Mune Olo'eyktan [Neteyam x Aonung]

Part 74

The next morning, the sun shines bright over the glistening ocean. The Ilu swim with other sea creatures, living their lives care free.

Within the village, however, another uproar has occurred.

The Sullys awoke to find Lo'ak missing, and discovered Rotxo was nowhere to be found as well.

Both boys disappeared, and now knowing they're mated means they're surely together. But that doesn't tell them where they could be.

Jake and many warriors head out past the reef to the Three Brothers Rocks, and some are sent into the near parts of the forest.

Neteyam was instructed to stay in the den, in case Lo'ak returns. So there he waits.

On the other side of the village, within Ko'nan's den, he stands in front of his son in disappointment while sharpening his knife.

Mo'dan awaits his father's lecture, kneeling before him.

Ko'nan- Those people are crazy. The whole head family is, letting those outsiders in. What was Tonowari thinking?

Mo'dan- They were only being kind.

Ko'nan- And for what? That war leader's son could have killed you. Your incompetence wears my nerves thin.

Mo'dan- I'm sorry, father.

Ko'nan- Do not apologize for doing things wrong. Do them right.

Mo'dan- I was.

Ko'nan- Ah, yes. You did succeed in mating with the next Olo'eyktan to secure our family's word in command, but then those forest people arrived and messed things up for you, correct?

Mo'dan- Yes.

Ko'nan- Foolish boy!

Mo'dan flinches as his father raises his voice and holds the knife at him. Ko'nan then takes a deep breath, and begins sharpening his knife again.

Ko'nan- Do you know why that killer halfbreed has the heir's attention?

Mo'dan- . . . 

Ko'nan- Because, unlike you, he is not a failure. He does what needs to be done. You are an obstacle in the way of his goal, and he was willing to take you out to reach it. You can't even keep your own mate in line.

Mo'dan- I can't force him to hate Neteyam.

Ko'nan- You forced him to mate with you, this should be easy.

Mo'dan- Not as easy as you think.

Ko'nan- Aonung is your ticket to leadership. Why are you hesitating to do what needs to be done?

The boy takes a moment to really think. Does he want to answer that question honestly? No, but he needs to.

Mo'dan- The outsiders . . . The Sully family are not bad people. I like-

Ko'nan- Oh you like them? . . . One just tried to kill you, but you like them.

Mo'dan merely sighs and rolls his eyes at his father's fake smile and cruel teasing. Ko'nan straightens his face and looks at his son in all seriousness.

Ko'nan- Stop fooling around.

Mo'dan- Yes, father.

Ko'nan- Almost everyone is out looking for those missing boys, but that killer is still in the village. Find him, and end this.

Mo'dan- (sighs) Okay. 

He stands from his spot and heads out into the village, looking for Neteyam. He knows that what he's been instructed to do is wrong, but he isn't sure what else to do about it.

His father is the only one in his family that's ever even acted like he cares for him. His mother only cares for her first born, his older brother never speaks to anyone but his mother, and his grandmother is just as power hungry as her son, Ko'nan.

What's he to do, betray the only one he really has and live in loneliness? No. He's already in deep, trying to climb out at this point is futile.