𝙋𝙖𝙥𝙚𝙧 𝙍𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨, 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘺𝘢𝘮 𝘚𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘺

𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘦𝘯

        

𝙎𝙀𝙑𝙀𝙉𝙏𝙀𝙀𝙉, 𝗅𝗈𝗏𝖾 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗅𝗈𝗌𝗌

—— ఌ︎ ——

        IT WAS A few days after the mating ceremony, and Zahala had been as quiet as ever before. She was miserable, and everyone but her parents noticed. They didn’t pay attention. Zahala hadn’t been able to sneak away to see Neteyam since the mating ceremony, but today, she did.

        They laid on the beach of their secret spot, Zahala on top of Neteyam, their lips attached feverishly. Neteyam held the back of Zahla’s thighs, while her hands framed his face. Neteyam didn’t quite know what prompted Zahala’s sudden energy shift, but he wasn’t complaining.

        Zahala pulled her lips from Neteyam’s, panting. He smiled up at her, rubbing her legs gently. “Wish we could do this more often.” Neteyam said as Zahala sat back, settling just above his waist.

        “I know, but it’s fun when we can do it,” Zahala spoke, climbing off of Neteyam after planting another kiss to Neteyam’s lips. She sat beside him as he continued to lay on the sand. “I have to go home soon.” she frowned, hand on his chest.

        Neteyam peered down at her hand, one of his paper rings on her first ringer. “Okay,” he said, watching as she fixed his unruly hair. “I never got a chance to tell you how stunning you looked on your birthday.”

        Zahala smiled shyly, “Thank you. Aytaa told me to tell you that she thinks you’re treating me well.” she chuckled, recalling the conversation she had with her Spirit Sister the previous day.

        Neteyam chuckled too, sitting up. “Well, I’m glad I have her approval.” he kissed her cheek, pulling her up by her hand.

        They waded in the water over to their ilus as it began to rain. Neteyam pulled Zahala in for one more kiss, stroking her face before they mounted their ilus, Zahala leaving first. She swam over to the main docks, finding her parents, her aunt and uncle, Neteyam’s parents and some of the warriors saddling their skimwings.

        “Father? What’s going on?” Zahala asked, her ilu swimming up beside his skimwing.

        He sighed, glancing at his brother. “Something has happened to the tulkun. We are going to inspect it.” he answered, and Zahala’s eyes widened.

        “Can I come with you?” Zahala asked. The tulkun meant everything to her, and she wouldn’t feel right sitting back.

        Tanilu glanced at Mayan, who nodded. He turned back to his daughter. “Yes, you can. You ride next to me.” Zahala nodded, and turned her ilu around, sticking close to her father’s side.

        The warriors led the way to where the tulkun were. Mayan and Ronal were on skimwings beside each other, Tonowari next to Tanilu and Zahala, and Jake and Neytiri on their other side. They arrived to the tulkun, two large ones and one baby dead, orange devices attached to them. Nobody saw the second tulkun yet.

        Zahala recognized the first tulkun as her aunt’s. It was her baby that was dead beside her. Ronal gasped, sliding off of her skimwing and towards her Spirit Sister. She sat on her fin, and screamed in agony,

        A tear slipped down Zahala’s cheek at Ronal heartbreaking sounds. Her uncle spoke to Jake and Neytiri as Mayan moved to comfort Ronal. “Her name is Ro’a.” he said.