Eclipse slowly approaches. Amate told me how her mother and her used to call it the first sunset of the day, which kinda makes sense.
I haven't moved from my spot much. Amate gave herself a task of making us some new clothes, so I stayed with her to keep her company. Or maybe I stayed here because I don't know where else to go.
I watch as her hands knit, she is making a support for a swimming top. I plan on taking some shells or sea weeds that might help her with the clothes. She can use it as a decoration or a cover up.
"C'mon, let's call Anahera" I hear Tuk's voice as she apereas next to me, jumping in spot as she explains how her and her siblings are going swimming.
I stand up and fix my clothing, saying bye to Amate as Tuk takes my hand, two of us following behind her siblings as they've already ran off.
Two of us followed them to a dock where Tsireya and Aonung stand, next to them is Rotxo. With his goofy hair all over the place.
I greet both Tsireya and Rotxo since I haven't done so yet. Hugging Tsireya and admiring her for how much she has grown.
Tsireya takes the Sullies, I guess she is used to working with people since, compared to Aonung, she has a lot of patience explaining things to them.
"Should we get in" Aonung asks the two of us.
"Shouldn't we wait for them" I ask him and he just shrugs it off "They won't take long anyways" he comments and I nod.
Rotxo goes in first, jumping head first as Aonung takes a few steps back so he can jump off properly. And then you have me who's just staring at them, not knowing if I should jump.
Am I thinking too much about this?
Like Aonung, I take few steps back and start running. Pushing myself off of the dock and diving head first right behind them.
In an instant I am met with warm water, peaceful and quiet, steady and comfortable. I don't have to fight the water but rather let it take control of my body, letting it guide me through it. Reason why I was debating getting into the water is because I barely have any positive experience from it.
Here, everything is simple. The fish that swim by aren't even afraid of you. The coral the reef, the colors and vibrancy. The beautiful sky that shines through, it's like a different planet. It feels like I belong here, and I wanna stay, put there isn't much air left in my lungs so I gotta swim up.
As I turn around and try swimming up I realize how deep I've gotten. Before I can reach the surface I feel something grabbing my foot, pulling me back into the depth of the water. I panic. Trying to kick my legs but they're both quickly caught and pulled once more.
I look dow only to be met with the face of Aonung. A stone fell from my chest as I realize he's the one that has been messing with me. He swims up so we are face to face with each other. I slap him playfully over his cheek,. Maybe I should actually hit him once we are out of the water.
I signal for him that I have barely any air left and swim up, leaving him behind me but he quickly catches up.
He is an amazing swimmer. It would be weird if he wasn't.
"Where is everyone" I ask him as I look around, no one on the dock, I clearly didn't see anyone around me while under the water.
"Behind you" he says and I turn my whole body to look. All of them are sitting in a shallow water, laughing and talking about something. How much time did it pass. "Tuk wasn't able to swim so they moved over there to take it easy on her" he explains.
"Do you want to go there" I ask him and he shrugs his shoulders. "It's up to you. I'm fine with catching up as well" his comment makes me look at him. He's serious.
"Well we can do that" I say to him. We agreed to go over to water teraces where I can search for stuff for Amate. And eventually when I'm done with that we find a place on the beach where we can sit. Unlike the whole beach that is filled with sand this one is rocky and packed with gravel, but it's still comfortable to sit.
The sky slowly darkens as eclipse approaches. I play with rocks as we sit there in silence. He's leaned back, his elbows supporting his whole body as he's almost laying on the ground. While on the other hand I am curled up into somewhat of a fetus position. I'm still not fully comfortable with feeling so many things on my skin, no mater how connected that makes me feel to the environment, it's an odd feeling not wearing a long clothes that covers you from head to toe.
"So how are you" I say whatever just to fill up silence. I almost forgot who he is as a person. I don't know if he enjoys sitting in silence or not. Maybe I should've asked him that instead of basic 'how are you'.
"Not the idea that I had for catching up" he says "but I am good. What about you"
"Am good too. My body is exhausted, I can't wait for the night just to fall asleep" I say to him as I play with rocks like a little kid.
"Don't get your hopes up, my mother called you and Amate for a bonfire tonight"
"I wasn't aware of that" I say looking at him. With his whole body exposed I can't help but look at the tattoos, it's still hard to believe he's grown to the point where he has them now.
"Did they hurt" I ask "the tattoos". He sits up, now facing me.
"On the neck" he says "that's where they hurt the most. So to answer your question, yes they did hurt"
"And do you plan on getting any other ones?"
"I do. But when the time is right" he simply answers. I take a better look at his tattoo that spreads from his jaw down to his collar bone. It's multiple different tattoos all brought together into one.
From distance it looks as just one piece but in reality, when you look better, you can see how different each one of them is.
"I always wanted a tattoo" I speak up "we have a tattoo artist back at home but I never really knew what to get"
"Are you indecisive when it comes to choosing beads for you cord" he asks and I shake my head in answer to his question. I'm never really looking for beads, I usually stumble across a beautiful one whenever I need it for my cord.
I look around at the ground, moving my hands against the gravel, digging up a shell that can be used for my songcord.
"I usually just pick it out like that" I say as I untie my cord from my clothes, gently taking it in my hands and continuing the thread so I can place a shell representing my arrival to Metkayinas.
I work on verses as well, finishing off the cord with a knot before tying it back where it was seconds ago.
"It's the same when it comes to tattoos" he says, taking his songcord out and pointing to the black crystal.
"My iknimaya" he says. With his fingers he traces the line that goes straight down his neck.
"So that's how they work" I gasp "back home it was just sort of fun. The artists would draw more then just lines. It was art"
"People would literally tattoo the eyes of the person they love, or their favorite flower. It was all over the place but I never guessed it had deeper meaning" I say in one breath, excited that I've already learned something new.
I never really questioned the tattoos that Amate has on her chest. It might have million meanings and stories behind them that I'm not even aware of.
"That's an interesting take" he replies. "Maybe you should get a tattoo while youre here, a simbol of visiting us. Just like that shell that you've just placed on your songcord"
Maybe, it would be fun to try out tattoos but I'm still unaware of what to get.
"Well that would be an interesting experience. But I will think about it"
"Well you have all the time in the world don't you" he says as he stands up. Reaching with his hand towards me.
"Let's get going. I still have to help Tsireya with the Sullies" he says with an uneasy tone. I take his hand and he helps me get up. Almost launching me in the air.
He moves my hair away from my face "If you plan on spending a lot of time in the water you will eventually need to do something with your hair"
"I will take care of it later" I say and we slowly make our way over to the beach where we last seen the others.
HELOU HELOU
here's your new part my guyzs, exams coming this week but ima try to write either way
bless you for reading, hope you enjoyed and had fun while doing so
have a nice day, night or evening, dont forget to go to sleep early tonight :D