The Breath of Water | Neteyam

51 • Sandcastles Pt. II

"H-huh—what?" He chuckled nervously, caught off guard by the question. Liyanin's gaze fell back to the two sandcastles, then proceeded to stand. She held out her hand for Neteyam to grab on to, pulling him up.

"I think I know how to solve this little competition." She said. "Follow me."

The two started to walk towards the village, their hands separate from each other. Liyanin looked around as she made her way, Neteyam following close behind her, not knowing what she had in mind to do.

After a while of walking though, they came upon what seemed to be a 'daycare' of some sort; the kids were all playing and there was one chaperone. Liyanin stopped walking, smiling down at the sight. Neteyam scanned the view, then looked back at Liyanin.

"You are going to help me." She stated, not caring to elaborate.

"Help? With what exactly?"

"I asked if you were any good with children." She reminded him, a small smirk on her face. She nodded her head in the direction of the kids, saying 'let's go' as she walked towards them. Neteyam reluctantly followed, still confused, but enjoying himself with the love of his life. Liyanin had tapped the shoulder of the chaperone (who was getting hounded by all of the kids), prompting her to turn around. When she saw Liyanin's face, she jumped and gestured oel ngati kameie, indicating her respect.

"I See you, Liyanin, Ma tsakarem." she spoke, a bit eager to be so close to her.

"I See you, Säwila," Liyanin gestured back, turning her attention to the noisy and wild kids. "I see you are having troubles...getting them to hear you again?"

"Ha, like any other day." She replied, laughing a little. Her attention then fell to a certain blue boy standing next to and slightly behind Liyanin. "...oh, who is...?"

Neteyam turned his head to the side, his eyes landing on her. He gestured the greeting, his braids swinging as he dipped his head. Säwila returned the gesture, noticing his braids. They were long and pretty. Then she suddenly remembered who he was. She clapped her hands together in realization, gasping.

"You—you are the forest boy who won the second phase! On a tsurak, too! Ne...Netey...?"

"...Neteyam." He finished, not expecting to be recognized.

Liyanin noticed their conversation, quietly laughing to herself as she looked over the kids.

"Your father is also Toruk Makto, yes?" She asked, earning a nod from him in return. "I guess, the Ilu does not stray too far from the pen, no?"

"Uh, yes! I guess so?" He said, not really knowing what that phrase meant.

"You are the one they call taronyu nowadays...!" She realized. "Okay...I see...wait, Liyanin, are you two friends?"

"Yes, we are. I am also his mentor. I helped him win that phase, you know." Liyanin mentioned, a smug smirk on her face.

"Yet, a certain someone forgot to mention the color of what the glow of the shell would be." Neteyam added, crossing his arms. Liyanin turned her head to face him about to rebut, but then she thought about what he said. When the back of her head was facing Säwila, the latter could see the braids Neteyam had done in her hair. She noticed they were done the same way as the ones on his head. She kind of found that a bit surprising, since Liyanin seemed so closed off; she figured Liyanin wouldn't want anyone besides her family messing with her hair, but perhaps this boy and her were closer than they were letting off.

"Oh, Ma Eywa!" Liyanin gasped, her hands now covering her mouth. "I cannot believe I forgot such an important detail like that..."

"Ah, it is alright. Your guidance still allowed me to claim a victory," he spoke softly, losing himself in her eyes, forgetting they weren't alone. "...I couldn't have asked for a better teacher."