maybe one day ~neteyam sully

eight

warning: this chapter includes a very traumatic death.

"Kiki..."

"Kiki... wake up."

Akina groaned at the gentle voice whispering to her, raising her hand and batting the air where the whispering was coming from. A small chuckle caused her ears to twitch, the girl rolling onto her stomach and hiding her face in her arms.

"Go away." Akina mumbled, her tail whipping in the air as she fell soft fingertips brush up and down her back.

"I just wanted to say bye before i went on patrol." Neteyam continued to whisper, Akinas heart warming despite how cranky she was for being woken up.

"Bye Nete."

Despite having said the oh so important goodbyes, Akina didnt hear Neteyam leaving. She sighed softly before lifting her head, her eyes meeting the beautiful amber eyes that hadnt stopped staring at her.

"What Nete?" Akina whispered, squinting her eyes to see if something was the matter.

"You are so pretty."

The girls face burned at Neteyams words, immediately shoving her head back into her arms.

"I am going to hit you with a stick."

A beat of silence filled the space between them, Akina missing the raise of Neteyams eyebrows at her words.

"That is kinda hot. Do you promise?"

Akinas head shot up at his words, her face on fire as the burning went to her ears while her mouth dropped. She lifted her hand to smack the boy, only for Neteyam to rush out with the biggest smile on his face, saving his laughter for outside of the tent to not wake up Antu and their mother. The girl buried her head back into her arms, her heart racing from his words as she squeezed her eyes shut, trying to calm down.

~

The young girl hummed to herself as she ground herbs together in the clay bowl, Mo'at having gone to help a laboring mother. Akina made herself useful by replenishing their stock of medicines, her hands quickly becoming covered in the sticky substance of one of the prickly plants.

Her ears twitched as she heard loud footsteps heading for the tent, relief flooding through her when it was Antu who erupted the one of the openings.

"What is it, Antu?"

"Can i please please please go with Tuk who is going with Lo'ak out to the forest!?" Antu basically shouted, jumping up and down as he clasped his hands together.

"Did you ask mom?"

"I can not find her!"

Akinas head rose as Lo'ak entered the tent, shaking his head as he witnessed Antu bouncing up and down. He sent a grin to Akina, the girl sending one back to him.

"Where exactly are you going in the forest?" Akina asked Lo'ak, the younger boy scratching the back of his neck.

"We are not exactly sure yet. We wanted to go explore, and then Tuk heard us, and then Antu here demanded he also go. I told him if it was okay with your mom, but we went around the entirety of high camp and can not find her." Lo'ak shrugged, patting Antus head as the child continued saying 'please' on repeat.

"Will you protect him?" Akina asked gently, knowing Lo'ak would do everything he possibly could to keep the youngest ones safe. Lo'ak raised his hand over his heart, a genuine smile on his face.

"With my life, Akina. Kiri and Spider will also be going."

The young girl took a moment to think it over, cursing to herself over the fact they couldnt find her mother to ask her this instead.