Skxawng • Neteyam

24

                                                                                             •••

Dark clouds hung low in the sky, their ominous presence mirrored in the frantic urgency of Lo'ak's sprint toward the area where the ilu's were being prepped for riding. Yeriyah and Neteyam exchanged an anxious glance before racing towards the determined boy, who was hastily securing a saddle onto his own ilu.

"Lo'ak, where are you going?" Yeriyah's question blended seamlessly with Neteyam's, the concern etched on their faces mirroring the impending storm. The rain fell in a steady rhythm, each drop casting an eerie glow across the sky. Yeriyah couldn't shake the unsettling feeling in her gut, a premonition that something dreadful loomed on the horizon.

"I have to warn Payakan about the pingers!" Lo'ak argued, his ilu clicking behind him in solidarity. Yeriyah gazed out at the distant horizon, as if searching for Payakan. She turned back to Neteyam, who stepped forward, asserting his authority in the face of impending danger.

"No. You've got to keep your skxawng ass here," Neteyam's words were rough, the frustration evident.

Yet, Lo'ak pleaded, "He's outcast. There's nobody to warn him but me," Lo'ak urged desperately, his tone carrying the weight of the bond he shared with Payakan. Yeriyah knew that Neteyam could never fully grasp the depth of that connection, neither would she.

Neteyam, with a conflicted expression, stepped closer, placing a hand on Lo'ak's head. "Bro, why do you always have to make things so hard?" Neteyam's frustration spilled into the air, the tension escalating. Lo'ak, now fuming, unleashed his own pent-up emotions.

"No. You mean why can't I be the perfect son like you? The one who does as he's told and follows orders. The perfect little soldier. Well, I'm not you! And I hope I never am! Okay? I'm not you. He's my brother. I'm going," Lo'ak declared, his words cutting through the tension. Yeriyah's heart ached for Neteyam at Lo'ak words. She knew they'd hurt him. But she was seeing the world through Lo'ak eyes. All she could think about was Zaeyli and everything she would do to protect her ikran.

"Neteyam, he should go. Payakan could really di-" Yeriyah began, only to be silenced by Neteyam's sharp look. His anger redirected towards her, and he snapped, "No, it is dangerous. Stay out of this." She shook her head, fists clenched, and turned to Lo'ak, offering a determined nod.

"Let's go, Lo'ak. We'll find Payakan and warn him." Yeriyah moved with purpose, snatching a saddle from a makeshift rack. With a call, an ilu materialized, ready for the impending journey.

"No." Neteyam practically growled, reaching for Yeriyah and his brother. His attempts were thwarted by the sudden arrival of Tsireya, Aonung, and Rotxo. In a swift motion, Lo'ak broke free from Neteyam's grip and plunged into the water.

"Lo'ak!" Tsireya's desperate cry resonated. "Come back!" Her mate's voice joined the chorus, but Yeriyah had already dived in after the youngest Sully brother, her ilu joining her side within seconds. The water embraced them as they embarked on a mission to find Payakan. She would do the same for her ikran, she knew the risks of going out, but she would die for Zaeyli, just as much as she knew Lo'ak would die for Payakan.

Lo'ak and Yeriyah sliced through the water in tandem, the rhythmic motion of their ilu's powerful strokes propelling them forward. As they emerged for air, their eyes fixed on the others still several feet away. Lo'ak turned to her, his expression transformed into one of gratitude, an unspoken acknowledgment passing between him and Yeriyah. Kiri and Tuk's distant cries reached them before they both vanished beneath the surface, racing to locate Payakan before the Sky People could close in.