The Breath of Water | Neteyam

76 • Rising Tensions

When she awoke, she saw something that was not there the night before.

It was the Spirit Tree.

Or at least something that resembled it.

This one was not underwater, so it did not have the same kind of leaves the Spirit Tree at the Cove of the Ancestors did. It looked like straight tendrils instead, like a weeping willow, but its bark was that of a palm tree.

She reached her hand up, wanting to touch one of them, but this made Neteyam stir. She looked down at him, recalling the night they just had. She now smiled, tracing his eyelids with her finger.

"Mm...Liya, your fingers are so soft..." he mumbled, shifting his head around; his eyes were still closed, so she laid tender kisses on both of them.

"Honey, open your eyes." She said. He did as she told him, and instantly noticed the newly sprouted tree. His eyes widened in surprise while his mouth fell agape.

"...Vitrautral..." he let out, getting lost in the bright pink glow of the tendrils. Liyanin tilted her head, looking at the side of his face.

"...Kiri had mentioned that before..." she said. "...is this what it looks like?"

Neteyam now sat up, touching one of the pink vines. "Yes...mostly." He could feel something coursing through him as he felt the tree. Reminded him of home.

Liyanin soon sat up as well, not feeling like laying down anymore.

"...Where did this tree come from..." he asked aloud; the question wasn't really directed at anyone.

Liyanin thought hard, for she too wondered how it came to be. And its massive size, there was literally no explanation for the sudden spawn. But then again with her, nothing really ever had a logical explanation. She looked down at the water they sat in, its surface rippling. As she focused on said water, she began to hear a song.

All of a sudden, Neteyam's ears had twitched, and he began looking around. "Do you hear that?"

Liyanin was taken aback, her mouth falling open a little. She watched him turning his head, searching for the sound...

Which meant that...he could hear it too.

"Neteyam...!" she exclaimed, grabbing hold of his head. His eyes had widened, staring confusedly into her eyes. "...you can hear it! The song of the sea!"

As he began to put the pieces together, his brain finally registered what she was saying. "...your..."

"...My songcord...!" she finished while embracing him, causing his chin to rest on her shoulder. He was still processing everything, so it took him a while before laughing and wrapping his arms around her.

"Oh my god," he planted a quick kiss to her cheek, then held her head close to his. "...oh man..."

"You left more bites than usual, Nete..." Liyanin said, looking down at her inner thighs; his marks littered the area.

"Sorry, heehee..." he giggled, acting cutesy while scratching his head. "I couldn't help myself."

She side-eyed him playfully in response, putting her top back on. She was able to slide it on, but with the tying part, she would need some help. So she quietly walked over to Neteyam who was making sure his loincloth wasn't loose. She didn't need to say anything, for he already knew what she wanted. Once he finished with his bottom, he tied her ioi asrew back. When the final knot was completed, he placed a gentle kiss onto her shoulder.

They both finished getting dressed, making sure all that they had removed was back to where it was supposed to be.

Neteyam took a long glance at Liyanin, making her tilt her head. "What is it?"