Lovely Heart

The Reef / The Fire

He raced to the ilu pen, Neteyam clapping them over. They Dived into the water and rode them out into the deep, past the reef. Neteyam was enthralled with the coral and fish, he loved the reef but was equally excited to be away from it. He wondered what was below, how deep it could go. They yelled out from excitement, when going over the strong waves and current. "Keep up forest boy!" Aonung said to Neteyam, speeding up on the ilu. They rode until they reached calmer waters, and were near the big mountains and rocks. Neteyam smiled, looking down into the beautiful ocean water. Aonung watched him watch the fish that swam past his feet. It went deeper than the water he was previously diving in, and he wanted to reach the bottom, to be at peace. "We will hunt here" Aonung said, bumping his ilu into Neteyam's. He was helpless, all he could do was smile and smile some more- he loved every second he spent with the boy. He no longer wanted to think about the repercussions of his actions, he just wanted to be hopelessly in love. Love deep and hard, just like how he fell.

They used spearguns to get some squid, while collecting some plants down at the sand. "The breath hold is long, can you do it?" Aonung questioned. "Trust me" Neteyam said, slowing his heart and taking a deep breath from his stomach. He went under, feeling the cool water all over, and he swam down and down, into the abyss. The fish started to swim away, he was long past the coral and that's when he spotted the sea grass. He felt fear, looking up at the oxygen, so far away. He calmed his mind "The way of water has no beginning and no end. Our hearts beat in the womb of the world. The sea is your home, before your birth and after your death. The sea gives and the sea takes." he felt the reeds and the sand and smiled. He hurried to grab as much as he could and quickly swam to the surface. He took in a big breath of air and Rotxo grabbed the plants from his hands so he could steady himself. "I didn't think you could do it" Loak said, and Rotxo laughed. "Who's the mighty warrior?" said Aonung smiling, giving him a high five.

The ride back was calmer, the waters less vicious. When Aonung ducked under the waves with his ilu, Neteyam followed at his heels. They returned the ilu's to the pen and carried the goods to the beach, where all the young were having a bonfire and some drinks.

The eclipse took hold, the only light coming from the massive fire being created. The boys threw dried grass and wood to bring it higher until it crackled orange and yellow, Neteyam sat by it on a piece of wood and felt its warmth. He looked into the flames as they whipped around getting caught up in the image. He reached out to touch it, just for a second it wouldn't catch him alight- if it was just a second he thought reaching out. "Hi" a sweet voice said. He pulled his hand back, and looked at the Metkayina girl gesturing if she could sit. He obliged "hey" she bare a beautiful tattoo over her face, wearing earrings that dangle down. Her hair in loose braids. Neteyam was confused as to why she was talking to an outsider, an Omaticaya with demon blood. The young ones in the clan tried their best to interact, and he was grateful for their open mindedness.

"Neteyam right? I've heard your name from others talking" she said with a smile, Aonung just out of earshot watching from afar with a stern look. He knew that girl to be ready to find a mate, just having completed her iknimaya. He circled around the fire like a shark, staying close yet far. Neteyam didn't notice, Rotxo went up to Aonung and started talking with him, blocking his view of the two. "And you are?" "Omraya" she said "i've been hesitating talking to you" she admitted, Neteyam tensed "because i'm different? Not Metkayina?" "no! I don't mind" she defended "its because you're so cute, and cool. I didn't know what to say" Neteyam's eyes widened, a girl liked him? How did that happen? he thought about Aonung and his heart clenched, maybe this is how it was meant to happen. He laughed dryly scratching his braids "Thanks" "So you went and collected the food?" They started to talk lightly about the reeds and diving, and she shuffled closer to him and looked up into his eyes.

