Chapter Text
Ao’nung breached the surface. He wiped the wet hair out of his face when something fell into the water near him. He jumped in surprise as another object fell. That’s when he noticed the colors. Bright bursts of colorful light danced across the sky. He never knew such a beautiful display could be possible as he stared in amazement. Roxto surfaced a few feet away and he too was amazed. Ao’nung scanned the horizon and saw where the lights seem to be coming from a ship that was sailing in the distance. Ao’nung immediately started swimming toward it. “Ao’nung wait!” Roxto called out as he followed his friend.
Ao’nung swam up to the ship. He made sure to stay in the shadows as he climbed onto a lifeboat. He peered through the railings of the ship as he watched the humans dance and sing.
On the ship Prince Neteyam’s birthday celebration was underway. Sailors danced and laughed as music played. Kiri had gotten into a dancing competition with their friend Spider who had been seasick for days. “So you stopped throwing up for days on end just for me to kick your butt at this?” Kiri asked as she danced gracefully. “Please I could beat you at this any day!” Spider replied smirking.
Ao’nung watched the entire scene in awe when he noticed Roxto swimming up to the boat. He climbed up and moved next to Ao’nung. “I’ve never seen a human this close before,” Ao’nung told his friend as he continued to observe the scene. “What are they doing?” Whispered Roxto. “I think they are dancing?” Ao’nung whispered back. “Woah,” Roxto replied as the sailors began to sing a sea chanty.
I’ll tell you a tale of the bottomless blue
And it’s heave to the starboard heave ho!
Look out a lad a mermaid be waiting for you!
In mysterious fathoms below
”Mermaid? Is that what humans call us?” Maybe they have different names for us like we do?” thought Ao’nung as he and Roxto watched in awe as the sailors continued to dance and sing. Ao’nung then noticed another human walking toward the other sailors. Ao’nung felt his heart skip a beat when he saw him. The human looked about Ao’nungs age, maybe a year older. He had similar brown hair that was a little longer than Ao’nung’s and was braided. The boy also had striking yellow eyes like a cat that Ao’nung felt himself getting lost in. “Uh, Ao’nung? You all right buddy?” Roxto asked as he gently nudged his friends shoulder. “Huh?” Ao’nung asked as he turned around to face Roxto. “You okay?” Roxto asked again. “Yeah. I’m fine.” Ao’nung replied as he continued to stare at the boy. “Hey Ao’nung, Roxto!” A voice called out. The two looked up to see Grace flying down towards them. She landed on the rim of the boat. “Oh hey, Grace,” Roxto replied with a smile. We’ve never seen a human this close before.” Ao’nung told Grace excitedly. “Say are you two suppose to be this close to humans?” Grace asked. “Uh..” Ao’nung started as he looked at Roxto for help. “Eh don’t worry about I won’t snitch.” The two metkyina sighed with relief. “Thanks, Grace. You’re a good friend.” Ao’nung said as he went back to observing the humans. “Quite a show eh boys?” Grace asked a little too loudly. “Grace be quite they’ll hear you!” Roxto warned. “Oh, I see. We’re being intrepidaitious. WE’RE OUT TO DISCOV-” Ao’nung grabbed her beak to quiet her when another voice began to sing.
I'll sing you a song of the king of the sea
(An' it's hey to the starboard, heave ho!)
(Heave ho!)
The ruler of all of the oceans is he
In mysterious fathoms below
Ao’nung peeked out a little more and saw it was the same human he saw earlier. Ao’nung’s heart fluttered as he heard the human sing. It was the most beautiful voice Ao’nung had ever heard. Unfortunately, his thoughts were interrupted when a fuzzy creature with four legs came by sniffing with its noise. It suddenly stopped in front of Ao’nung and Roxto. Frightened they ducked down into the lifeboat hoping that the creature would ignore them and move on. Ao’nung peaked out and came face to face with the creature. It licked his face and he giggled. Roxto did the same thing and the creature also licked his face. Ao’nung petted it. Its fur was soft. Ao’nungs father had told him that humans were barbarians but if that were true how could such gentle creatures like this one live among the humans?
“Hey boy, what you looking at?” Ao’nung heard a voice call outs he noticed the human walking toward the furry creature. Ao’nung ducked careful not to be seen. “What you looking at Max?” Ao’nung heard the human call the creature as he petted Max. Another voice called out. “Neteyam!”
“So that’s his name. It’s pretty.” Ao’nung thought as he watched another human walking toward Neteyam. “Oh hey, Benjamin,” Netyam replied. “You okay? You seem distracted.” Benjamin replied with concern. “Yeah, I’m fine,” Neteyam replied as he looked out at the sea. “Just thinking. Why do my parents don’t like it when I do these voyages? I mean look at what our sugar cane has gotten in the markets in Europe” Neteyam asked Benjamin pointing to a bunch of crates full of things that they had traded on the voyage. “Because they are worried for your well-being. They want you to be happy and they want you to settle down with the right person.” Benjamin replied as he put a comforting hand on Neteyam’s shoulder. “I don’t know Benjamin. I feel like there is more to my life than being just the prince. Why can’t I be like everyone else and choose my own path?” Neteyam asked as he leaned against the railing. Ao’nung listens closely thinking about the similarities between them. Then a loud clap of thunder was heard. Neteyam looked to see dark, angry clouds start to move in. The wind started to blow hard and the waves become more violent. “Storms coming in fast,” Neteyam said aloud and he rushed to warn the others. “Storm coming all hands on deck!” He shouted as the storm approached.
