Chapter Text
I want to go home…
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Was the only thought racing through my head as I stepped onto the beach of Awa’atlu the soft sand felt foreign under my feet. My tail flicked nervously and I tried my hardest not to let my expression show.
I patted Tìlor’s strong neck as she huffed through her nose, cooing softly. She shifted uncomfortably on the sand as I walked forward mimicking my father as he raised his hands in defense of the villagers all crowding around us with spears.
Their gaze felt sharp and judging and I could so Kiri visibly pull her shawl tighter around her. My father tried to calm them down and my tail swayed softly.
A specific boy caught my eye… Two of them, Metkayina… a lighter blue with thick arms and tails. The taller one looked my age, the other maybe 14…?
They started to chuckle and laugh, it made me angry and I could tell the difference between excitement and teasing laughter. I nudged Lo’ak with my elbow and despite the disrespect radiating off them we greeted them.
I raised my thumb and forefinger to my forehead before waving my hands out.
“I see you…” I said softly and Lo’ak did the same. But they didn’t do it back…
Instead the two of them circle behind us like palulukan stalking a yerik. I felt a hand grab my tail and I quickly yanked it away with a soft hiss, my head whipping back to glare at them.
They laughed.
“Ooohhh baby tail! Look at how small it is. How can they swim like that!” The taller one laughed and laughed.
I bristled with anger but kept calm, my tail lashing. I looked to Lo’ak but his gaze shifted away between the crowd of people locking onto something… or someone…
I followed his gaze to a beautiful woman surfacing from the water on some sort of marine animal…? She tucked hair behind her ear and smiled, chuckling sheepishly as Lo’ak said hey.
I rolled my eyes, of course he had a crush only ten minutes on the beaches of Awa’atlu. She stepped forward and slapped the boy's hand away.
“Ao’nung! Stop it!” She whispered sharply.
So that was his name, Ao’nung… I almost whispered it to myself to try it on my tongue but stopped short before I embarrassed myself. My eyes moved to the girl taking her in.
She had a small pearl braided into her hair dangling onto her forehead. Could she be the Tsahik? No it was too small of a pearl and she looked so young, but this wasn't the Omitikaya after all.
I glanced at Lo'ak to see him grinning ear to ear at her blushing. I chuckled and elbowed him again and he shot a glare at me, his smile fading. My fathers voice brought me back to the present… right. We needed a home, Uturu… we were so far from home.
The Olo’eytkan had already greeted my father… but now… the crowd split and a woman walked forward, the other villagers falling quiet.
“Ronal, the Tsahik of the Metkayina, I see you.” My father said softly but the expression on the Tsahik's face was far from his soft tone.
So she was the Tsahik. It made sense that she was since the shell on her forehead was much larger, that would mean… The other girl was her daughter and a Tsakram- Tsahik in training.
She argued with my father and we got judged by what felt like forever before Tonowari made his final decision.
“You will stay here, and we will teach you to live here so you do not suffer the burden of being… useless…” That made me straighten. As the oldest, that was my worst fear but I made myself relax as he continued.
“So you will be like babies… taking your first breath. My son; Ao’nung. And my daughter; Tsireya, will show you our village.” The Olo’eytkan gestured to the Tsakarem and by some cruel joke… The guy from before.
The older one who had been teasing me,his younger friend backed into the crowd. Great… of course the chief's son was in charge of training us.
“What? Father you can not-” He started sharply raising his hands in defence, his thick tail lashing behind him.
“Ao’nung.” Tonowari barked sharply. He was strict with his son I could see the rude boy only moments ago bullying me and my brother had fallen silent pouting. It almost made me smile.
The Tsakarem- No, I think her name was Tsireya, stepped forward.
“I will show you your new home!” She said with a smile.
“What do we say?” My father asked.
“Thank you..” We all said in unison my eyes roaming over Tsireya. I was admiring the weaving of her top and arm bands clearly designed to withstand the sea. Lo’ak was doing the same but not because he was amazed by her clothes, that's for sure…
We followed her further into the village walking along the bouncy woven mats suspended in the roots of the massive trees hanging just above water.