Chapter Text
The day was halfway done, Sa'nok and Sempul sat in their Marui with a knife cutting up dinner for her and her tsmukan, speaking of who-
"skxawng! You took my spear!" His voice was slightly deep for a sixteen year old Na'vi, his feet pounding into the Marui floor as he came barging in, face in a pained scowl.
Sempul was quick to stop his cutting and stand, though he only reached just the middle of her ribs, he walked over, blonde hair with many gray ones overlapping in the bun he had it in.
She was only twelve when Sa'nok had finally convinced her Sempul to fully remove his locks. He loved them, they all did, but he had a bad habit of not taking care of them, so his hair soon became damaged and her, and her mother was quick to pick through the locks with a squirmy toddler Awsäng in his arms.
Awsäng had a favourite parent, and it Sempul.
Kìeyì liked her mother slightly more, her sa'nok had this way with Eywa, and she felt it too.
A bond like that was too sacred, she knew her father was too blessed.
The only sawtute to breath Eywa'eveng air. By her Sa'nok's hand no less! Her and Awdäng loved the story- sure not the beginning of it, them- teenagers being hunted by the RDA and the Magkwan Clan- she quickly flows through the memory of being told the story.
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Kiri had Awsäng in a her shawl, her fingers being used as a chew toy and a fun thing for the baby to pull and bend, his face covers in soft tears from his small cry out.
He had Kìeyì in his lap, she was already so tall, she came up a few inches above his elbow now, it frightened him- what would he do when he couldn't carry his child away from danger?
Kiri- every the knowing women wrapped her tail around his arm- his right, she sat slightly facing them.
Kìeyì had her hair loose, coming near the middle of her back, the two large front pieces was braided and brought to the back of her head in the middle, a shell her sa'nokä had gifted it her a few days prior.
She let her heavy tail thump as she ate at the Yovo fruit her aunt Tsireya, had given her. she was the tsahik of the Metkayina village, and she had brought some round with a little baby called Vi'eyma strapped to her chest, her uncle Lo'ak was close by, watching with worried eyes as he held a squirming Ni'ta in his arms.
By Eywa blessed hands her Aunt/ Tsahik had twin girls, one had a more darker teal- leading on blue skin with patterns like Tsireya-
while the other was more reef coloured and had patterns like her sa'nokä sempul- Tonowari.
She looked up to her Sempul- his hair in new clean locks with shells and little trinkets in his hair, one or four the same from his small years.
"Sempul" she whispers, kiri gives her a wide smile, she still couldn't belive it somedays, her and Spider, having kids and living in a Marui a few minutes away from her parents, Tuk living in her own Marui just three away with a friend.
Lo'ak just up the village, helping Tsireya to be tsahik.
She let her eyes water, Spider notices immediately and stops whispering little funny jokes at Kìeyì, "ma yawnetu?" His voice fill with confusion, she looked at his face, the crow feet at his eyes and the stubble he keeps fighting at, his kind eyes and the scar on his nose.
"Sa'nok?" It was her daughters soft voice that pulled her back, she smiled wide "Eywa ayoeru meuia soli" Spider let's the worry go, breathing in the smell of the air, salt, fish, yovo, the smell of his Itan's soap and his Ite's sandy skin.
"Ewya as blessed us dearly, my beautiful sìlpey" It was there motto.
Like how her Sempuls had been 'this family is our fortress' hers and spiders was hope.
"Why sìlpey?" Kìeyì asked, wooden bowl carved by Ao'nung empty, Kiri reaches over and wiped her mouth clean and takes the bowl, tail undoing from spiders arm as she stands, "I'll take him" She smiles, and with Kìeyì moving to his side against the Marui wall, head on his shoulder as he held Awsäng in the other elbow, head tucked nicely, shawl laying over him and spiders lap.
She liked working hands free, letting herself get carried away in what she was doing. She found it difficult to work with her Evi in hand.
Spider was more then happy to hold them, knowing they would outgrow is 6 foot 4 height too soon.
"sìlpey?" Kìeyì asks once again, her hand on her tsmukan's chest. She looked at his little face as Spider spoke.
