Wise Fish | aonete

5 𓆞 Off Base

The Sullys had finally established themselves after a few months in their new home. Lo'ak and Tsireya grew closer every day, Kiri and Tuk must have explored every inch of the reef together, and their parents had become accepted and well-liked amongst the adults of the village. Neteyam and Ao'nung spent most days together with almost the exact same group they'd traveled to the estuary with—after Eyehu's leg healed and Lenieyfe had apologized and promised to stay away for a while, or else Neteyam would have ensured he wouldn't be able to lay down comfortably for a week.

Of all the things Neteyam had thought would happen since arriving, making new friends was not one of them.

One day, Eyehu was later than normal, and they soon found out why when she finally burst out in front of them from under the surface of the water, a wildly happy expression on her face.

She nearly forgot to greet them with "oel ngati kameie," she was so eager to share the good news. "Awsre has completed all of his iknimaya, and he was just told this morning that they will be holding his Dream Hunt tonight!"

Everyone erupted into congratulatory shouts, rushing to crowd around Eyehu as she beamed brighter than the sun.

Neteyam hung back, smiling quietly to himself. He remembered his own Dream Hunt like it was yesterday. He had been told that while under his trance, he'd slurred his way through a praise song about his mother becoming Palulukan Makto, which was no surprise, as Neteyam's spirit animal had appeared to him as a palulukan. He had wondered if the one that appeared before him could possibly be the same one that his mother had ridden, but he knew that Dream Hunts were rarely that specific.

The excitement around Eyehu dissipated, and she broke away from the small crowd, her ears angled back happily. Nama slid through the water to move beside her friend, a teasing tilt to her mouth.

"So," she remarked coyly, "how do you feel about being mated tonight?"

Eyehu shrieked and smacked Nama's shoulder. Her ilu squealed as its rider was jostled, but neither of the girls noticed as they laughed raucously.

"Oh, stop, Nama, you know that is not certain. I am not the only option he has, and he is free to choose as he wishes."

"Don't lie," Rotxo chimed in teasingly, rolling his eyes. "I have seen you two around the village. He is always following after you like a young ilu after its mother."

Lenieyfe scoffed and opened his mouth, most likely about to say something cruel, but he was cut off when an "accidental" splash from Nama's ilu filled his mouth with seawater instead. Everyone ignored him as he spluttered and choked. They were too busy waiting for Eyehu to answer.

"We do spend quite a bit of time together, but I also spend time with you." Eyehu chuckled, looking around the group. "And I'm sure none of you would choose me once you go through your iknimaya."

Neteyam could see Ao'nung side-eyeing him, and he smiled to himself. Even though he hadn't shown the slightest bit of romantic interest in Eyehu since the day they met, Ao'nung was still convinced he was head over heels for her. Yet, somehow, Neteyam couldn't bring himself to tell him it wasn't true. He truly didn't like Eyehu as anything more than a dear friend, but he didn't think he could handle the look of disappointment on his other friend's face when he realized he had put in so much effort for nothing. At least his dilemma would resolve itself tonight.

"I don't know, Eyehu," sighed Nama, "I might be tempted to take you for myself if Awsre is foolish enough to ignore you."

The two girls giggled and splashed each other playfully. Their ilu were very patient, but at that moment, they looked like they'd rather be anywhere else.