Mune Olo'eyktan [NeteyamxAonung]

Part 8

With loud calls of excitement, the Omatikayan teens and their guests make their way through the trees, not caring if they scare off potential prey at the moment.

Spider, with his hand in Tsireya's for her security, runs along a horizontal branch, racing Lo'ak and Rotxo. The two boys are on a different one, without holding onto each other since Lo'ak has confidence in his mate's balance.

Korva watches the smaller marine boy as he races with them, going from vines to branches, impressed at his ability to keep up as well as he has.

Rotxo isn't as stealthy as them, but more so than the others, plus he's quick to copy their techniques. Tsireya does better on the ground, but is willing to step outside of her comfort zone and try other things.

He's highly impressed with both of them, and his friends who taught them. He's less impressed by the larger boy with Neteyam, though.

Aonung has fallen back to the ground multiple times, which is what Korva expected from all of the reef people, but he's the only one who seems so out of place.

His clumsiness has landed him and Neteyam following on the ground, with Yuuki being the one leading them and making sure they don't fall behind.

Neteyam glances back at Aonung to make sure he's keeping pace with them, but he keeps getting farther behind. He knows he's doing it on purpose.

With a sigh he slows down, and makes his way back to Aonung, reading his annoyed face.

Neteyam- Why'd you stop trying?

Aonung- You and I both know trying to keep up with them is a lost cause for me.

Neteyam- I did always tell you to practice in the forest more.

Aonung- Even if I had, those woods are nothing like this.

Neteyam- Don't I know it.

Neteyam looks up and smiles at the maze of branches and vines above them.

Neteyam- I really missed this view.

Aonung- You never talked about it, before, or told me how annoying the terrain is.

He laughs softly.

Neteyam- I didn't want to end up getting too emotional over it.

Aonung- Figures.

Neteyam- Plus . . .

He pauses, thinking of things he used to think were better left in the past and unmentioned.

Neteyam- I also didn't want to have to tell you about-

Aonung- Yuuki?

He looks at him with surprise.

Aonung- She was your girlfriend wasn't she?

Neteyam- How did you-

Aonung- It's the way she acts.

Of course Aonung wouldn't be blind to something so obvious. What really has him surprised, though, is the fact that he didn't act bothered by it.

Neteyam- I'm sorry, Ao.

Aonung- What are you apologizing for? I would've been surprised if you didn't have someone before me.