Aonung took me out of his embrace as he went running across the beach, "hey wait up!" I shout with a smile as I chase after him. "Nope. Come on Láni keep up!" He shouts behind him, "well I'd be able to keep up if you didn't cheat!" I shout back sticking my tongue out slightly even thought he couldn't see it needed to be done.
I ran as fast as I could, I slowly managed to creep up behind him and jump onto his back, "I got youuu...woah" I shout as we fall down. Aonung managed to catch me before my body hit the ground, I let out a laugh which soon cuts short as I see his face staring down "what.." I question him as he just gives me a telling look. "You said to keep up..so I did" I say with a giggle, "didn't mean tackle me to the floor" he says with a smile as he helps me up. "But it was funny" I say as he takes my hand.
"As long as you're smiling I don't mind" he says as he looked down at me, I couldn't help the small blush forming on my face so I decide to just look away and focus on where we were going.
"I figured I'd take you back to our forest..I thought it would help considering the circumstances" he says with a sad smile. I give him a smile back as I walk ahead through the woods, I shut my eyes as I rub my hands along the tree bark trying to imagine myself back home. "Náláni" I hear Aonung quietly say behind me, my ears pin to my head as I stop walking I quietly whispered "you know I hate when you call me that.."
Aonung walked up behind me until my back was touching his chest, "I know.." he says quietly as he sighs and continues "it's okay to let it out..please don't put a cover up. We're alone no one's here other than us" at his words my eyes start to water. It takes me a moment before I could from a sentence, "I get it's his father..and I know I'd do the same thing" I start to say as I stutter "but..he.he hurt me..my family. And he's out there again Aon. I don't want anything to happen again.."
He slowly wraps his arms around my waist pulling me back against him to comfort me as I spoke, "what if it all happens again, what if my family gets hurt when if you get hurt!" I say rushing my words out. "Hey, hey, hey" Aonung says as he turns me around cupping my face, "I meant it when I said I won't let anyone hurt you again Láni. It pains me so much that you got hurt and I couldn't protect you, never will I let that happen again. Okay" he says as he stares into my eyes.
I nod my head at his words, I watch as his eye flick down between my eyes and my lips. He quickly grabbed the back of my head pulling me in for a kiss, his grip around me got tighter as if he didn't want to let me go. I wrapped my arms around his neck as I leant back, "I love you Aon" I say in a whisper as he quickly responds "I love you too Ma Láni" within seconds his lips crashed back into mine again.
I jump up into Aonungs arms as he led us into the small cave, slowly lowering us onto the ground. The whole cave shone brightly around us, it was so magical in here.
I lean away from the kiss as I stare into his eyes, we both just smile at each other. "We should get some sleep" Aonung says with a chuckle as I nod my head, he lays me ontop of him as he leans up against the cave wall. "You sure I won't squash you?" I question him, "you didn't last time and you won't this time" he says with a smile as he wraps his arms around me. "Good night Aon"
"Good night Ma Láni"
I awoke to Aonung gently tapping me, "good morning my love, we might want to start heading back before people panic" he says with a gentle smile as I nod my head. "How're you feeling?" He asks as he tucks a stray piece of hair behind my ear. "I'm okay..I think I need to speak to spider.." I say quietly.
"I think that'd be a good idea" Aonung responds as he helps me stand up. He gently takes my hand as we walk back to the beach, "I love the sunrises here..you can see everything, where as at home the trees hide it" I say quietly "I do love it here"
"Well I'm glad you do" Aonung says as he gently squeezes my hand, "I'm excited to see your home" he responds. "I'm excited for you to see it too! You'll suck just as bad as we did" I say with a laugh as he pretends to be wounded. "Ouch that stung" he says with a chuckle. "Good!" I laugh back.
We soon made it back to my family's pod as I was greeted by everyone..even spider. "Morning" I say quietly to everyone as they nod back, "I'll see you later okay?" Aonung says as he gives me a hug goodbye.
"Can I speak to spider?" I question as they all nod their head in approval, spider slowly stands up and follows behind me. I lead us to a secluded part of the beach so we could chat a bit more privately.
The first couple of minutes were awkward as we weren't sure who should talk first, "Láni.." spider starts "I am so sorry..I went back to save Jake. But I saw my dad there. I was going to leave him but I just couldn't.. I know it was stupid I know." He says as he stares at the floor. "It's okay.." I whisper, with my words spiders eyes snap to mine "he's your dad..I would've done the same. What hurts is knowing he's still out there and could potentially harm me if my family again" I say quietly.