Ao’nung was terrified. He had always seen storms from beneath the surface but never had he seen what it was like on the surface. Heavy rain pours down on him and Roxto. The wind blows furiously. “Woah! The winds starting to move here!” Grace noted as she struggled to fly through the wind before losing the battle with the wind. She was blown away. “Woaahhh!” She cried as the wind carried her away. The a large wave struck the ship. Everyone was knocked to their feet. “Secure the sails and batten down the hatches!” Kiri ordered as she helped secure the sails. Meanwhile, Neteyam struggled to steer the ship away from the rocks. This was a task easier said than done as the rain made it impossible to see anything. Lo’ak noticed a bunch of sharp rocks in the path. Ao’nung noticed too. “Jump!” Ao’nung shouted as he and Roxto jumped into the water. “Bro, Look out!” But it was too late. Neteyam tried to turn but the ship struck violently against the rocks. “Abandon ship! Get to the lifeboats quickly!” Neteyam shouted over the thunder, wind, and waves. Spider helped Mulligan lower the lifeboats while Lo’ak and Kiri helped everyone get off the boat. Kiri noticed a cabin boy that looked no more than 12 huddled in fear. She ran towards him narrowly missing a sliding crate. “Here grab my hand!” Kiri told the boy as she reached out her hand. “I can’t!” The boy cried out in fear. “Yes, you can I know you can!” Kiri replied. “You can do this!” Kiri told the boy. Finally, they reached the rail. “We need to jump.” The boy looked at her with a terrified expression. “I promise we will make it. Just hold my hand okay?” Kiri replied in a comforting tone. “O-Okay.” The boy responded in a scared whisper as he grabbed Kiri’s hand. “Alright, I the count of 3 hold your breath and jump. I promise I will not let go!” Kiri told the boy. “Ready? 1..2..3!” Kiri and the boy jumped into the water. The surfaced. Kiri noticed Spider and Lo’ak helping people into the lifeboats. “Come on we have to swim!” Kiri shouted and she and the boy started to swim to the lifeboats.
Elsewhere Ao’nung surfaced again hoping all of the humans made it to the lifeboats. He pushed some lifeboats towards the panicked crew who didn’t noticed him bobbing in the water. Ao’nung then notice that Neteyam wasn’t in any of the lifeboats and went to go look for him.
On the ship, Neteyam made sure that everyone was off the ship and in the lifeboats before he jumped off. He heard a terrified bark. “Max!” Neteyam shouted as he raced to rescue the dog. A bolt of lightning struck on the sails and it caught fire. The sail came crashing down. Neteyam narrowly missed the failing debris before heading toward the dog. “I gotcha boy don’t worry!” Neteyam told the dog and he picked him up and looked for an escape route. By now the flames had spread to the rest of the ship. “Come on Max jump!” Neteyam told the dog. The dog understood and immediately jumped into the water. Max started to paddle towards the lifeboats. “Come on Max. Here Boy!” Shouted Spider as beckoned Max to continue to swim. Ao’nung noticed that Max was struggling in the rough water and helped him swim towards the lifeboat careful to avoid being seen. “Good boy!” Lo’ak told Max as he pulled him into the boat.
Neteyam sighed a breath of relief as he prepared to jump as well when a large wave rocked the boat. He hit his head on the deck and fell off on the opposite side of the lifeboats and into the water. Ao’nung noticed and immediately dove into the water to find him. Ao’nung frantically looked for him in the wreckage. Finally, he found him unconscious and sinking further into the depths. Ao’nung wrapped his arms around Neteyam and rushed him to the surface.
Neteyam slowly opened his eyes. He saw the most beautiful man he had seen in his life before he fell unconscious again. ”Don’t worry Neteyam. I’ll get you to shore.” Ao’nung thought as he pulled Neyteyam to shore.
Finally, Ao’nung laid Neyteyam on the soft sand. The storm had passed and the waves gently lapped at his tail and Neyteyam’s legs. The coral moon shone brightly and the moonlight made the water droplets and scales on Ao’nung tail shine. Ao’nung gently nudged Neteyam hoping he’d wake up. ”Please wake up Neteyam. Let me see those beautiful yellow eyes again.” Ao’nung thought as he nudged Neteyam again. He noticed Grace flying towards him. She landed next to him. “Is he dead?” Ao’nung asked nervously. “It’s hard to say,” Grace replied as she put one of Neteyam’s bare feet to her ear. “Oh, I can’t feel a heartbeat.” She said sadly. Neteyam then started to cough up the water. “Look he’s breathing. He’s alive.” Ao’nung said in relief. He gently cupped Neteyam’s face. He brushed the wet hair from his face and started to sing his. Instead of using his normal singing voice, he used his special siren voice. This was only used when a Metkyina had found someone special.
What would I give, to live where you are?
What would I pay, to stay here beside you?
What would I do to see you, smiling at me?
Where would we walk?
Where would run?
If we could stay all day in the sun.
Just you and me.
And I could be.
Part of Your World.
Neteyam’s eyes opened a little. His vision was still blurry but he could make out a boy with long brown hair smiling at him. Neteyam smiled before closing his eyes again.
Ao’nung smiled as he laid down next to Neteyam and drifted off to sleep.