~~~Superstes~~~UNDERGOING MAJOR EDITING

The unlikely adventures of

Fey'atsi floated in the crystal blue waves of the shallows, her hair fanning out around her in the water like an atokirina seed. She was enjoying some alone time after the tribulations and hectic events of the last couple of weeks, although she wished she could speak with a specific woman about her experiences. Ilieya would respond to her with a warm hug and a kiss on the forehead. 

But what gave her comfort even without Ilieya's presence was Neteyam's, and she knew she could talk to him.

"You know you could drown out here." A deep, boyish voice rang out in the morning sunlight. 

Fey'atsi opened her eyes and pulled herself up with her toros leaning back in the water while her legs were planted firmly in the ocean floor, and her arms splayed out beside her. Her thick, voluminous braid fell down her back heavier than usual considering it she was soaking wet, and water dripped off her eyelashes and her body like raindrops. 

She tried to keep her scowl from appearing, but her lips curled up in distaste anyway. The boy who had arrived with the other strangers—the one who helped bring Neteyam home, Viper, was standing waist-deep in the water, his tail swishing under the current. He wore nothing except for a pair of baggy pants and a silver bracelet. Just by the looks of him, he seemed menacing. His eyes were cold and steely, and his head was cocked to the side in an arrogant fashion. 

"I can swim fairly well." She retorted back, her ears twitching. Throughout the village, people were fishing and taking care of their children—the men were leaving the borders of the reef to go hunting deeper across the ocean. Young members of the clan were feeding the Ilu's, and she spotted Tsireya's curvy frame among the group from where she stood in the shallows. 

He hummed in response and stepped closer, his body swishing through the water. Feya backed away a couple inches like she was retreating from an angry thanator, her expression wary. She despised the way his eyes trailed over her body as if he were analyzing her for his own selfish reasons. 

"You're not Toruk Makto's daughter." Viper stated bluntly, his words intended for what he was implying. 

Fey'atsi immediately turned sour and began stalking towards the shore, not bothering to acknowledge the stupid boy's arrogant attitude. As she was walking her tail flipped in the air—evidence of her frustration—she felt a large hand tug harshly on the base of her tail, yanking her back, along with a stinging grip on her arm. She whipped around and shoved Viper in the shoulders as hard as she could, her arms thrusting forward with the effort.

Viper just stumbled back and laughed. 

Fey'atsi wasn't exactly sure why but she felt something extremely bitter churn in her stomach. A plume of heat rushed to her ears and her face, and she felt so belittled by this boy's taunting.  "You keep your hands off me!" She hissed, baring her teeth. 

"Why should I?" He cackled and held his arms out, his legs spread out in a flamboyant manner. "You're not off limits, are you?" 

Feya didn't have the to make a comeback when another tall frame came stamping forward, pushing through the waves angrily. Neteyam barreled through the water as assertive and as strong as possible, his face stony and scrunched up in a frown. His entire presence reeked of aggression with his tail swinging high up in the air like a warning flag, the tip of it flicking behind his head, and his ears pressed flat against his skull. 

He wasn't happy at all. Feya could just see it in his eyes he was beyond upset, but not with sadness. Neteyam lunged towards Viper and pushed him back ferociously, (using his single arm) very obviously not hesitating to showcase his brutal strength. The older teen was knocked backwards into the shallow current, his lanky frame collapsing into the blue waters quite pathetically. Viper's eyes widened in shock at the sudden force and confidence of the Omaticayan warrior.