Unexpected Surpise

Chapter 3

Over the next few days, Ao'nung found his friends' behavior strange. He felt like everyone was avoiding him. He thought no one wanted his company. No matter how he tried to join their activities, he was always shaken down for some reason.

In the morning, he tried to persuade Rotxo to go hunting on the edge of the reef.

"Rotxo! Would you like-" He couldn't finish the sentence because Kiri appeared out of nowhere and pulled his best friend away, saying 'you have to show me something'. Ao'nung found Kiri's behaviour strange, but he didn't take it personally and let it be known that it must have had something to do with his 'freaky' things.

As he was walking along the edge of the beach and enjoying the sun, he saw his brother and Lo'ak saddling up an ilu. Ao'nung hurried over, hoping to join them. "Hey, can I" he started but was interrupted by Tsireya's voice "Sorry brother but-"

"We are going on a date, so you can't come." Lo'ak's voice interrupted the girl's explanation, and the girl just looked at the other with a confused and embarrassed expression. The Omatikayan quickly sat behind Tsireya and started hurrying her softly so that Ao'nung wouldn't hear him as they didn't want him to find out what they were planning.

The mentioned one watched the couple fleeing in a hurry with a great look on his face.

His group of friends also behaved strangely. Every time he went to them, they just snapped. So after a while he started to give up trying and just watched from a distance as they were doing well even without him.

Here he realized that Neteyam was right. He is worth nothing. Just a filler for people who are there when they need it. He felt that whatever he was doing was wrong or not enough. Ao'nung didn't want to be alone again. He needed the company of his friends. He needed someone. To anyone.

He felt alone on his day.

~

"I left something at our Marui, I'm going back to get it." Neteyam turned to the others. They were already more than ready to prepare the location, so he didn't feel it was a problem if he left the remaining plumbing work to the others.

"Okay, we're about to finish anyway" Tsireya turned to Neteyam with a smile "If it's not too much to ask..." she began uncertainty "Could you bring Ao'nung here? Or just send it here! It is also good." Tsireya knew that she was already pushing the boundaries with her requests, but this way the timing would be perfect for her brother, and she trusted that there might be a chance for them to reconcile.

Neteyam pressed his ears back and stared in front of him with an annoyed head, then nodded uncomfortably. He didn't even want to spend more than a minute with Ao'nung. He knew exactly the other's intentions, why she asked him, so that maybe they would be able to talk about things on the way here. Or at least they will be on speaking terms again.

On the way to their Marui, Neteyam tried to mentally prepare himself for the conversation with the ocean boy. He knew that he had to last at least this much time with him without any reproaches or stinging remarks.

As soon as he got to their place, he looked for long minutes at the object he had worked on for hours and days weeks ago. He carefully lifted it between his fingers and ran it over the carefully strung array of pearls and shells. A lot of feelings swirled in him at the same time as he looked at the piece of jewelry. He tried to make it with his heart, soul and all his knowledge, but now he felt that all the time he spent on it was in vain. As he tried to find the most beautiful pieces. As he tried to put it together with the smallest details and without any mistakes. Everything seemed like unnecessary effort.

With one last look and a deep breath, he put the jewelry away and began to listlessly search for Ao'nung. He left for the Olo'eyktan Marui, trusting that Ao'nung was at home and would complete the task entrusted to him as soon as possible. As soon as he got there, he saw the chief of the Metkayina and the Tsahìk preparing their dinner.

Stopping at the door, he greeted them with due respect "I see you in Olo'eyktan, Tsahìk." he said, showing the traditional greeting with his hand.

"Neteyam?" Tonowari turned his gaze towards him in surprise, then returned the greeting "What are you doing here? Did something go wrong?"

"I was only looking for Ao'nung, I thought he would be here, but as I can see, he is not. Don't you know where he might be?"

"Did that idiot kid do something again?" Ronal's voice sounded nervous. She was still mad at her son for what he had done with his friends days ago. She couldn't swallow the shame his actions had caused her since the Sully family had arrived. She was irritated and frustrated by it. She just hoped this time he didn't disappoint again.

"There is nothing like that" Neteyam's voice was measured, he tried to find the most suitable words, and raised his hand defensively.

-"He hasn't been home for a while. He must be swimming and enjoying the surroundings." Tonowari's lips pulled into a friendly smile "You'd better look for him in the water."

"Thank you for your help, have a nice evening. '' As Neteyam said goodbye, he hurriedly picked up his feet and went to the shore to look around. He secretly hoped that Ao'nung wasn't out swimming, because right now he was not in the mood to search the entire sea for the other. And he couldn't go back to the others without him. After all, he promised to find Ao'nung.

As time passed, it started to get darker and darker, the sun started to go down, only a small part of it was visible. The air also began to noticeably cool, so Neteyam increased his steps. He was walking along the edge of the shore, the water in some places almost reaching his feet. He looked at the ocean with his eyes searching for the other. As he began to move further away from the village, he began to worry. His breathing quickened and he could hear his heartbeat clearly in his ears. His palms began to sweat, and his eyes began to look around more and more nervously. The boy was nowhere to be found.