The final day before the Great Day — the celebration of Ao’nung’s and a few other Metkayina youngsters coming of age. The day they all will rightfully become a part of the clan.

One day left. Tomorrow they already will be considered as adults.

When a Na’vi child reaches the age of 15, it’s considered the most important milestone in their lives, and they are treated as adults, with all the responsibilities and privileges that come with it.

Ao’nung has been looking forward to this day. A little anxious now, but mostly excited. He's eager to finally be treated as an adult and to prove himself capable and worthy of his new place within the clan.

Ao’nung felt butterflies in his stomach, the more the sun approached the horizon, the more strongly this feeling became. He’s been imagining this day all his life, the thought of him becoming a real man, and the future opportunities that come with it, but at the moment Ao’nung was more worried about what would happen in the evening after.

All of his friends are extremely excited as well — not only they will become the true members of the Metkayina society, but tame a skimwing, like a proper warriors, and build their own marui to live apart from their parents and siblings too…

There's one more thing they are looking forward to as well, though none of the Metkayinas will ever admit this. The night when young adult Na‘vi can start searching for a romantic partner.

The Great Day celebration usually lasts all day and is full of all sorts of activities, as well as various tests to check the youth’s abilities. And the fun part starts only after midnight, when all the elders and children finally leave.

Ao'nung maintains a smile, although his gaze betrays his slight excitement. While he sits in the lotus position on the woven mat in their family marui, clenching his own song thread in his fist and thoughtfully counting the beads, Tsireya next to him goes through his brother’s hair, unraveling the slightest tangles so that he looks decent in front of other members of the clan. She was born a whole year later than him, and therefore will not be able to take part in tomorrow’s ceremony, but she is still proud and happy to help Ao’nung with his own preparations.

Tsireya is quite a bit younger than her brother, but she's still an excellent assistant, always ready to lend a hand when needed. And even though Ao’nung has many friends, Rotxo the first and foremost, he still can't help but occasionally appreciate his sister's help.

Ao’nung lets her braid his hair, his mind wandering as he thinks of what may happen that night once the celebrations are over. He's nervous and excited, and it's not just about becoming an adult.

Ao'nung feels a slight blush creep into his cheeks as he thinks of what may happen that night. He knows he shouldn't be thinking of such things, not yet at least. Tonight is for celebrating his coming of age and becoming a true warrior.

But he can't help himself. His thoughts keep drifting to Miles. He's had feelings for the human boy for some time now, ever since he first started spending time with him down in the swamp. Ao'nung knows it's strange for a Na'vi to have feelings for a human, but he can't deny the way his heart races whenever Miles is around. He glances over at his sister, wondering if she's noticed the direction his thoughts have taken. But Tsireya is too busy with his hair to notice anything.

Ao’nung is lost in his thoughts, his mind focused on the future. It’s hard to say what’s making him more nervous — the fact that he’s about to become a real adult tonight or the knowledge that his parents won’t be around all evening long, leaving him on his own for the first time in his life.