.

Neteyam met with Ao'nung's eyes, a glare displayed on his face, "You heard what she said. Leave them alone," The air around them all grew more intense by the second. Neteyam held a finger to Ao'nung's chest, in a threatening way. "Back off, now."

Ao'nung thought for a moment before he lifted his hands in the air in a mock surrendering gesture. The boy glanced behind Neteyam, looking at the forest people that he was just harassing with a smirk still plastered on his face. Neteyam rolled his eyes at the Metkayina child, snarling and flashing his teeth.

"Boys." Inkire broke off the scene between Ao'nung and Neteyam, pushing them both away from each other. And I'm doing so, diverting their attention back to her, "And from now on, I need you to respect my family," She said, her glare leaving no room for arguing.

The friend, who stood closest to Ao'nung, hissed at the girl who was not going to tolerate any bullshit they had to offer. She hissed back, her teeth flashing and eyes narrowed. They all seemed to back off at her actions, which caused her to wrap her arms around Kiri and Lo'ak and start to turn away.

Neteyam stood there, anger filling his body to the top as he listened to them whisper things about his family. He wouldn't do anything, no. He couldn't listen to his uncle yell at him for not being responsible and for starting something that shouldn't have been started. He wiggled his way in between Inkire and Lo'ak, resting his arms around their shoulders.

Lo'ak hadn't been able to contain his anger unlike his cousin. He could feel the practical venom flowing through his veins which was just begging him to stop and turn around. He did so, turning around and stepping towards the group of reef Na'vis. He wouldn't tell anyone, not even his older sister, but the words he heard them say caused a pain in his heart.

"Lo'ak, what are you doing?" Neteyam questioned as he turned around, his arm dropping from Inkires shoulder.

"I got this, bro," Lo'ak held his hand up and outwards, showcasing his four fingers to Ao'nung. "I know this hand is funny. Look, I'm a freak. Alien. But it can do something really cool. Watch. First, I ball it real tight like this. Okay? And then—" Lo'ak threw his fist right into the side of Ao'nungs face. He threw two more punches before anyone else reacted. Ao'nung dropped to the ground, staring up at Lo'ak in disbelief and shock. "It's called a punch, bitch! Don't ever touch my family again."

Neteyam smiled, he couldn't help the raise of his lips at the sight of the Metkayina boy getting his ass kicked. His features dropped and his feet moved quickly against the sand as he watched Ao'nung get off the ground and throw himself at Lo'ak.

Neteyam pulled on the tail of one of the boys holding Lo'ak and was quick to duck when he realised the sudden fist coming his way — right towards his face. Neteyam pushed, shoved, kicked and did everything in his power to take the heat off his cousin and onto him. He would rather them push him around, beat him, instead of Lo'ak who didn't deserve it even though he started it. ( okay maybe he did deserve it just a little ... ) Neteyam snarled, his head pounding from where someone had not so kindly hit him. He felt the smallest dribble of blood drip down his forehead and down his cheek.

Oh, his mother would be so pissed.

Kiri stepped forward, yelling out for the boys to stop but instead someone was almost pushed into her. If it wasn't for Inkire, who slightly tugged her out of the way, she would have landed in the sand. "Stop! Stop!"

No one listened, and Neteyam delivered the last blow before Inkire forcefully separated the bruised and battered boys.