The Breath of Water | Neteyam

39 • Hopeful Endeavors Pt. II

A/N: This is off-topic, but I just wanted to say that I got to go see TWICE for the first time!! It was so exciting and I danced the entire night away with my best friend lol! Anyway, let's get back to the story! 🤟🏼💕

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Neteyam had stuck by Liyanin as she walked to report back to her mom of his improved conditions.

"Where are we headed?" he asked, unaware of her intended destination.

"To my Marui." she replied, still walking. "...I did mention to you of informing my mother of your recent recovery."

"Oh, your mother..." a sudden chill went down his back thinking of Ronal's cold stare. Liyanin saw his shudder, making her giggle a little.

"You can hide outside the entrance while I speak to her. I am just going to tell her about you and then pick my ioi asrew."

His ears perked upon hearing the last part of her sentence. "Your ioi asrew? Is it finally finished?"

"You speak as if you have been waiting for it as well," she laughed. "...but yes. They are complete at last, so now I get to make my choice."

After some time of walking, they reached the front of her home. Neteyam stayed out of the line of sight of anyone from inside the pod, not wanting to alert them of his presence there. Liyanin headed in, seeing her mom sharpening her dagger.

"How is he?" Ronal asked, not even looking up.

"He has recovered. Mostly, I think...but he is able to swim now." Liyanin responded, now taking a seat in front of her.

"...that is good..." her mom sighed. She placed her tools down and turned to grab the three ioi asrew she made. Liyanin's eyes widened out of anticipation to see each completed masterpiece. "...here are your options, as promised. I hope you love them."

"Why would I not? You made them, Mother." she said, a beaming smile on her face.

"Bah, you have not even seen them yet; this is how disappointment occurs." Ronal stated. "...do not blame me for anything."

She laid the three out carefully, making sure that each was shown in its entirety. The first was a loose, woven top. It appeared light and breezy, yet various shells and other shiny and tiny sea trinkets hung from different parts of it. For the bottom it was just a normal, deep green loincloth. The second one had a tint of blue. However, it was completely adorned with jewels and gems from the ocean. Each stone, carefully etched onto the top, shone no matter which direction it faced. It, too, had items hanging throughout the piece, but these items were none other than tiny pearls. The way they swung gracefully as the top was moved, oh, it was such a beauty. The bottom was also a normal loincloth, but a bit longer than the one Liyanin usually wore, and it was a deep blue instead, having some pearls hanging from it as well. This ioi asrew had definitely caught Liyanin's eye. The third was a small, and kind of tight-fitting top made from seaweed and pieces of flat coral. The seaweed was used as covering for her breast while the coral was used as a second layer for a tinge of vibrant color. There were also pearls on this one, but only a few sprinkled throughout the top. It had thin straps that would hold onto the wearer's neck—spaghetti straps—for lack of a better word. The bottom for this one was also a deep blue, but its length was the normal length of other loincloths.

"They are all so pretty..." mentioned Liyanin, gazing at each one. But there was only one that really stuck with her. And she wanted to wear it.

Her eyes settled on the one in the middle, her hand slowly reaching towards it to caress the gems carefully. Ronal noticed her daughter's lingering gaze on that one, a small smile forming on her face.