The Metkayina Boy.

Aonung

I was awaken by voices and clatter. Pulling myself up, stretching as I looked out of my pod seeing the sun fully in our big sky. Looking around I only saw my father, alone he sharpened more spears as usual.

I tried to stay quiet not to let him know I was up but failed as the creaking of my movement disturbed him. "You are up." He didn't turn to look at me he kept sharpening the spear, only his ears moving. "Morning." I muttered. The silence went on for a while only the sound of wood being scraped. "Where's mother and Tsireya off to." I asked trying to start a conversation.

"Why do you care. You aren't allowed to join them anyway." He giggled. I groaned turning my back to him hugging my legs. "Why do this to me? You think this will teach me anything? Keeping me away in the pod like a kid?" I don't know why I lashed out all these questions, I knew it would only make matters worse but now that we were alone I needed to know what dad was thinking of doing to me.

"Son.." "How many more sorry's will it take for you to," "I'm not having this conversation again with you Aonung." We both spoke cutting each other off. I rolled my eyes fidgeting with my fingers in annoyance. "My son. I do not wish to keep you in this pod for ever but- you must learn from your mistakes, and most of your mistakes and you admit you've known was wrong. This is how it has to be until I trust you to behave." My face dropped to sorrow hearing my fathers soft voice, actually sounding like he cared and felt a little bit of pity for me.

I turned around moving closer to him. He turned at my movement and smiled. "I know I seem strict and hard on you, and I apologise.. my father was the same and I guess I've failed to be better then him." He dropped his spear and knife with a shaky sigh he looked out to the ocean. My ears twitched at his sad sigh. I hesitantly placed my hand on his back for comfort, also having a weird feeling. Me and my father are always down each others Throat for something, and this felt nice. And awkward.

"Dad." I sounded unconfident, I pulled myself together to speak. "You haven't failed as a father. Even though I've never met grandfather I can tell your way better then him. Truth is I just want you to be proud of me, I want to show you how good of a man and chief I can be, but I mess everything up and always get into trouble or start a big mess. If anything I've failed as a son.." My hand slid off his back and I came clean. I jerked my ears up when I realised everything I just said but honestly this was a good thing. We both needed to come clean and tell the truth of how we felt so I kept still to see his reaction.

He lightly chuckled turning with a bright smile. "My boy." He spoke before placing his arm around my neck. "You have not failed as my son. And you are a great Metkayina man and will be a great chief one day, but when to try and make me proud by doing dumb things is not the way to do it." He told me with joy then straight to serious, soon beginning to speak again as my face dropped. "You make me proud everyday with being my son and only that. Don't forget it." I looked to him, a big smile from ear to ear causing me to smile back. We stared at one another in this heartfelt moment just smiling until the horn blew.

Dad rose quickly to his feet grabbing his spear off the ground, I also jerked to my feet. He ran out the pod and so did I, looking in the far distance to see the Tulkuns! "The Tulkuns are back! The Tulkuns!" I cheered. Dad smiled and hollered along. I went to run off but he quickly stopped me, placing his hand on my chest. "You still have to stay here boy. Don't think your off the hook now." He raised his brow with a smirk only to make me groan.

"Dad please! The Tulkuns return and this is the only time to see them until they leave tomorrow for the next migration you have to let me!" He rose his brow higher still with that muck smirk. "I have a spirit brother dad!" I pleaded. He then chuckled releasing his hand and jerking his head for me to go. "But you better be home before dark. I mean it Aonung." I smiled running up to him giving him a hug. He jumped back with widened eyes and I ran off in search of Liyanin.

When I got to Liyanin's pod I only saw her and Kiri talking. "Liyanin!" I ran to her. She gasped and quickly jumped up and we embraced in a tight hug. "Aonung!" She yelled. When we pulled she had such a wide smile then she tilted her head confused with joy. "How are you out? They let you off the hook that easily?" She giggled. "No and yes- me and my father had a nice talk but anyway the Tulkuns! The Tulkuns have returned!" I yanked her hand and hurried out calling my tsurak.

We both dove and slid on, I moved her hands for her and wrapped them around me as we sliced through the water. Making it through everyone talking and enjoying life with their brothers and sisters I found my spirit brother and almost drowned with excitement. I grabbed her hand again and swam off my tsurak getting closer to my brother.

"Dude how you been!" I signed. "Good! And who's this beautiful lady besides you." He vocalised. I smiled and signed. "She is Liyanin. And also my mate.." I chuckled underwater. He practically screamed vibrating the whole sea. "You have one before me! No way.." I patted his fin and signed "I'm sorry" before turning to Liyanin. She looked confused and only signed with her hands to go to the surface.

When we surfaced she gasped and spoke. "I'm sorry i don't understand anything you too are talking about." She awkwardly laughed. I shook my head with a smile. "It's all good just give me a second." I dove down and reunited with my brother. "I'm sorry we haven't talked and seen each other, also because of your migration but I only have a little bit of time to spend with Liyanin." I signed. "It's ok, I'll see you next migration man." He squeaked and rose his fin up and I slapped it with my hand as our way of saying goodbye.

I met up with Liyanin at the top and smiled. "So what do you wanna do for this short moment we have together." She looked around unsure. "I'm actually not even supposed to be here.. you kinda dragged me out without my explanation." My ears dropped and my heart sank. "I'm.. I'm sorry Liyanin- I got to excited.. I'll take the blame for you so you do not get the heat." I whispered. She shook her head and laughed. "It's okay Aonung as long as I'm back before they are home I will be fine so let's go and not waste anytime!" We smiled and I called my tsurak, heading to the shore.
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"So is this like some little date?" She asked squeezing my hand. "A date?" What the hell was a date? She looked up surprised as if I was supposed to know what that was. "Oh sorry- it's something from my fathers world it's we're two lovers go somewhere alone and spend time together." She smiled and I nodded, still a little confused but rolled with it.

We went to the forest and headed to our branch the night before sitting together talking about the future and what to come. Not even realising how long we were out I quickly jumped down. "I need to get going before the sun falls, I sorta made mends with my father and promised I'd be home before dark." I placed my hand out for her to take it and she did, hopping down we held hands until we felt sand touch between our toes. "Goodbye Liyanin." I whispered giving her a quick and soft kiss. "Bye Aonung." She slightly smiled turning away first. I watched her walk away and sighed.

I hope to be with you soon.
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Lesson of the day don't do the nasty when you ain't supposed to and you'll be able to spend time with your lover 😊
And dang Aonung really ditched his spirit brother for Liyanin. Bros before hoes dawg.
And I thought it was pretty lame how we didn't get to see Aonung during the Tulkuns return so I added in this :)