The Breath of Water | Neteyam

86 • Nena'rìng

Translation: to the forest

•

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A few days had passed since then. Spider's new presence in the village did not go unnoticed, and many of the villagers were wary of him. Due to this, he usually stayed inside or whenever he did go out, it was with Kiri or Lo'ak.

Spider had a box of exopack replacements, several filters that would last him about a week and a half before he had to leave for High Camp in order to get more. The Sullys were worried about using another helicopter, so they were deciding on who would fly back home to take him there to get more filters.

"Where's your brother?" Spider asked Lo'ak.

"Oh Kiri didn't tell you? He basically got married." He laughed. Spider's eyes widened, his mouth falling.

"Neteyam's mated?!" he exclaimed. "How long was I gone for...?"

"It's been a while, Spider." Kiri sighed, smiling softly. "...we missed you so much."

Spider smiled in return, relief washing over him.

"For real, man." Lo'ak agreed, ruffling his hair with his big hand.

"But really, we have to figure out who is going to be riding you back home when the time comes." Kiri mentioned.

"The only people who got their Ikran are Neteyam and Mom." Lo'ak revealed. He looked between Kiri and Spider, a thought going off in his mind. Spider realized what these options meant, and he sighed.

"Your mom hates me..." Spider groaned. Lo'ak grew confused, his ears folding downwards.

"Why you say that?"

"Kiri didn't tell you...?" Spider said into his knees, hiding his face. Lo'ak looked over to his sister, who shifted nervously in her seat.

"...Mom...Mom almost killed him..."

"Huh?!!" Lo'ak shouted, rising a bit from the floor.

"But she did it as a ploy! To get Quaritch to let go of me."

"What the hell?" Lo'ak lowered himself back onto his butt.

"Yeah...it was...it was very tense. But at least now we don't have to worry about him anymore. Since he's dead." Kiri said. Her brother nodded, looking at the floor. Spider didn't say anything, his eyes flickering to the floor as well.

"...well then Neteyam's the one who's gonna be taking me?" Spider spoke up, breaking the moment of silence. However, Kiri and Lo'ak shook their heads.

"I don't think so, his mate's pregnant. And there's no way he's leaving Liyanin here after what happened. Even though the trip there is only five hours, if something were to happen over there and he'd have to stay...he would be devastated. So I'm pretty sure he would not go by himself." Lo'ak explained, looking up in thought. Spider's eyes widened again, clearly shocked by this news.

"He's gonna be a dad?!! Holy shit, man!"

Lo'ak chuckled, agreeing in his mind.

"...but...but then that means—"

"—our mother is most likely going to be taking you back." Kiri clarified, a hint of reluctance in her tone. She knew how awkward that ride was going to be.

"You've gotta be joking." Spider said, standing. But even though he stood, he was still face to face with the siblings. "...Look guys, I don't mean to be...rude...but...I don't particularly feel safe with your mother after what happened at the ship."