jioohyo ✶

It was half-buried in dust and debris, but the dust was only your translation for the dull particulate shimmer around it. Its surface didn't reflect the world back to you the way natural things do. Instead, it absorbed patterns of light like it was swallowing them.

What you perceived was a layered stillness, an artificial focus-point that feels too deliberate to be part of the environment, a constructed gaze. It stored you, held the shape of your environment including your face of confusion and refused to release it.

Mated with a sky person was a challenge especially discovering new metals every day. You took the device in your palm before asking Jake, "My love, what is this?"

His ears perked up at your voice as he turned from polishing his guns. His eyes widened slightly when he saw what you were holding, his old video camera, its black plastic casing dulled by years of neglect. 

He wiped his hands on his loincloth and crossed the room in a few strides, reaching out to take it with gentle reverence. The weight of it in his palms felt familiar yet foreign, like holding a relic from another lifetime. 

"Oh, this?" He chuckled softly, thumb brushing over the lens cap. "It's a video camera. From my old life." His voice dipped, softening with nostalgia. "Humans used these to record moving images and capture memories."

Your eyes flickered with intrigue as you leaned closer. Your slender fingers hovered near the 'video camera' but didn’t touch, you were hesitant to mess up a forgettable past, but fascinated to know more.

He then pressed a button on the side, and the screen flickered to life — a grainy, faded image of jungle foliage, shaky from his demon-blooded hands. You gasped softly in delight.

"That was from my first days here," he murmured, scrolling through clips — Neytiri teaching him to hunt, Tsu'tey’s scowling face, the Omatikaya gathered under the Tree of Voices.

Then it shifted to the footage of younger Jake, human-Jake, grinning into the lens before the screen went dark.

"You were different," You said softly, in awe. 

"Yeah," Jake admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. "That was before Eywa gave me this body. Before I became one of you."

This was just the beginning of your acknowledgement on this piece of plastic, it felt like sin to understand more about its concept.

"Show me more." You wished in such an eager tone that made Jake laughed, "You wanna see more?" 

Your tail curled around his leg before your fangs glinting as you grinned. "I want to see you." That was all the invitation he needed. 

Time continued until the early afternoon, you sat cross-legged on the woven mats as the camera was between you both. Jake flicked through more videos, sometimes pausing to explain something. Telling you how he felt about you, how he learned to ride on his Ikran for the first time. He showed you moments of laughter, moments of pain, all captured in pixels and flashes of light. 

Through it all, you listened, your gaze rapt and your questions endless. You took a hold of the camera once again, examining this small object that could keep memories forever, it was like a time machine, you didn't know if this was a blessing or curse from Great Mother but you knew you will keep this thing close to you like your songcord, unless you took good care of it.

"Can it take me?" You switched your gaze to Jake in wonder.

"Yeah, it can." He scooted closer, "Want me to show you?" Immediately you passed the camera over and leaned towards him, your expression was a blend of excitement and curiosity.

As Jake fiddled with the buttons, his heart fluttered unexpectedly. He angled the viewfinder to frame your surreal face, his thumb hovering over the record button. "Go ahead and chat, baby." he commanded softly, his voice barely a whisper.

Your eyes sparkled with anticipation. Jake looked through the viewfinder, a strange feeling curling within him. He'd filmed friends and family, landscapes and wildlife, but never like this. You were the one that stood out most, now he wasn't gonna let this camera go.

"Okay," You started by standing up and balancing allure with clumsy charm to make Jake snicker. "Hello. I'm ___. I'm Toruk Makto's wife. I love my babies-

Jake chuckled, the camera shaking slightly as he tried to hold back a smile. "You're boring me out," he mumbled. "Try again, but... less dramatic this time."

You feigned offense, "Dramatic? I am simply introducing myself to your magic human-box," You retorted.

"It's called a camera, baby. Not a magic human-box." His thumb hovered over the record button again, this time with an amused but expectant look. "And less posing. Just be natural."

You scoffed, "What should I say? 'Hi, I'm ___. Goodbye'." Plainly sarcastic.

