The Breath of Water | Neteyam

80 • Pressure

Things were never the same after that with Aonung. He never went out of the pod, and he hid his face all the time by staying in a corner and turning his back towards the front. Everyone close to him grew extremely worried, for he essentially became a shut-in. He even shut out Peya, who already blamed herself for what happened to him. Liyanin couldn't speak for a while, but a few days after the incident (the same day Aonung had awoken), she was able to say short sentences. Her mother gave her an elixir for her to drink to help with the healing process, which helped a bit.

If Ronal could, she would've stayed with Aonung all day, watching over him. However, ever since the announcement of the burnings, she and Tonowari had both been busy making sure the outskirts were being properly monitored and keeping everyone in check. Tsireya was tasked with helping Säwila out with the children, but since Liyanin was attacked, she was tasked with taking care of the food for the free-divers and warriors. Neteyam offered to help her with this task, and she obliged. Lo'ak, Kiri, and Tuk would all visit Aonung by peeking through the doorway. He was always in the same spot, his back turned.

"...he can't look that bad..." Tuk sighed. They all were heading back to their pod now. She had lifted her sack of shells, looking at them sadly. "...I wanted to give him these..."

"...he didn't deserve this." Lo'ak groaned. "I might have hated the dude at first but...he isn't the same guy anymore when we first arrived."

When they got back to their pod, they saw their mother tinkering with her bow.

"Where did you all go?"

"We went to see Aonung! But he's still not looking at anybody...he is still sad..." Tuk said. Neytiri sighed hearing this, shaking her head.

"I hope he will get out of this slump...he is only a boy."

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"Aonung..." Liyanin said, standing behind him. Her voice wasn't as raspy as it used to be, but its cadence was still different than her original. "...brother."

He said nothing, he only inched farther into his corner.

"...when is the last time you've eaten..." she asked him, stepping closer. He didn't reply again; he bit his bottom lip, folding his knees up to his face. His hands were trembling, and he felt tears brimming his eyes again. "...brother, please."

"...go...away, please."

She sighed defeatedly, closing her eyes.

"What about Peya...? Are you...just going to abandon her?" she cleared her throat mid-sentence.

His eyes widened a bit hearing her name, but then flashes of the fight played across his mind, his missing teeth. He shook his head, wanting to forget, but he couldn't.

"...she..." he began, spit fell from his mouth as he spoke; he still couldn't quite control or feel his mouth. When it landed on his arm, he stared at it, his tears now falling. "...I'm...I'm frweaking pathetic...!"

Liyanin's heart hurt, she almost rose her voice, but the pain in her throat reminded her not to. "...you are not..."

"I can't see her anymore...she...she needs someone who can protect her and I—"

"Brother, you can't keep lying to herself."

Aonung stopped talking after this, wiping his face. He rubbed his arms on the blanket he had, cleaning them of the saliva. He hated how every time he spoke it was a watery mess, so he decided to be quiet. When Liyanin realized that he wasn't going to speak anymore, she got up and walked out, sniffling and wiping her face.