chapter thirty-seven
Chapter Thirty-Seven
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His name was Ao’nung, and you thought he was wonderful. You marveled are his features, his three, perfect little fingers and toes. Ko’oä watched him, enraptured. Ronal’s face was exhausted, but she had a beautiful smile as she looked at the baby. Ko’oä leaned forward, her lips pressed together as she eyed her new brother. She reached forward, clumsily putting a hand on his head. You grabbed her hand gently, careful to prevent her from outright whacking him. You caressed his face with her hand, and Ko’oä’s eyes shined. She pulled her hand back, clapping, her eyes shining.
“This is Ao’nung,” you told Ko’oä gently. “He is your little brother. You’ll look after each other when you both get old enough.”
Ko’oä looked at you with bright eyes, curls falling just over her ears. Ao’nung’s nose scrunched up, his eyelids fluttering. You beamed at Ronal, complimenting her, “He’s perfect.”
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You blinked awake, eyes bleary as you looked around the marui. Ronal slept beside you, Ao’nung cradled against her chest carefully. You turned, your eyes catching the shadows by the entrance. Carefully, you moved toward it, your expression softening as you saw Ko’oä perched on Tonowari’s lap. He was whispering something to her, her eyes wide with wonder.
Ko’oä was too young to truly understand, but her eyes followed his gesture to the horizon. Gently, you sat beside them. Ko’oä turned, a happy smile crossing her face as she saw you, her attention going back to Tonowari almost immediately. You huffed a laugh, gently brushing a curl behind her ear.
“Have you been up long?” you said, trying to speak quietly. Tonowari’s face looked a little panicked, his eyes sliding over to where Ronal and Ao’nung were.
Not long, he signed. Ko’oä woke me.
Your face fell a little. Sorry, I could have taken her.
No, he shook his head, his eyes fond. She is my daughter too.
You smiled at him, resting your head on his shoulder. He went back to his story, his words too low for you to hear, but the rumble of his voice you felt, and he signed to make up for the softness of his words. Ko’oä watched his hands with large eyes, her mouth open in wonder as the words he made with his hands lined up with the words he spoke.
He was telling her about you, you realized with a belated sort of wonder. He told her carefully of the Sky Girl who loved a tulkun so much she turned into a Na’vi—and loved the Na’vi so much she became Metkayina. Ko’oä wouldn’t understand any of it until she was older, but you liked how he told the story.
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“Has Ko’oä started walking yet?” as she asked, Puango darted forward.
“I don’t think she’s interested,” you admitted, watching as Ko’oä’s fingers buried themselves in the sand. She pulled herself to a stand, but didn’t do much of anything else. “Ronal is half convinced she won’t even walk.”
“She will,” assured Tsonu’e. Ronal picked that moment to approach the group. Ko’oä looked up, giggling and stretching out her arms. Ronal scooped her up pressing a sweet kiss to the side of Ko’oä’s face.
“Who?” she asked, facing you, having only heard part of the conversation.
“Ko’oä will start walking soon,” you clarified. She sat next to you, her tail crossing with yours. Ao’nung sighed in his sleep but didn’t wake.
Ronal pulled a bit of a face, her expression a little sour. You placed a hand on her shoulder. “She will!” you assured her. “She’s just taking her time.”
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A month later, and Ko’oä still hadn’t walked. Ronal had taken to trying to get the baby to walk to her. You sat with Ao’nung, his hand clenched around your finger as he cooed sweetly.
Ronal stood Ko’oä up, quickly crossing the marui to stand at the entrance. She dropped to her knees. “Ko’oä,” she called, waving her arms to entice the baby.
Ko’oä’s eyes shined, the smile on her face large. You glanced between her and Ronal for a minute, almost sure this was it. Ko’oä sat down. Ronal deflated, but went back over to stand her up.
“Ronal,” you said. “She—“
“No,” Ronal cut you off, signing so you wouldn’t miss anything. “She’s going to do it!”
Ko’oä did not walk that day.
Tonowari came back late, to a grumpy Ronal, a giggly Ko’oä and a sleeping Ao’nung. You stood to greet him, smiling warmly.
“I see you,” you gestured. Tonowari took Ko’oä from you, petting her hair.
She snuggled against him, and you shared a look with Ronal. She smiled despite herself, coming over with Ao’nung in her arms.
“She will not walk,” Ronal said, seriously. “I tried all day.”
“It’s true,” you agreed, grabbing her hand gently. “Ko’oä isn’t ready yet. That’s all.”
Tonowari agreed, and Ronal looked away, displeased.
“She will walk, maybe towards something she really wants?” Tonowari suggested.
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Ronal tried food, toys, anything she could think of. She shook the rattle, desperately trying to lure Ko’oä toward her. “Come here sweet girl,” she pleaded. “Come to your sa’nok!”
Ko’oä crawled.
Ronal held out Ko’oä’s favorite snack.
Ko’oä scooted forward.
Ronal moved behind Ko’oä, calling her name.
Ko’oä scooted backwards.
It went on like that for the next few days, Ronal trying to entice the baby into walking. It did not work. Frustrated, Ronal announced, “I am going to search for some clams.”
“We’ll come too,” you decided. Ao’nung loved the water, and Ko’oä was more then capable of swimming beside you at this point. She was old enough to stay close to you.
Carefully, you packed up the children, grabbing a basket. Ronal led the way, Ao’nung strapped to her chest.
You dove quickly, enjoying the feel of the water around you. Ko’oä kicked her legs, and you grabbed her arm to pull her close to you. Her cheeks puffed out, and you kept half an eye on her as she grabbed at everything. Ronal surfaced with Ao’nung several moments before Ko’oä turned to swim to the surface too. You swam behind her, bringing a hand up to push her butt and force her to break through the water quicker. She took a large breath, and Ronal smiled at her.
Your head came up beside her, your attention on the children. Ao’nung was floating, Ronal supporting him with one hand while Ko’oä paddled around. Ronal’s hand caught your attention, and you turned. She looked faintly embarrassed, and you wondered if she had called to you without you realizing.
“Will you take him?” she asked. You nodded, and she passed you the baby. He yawned, stretching as you gently moved him in the water. Ronal’s gaze fell back on Ko’oä.
“Are you worried she isn’t walking still?” you asked.
Ronal nodded. “She is a strong swimmer. I am nervous for her.”
“She’ll walk,” you assured her. You weren’t overly concerned. You’d interacted with enough Na’vi babies to know it was normal—Ronal had too, but it was different when it was your child.
“Come on,” you said. “Let’s finish up!”
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Ko’oä wobbled, her attention solely on Ronal. You were feeding Ao’nung, enjoying the feel of the sun.
You glanced at your daughter, your eyes widening a little. Ronal had given up a few days ago, going back to her normal routine. She stood over the fire, carefully turning the leaves she’d collected. They needed to be warm before she crushed them to have any effect.
Ko’oä zeroed in on her, taking a wobbly step forward. Your hand flew to your mouth, Ao’nung unlatching briefly from the movement. Ko’oä took another step, this one more certain. Ronal turned, seeing the movement out of the corner of her eye.
Ko’oä stepped forward again. Ronal reached out allowing Ko’oä to fall into her arms. She hugged the baby to her, her eyes filling up with unshed tears. From your place, you told her, “She must have seen something she really wanted.”