Absence

Idea 10

With the sun yet to rise over pandora, the waters remained still, only the smallest movements being seen by an eye paying close attention.

Saiya was already awake and sat at in a cove at the end of the beach, far away from anyone else in the village. The opening of the cove was a beautiful view of the water and the soft sand allowing the waves to crash over it.

Saiya had woken up early but not without waking Neteyam who slept as light as a feather, his ears picking up every sound.

"Where are you going Sevin?" (pretty) He mumbled, sleep coating his voice.
"Ronal, remember?" She hummed quietly picking up the basket she had been given the day prior.
"Ah yes, would you like me to accompany you?" He asked getting up from the mats, eyes barely open.
"No Neteyam rest, you had a hard day yesterday." She rushed over gently pushing him back onto the mats.
"So did you." He smirked pulling her arm, giving her no choice but to lie on top of him.
"I have to get there before sunrise Net." She muffled against his throat.
"We can do alot of things before sunrise Saiya." He whispered kissing the side of her head and curling his tail around her ankle.

"Net, seriously I have to go, but i'll see you when i get back?" She smiled hoping he understood what he meant.
"Sure." He sighed, pretending to be upset.
"You are such an idiot!" She joked turning to walk out of the mauri.
"Your favourite idiot." He responded lying back down and watching Saiya leave.

Once on the beach Saiya made her way to where she quickly spotted Ronal standing in front of her Ilu. the dark lavender like sky provided no light, the faint moons and planets above gave an indication that most would still be asleep.

In the cove Ronal sat opposite Saiya, instructing her to pull out the items in her basket.

Saiya tried to stay concentrated only on what Ronal was saying but the scene around her was too incredible to ignore. The boulders they sat behind hid them from the entrance, blocking most of the light from outside. However the cove lit up with a cyan blue from a pool in the centre, the glowing stones in the water, making it look even more tempting. Saiya felt the wet smooth stone beneath her thighs, rubbing against her ever so softly.
It was beautiful, if not more than.

"I hope you are well rested, we have a lot to catch up on." She spoke.
"Catch up? I've only been here a da-"
"Exactly. You've missed out on a lot." She said sternly.
Saiyas eyes crinkled, not in anger but in intrigue. Ronals' demeanour reminded her exactly of Grandmothers.

"I thought Tsireya would be here?" Saiya asked pulling the materials out of her basket.
"Tsireya has other duties to attend to. She will join tomorrow."

"We're here again tomorrow?" Saiya questioned pausing her movement.
"Would you like to learn?" Ronal asked.
"Yes." Saiya responded
"Then yes. Tomorrow." Ronal replied harshly.

Once settled the two women in front of them had different plants to make healing powders. Saiya analysed them carefully, she had never seen these types of plants before.

"This is crambe maritima. Make them small and put it into the bowl you'll have to crush it."
Saiya went to reach for her bowl before being stopped.
"Next you will take a small amount of gorse, this is for the smell." She instructed putting the plant in front of Saiya, its yellow colour bright and the scent of coconut wafting off of it.
"Keep it dry, crush with precision and do not rush. If you rush it'll become mush and not powder. Doing so will render you useless to help anyone."

Saiya nodded her head taking in every word. She was going to prove she wasn't useless and her skills weren't going to waste. After all she had the best teacher whilst growing up.