RIPTIDE - Neteyam fanfic

four

"Luck"

They were all gathered on the rock by the shore once again in a circle. They would be teaching the sully's some of their sign language and announg had finally decided to join them again, after his father had scolded him for not attending the last lessons.

"Like this." Stelle' said as she curved tuk's small fingers into the correct shape. "That means danger. It is an important one to know." She attempted it again. "Much better tuk!"

"Can you help me with my hands?", Neteyam asked with smirk.

Kirri rolled her eyes. "No I'm next. Wait your turn."

Stelle' only smiled. "There is enough of me to go around for everyone."

"He'll probably end up asking for private lessons later anyway.", announg joked. Stelle' shook her head, not wanting to meet his gaze.

She helped kirri next and after roughly twenty minutes she had taught tuk and her four different sentences that they could now sign effortlessly.

"You're fast learners.", she told them both.

kirri smiled. "You're a good teacher."

"Is it my turn yet?", said Neteyam.

"Fine." She gave in and went to sit next to him.

Once they both sat cross legged in front of each other she took the first step in showing him some greetings.

He tried to replicate her hand movements. "Like this?"

"No." She got ahold of his hands. She enjoyed the nice warmth that contrasted with her cold skin. She never got tired of the electricity she felt touching him skin to skin. "Like this."

Like usual instead of looking at his hands he'd been looking at her. She felt it. His stare. She wasn't sure how it made her feel but definitely nervous.

"Oh ok." He tried again.

"Much better, Neteyam."

He loved hearing her praise him. The way his name rolled of her tongue with an accent that just made it so much better. He could hear it over and over again and never get tired.

"Let's try another one."

-

Stelle' had grown rather attached to kirri. Over the days they'd found so many things in common they were practically best friends. Which was precisely why seeing her brother and rotxco picking on her made her furious.

She rushed over to them as soon as Lo'ak had started a fight despite Neteyam's efforts to diffuse the situation.

"Ow my tail!"

"Ow my ear!"

They yelled like children as they pulled each other's body parts.

Stelle' made her way to Announg and grabbed him by the arm, pulling him away from a very angry Lo'ak. "Announg don't be a child!"

"I don't need you to baby me, stelle'" he winced as she pulled him by the ear. "Ouch. Let go let go let go!"

"Father is going to kill you. And I will watch." She exchanged a look with Neteyam as she dragged Announg along with her back to their hut. He was thankful. "I will let you tell him yourself but I will if you don't."

"Ok ok just let go!"

Stelle' let go of his ear and let him walk the rest of the way himself. She couldn't believe he had been so childish. Making fun of someone who was simply minding their own business. It was completely unnecessary and rude.