Forgive me: An Aonung story

A bead

"Nàlàni, wake up!" Tuk whined as she rocked my hammock back and forth, "morning, you okay Tuk Tuk" I say through a hushed voice. "I need you to redo my hair pleaseee!" She begs, "Tuk, I said I could do it" my mother says back to the girl, "but I like when Làni does it!" She shouts back. "Nàlàni needs her rest remember" my mother said sternly, "oh" Tuk says as he gave dropped to the floor.

"It's okay I can do it Tuk Tuk" I say with a smile slowly getting out of my hammock, "I need mine done too" Neteyam says, "me too!" Lo'ak shouts back. "I guess I know what I'm doing today" I say rolling my eyes with a chuckle. "It's okay, I'll help" my mother says smiling, I was excited I liked moments like this where we could all be together. "Dad what about you?" I question with a smile, "why not" he says with a shrug "I'll join the queue" he chuckles. "I'll stay but I don't like mine braided" Kiri says sitting by me, "do you just want one braid with some beads?" I question her with a smile, "yeah okay" she says back. "Yeah I'm gonna pass on this one" spider chuckles as he sits by my brothers sides.

Neteyam goes to my mother as Tuk sat between my legs, "how do we want it Tuk Tuk?" I question taking her braids out. "The same! I liked how you did it last time, I liked the beads" she says excitedly, "okay have you chosen some beads?" I question as she instantly shows me her hands, "yes see!" She shouts. "Their beautiful" I say with a chuckle, "your hairs really grown" I say as I run my fingers through her hair.

"I want it long like yours Làni!" She shouts, I start sectioning the girls hair as I start the braiding process. I knew I'd get hers done quite quick as it wasn't as long as everyone else's. "So who did your hair hmm?" Neteyam questions with a smirk, "Aonung did" I whisper. "I'm only teasing. I really like it" he says smiling, "I like how happy you are here" he added. "We all do" my father said in response, "thank you" I say shyly.

"I like the shells" Kiri says with a smile as she twirls one of the braids around her finger, "he chose pretty colours, the really suit you" she says smiling. "Thank you..the colours have meanings" I say quietly so only she could hear, she gave me a look to continue. "The blue stands for peace, white stands for love and pink means I am spoken for" I say with a big smile, "that's very sweet of him" she says happily as I nod my head.

"All done Tuk Tuk" I say as I smooth her braids out, "thank you Làni!" She shouts giving me a gentle hug, "that's okay" I say giving her a smile as I watch her exit the pod. I couldn't help but chuckle, "where's she going" spider says with a chuckle, "probably to see her friends" I say back. I turn to my side as I take a small section of Kiri's hair making one small braid, adding a couple of beads in. "Can I have one on the other side too?" She questions as I nod, she swivels around doing the same thing as before. "Thank you" she whispered as I nod my head smiling, she soon left the pod.

"Come on then twinnie!" I shout as I pat the space between my legs, "you sure you're okay? You're not in any pain" he questions as he takes a seat. "Lo'ak..braiding hair isn't going to cause me any
Pain" I say with a chuckle, "I know..I just worry about you" he whisper behind him to me. "I know you do but I'm okay" I say with a smile as I start to undo the braids in his hair. "Awh Lo'ak" spider teases him as he hissed in response to the boy.

"How would you like it?" I question him, "can you braid it all then tie it together at the back. But keep a couple out" he asks as I nod my head. As I begin on his hair Aonung stood in the entrance, "here you are" he says with a chuckle "I've been looking all over for you" he says with a smile. "Sorry, Tuk wanted me to braid her hair" I says with a smile, "it's now turned into everyone wanting it done" my father says chuckling.

"Are you okay?" I question him, "yeah I just wanted to have a chat. Nothing serious, I'll see you after?" He says with a smile, "okay I'll see you later" I say to the boy as I watch him exit our pod. "I never liked him. But he's good for you" my mother says bluntly as I give her a confused look, "I like him now. I just didn't before" she says adding onto her sentence. "I think we all thought the same" my father says as Lo'ak nods his head, "even I disliked him at first but now look at me" I say with a chuckle as everyone copies.