The Ocean's song (NeteyamXAo'nung)

[Chapter 7: Close together]

Ao'nung said he would take me somewhere today .

"I'll take you somewhere but be patient "

"I've never been so patient with someone." I nudged him .

"I should be the one to say it but okay."

"Wow I'd like to see you being impatient, which you already are."

"Oh really how?" He turned his head as we were walking on the shore.

"Remember the first day of diving "

He closed his eyes and sighed

"Oh no. No don't bring that up. Neteyam don't-"

"You are not good divers maybe good at swinging through trees-"

before I could finish my sentence he wrapped his arms around my waist and picked me up and swayed in a circle. We both started laughing and fell on the ground.

"Ouch skxawng" we both looked towards the sky, it was pinkish.

It will be night soon.

"After it gets dark meet me here"

I turned to look at him his skin was a golden ish green due to the light he turned to face me.

"Alright."

After it got dark I went to the shore he was already waiting for me on his ilu.

"Come" he said.

"Are we both going to ride on that?"

"Yes why not?" And he offered his hand , which I took gladly.

We rode deep into the water I saw a bright glint of light. The spirit trees, I've never been here.

He signalled me to get off as we did.

'Come with me' he took my hand as we swam.

The beauty of this place brought a smile to my face I looked at him and he had the same expression.

He took his braided queue in his hand and joined it with the tree I did the same it was beautiful.

He tapped on my shoulder, his eyes were different this time.

'Come closer to me' he signed.

'Let's be together ' he signalled again.

'Come be one with me' I signed back.

He brought himself close to me, his white freckles glowed his braided queue held by his strong hands.

I brought my braided queue to my hand as it slowly got closer to his.

We formed the bond, I formed Tsaheylu with him. I closed my eyes and so did he. My head went backwards I could feel him, his heartbeat, his breath everything.

He kissed me, he kissed me until we both ran out of breath.

Suddenly he went back with a force our bond was broken and I saw Lo'ak taking Ao'nung down with a blow.

Oh no. He saw us.

Tsireya tried to stop him so even I interfered .

After a few more blows we all sat near the shore.

Tsireya treated Lo'ak's wound and I attended to Ao'nung.

"Ow ow slowly-" Lo'ak winced.

"Stupid sit straight " Tsireya hissed.

It was silent between us for a long time and it was getting uncomfortable but Lo'ak spoke.

"Hey you like my bro or something?"

Ao'nung looked at him.

"Yeah. I do."

"Okay I get it but forming the bond.
Dad will skin you if he got to know "
He glanced at me.

"I love him" as these words came out from my mouth everyone looked at me even Ao'nung seemed surprised.

"I'll support you bro don't worry. If he skins us he skins us together " this made a mood a little lighter as we all laughed.

I pulled his neck with my arm.

"My baby bro so now tell me why were you there too?" I realized.

"Really though why were you both there?" Ao'nung was curious.

"That- I wait why change the topic tell us more about you guys"

I already knew about Tsireya but damn my brother moves fast.

"Wait are you guys a thing or something?" Ao'nung seemed so surprised.

Lo'ak and Tsireya couldn't look at each.

"The cat's out of the box"

"What's a cat?" Ao'nung asked.

"Just a sky people saying , but you didn't know about them? "

Ao'nung shook his head.

I laughed.

"Hey stop it" Lo'ak hissed.

" Okay, okay. How about a night ride?"
I looked expectantly at them.

"Alright let's go."

We called for our ikran.

"Aw no way I'm riding that"

"Come on man don't shy away. You already bonded with my brother. I've got to see what you got in that thick brain" Lo'ak smirked.

"Come on" I smiled as he took my hand.

We rode the night and came back to my tent we four chatted all night.

Tsireya told me how Ao'nung used to sing but he seemed embarrassed about it.

I remembered my mom singing me my song one time, she told me she used to sing while counting her beads when she was pregnant with me.

"Come on man. You don't know how fun it is back home. We used to run around the forest and Spider used to-"

As Lo'ak said his name he made a long face.

"I'm sure Spider's fine. " I assured him.

He just nodded this made everything awkward again.

"Remember the one time your ikran threw you off."
He smiled again.

"Come on bro that was my first time flying "

After a long time of sharing our life experiences Tsireya and Ao'nung walked out after saying their goodbye.

"Hey do you think we should go check on Spider once." Lo'ak asked me when we both went to our net.

"No way dad will kill us"

"I asked him but he said we shouldn't leave they're waiting to pounce on us"

"It is true. I wonder how the people are grand ma, Grace everyone. Lo'ak do you think we'll ever return home?"

"I don't know. Hey remember what dad said?"

Yeah.

"No matter where we go this family is our fortress" we both muttered.

I feel sad when I think about my home but after meeting Ao'nung it's been different. I wanted to run off when I first arrived but if I think about it now I can't run off it's like running away from my home.

That was the end of Chapter 7. Thank you for reading.♡