Mune Olo'eyktan [Neteyam x Aonung]

Part 72

As the Sully parents say their goodbyes and take their leave, Aonung sits next to Tsireya, observing her tired eyes. She stands, lifting their baby brother in her arms, then gently lays him in his woven crib. She lays a little blue blanket on him, then turns to face Aonung with a sigh.

Aonung- How are you feeling?

Tsireya- Angry.

Aonung- Don't worry, I'm sure I beat him enough for both of us.

Tsireya- Not with Lo'ak . . . With you.

He looks up at his sister completely puzzled.

Aonung- Me? . . . Why?

She crosses her arms, and rolls her eyes.

Tsireya- All I wanted, from the time the Sullys got here, was for you all to get along. We finally got to that point, but you had to go and ruin it.

Aonung- You think I ruined it? Lo'ak is the one who broke your heart, he started this.

Tsireya- Lo'ak isn't the only one to blame for this.

Aonung- It isn't my fault.

Tsireya- Yes it is . . . and it's mine too.

She sits back down, next to Aonung, with her legs crisscrossed and her back slumped against the wall.

Aonung- It isn't your fault either.

Tsireya- Yes it is. Lo'ak couldn't trust me enough to tell me what was going on. He thought I would just accuse him of doing wrong with no reason.

Aonung- It isn't right for him to think that. He's wrong about you.

Tsireya- It's justified, brother.

Aonung- How!?

Tsireya- Think about what I was doing.

Aonung- Trying to keep him out of trouble.

Tsireya- That's the way we see it. He said he is always scolded for being himself. People only react that way when he gets into trouble.

Aonung- If he wasn't always doing the opposite of what he's told he wouldn't have that problem.

Tsireya- He's not just trying to be in trouble for the sake of being in trouble.

Aonung- How else would you describe it?

Tsireya- He is a free spirit, Aonung. That is why it's hard for us to understand him. For a long time we didn't truly understand Rotxo either. That is why they chose each other. And why you shouldn't have reacted the way you did. That's why they were already afraid to tell us.

Aonung begins to rub his temples as his sister's wisdom sets in. He didn't take time to even consider their side in all this, he just hated hearing Lo'ak say his sister wasn't fit for him after she vouched for him for so long. He wronged her, but even she realizes he had valid reasons.

Aonung- I wish you would've said that sooner.

Tsireya- It isn't too late to apologize, for all of us.

Aonung- (sighs) I guess we'll meet with those two in the morning then, since I can't go to the Sully den.

Tsireya gives him a sorrowful look.

Tsireya- I heard you explaining the situation with Mo'dan and Neteyam. What will you do?

Aonung- About what?

Tsireya- Neteyam.

Aonung- There's nothing I can do. I'm not allowed anywhere near him, and if I break that rule, I'll be disobeying the Olo'eyktan.

Tsireya- So you're just going to let him go? You like him, right?

Aonung- Yeah, but rules are rules. Plus, I don't want to get my ass beat by Toruk Makto.