"It was the only thing we had, hope. Me and your Sa'nok did not have it easy Ite" She knew that, from her sa'nokä sa'nock still eyes or the way she looked at then with tears and tight fists, she had seen them hug, her Sempul and grandmother many times, but she had also known the roughness and hatred she once held.
So she nods, Kiri watches as she starts to tie loose some covers on the Marui opening, the sun daring close to eclipse.
"We could only sìlpey as we grew, hope in Eywa, her great plan for us, for what our futures would hold. So different yet so alike" Spider smiles widley as his itan slowly closes his eyes, he always fell asleep in his arms, even if he was a tight fit in his arms now.
"I was a sawtute born on Eywa'eveng, my birth Sempul was a horrible Demon" his voice got tense and Kiri tail slashes as she tugs rougher then needed.
Kìeyì just rubs on her brothers tummy, his twneg long and a soft green and yellow with small jewellery and gifts, his Song cord tight and secure on the left side, she rubs a hand on it.
"My Sa'nok died in the Demon Battle, like yours, my Ite" She looks up, she knew of her Sempulä sa'nok.
The women was pinned into the Marui wall, a flimsy photo on the wall of all their photos, her long wavy brown hair, brown eyes and somewhat tan skin, smiling at a baby that had once been her Sempul.
But she did not know what had come of the women. It was a rough topic for their family. Her Sempuls side of the swapxì.
"Like mine" she says, wide blue eyes.
"Yes" kiri says, quickly joining in, sitting in front of her Ite, tail wagging behind her as her ears twitches as she smile widely.
"While your Sempulä sa'nok fought for the Demons she was strong. Just like your Sempul" she looked at her ma yawnetu, someone she has known since she was as little to breath, the boy watching through the glass in the shack.
"I had to have hope-" Spider softly took over, eyes on Kiri before looking down to their family. His sìlpey.
"For I had my parents life on my shoulders, they brought shame to me, to what my name stands at, aid, help, relief" everyone smiles at the English words.
"You do help Sempul!" Kìeyì whines, head loling onto his smaller chest and he laughs, "I know my Ite" kiri let's herself pull her daughter into her, resting beside the man she loves, "so hope- was all I had. To see. To belive and trust in Eywa, was Hope"
"I used my hope alone, until I met your Sa'nok- then we Hoped together, in Eywa'eveng, the forest, in Ometikaya, in the scientists lab and in Eywa" Kìeyì leans into her mother more, mouth wide in her smile.
"We had sìlpey in eachother" Kiri whispers and Spider looks at the two. "And then, hope had became strain, lost and tumbling as he was taken from me" Kiri says softly, Kìeyì gasps, her two fingers on her mouth and nose as her last finger is near her neck, she turn her head to look her mother.
Who looks at her with a sad grim smile. "The Demon ships had come back, it brought fire, death to the forest" she says with a wash of anger, but underneath was sadness. Her Ite cuddles closer.
"It was hard to have hope" Spider said next, a few teens running past the cover of the Marui with shrills of being late home.
"A year had past and we was acting like silly Evi and going somewhere we shouldn't of gone" Kiri says next, her hands holding her child closer, Spider sighs and runs a hand down Awsäng, resting back to his small toes.
"We was at the great battle war site. Young and wondering places we knew not to go" Spider says softly, their Itan sleeping softly now.
"Me, Lo'ak, Tuk and your Sa'nok where running down large vines and tree branches, till Lo'ak found an old flying machine, broken, not decaying to the world around it" he takes a moment of silence before speaking.
"We saw something, large footsteps, to large for humans and to out of place for Na'vi, so it was an-"
"Avatar!" She squils, her Sa'nok laughing and shaking her as she did so, her Sempul grins and nods "that is right my smart girl- it was an Avatar, so me and Lo'ak followed it, trying to be strong and be grown, it took to the place where both our sempuls fought in the battle"
"All we could do was stare till the Avatars came into view and started talking, just small things- but we had to tell Jake, so Lo'ak told-"
"I told him he would be grounded for life" Kiri added and Spider groans as he leans onto her shoulder gently "yes, yes, I quite remember that, Tuk found it funny though right?" Kiri mumbled as the two laughed
"Tuk- oh little Tuk was so worried about being home in time of eclipse- her back was turned and one of the Avatars had grabbed her- the rest followed, me and Lo'ak holding our weapons strong and Kiri too mutters prayers" his voice had gone still, an even tone of serious their daughter had only heard twice before.
