03

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just breathe

The next morning Leyra came out of her Marui, inhaling the fresh air and made her way to the Sully's. Today she and the other Metkayina teens would teach the forest teens their ways in water and on land. Arriving at their Marui she grabbed their attention with "Hey, Sully family." and they greeted her back. Tuk is already so excited to go into the water and Neteyam is happy that Leyra was the one to pick them up.

"Neytiri and Jake, Tonowari is waiting for you in the sea. He wants you to learn to ride a skimwing." Leyra said to them.

"Right. What exactly is a skimwing?" Jake asked confused and looks between Leyra and his mate Neytiri.

"Oh, it is similar to an ikran. You also have to tame it before you can ride it. Pretty difficult." Leyra explained. She knows how hard it is because she has been through it herself. "You know. If Tonowari isn't a good teacher for you, I can show you how to do it. I do have my own skimwing."

"If you tamed an ikran you are a true warrior, is it with skimwings too?" Neteyam asks curiously.

"Yes. If you tamed a skingwing you are going to be seen as a warrior."

"You are a warrior? But you are so young." Neytiri said, kind of worried. Neteyam was impressed that she is a warrior and he likes it.

"Well, I had to grow up early and my only duty was becoming a warrior." Leyra answered.

"Aren't your parents worried something could happen to you?" Neytiri asked but now Leyra's whole mood dropped and Neteyam could clearly see that her parents is a wound topic for her.

"They aren't here anymore, so they couldn't care." She simply answered and the adults understood now that she doesn't want to talk about her parents. Leyra turned to the four younger people as Jake and Neytiri went to go find Tonowari.

"You four, come with me. I show you the sea." She said and crossed her arms. She walked out of the Marui and headed to the sea were Tsireya, Aonung and Rotxo were waiting. The others followed her.

They all jumped into the blue water that was clear as glass and started swimming. With their body that was adjusted to the water Leyra and Tsireya swam faster alongside with Aonung and Rotxo. The forest people behind them a little slower as they got used to the feeling of being in the deep water.

They saw all kind of different animals in the sea around them that they hadn't seen before. They were mesmerized by the beautifulness of the sea. Leyra felt a home in the water and she could clearly see that Kiri was feeling the same as she swam away from the group, now captured in her own world.

Fishes were swimming around Leyra and she watched them closely. It seems that the animals in the sea were trying to communicate with her and when she moved her hand they seem to follow her movements. Leyra smiled. She felt a deep bond with the animals in the sea and the sea in general. It feels like she can feel the heartbeat of every living being in the deep sea. As if they were the same living creature. She thinks it could be Eywa she is feeling inside herself, her whole body, her heart. But that's ridiculous, right? It couldn't be.

She looked back to the others. Neteyam, Tuk and Lo'ak were swimming back to the surface. They couldn't be out of breath already. They haven't been under the water long. Leyra looked at Tsireya and she shrugged her shoulders.

"Swim with us." Tsireya signed in the Na'vi sign language as the two forest brothers looked down to the oceanic people. They had a confused expression on their face and came down anyway. Together they continued exploring the ocean. Corals, fishes, small squids and Ilus were swimming around them as they swam above the seabed. Leyra collected some seashells with Tuk on the seabed.

"We can make cute bracelets wit the seashells." Leyra signed to Tuk but she didn't understand Leyra at all and gave her a confused look but continued collecting seashells and beautiful small stones.

Because of air loss the brothers and Tuk break through the surface again, filling their lungs with air. The oceanic didn't understand why.

"What is wrong with them?" Aonung signed, looking at the three beside him.

"They don't know how to swim underwater." Rotxo answers with an amused look on his face.

"Stop. They are learning." Tsireya frowns at both and started swimming to the surface but Aonung and Rotxo continued mocking the others.

"Stop it, you dipshits." Leyra signed furiously and followed Tsireya, joining them above the surface.

"Are you alright?" Leyra asked concerned when Kiri joined too. The two oceanic boys broke the surface as they came out of the water too, closing the circle.

"You're too fast, wait for us." Tuk complained as she rubbed the water out of her eyes.

