𝗂𝗇𝗏𝗂𝗌𝗂𝖻𝗅𝖾 𝗌𝗍𝗋𝗂𝗇𝗀, 𝙉𝙚𝙩𝙚𝙮𝙖𝙢 𝙎𝙪𝙡𝙡𝙮

𝗑𝗏𝗂𝗂.

𝘚𝘌𝘝𝘌𝘕𝘛𝘌𝘌𝘕

        TSIREYA HAD ALWAYS BEEN EXCITED to hear about any story her big sister would tell her. The two would sit on Seylu's mat as eclipsed took over the sky, Tsireya in Seylu's arms as the older girl told the younger about her adventures. They did it nearly every night, and as the girls grew up, they each shared in the storytelling.

Seylu had quite the story to tell. Seylu knew she had to ask her mother and sister about the connection she held with Neteyam, she just wasn't sure how to approach the situation. The three women sat early a morning later, Seylu and Tsireya sat weaving Seylu's hammock and Ronal was cutting fruit. Seylu hadn't gone on the hunt that morning.

"What is troubling you, Seylu?" Ronal asked, watching as her daughter accidentally broke one of the strings going into her hammock.

Seylu sighed. "Is it Neteyam?" Tsireya asked, working diligently on the hammock.

"How do you know about that?" Seylu questioned, pausing her movements.

Tsireya shrugged. "Lo'ak mentioned something." the girl answered, starting a new row on the hammock.

Seylu rolled her eyes. "It has become complicated. It seems that Neteyam and I have a connection." she began, looking up at her mother.

"What kind of connection?" Ronal asked tentatively, pausing her chopping.

"Emotional, is what could describe it. I can feel what he's feeling, and he can feel what I'm feeling." Seylu explained, busying herself with her work.

Ronal glanced at Tsireya, who was wide-eyed and confused. "Can you feel exactly what he is feeling, or just parts of it?" the younger sister asked, tossing her long hair over her shoulder.

"Everything. It began when we first saw each other, but we have just discussed it recently." Seylu answered with no hesitation, her dark curls tied into a braided bun on top of her head.

Ronal frowned. This connection was very rare, but she was aware of it, and its significance. "This is a connection that only happens once in seven generations. Very special. It is a connection granted by Eywa that allows a young girl, aged eighteen to be connected with a young boy one year older or one year younger than she." the mother explained, Tsireya smiling to herself. She knew something was right about her sister and Neteyam.

Seylu looked up from her hammock, adjusting her netted top. "What does it mean? That I am destined for the boy I share the connection with? By Eywa?" she asked, her eyes traveling to Neteyam's pink flower that rested in her box.

"Yes. If you choose to accept it, then yes. If you don't accept it, that is your choice, but the connection will remain." Ronal spoke softly, shell hanging from her headdress as always.

Seylu's fingers brushed her shell necklace, thinking. She was destined to be with Neteyam, but why didn't the idea repulse her? "I must teach the children." Seylu said, standing and grabbing her materials. She placed her elegant stringed shawl around her shoulders where it belonged.

"Are you alright?" Tsireya asked as Seylu made her way to the open flap of the mauri, letting the light guide her eyes.

"I am. I swear it." Seylu smiled, leaving the pod and finding her four friends at the cove, where they played in the water.

"It's Seylu!" cheered one of the little boys, rising from his seated position in the clear water.

Seylu smiled as she arrived on the sand, squatting to be level with the children. "Hello, my friends. Are we ready to hunt?" she asked, placing her nets on the sand beside her.