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Chapter 3. Dawn

It was early in the morning when Loak woke up. It was still dark outside, he rubbed his eyes and wondered if he had gotten any sleep at all the previous night. He couldn't stop thinking about Na'tali, if she was the same person he thought she was. She had to be why else would she be the only forest Navi here he thought to himself.

It had to be around 5 or 6 in the morning, Loak could not get himself to fall asleep again. He tossed and turned in the net cot that held him up in his new home. He turned to see his family, all sleeping of course, he decided that since he couldn't get any sleep he would take a walk. Perhaps try and clear his mind. He quietly tip-toed out of the hut, trying to not wake anyone. It was fairly dark outside but he could see a small glimmer of light from the east sky. He walked quietly outside, to a nearby beach. When he suddenly saw a figure out in the distance, he saw someone sitting on a rock in front of the water on a not so far beach. He didn't know whether or not he should go to see who it was. As he made his decision he heard humming in the distance, then he saw the figure brush back a braid of hair. He instantly knew who it was, he walked up to the person quietly, when suddenly she jumped up startled and pointed a spear at him while hissing.

"Whoa!" Loak jumped, he raised his arms up in defeat, "it's just me, Loak" he quickly said, startled by the young Navi's reaction.

"Loak!" gruffed Na'tali. "Do not sneak up on me like that!" she whisper shouted. Not wanting to wake any villagers up. She lowered her spear and relaxed her body, "I could have-" she looked around for something to say, she looked down at her spear, "i could have stabbed you!" she finished. Loak slightly smiled before lowering down his arms.

"I'm sorry," he whispered. "I couldn't sleep". he said in an attempt to explain why he was out so early.

Na'tali looked at him, before she sat back down on her rock and patted it, inviting Loak to come sit beside her. He walked up to her and sat down beside her. They both sat there, the noise of the sea waves coming back and forth to the shore filled the silence between them. Both unsure of what to say to the other.

"So em," he cleared his throat, "why are you up so early?" Loak asked 

Na'tali, she sighed and looked down.

"I couldn't sleep either", She honestly replied, she laughed a little and as did Loak, before they both stared back at the sea. There was then a brief moment where none of them said a word. Na'tali didn't feel uncomfortable, she was at ease with Loaks presence she simply wandered in her thoughts as she did most nights when she couldn't sleep. This was her favourite beach to come too. Especially at night, you could see the glow coming from the reefs underneath the water.

"Can I ask you something?" Loak said, Na'tali looked at him, he wore a serious look on his face.

"Of course" she smiled, trying to make the newcomer feel at ease.

"You're the girl who went missing aren't you". Loak had an expression of realization and sadness on his face. "You're Na'tali Hart'' he said. 

Natalis face brightened, her eyes widened, she felt relieved, and an aching in her heart all at once. Loak remembered her. She felt tears start to form in her eyes, her long lost friend who she barely knew anymore, remembered her. Loak noticed the water dropplets in Na'talis inner corners of her eyes.

"You remember me," she answered, her voice quiet and soft. Loak paused his sentence before he whispered

"I thought you were dead", his voice shaking, he felt his own tears start to form in his eyes. All these years, all the search parties, all the grief he had felt. His best friend was alive, he couldn't believe it.

Suddenly Na'tali stood up and brought Loak in for a huge. He was at first shocked by this, and held his arms up as he didn't know how to react. But this was his childhood best friend he thought to himself, she was the one that would always help get him out of trouble with his father. He gave in, lowered his arms and wrapped them around Na'tali.

Na'tali felt Loaks arms wrap around her, she felt at ease, she knew hugging him was a risky move after all they had just re-met 1 day ago. Na'tali wanted to catch up with Loak, get to know him all over again, she couldn't believe she was actually standing with him right now. She thought they would never meet again.

As they broke away from the huge, the tears in their eyes both gone they looked at each other. Na'tali laughed slightly, she couldn't do bare silence she felt awkward. Loak then laughed with her. His smile was sweet just like the one Na'tali remembered.

"How the hell did you end up here!" Loak blurted out to his friend.

"Shhhhh! you're gonna wake up Tsireya and the villagers" she giggled.

"Your shushing is louder than me" Loak whispered. They both smiled at each other, then they sat back down on the rock in front of the water.

"Well," she started, "I remember running away from my home," She whispered she skipped over the part about her birth father abusing her and went straight to the part about seeing the woodsprite leading a path for her. "Next thing I knew I woke up in Tonowaris arms at this very beach".

"Why did you run away"

Na'tali sensed some anger coming from Loak's voice, she knew he was upset about her leaving, however she didn't know how much it had truly affected him. Na'tali thought carefully before answering, she didn't want to say the wrong thing and have their friendship permanently ruined. She decided it was best to just tell him the truth, as much as she didn't want to. 

"My birth father was hitting me" she plainly said to him. Loaks ears perked up and eyes widened.

He saw pain in Na'talis eyes, it suddenly all made sense to him. He always had a much better memory so he always remembered the small details of their friendship before Na'tali disappeared. When they were kids Na'tali always had some new bruises on her leg. Loak, too young to understand, simply thought she was clumsy and didn't think much of it. However he alway wondered why whenever he and Neytam would wrestle or fight she would always make an excuse and leave. How she never wanted to go home and even after a long day of being together she wanted to sleep over with Kiri. She was also never really a touchy person, when Kiri went up to hug her one time she backed away and Loak never understand why.

"I'm so sorry," he said, trying to sound comforting. Loak, not knowing what else to say, looked down.

"It's not your fault" Na'tali answered looking out to the sea. Na'tali knew whenever she brought this up people always pitted her for it. She didn't want that, she wanted to be respected and be seen as strong, but when she was with Loak she felt she knew she could trust him. Na'tali and Loak sat in silence for a few more minutes, listening to the waves of the water. Then there was a bright light at the end of the sea shining. The sun was rising.

"I should get going" Na'tali stood up brushing herself off getting ready to leave. "My Aunt and Uncle will be awake soon," she said.

"My parents too," he said standing up as well.

"I'll see you at training Loak" she smiled, Loaks face lifted and he matched her smile with his.

"And don't think that just because we used to be best friends that I'll go easy on you" she pointed at Loak with a watch out look on her face. Smiling Loak shrugged his arms and answered

"I'd expect nothing less"

He watched Na'tali walk away, he felt a sense of relief in his chest, not only had he found his long lost friend, but he felt he was finally going to find a place where he'd fit in. This would be his new home.