Ma Neteyam

26

" You guys are acting really weird." Kiri announced, staring at her two fidgeting brothers. Neither of them have been able to go longer than a few seconds without turning their heads towards the forests clearing.

" To correct your sister, you guys are always weird." Aonung said from where he was resting under a tree, a long leaf he was chewing on hanging loosely in his mouth, "But I would have to agree, you're acting weirder than usual."

" I didn't want to say anything, but I also noticed something off about you guys..." Moná pitched in, then looking at Neteyam she asked, " Is everything alright?"

Mońa has been acting extra tentative towards Neteyam since they've arrived. It's obvious she feels guilty about telling Lo'ak the one thing she had promised not to tell anyone. And it's obvious she wants to talk to him about it in private, probably to explain her reasoning and apologize.

And although Neteyam believes she had done it out of worry and good intentions, there's still something that's changed now.

The trust he thought he could have in a kind and innocent looking girl, one who was clumsy, stuttered, and always blushed and smiled is now no longer there. He supposes he could blame it on the warrior side of him that his father brought up. The one that is constantly analyzing, slow to trust, and usually a good judge of character. He doesn't need to block her out completely, but now he's going to be a bit more careful with the things he says to her, the things he admits around her.

He hears a branch snap and looks back towards the forest, waiting to see that familiar figure appear again, but it was a false alarm. Despite Lo'ak and Neteyam wanting to tell at least their sisters about their expected visitor, Neteyam thought it would be best otherwise.

He understands Vareya is not one who backs out from her word, too afraid to look like a coward, yet he still didn't want to take the chance of telling everyone and then she doesn't show. He's honestly hoping she changes her mind and doesn't.

His mind kept on creating visions of all the things that can go wrong with her sudden appearance. Not only with Vareya, but as well as his siblings, her cousins, the clan, and worst of all, his parents.

Although they aren't one to judge on outsiders considering his father's past, they definitely are very untrusting. And with the first impression they all had of her, he doesn't think they'd be too keen of her presence around them.

Yet on the other hand, there would be so much relief of not having to lie every time he wants to sneak out to meet with her. If his siblings know of his arrangement with Vareya, they can help him spend the necessary time away with alibis.

" We're fine, we're just-" Lo'ak paused, glancing at Neteyam and widening his eyes, asking for help.

He finished for his brother, " We're tired. Yesterday was a long day and we're still a bit on our nerves after Kiri's.... incident."

After most of her morning was spent convincing her parents she was alright and begging them to not force her to stay inside for 'precautions', she was deemed successful after assuring them she felt fine. And although physically he does believe her, there's been something off with his sister. There's something bothering her, something happened apart from the seizure yesterday, he just doesn't know what.

" Yeah, what he said." Lo'ak added for extra confirmation, making Neteyam mentally slap his brother.

Tsireya on the other hand laughed and smiled widely at Lo'ak, " Well then since we're all settled now, lets get started-"