𝗂𝗇𝗏𝗂𝗌𝗂𝖻𝗅𝖾 𝗌𝗍𝗋𝗂𝗇𝗀, 𝙉𝙚𝙩𝙚𝙮𝙖𝙢 𝙎𝙪𝙡𝙡𝙮

𝗑𝗏.

𝘍𝘐𝘍𝘛𝘌𝘌𝘕

        IT TOOK PARTIALLY LOSING HER eyesight for Seylu to realize how much she had taken her vision for granted. As a child, exploring the island and the reef surrounding it was Seylu's favorite pastime, often shared with Nori. She loved looking at the vibrant colors of nature, and of the coral towers surrounded by sea life.

Seylu didn't get to explore much anymore, for a few reasons. She couldn't see what she was exploring very well, she was far too busy learning to be Olo'eykte, and because it made her miss Nori. She spent her time doing blander things, safer things. But she wanted to explore today.

Neteyam wanted a distraction, and he wanted to get out of his tense mauri. He joined Seylu on the hunt a few mornings later, cleaning their kills beside each other as they held a conversation, smiling and laughing quietly . Neteyam and Seylu dropped off their fish at their respective mauri pods, before they met on the sand near the ilu pens, Tuk joining Neteyam.

"Hi, Tuk." Seylu smiled, the little girl clutching her waist in a hug.

"Hi!" Tuk said, pulling back to lift Seylu's songcord, peering at the beads strung on it.

Seylu looked up at Neteyam. "It's really tense at home right now, and my mom told us to get out and give Kiri space. Is it okay that she's here?" Neteyam asked, hearing the ilus squeak in the water.

"Yeah, of course. I thought I'd show you guys the rainforest and the waterfalls. Does that sound good?" said Seylu, lifting Tuk into her arms.

Neteyam and Tuk nodded. "That sounds nice." Neteyam said, smiling. Seylu felt a burst of attraction and slight embarrassment as she held Tuk.

Seylu began to walk away from the sea and towards the lush forests the island housed. Neteyam walked to her left, and she placed Tuk down, holding her hand. Neteyam held back a large leaf so Seylu didn't walk into it, letting it go once he passed. He knew the emotion of giddiness did not belong to him, and Neteyam only grew confused as he thought of all the instances of strange emotional sparks.

"What's that?"Tuk asked excitedly, pointing to a large blue plant with many colored lizards climbing on it.

Seylu smiled, putting her finger to the edge of a plant. A purple lizard climbed onto her finger, walking up her arm, leaving blue colored prints behind. "The plant is filled with a blue syrup that attracts these guys, called water lizards. They live in rainforests, and swim in streams and ponds. If you see a water lizard, you know there's water around" she explained, placing the lizard back on the plant.

Tuk began walking ahead of Seylu and Neteyam, the two of them walking at a slower pace. "Are there dangerous animals in here?" Neteyam asked, taking in the flora around him.

Seylu nodded, keeping an eye on Tuk, their feet making soft pats on the dewy ground. "Tons, but we'll be fine. The dangerous ones live on the outskirts of the forest so they're near the water on the other side of the island. Where we are, nothing will hurt us." she explained.

Neteyam plucked a pink flower from its stem, twirling it between his fingers before he extended it to Seylu. "For you." he said, a nervous look on his face, as if afraid that she would reject it.

Seylu smiled, taking the flower from Neteyam's hands. "It's beautiful, thank you." Seylu placed the flower in her hair, just above the bun she wore at the base of her skull. She only felt her own emotions of happiness and attraction, overshadowing foreign feelings.