It's been a while since it became your secret place. Neteyam and you went there often. It had become a safe place for both of you. If you needed a place to think you would even go there alone and so would Neteyam. But being there together was more special.
"Neteyam, can you believe it's been so long since you first showed me this place?" You asked him as you lay in the grass looking at the trees. He sat up before making an mhh sound. "It became a safe haven, didn't it?" He chuckled as he stared down at you. "Yes, I just hope it stays that way. I would hate to lose this sweet spot." You looked back at him. Both of you knew that you were growing older, and this would come with great responsibilities. It was scary not knowing how our futures could be changed in a single event. It had grown dark yet again. Meaning the two of you had to go home again, not knowing it would probably be the last time spending time here together.
As you arrived home, your parents seemed to be thrilled. At first, you were confused about their behavior. But soon you understood what they meant, they had heard big news from the Sully family. "So what is the news about them?" You asked your mother. If it was big news, wouldn't the Sully kids have told you what it was? Wouldn't Neteyam have told you? "He is getting arranged!" Your mother responded excitedly. It couldn't be Neteyam, could it?! You knew he was the future olo'eyktan, but wasn't this yo soon? Neteyam would have told you right since you two were very close?!
"Neteyam, of course! He is the future olo'eyktan." Your father stated. It was understandable that your parents were excited. It meant that the future olo'eyktan was getting old enough to train, and one day lead. You acted excited before telling them you were tired. As you lay there, you couldn't sleep. All you could think about was Neteyam getting arranged. You liked Neteyam for a while now but could admit it to yourself, let alone to Neteyam. You didn't know if he felt the same. But it still hurted that he didn't tell you that he was getting arranged so soon. Did he know this was happening? Your thoughts going back and forth kept you up for the longest time. It was very late when you eventually did fall asleep.
Neteyam did know this was happening. He thought his parents wouldn't go through with it, let alone them deciding so fast. He didn't want to be arranged to someone he didn't love. Neteyam already had his eyes on someone, but that wasn't the person his parents arranged him with. He hoped the rest of the clan didn't know about it yet, so he could tell you. He didn't want you to hear it from someone else. But knowing her parents, they would already have told the whole clan about the arrangement. He wanted to scream at his parents, tell them off. But the future olo'eyktan can't only think about himself. Neteyam couldn't be selfish, even if he didn't want this.
You groaned as your mother woke you up. She had let you sleep in, which was something you didn't do. You would always pick up Spider before spending time with the Sully's. You got up and had a late breakfast before heading deeper into the forest. You knew they were probably waiting on you there. You still felt tired, sad and a little betrayed. Hearing everyone talk about it before arriving didn't help either.
"Look who finally showed up!" Lo'ak announced, making everyone look in your direction. You noticed Tuk wasn't there, meaning it would be the five of you today. You quickly look at Neteyam before looking to the ground. "I missed you this morning. I thought you were death!" Spider said before Kiri smacked him lightly on the head. "Just because she is late one time doesn't mean she's dead." Kiri stated while rolling her eyes at Spider. "What happened?" Lo'ak asked worried. Everyone knew you weren't one to be late for no reason. "Had trouble sleeping last night. Mother had to wake me." You explained, hoping they wouldn't ask more questions.
The rest of the day went normal. Except between Neteyam and you, Neteyam tried to make eye contact and start conversations. You didn't look him in his eyes and answered him shortly. He noticed you look hurt, but it couldn't be because he was arranged, could it? It's because you had to hear it from someone else, wasn't it? At one point, Neteyam saw you walk alone in the back of the group. He slowed his pace until he was next to you. Neteyam decided that you needed some time, so he just walked beside you.
"Did you know?" You asked him, seeing that the others couldn't hear you. "I did, but I didn't think it would be arranged so quickly. I thought I had time to tell you." He tried to explain while searching your face for a reaction. You looked at him, giving him a small smile. "You must be starting your training soon, right?" You asked, he nods. "Yeah, I will be pretty busy. But we will still have our secret place!" He tried being exciting, but you could tell he was having trouble. "Yeah, our secret place..." You could barely whisper. "Let's go there now! Then we can..." You interrupted him. "I don't think that's a good idea anymore. You are arranged and there isn't much me can discuss about this situation." You said, giving him a small smile before running to join the others.
You can't come between this arrangement and you know it. Even if you want to so badly. You don't even know if he feels the same. And secondly, you're both too young to be actually mated. Kiri and you start talking about ever little thing in the forest you hadn't noticed before as you walked around. Giving the boys upfront all the time in the world , for whatever they were doing. It was long before Spider and Lo'ak came running towards us. Lo'ak reaching us first, sticking out his tongue at Spider as he turned towards him. "Still the fastest, and I always will be!" He shouted at Spider. He didn't look so amused anymore. "You know, one day I will beat you, and the last thing you will see is my ass." He promised Lo'ak, who just laughed.
"Where is that older brother of mine?" Lo'ak stated as he looked around. Kiri rolled her eyes before walking closer to Lo'ak. "He is probably going back... to start training early!" She started whispered before shouting. Making Lo'ak and Spider jump back. Making you giggle at their reaction. "Damn, you don't have to shout it, sis." Lo'ak complained. You knew he was probably at your secret place. But right now, you just could be with there. If you did, you would probably cry and that would mess everything up. The four of you decide to get back and have an early dinner. Meaning you could go to bed early without having to hear more about the arrangement of the future olo'eyktan.
In all the madness that had happened today, you had forgotten something important. Neteyam being arranged wasn't that much of a surprise after all. It was with who he was arranged that was a surprise. You were also getting arranged, but you always thought it would be with Neteyam since your family's were close. So who were they going to arrange you with?!