One, when she was silly enough to climb the Mauri that was being repaired due to a piece of root going soft, and the fall would of hurt her dangerously, he had used it then, telling her where to place her feet and he would catch her if she fell.
He ended up catching her when she sniffeled and miss placed her foot, his foot had suffered a strain and had to be on rest for a while, but he just had soft tears in his eyes and thanked Eywa for the joy of her.
The other time was when a new small boat of demons arrived, hunting Tulkuns, she was only six and was playing with an Ilu, him on his own not even a step away, when the loud sound scared the Ilu, scared her too, falling into the deep water she knew well, but with scattering Ilu and noise so loud in her ears to soon, did she began to panic.
But soon her Sempul was pulling her close, swimming them above water towards the sandy Bank, voice firm as he told her to take deep breaths, to remember what the tsahik said.
The water has no beginning and no end.
Her breaths soon took back to her and his voice said firm, telling her to run to the olo'eyktan and say the tulkun hunters had returned, all while he ran to get gear, his trust in her made her strong.
"They found out who's children we where, one of the Avatars recognised your Sempul" Kiri spoke in a wounded tone.
She clung to her mother tighter, lip tight as she listened strongly.
"My Sempul had come back, only this time in a form of an Avatar" she gasp and let her shocked face widen "thats scary" she murmurs and they both nod "it was" Spider agrees.
"Eclipse had fallen, they was going to take us all, act as a chip to get to my Sempul" Kiri says patting down Kìeyì's hair gently.
"But Neytiri and Jake came to rescue us, they worked brilliantly, Neteyam not far behind them at some point, but soon this expositions started going off" she reaches to her dad, he links their fingers, the other arm still holding Awsäng.
"One went of right behind us, shaking the ground and making us tumble, I was able to get my footing, but Spider being much smaller, was unable too" They shared a sad look before sighing "I fell. And I kept falling down till I hit the ground down below"
"No!" She shreiked, loud in the now quiet Marui's, Kiri quickly shushes her and Spider holders her hand tighter "im alright" she sighs with a wet sound before shoving herself further into her mothers chest, hand held tighter to her Sempul.
"The recoms found me, my- my father picked me up and took me with them onto the Demon ship.
I won't say what, for I cannot speak of such a place" he looks at her small Na'vi face, she nods.
"I was given a choice after a terrible day and it was my only shot at getting out of the metal hell" his voice soft as he leaned back into Kiri's side, who quickly let one hand let go of her Ite to wrap around Spiders side.
Awsäng opened his eyes slowly and let out a small shriek, making Spider sit up slightly and bringing him to his chest, head over his heart, hand on his neck and bum, Kìeyì smiles at her brothers smoshed face and leans closer to look at him.
"It was during that time that my family made its way to Awa'atlu. My father afraid that they would find us, so we set flight"
"It went months where we could only hope- hope that Eywa would keep the other safe and bring us back together" her voice gentle as her son fell back into sleep.
"Months that went to long and to fast. Soon-" She cuts off with a soft hiss.
"The tulkun hunters had been helping the recoms, I was there when they killed the last tsahik- Ronal's spirit sister and her calf" his voice pained as he continues for them.
"I hated it, felt useless as I couldn't do anything to stop it. But soon enough I saw as they brought Lo'ak, tuk and Tsireya in on a net, I just remember rushing out and trying to reach them" She looked back at her father, her tail stiff in its rough movements, eyes wide as she takes in the information.
"I was grabbed and taken back, watching through a window at everything going down, till Payakan came rushing through the air and I grabbed a fire extinguisher and smashed it into a guys head, jammed the control, forcing the ship into the rock and causing it to start sinking" She looked up in wonder.
