Aonung

The life of the Metkayina clan is completely connected with the ocean.

*The village is built directly above the lagoon on enormous corals and natural platforms. All the houses are connected by wooden bridges and rope walkways, and lilu and other sea creatures are constantly moored around them.

• The houses have no walls in the traditional sense. They are open, round huts with roofs made of broad leaves and woven fibers. There is almost no furniture inside: woven mats for sleeping, storage for weapons, baskets, and shelves filled with shells, tools, and jewelry.
  *Life takes place primarily outdoors. Residents spend much time in the water, hunting, fishing, weaving nets, crafting jewelry from shells and corals, practicing swimming and mud riding.
• In the evening, bioluminescent plants and marine organisms provide illumination, giving the village a soft blue glow.
  The village center is a large open area where clan meetings, festivals, youth training, and meetings with the chief take place.

The entire life of the Metkayin is built around the sea: the ocean is a source of food, a means of transportation, a place of learning, and a spiritual part of their culture.

The main animals that the Metkayina clan is associated with are:

*Ilu is a marine creature resembling a cross between a dolphin and a seahorse. It is the Metkayin's primary mode of transportation for everyday navigation.

• Skimwing (tsimu) is a fast predator resembling a cross between a ray and a flying fish. It is used by experienced warriors and hunters.
  *The Tulkun are highly intelligent sea giants. The Metkayina consider them spiritual brothers and treat them with great respect.
• The Akula is a dangerous marine predator. It is rarely hunted, and an encounter with one is considered very risky.

Pandora's oceans are also home to many other fish, jellyfish, and small sea creatures, but these four species play the most important role in the lives of the Metkayina clan.

Jake Sully (father)

A former Marine and the leader of the Omaticaya. Brave, determined, caring, and willing to do anything for his family. Sometimes he can be a bit too strict.

Neytiri (mother)

Brave, proud, and devoted to tradition. She cares deeply for children but does not tolerate disobedience. An excellent warrior.

Neteyam (eldest son)

Calm, responsible, and reasonable. Always protective of his younger siblings, respectful of his parents, and a role model.

Lo'ak (middle son)

Bold, stubborn, impulsive, and curious. Often gets into trouble, but is willing to risk himself for his friends and family.

Tuk (Tuktirey, the youngest daughter)

Kind, cheerful, trusting, and energetic. Despite her age, she displays courage.

Kiri (adopted daughter)

Quiet, kind, thoughtful, and deeply spiritual, she feels a deep connection with Eywa and nature and often prefers solitude to noisy company.

Tonowari (father) is the chieftain of Metkayin. Calm, wise, fair, and prudent. He always puts the clan's safety above his personal feelings.
Ronal (mother) is the spiritual leader and healer. Strict, proud, strong, and demanding. At first, she's distrustful of strangers, but very caring towards her family. Aonung (eldest son) is confident, proud, quick-tempered, and competitive. He likes to tease others, but is courageous, loyal to his loved ones, and able to admit his mistakes.
Tsireya (the younger sister) is kind, calm, sympathetic, and patient. She finds it easy to connect with people, is always ready to help, and often makes peace with others.

Forest Na'vi (Omaticaya)

*Loincloths made of leather and woven fibers.

• Leather or fabric chest elements (more common among women).
  *Belts with small bags and scabbards.
• Bracers and bracelets made of leather and wood.
  *Ornaments made from feathers, seeds, fangs, and animal bones.

Reef Na'vi (Metkayina)

• Lighter clothing, suitable for swimming.
  *Loincloths made of soft fabric and leather.
• Braided belts with marine decorations.
  *Necklaces, earrings, bracelets and headbands made from shells, corals, pearls and the teeth of sea creatures.
• Hair is often decorated with beads and marine decorative elements.

Men

Typically, they wear only a loincloth, a wide belt, and various ornaments. When hunting, they may wear additional belts for a spear or knife.

Women

In addition to a loincloth, they often wear a woven or leather chest piece. Their clothing is usually more richly decorated with beads, shells, and weaving.

Chiefs and members of the chief's family

Their clothing is distinguished by its rich embellishments and more intricate weaving. For example, Tonowari and Ronal wear wide belts, multi-layered necklaces, and status symbols crafted from rare marine materials.

The Metkayina people wear clothing that reveals most of their bodies, reflecting their warm climate and aquatic lifestyle. Instead of luxurious clothing, their status and origin are often emphasized through jewelry, fine weaving, rare materials, and traditional patterns.

Characteristics of the Reef Na'vi

*A wider chest helps you hold your breath better.

• Webbed arms and legs make swimming much faster.
  *The tail resembles a fin and helps them maneuver underwater.
• They spend most of their lives in water and learn to dive from childhood.

