Through The Valley • Ao'nung

Chapter 30

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̶̶̶̶  «̶ ̶̶̶ ̶ «̶ ̶̶̶        Scapegoat        ̶»̶ ̶̶̶ ̶ »̶ ̶̶̶  

[edited]

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At'anau was restricted from calling for the Tsurak to escort her back to the island and wondered how she would return, knowing she had left the ilu behind—it wouldn't wander outside the reef.

After a few moments waiting on the second water creature, Ao'nung sent his ilu back home to return with its sibling. The girl noticed how he stayed with her instead of sending the ilu for her to manage alone, but didn't question it.

Ao'nung often glanced back at the spot where he had left the boy's sister, thinking it a game, and wondered how he hadn't been caught on his way back to shore.

When the kids arrived back on land, Ao'nung spotted his sister talking to the oldest twin and noticed the usual presence of Tsireya Lo'ak was absent.

At'anau watched the people prepare the island for dinner and was glad she had made it back in time. She glanced back at the border they had crossed, hearing the strong winds rumbling the waves behind them.

She ignored the boy beside her, who seemed to need to confess something, dismissing the strange sight.

The two kids passed their siblings on the way to the armoury and returned the gear, startled when her older brother entered with the younger girl behind him.

"At'i," he said, fraught, eyeing the boy she had spent the day with warily. He seemed about to ask a question but shook his head in a rush. "Where's Lo'ak?"

The girl looked at Neteyam, then the girl behind him, realizing none of them had noticed their youngest son's absence.

"Haven't seen him," she shrugged, noticing the distress on her oldest brother's face and sighed.

"I'll go look." She tapped the boy's arm in reassurance and sped off.

"I'll come with you."

The girl halted, watching Tsireya catch up as they searched the common places Lo'ak liked.

Meanwhile, the two boys were left alone in the armoury, one knowing the other was the last to see the youngest.

"So, where were you?"

The girls searched the island with no success as the sky darkened.

"He wouldn't have gone beyond the reef, would he?" Tsireya asked, watching the wilder tides.

At'anau shook her head. "It's Lo'ak," she said, recalling his calm demeanor at home. "He won't be far." She reassured Tsireya that her brother didn't attempt dangerous things alone, and with both girls searching, she wasn't worried.

On their way back to the marui pod, the girls expected him to be at their tent but instead met both boys halfway.

"'Teyam, I can't find him."

She moved aside, watching the boy she had spent the day with being hauled by his queue in her brother's grip, frowning.

At'anau and Tsireya watched the look Ao'nung cast over his shoulder as Neteyam pushed him forward. She winced at her brother's approach toward the boy she had grown to know a little better.

The pair stormed into the marui pod without slowing or speaking, leaving At'anau in the tent with her mother and Tuk. She watched Neteyam deliver the boy to their father.