Coin Flip - Lo'ak

12

Sitting on the beach, the warm sun heated my skin, the warmth helping create a film over the cream, thus making it waterproof.

I had enough time in peace to calm down from moments before. What did this feeling even mean? I mean, I knew what it meant but did I want to believe it?

While sitting on the beach, the water crashing against the shore was quite therapeutic to my bustling thoughts.

The repeated waves soothed my mind from overthinking and actually calmed me down the longer I sat here.

And despite being able to swim now that the cream was waterproof, I found comfort exactly where I was.

Quite ironic that I felt this contempt at a location that wasn't my rock. This is good.

I could see how much the Sully family was helping me in so many ways. Both physically and emotionally.

Speaking of the Sully members, one sat right next to me.

"So what do you usually do here when you want to kill time?" Neteyam sounded to my left. And to be honest, I had absolutely no clue about the answer to his question.

I mean, I don't think I ever found myself bored. There was always something to do, something to fix or improve on. Usually, I'd hunt for food, maybe even sun-dry some land food to last a while. I'd work on creating more hunting tools and other items; like when my woven satchels rip or tear, I either mend them or I make new ones from scratch, even my spear and knives get replaced whenever brittle to the point of no return or broken.

Sometimes, I even train with my ilu and my overall endurance to become better. It was already hard fitting in, so might as well try and be better.

"Well there's a lot, depends on what you're in the mood for," I finally gathered a decent response.

"Alright then, what are you in the mood for?" Neteyam turned the quest towards me.

"Well to be honest, I'm quite bored of eating just Nalutsa. Wanna get some land food?" I suggested. "I could even help you make my own spice blend to take home," I added remembering he and his siblings all loved the food I prepared.

"Yeah alright, let's go!" He enthusiastically jumped up and offered me a hand, which I gladly took. And went on our way.

As we walked however, neither of us took our hands apart, not wanting the contact to end. It was nice. But was nice enough for me? I mean, it felt like this was perfect. Too perfect. As if I should love this when in reality, I liked the imperfect. Much more real that way.

I gently pulled my hand away with a kind look towards Neteyam's direction so he knows nothing is wrong and I simply just wanted to have my hands to myself.

Where was that feeling from earlier?

——————

Neteyam and I ended up swinging past my marui to gather knives and something to carry our food once we find it.

We had just gone past the pods and continued walking further into the island, away from shore.

I took Neteyam down one of the many paths I had memorised, one that I knew wasn't too popular so we'd have a better chance at finding something delicious.

I looked around at the nature. It was so calming.

These plants were only a peak at what like I could have had at the forest. Why must fate be so wrong sometimes. I mean, was I really meant to land myself here at the water?

I looked over to Neteyam, his eyes roamed around at everything, surely remembering his home.

I bet he felt slightly homesick. I mean, how could he not.