Oceans Apart (Aonung x Neteyam)

Promise?

"Neteyam, you're doing it wrong! Here let me help." Tuk shrilled, apparently he had dropped a stitch somewhere along the line while weaving an anklet for his youngest sister, not that he had noticed.

"You've become quite the expert Tuk." Neteyam sighed, surrendering his work to Tuk who grabbed it eagerly, instantly kneading away at the material, she had clearly been working very hard. A small smile crept onto his face, he was glad she was adjusting well to Clan life on the reef. He had expected as much from her, Tuk had grown up experiencing many different cultures. Neteyam remembered the first night they spent with the Metkayina, how Tuk had cried begging to go back home. Now she blended in easily with the other children, unfortunately, Neteyam couldn't say the same for himself.

"Mhm! Tsireya has been helping me and Lo'ak a lot." She chirped, her focus still on his half-done anklet.

Neteyams brows raised, "you and Lo'ak huh?" he queried, a spark in his eye.

"Yeah he's always following us around, he must be in loveeee" She giggled, sing-songing the last couple of words.

Neteyam chuckled, the sound light and free. He leant back against the woven wall of his home, the stretched hide casting a blue light on his face as the sun shone down on it, illuminating his features. The two continued weaving together, Neteyam decorating Tuks anklet with different types of polished reef stone he had found while diving as well as a particularly beautiful white and pink shell that adorned the centre of the woven material. Tuk had long finished her armband for Neteyam, loosely tying it around his upper arm; she had chosen an Omaticayan beading pattern but used the Metkayina weaving style with dried sea grass. Neteyam appreciated the touch of home in the band, running his fingers over the beading, a solemn smile fell across his features.

"Thank you Tuk, it's beautiful, I promise to never take it off" Neteyam spoke softly, sucking in a deep breath.

"Really? you promise?" She giggled, pinching at his face and pulling at the skin forcing a quick "ow!" from him. Neteyam grinned, pushing her hand from his face, a small red mark forming on his cheek.

"Yes, I promise," Neteyam laughed, flicking at her with his tail.

Tuk pulled Neteyam along with her, practically dragging him as he stumbled lagging behind. Her new anklet rattled with each rushed step she took towards the water.
"Hurry Neteyam! You swore you would come see the Ilu ponies with me!"

"I know Tuk, they will still be by the docks by the time we get there, they won't swim away" Tuk let out an exasperated groan, Neteyam chuckled in response, feeling pleased.

Tuk hopped into the waist-deep water by the dock, dodging a particularly large group of starfish-like creatures that clung to the rocks in bright sprays of colour. She waded over to the youngest Ilu pony, clicking her tongue and mimicking the call he had heard Aonung perform just the other day. Neteyam slid into the water after her, deciding the heat from the sun had become unbearable on his skin and moved to sit in the shade under the long woven docking. He watched Tuk contently, she had joined in with the other Metkayina children, playing and laughing along with them as the Ilus danced around the kids creating small white wash waves.
Neteyam watched the woven bridge above him dip from new weight pushing it down. Sliding out from his spot he craned his head up to see Aonung, he held an array of dyed seagrasses in his arms, he stood frozen, forgetting his previous task. The peaked sun illuminated his face as his gaze travelled past Neteyam to the children playing together, a soft smile adorning his features.

"It's rare to see you smiling like that" Neteyam grinned, mimicking Aonungs soft expression

Aonung startled, fumbling the pile of grass in his hands, his bewildered expression morphed into one of irritation upon noticing Neteyam in the crystal-like water below. "What the fuck are you doing down there freak" he spat, ears flared back and his tail whipping.