The Breath of Water | Neteyam

49 • Good Talk

Since Lo'ak was off with Payakan again (wanting to delay his beating from Neteyam) and the rest of the family were doing who knows what, Neteyam was left with Kiri to pester him about the weather last night, knowing that it had something to do with him since it happened after he went to go talk to Liyanin. He kept covering his ears, trying to tune her out, but her voice was so loud, it seeped through his hands, settling in his ears.

"What happened last night, brother?! Please, tell me, pleeeeaaasssee—"

"Agh, Kiri! Why are you so loud in the morning?" He complained, moving away from her. But she only followed after him.

"Just tell me what happened. I hope you don't think I think that that weather was 'normal'. It was obviously Liyanin."

Neteyam now sat down, sighing, his braids swinging as he tilted his head. "...you're right. The weather was because of Liyanin."

"So? What made her do that?" Kiri asked, her interest piqued.

"Kiri, I know you have many questions, but what transpired last night—I would like it to keep it between me and Liyanin." He explained calmly. Her ears drooped slightly out of disappointment, her curiosity lessening. But the tone in her brother's voice, she could hear the plea in it. She wanted to respect his wishes, so she didn't pry any further. Neteyam noticed his sister's dispiritedness, so he decided to say something else that would cheer her up.

"...but I can tell you something else." He added, resulting in her ears raising back up a little.

"I told her that...that I loved her."

"What? You did?"

"Yeah," he laughed, feeling a bit shy now. "...it was...pretty intense."

"I bet..." she said, smiling brightly as she stared at the side of his face. "You are glowing today, brother; I would be surprised if Mom and Dad didn't notice."

"What is that saying the Sky People say, the one about a lover's glow?" He asked, squinting his eyes in attempts to remember.

"It is such a simple saying how could you forget—"

"Just tell me—"

"—Love makes you glow, that is it. That's all. Just four simple words." Kiri finished, lightly laughing since she couldn't believe he forgot such a short and quick phrase.

"I wonder what Liyanin's glow looks like..." he said to himself, smiling as he bit his bottom lip in subtle excitement.

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"I am checking on the fish, Mother!" Liyanin shouted happily as she exited her pod. She skipped away, her hair bouncing with each step. Ronal could sense something was different about her—her demeanor was more...chipper, than usual. She then leaned over to her mate.

"Do you see that...glow?" She asked Tonowari. He looked around the pod, not knowing who or what she was referring to, but she hit his shoulder lightly, pointing at their daughter who was now far out from their house.

"Oh, now that you mention it, I do. She does have a bright complexion." He said sweetly, unaware of what she had meant. Ronal shook her head, sighing, though, his idea of their daughter's glow being different than what she had in mind.

"Good day, Liyanin." Some passing villagers said as they bowed their heads while gesturing oel ngati kameie. Liyanin returned their greetings, a bright smile upon her face. As she continued on her way, she ended up running into a group of boys, some of them being members of Aonung's posse.

"Good morning, boys." She stated stagnantly, her glow still present in her light smile. The boys noticed her change, and was left speechless as she walked on by. After she had passed, they started hitting each other and jumping, talking amongst themselves.