𝑀𝓎 𝑔𝒾𝒻𝓉 𝒻𝓇𝑜𝓂 𝐸𝓌𝓎𝒶

Chapter Sixteen

When Raya woke up the next morning she saw everyone fast asleep.

She remembered Ronal asking her to come to their pod once she woke up so she could get some ointment for her bruises.

She stood up and walked out of the pod to the chiefs pod. As she walked nobody was awake yet. The village was quiet.

When she made it, Ronal and Tsireya were already awake and Ao'nung and Tonowari were still asleep.

"Good morning." Raya said as she walked in, her voice raspy. Ronal gestured for her to sit down and she did.

Tsireya walked over and handed her a bowl of water. "Here, drink this. It has soothing herbs to relax your muscles."

Raya smiled at her and drank it. Ronal walked over to her with a dark green paste and began massaging it into her thighs.

It was cool at first but it slowly started to feel warmer.

"So, you and Neteyam huh?" Tsireya asked siting down.
"Yeah, we've been in a secret relationship for almost two weeks now."

Ronal looked up at her in shock and so did Tsireya.
"I know, it's horrible because I still lead Ao'nung on."

She put her head in her hands and took a deep breath.
"Did you love Ao'nung." Ronal asked and Raya shrugged her shoulders.

"Yes and no. Yes because he was so kind and caring but no because my heart belongs to Neteyam."

Ronal nodded. "That's understandable. But you should talk to Ao'nung."

Raya nodded. "I just don't know what to say to him."
"Just apologize to him Raya, he will understand." Tsireya said as she massaged some of the ointment into her wrists.

They sat in silence for the rest of the time, and Raya thought about what she would say to Ao'nung.
——

Raya sat inside their pod by herself, she didn't feel like going out and she wanted to be alone. Everyone else was out and about.

She was fiddling with her hands with she heard a knock.

"Can I come in?" She looked up and saw Ao'nung. She nodded and he walked in.

"My mom said you wanted to talk to me."
Raya nodded and moved for him to sit beside her.

They sat in silence for a moment, neither of them saying a word.

Ao'nung looked at her then back at his feet.
He took a deep breath and looked at her again. "Raya I'm not mad at you." He said softly moving a piece of hair to tuck it behind her ear.

He noticed her hair was out of its braids and her natural hair was super straight.

"I'm mad as myself for leading you on. And I'm sorry." She turned to face him. "It was wrong of me to do that, I should've been honest."

Ao'nung nodded and looked away. "Yeah you should've." Raya looked at him and her ears dropped. "But it's also my fault for not seeing the signs sooner and trying to force myself into your life."

He looked at her and they held eye contact for a few moments.

"Does he treat you right?" Ao'nung asked and Raya nodded.
"He makes me so incredibly happy." She smiled down at her hands and Ao'nung smiled seeing her smile.

Ao'nung looked out towards the ocean and then looked around their pod. Raya was looking at her hands avoiding Ao'nungs gaze.

He placed a hand on her shoulder and rubbed his thumb in a soft circle. Raya looked at him and placed her hand on his.

"I'm glad you found someone you love. You deserve it." Ao'nung smiled at her and she smiled back.

Just then Lo'ak walked into the pod.
"Hey Raya." He said walking in. "And Ao'nung."
Ao'nung gave him a small wave. "Hey Lo'ak."

Raya saw the worried look on his face. "Lo'ak what's wrong?" She asked standing up.

"Its Tsireya." Lo'ak said nervously.
"What? What happened to my sister?" Ao'nung asked rushing over to Lo'ak.
"Nothing happened, it's just I want to ask her out properly and I don't know what to give her."

Raya let out a sigh of relief and started laughing.
"I know just the thing." She stood up and walked over to her stuff and rummaged through her jewelry.

Once she found what she was looking for she held it up.

"Raya, are you sure?" Lo'ak asked once she handed it to him.
"I'm positive." Raya said.

It was a necklace laced with light blue feathers from the forest and little white and light pink gems, and in the middle was a tooth from an ikran they found up in the Hallelujah Mountains last year.

"Raya that's beautiful." Ao'nung said as he ran his finger over the tooth.
"And sharp." Lo'ak said pressing his finger against the point.

Raya nodded. "If she's ever in danger all she has to do is loosen this thread right here and the tooth comes out. She can use it to stab or cut whatever she needs."

Lo'ak smiled and gave her a hug. "Thank you, Raya."
Raya hugged him back. "Of course." They pulled away from the hug and Lo'ak left the pod to give it to Tsireya.

Ao'nung looked at her and smiled. "Pinks her favorite color, she'll love if."
Raya smiled. "I know, that's why I'm giving that to her. She deserves something from the forest."

Ao'nung nodded and turned to face her. "So, friends?" He held his hand out for her to take. She smiled and gave him a hug.

"Friends." She said as he hugged her tightly, taking in every bit of this moment that they could.

———

I know this was a short chapter, but I wanted to slow it down for a second to help prepare for the next couple chapters!

Thank you sm for reading!