maybe one day ~neteyam sully

five

Avoiding Neteyam Sully was... challenging, to say the least. After the young girl turned away from the boy sat in the stream, he immediately began calling her name. She could hear the splash of water as Neteyam had tried to rush out of the stream, but she was already in the sky. Akina had made it back to high camp before Neteyam, causing the girl to rush to put away the pieces of cloth before he could get to her. She went to bed before he could find her, only allowing herself to do so once she saw Antu with her mother at dinner.

The next morning, the young girl woke to something laying in her arms. She slowly looked down, finding the top of Antus head as he cuddled up to her. There was no use in fighting the smile that grew on her lips, the young girl leaning down and kissing the top of her brothers head softly. The girl knew she would have to do the heartbreaking task of somehow escaping her brother's grip, but not quite having the heart to do so yet.

~

Akina had finally made it to the Tsahiks tent much later than she cared for, but it was worth it for the extra time she got to cuddle with Antu. She knew in only a few years, Antu would begin choosing to spend his time with others rather than his big sister. It broke her heart to think about it.

The young girl stepped in and couldnt help but smile wide as she found Kiri already helping her grandmother, Kiri looking up and meeting her smile. Akina immediately got to work as her and Kiri tuned into the lesson, side by side.

Since choosing to become a healer, Akina had developed a bond with Kiri that was peculiar to say the least. She wouldn't necessarily call her a best friend, but they were close nonetheless. Akina knew she would never compare to Spider in Kiris eyes, but she still held the girl close. Despite being able to call the girl close, she knew Kiri wasnt the person to talk about Neteyam with, them being siblings and all.

Once Mo'at allowed the girls free time to practice, Kiri and Akina set to work in a peaceful silence. It was always comfortable with Kiri, and she found herself smiling as nearly as much as she did with Antu.

After a while of peaceful conversation, Akina suddenly felt the hair on the back of her neck stand up. She exhaled slowly as she knew she was being watched, her only guess being one person. Her eyes glanced up to one of the openings to the tent, confirmation causing her shoulders to sag.

Neteyam.

Akina mentally prepared herself to start coming up with excuses, only to watch as Neteyam eyed his sister before walking away. She watched for a moment, shock evident on her face before turning and finding Kiri already looking at her. Her cheeks warmed, her head lowering as her ears flattened against her head.

"He really has missed you."

Akina nearly choked on her spit at Kiris sudden change of topic, her head raising to meet her eyes once more.

"Do you remember what happened?" Akina asked gently, her tail flicking behind her nervously. Kiri simply nodded, setting down the bowl she held in her hands.

"He fought with himself for days. He kept going to your tent, but could not bring himself to enter. He really thought it was all his fault."

Akinas ears twitched at Kiris words, but stayed flat. She shook her head gently, sighing.

"I never once thought it was his fault. Even if it was, i do not think i would have hated him like he thinks." The girl admitted softly, her fingers fidgeting with the cloth in her hands.

"Then why do you still punish him?" Kiri asked genuinely, Akinas eyebrows scrunching in confusion.

"How am i punishing him?"