Ma'oare (Neteyam x Aonung)

Chapter 3

Third Person POV:

Rotxo's suggestion gave Ao'nung an idea.

"Yes! that's it. You're both right. It'll make things fun," Tsireya looked at her brother and couldn't help feeling that he might be up to something, instead she brushed the feeling off and swam to the Sully siblings.

"Hey! Everyone, come here," called Rotxo.

"What is it?" questioned Neteyam as he dunked his head into the water and brought it out, Ao'nung subconsciously looked towards the Na'vi's possessed hair as it moved. The siblings finally gathered when Tsireya spoke up, breaking the daze Ao'nung was in,

"We have to go back to shore. We'll teach how to ride Ilus. They'll help you become more familiar with the water,"

"Ilus? What are they?," curiously asked Kiri.

Ao'nung rolled his eyes in annoyance and replied, "Just go to the shores then we'll show you,"

The team of teenagers all raced to the shores for the so-called riding lessons. Kiri, being a natural creature lover, was thrilled as Rotxo told her that Ilus were sea creatures. Lo'ak and Neteyam on the other hand seemed to scoff at the young teachers, thinking that the riding lessons would be easy because they ride Ikrans, sky creatures, and this lesson would be similar to riding such creatures.

The trio started calling out to the llus, "U-uuuuu" U-uuu," "Eeeuup Eeeuup,"

Soon several dark forms caused splashes and emerged out the water, these creatures were bigger than an average Na'vi with long round body, a short pointy tail and three pairs of fins, the larger one at its tummy. The Ilus are not as big as Ikrans. Stretching its neck towards the trio, and affectionately rubbing its head againist them. The Sully kids grew excited, unlike their Ikrans who are aggressive during first meetings, the Illus are playful and gentle. Lo'ak thought to himself that this might easier now looking at these gentle creatures,

"These are llus. If you want to live here, you must ride," said Ao'nung.

"Ok, so we start riding," Lo'ak said out in confidence. Ao'nung looked at him, smirking. He was about to say something, but Tsireya butted in,

"No, not yet. We'll teach in groups," she said.

Without noticing their surroundings, other young Na'vi gathered around to watch the riding lessons. Tsireya sorted the teams, Tuk, Lo'ak and Tsireya, Rotxo with Kiri and Ao'nung with Neteyam. Earlier, Tsireya had sent some nearby Na'vi to bring riding equipment. They strapped the items onto the respected parts of the llu and gestured at the Sully's to come near them, except Tuk, who Tsireya told, to wait on land because she'll get a separate lesson. Tuk didn't mind this and noticed friends that she made and ran to them joining in on their fun.

The allocated groups went their separate ways, Ao'nung and Neteyam out front, Lo'ak and Tsireya near shore, and Rotxo and Kiri farther away from everyone. Ao'nung rubbed the llus neck and looked at Neteyam,

"So, should I get on now?" asked an unsure Neteyam, but he also felt that Neteyam was eager to ride the creature.

"Not yet, Shxawng," Ao'nung replied, smiling at him. "Come closer, you can't ride an llu standing that far," joked Ao'nung.

The latter smiled at Ao'nung and obediently went closer and also started rubbing the llus neck. Ao'nung brought out some small fish from the pouch on the llus saddle and told Neteyam to feed the it for them to bond and be familiar with each other.

"First, you must be familiar with each other. Ilu are like playful kids, the more familiar you are with them, the more they want to be near you thus you both will make a great Tsaheylu (bond)," explained Ao'nung, "Feel his breather under his fin," directed Ao'nung.