"It was a stupid idea, I regret it Láni. I do. You guys are my family! Not him and now I've put my family in danger again" he says sternly. "We all make mistakes spider.. and it proves your loyalty that you didn't fly off with him" I say with a small smile. Spider smiles back at me as he gives me a gentle hug, "come on we should go back" I say as I get up.
Once again I get back to my pod as everyone watched us enter, "come sit" my dad says abruptly as everyone's sat in a circle. "What's going on" I question as I sit next to my twin.
"Considering the circumstances, I think it'd be best if we left here for a little while." My dad says as I start to panic but before I could he starts again, "I think we should head home for a bit like we said..yes Láni Aonung can still come" my dad says looking at me before I panicked again. "Pack the necessities, we will leave tomorrow but we will come back here. This place is our new home" he says.
I couldn't help the big smile on my face, I was going back home! Back to my forest, back to my tree! I have missed that tree. It didn't take long for my smile to fade as I remembered what was waiting at home..more like who. Ikàlu.
What would he say when he finds out I've come home betrothed to someone else..
"Nàlàni?" My dad questions me with a concerned look, I snap out of my daze as I stare at him. "What's on your mind?" He asks, "Ikàlu.." I say quietly as he nods his head in response. "Don't worry, I will deal with it I made the decision in the first place so I can change it" he says with a smile as he takes me in for a hug. "I promise it'll all be fine" he says placing a gentle kiss on my head. "Let's get some dinner" he says as he leads me out of the pod towards the campfire.
"Hi" Aonung says from behind me making me jump, "hi" I say back gently slapping him with a laugh. "I'll go get us some food" he says placing a kiss on my
Head as I sit down with my family. "Excited to go home?" Lo'ak questions from my side, "very! I miss my tree" I say with a big smile. "At least you know where to hide if Ikálu decided to kill you" he says with a chuckle as I nudge him. "Hey that's not funny he might actually want too!" I say to him, "he won't kill you..at least I hope not" Lo'ak laughs.
"Who's going to kill you?" Aonung asks as he sits down beside me handing me my food, "ikálu" I say quietly as Aonung gives me a puzzled look. "The boy I was betrothed too.." I saw quietly as he gives me a blank stare then nods. "I'll kill him if he tries anything" Aonung says with a tone I hadn't quite heard before..I think it was jealously. "I'm sure it'll be fine Aon.." I say trying to reassure him.
"Hmm you sure Làni he did say..and I quote. I'll wait for you" he says with a teasing grin. Aonung gives me another stern stare as I harshly elbow my twin, "not helping" I whisper to him as he smirks back.
"It doesn't matter what he said, I love you Aon" I say as I stare at him as he just nods his head. My ears pin to my head as I watch Aonung get up and leave, "thanks Lo'ak" I say harshly as I follow behind Aonung.
"Aon.. can you stop walking away please" I ask him, "leave me be Náláni" Aonung responds bluntly.
"No. Aonung. Talk to me!" I shout as he turns around and stares at me. "Would've been nice to know Náláni!" He shouts to me as his words make me jump, "would've been nice to know this Ikálu liked you. Now I'm going to go to your home and watch you talk to this guy? What if you go back to him huh?" He questions me.
I walk up to his side as I grab his arm tightly, "I'm sorry..I should've said he liked me but I didn't. Aon I don't like Ikálu..I never did. Maybe I started to accept him but it didn't mean I liked him. Whereas I love you. So can we not do this whole jealousy thing.." I ask quietly. "Láni, I have a short temper anyway and the thought of that happening.." he says as i cut him off.
"I know. I know. But don't think it, it's not going to happen I love you Aon. I'm betrothed to you" I say with a smile as he gently pecks my lips. "I'm sorry..I have a bad temper" he says as he takes me into my embrace. "I know and I'm sorry" I say as I hug him back.
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Hi my lovelies!
IM BACCKKKK
well I said I was back last time and I vanished again..but this time I am back to finish my story!
Life got the better of me but I'm doing so much better now!
Thank you all for the love and support on this story I read everyone's comments they mean a lot 🫶
(Sorry it's a shorter chapter than normal, I need to get back into my writing)
Bye my lovelies xxxx