[LOOK AT ME] Nᴇᴛᴇʏᴀᴍ.S ˣ ᵐᵃˡᵉ ʳᵉᵃᵈᵉʳ

[Misunderstanding]

A confused Tsireya swims out of the water in search of you. Only to find you going off to who knows where. Any other person would just assume you walked away, having no interest in teaching the Sully's anymore. That wouldn't be a surprise. Not at all.

But you were angry. That had made Tsireya confused. She knew you disliked (she refuses to say hate) the family, but she didn't know that what her father had asked of her siblings would make you this upset. She felt a slight shiver of guilt, having talked you into it earlier this morning.

'You are like mother.' She thought, 'Hard to convince.'

Only then did she notice Neteyam, who was not far from where you walked off. In any normal situation, she would have been thrilled to find her brother conversing with the Sully's, but now she felt worried.

Netayam didn't notice Tsireya walking up to him until he turned around to leave and was surprised to be met with a concerned sibling. He jumped slightly but was quick to cover it, which soothed Tsireya's concerns, even if it was just by a bit.

"Do you know where my brother has wandered off to?" Tsireya asks trying to be as unopposed as possible.

Neteyam gave a small shrug, "Don't know." He replied casually which Tsireya smiled at. It was important to her that the family did not feel uncomfortable with her or unwanted. This was their new home after all.

'How would I know?' Or 'Why would he tell me?' Was what he wanted to say. He hoped it would show.

Tsireya thanked the older boy none the less and quickly moved on to look for you.

Neteyam looked in the direction you disappeared in, thinking to himself. Should he apologise? No was his immediate answer.

Did he feel bad? Kind of, but he shouldn't feel that way. These people have been nothing but unkind to them. Not to mention they were the chief's kids. That made it ten times worse. Neteyam sighed and gave himself a small smack on the head. What if this made it more difficult for him and his siblings? Damn. You indirectly told him to stay away from you and fuck off not too long ago.

Should he apologise? It was the same question he asked himself not long ago. The only difference is that now he is rethinking it. Should he? Should he not?

.

.

.

He finally came up with an answer.

He'd do it later.

***

"What is wrong?" Your sister asked once she reached you after a short while. When you noticed she was coming towards you, you stopped to give her time to catch up. Tsireya had been very grateful and thanked you before she even asked what had been on her mind when searching for you.

"Nothing." Your quick answer threw her completely off. "I am tired."

"Oh." Tsireya's ears lowered in response.

"Sick and tired of teaching those bastard kids."

Your sister let out a surprised gasp, almost too loud. "Brother!" She scolded you hands flying to cover her mouth in such a way that it almost made you laugh. You answered that way on purpose. Seeing her reaction always brought a small spark to your eyes.

What you had said was a slight over exaggeration at best.

"I am only joking." You made up an excuse for yourself, but you were not necessarily lying.

Tsireya noticed you didn't laugh at your so-called joke. Hell you didn't even smile when she started talking which you normally do even if it was just a small one.

The bright smile on her face couldn't be hidden as she said, "I see you talked to Neteyam." She tried to gently bring up the topic.

Then you tilt your head in question and scoff.

What were you suppose you tell her? Great mother you tried to be nice-- no you didn't you told yourself. You knew you had attempted it though. Only you. Again what were you supposed to say? You tried to bepolite by letting him ride your Ilu? The one that had been the most difficult to bond with because you simply thought he of all people could do it?

Were you supposed to tell her how you initiated contact with him? How you tried to teach him before anyone else did?How you instructed him and went as far as to put so much of your attention on him after you couldn't bear to look at him at first?

Great mother, how you even gave him the rest of the day to do as he pleases because he had done well?

You felt stupid. Like a 'moron' Neteyam says.

(Re-read the previous chapter if you don't understand what I am referring to^^)

He makes you feel indignant. Something that the eldest son of the Chief shouldn't ever be feeling.

[Indignant: feeling or showing anger or annoyance at what is perceived as unfair treatment.]

After your internal conflict, you walk away from Tsireya and avoid answering her on the topic.

"It's late." You give her a once off glance telling her to follow you to your home.

"Mother and Father are waiting." She picks up the pace in a skip and that is when you realise she has been in a good mood for quite some time now. Ever since she had taught Lo'ak how to properly ride the Ilu.

You don't want to find out why. If anything you already knew the answer.

You just wanted this day to be over already. And that's speaking lightly.