Perfect//Neteyam

Way of the Water

POV: Ke'Koa

Stalker boy," I said to him quietly. He looked to his siblings and to an annoyed Aonung and Rotxo to see if any had heard. I looked at the boy, Neteyam, I placed my hands on his stomach and chest to feel his heartbeat. "Breathe," I said focusing on his breathing. "Slow down your heartbeat, control your breathing." His heartbeat slowed but when she moved it would jump. "Keep your core strong when you breathe. Allow the air to fill you up." He looked at me, and a strange feeling filled me up. I felt as though my stomach was lost and my breath is stolen. His eyes were yellow but had specks of green in parts. I took my hand off his chest and suddenly I could breathe once more. I looked away and I saw Aonung staring at me.

After about five more minutes we left to go home for it was almost night. Everyone was ahead of me when I was turning off to my hut for the night. I was grabbed harshly by the arm to face Aonung filled with rage.

"What was that little thing back there? Hmm?" He said angrily.

With much sarcasm in my voice, I said, "I have no idea what you're talking about." Aonung hates it when I touch others which I think is funny because it is not like I have ever touched him.

"Your mate. You know that." He said.

"I'm not. We are not mated yet. And hands. Off. Aonung."

"And what are you going to do about it, little warrior." He said with mockery.

I quickly took out my knife from my chest to point it at his throat. "I'll cut you before you can even scream."

"You think you scare me," he said with a gasp at the point of the blade.

I shrugged, "I seem to be doing just that." I smirked.

"Hey, what is going on," Neteyam jogged up to us as I quickly withdrew my knife.

My eyes boar into Aonung's, "Nothing just a miss communication. Right? Aonung?" He shook his head, yes and I watched him walk off.

"What was that about." Neteyam watched Aonung. We both looked at each other, patiently awaiting my answer. I turned around to walk to my hut, he grabbed my hand softly. I turned giving him a confused angry look. He looked so calm and innocent, "I just want to know you this is all."

I shook his hand, "He is only territorial." I tried to turn around again. "Of you?" I almost turned to face him but didn't.

"Yes." I then walk off to the hut. The feeling on my hand was still there, the hot sensation, it haunted me.

POV: Neteyam

The more I was around her the more I wanted to know her. The more I wanted to break through her cold lifeless exterior she put up. I could still feel her hand in mine after yesterday, they were soft but had seen work. Today Tsireya said that we are going to learn to ride an Ilu. A creature like our Ilkran but they swim in the water. All of us were down in the ocean, Tsireya, Ke'Koa, Aonung, Rotxo, and all my siblings. Lo'ak want to try first, I could see he liked Tsireya and wanted to impress her. Tsireya sent us in groups, her with Loa'k, Me with Ke'Koa, Aonung with Kiri, and Rotxo with Tuk.

Ke'Koa called an Ilu to her, it was a male, and it was already with a saddle. She pets its head as I eased slowly to it, She looked at me in confusion then annoyance. She grabbed my hand and muttered Skxawng under her breath. She placed on the Ilu's head, "Don't fear. Ilu are very peaceful creatures."

"I wasn't scared," I said with as much confidence as I could muster. She snickered and smiled, "Sure you weren't. Get on."

I got on him, and she placed my feet in the right position and placed my hand on the handle. "Stay strong in the legs and core. " She patted the places she talked about. "Ilu go fast underwater, deep breath as I taught you. When you dive down keep your head strong, and straight and keep your eyes on the saddle. Trust your Ilu to know where to go. Make the bond." She said softly. I take my braid and contacted it to the Ilu. "Do you feel him?"

"Yes," I said as I felt the bond is made.

"Trust him. Trust his strong legs, his breath, his heart." I closed my eyes feeling the Ilu, she took my hand gently and placed it on the handle, wrapping a leather strap around my hand and the handle to prevent breakage. "Go," she said quietly, I didn't waste time, I told the Ilu to go forward. I shot through the water when I soon emerged from the water. I looked back to Ke' Koa, to see her get on an Ilu and dive to come up right next to me.

She was all soaked from the water, her curly hair weighed down but still curly every second she was above water. She looked like she was glowing from the water. She smiled bigger then hit me in the head saying, "Stop looking at me, Skxawng." I rubbed my head and smiled. She laughed and it was the most glorious thing I had ever heard. She got serious, trying to not laugh, "Stop. You did well. You have learned the Way of the Water." She looked away hiding her smile.