To our little ones || Aonung x Neteyam

Chapter 1: The Ankle

Neteyam closed his book after many failed attempts to concentrate despite the chaos currently taking part inside the room. His sister, Kiri, stayed seated very still as his younger brother Lo'ak tried his best to style the girl's long hair.

"It's not fair, why can't we all go to the party?" Tuktirey, the youngest, pouted as she twirled around playing with her dress.

"Because it's not proper for young girls like you, Tuktuk." Neteyam pointed with a soft smile, charmed by his little sister's scowl. "But do not worry, parties are not really that great. I'm just going to escort Kiri, but if you must know I would much rather stay here reading something and spending time with my favorite little sister."

"I could go if you don't want to, you know?" Lo'ak mumbled pretending to be indifferent.

"Yeah, so you can get drunk and play around all night? No thank you, I need someone who would keep an eye on our sister." He opened his arms to embrace Tuk who eagerly nuzzled against his neck.

"For your information, the only thing I would care about is the music, but thank you, brother, for thinking so kindly of me." He mocked, forgetting about the hair iron in his hand and around his sister's hair.

"Should it smoke like that?" Tuk pointed out, but no one paid much attention.

"If it makes you feel any better, I will try to remember the songs so I can sing them for you." Kiri offered in a hushed voice.

"Oh yeah? Are you sure you will not be too busy dancing?" Neteyam teased.

"Please I am sure Kiri wouldn't even give those men the time of the day. All they care about is to wed, bed, and breed." Lo'ak scoffed.

"Breed?" Tuk tilted her head.

"No, Tuk, he said "bread.'" Kiri jumped.

"Like, toast?" The little one smiled.

"Yes, like toast." Neteyam didn't hide the nasty look he gave to his laughing brother.

"I like mama's toasts." Tuk went back to her relaxed position against her brother's chest. "But I don't like the ones Lo'ak makes."

"What!? Why!'?" The young man played offended.

"Yours always end up burned! And they smell like Kiri's hair." Tuk laughed.

"Hey! What's with my hair!?"

"Nothing! It's just the dampness drying." Lo'ak rolled his eyes taking away the hair iron expecting to see a beautiful curl, however, he ended up with a chunk of his sister's hair between his hands. Kiri screamed as soon as she realized.

"Lo'ak!" Kiri stood up to cheek herself in the mirror, watching with horror the uneven length of her hair. A sob broke out of her mouth. "My hair!

"I'm sorry!"

"I can't go, I'm spoiled!" She covered her face as her loud cries were covered by Tuk's incontrollable laugh. "Mom!"

"Do not cry! We can fix this!" Neteyam tried to console her as his fingers ran through the burned hair.

The girl's soft cries alerted their mother who ran upstairs just to find her great lot of children fussing over the eldest sister. Kiri sat still to allow Neteyam to examine the damage, but not without trying to hit Lo'ak in retaliation, who jumped and hissed at every hit that landed on his back, but never moved from his spot.

Neytiri smiled at the scene and immediately went to her daughter's aid. The next fifteen minutes were spent in comfortable silence that was broken once in a while by Lo'ak's quiet apologies that were silently accepted, even in his sister's sulking state.