Invisible String - Jake Sully

13

Tawn was spending her day with Tsireya and Lei'la. The three of them were picking out shells for a project. Tawn was diving down towards the sea bed, scavenging for the most beautiful shells she could make out of.

When she collected enough for her project, she swam upwards. She broke the surface and breathed in the air. She didn't realise she was in so long.

"Tawnie, look at what I got!" Tsireya smiled, showing her collection.

"Me too. I got a lot of these beautiful shells," Lei'la grinned, showing hers.

"let's go back," Tawn suggested, calling her ilus and mounting it. She waited for Tsireya and Lei'la to mount theirs and set off to the mainland. When they were near the shore, Tawn disconnected her tsaheylu and swam towards the beach. 

"Come on, guys," she called the two teenagers.

Tsireya rolled her eyes at her aunt's nagging while Lei'la smiled sweetly at Tawn, "is it okay if I leave first?" she asked.

"But Lei, what about the necklaces?" Tawn pouted.

"I'll work on it tomorrow," she pleaded, giving Tawn her best puppy eyes. Yes, now Tawn understood that reference.

"But we need to finish it by tomorrow. Your parents are going to trade it with other clans," Tawn said.

"Yea, where are you going Lei?" Tsireya asked, her smirk apparent.

Lei'la blushed, looking away, "well, I made a promise to someone, okay," she said, fiddling with the strap of her bag and avoiding eye contact with the two of them.

Tsireya and Tawn shared a knowing look. Tawn propped her hand on her hip and looked at her knowingly, "is this certain someone the son of the olo'eyktan?"

Lei'la's body tensed, and she shook her head rapidly, "I don't understand why you even think about him right now?" she said nervously.

Tawn huffed, "no funny business, I promised your parents I give these accessories by tomorrow morning, so I'm going to do just that, okay," Tawn explained, "oh, and Aonung will understand anyways. I'll make sure he'll understand."

Lei'la sighed. She would never win, "But I made him mad yesterday, and now I feel bad, and I don't know," she rambled.

Tsireya looked at Tawn in concern, "what happened?" Tsireya asked.

Lei'la shrugged, "he was jealous about something," she whispered.

Tawn smiled sympathetically for Lei'la, yea she understood how crazy a person could be because they were consumed by jealousy, "Let's go and gossip at my tent, girls. You know what we call my Marui?" Tawn asked.

"The marui of trust," they chorused together.

"That is right, now come on, these pearls won't make themselves," Tawn giggled, trying to lift their moods.

Tsireya giggled and laced her hands with Tawn and Lei'la. The three of them walked towards Tawn's Marui, laughing until Tuk ran towards Tawn.

"Tawn!! It's been so long!! I miss you!" she squealed, running towards the girl and hugging her legs.

Tawn slid her left arm off Tsireya's before hugging Tuk with her free hand. "Hello Tuktirey, I miss you too," she smiled, stroking her braided hair, "how are you?"

"I'm great!" she grinned toothily.

"Are you here alone?" Tawn asked, looking for someone to be with her.

The little girl shook her head, "no, Kiri and Neteyam were with me, but they disappeared," she shrugged.

"Well, want to join me and the girls made bracelets and necklaces? I know you have a gift for crafting," she offered. It was true. She was better now at weaving and crafting compared to her first attempt, and Tawn was proud of her.