𝗂𝗇𝗏𝗂𝗌𝗂𝖻𝗅𝖾 𝗌𝗍𝗋𝗂𝗇𝗀, 𝙉𝙚𝙩𝙚𝙮𝙖𝙢 𝙎𝙪𝙡𝙡𝙮

𝗑𝗂𝗑.

      

𝘕𝘐𝘕𝘌𝘛𝘌𝘌𝘕

        MAHLA AND SEYLU WERE ONES for adventure. Malha led Seylu everywhere, her holding onto the tulkun's fin tightly. They played, and they dove into the deepest parts of the ocean. Ronal trusted Malha with Seylu, and Malha took great care of her Spirit Sister, both before the accident and after.

        Seylu laughed, standing on Malha's back as the tulkun continuously spouted water from her large blowhole. Seylu jumped into the water, placing her hands on Mahla's head, right where her bottom tattoo lay. 'I have missed spending time with you.' Seylu signed.

        Malha sang her special song. 'I have missed it, too.' she said, splashing Seylu with her fin as she broke the surface.

        "You are something special, Malha." Seylu said, pressing her head against Malha's skin as she often did.

        Malha clicked joyfully, and she jumped out of the water, landing with a splash that completely covered a smiling Seylu. They continued playing, turning through the water, and swimming through the deep sea for a long time. Seylu laughed happily, sitting on Malha's fin. 'I have chosen my mate. He does not know I have yet.' Seylu signed to Malha.

        Seylu knew from the first kiss they both chose to share that there was no one else who was right for her like Neteyam. He was what she wanted, and he was who she wanted to be with for the rest of her life. Malha squeaked, resting in the water. 'I am so happy you have finally chosen him. I knew you would find the right boy.'

'What of your mate? Is he with the pod?' Seylu asked, her legs crossed as she floated in the blue water.

'You do not know him. He is not bonded to one of your people. But he is special, and he protects me.' Malha explained, and Seylu could tell this tulkun meant a lot to her.

        Mahla moved her fin, sending Seylu down into the water, the girl smiling at the movement. 'I should get home. I will see you soon.' she signed under the water to her happy tulkun, who grunted her approval.

       'Goodbye, Sister.' Malha said, dowsing Seylu with water from her tail as she swam into the deep waters where the other tulkun were. Seylu smiled after her, calling for her ilu as she surfaced, clicking her tongue for the animal.

        "Hello, little friend." Seylu cooed to her ilu, who squeaked happily. Seylu grabbed hold of the saddle, urging her animal forwards.

        Seylu's ilu arrived at the netting of the village, and she climbed off of her, pulling herself up. Seylu shook the water from her hair that laid against her shoulders. She was beginning to wear it down more often, because Nori and Neteyam liked it, and she realized that she did too.

        The girl walked through the village until she arrived at her mauri, finding no one inside. Her hair was mostly dry by now, shrinking up into its natural curls. She took a clip Tsireya had made her out of a shell and used it to pin half of her up, leaving the rest down.

        Seylu sat down near her hammock, picking up where she had left off in the construction of it. She was so focused on her weaving that she did not notice her parents leading her siblings, Lo'ak and Neteyam towards her home.

        She placed her hammock down, standing when she saw her parents' angry faces, and the ashamed faces of her brother and sister. "Ao'nung, what did you do?" she asked immediately, grasping her brother's arm when she reached him.