𝗂𝗇𝗏𝗂𝗌𝗂𝖻𝗅𝖾 𝗌𝗍𝗋𝗂𝗇𝗀, 𝙉𝙚𝙩𝙚𝙮𝙖𝙢 𝙎𝙪𝙡𝙡𝙮

𝗂𝗂𝗂.

𝘛𝘏𝘙𝘌𝘌

        IF THERE EVER WAS SUCH a thing as a perfectionist, Seylu would be one. Every single thing she did had to be perfect. It was a pressure she had put on herself at a young age, and it carried her to the age she was now. Her family always tried to talk her down the ledge she placed herself on, but it never worked. There was no room for mistakes in Seylu's world.

Seylu led another successful hunt the next morning. Ouali helped her confidence, providing a smooth ride and a helpful wing. He helped guide her, making noises to point her in the direction of the fish. Seylu cared so deeply for her mount, and everyone could see how strong their relationship was.

She cleaned her haul of fish very efficiently, wrapping them in paper and dropping them off at her family's mauri pod before she climbed onto Ouali quickly, swimming over to where Tsireya and Ao'nung were.

Tsireya, Ao'nung and Rotxo were in the water with the Sully children, and Seylu swam over to them as the whole group broke the surface. She approached her brother, who had just gotten his head slapped by their sister.

Seylu saw the taller of the Sully brothers looking at her, and she put a finger to her lips, inching closer to Ao'nung. Seylu placed her hands on her little brother's neck, shoving him under the water.

As he came back to the surface, everyone chuckled quietly at his face, but Ao'nung didn't find it funny. "You are crazy." he commented, noticing the bloodied spear that was attached to her tsurak's saddle.

She rolled her eyes, swimming between her two siblings. "Come hunt with me, then. You'll see some crazy things out there." Seylu said, poking Ao'nung in the cheek.

He shoved her off, and Seylu faced the two brothers and their sister, hoping they didn't notice the uncommon state of her eyes. Rotxo spoke from the other side of Ao'nung. "Hi, Seylu." he smiled, and Seylu chuckled quietly, turning to her sister.

"You are late." Tsireya said sternly, her long hair floating near Seylu.

"The hunt ran long. I apologize for feeding you," Seylu said, seeing the youngest Sully child eying her two tattoos, one resting on her forehead under her decrotative shell and the other on her chin. "What have you taught them so far?" the girl asked Tsireya.

"We've only just begun." Tsireya said, suspending herself above the water.

"But we don't speak this finger talk. We don't know what you're saying." the oldest brother, Neteyam, if Seylu remembered correctly, said. She narrowed her eyes at him, attempting to uncover his thoughts.

"Seylu and I will teach you." said Tsireya, and Seylu snapped her eyes out of her dissociated state and sighed, knowing how difficult that task would be. She didn't take too kindly to teaching, as her methods were quite harsh.

Rotxo spoke next, and Seylu was reminded of his presence. "Where is Kiri?" the boy asked.

"Who?" said Ao'nung as the Sully children began looking around for their sister.

"Their sister, skxawng." Seylu hit the back of Ao'nung's head as everyone began searching for the girl, who was happily swimming below the surface, engaging in the sea life.

Tsireya asked for Seylu's suggestions on what to teach the Sully children, and she wanted to introduce them to the ilu. Seylu and Ao'nung stood side by side, the brother a mere two inches taller than his sister as they called for the ilu.