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

˗ˏˋ 5. 'ˎ˗ The fight.

That night, after the word had been spread to everyone searching that I had been found; we had a tsray tsawlultxa. The last time we had one was when it was announced Aunty was pregnant again.

  We all loved these village gatherings. Every family brought plates of food, homemade cordials and desserts. After everybody ate, the parents let us children go swim on the North side of the island. It was close enough that they could still see us, but further away enough for us to feel free and grown-up. I remember feeling so cool when I was younger, following the older kids around like a bad smell.

   Now, I was the older kid.

୨♡୧

     Reya and I were given the task of showing the Sully's how these gatherings worked. What not to do, where to eat and when and such. There was no point asking Aonung to help; he would just purposefully be bad at everything so Aunty would get annoyed and take over. He always found the loopholes.

   The tsawlultxa speeches passed slowly. I was hungry and I hated waiting, but I sat quietly and listened to everyone who came up and said something. Uncle cracked jokes, cheersing with everyone, holding his glass up high and chanting. I wanted to die. I was so embarrassed for him, but I knew everyone loved it. Everyone loved him. He was our leader. We all looked up to him, whether we admitted it or not.

   We were sitting with the Sully's; Neytiri and Jake sitting further up with Aunty and Uncle and their close friends. Lo'ak had conveniently squished himself in between Reya and I, forcing me to move closer to Neteyam. So close that our knees were touching.

   We ate, none of us talking. The food was too good.

"This is nothing like the dinners Mum has been making for us!" Tuk exclaimed, crumbs flying out of her mouth as she grinned, her eyes wide in marvel.

   Kiri just laughed and wiped her little sister's face. "Mum is learning, be kind."

It had been a good feast and we all sat around for a long while after while the clan's littlest kids ran off to the water.    After a few minutes as more and more people left to go swim, Reya stood up.

   "Lo'ak, come, I want to show you the North side." She held her hand out and Lo'ak quickly accepted it. Aonung smirked as he watched the two run off.

   "I'm going to find Rotxo and Peytan," he told me and I nodded in approval.

Kiri was then dragged off by Tuk to go get seconds, leaving Neteyam and I lying back together, propped up on our elbows. I was about to ask him if he wanted to go swim when Häàtawai swaggered over.

   I sighed dramatically and sat up as he stood before me.

"I cannot believe you ran away to avoid our fishing date, Māna," he sneered.

    I clenched my jaw. "It was not a date, Häàtawai." I glared at him. "And don't call me Māna. Only the people I love can call me that."

    "You don't love me?" He pretended to pout and I snarled.

"Hey, hey, Kitty-Cat, don't be rude," he held his hands up in a fake-surrender.  "That's no way to treat your future mate."

    "Go away. You are ruining my party," I told him flatly, looking past him.

   "Come and dance with me," he said, tilting his head, wiggling his eyebrows up and down.

"I said go away," I repeated darkly, hardening my glare.

    "Why so mean?"

"Go away, Häàtawai. You are annoying me." I was getting really mad. I hated repeating myself.