"They could of left, Tsireya and Tuk off the ship and I was being dragged to the life boats" he sighs, head hitting the wall, Kiri places a kiss on his face.
"But they couldn't leave me, so they came back. We busted their asses-"
"Spider!" Kiri hisses and he sighs with a smile that says 'I'm not sorry'
"We was jumping from the ship, when- Neteyam was injured" he spoke softly, her own eyes shine with tears.
She had met him in the spirit world when she was only three, he was amazing.
"I was stuck on the ship with Tuk" she starts, not wishing to talk about it.
"We manged to get Kiri and Tuk Tuk back as safe as we could"
"We got separated, tuk was small and got sucked by the rushing water, my Sa'nok chased after her, Tuk wouldn't be able to defend herself alone"
"It was scary" she adds lastly. "That night ended sadly, a loss, but the rest or the family together.
Spider was finally back and we held Neteyams funeral the night after"
"It was only two weeks later that things kicked off again"
"My mask- it had failed in the night and it was a worry with my safety so Neytiri and Jake decided to send me back to High camp by the wind traders"
She once again gasps and lets her tail hit down roughly, ear twitching as he looks at her father's sad face.
"We weren't ready to loose somebody else, especially not Monkey boy" her sly smile makes the mood up a bit.
"Magkwan had found the wind traders and where attacking them, we just happened to be on that same hut" Spider sighs once again. "It was fast, to fast to grab spare masks and coms or anything"
"We had a few sad moments of silence before we was spotted, being chased once again and into the river, to loose them, but soon my mask didn't have much battery left so Lo'ak had to carry me after I fell"
"he carried you?" Kìeyì asks quietly she wanted to take in everything they was telling her.
"He did! It was rare anyone did so, I was to prideful for anything else" he laughs out, shaking their Itan on his chest who clenches his fingers and yawns eyes opening for good.
"It wasn't enough" Kiri mutters her hand brings him closer, hears his clear breath, her Evi's breaths along and lets her mind calm.
"He was out of air-"
"Sempullll" she reaches for him, they quickly switch kids, her son nibbling on his little fingers, tail flicking as his ears turn to hear his sister breath deeply into their fathers chest and shoulder.
A few soft words and shawl wrapped around her did they continue.
"I had to pray, had to beg the great mother, but she did not reply. So I had to do it myself" she held her head strong.
"I had to have sìlpey" her daughter looks at her with admiration in her gaze, light blue meeting gold.
"I took a Atokirina, my Kuru attached to the root, it glowed a soft green and I made Lo'ak lay him on the ground" Kìeyì sits up more, Spider kept his hands holding her, head on hers.
"I chanted, prayed and did what felt right. And for some reason it didn't seem to be enough"
"I had started to seize, Lo'ak stopped me, the root stopped growing, and there was no breath, we had cried, wept. I felt terrible- like - like I couldn't save the only person I wanted to keep" she let her tears fall softly onto her cheeks.
"Then he breathed, breath strong. Body moving and eyes looking in a bright light the glass of his mask stopped before" she smiles widley, her hands pulling her Itan closer as he giggles at her hand under his arms, a tickle spot for him.
"While it was the only moment of happiness we had that day, it was enough. Our life would never be the same, for the better" she looks to him and he smiles back, Kìeyì watched with a wide grin, "that was amazing Sa'nok" she mutters, hands tight in excitement.
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Her being shoved shocks her back into the world now and not then, she hisses at her brother, Sempul quick to step in between them, Awsäng held to much respect for their Sempul to push her over him.
"Enough!" He says strongly, pulling at his Itans hand and tugging him down to kneel on the ground, he joined him on the floor "what have we said about shoving Awsäng?" Kiri kept cutting fruit and slowly skinning fish, she knew he had it handled, Kìeyì stuck her tongue out, something she got from her aunt Tuk.
He hisses and goes to reach for her, when Spiders hand tugs at his braid near his face. His hiss is strong and she steps back only because her uncle stands in the doorway, she gives a respectful nod, he was still the olo'eyktan.
