PLEASE DONT BE SILENT READERS.

READ IN DARK MODE.

(TW. [SA])

Mei'lu was excited to say the least. They haven't had a celebration, specifically for the teenagers of the village, in quite some time. The reasoning behind it being that they got caught last time.

Though to Mei'lu, the fear of being caught again only made the situation more fun, more exciting.

Staring into the mirror her cousins marui held, Mei'lu couldn't help but smile.

She felt pretty.

Tsireya had picked her outfit. Her loincloth was a light shade of green, along with her top that was decorated with pearls. Ronal had also re-braided her hair earlier. The cause being that when she walked in she told her it was 'too messy to wear out.'

Ronal had always known about their little celebrations, and when they got caught one time, just by her, the children were all apologizing, some even with tears. She just laughed, which made everyone pause to look at one another, confusion laced their eyes. She had told them to relax, that she wouldn't tell, saying that it was her husband that better not catch them.

The one time they did get caught by Tonowari, she was in the back letting out small giggles. But when her mate would turn around, she would put on her best scolding face.

Ronal truly is the mother Mei'lu wishes she had.

Tsireya lets out a squeal while clapping her hands together, "you look so beautiful mei!"

"Thank you Reya." She smiled shyly.

"Oh my Eywa." Ronal gasped as she turned to face Mei'lu. She slowly walked up to her, placing a hand on each side of her face. "Lu you look beautiful honey."

Mei'lu's eyes filled with tears at her words and she silently begged herself to keep them from spilling. Ronal pulled her into a hug, supporting the back of her head with her hand. But she pulled Mei'lu away from her in concern when she heard her sniffling.

It seems Mei'lu's mind has betrayed her, because her face was now soaked with tears. Ronal gently wiped her tears away. In the corner of the pod stood Tsireya, with the brightest smile on her face. She's so happy that her cousin is happy, and she made a silent promise to herself to always try to see her smile.

To others, it was dramatic to cry at such simple compliments. But to Mei'lu, it was so much more than just a flattering remark. It was being a daughter.

It was being a daughter to someone who was proud to have her as one.

The walk to the party was quite far. It was by the very end of the island, where the elders couldn't see.
(for the most part.)

Ao'nung and his friends were always the ones to set these things up. They were such skxawngs, but damn they could throw a party. Mei'lu finds her way to the drinking area first thing after arriving. Eywa knows she needs it after yesterday.

Already a little "tipsy" (as Mei'lu calls it) after her first few drinks, she walks towards her "group," drink in hand.

"Is that Mei'lu?" Ao'nung speaks, dragging out the "u" in her name. The whole group (which consists of her brother, cousins, Ao'nung friends, and the sully family) turn to look at her. They watch her stumble on her way over.

"Oh my." Tsireya tries to hide her laugh. "Hi guys!" She grins, sitting down in the sand next to her brother. Most of the group responds with "heys."

"Are you drunk?" Lo'ak asks with a grin, in which she replies with a "Nope. But you guys should try this." Holding her cup out, she shrugs when nobody takes it and chugs the rest before standing up. "well, i'm gonna go walk around." and with that, she walks off. Everyone,besides Neteyam, fails to see that Kekunan had tried to be discreet and follow her.

"Are they together?" Neteyam speaks up. And everyone looks at him in confusion, except Lo'ak, who gives a small smirk. The older boy motions to where Mei'lu was walking, Kakunan trailing behind her. "Why? Do you like her or something?" Ka'ey growls.

"No- no no. it's just that she looks uncomfortable around him. That's all." Her raises his hands in defense, face turning a deep shade of purple.

Ka'ey and Ao'nung give him a wary look, to which Tsireya rolls her eyes at. "No they are not together. He has been after her since we were children. He wants everything to do with her and she wants nothing to do with him." She explains.

"Why doesn't he just give up?" Kiri asks, she just met him and she already doesn't like him.

"He has this weird delusion that they will end up together." Ka'ey spoke with a disgusted look on his face. "I don't trust him." Right after saying this they hear a muffled scream and they all turn to look at where it came from.

"Get the fuck off of me!"

Ka'ey and Ao'nung break of into a sprint before the other can even ask what's happening. they all got up and jogged to where the commotion was coming from.

Kakunan was trying to hold one of his hands over Mei'lu's mouth, and the other was far too high up her thigh for everyone's liking. She was trying to shove him off, but her pushes weren't effecting him, that was until she bit his hand so she could tell him to get off of her.

Ka'ey tackles the boy into the sand and off of his sister, and Ao'nung went to pat her shoulder before running to help Ka'ey.

