Skxawng • Neteyam

4

•••

She woke in the tiny home she had made in a tree. It wasn't too far from the village for people to think she was constantly missing. The past few days haven't helped because she was concentrating on making Neteyam's armband, but she wasn't far. Large leaves covered her from the rain, and she used soft grass and plants as her bedding. She didn't have many things, but all she really needed was her bow.

This morning, she'd actually made it to breakfast, and when she entered, Kiri was already eating. Yeriyah joined her, and Kiri smiled as she sat beside her. "Good morning."

"Morning, did you sleep well?" Kiri asked, scrutinizing her face.

"Yes, why?"

"No reason." Kiri hummed to herself and scooped some food into her mouth. Yeriyah did the same, deciding to let Kiri's comment go.

"What are you doing today?" Yeriyah wonders and glances at the people who'd just arrived for breakfast. There was no one she spoke to.

"I think Lo'ak and Spider were going somewhere in the forest. Do you want to come with us?" Kiri asked, and Yeriyah thought about it for a moment before nodding.

"Sure, when do you leave?"

"After breakfast. The two boys had already eaten and are ready to go." Kiri says. She nods, and they finish breakfast together before joining Lo'ak and Spider in the forest. They'd been arguing about Ewya knows what before Kiri and she showed up.

"Hey, Kiri!" Spider chirps. "Yeriyah." He adds, and she gives him a nod. Not enemies but not friends either.

"What's the plan today, boys?" Yeriyah asked no one in particular.

"I figured we'd take the horses down to the river and see what we can do there," Lo'ak spoke up, and Yeriyah looked back at Kiri, who just shrugged in reply.

"That means okay," Yeriyah replied for the both of them. The four of them went to the Dire horses and hopped on. Spider rode with Lo'ak, and they were on their way. The river was a spot not too far from the village. It was a prime spot for hunting, and the river was quite beautiful at night when the bioluminescent was at its brightest.

They hopped off the horses once they arrived. Kiri went right for the water and dunked her feet inside. She gasped at the cold temperatures, and Lo'ak laughed as he joined her. The younger Sully boy marched into the water knees deep. "It's not that cold, Kiri."

"It's cold enough." She fires back.

"It's always cold." Yeriyah jumps in, and Lo'ak shakes his head.

"You just have to get used to it." He tells her, and his eyes find a vine hanging from a tree that grew over the water. "Riyah, go swing off that vine into the water. Once you're in, you'll be warm."

"I don't think that's how it works." She tells him. Lo'ak tsks as he gets out of the water. "And I'm not doing that."

"Chicken." Lo'ak teases.

"Am not!"

"Watch and learn, Riyah." Lo'ak walks around her and towards the vine. He grabs it and walks it to a rock higher above the water. He takes the vine and swings into the water, letting go at the highest point and falling in—spider cheers behind her as Lo'ak appears above the water.