Characteristics of the Forest Na'vi

*Longer, thinner limbs help them move quickly through the trees.

• The tail serves primarily for balance when jumping and climbing.
  They are better adapted to life in the forest than in the sea.

That's why, upon their first meeting, the Metkayin children, including Aonung, mocked the children of the Sally family. They noted their narrow shoulders, thin tails, and lack of webbing, believing such Na'vi were ill-suited to life in the ocean. The forest Na'vi, on the other hand, looked unusual to the reef dwellers and seemed physically less prepared for life at sea.

On the outside, he would remain confident, sometimes even a little cocky. In the presence of others, he would rarely show affection, because as the son of a chieftain, he was used to maintaining a level head and disliked appearing vulnerable. But this wouldn't mean indifference.

He would be very caring, through actions, not words. If he spotted a dangerous current, he would be the first to swim alongside you. Before a hunt, he would check your gear, and in a difficult situation, he would shield you without a second thought. For him, protecting a loved one would be a natural duty.

Aonung is also quite possessive. Canonically, he's emotional, proud, and used to getting his way. Therefore, if another boy were to show interest in you, he's unlikely to admit his jealousy directly. Rather, he'd hang around more often, looking for an excuse to intervene in conversations or offer to go with you. He could sometimes be caustic, precisely because he can't calmly express his feelings.

He would value honesty. If a conflict arose between you, he'd rather argue and get it all out in the open than silently harbor resentment. After the argument, having calmed down, he'd likely be the first to make peace, but he'd do it awkwardly—for example, by suggesting a hunting trip or inviting you for a swim, rather than making a long apology.

It would be important to him that the girl be independent. He'd hardly like someone who constantly needed rescuing. On the contrary, a strong, courageous, and self-sufficient girl would command his respect. He'd still be eager to help, even if it wasn't necessary.

With those close to him, Aonung is likely much softer than he appears to others. He might allow himself to joke, smile more often, and share experiences he rarely reveals to others. But this side of his character would rarely be revealed in public.

Overall, judging by his behavior in the film, Aonung would not be the most romantic in words, but he is very loyal.

At the beginning of Avatar: The Way of Water, Aonung comes across as an arrogant and self-assured teenager. As the son of a chieftain, he's accustomed to the respect of others and is confident in his abilities. He loves competition, strives to prove his superiority, and often makes fun of those he considers weaker or outsiders.

However, this self-assurance conceals more than just arrogance. Aonung is immensely proud of his people, the Metkayin traditions, and the maritime way of life. Convinced that he is defending the honor of his clan, he initially treats Sally's family with distrust, believing them unsuited to life in the ocean.

Despite his quick temper, he's no coward. In a dangerous situation, Aonung is able to quickly regain his composure, show courage, and come to the rescue. As the story unfolds, he acknowledges his mistakes, matures, and becomes more respectful of others. After the events with the shark (a shark-like predator), he sincerely changes his attitude toward Lo'ak and no longer views him merely as a rival.

In relationships with loved ones, Aonung can be caring, although he rarely displays it openly. He dislikes appearing vulnerable, so he often hides his true feelings behind mockery or self-assurance. If someone earns his respect, Aonung will become a reliable ally: he will protect them, support them, and never abandon them in times of need. At the same time, he remains emotional and quite jealous—especially if he begins to truly like someone, although he finds it very difficult to admit it first.

Aonung is a tall young Na'vi from the Metkayina clan, the son of Chieftain Tonowari and Ronal. He is noticeably taller than most teenagers and has a strong, well-developed physique, reflecting years of training at sea. His shoulders are broad, his arms are strong and defined, and his movements are confident and agile.

Its skin is a rich turquoise-blue with dark blue stripes, characteristic of the Metkayina people. Its oceanic lifestyle has given it broad forearms, a powerful tail with a fin-like crest, and a broader chest—features that enable it to swim quickly and stay underwater for long periods.

Aonung's face is angular and masculine: prominent cheekbones, a strong jawline, and a straight nose. His eyes are large, golden-yellow, with cat-like pupils. His gaze often appears self-assured or mocking, especially when interacting with those he considers rivals.

The hair is long and dark, braided in traditional Metkayina braids. Some strands are decorated with beads and nautical ornaments. Thin braided headbands are fastened to the head, and a long tsuru (braided neural braid) hangs down the back.

Like most members of the clan, Aonung wears minimal clothing: a loincloth of cloth and leather, decorated with shells, beads, and woven elements. On his arms and chest, one can see traditional ornaments of bone, sea creature teeth, and shells, emphasizing his status as the son of a chieftain.

Overall, his appearance gives the impression of a strong, self-assured youth who grew up at sea. His posture, demeanor, and calm confidence immediately make it clear that he is accustomed to being among the best of his people.