The Breath of Water | Neteyam

84 • Mori

Taking a leap of faith was something I was always afraid to do. To...to completely surrender my future to another person, it was a rarity for me.

The fact that I was blessed with foresight, I guess one could say this plays a huge factor...I would say it does.

But there are some things I do not want to see, things I just want to experience, so I tend to stray away from summoning such visions.

But...maybe not all of my visions are curses.

.

Neteyam placed a hand over Liyanin's stomach, feeling for something. She watched him do this, a silly grin on her face.

'...what are you doing...?' she laughed out, shaking her head.

'Checking to see if you are with child yet,' he then placed his ear to her tummy; his tail swayed in delight as he did this. '...we have done the right thing, no?'

'You are so eager, Nete.' She teased, pulling him up by his arms. '...in due time, in due time...'

He smiled, wrapping his arms around her head. '...I know.'

They stayed like that for a while, just soaking in each other's embrace.

'...hey, you never took me out to ride your Ikran. And it's been weeks since we have told my parents.' Liyanin pouted, looking up at him. His eyes widened and then his ears fell out of sheepishness. '...you forgot...! Didn't you?'

'I swear it was not on purpose! So much has been happening—'

'—oh, blah, blah, blah—just kiss me—'

She placed her mouth onto his, feeling the tenderness of his lips. Her arms around his torso tightened as she kissed him, his head turning a bit to the side. When they separated, Liyanin backed away, spreading her arms out in a pose. Neteyam's brow knitted together in confusion, stifling a laugh.

'...what's this?'

She only pursed her lips, turning around in a rhythmic spin. Once her back faced him, she threw her hands up and began singing.

'...you...are...my......'

She now turned around, dancing in a funny way. '...sunshine! My only sunshine—'

Neteyam burst out into laughter, watching her through smiling eyes. '—Ma Eywa—'

'—you make me happy, when skies are gray...' she then ran up behind him, doing jazz hands in a rainbow motion by his ears; he could only laugh some more. '...you'll never notice dearrr, how much I lovee youuu—'

'—I love you, too—'

'—please don't take, my sunshine, awayyy!' she finished, making him spin her around. She landed with her back facing his chest, causing him to hug her from behind. He placed a kiss to her shoulder as she closed her eyes, the both of them rocking slowly side-to-side.

Please don't take...my sunshine...

.

Away.

She stood there, hearing nothing. Smelling nothing, tasting nothing even though she was in the middle of the sea. But she could see everything. Eclipse had arrived, thus the sky now a pitch-black shade, devoid of any brightness—any sunlight.

And Neteyam, he lay there...blood everywhere.

It was only him, Tsireya, and Lo'ak there. Tsireya was crying, looking at her sister, but Liyanin's eyes were only fixed on her lover. Her lover whose body appeared lifeless. Why was it lifeless? Why did his chest not rise and fall as it usually does? As someone with life does? Why??