˚ ༘♡ ⋆｡˚ blue blood ⋆ - neteyam sully.

˗ˏˋ 4. 'ˎ˗ Search parties.

I was scolded the whole ride back home. Aunty was very upset I had let the foreigner get so close to me, and on 'something as spiritual as an Ilu ride,' she had said through gritted teeth. I kept my head hung, wishing I could show her how touchy Reya and Lo'ak were. However, I kept my mouth shut. I would never rat out my sister. Never.

    My punishment was fishing with Häàtawai tomorrow morning. I tried to argue, I tried to tell her that I was meant to help with the Sully's. They had not yet got Ilu, or learnt to fish, or learnt to weave or mastered breathing underwater yet. Reya and I had a whole plan on how to test if they were ready for Ilu riding properly. We were going to throw a shell and make them swim and pick it up.

   The more I argued, the more trouble I got myself in. Aunty was furious. She was so furious she sent me outside, saying she did not want to look at me. She was angry at me for not treating her 'like a mother.' I was angry she was forcing me into mating. I was not even sixteen yet! I told her she could not decide my future for me.

    That's when Uncle had to step in. He wrapped Aunty in his arms until she caught her breath again and then sent me outside, as per Aunty's orders. Reya tried to follow me, calling out for me as I stormed off across the sand. I told her to stay back. I didn't want her to get into any trouble.

୨♡୧

    I woke up hidden in my cove. My face was puffy from crying so much and grains of sand had stuck to my cheeks. They scratched me as I brushed them off. The sun was shining down too brightly for it to be morning. Ah shit. I had slept late. I was going to be killed when I got home. I had probably missed fishing with Häàtawai and I was definitely going to get in trouble for not going back home after my fight with Aunty last night.

   I cursed and kicked angrily as I shook the sand out of my hair. As I was shaking my braid around like an angry Ikran; the small amounts of light that got through the palms into my cove disappeared suddenly. I looked up, squinting hard to see past the leaves.

   The belly of a Tsurak. Not just one though, four more flew over me. Oh no. I had messed up badly. Uncle was out looking for me. I let out an angry growl, frustrated with myself and my situation. Why did it have to be me?

   I cupped my hands to my mouth as I ran through the bush that concealed my safe haven from everyone else. I called out three times, as loudly as I could manage. Instantly, the Tsurak all swerved and began flying down to me.    It was Uncle and Aonung on one, Aunty and Reya on another and two of Uncle's friends, Aylo and Mafan. Mafan was Häàtawai's father.

   They landed and Reya leapt off, running as fast as I'd ever seen her run before and throwing herself at me. She laughed through her sobs. "I thought you had run away, Māna! The fight was so bad and then you didn't come home and it got to half to eclipse and I-"

  I hugged her tight. "I'm sorry for scaring you, Reya. I promise I fell asleep outside by accident."

   "Aye, you skxawng!"  I turned and rolled my eyes. Aonung was jogging over, shaking his head. "You are a dead girl!"

      "Aonung!" Reya warned, glaring at him.

"He is right," I laughed, winking at Reya. She looked scared, I knew she hated the arguments. "Do not stress. They cannot be as hard on me, I was just 'missing.'"

  Reya giggled, wiping her eyes. I pulled her back into the hug, holding her tight.

  "Āmāna you are causing me more stress than Aonung is!" Uncle sighed heavily, dropping his spear. To my surprise, he pulled me into a big hug. "I am glad you're safe. But we need new ground rules."

  "I was told to go outside, Uncle, so I did," I told him earnestly, as he pulled out of the hug and kept me at arms length, his hands on my shoulders.

   He sighed. "I know, ma'ite."

"I'm sorry," I whispered.

Aunty was staring at me. Uncle cleared his throat and took a step back. As Aunty came closer I noticed there were tears in her eyes. It caught me off guard a little. I knew she cared, and I knew she loved me but she had never cried like this in front of me before. I couldn't really comprehend the fact she was crying over me either.

   Uncle put a supportive hand on her shoulder and she came over to me, pulling me into a hug, her hand on the back of my head. "Tewti, ma'ite, you scared me. I thought you were gone."

  I was shocked by the affection so much I couldn't form any words. I just let her hold me, rocking me slightly, my head just fitting under her chin still. I felt her breaths slow as she calmed down.

The hug was long, and as Aunty loosened her hold on me, I asked the only thing that came to mind. "Do I still have to go fishing with Häàtawai?"

"Ay, Āmāna!" Aunty gasped, rolling her eyes. "One thing at a time, please."

   I giggled and Aunty turned her back to me. I knew she was smiling.

Uncle came and put a hand on my shoulder, walking me away. "We have to alert the other search parties that we found you."

   My eyebrows shot up. "Other search parties?"

╭──╯༶•┈┈୨♡୧┈┈•༶ ╰──╮

A/N: the next chapter is my favourite so far :) i've got about 8 chapters right now on my google doc, i'm just posting 5 for now (i'm writing this all before hitting publish hehe). <3