CHAPTER TWELVE. ✧˖*°࿐
❝ EMEA'S SPIRIT SISTER. ❞

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"So, we don't like Spider?"

"No, no, no, he's family. So we like Spider."

Emea and Neteyam sat in front of one another by his family's home. They were all currently relaxing while the two stayed out to talk.

"Hmm, so he's part of the Sky People?" Emea tilted her head out of confusion and Neteyam nodded. "Why would you want to be friends with him if his dad tried to kill your dad?"

"He was a baby and he didn't have parents so my parents took him in," Neteyam explained and she let out an "ah" as she understood. "I'm sure you'll like him."

"Mmm," she hummed. "We'll see. But wait... if he got taken by his father again, wouldn't he give up any type of information on where your clan is?"

Neteyam thought about it. Would his dear friend do that? He could only look at her. "I don't know. Let's hope he doesn't."

They both stayed quiet, enjoying the sound of waves. He looked at her and she looked at him as soon as she came to notice his gaze set on her.

"What?"

He smiled and looked down at his hands. "Nothing, nothing."

"You know," Emea started, looking away, "you stare at me a lot."

"You've noticed?" Neteyam glanced at her, looking back at the rock he was playing with. She hummed at his question and he stared. "If you feel uncomfortable, I can stop."

"I don't mind."

They both smiled at one another and before Neteyam could speak, they heard a horn that caught their attention. They both stood up and Emea smiled widely at coming to see what the commotion was.

"What was that?" Emea heard Tuk ask from behind her.

"What's going on?"

"The tulkun have returned!" Tsireya yelled, catching the attention of her sister. "Our brothers and sister have returned."

"Come on! I want you to meet my spirit sister," Emea grabbed Neteyam's hand, making them both jump into the water. Emea's ilu immediately came to her and they both held on, heading towards the animals everyone went to.

As they got close, they swam upwards. Neteyam's laugh could be heard while Emea was too preoccupied and excited to find her spirit sister.

"Where is she?" Neteyam asked and Emea looked around before spotting the familiar animal not too far from her, showing off her skills by jumping.

"I see her."

They swam downwards towards a tulkun with almost the same tattoos as her. The tulkun, having felt her, swam towards a very eager Emea. The girl got off her ilu, swimming towards her tulkun and placed her forehead on the skin.

"It's been so long," Emea signed, which Neteyam noticed. "I missed you, sister."

"I missed you more."

Emea smiled before turning to look at Neteyam. "Neteyam, this is Auli. She is my spirit sister and the daughter of my mother's tulkun. Auli, this is Neteyam. His family has become apart of our clan."

"Nice to meet you, Auli," Neteyam signed and the tulkun looked at him up and down.

"Does your mother approve?" Auli looked at Emea who simply gave her a stoic look, shaking her head.

"My mother is okay with me being friends with people as long as I don't get in trouble," Emea told her and she turned to look at Neteyam who admired their dynamic. "You can look at other tulkuns. I'm going to catch up with Auli."

Neteyam nodded at her request and left with Emea's ilu. "I'll pick you up when you're finished."

Emea nodded before the boy left, leaving her alone with Auli who nudged her as if she was teasing her. She was.

Emea smiled and pushed her away playfully. "Shut up. I know what you're thinking."

"My future tsahík," Auli continued teasing, "he is in love with you."

"Sure," Emea rolled her eyes, her fingers following the pattern of the tattoo Auli had which was similar to hers. "He just stares at me."

"Your beauty is unmatched," Auli continued to praise her, "and what is in you is brave and kind. I wouldn't be surprised if he likes you. Just be cautious with your parents."

"I know, I know," Emea breathed out. "So far, though, he's an amazing person and that stays between us."

Auli continued to nudge her. "You look happier."

"It's nice to be friends with someone who understands the struggles you have and someone who had to learn about you to befriend you," Emea explained as best as she could. After all, she was the one who taught Auli how to understand her.

"I'm happy for you," Emea smiled at Auli, rubbing her skin. "Our mothers are heading towards us."

Emea looked towards where she looked and saw her mother along with Auli's mother, Moa. Ronal smiled at the interaction between her daughter and her spirit sister's daughter.

"Hello, Roa," Emea signed towards her mother's tulkun.

"Hello, my child," Roa nudged her. Emea looked towards the side and gasped at coming to see a calf by her side. She looked towards Auli.

"You didn't tell me," Emea swam towards the calf, rubbing the skin. "So beautiful, Roa. Congrats."

"Thank you," Roa moved her fin to adjust the calf.

As Emea and her mother bonded with their tulkuns, Neteyam watched from afar and smiled before swimming to look at more tulkuns.

Time passed and before the Metkayina clan noticed, the tulkuns had to leave.

"It was nice to see you, Roa," Emea signed before turning to look at Auli, pressing her forehead against hers. "I hope to see you soon. I see you."

"Do not miss me too much."

Emea smiled before looking around, her mother staying behind to watch them all leave. As she spotted her ilu, she bid her sisters goodbye once again, and swam towards Neteyam who was watching the sunset.

"Hey," Emea peaked out of the water, scaring him.

"Sheesh," he grabbed his chest dramatically. "You scared me."

"Are you saying I'm ugly?" Emea grabbed her chest dramatically, too. "That hurts, Neteyam. I thought we were friends."

Neteyam chuckled. "Shut up. You even know yourself that you are very beautiful." Emea smiled a little before getting on behind him. "Also, your ilu loves me more."

"Yeah, in you dreams," she retorted back playfully. Neteyam smiled to himself. She really was showing her colors more and, whether she was serious or playful, Neteyam admired her for trying to be who she really is.

"Were you happy seeing your spirit sister?" Neteyam asked over his shoulder as they headed towards the village.

Emea hummed. "It's been too long. We needed to catch up and it was nice."

"I didn't know your tulkun was your mother's tulkun's daughter," Neteyam commented and the girl chuckled a bit.

"When I was born," she started, "Roa, my mother's tulkun, already had her baby. So, we both bonded as babies and yeah, our mothers were very happy and proud."

Neteyam watched her over his shoulder, noticing the smile she had on her face as she remembered. He, too, smiled at her actions and they both got off the ilu once they arrived at the village.

"It's nice seeing you smile," Neteyam told her and Emea glanced at him.

"Thank you. I guess, it's nice seeing you happy."

Neteyam chuckled underneath his breath at hearing her words and the way she tried to be nice to him.

After all, Emea is used to complimenting people but it's not very common for her to be complimented back. So, Neteyam swore right then and there that he's going to compliment her more, even if she tries to kill him again.

AUTHOR'S NOTE.

This was supposed to be updated at
4 am but I knocked out so imma be
writing them earlier and just publish
them at that time 😭

This is how tired I am:

Also, I'm an ordained minister now 😎

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