The Children of Land and Sea

Regret and Remorse

Dacey's P.O.V

I sit inside my sisters tower. I am on the top floor relaxing in her hammock. Izel is not here though, she is in Wakanda helping our brother Aphiwe with his new Royal duties.
When she is gone I often confiscate her tower since I never got a place to go hang out on my own.
Looking out the window I watch the animals pass by. I do this when I'm often sad or when I'm bored and can't think of anything to do. Today I sit for the latter reason.
I let out a dreamy sigh as I watch a whale come in the windows sight, but I also remember my own Whale, Itotia. She has not been present in awhile, and I wonder if she's alright....but I'm sure she is! She can go off for weeks sometimes, usually migrating, but she always returns.
I clear my head from those thoughts and continue looking out the window. I stay that way for awhile, eventually falling asleep.

When I wake next, It is because of a loud noise.
I open my eyes as I hear someone bursting through the water at the bottom of the clubhouse.
I hop out of the hammock and quickly take the elevator down to the bottom floor.
Once it stops I step off and help a Talokanil out of the water. She's gasping for air, so I grab one of the masks that are hanging on the hooks and hand it to her. She gratefully puts it on but begins to speak quickly.
"In princesa, yaan jump'éel láakal naats' le corrientes! K'a'abet a taal u inmediato!" (My princess. There has been an emergency at the currents! You must come at once!).
I nod. "Lidera le bejo" (Lead the way).
The Talokanil woman goes back in the water while throwing me the mask. I hang it back up and dive in after her.

I follow the woman through the waters of Talokan. She swims fast but I easily keep up. Me and her reach the entrance to the currents where more Talokanil guards stand than usual. I wonder what happened.
"Tu'ux yaan le ajawo' yéetel le Reina?" (Where are the king and Queen?) I ask.
"Ku. túun ku'uk ' ulkan táan ichil, ba'ale' k Reina yaan Wakanda K'a'as." (Ku'uk'ulkan is inside, but our Queen is in Wakanda, remember?)
I nod and move past the female guard,  "Cha' in máan, Béet" (Let me through, please).
The guards glance back and fourth but obey. They step aside and I swim through the entrance, the Talokanil woman following me.
I come out from the cave entrance and emerge in the currents. But I stop dead in my tracks as I see what's happened. A whale has been injured.
Two Talokanil stand near it and converse with my Baba who has a concerned expression on his face. I feel tears gathering in my eyes as I watch the scene, but my Baba turns to me and I dry them.
"Dacey," He says coming over to me.
"What happened?!" I ask, my voice suddenly high pitched from terror.
"She was swimming out of our range, and came upon colonizers, who..."

"Wait." I say as I further look upon the Whale. "You've dealt with injured Whales before. Why call me for this one?"
My fathers arm comes across me as he speaks.
"Because Eek'e' k'áak'náabo', it is your whale." (Starfish).
My Whale...is Itotia. She's....
I rush forward but my fathers pre-set arm stops me. I let the tears come and try to fight against him. "Let me see her! She's hurt!!" I cry, but my father doesn't relinquish me.
"Not yet. Let the healers work."
I try and rip myself from his grasp while saying,
"No! I have trained to be an animal healer almost my entire life! Let. Me. Help!!"
My father does not answer or move, he just holds me. I desperately want to hug my Whale and make her feel better, but I can't.
"Will-will she live? I mean, she has to!"
I plead, my father doesn't answer, he just sighs.
"Tin tukultaj u leti' manejaría le ba'ala' ma'alob." (I thought she would handle this better) my father mumbles.
"Zyanya, Bis Dacey suut le áak che'o' ka Ts'aaj in Reina." (Zyanya, please take Dacey back to the Cavern and alert my Queen).
The woman who fetched me-Zyanya-nods and approaches me.
"Princesa, much Ko'ox." (Princess, please, come on).
I writhe free of my fathers grip and zip up to Itotia. I go to where she can see me and I gently stroke her. I lean my forehead against her and let the tears come.
"Your going to be alright, I promise you. Ok?"
She makes a weak noise in return and that just makes me cry harder. I feel a hand suddenly land on my shoulder and whip around.
"Eek'e' k'áak'náabo', please go back with Zyanya, I will take care of her, I promise you."
I let out a horrid sigh and nod. I take my father's outstretched hand and he leads me back to the woman. I then transfer my hand from my Baba's to Zyanyas and I let her drag me back towards my house.
—————
Once I am home, Zyanya informs me that she must leave and tend to other matters, but before Eshe goes, she asks if I need anything. I tell her I'm fine, but nonetheless I pace around the hut with worry. I chew my nails, a terrible habit I developed at a young age, and I walk back and fourth, back and fourth.
"Sisi, wenza ntoni?" (Sissy, what are you doing?)
I momentarily stop pacing and look down at my baby brother T'amor, who stands next to me with wide eyes.
I try and give him a small smile, but it falters. I bend down to his level and say.
"I am walking in a circle because I am worried."