𝐊𝐈𝐒𝐒 𝐌𝐄. 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐲𝐚𝐦

𝟒. 𝐀 𝐊𝐢𝐬𝐬

The group sat down on a rock, Alo'an sitting between Kiri and Neteyam.

"Okay, so to be able to hold your breath comfortably you will have to breathe from down here." he hummed, pressing down on his stomach.

The others did the same, mimicking the boy.

"Now, what I do is count to five while inhaling, count to five while holding my breath, and count to five while I exhale." he explained. "You can count to any number you want, as long as it makes you comfortable."

He watched the family do it, but Neteyam caught his eye. He saw the boy look like he was struggling.

"Do you need help?" Alo'an asked, looking at Neteyam.

Neteyam opened his eyes, happy to know that his plan had worked.

"Yeah, I don't get it." he mumbled. "Look, you have to breath from here." he mumbled, grabbing his hand.

Neteyam watched as Alo'an put both their hands on his stomach.

"Breathe slowly." Alo'an whispered, looking up at Neteyam.

Neteyam looked down with a smile, causing Alo'an to look back down at their hands. He placed his other hand on Neteyam's chest.

"Your heartbeat is going really fast." Alo'an mumbled cluelessly. "He wants a kiss!" Lo'ak yelled. "Shut up!" Kiri shouted, hitting the boy's head. "Ow!" Lo'ak groaned.

Alo'an looked at the two as they shouted at each other, and then at Neteyam. He looked down at the boy and smiled.

"You want a kiss?" Alo'an asked with a smile.

Neteyam's ears perked up hearing Alo'an say that. Kiri and Lo'ak also seemed interested.

"Too bad, you're not getting one." Alo'an said, his face becoming serious. "Ooh, rejected." Lo'ak smiled. "Shut. Up." Kiri frowned.

Alo'an stood up, signaling for the others to do so as well.

"Let's go learn how to ride ilus!" Alo'an exclaimed.

They walked over to the beach, seeing as Alo'an called over the animals.

"If you want to belong here, you must learn to ride." Alo'an explained. "Which one of you wants to go first?" he asked.

Kiri and Lo'ak pointed at Neteyam, and seeing her siblings point, Tuk did as well.

"Hey, Alo'an!" Rotxo shouted.

Alo'an looked over at the boy, seeing as he and another were behind him.

"Tsireya told us to come help you." he said, walking over to him. "Oh good, now everyone can go at the same time." Alo'an smiled.

Neteyam looked back at the others with a smile, seeing as they looked who bummed out.

"Okay, Tuk and Kiri go with Pa'iti, Lo'ak you go with Rotxo." he hummed. "You, with me." he said, signaling for Neteyam.

Neteyam looked back at Lo'ak who had his thumbs up. Neteyam nodded before catching up with Alo'an.

"Okay, make the bond and we'll see how well you do." Alo'an smiled. "Okay." Neteyam grinned.

In a few seconds, Neteyam was off. It didn't take long for him to come back after failing. He came back with a frown, seeing as Alo'an was laughing at him.

"Get back on." Alo'an giggled. "I'll fix some things you did."

Neteyam followed the boy's instructions and mounted the animal again.

"You weren't leaning forward enough. When you're about to go into the water you have to go all the way down," he said. "Your thighs were too relaxed, it looked like you had no grip on them."

Alo'an moved Neteyam's legs before looking up at him.

"Keep them in this position." he smiled. "Okay." Neteyam chuckled.

He once again made the bond and was off. This time he did much better, he had come back still mounted on the ilus.

"Okay, that was amazing." Alo'an smiled.

Neteyam looked down at the boy before leaning in towards him.

"Can I get that kiss I missed earlier as congratulations." he smiled.

Alo'an's perked up, as well as the lines that marked his eyebrows. He looked at the boy's lips and then at his eyes.

"You're funny." he chuckled, pushing Neteyam's chest up. "Don't be like that." Neteyam frowned, laying his head on the ilus.

Alo'an looked at him and smiled once again. Neteyam sighed, getting off of the ilus. He stared at Alo'an, who was feeding the animal.

"These kids have it down as well." Rotxo said, coming to Alo'an with Pai'iti. "I'm impressed, Kiri learned really quickly." the girl smiled. "That's good. I see these two knuckleheads took up the whole hour." Alo'an sighed.

Lo'ak and Neteyam shared a look before they started laughing.

"And it looks like we finished right on time." Rotxo said, seeing Ao'nung on shore.