Pandora (Neteyam)

Ten

The next morning Mireya was pacing herself back and fourth nearby his Marui. She practised her words and calmed her breathing and heart and tried to not choke on her tears.

"Mireya!" Tuk came running out and smiled widely at the reef woman. Mireya smiled back and crouched slightly and lifted Tuk up in her arms.

"Good morning Tuk." She smiled and ran her fingers through the young girls braids. Tuk leant head against Mireya's chest and pulled something out of her pouch.

"I made you this! Neteyam helped me make this too." Mireya smiled down at the necklace that Tuk held. She grabbed it and inspected the shells that were neatly threaded through. "Put it on!" Tuk begged and Mireya lifted the necklace over her head and wrapped it around her neck.

"Thank you Tuk, this is so pretty." Mireya smiled and Tuk giggled and inspected it around Mireya's neck.

"I think so too. It goes with your eyes." Tuk smiled and Mireya laughed at her softly and leant her head against Tuk's.

"My brother isn't home by the way. He left early this morning to meet this girl." Tuk huffed and climbed out of Mireya's arms.

"Oh?" Mireya questioned and her tail fell and the tears threatened to fall but there was no way Mireya was going to cry in front of Tuk. Tuk nodded and crossed her arms over her chest.

"Yeah. And I'm mad that it isn't you." Tuk told her and Mireya sniffled and laughed lightly and sat down on the end of the walkway.

"Well you have me right here Tuk." Mireya told the girl and held her hand softly.

"Yes. But I want you to be Neteyam's special person. I want you to be my sister." Mireya's eyes widen and she looked around to see if anyone heard Tuk.

"That cannot happen Tuk. I am not Omatikaya like you. And if he has chosen this girl... then I can't. But like I said, you'll always have me no matter what." Tuk sniffled and climbed onto Mireya's lap.

Mireya closed her eyes and she felt the hot tears roll down her cheeks. "Tuk, I must go. I need to go hunt. But as soon as I get back, I'll be right with you and we can do braids?" Mireya suggested and Tuk nodded with small smile.

"Yes please." Tuk then ran off back inside to the Marui and Mireya could hear Tuk's voice as she spoke to her mother. Mireya smiled sadly and walked back to her own Marui, to grab her hunting harpoon and netting to put on the shore.

Mireya kicked the sand and embraced the hot sun on her skin as she walked further away from the crowds of the clan. Tsireya and Lo'ak were chasing each other across the beach and into the water and Mireya smiled at the two. Her tail swished happily before entering the Marui and greeting her mother.

"And where are you off to?" Her mother asked when she watched her daughter grab her harpoon and netting. Mireya looked at her mother who was tending to a warrior's wound.

"Hunting. We're low on food aside from fruits and vegetables. Kiri and Tuk harvested those for me this morning." Ronal looked up to her daughter and nodded with a small smile.

"Okay, be safe daughter and be back in time for dinner." Ronal eyed her daughter and Mireya nodded and left the Marui. Her legs moved fast towards the hunting area and stood in the water. Other hunters greeted her and collected fish, Mireya smiled and saw those who she taught not that long ago, they were mastering the skill of hunting. Mireya spun the netting a few times in the air before throwing it out, it splashed into the shallow waters and Mireya made note on where she was and walked back up to beach and went to the quiet side of the shallow waters.

She called for Huntress as she walked into the water, waved splashed her body and the Tsurak appeared and nudged her body softly. "Hello my girl." Mireya softly spoke and ran her hand across the top of Huntress' head and made tsaheylu. The Tsurak splashed the water and dived under and they swam beyond the reef, where the fish that tastes much better and is larger. But it also meant that Mireya could be alone and bond with the water.