Mune Olo'eyktan [Neteyam x Aonung]

Part 36

The three boys wait outside of the hut.

Lo'ak is sitting on the ground with his hands clasped together, pressed against his forehead. Rotxo is sitting silently next to him, while Aonung stands leaning against the hut.

Kiri runs up to them, with Tuktirey and Tsireya. She looks around then notices Neteyam on the floor inside the hut. Tuktirey walks up to the entrance, watching Ronal work.

Kiri eyes the other boys angrily.

Kiri- What the hell were you thinking?

No one gives her an answer, and the only one who even looks at her is Rotxo.

Kiri- Lo'ak.

Her brother still holds his head down, and Tsireya walks over to him.

Kiri- Lo'ak!

Rotxo- It wasn't his idea!

Tsireya begins to rub Lo'ak's back, while Kiri just stands in disbelief.

Kiri- Then whose idea was it?

Lo'ak- Neteyam's.

Lo'ak finally looks up at his sister.

Kiri- Seriously? Why would he choose to do something that stupid? And why would you go along with it?

Lo'ak- Dad told me to look out for him.

Kiri- Well it looks like you did a great job.

Tsireya shakes her head at Kiri's sarcasm.

Tsireya- Don't make him feel worse, Kiri.

Kiri- He deserves to feel worse.

Rotxo- No he doesn't.

Kiri- Yes he does!

Rotxo stands from his spot, and walks towards Kiri, who continues to fuss.

Kiri- He was supposed to look out for Neteyam but he couldn't even do that right. Now our brother is in there bleeding out.

Rotxo- It's not his fault!

Kiri- Every time Neteyam nearly dies it's his fault! Every time!

Lo'ak lets out a shaky breath as he covers his face. Rotxo glances back at him, then glares at the crying girl in front of him, clenching his fists.

Aonung notices his rising anger, and walks up to him.

Rotxo- Take it back.

Kiri- Never.

Rotxo- Take it back!

Rotxo steps forward, but Aonung pulls him back by his arms, and turns the smaller boy to face him.

Aonung- Rotxo, look at me.

He looks up at Aonung with heavy breaths from getting so worked up.

Aonung- Calm down.

Rotxo- I am calm.

Aonung- Listen. This situation has made everyone tense. You all need to calm yourselves.

Tsireya nods in agreement. She leaves Lo'ak's side and goes over to his baby sister.

Tsireya- Tuk, come with me.

Tuktirey- But I wanna wait for Neteyam to wake up.

Tsireya- It may take a while, let's do something while we wait.

Tuktirey- Okay.

Tsireya grabs Kiri's arm, dragging her with as they look for a distraction.

Rotxo glances at Lo'ak, but feels conflicted about comforting the boy. He needs some space of his own, so he just walks off in another direction. Leaving Aonung there with Lo'ak.

Aonung walks over to him, and sits down at his side.

Aonung- I know it wasn't your fault.

Lo'ak quickly lifts his head up and faces Aonung, with tears still lingering in his golden eyes.

Aonung- And you shouldn't blame yourself. You cannot control his actions.

Lo'ak- How did you know it was his idea?

Aonung- He has been acting strangely. I think it's because of what I said to him.

Lo'ak- What did you say?

Aonung- I told him to feel what he wants. To let everything out and not hold back his own emotions.

Lo'ak- What made you tell him something like that?

Aonung- He holds himself back for you guys, it wasn't good for him. So I told him to stop. But I didn't think it would cause him to act like this.

Lo'ak- It's not your fault either. I don't think anyone could've predicted how he'd respond to that. Even me.

Lo'ak looks away and begins to wipe his new forming tears.

Lo'ak- I mean, how am I supposed to help him if I don't even know what kind of trouble he's in.

Aonung- You ask.

He blinks twice at the simple answer, then looks at the marine boy.

Lo'ak- How the hell are you so calm?

Aonung- I'm not. My insides are screaming.

Lo'ak- But I can't tell by looking at you . . . You . . . You're just like Neteyam.