"Ao'noung!" Sa'nok calls cheerfully, putting her fish to simmer in the pot before walking over, tail hitting her itans back making him duck his head, Spider still complaining about his childish acts over a spear- she walks closer to her uncle.
Her mother and uncle give a quick hug, a new tattoo to the man's chin was added only a few days ago and she hadn't had time to see it fully yet.
"Let me see!" She squeals, her ears turning and twitching as her tail hits around roughly, she feels her song cord hit her thigh at how fast she's moving to get to him Ao'nung gives a loud laugh as he gets her fingers on his face, spear in his hand that looks awfully like her tsmukan's.
"My spear!" The boy calls quickly, shell hitting his upper chest as he bounces over, Ao'nung gives him a stern look before passing it over "A few wild children stole your precious spear, I figured I'd get it back" Awsäng makes a hand gesture in thanks and respect, Spider stands up and Ao'nung gives him a good glance, "no new wrinkles yet my friend" Spider says good naturally, Ao'nung smiles and looks around before looking to Kiri.
Kìeyì and Awsäng make their way further into the Marui, into a corner where they keep their gear and extra clothes.
"May I come in?" Kiri seems to think for a moment before wrapping her shawl tighter, head nodding before she smiles "well if you must" the three laugh like they did as kids and they sat near the fire, Spider taking over cooking.
It wasn't often they could talk much with how busy they all had become.
"Ro'ta birthday is soon" Ao'nung says with a proud smile, Ro'ta is his first born daughter, by his mate Ämllu, just a year younger then him and all the most best warrior the clan has at the moment.
At that moment Awsäng came up and sat down by Spider, leaning his big head on his Sempuls small shoulder.
"Sran?" He whispers, Kìeyì was messing with her bow, it had broke a few days ago, her and Lo'ak had been fixing it up.
"I wish to go out" he sighs, Spider moves his arm to grab his bowl, while his family enjoyed the best spices and herbs on Metkayina, those were deadly to him. So he dishes his up now and placing it close to the fire to stay warm.
"kehe, dinner soon ready" he glances at his itan and sees his big blue eyes and looks at the food, "we made your favourite, stay" he asks, his son could leave this Marui anytime during the day, but it still hurt his heart when he chose to hang outside instead of eating the food they had made.
Awsäng looks down and huffs "can I go after?" Spider doesn't hide his confusion "why you hurry so much itan?" His voice normal now, Kiri looks over, as does Ao'nung, which seemed to be the one person he didn't want to hear this conversation.
"Sempul!" He whines, head leaving his shoulder, body facing him as he looks only at him, Kìeyì stifles a laugh.
"What? Do you not wish to spend time with your old Sempul no more?" Awsäng scowls "no Sempul-"
"You will rivun yom wutsos, Awsäng" he says finally. The boy groans, standing up just to go sulk to his hammock, Ao'nung looks the most amused, "I remember my Sempul had to say the same thing to you, Spider" Ao'nung says, and Spider shoots him a glare.
"You stay to?" He asks finally, Kiri watches with a large grin, she liked this side of Spider very much.
"I mustn't, Ämllu request I ask you to fix her new net, it has broken" Spider nods and Ao'nung nods in thanks, picks up his spear, Kiri and Spider walk him to the opening, "Oel ngati kameie, Kiri" he raises his fingers, makes a motion then turns to Spider. "Oel ngati kameie, Spider" the same motion, they motion back and with a small ruffle of his loose hair, Ao'nung was gone.
"That was nice to see him" Kiri says happily, he grins, "Kìeyì, your gift for Ro'ta birthday for the festival in a few days, is it ready?" Kìeyì nods.
With that, Kìeyì sits by her brother, who is still sulking, while Kiri and Spider dish up, Spider placing his food closer to the fire once again before taking it and walking to the furthest spot, away from the fire. He sits on a small built in 'step' that is more of a seat for their Sempul, Awsäng watches, his face still pouted as he watches his sempul eat, before Kìeyì is pulling at him.
"Sempul said Kehe one time and you turn into a prrnen" she goads, it reminds Kiri of her and Lo'ak, she must see her brother soon.