Tsireya runs over to her and wraps her in a hug. Mei'lu didn't move. she was in shock. But when she could think straight, she could only think about how angry she was.

When Ao'nung and Ka'ey were done, she went to walk up to him. Everyone was trying to pull her back, telling her to stop. She turns around and barred her teeth at them, growling.

Tsireya and Ao'nung flinched at the action, but backed up nonetheless.

Kakunan was trying to stand up, and when he was finally able to, Mei'lu swung her fist back and punched him with all her force. Gasps were heard from all around. And when he crashed into the sand she brought her leg back and continuously kicked him, and nobody stopped her.

"That's enough." Ao'nung tried grabbing her by her arm, only to get shoved. He stumbled back and looked to Ka'ey for help, only to get a shrug. He refused to stop his sister, he knew that Kakunan deserved whatever he had coming for him.

"Somebody stop her!" One of the girls in the crowd screamed out frantically. Tsireya looked around for someone to pull her away from him, getting shrugs from Ao'nung and Ka'ey, and a "Hell no!" from Lo'ak.

She looked to Neteyam, who was desperately trying to avoid eye contact with her. "Please Neteyam! Everyone is screaming at her. Do something before somebody else does."

Sighing, he cast one more look at Tsireya and walked towards the scene. "C'mon that's enough Mei'lu." He gently grabbed her by her sides and tried to pull her back. "Get off of me!" She turned to shove him, before going back to kicking the bleeding boy, who was violently coughing up blood. Don't get him wrong, he knew damn well that Kakunan deserved it, but he also knew that sober Mei'lu would never even dream of making a scene like this.

The second Neteyam saw a glimpse of Mei'lu's knife being pulled out of her holder, he was quick to grab her again. This time he said nothing, only lifting her by her waist and throwing the girl over his shoulder.

He started walking off, and the rest of their group followed. It was silent, except for the sound of Mei'lu's fist banging on Neteyams back, and him wincing each time her fist came in contact with him.

She quickly calmed down when she realized that hitting him wasn't gonna make him let her go. Her muffled sniffles now being the only thing that could be heard, other than the animal calls out from the water.

Mei'lu's face was smushed up against his back and her tears left a wet patch on his shoulder, but he didn't seem to care.

When he turned left and started walking towards the tshahiks maui, the rest of the group shared wary looks. "No. No. Neteyam Sully let me down right this instant." She whispered in a stern voice only to be ignored, once again.

And when Mei'lu's aunt and uncle stepped outside, only to see a large group of teens and their niece thrown over someone' shoulders, they were instantly worried.

After explaining the situation to The two adults, Tonowari was angry, but thankful. Angry that the celebration had even happened, angry that his niece showed up drunk, hung over someone's shoulders, but thankful that they were able to get to Mei'lu before Kakunan could hurt her any further.

"Neteyam. Keep an eye on her. The rest of you, outside. Now." Tonowari spoke. And before Ronal left she whispered something to Neteyam, and he nodded in response, a small smile playing on his lips.

He sat down next to Mei'lu and sighed. She tiredly rested her head on his shoulder. "Are you okay Mei'lu? You can be honest with me."

Her eyes filled with tears that threatened to spill and she let out a choked sob. It wasn't just Kakunan that was making her cry like this, they both knew it. She was frustrated, angry, and, deep down, sad.

Neteyam lifted his arm and wrapped it around her shoulders, bringing her closer into him. She didn't answer his question. But deep down they both knew the answer. And after a moment of silence she spoke.

"I felt pretty."

He hummed, letting her continue.

"Tonight I mean, I felt pretty. I was excited for tonight. but now i feel gross." A tear ran down her face, and she didn't care enough to wipe it off, she knew there were more to come.

"You look pre- you are pretty." He corrected himself.   "You really think so?"

He lifted his arm from around her shoulders and turned to her, mouth dropped in shock. "Mei'lu you are the most beautiful girl on this island." She cheekily grinned at this, "really?" He hummed, nodding his head.

Her eyes closed and a content look crossed her face when Neteyam reached over to her and wiped the mix of tears and sand off her face. Her eyes popped open when his thumb traced her bottom lip and they both stilled. Mei'lu cleared her throat and backed up. "Well if it means anything to you, you're the most beautiful man on this island." She spoke through a yawn, and Neteyam grinned.

"It does mean something to me."

A/N
Y'all i'm so sorry for leaving for like a month 😭
i really just got busy and had a lot on my plate, i should've given y'all a heads up. But now i'm back and have many plans for the story 🤭 (i'll be updated more cause i'm on summer breakkk)

plz vote + comment! and lmk what you think abt this chapter 🫶 i'm sorry if it's shit