You will fall (Neteyam x Oc)

CHAPTER 41

CHAPTER 41
GUEST

From the moment Neteyam opened his eyes and wrapped his arms around his girl, the man began crying. The commotion coming from his rampant sobs awoke the girls family, their eyes led over to the very much no dead Metkayina girl with surprise.

Sao'Nae winced slightly at Neteyam's grip causing him to apologize profusely, pressing his cheek against hers, " Sorry, sorry, Ma'Tanhì!" He cried, separating from her and cupping her cheeks instead, " You're alive? You're really awake, I'm not dreaming again?"

Sao'Nae inhaled deeply and glanced at her hands, turning her palms to just be sure, " As far as I can tell, I'm pretty alive." She teased, looking back to the corner where her family stared in awe.

Ao'nung and Tsireya quickly lept from the family sadness pile and crouched down beside Sao'Nae's bedside.

Ao'nung furrowed the skin of his brows and shook his head, " Don't ever do that again, Sao'Nae, you hear me?" He asked, nudging her shoulder, " Never!"

Sao'Nae smiled softly, feeling the shear disbelief in her brothers voice.

The sound of Tsireya's sobbing caused the girl to glance over, seeing her baby sister trying to contain her whirlwind of emotions. The girls soft blue eyes shone with tears, her ears flattened and tail thrashing behind her.

Sao'Nae titled her head and held out her arms, allowing Tsireya to painstakingly lay her head in the crook of her shoulder. Sao'Nae rubbed the girls back and let her cry.

Tsireya sniffled, " I took Tuk like you said to...." She whispered, " I brought her back, I'm sorry I didn't stay and help. I'm sorry sister----"

" Shhhh." Sao'Nae cooed, brushing her fingers through Tsireya's curly hair, " You did what your big sister asked of you. It is not anything you should apologize for...."

Ao'nung frowned, " Nae-Nae....You...I...I don't even know what to say to you." He admitted, " You're a mighty warrior..." He then said, reaching out his hand and placing it on the girls heart.

Sao'Nae shook her head as Tsireya finally pulled back from her.

" Ao'nung, have you been taking care of Ma'Teyam?" She asked, " He looks pale."

Tsireya sniffled again but added a chuckle, " Because he hasn't left your side in four days. Getting him to eat anything was a challenge."

Neteyam rolled his eyes and kissed Sao'Nae's knuckles, " She's exaggerating, my love." He promised, " I am fine."

From the corner Ronal and Tonowari watched with teary eyes. She watched the four interact with much interest, seeing how Neteyam refused to let go of her hand much like how he'd been in the recent days. Sao'Nae inhaled sharply whenever she moved, but due to everyone else talking and telling her about the things she'd missed, nobody but Ronal and Neteyam noticed.

Neteyam because whenever she winced she'd softly squeeze his hand, and Ronal because she was her mother and knew her daughter better than she knew herself. Though that was a topic heavily disagreed upon.

Sao'Nae smiled as Ao'nung assured her that the Demon known as Miles Quaritch was dead, strangled to death at the bottom of the sea, and everyone was pretty much returned to Awa'atlu by the end of the battle. He'd also told her about how the human monkey boy felt immensely guilty, sitting outside with the rest of the gang.

Sao'Nae titled her head, " Everyone waited for me? For how long?" She asked curiously, honestly not expecting anyone to really wait up for her.

Ronal took a brisk step forward, her hand resting on her pregnant belly, " Four days and six hours." She said, " Everyone has been praying for your recovery. Rotxo and the Sully children especially."

Tsireya giggled, " I was surprised when Lo'ak didn't burst in here at the first sign of his brothers yelling." She joked halfheartedly, " He's kinda been the rock for everyone outside the tent."

Sao'Nae stared at her mother and father sadly, imagining the hell they must've felt in the four days Sao'Nae was comatose. Imminently Sao'Nae sighed, once more squeezing Neteyam's hand, looking forward towards her parents.

" Did Ao'nung tell you..." Sao'Nae asked, remembering what she had made her brother swear to tell their mother, " Did he tell you it wasn't Neteyam's fault?"

Ronal sighed, " Yes."

" Good." Sao'Nae nodded, " Because he is my mate and I wouldn't accept anything less."

The room quickly became silent. Neteyam pressed his lips into a thin line upon hearing the girls words, not expecting to have this conversation so soon after waking up. Overall it'd been like fifteen to twenty minutes.

Tonowari eyed his wife.

Ronal sighed and approached Sao'Nae's beside, next to Neteyam. She reached out her hands and caressed Sao'Nae's face, pushing hair out of her face and smiling.

" I don't wanna lose you..." Ronal insisted, " Not in death nor in life."

Sao'Nae sat anxiously, ears twitching.

" If you truly need Neteyam....then...then I guess I'll just have to get over it." She said, causing her daughter to smile.

Sao'Nae grinned wildly, " You'll allow it?"

Ronal shrugged, " You said it was not my decision." She reminded, " I will not hide my perversions, but even if I hated the idea of this union more than a thousand suns, I'd rather die than lose you..."

Tonowari put a hand on his wife's shoulder and smiled at the young couple.

Neteyam blinked rapidly.

Two days ago he and Ronal had argued. Over Sao'Nae's body, might one add. Yet now Ronal seemed perfectly ready to bury the hatchet. Faintly Neteyam wondered how Ronal would've acted if Sao'Nae had passed away. What would she be saying instead?

Sao'Nae and her mother hugged, finally forgiving each other for the various things said about the other.

Ronal was teary eyed as she spoke, " I am sorry for the things I said to you, daughter." She whispered, kissing her daughters forehead, " I'm sorry baby..."

Sao'Nae inhaled her mother's scent as deep as she could. Her mother smelled of the sea and sugar.

" I...I..." She struggled to say the words, her stubbornness threatening this beautiful moment, " I am sorry as well." She muttered into her mother's hair.

" SAO-NAEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!" A voice outside the tent yelled, causing everyone to abruptly look up towards the doorway.

Like a cat hidden behind a curtain Tuk leapt through the doorway and dove in front of Sao'Nae crying, her mouth slightly open and eyes wide and expressive, " Sao'Nae you're awake!" She cried out, " I hunted fish! I did it for you!" She said.

Sao'Nae smiled and let out a small giggle, staring at the little girl, " Tuk-Tuk? Why do you cry?" She asked, reaching out for Tuk's shoulder.

Tuk's lip quivered, " Because I thought you were gone..." Her voice pitched, " And everyone was praying and crying I was really worried."

The two hugged softly, Sao'Nae's chin rested on the child's head.

" It's okay Tuktirey. Apparently I am a mighty warrior."

" I'd say." A new voice chimed from the doorway, causing Sao'Nae to glance up in shock. The familiar tangy and teasing voice was also light and airy, a voice Sao'Nae wouldn't be able to forget even if she'd gone deaf.

" KOL???!?!?!?!"