Through The Valley • Ao'nung

Chapter 46

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̶̶̶̶  «̶ ̶̶̶ ̶ «̶ ̶̶̶ 　 Them or Us     »̶ ̶̶̶ ̶ »̶ ̶̶̶  

[edited]

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The adult warriors had sat down with the soon-to-be-of-age children and enlightened them about the creatures' behavior.

Akulas are depicted as large, carnivorous creatures with sharp teeth and claws, known for their speed and agility in the air. Hunting an Akula would likely require specialized skills, such as knowledge of the creature's behavior and habitat, which the girl wasn't as familiar with as the people around her were.

There was no way to get out of the situation that wouldn't deeply trouble the clan, the chief, and, if not her parents, herself, so she had to go through with it.

She watched the other boys around her and read their demeanor, slightly glad she wasn't set out to do the task on her own, which would have been simply impossible.

At'anau dreaded the time passing as the moment they needed to get in the water crept closer and prepared her breathing while she listened.

Too soon, the specialized hunters pointed them to the habitat of the predator they needed to capture and exterminate.

They assured the kids they'd be on the lookout, but there would be no option of help if they lacked it on purpose.

At'anau and the three kids mounted their Tsurak and started their journey to earn the clan's honor. That's when the girl swallowed her irrational feelings and focused on reality instead of what she wanted.

The girl looked behind her once as she sat on the skimwing above water; Ateyo had his arms crossed, watching the kids' painted faces before they faded into the distance.

She turned back forward and inhaled deeply, filling her lung capacity entirely like the Metkayina kids had taught her, her midriff stretching to create the space, and dove down into the deep ocean.

Holding onto the heavy spear, she swam through woven corals and followed the boys, who navigated the journey more confidently than her.

The kids searched for the animal, swimming through its territory and almost seeking it out. The reefs were empty, with little to no fish swimming around, which must have meant they were at the designated spot, yet the predator was nowhere to be found.

At'anau kept her eyes on her back as well as in front as the boys searched holes and caves inside submerged boulders.

Growing nervous about the distance she had with the others, she sped up and stayed with the other children, passing a tunnel and throwing a glance inside it out of habit, watching a piece of a tail slither inside the shadows.

Her flight response pushed her away from the sight quickly, catching the attention of one of the curly-haired boys, and she grasped his hand alertly.

On the Tsurak, she signed for what she had seen, and the action caught the attention of one of the remaining kids as well.

At'anau led the kids forward but stopped right before standing in front of the cave's mouth. The girl didn't know if it was bravery or stupidity the oldest seemed to have too much of, but to the group's delight, he was the first to take a look inside.

The three watched him search the cave before he dismounted the Tsurak underwater and signed, "It's asleep."

The girl watched the boy enter the dark tunnel slowly, she being the next to look in, just on the edge of the opening. The animal had moved, now facing the exit of the tunnel instead of showing only its tail.