"You just have to breath." Tsireya told her and put her hand on Tuks back. "Breath."

"You are not good divers. Maybe good at swinging through trees, but..." Aonung said next to Leyra, ready to insult the others once again, but a smack on the back of his head by Leyra stopped him from continuing.

"Come one, bro." Lo'ak whined a little offended.

"If you would try swinging through trees, you would fail miserably, Aonung." Leyra stated and got an embarrassing look from Aonung in response. She was the only one who could put him in his place. He still sneaked his arms around her waist and pulled her into him. Leyra chuckled while putting her arms around his neck and turned her face to him. "You're hands are tickling me." She whispered as she looked into his eyes. "Don't embarrass me in front of everyone." He whispers back. "But I love it." She pouted, what makes Aonung look at her lips for a split second before looking back into her eyes.

She was lost in his eyes before someone clearing their throat got her attention. She turned back to the group who were eyeing the two curiously. Leyra brought a little distance between her and Aonung.

"We don't speak this finger thing, guys, we don't know what you are saying." Neteyam said a bit harsh as he looked between Leyra and Aonung. He couldn't stand when he is near her. He couldn't understand why he feels like that. Lo'ak sensed the change of his brother's mood and puts his hand on Neteyam's chest to prevent him to punch Aonung right in the face. "Relax." He muttered to him.

"Leyra and I can teach you four." Tsireya smiled brightly and Kiri was mesmerized by her smile. Leyra saw they way Kiri stares at Tsireya and smirked. This is the start of a cute relationship she thought.

After a while of swimming together the group separated into two smaller groups and sat on the beach. Neteyam, Lo'ak and Leyra sat in a small circle. And Tsireya, Kiri and Tuk sat a few feet away from them. Aonung and Rotxo went to go hunting, like they do every day at this time.

"If you want to be longer underwater you have to learn how to breath properly, so you can hold your breath longer." Leyra explained and put her hand on her chest while closing her eyes.

"Close your eyes." She said to the boys. They stared at her for a minute before closing their eyes.

"Concentrate on your breathing." She said quietly. Leyra had an angelic, ethereal voice with a slight accent. She spoke with such softness that would calm everyone down.

"Breathe in."

"And breathe out."

"Imagine a flickering flame inside you. Try to calm it down." She whispered over the waves crashing on the beach beside them. She opened her eyes, only to look at the brothers, who were watching her already. She blushed a little bit but continued.

"You must slow down your heartbeat." She said putting her hand over Lo'ak's heart. "Breathe in." She orders and he does what he was told. "Breathe from down here." She pressed her other hand on his lower stomach. "Slowly." She added and looked into his eyes. He was captured by her eyes and messed up his breathing because of being absolutely focused on her. Neteyam watched them closely trying to learn but mostly because he wanted her touch him too.

"Your heartbeat is fast, Lo'ak." Leyra observed as she looked down on her hand that was still on his chest.

"Sorry." He breathed out.

"Calm down."

"Can't when your hands are on me." He whispered with a light shade of red on his cheeks. A light smirk appeared on her face as she made attempts to take away her hands but Lo'ak quickly put his hands above hers.

"I'll try again." He closed his eyes and starts breathing how she had taught them. His heartbeat slowed down while his thumb stroked over her hand.

"Maybe I need help too. I can't breathe." Neteyam exclaimed, interrupting Leyra and his brother intentionally. Leyra turns to Neteyam as Lo'ak glared at his older brother. I had a moment with her his glare said.

As soon as her hands were on his chest and stomach, Neteyam's heartbeat quickened. "Slow down your heartbeat, Neteyam." Leyra smiled and caressed over his chest lightly. He put his hand over her hand that was on his chest. His hand was covering hers completely. "Relax." She breathed with him in a rhythm.

"Just breathe, Tey."

His ears twitched at the nickname and he opened his eyes to look at her. She has a smile on her face, showing her white teeth and he smiled back.

"You are much worse at breathing than your brother." Leyra chuckled. She has a cute laugh. The brothers shared a look.

"Okay you need to practice breathing. Both of you." Leyra said.

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[art by me]