as they arrived Saiya noticed how busy it was, people coming in and out of the water, people fishing, children playing. It was nice to see the community she would soon become a part of in action.
Her eyes gravitated towards a tall dark blue figure standing a head and a half taller than most of the people around him. Neteyam.
She huffed smiling, ready to spend to the rest of the day with him.
"Not so fast child." Ronal called from behind her, snapping her out of her trance.
She pointed behind Saiya signalling to the basket still attached to her Ilu.
"Right." Saiya smiled, before picking it up and emerging from the water and sending her Ilu away.
"How much longer do we have to wait?" Rotxo asked Tsireya.
"She will be here soon, be patient." She answered.
The 5 had been waiting for Saiyas' return since morning, wanting to get to the cove before eclipse. The group stood waiting in front of the Sullys mauri whilst Neteyam had already noticed her presence in the village and began walking towards her.
"Saiya." He smiled, wrapping his arm around her shoulder and taking the basket from her hands.
"Hello Net." She hummed, more than content to be in his arms. His warm scent wrapping itself around her and fuzzing her senses.
"Where is Neteyam?" Tsireya asked, confused that they were now looking for another person.
"There." Kiri sighed watching the two of them walk back towards the group.
"Saiya! Finally you're back!" Tuk cheered, jumping up and down slightly.
"You have to tell me everything." Kiri chuckled wrapping herself around Saiyas available arm.
"I'm sorry if mother held you up." Tsireya sympathised pulling Saiya from Neteyams grasp.
"No it's okay!, I learnt a lot." She responded smiling.
"Well I wanted you to visit the Ancestors Cove with us, would you like to come?" Tsireya asked, her eyes hopeful.
"Of course!"
"Good, let us go then!" Rotxo said leading the group down to the edge of the water.
Saiya was dragged down by Kiri, Tsireya and Tuk who were above excited now after waiting what felt like years. Neteyam placed the basket in the opening of his parent's mauri before joining the rest of them.
The journey to the Cove wasn't long and so soon they arrived.
The large arched branches curved over the entrance, having the sullys lie low on their Ilus to get under it.
Once past Saiya set her eyes on large boulders that hung effortlessly in the sky. Hundreds of them, floating above a humongous U-shaped stone with many layers. It felt like it went on for miles.
"We are here!" Tsireya called out to the group.
Kiri smiled widely taking in the remarkable view in front of her, Tuk behind her also doing the same.
Neteyams eyebrows raised, perplexed by the beauty of it all. Saiya rode close to him, bumping him slightly.
"This is the cove of the ancestors, our most sacred place." Tsireya hummed, riding only a few feet in front of them.
Rotxo turned to see their faces, understanding their emotions as he too felt the same when he first went there.
"Wow" Tuk muttered as she leaned on Kiris shoulders to get a better view.
As they floated in silence, eclipse began causing them to cover their eyes with their hands.
"Eclipse is the best time of day to be here." Tsireya said, moving closer to the centre of the cove.
They all watched as the sun disappeared behind the large planet, casting the land in darkness, only bioluminescence in the water providing light.
Neteyam looked over to Saiya whose body was now lit up with glowing freckles, trailing from her forehead to her soft shoulders and long torso down to her feet that dragged in the water.
YOU ARE READING
Absence
Romance"Your touch, your voice, your eyes, fuck Saiya your presence ignites something in me i didn't even know was there....." She could hear his voice from a mile away, no matter how loud it was, how far he was, she would hear him call and she would answe...
