Losing Game ~ Lo'ak Sully

.+Chapter Six+.

The next morning we meet Tsireya by the docks with Aonung and Roxto waiting for us as well. When we get there Roxto gives us a warm smile, clearly being more friendly than yesterday. Tsireya probably scolded them both, but it seems that Aonung still want to be a dick.
"Good morning, everyone," Tsireya says to us all and we all reciprocate the gesture.
"Tsireya, Roxto, Aonung," I say acknowledging them, saying the last name with an edge to it just so he knows that I don't like him.
"Shall we get going?" Roxto asks us and we nod. Tsireya and him dive into the water, Aonung following right after. Neteyam and Lo'ak jump into the water not as gracefully as they did with Kiri and Tuk following after them. I decide to do it the hard way and dive just like the others in the ocean. When I hit the water and open my eyes I am amazed by all of the life that surround me. It's incredible.
Kiri and touch one of the larger ocean animals that glide through the water and start to head off that way with it. We weren't able to keep up but we found ourselves admiring different plants and creatures that caught our attention.

~

Later on that day the whole group is standing in the more shallow water, only being half submerged. I stand right next to Lo'ak as he plays with my fingers. Aonung makes some sort of clicking noise and the ocean creatures come up from the water.
"Thes are ilu," Aonung explains. "If you want to live here, you have to ride." We all get paired up and I look over to see Aonung helping Neteyam and Lo'ak. He seems to be more focused on Neteyam though. Roxto is helping Kiri and Tsireya helps me. Tuk isn't quite big enough to ride an ilu yet so she watches from the side with a smile on her face. I hop on the ilu and get situated on its back.
"Make the bond gently," Tsireya tells me as I hold out my braid to connect with the ilu. I make the bond and I feel the creature shift beneath me adjusting to the new feeling. I make sure to keep my thoughts calm so that it is calm. "Feel his breath Feel his strength." I take a deep breath. "Hold here." She grabs the handle bar to explain where she's talking about.
I grab on and inhale sharply ready to make my first attempt. Quickly I instruct the animal on what to do and we dive underneath the water. It is difficult to hold on until I readjust myself to get in a better position. After that I glide through the water smoothly on the back of the ilu having complete control. I come back to the surface beside Tsireya.
    "I'm impressed," she tells me. "Not even many Metkayina master that on their first try." She pats the ilu and it clicks.
    I hear Thank you Tsireya
    "Am I crazy or did that ilu just thank you?" I ask with a confused look on my face. Her head perks up and her eyes widen.
    "That's wonderful," she smiles. "You can already understand them. We also communicate with tulkuns. You will get to meet them soon when they return." I smile at her until I hear laughing and I look over to see Aonung and his group of friends. Lo'ak had just fallen off of his ilu and they were making fun of him. I short him a glare that he ignores.
    The ilu comes up beside Lo'ak, who is now at the surface, and laughs in his face. I can't help but giggle a little bit at the interaction. Lo'ak glares at me and gives me the 'you're dead look.' He smirks and starts to swim towards me and I knew I was done for. I quickly dismount the ilu and start running through the shallow water until he catches up to me, wrapping his hands around my waist and throwing me over his shoulder. We start to head out into deeper water and I know what's coming.
    "Lo'ak," I warn as he runs faster. "Lo'ak n-" He drop me into the water. I get back up to the surface and glare daggers at his eyes while he just smirks and puts his hands up surrendering. Everyone laughs at us and how mad I am. I hit him on the back of the head, throwing him forward a little bit. He rubs his head to soothe the pain.

~

I sit by the water with Lo'ak on some rocks teaching him how to breathe better. Tsireya asked me too teach him while her aonung and roxto take the others so we would each be in charge of one person. And seeing as it all comes quite naturally to me, she asked and I agreed. I place my hand on his stomach to feel how he breathes as we take deep breaths. I begin to recite what Tsireya told me earlier.