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CHAPTER THIRTY ONE
THEIRS
"first we will practice swimming, follow me." tsireya told the newcomers about their lessons, making sure talia kept by her side.
the group walked to the end of a pier when aonung and rotxo jumped in and splashed everyone else, tsireya shortly followed after them.
talia looked to neteyam and lo'ak who shrugged, "might as well," the older brother said before jumping into the water next. talia held onto lo'ak as they jumped in next, the warm water enveloping their bodies.
once underwater, talia spotted kiri, spider and tuk just behind them. then she turned forward again, trying to keep up with the water-born na'vi. but they were quick, their tails having adapted for them to be agile in aquatics rather than the forest.
and soon the omaticayan group needed air so they swam to the surface, breaching with gasped breaths. talia inhaled then swam back under, this time she was able to catch a good look at the stunning oceanic life around her.
another minute or two went by of swimming through the water before another breath of air was needed, this time being followed the the metkayina kids.
"is everything okay?" tsireya asked with concern, her eyes blinking with its double lids.
"you're too fast- wait for us!" tuk whined as she rubbed the water from her eyes.
"just breath, breath." tsireya replied calmly.
"you are not good divers, maybe good at swimming through trees-" aonung teased before getting lightly slapped by his sister.
"we can't hold our breaths for long." talia muttered with exhaustion already, swimming was a different kind of intense exercise than she was used to.
"i will teach you." tsireya smiled in return.
"where is kiri?" rotxo asked, pulling everyone's attention. "who's kiri?" aonung furrowed his brows.
"where'd kiri go?" spider asked worriedly, he hadn't seen her disappear as they swam.
"shit, kiri." neteyam grew worried and dove underwater to search for her.
"perhaps we should move onto breathing, it will help with swimming." tsireya suggested and everyone agreed, following the girl to the shore.
aonung told the group he had duties to do, so he wouldn't be able to assist with this lesson. meanwhile lo'ak brought tuk to his parents, returning when neteyam found kiri, who had ventured off as she went sightseeing under the water.
