broken peace; neteyam sully

𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘦

The girls had been told by the chief to teach the Sullys the Metkayina ways. To swim.

Ok'xana and Tsireya dove into the water, their brothers following with ridiculous hollers. They flipped onto their backs to look up at Neteyam and Lo'ak who followed in, looking as though they stumbled, rather than jumped.

She turned to her brother who released a laugh, the bubbles rising, scrunching her nose to keep from choking on the water.

The sisters hopped in next, Tuk clutching her knees as she struck the water.

They all looked at them with wide eyes, taking in the vast deep blue around them. The schools of fish all seemed to swim with purpose, either to feast or to not be feasted on. Coral that grew magnificently like palaces of color. The glowing ray that passed them by.

It appeared to bow its head at Kiri, who beamed, touching its underside with her fingertips as it swam overhead.

It was all part of the balance, working with the land and the air. A grander scheme; one difficult for her to comprehend.

She knew not much other than the idea that her people were there in the midst of it all. And she was content with that.

She spun slowly in the water, lifting her hands to softly brush against a group of glowing fish that swirled around her in a flurry. Their four bug eyes blankly took her in as their scaly bodies nudged against her breasts and legs, leaving a soft tingling spreading down her spine.

When she slowed to a stop, the fish continued forward. Her eyes landed on Neteyam who watched her with a wide smile. She pressed her lips together excitedly, noting the fixation in his gaze.

Then, he tipped his head as the yellow school now swam towards him. She felt her eyes squint with bliss as she observed the picture before her. 

They circled his still body as he pushed his hands out at his sides. Some swam between his legs and arms. Another pushed through his braids like a curtain and tickled his face.

He observed it with a curious expression, it reminded her of a child first observing an eclipse.

His dilated pupils gleamed with their reflection, little golden stars in the dark. The creatures circled  his head, creating a florid crown. It was as though Eywa had marked him a prince.

Beautiful.

She felt her body freeze into place, unable to look away from the scene. His brother gawking with a similar expression as hers; lashes batting and jaw heavy.

For a couple of heartbeats, Neteyam stood still as a stone, the fish circulating him, his cheeks rosy as they bumped into him, scales softly itching. He was fixed, glee taking the oxygen from his lungs, making him vertiginous.

They slowly began to pool away, heading towards the coral kingdoms. Revealing the delighted, but breathless, boy.

He tilted his head at her, pressing his lips together, eyes still glistening.

She watched as air rose from her lips.

Then Lo'ak motioned to the surface as bubbles slipped from his lips. He and his siblings swam to the surface.

She looked back at Reya with a tilt of her head. When they poked their heads back into the water the girls beckoned for them to swim deeper.

They followed but once more pointed to the surface as they broke it, taking deep breaths of air.

Ao'nung shook his head, signing furiously to the others, What is going on?

Rotxo signed back, Can they not swim?