Growing up within TAP, Ri'nela was fearful of Mercer and his regime. She engaged in some quiet rebellion, but preferred to focus on protecting the other Sarentu children and picking her battles.

Ri'nela sometimes feels overwhelmed and even a little alienated by her own culture as she attempts to find her place on Pandora. She focuses on connecting to Eywa and searching for information on the Sarentu clan to help them reclaim their heritage.