" 'eveng, enough. Sit now" their Sa'nok's voice makes them rush to sit down. While Kìeyì had finished her Metkayina Iknimaya just a few weeks before, her Uniltaron isn't for a while though
. So with that she still listened to her parents, she believes she always will. They've given her no reason to doubt.
__
"Can I go?" Awsäng asks again, hands messing with his hammock as Spider pulls his curly blonde hair into a fresh bun, he ignores the gray ones.
and Kiri would do a date night and re do his hair tomorrow, so he was trying to keep it tidy, date nights where ment to be fun, rushing through the waters on ilus and thriving on her Ikran ne'ye, till the sun was too low and they'd drop down and hunker into their silent Marui with stuffed laughs and soft kisses.
"Kehe"
"Wh-"
"Tell me why" Sempul cuts him off and he sighs, stomach turning as he twists his toes, tail hitting harshly and ears turning.
Spider sighs and leans in closer, hand on his itans face, the boy looks up and he gives a smile "Spaw oeru?" The boy nods fast, "I always trust you"
"So, tell me" his hand is gentle on his sons rougher skin. Kiri and Kìeyì had went down to the sullys old Mauri, Neytiri and Jake still reside there and Kiri wished to she her mother, so Kìeyì joined to show off her gift.
Awsäng is always open to his Sempul, but this for some reason felt werid to tell his father, he knew it was normal, had seen it all over the village but telling your father, it- well seemed awkward.
He looked away from his father's slighty tired face. The hand did not leave, warm and small on his face, the other is used to hold onto the hammock, letting him balance well.
"I wish to see him" he whispers, but Spider hears "Him? Who?" He grunts as he tugs his legs closer, his tweng covering his knees.
"Tanuto" Spider let's his eyes close, a small smile on his face, Awsäng misses it, eyes on the floor beneath his hammock.
"The fisher to be?" Awsäng nods, shy- with was hard to get with his outgoing and loud but respectful personality.
"He is a friend?" Awsäng glares at him now and he laughs loudly, hand leaving his face. "You can see him tomorrow, tonight we stay together, you can be friends later, sran?" He looks at his face and lets a small smile take his face.
"Irayo, Sempul" Spider kisses his head, "just take it slow, like Tsireya and Lo'ak, you was just a prrnen when she had her girls" Awsäng felt a familiar burning in his face.
"Oh Eywa" he mutters, turning in his hammock as he heard feet padding back over.
"I knew sa'nokä sempul would like it!" Kìeyì voice sings happily, Kiri holding a new basket on her hip as she brings her shawl closer, Spider grins widley, she cocks her head to her son, sees the sparkle in spiders eyes and smiles herself.
"We meet them soon, yes Awsäng? Bring then to dinner" she says sweetly, Awsäng breath stuttered and she kisses his head in passing, letting Kìeyì climb into her own hammock just a few steps away.
Spider closes the Marui, covers over openings and small lights taken out, Awsäng hums softly at his sa'nok's soft fingers over his, "sleep well, itan" she kisses his nose and he sleepily mumbles back a small goodnight, leaning deeper into his hammock as the world drifted.
Kìeyì smiles at her Sempul when he walks over, the last few sparks of fire giving the Marui a soft look as the darkness outside moves forward.
"Goodnight ma Kìeyì" she whispers back a soft goodnight, her father's small hands finding hers as he kisses them, before walking over to Awsäng as Kiri goes to Kìeyì. They do this every night, even after fights, ugly days, or days you just want to be away. You always said goodnight, you gave eachother sìlpey for tomorrow, to spend another day on Awa'atlu land.
Awsäng was conscious enough to hear his father bid him goodnight and to hold his hands before laying a soft kiss to them.
Kiri waits in the hammock, opening her shawl as Spider crawls in, wrapping the both up as they share a soft kiss, spiders head lay on top of her chest, her breaths his sìlpey. His warm, very alive breathing body was hers.
She closes her eyes, family asleep near her, soft chuckles from the pod next to theirs makes her drift to sleep, hers and spiders song chord had spinned around eachother, It was a gentle sleep.