CHAPTER TEN. ✧˖*°࿐
❝ OUR SACRED PLACE. ❞

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"Does it feel better?"

Emea nodded, having been sitting in front of her mother who was fixing her hair, getting rid of the braids she matched with Tsireya. Tsireya's braids were beautiful but Emea didn't like it when she or her sister got compared to one another by being told that one suits them better than the other and just a bunch of things they both despised hearing.

"Thank you, Mother," Emea stretched her legs, eyeing the way her curly hair rested on her back, a braid and another framing her face.   "I'm going now."

"Before you leave," Emea turned to look at her mother who was still sitting down, her eyes closed, "I know."

Emea frowned at her in confusion. She didn't question it any further as her mom waved her off, cutting her thought process.

"Hey, Emea!" Emea turned to look at the person who yelled at her name, hoping it was Neteyam but knowing it wasn't since he wouldn't entirely yell her name. He always appeared right next to her side. She came upon her brother's friends, rolling her eyes as one of them said, "You look pretty hot if I may say."

"No, you cannot say," Emea shook her head, walking away. She continued to hear their taunts and compliments thrown at her but she simply ignored them, looking for Neteyam since he promised to walk with her.

"Sister, sister!" Emea's confused gaze now met her sister's, who was huddled in a group with a couple of others. She immediately saw Neteyam who had been staring at her. He smiled. "Come here. You need to hear this."

"What's wrong?" Emea frowned, getting closer.

Neteyam immediately made space for her, letting her sit between him and Lo'ak.

"Lo'ak was just telling us what he saw yesterday," Ao'nung spoke, "said he saw a tulkun by the reefs. But, this one was alone and he was missing a fin."

"You saw Payakan?" Emea questioned Lo'ak. Everyone got closer to hear more and Emea sighed. "He's an outcast, alone, separated from the other tulkun. They say he is a killer."

"No, no," Lo'ak immediately disagreed.

"He killed Na'vi," Ao'nung further explained, "and other tulkun. Not here but far to the South."

"No, he's not a killer," Lo'ak continued to defend his friend and Emea watched his reaction.

"Look, you are lucky to be alive," Tsireya gave him a frown, worried about what could've gone wrong.

"No, you guys," Lo'ak turned to look at everyone, hand gripping Tsireya's arm as she reassured him, "he saved my life. He's my friend."

"My baby bro," Neteyam stood up, placing his hands by his brother's shoulders, "the mighty warrior, who faced the killer tulkun and lived to tell about it."

Lo'ak shook his hands off of him, standing up. "You guys aren't listening."

"No, I'm listening," Tuk reassured her brother and Emea smiled at the girl, placing a hand on her own. She looked off towards Lo'ak as everyone called after him, Neteyam receiving an insult from Kiri.

"You should go after him, Emea," Tsireya spoke, eyeing her sister. "You know more about the ocean than any of us and you have a bigger connection to it."

"Is that okay?" Emea looked at Neteyam, who nodded, staring after his brother. She turned to look at the group. "I'll be right back."

"Good luck."

Emea jogged towards Lo'ak, catching his attention. He rolled his eyes and ignored her. "Do not try to ignore me either because I will drop you on the floor and make you eat rocks."

A moment of silence.

"I'm listening..."

Emea smiled a little before eyeing the scenery in front of her. "Listen, everyone is just worried. I know you made a connection with the tulkun, but we can't help but hear the tales we've heard about Payakan. They're not good." Lo'ak listened. "If you want to hang out with him, it's fine. But be cautious. And don't die."

Emea walked away and Lo'ak stared after her, murmuring under his breath. "She has such a nice way to reassure someone."

The girl walked off towards the group of people looking at her.
Neteyam couldn't help but smile out of comfort at seeing her being surrounded by a glow, the sunset beaming behind her.

"He will do stupid things," is the first thing she said, "but, we have to be there to prevent him from doing even more stupid things."

Neteyam chuckled. "Good words, Emea."

"Good words from the future Tsahík," Ao'nung teased, mockingly bowing to her and his sister shook her head, telling him to be quiet. He chuckled.

"Also," Emea continued after a moment of silence, "since you guys are going to be part of us, do you guys want to go see the Cove of the Ancestors? Our spirit tree is there and it would be an honor to have you three meet our ancestors."

"That would be fun!" Tuk excitedly shook, a grin on her face that made everyone else smile.

"Let's go then."

As everyone went to go follow after Tsireya and Ao'nung, Neteyam and Emea stayed behind, looking at one another.

"So," Neteyam placed his hands behind his back, standing in front of her, "you took off your braids... I like your new look."

Emea smiled a little at him. "Thank you, Neteyam. Now let's go before they leave without. I want to see your sisters faces and yours when you come to see our sacred place."

Neteyam hummed before he turned to look down at her. "Want to ride with me on the ilu?"

Emea shrugged. "Why not? But, I'm in the front!"

She ran off and Neteyam followed behind her, watching the way she dived into the water, an ilu arriving almost in a blink of an eye, letting her connect with it.

"That is not fair," Neteyam pointed a finger at her, diving into the water and getting behind her, hands placing themselves automatically on her waist. "You didn't even give me a chance to say a word."

Emea chuckled a bit. "Breathe."

Neteyam did as told, breathing in and out as she taught him. When Emea made sure he was okay, she and the others went underwater, the ilu taking them to their designated destination.

As she was in front, Neteyam admired the smile she had on her face when she looked to the side to see the animals going to her. He eyed the mark she had on her neck, one on her thigh, and another on her forearm. He noticed those marks on her mom and dad and from what his dad told him, they were called tattoos. They suited her.

She looked very beautiful in her element and Neteyam could stare at her longer if it weren't for the fact that they arrived.

They came from underwater and Neteyam softly gasped at the scenery in front of them.

"Surprised?" Emea turned to look at him over her shoulder. He nodded, speechless. She giggled a bit, a new sound that made him look at her again. He heard his dad's voice in his head, calling him a creep for just staring at her but how could he not?

"This is the Cove of the Ancestors," Tsireya announced. "Our sacred place. Eclipse is the best time of day to be here."

As Tsireya finished, night came before them.

There in the middle of it all, a light began to shine. It was brighter than anything and Emea could feel the strong pull she always felt.

"This is it," she breathed out. "This is the spirit tree."

"It's beautiful," Neteyam whispered right by her ear. She nodded, looking at him over her shoulder.

"It is."

And he looked at her. The way she beamed, the way a bigger smile was placed on her lips, and the way she shook with excitement made her much more beautiful to him. She looked more relaxed and comfortable and she was at peace.

Neteyam had mountains, an eclipse, and a spirit tree in front of him, but all of those were easily ignored when Emea's smile was the biggest gift to him.

AUTHOR'S NOTE.

Also, my uncle passed away
on October and my grandparents
were still grieving you know? Especially
my grandmother. So, they wanted to
go see Avatar 2 at the theaters so
they took us grandkids and let's just
say... the ending hit them both

Especially when Neytiri and Jake
connect with the spirit tree and see
Neteyam because all of us have had
dreams about my uncle but not my
grandparents

So yeah, a little sad fact about me
(btw I'm okay 🫡)

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