Lone

23

"You know I'll do anything to protect you?" Lo'ak told me in a whisper.
"I know." I nodded.
"I would do the same for you." I told him.
"I know." He hesitated. "That's what I'm scared about."
"About me protecting you?"  I asked and he nodded, pulling my body closer to his.
"I fear that we might not ever get to return home." He sighed.
"Do you not like it here?" I asked him.
"Some bits." He poked my stomach.
"Like you..." he mumbled and I smiled.
"And..." he trailed off.
"And?"
"I met a tulkun." He whispered.
"You did?" I asked.
"I told Tsireya and she said he was an outcast, he wasn't friendly, that I should never be alone with him." He explained.
"But he's nothing like that."
"I believe you Lo'ak. If he's important to you, if you feel a bond with him, keep it."
"I know." He mumbled.
"What's his name?" I asked
"Payakan."

"While the threat is out there, we MUST FIGHT!" Tonowari yelled to his clan and I shot up, rubbing my eyes and waking Lo'ak up with me.
"What is it?" He asked as we heard cheering.
"Quickly!" I hurried him and we rushed to see what was going on.
"You need to listen!" Jake yelled at the clan, who seemed to be going crazier every time Tonowari spoke.
"Tuk!" I heard her wail and picked her up, standing next to Neteyam and Lo'ak.
"What's going on?" I asked and picked Tuk up as she looked around her, frightened.
"I don't know." She started to cry and I pulled her to my chest, escaping the crowd as I placed her down in the water, her ilu swimming up to her and I played with her for a while to distract her from what was going on, I knew Jake would have it under control.
It was about ten minutes later when Lo'ak stormed the dock, he grabbed what looked like a saddle for his ilu.
"Lo'ak!"  Tuk waved and Kiri came to join us.
"Will you wait with Tuk?" I asked.
"Of course."
I swam over to Lo'ak just as Neteyam got to him too.
"Lo'ak! What are you doing?" He asked.
"My brother. I have to go to him." Lo'ak pulled away and I stood steadied my hand on his chest.
"Bro, Why do you have to make things so hard?" Neteyam sighed.
"No." Lo'ak shoved him back.
"You mean why can't I be the perfect brother like you."
"Boys." I pushed them apart as Neteyam clenched his jaw, his locks swinging as he bought himself back to Lo'ak, trying to contain himself, I was squished between them as I bought my hands out to them, keeping the distance I knew would be broken if I wasn't here.
"WELL I'M NOT YOU." Lo'ak yelled and I pressed my hands against both of them.
"Enough." I told them both.
"I'm going to my brother." Lo'ak hissed.
"No. I'm your brother." Neteyam said with a hint of hurt in his voice.
"I'm going." Lo'ak shoved my hand away and dived into the water.
"LO'AK!" Neteyam groaned and I called for my ilu.
"Stay here." I told Kiri and Tuk before jumping on the back of Lasi, shooting off behind Lo'ak.
"WHAT'S GOING ON?" Aonung yelled as I passed him, Rotxo and Tsireya.
"IT'S LO'AK!" I yelled back.
"HE'S GOING TO PAYAKAN!"