Through The Valley • Ao'nung

Chapter: 62

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̶̶̶̶  «̶ ̶̶̶ ̶ «̶ ̶̶̶ 　Choking on Dust 　 ̶ ̶ ̶»̶ ̶̶̶ ̶ »̶ ̶̶̶  

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As twins there was no knowledge of a time without one with the other bound to the hip, or ankles. 

When one would cry so would the other, upset over the trouble they had to endure. 

There was no time one would shiver with colds without having the expectation of the other ready with blankets fulfilled. 

When one would be hurt the other kissed the pain away. 

When one was in trouble the other found a second shovel to dig them out from. 

When one was drowning the other became the air in their lungs 

But this time it was dark, the waters were cold and seeped through her lips, filling her mouth through her clenched teeth .

The girl fought the water that searched for ways to get to her lungs, but she was growing tired. 

Keeping her eyes closed she feared the disappointment of opening them and not finding her brother with a reached hand ready to pull her out and wrap her in a blanket. To take the blame, heal her wounds.

Instead the girl let her own body be lowered in the waters until she could sense Neteyam's presence again, she would wait. Until the burning pain would recede.

She wondered if he would be disappointed, upset, or perhaps glad to meet her so soon. Then yet, he wasn't supposed to be awaiting her to start with. 

She should have done more, it should have been just her. 

She awaited, endured the burning sensation augmenting inside her chest as she continued to fight and wait for unconsciousness to take over. 

It was so dark, and it was so cold and when the girl slowly opened her eyes everything was so quiet. 

Would this be it? The girl's skin was numb to the temperature, yet half out of consciousness she found it in her to ponder. 

A step closer to her brother and the fallen soldiers she couldn't feel more astray from them by the second. Slipping in and out of awakening At'anau let her body be carried by the current, only she fell into and embrace too warm to be her mind's. 

A moment passed and she wondered if this was her traversing of the bridge, but the remaining feeling of pure sorrow felt too real for her spirit to be considered free. Slowly the girl found it in her to open her eyes, not knowing what to expect but certainly not the face if the stoic man reaching for her then. The large figure, huge warm hands wrapped around her arms and pulled himself to the girl. 

The warm grip on her skin too alive for them to be otherwise and the cold temperature of the water meeting that same spot again forcing her to swallow the fact she continued to be alive as well. 

Water slipped between the girl's lips as her mouth opened at the sight, her heart on the brink of stilling before At'anau watched Ateyo pull the gill mantle off his back and over her like a blanket.

Quickly her braid attached itself to the aid under water and in mere second the chilling burning of her chest faded to throbs of her heart beating her blood back to her head.