The Breath of Water | Neteyam

25 • Remember What You Have Learned

"So Lo'ak now knows of what you can do?" Kiri asks Liyanin as she sifts through the sand for some shells.

"Yes, it was not intentional, but there was nothing else I thought of to do." the latter replied. "He and my brother were bound to break something of value in there...they forced my hand."

"Our brothers are so stupid..." Kiri sighed.

"Agreed." Liyanin said, now going deeper into the water. The younger girl took notice to her, and so she became curious as to what she was searching for.

"What are you even doing, Liya?" Kiri asked.

"I am looking for items to make a nikroi," she responded. "...but these shallow waters do not hold much. I am going to have to go in deeper."

"Oh, a nikroi? Is it because of your dance? To go with your ioi asrew?"

Liyanin shook her head. "No it is not for me, it is for your—"

Kiri's eyebrow raised, noticing her abrupt pause. "My what?" she egged, smirking a little.

"...your...brother..." Liyanin finished, she found no reason in lying at this point.

"Neteyam?"

Liyanin now nodded.

"Why does he need a nikroi?" Kiri asked.

"He has accomplished much in these past weeks, so I told him I would reward him with this." she explained. She then began to call for her Ilu, clapping so it can hear her better.

"...did you ask him if that is what he wanted...?"

She stopped, now turning to face Kiri. "...what do you mean by that?"

"...that you—"

"Ma tsakarem!" an unknown voice cried out, interrupting Kiri from finishing her sentence. When Liyanin whipped her head to see who it was, she saw that it was Peya. She had a look on her face that just displayed how much stress and distraught she was in. Liyanin had no idea why she was in such distress, but she could tell that whatever the matter was, it was not good and needed to be dealt with urgently.

"What is the problem, Peya?" She asked, hurriedly getting out of the water to run over to the troubled girl. As she got closer, she could see tears falling from her eyes.

"It is my father! He got stung...by a txampay'weya!" she exclaimed, sobbing and choking. Kiri had never heard of this creature, and tried to figure out what it was, but to no avail she had no clue. But then she did remember the kali'weya (Arachnoid) that was used during the Dream Hunts of some Omatikaya who were completing their last stages of their Iknimaya. They sounded like they had similar properties, and had similar names too.

"A txampay'weya? Who let those out?" Liyanin questioned. Peya shook her head, indicating she had no clue. "Where is my mother? Is she taking care of him?"

"I cannot find her! And my father needs help now! Please, Ma tsakarem, you must help him!" she begged.

Liyanin grew anxious. She hadn't performed a ritual that rids of toxins on someone else yet. She had always practiced for the real deal, yes, but to actually have people depending on your ability, watching you, counting on you to help them—that was vastly different than just trying to do it right for practice. No pressure, huh.

But she was tsakarem. She was going to have to do this, and to do this she shall.

"Come, we need to bring your father to my pod." she stated sternly, trying to instill confidence in Peya and in herself. Peya wiped her tears and nodded, turning to lead her to the correct place. Liyanin turned her head to Kiri. "I will need your help." she said, eyes dark and solemn, establishing the gravity of the situation. Was txampay'weya poison that bad? Nevertheless, Kiri nodded and followed after the two girls.