Not the End

21 - Breathe

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Though the air is warm, it feels like ice in my burning lungs. My eyes close as my head tips back, or maybe my vision gives out... my heart beats so loud, my body desperate for oxygen- I don't even hear Neteyam and Lo'ak surface next to me.

"Safi." Neteyam's voice appears, gently touching my arm.

"Huh?" I half grunt, Lo'ak lets out a laugh, they must have been talking to me.

"You good bro?" Lo'ak asks, panting, is that a hint of concern in his voice?

"Yeah, sorry. What's up?" I ask, turning to them. Neteyam and Lo'ak glance at each other then back to me. "What?"

"Come on," Neteyam says, "we are supposed to meet with the others." He tips his head toward Tsireya, Rotxo and Kiri, a ways ahead of us. I nod and dive back into the water, the boys right behind me. I guess they decide it's a race, as they unnecessarily speed up, passing me. Neteyam is the fastest, but Lo'ak and I are about the same. I would be faster than both of them if I was their size.

Nearing the end, Lo'ak closes in on me, she shoves me back so he can beat me. I come back up, coughing, Neteyam grabs me. "You okay?" He looks me up and down, I nod and smile, still coughing a little. He turns to Lo'ak who has a stupid smirk on his face, "Skxawng ass cheater." He pushes Lo'ak's head underwater. Kiri swims over to me and fixes my hair.

"You guys can hardly hold your breath!" Rotxo laughs at us. Lo'ak fails to suppress a small growl, I hit his arm under the water, he better behave.

"We are not-" Neteyam gasps, "built like you are!" The smile on his face warms my pounding heart. Rotxo laughs and nods at Tsireya.

"True, but we will help you." Tsireya smiles sweetly, "This way." She dives back into the water and swims gracefully towards the reef.

"I don't know if I'll make it." Kiri spits. I roll my eyes at her.

"Yes you will." I give her a smile of encouragement.

"Come on Kiri, don't be a wuss." Lo'ak mocks her, she rolls her eyes at him.

The coral and the creatures aren't enough distraction from the burning all over my body, not just my lungs but all of my muscles. The edge of the reef gets closer and closer. I reach my arms out to the reef, pulling myself to the surface, for the first time in hours, not treading water. My body feels so heavy, I'm not sure I will make all the way out of the water. A blue hand splashes out of the water to my left, followed by Neteyam's head. He emerges from the sea, the water sparkling as it falls off of him, He sucks in a deep breath as he stands, the sun glistening over his heaving chest... He is just... divine.

"What?" He whispers at me, reaching out his hand. I smile and take it, suddenly I'm on my feet, his face inches from mine, returning my smile. Immediately I become aware of the weight of my legs, stepping onto the rocks, it is as if I've never walked before. My ankle starts to roll, but Neteyam steadies me, chuckling, but I see him still catching his breath too.

Lo'ak and Kiri appear next to me, I start to move towards them, but Neteyam pushes past me. I step back, relieved, I probably would fall back in if I tried to help them up. My eyes are glued to Neteyam, his arms flexing as he pulls Kiri up out of the water.

"Jeez!" Lo'ak huffs, climbing out of the water, sprawling sloppily onto the rocks. Tsireya giggles, walking past him. She motions for us to follow her.

Tsireya leads us to a flatter area, she kneels, we join her, sitting in a circle. I sit to her right, Lo'ak on her left, then Neteyam, Rotxo, and Kiri on the other side of me. She waits for everyone to catch their breath before beginning.

"Breathe in." Tsireya prompts, then sucks in a slow breath, we mirror her. "And breathe out." She stretches her arm out before her. "Imagine flickering a flame." She demonstrates blowing air out very slowly. "You must slow down your heartbeat." Tsireya reaches over to Lo'ak, placing one hand over his heart, and the other on his abdomen. "Breathe in." She directs him I glance over to Neteyam, who is holding back a smile. "Breathe from down here." Lo'ak looks at her, his eyes flicking around her face. He is definitely nervous. "Breathe out slowly." She pauses as he exhales. "Lo'ak, your heartbeat is fast."

"Sorry." He replies quietly.

"Try to focus." Tsireya says calmly, Lo'ak nods.

"Okay." He whispers, Neteyam and Rotxo look at each other, Rotxo giggles. Kiri shakes her head at them disappointedly. I close my eyes and try not to smile. As my heart slows, my mind begins to clear, then her voice appears again.

"The way of water has no beginning and no end." Tsireya says slowly, with the rhythm of our breaths. "The sea is around you, and in you. The sea is your home; before your birth, and after your death." We take another breath, she looks around the group. "Our hearts beat, in the womb of the world. Our breath burns, in the shadows of the deep." She pauses and turns to look at Lo'ak, as we take another breath, "The sea gives, and the sea takes. Water connects all things. Life to death. Darkness to light."

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