The way of the blue

The truth is told

"You and that forest boy!" My mother shouts as I enter the pod..I gave her a confused look "don't think I didn't just see what happened Tálèa."

"Mum..I ..I'm sorry" I mustered out. "We don't know if we can trust them! They're from the forests, they're demon blood" she hissed. I watched as my dad tried comforting my mum..I couldn't help but let a few tears slip, I knew they'd be disappointed. "Ronal, he is Toruk Makto's son, Jake helped fight off the sky people he may be one of them but he defends us" my dad says "Tálèa I trust you to make the right decisions. I've never seen you so happy since the Sully's have arrived I am proud" my dad says touching my shoulder I couldn't help but smile at him. I could feel my mothers glare on me as I was getting ready to sleep.. my dad may approve but my mum doesn't. I hope she accepts him..I want to be with Neteyam.

I awoke early before my parents which I was thankful for, seeing my mother's disappointed face is not something I wanted to see this early .. I decided to get on with some chores as I headed towards the rocks pools. I decided to weave some more fishing nets as we were running low.

After some time Neteyam soon appears sitting next to me, "hey" he says with a smile gently nudging my side "hi" I quietly say back. "What's wrong" he said while looking at me, I stop what I'm doing as I look to the ground "my parents found out..my mum isn't very happy with me" he gave me a confused look "about us..whatever this is" I say as a whisper. "What about your dad?" He asks "he was okay with it..he was happy for me" I say as he smiles on return.

"I got you something" he says as he reaches behind him grabbing a bag placing it in my lap. I look inside as the biggest smile came on my face at the bag full of blue and white shells, "you got these..?" I say as some tears brim my eyes "yeah I went diving this morning, I thought you could use them to make some new necklaces or to braid into your hair...hey are you crying?" I wipe my eyes "Thank you Neteyam..no one has ever done something so kind for me I love them!" I say as I gave him a big hug. "I was wondering ..would you like me to braid your hair." He says timidly "I would love that" I said with a big smile "I have time now ..if you're free" he nods his head as we get up.

We head over to his pod as I keep the bag held tightly against me, Neteyam sits again one of the walls as he taps the space between his legs for me to sit. "You can rest against me if you'd like" he said with a smile as he gently brushed through my hair, I couldn't help the small blush creeping on my face. "Neteyam" I questioned earning a hum in response, "do you think I'd ever be allowed to see your forest?" I question "I'd love to be able to show you one day" he says in response. "Will you go home..when this is all over?" I question in a sad whisper "I don't know Tálèa..I'd like to be where you are." He says in response "I don't want you to leave.." I say as he rubs my arms in comfort, I didn't expect him to say anything there wasn't really anything he could say neither of us knew what would happen.

"All done" he says I walk over to the water trying to see my reflection, he had made all individual braids over my head leaving the rest down, with a couple fully braided in the front with shells woven in beautifully. "Neteyam it's beautiful thank you" I say as I hug him tightly "I'm glad you like them" he smiles back.

Our hug was soon interrupted as we heard the conch shell siren around us, I watched as Neteyam got in a protective stance pushing me behind him as the conch continues its siren. "What is that?" He questions as he watched everyone swimming and diving into the water.

"The Tulkun have returned! Everybody, our brothers and sisters have returned." Tsireya shouts grabbing everyone's attention "Neteyam come it's my spirit sister, she's here you have to meet her" I say as I start running to the water calling my Ilu, Neteyam jumping on behind me. "Look, it's my spirit sister!" I shout to him excitedly, I dove us down into the water as we watched all the Tulkun swimming in circles doing somersaults all around each other, it was a beautiful sight. I swam us back up to the surface "go, I'll wait up here for you" Neteyam says as I swim down into the water.

"Tílí, sister, I missed you" I sign

"I missed you too Tàlèa, how have things been?" She questions. "Good..very good I met a boy" i said.

"Tell me about this boy"

"Well..his name is Neteyam he's from the Omaticaya clan, him and his family came seeing uturu, he is Toruk makto's son." I tell her

"I see, and you you like this boy" she asks

"I do..I really do, I just don't know how to tell him my mum doesn't fully approve either .. but look at my hair he did it, I love it" I say, as I look up I noticed he's watched this whole conversation..I couldn't hide the blush on my face.

"Do you want to meet him?" I ask pointing up, she hums in response as we both swim to the surface. "Tílí this is Neteyam, Neteyam this is Tílí my spirit sister." I say "nice to meet you" Neteyam says as Tílí hums her response "what did she say?" He questions "she said it's nice to meet you" I smile. "He is very handsome Tálèa" I heard Tílí say, I was thankful Neteyam couldn't understand. "SSH stop..I know" I signed back to her "stop what?" Neteyam questions "oh nothing" I say completely forgetting i taught him our sign language. "Tálèa" he questions "I'll tell you later.." I say back quickly.

Neteyam had left me and my spirit sister to spend time together, we danced around in the water as we sung a song together. I loved it when she came back, she would always listen to what I have to say, she was always supportive and proud of me.

It was getting late so I knew I had to start heading in as I bid her goodbye, I took a slow swim back to shore enjoying the peacefulness. I knew Neteyam would want to speak to me after what he saw..I've never liked someone like this before I fear I'll do it wrong. I really feel as if I'm meant to be with him..everything feels right when I am. As I walked onto the shore I instantly saw him sat on the beach waiting for me, I approached him timidly as he stood up. "Come one, let's get some dinner and come back here..I wanted to talk to you" he said with a smile I just nodded in response I felt to shy.

The whole time we got our dinner at sat on the beach I stayed silent..I had no clue what to say so I just started eating my food. "Tálèa, can you look at me please" Neteyam says, I take a couple seconds before I look at him "I saw your conversation earlier but it's something I want you to tell me, I don't want to say it for you." He says as he looks at me, "I like you..I really like you Teyam.." I say giving him another nickname, he takes my hand as he looks deeply in my eyes "I like you Lèa" he says giving me a nickname in return "I see you" he says "I love you, I want to be with you, you asked earlier if I would leave. No I wouldn't, I go where you are Ma Lèa" he says as he leans in to kiss me, I wrap my hands around his neck as his snake around my waist. I gently pull away "I see you Ma Teyam, I love you" I responded as I kissed him again.

He held my hand tightly as he walked me back to my pod, I hated having to say goodnight but I knew I could see him in the morning so that made it okay. "Goodnight Ma Lèa" he says as he tuck a braid behind my ear "Goodnight Ma Teyam" I say in response as we split ways. As I entered my pod I saw both my parents sat looking at me, "Tálèa..I trust you and I trust your judgement, I cannot take you away from the boy that makes you happy" my mother says. I went over to hug both my parents as I appreciated her words "we could never be disappointed in you my child" my dad says comforting me "mum, dad I love him..I want to be with him" I say shyly "he wants me too.."

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Sorry it's a short chapter today!

Hope you all are well!

Bye my lovelies x