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chapter fifteen. run away. ━━━━━━━━━━━━
The atmosphere was daunting.
Ronal paced around the room, her hair swaying with her vast steps as her other children feared her anger.
In attempt to calm Ronal down, Tonowari held onto Ronal's hand but all she did was hiss and pull away from him. His soft spot for Maleia wasn't working.
Maleia had no clue what was happening.
She walked into the pod with a large smile gracing her delicate features.
But, as she looked around her surroundings, that smile quickly fell.
"What is wrong, Mama?" Maleia asked.
Ronal snapped her head towards the sound of Maleia's, a scowl on her face, "Where were you, child?"
Maleia noticed the harsh tone.
Something had happened.
"I was with Lo'ak..." Nothing else was voiced because she didn't want her family to know that she had been mingling with the outcast tulkun.
Tonowari closed his eyes in disappointment to Maleia's words, he knew that explanation wasn't helping.
Ronal let out a frustrated hiss.
"You have been spending too much time with that boy. Not taking responsibility for your duties as next Tsahìk!" Ronal couldn't calm her voice.
Ao'nung and Tsireya watched from the sidelines as Ronal shouted at Maleia.
Their hearts ached for their sister.
"The Sully girl- Kiri. You should have been there!" Ronal exclaimed.
Maleia didn't understand.
She had no context on what had happened because she spent her afternoon hours with Lo'ak and Payakan.
"I did not know, Mama..." Maleia said.
Tonowari heard the softness within Maleia's voice compared to Ronal's.
"You cannot expect all my free hours being dedicated to Tsahìk," She replied.
Ronal's nostrils flared. Being Tsahìk was a gift. Many Na'vi women would leave to interrupt the will of Eywa.
"You are careless. Lazy!" Ronal shouted.
Maleia's chin wobbled to Ronal's words, her eyes filling with unfamiliar tears.
"Ronal!" Tonowari warned.
"No! I will not continue you to protect her when she has done wrong," Ronal exclaimed as she continued to stab her sight into Maleia's face.
Tonowari fell silent to her explanation.
Maleia looked over at her siblings for some help, or even context.
But, they had nothing to say.
"You have not been training for Tsahìk! You have been spending useless hours with that demon-blood boy!" She said.
Maleia shook her head, "He is not a demon, Mama!"
Ronal hissed at Maleia's defence.
"He is a distraction. No good for you. You have disappointed me..." Ronal shouted.
Maleia didn't want to hear anymore.
Her eyes began to sting with the tears, to the point she could no longer hold them in and allowed them to fall.
In dramatics, Maleia ran from the pod.
Her body lunged back into the calm water as she swam towards that familiar rock where nobody would bother her.
Her cries were loud as Ronal's words repeated within her mind.
Useless. Lazy. Disappointment.
This was her first time being scolded by her mother.
Maleia had worked so hard to achieve what Ronal wanted her to be.
Even to the point she wouldn't fall asleep, just to get some parts correct.
How could she think this way?
Maleia rested on the rock, curling into herself as her body shook with the harsh cries coming from her.
Not even the sea could calm her.
The one thing that walked everytime.
That was until she heard splashing surrounding her, and some grunting as someone climbed onto the rock.
No words were spoke.
It was so quiet.
But, Lo'ak latched his hands onto her arms and pulled Maleia onto his thighs.
Maleia didn't even need to look up to know who was comforting her.
His touch was soft as he racked his fingers throughout her locks, another hand resting on her waist as his thumb soothed her flesh.
Her tears fell onto his lap.
But, all he did was shush her cried and cuddle her body into his.
"You don't need to talk. I understand..." Lo'ak's voice was extremely gentle.
Maleia looked up at him from his lap, the fingers that brushed her hair wiped the cold tears from her flushed cheeks.
Another sob fell from Maleia's mouth before she enclosed her arms around his neck, resting her head on his chest.
Lo'ak frowned before digging his head into her shoulder.
