Forgive me: An Aonung story

The ride

I woke the next morning to Tuk gently pushing my hammock making me sway, "Morning" I say as I ruffle her hair earning a giggle from her in response. "Nàlàni can you do my hair pleaseeee" she says extending her words, "everyone else is too busy" Tuk says with a pouty face. "Of course I can Tuk Tuk" I say as I slowly start to get out of my hammock. I prop myself up against our tents wall as I pat the space between my legs.

"How would you like your hair this time little Tuk Tuk" I say as I gently brush her braids out "the same just more beads please!" She says full of excitement. She always loved having her hair done, thinking on it I could re do mine, I'd have time before I have to meet Ikàlu as Tuk only has short hair.

I start re-braiding Tuk's hair as I weave some extra beads on to the ends for her. "How about when I'm done you help me pick some stuff out for my hair" she nods her head excitedly as she starts to suggest her ideas "I think you should add some gems! Like you did before where you had the gem on your forehead it was so pretty!" I can't help but smile at her words "okay Tuk, you can pick the gem."

"All done Tuk, you look so pretty" I say smiling brightly at the girl, "Thank you Làni" she says as she gives me a big hug "I'm going to see my friends now bye!" She shouts as she runs off. I shake my head chuckling, so much for her help.

I make a start on my hair as I decide to braid it all away from my face, where as I previously had my hair framing my face. I made sure to weave a gem through the front as it sat beautifully on the centre of my forehead. Unlike my mother and Kiri, who always cut their hair short, I preferred to keep mine long, it stopped just above my hips, my braid not being much longer than my own hair. I kept my whole hair in braids, I rarely wore it loose it would always get in the way when I did.

I must've spent longer than intended as Ikàlu appears outside "hey.. I thought we were gonna go in a ride" he says entering my families tent. "Yes we are. Sorry Tuk wanted me to do her hair, then I decided to do mine" I say as I finish putting away my things, Turning to look at him. "It looks very pretty. You look very pretty" he whispers as he looks at me, "oh..thank you-" I was quick to end this conversation as I changed the subject "-come on let's go" I say as I run out of the tent.

I was a fast runner, but definitely no match for Ikàlu within an instant he took over racing ahead of me as he calls for his Ikran. He hold his hand out to me as he places me behind him, "hold on tight" he says cockily as I scoff, wrapping my arms around his waist. Without hesitation he instantly takes off, leading us out of our home in the rocks.

Ikàlu flies us over to a beautiful waterfall that falls off one of our floating mountains, I extend my arm out as I led my hand to slice through the water, letting out a big smile. I let out a cheerful scream as he dives his ikran down with speed, doing loops in the air.

Ikàlu flew us over to a big lake between the trees, I could feel the cool mist of the lake against my skin as the ikrans wing slices through the water. The water below me is a deep blue, I watch as the sunlight danced on its surface. Every now and then, I could catch a glimpse of small fish swimming just beneath the surface. For the first time in a while, I sensed a feel of freedom and exhilaration as he flew us over the lake, it was peaceful, I felt calm.

We landed in the branches of a tree as he helped me down off his ikran. "Come on let's climb" he says with a grin as he starts getting higher, I follow slowly behind him as I climb up, gripping onto many branches to pull myself up. We reached the top of the tree as we perch ourselves on a small branch staring at the world around us.

"That was fun" I say with a smile as he nods turning his attention away from the view to me. "Thank you for coming, I enjoy your company" he says as he looks at me intently. I nod my head as I wasn't sure what to say, I didn't want to say the wrong things and offend him.