High Tides ||Neteyam Sully||

7|| Truth

I quickly followed after them, running to stand next to my brother. 

"What were you thinking?" I shouted at him, letting Neteyam drag him towards his parents, "Lo'ak could die out there!"

At that comment, Neteyam gripped his Kuru harder. We reached the Sully Marui and Neteyam let my brother go.

"Tell them what you told us!" Neteyam pushed him towards his father. 

"We left Lo'ak outside of the reef." 

I glared at him before looking at Jake and Kiri. 

"We need to look for him immediately before he gets hurt," I spoke to them, before yelling out a call to my clan and walking off to organise a search.

I heard my brother apologise to the family before following behind me. 

"Go tell our parents." He didn't protest and instead nodded walking off to explain himself to our family. 

I called my Ilu, diving into the water, and bonding with her before quickly joining the warriors in the search for the young Sully boy. 

I stuck closer to the reef than I would have liked, my eyes scanning the surface of the water for any indication that those that ventured further had found him. Despite the beauty of the ocean at the time of day, my mind was clouded with worry for him. The thought of my sister so distraught losing the boy she had supposedly fallen in love with broke me and pushed me to search harder and push the boundaries my father had set. 

As I moved to dive into the water, to search for him myself, I heard the call. 

They had found him. Alive or dead I was yet to know.

At that Blotch turned and swum back into the reef quickly.

We reached the dock and I got up, walking to stand with my sister, behind my parents and brother. 

I placed a hand on her shoulder, her tenseness shifting ever so slightly as she saw a Tsurak bring a warrior and Lo'ak to the dock. 

I watched as he stood on the deck, he looked at my parents, as his own parents pushed to the front. 

"He's fine! He's fine." Jake looked at my parents, "Just a few scratches!"

His mother and siblings ran past us. 

"I pray for the strength that I will not pluck the eyeballs out of my youngest son," Neytiri said almost between hisses. 

I stepped forward and placed my hand on Kiri's shoulder, having her turn to look at me and smile gently. 

"My son knows better than to take him outside the reef," my father pushed Ao'nung to his knees as a way to force him to apologise "The blame is his."

"Let's go." Jake began to speak.

"No, this was not Ao'nungs fault, this was my idea."

Tsireya and I stiffened and looked down at Lo'ak. He was lying, Ao'nung had almost gotten him killed no doubt and he was defending him.

"Ao'nung tried to talk me out of it."

"Lo'ak" Neytiri grabbed him to make him look at her, yet he didn't, he looked my father directly in the eye. 

"I am sorry."

"Come on." Jake became stern and Lo'ak followed, climbing onto the walkway. 

He walked past my father and his family followed him. 

As Neteyam passed me he looked at me with the same confusion and shock I held. 

"Is this true?" my eyes snapped to my father as he addressed my brother. 

"What were you thinking?" My mother looked at him more intently. I sensed that she knew the truth. 

I turned my head and looked at Tsireya, she had already turned around and was watching the Sully family walk away. 

After a moment Ao'nung walked past us, going in the direction that Lo'ak disappeared in.

Tsireya looked at me before running after them. I groaned and threw my head back before chasing after her.

I caught up with her, seeing my brother and Lo'ak not arguing, fighting or bullying each other, instead walking and talking. 

I looked towards the village as we kept walking. 

The eclipse began lifting, and as Lo'ak sat down, Ao'nung lent against a tree near him as they soaked in the warming sunlight. 

Tsireya sat with them and lent against the same tree as Ao'nung, my shoulder pressed against the harsh bark while he leant his back against it.

His siblings and Rotxo were trudging towards us. My eyes landed on Neteyam; his face seemed dull like he was lost in thought as he gazed at the ground.

As they got closer they joined our small group finishing the circle, I looked at Kiri and Tuk, they sat next to Rotox. Neteyam squatted next to his brother, in front of me. I stood in silence as I looked up over the ocean, the family asking their brother what had happened while he was at sea. 

He began explaining how he was hunted by an Akula, a large carnivorous beast after my brother and his friends had left him.

He then began describing a Talkun that had saved him from the predator. 

"I wish I'd been there," I looked over at Kiri, she had been entranced by her brother's story, a wonderous smile lighting up her face, "The ocean blessed you with a gift brother." 

"The Tulkun have not returned yet," Ao'nung spoke to the group about our spirit brothers and sisters, "And anyway no Tulkun is ever alone."

"This one was," Lo'ak began speaking more to my sister than the group, "He had a missing fin, like a stump on the left side." 

"Payakan." I stood from the tree and looked at my sister, my face riddled with worry, "It's Payakan." 

"Who's Payakan?" 

I turned my back and let the others discuss as I looked out over the reef. I tapped my foot and bit my lip. 

"My baby bro! The mighty warrior who faced the killer Tulkun and lived to tell about it." Neteyam's voice caught my attention.

I didn't turn my head until I felt Ao'nung tap my tail and point at Lo'ak as he left the group. 

I sighed and turned to the group, my face pulled in thought as I lifted my hand and played with my necklace.

"What is on your mind?" My sister looked at me worried, and our brother quickly did the same, gently touching my arm. 

I didn't answer them as I continued to stare at the ground. My sister stood in my eyesight, my eyes lifted to hers and I blinked.

"What is wrong?" 

"Nothing. Just, dreaming." I looked from my sister's eyes to Rotxo and then scanned along the faces until they landed on Neteyam, his eyes seemed dark in worry, "I'm fine." I smiled at them.

My sister nodded gently, "We should go diving." 

Everyone agreed with the idea except me. I simply looked out of the reef yet again. 

After a silent moment, the others walked into the water. Neteyam stayed behind, his eyes never having left me in the first place. 

"What is wrong, Akeey? You don't smile."

My jaw dropped, "Yes I do!" 

"You do not."

I sighed and looked down, "If Payakan is here, trouble will follow. He's a bad omen." 

Neteyam placed his hand on my shoulder and lifted my chin, "My brother can protect himself. He's a dumbass, he's not weak."

At his gentle touch on my face, I felt something inside of me fall into place. 

I had feelings for Neteyam, he made me feel safe, and protected, like fighting by his side wouldn't have me constantly checking my back, he would have it.