𝙋𝙖𝙥𝙚𝙧 𝙍𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨, 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘺𝘢𝘮 𝘚𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘺

𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯

        

𝙀𝙇𝙀𝙑𝙀𝙉, 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗋𝖾𝗍𝗎𝗋𝗇

—— ఌ︎ ——

        ZAHALA’S PUNISHMENT WAS over. The dreaded week had passed, and Zahala was able to leave the  mauri. And by the blowing of the conch shells and the euphoric shouts of the villagers, it seemed the tulkun had returned.

        Zahala smiled, beginning to leave the mauri pod. Her mother grasped onto her wrist before she could reach the door. “If you step out of line, or if you spend your time with those Sully children, your punishment will be even more harsh. Do not step out of line.” Mayan warned. Ov’il heard the conversation from the outside of the mauri pod.

        “Yes, Mother.” Zahala said, ripping her wrist from Mayan’s hold. She turned and ran out of the home, falling in line with the other villagers.

        She dove into the ocean, a lasting smile on her face. Zahala was so happy to see her Spirit Sister, but she was even more thrilled to be out in the sea. Her brief conversation with Neteyam weighed on her mind, though. She had to talk to him.

        Zahala grabbed onto her ilu, swimming out to find her Spirit Sister, hearing Tsireya’s calls to the villagers. Zahala swam up to her cousin, the two engulfing in a long over-due hug. “I am so happy to see you!” Tsireya smiled, looking for her Spirit Sister.

        “I am happy to see people!” Zahala said, eyes wide as she stared at the tulkun, looking for her sister.

        Tsireya laughed, and Zahala did too. “I know a certain person you are happy to see.” she teased, and Zahala looked away, face flushed.

        Lo’ak came over to Tsireya, joining her on her ilu. Zahala smiled at him, looking out to the sea. She found her. “I found her, Tsireya!” Zahala yelled over to joyous shouts and splashing of the sea, diving down into the water on her ilu to approach her sister.

        Ov’il had found his, as well as Mayan and Tanilu, Mayan holding her daughter. She saw Ronal with her Spirit Sister, and Rotxo, Kiri and Tuk with his Spirit Brother. There was one Sully missing, and he was swimming to her.

        Zahala looked to her right under the water, seeing Neteyam swimming beside her. And she smiled, and he did too. Zahala had finally found her Spirit Sister, a tulkun the same age as her who wore the same pattern of stripes and freckles. 

        She dove off of her ilu, Neteyam hanging back to give her space. ‘Sister, I see you, I missed you.’ she signed  to her happy tulkun. Her name was Aytaa.

        Aytaa groaned, Zahala translating her sounds. ‘I missed you. How is your family?’ Aytaa questioned.

        ‘They are well. They are strict.’ Zahala answered, looking over to Neteyam. He was watching her in the water, completely immersed in her. He loved watching her so happy. He smiled, and she did too.

        Zahala faced Aytaa again, listening to her whines. ‘I am sorry. My mother is like that.’ Aytaa said, her fin brushing Zahala’s hand. Zahala placed her hand on Aytaa’s skin, before she swam back out to Aytaa’s eyeline.

        ‘I met a boy. He is not from here. I have been teaching him to live with the clan.’ Zahala explained, smiling widely. Neteyam did not know all that Zahala was saying. Their language lessons had stopped, but Neteyam hoped they would be able to continue them.