Skxawng • Neteyam

22

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Yeriyah and Neteyam were making their way down to the beach the following day. Her mate had seemed a little extra tense this morning, and she wondered if it was from his disappearance last night. He still hadn't told her where he went or what he did. She was starting to grow worried.

Lo'ak had left early this morning, and no one knew where he was. Tsireya was on the beach already when they arrived, looking like she was getting ready to go into the water. "Tsireya!" Yeriyah called out, and she turned to look at them. A smile grew on Tsireya's face.

"Hey guys, good morning." She greeted. "I...um." She laughed uncomfortably, and Yeriyah felt Neteyam stiffen at her side.

"You know," Neteyam states, making Tsireya sigh and Yeriyah look around confusingly.

"Can someone tell me what the fuck is going on?" Yeriyah asked as she threw her arms in the air. However, a grumble and curses from their right brought their attention to Aonung and Rotxo, who were descending the sand towards them.

"Here we go." Neteyam sighed behind her, making her frown.

"I'll tell you what happened. Your mate almost killed me." Aonung hissed, and Yeriyah's eyes widened in shock. She turned to her mate with a look that had him swallowing hard.

"You said something?" Yeriyah asks, not disappointed but curious. They planned to keep it a secret until they thought it was okay to tell everyone. Things had been crazy the past few weeks, and they wanted to ensure the time was right. However, it seems everyone knows already.

Neteyam sighs. "He was being disrespectful. I did what I had to." Her mate turned a snarl towards Aonung. She walked up to Neteyam and put a hand on his arm to calm him down.

"Okay." She said to him and nodded.

"Okay? He cut my neck?" Aonung complained, and Yeriyah rolled her eyes.

"And I'll snap it if you don't shut up." Yeriyah gave him an evil smile, making him hiss at her. Tsireya was the first to move, and she walked a bit closer to the water.

"I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm going to look for Lo'ak." She marched into the water until her hips before Yeriyah followed after her.

"Me too."

Neteyam, unable to go far from his mate, followed in after her. Aonung and Rotxo took a moment but decided to follow as well. If only to piss off Neteyam and Yeriyah more. They found a pod of Ilu's and grabbed on. They swerved in and out of the coral, searching for Neteyam's brother.

It wasn't until they saw a tulkun in the distance that they stopped. It didn't take Yeriyah long to realize it was Payakan and Lo'ak was floating near the front. The group pulled to a stop, hidden in the tall sea grass. Yeriyah watched with wide eyes as the tulkun opened his mouth, inviting Lo'ak inside.

Lo'ak was hesitant before swimming inside of the tulkun's mouth. Yeriyah looked towards Tsireya with a confused look, but she was focused on Lo'ak. As soon as Payakan's mouth closed, Yeriyah and Neteyam lurked forward, but arms reached out to hold them back. Yeriyah looked back with a look that said, "Are you insane?" but Tsireya calmed her.

Her heart pounded as she waited for Payakan's mouth to open. She placed a comforting hand on Neteyam's arm as they waited. After a moment, Payakan finally let Lo'ak go. The group of them retreated to the surface and gulped down the air.