Aonung was gutting a fish to cook, he aggressively disembowelled it, as Rotxo talked. Suddenly Kiri came and he ditched Aonung to go walk with her. Small chatter and laughing sounded through the beach as the teens ate cooked fish and fresh reeds. The girls who had completed iknimaya were becoming restless, so were the guys. The parents had no idea that people would be getting so close but let them go anyway, thinking, what's the worst that could happen. Neteyam knew that his parents would support him if he was to mate with anyone, especially this girl in front of him who was known to be kind and a good warrior. He laughs as she tells him a funny story. Aonung couldn't bare it any longer. "Might warrior, come eat" Aonung said, interrupting them. He looked at Omraya, not wanting to be rude and leave her all alone. "I can eat later" He put his hands on his shoulders and gripped them protectively "I'll come to you" he said leaving to retrieve dinner. "You must be close, I see you guys hanging out all the time" Neteyam chuckled. "Yeah, you could say that" "no really, he only hangs around a certain few that he deems worthy" Neteyam turned away to watch him, and his powerful stride towards them. He wanted to understand the look on his face, completely calm and smiling. Inside Aonung felt like exploding, why was she sitting so close? And why was Neteyam laughing and smiling like a little kid?

He returned holding plates, he sat close to Neteyam and shot Omraya a glance, then completely ignoring her. "Here eat" he said warmly, putting a piece up to his mouth. Neteyam swooned and ate from his hand. Omraya started to feel like she was interrupting something but she was set on making her intentions clear. So she ignored the idea that was working its way through her head, that these two would be paired. She thought it to be impossible since they were both male. "Stop, i can feed myself" he laughed, Aonung smiled and butted up against him "okay blue boy, don't choke" which made Neteyam roll his eyes humorously. Omraya started to eat, and asked how they cooked it. As Neteyam explained, he turned over to face her leaving Aonung hanging. It was a war between the two for his attention. Aonung wasn't going to lose, so he pulled him up from his seat and asked him to come get a drink with him. Omraya left behind, got up and joined them. Aonung poured himself a big cup, Neteyam having less. "Slow down, you'll get sick" Omraya held his arm, "Aonung pace yourself" she said, and he glared at her and chugged. Why was she here? He thought. He didn't know why he felt the need to prove himself but he did, all because of this girl. Girls started to gather around him, telling him to drink more- and encouraging him. In the haze of it all Omraya pulled Neteyam away, heading away from the party. He looked back at Aonung as he was dragged away, girls touching his arm and giggling "are you sure we should leave him with them?" he said concerned "they will take care of him" she smiled.

They sat down again and Neteyam wanted nothing more than to check on Aonung, he hated every second he was away from him when he was drinking so heavily. What if those girls aren't as nice as she said they were. Aonung looked around for Neteyam, unable to find him anywhere, knowing she must have taken him. He should have been tired of the chase by now, he should have given up- but he was not one to sit on the sidelines. "Excuse me ladies" he said, dropping his cup into the sand and power walking to the far side of the beach.

He walked until he saw the couple, feeling dizzy because of the strong liquid working through him. He spotted the midnight blue skin, and walked up to him with an agitated face. Before he knew it he was dragged to his feet and being taken away, she turned unable to stop it from happening "Neteyam" but he couldn't deter the stronger boy. He felt embarrassed and confused, "Aonung, my arm..." It was held too tight and he winced. Aonung dropped his arm, "I'm sorry blue boy" he said, surprised at his own strength and rage. "What was that all about?" he said getting angry at the boy for embarrassing him. He tightened his face with a pained expression, "don't play dumb" Neteyam furrowed his brows and his heart skipped a beat. "I don't understand you Aonung!" he raised his voice, "You're going to get hurt Neteyam, she will break your heart" he said with a finger pointed at her "Like i haven't had it broken before!" He yelled, looking directly up into his eyes. "I'm Just trying to protect you" he grimaced, "i don't need your help, i'm leaving..." he held his arms together, hugging himself so the dam inside him wouldn't burst. Aonung left behind to think in a drunken state, he returned in the morning to clean up from last night with a few others. He wondered what Neteyam meant, his heart was broken, by who? He needed to make it up to him. Neteyam's heart was broken the day he knew it would never work with Aonung, that they could never mate and be together. He was done with parties, for a long time.