Jake rolled his eyes, a smirk playing on his lips. "You realize you're supposed to say a bit more than that, right?" 

"Like what?" You shrugged.

He leaned back, one ankle crossing the other, his gaze drifting to the camera's screen. You in focus: your sharp features, playful gleam in your eyes and your slight pout. The sight made his heart skip a beat.

"I don't know," he said with an exaggerated sigh. "How about something more personal?" 

He was stalling now, and he knew it. But he wanted to capture more than just your physical appearance. He wanted to capture this moment, he wanted more.

"Fine," You huffed dramatically, tossing your braids over one shoulder but then you softened, exhaling through your nose. Your gaze flicked to the camera, then past it, to Jake's face. Something unguarded flickered across your expression. 

"Okay," You started. "I’m ___." A short pause. "I rode with Toruk Makto. I laugh when my children pretend to be warriors. Mmmh-" You took a moment to add another fact, "I chose you. Every day. Even when you forget where you put your spear." 

"You forgot one thing," He murmured.

You tilted your head in wonder. "Hmm?" 

"That you're the most stunning creature on this whole damn moon."

The camera jostled, capturing the blur of your movement, the sound of your shared laughter. "You like what you see? That's why you are videoing me?" You teased slightest.

"Damn right I do," Jake admitted shamelessly, zooming in slightly just to watch the way your purple blush darkened under his attention. "You’re gonna make this whole recording about yourself, huh?" 

You smirked, striking another exaggerated pose, one hand on your hip and the other dramatically tossed over your forehead like some human soap opera character Jake must have accidentally described to you once. "Of course. Isn’t that the point of your magic human-box?" 

Jake snorted. "It’s called narcissism, sweetheart." 

As the moment unfolded, you slowed down, choosing to savor it with quiet attention. This magic human-box could take reality and keep it forever — to view it as memories, watch moments over and over again...

You had to ask.

"Can it show how we make love?"

Jake nearly dropped the camera, "Huh?"

Your gaze was unflinching, you were completely serious. 

Jake took a deep breath, trying to regain some semblance of composure. "You wanna do that on camera, baby?" His voice cracked slightly on the last word, his throat suddenly dry.

"Yes. I want to see you. If I feel good, it must look good to watch over and over again." You smiled warmly, almost innocently, even as the request carried a risqué edge.

"You realize that's a very private thing, right?" He informed.

"Yes." You nodded in agreement as you swayed your way to Jake before sitting close, your hands resting on his chest. "It's your camera afterall. Your eyes only."

Your sweet, luring tone made him swallowed hard, the heat of your touch and closeness made his head spin even more than your words. He'd be a fool to deny you anything.

Jake chuckled before biting his lip at the thought, some quiet voice that had been whispering in the back of his mind now was speaking loud and clear. Shit, why not...?

He exhaled, slow and deliberate, before positioning the camera flat on the floor as he turned it toward you both, the lens capturing the tangled closeness.

"It’s not just my camera," he murmured, voice thick. "It’s ours now."

Jake took hold of your neck to bring you close for a steady kiss, the camera continued to record as your bodies moved against each other, the touches and kisses a blur of passion and desire. The sounds of your heavy breaths and the sound of your lips meeting again and again, the lens captured every shift.

He needed to be closer, his large hands guided your hips to straddle his lap. You pushed his dreads gently that once rested on his shoulders to rest your arms there, his beefy arms were a cage around your waist to balance you.

It was something that excited you about the camera capturing this moment, you could watch it anytime you wanted, facing the camera too, seeing how your husband kissed and touched you.

You caught in the heat of the moment, he captured your chin, tilting your face upwards and to face him. "Look at me." You obeyed instantly. You saw the raw desire burning within you both, the possessive edge that always made your heart skip a beat. You two have been together like this countless times, but this was diverse. 

"I'm looking." You gasped softly.

"Good." He leaned in, voice a growl against your mouth:

"Now let’s give the camera something real to remember."

A sudden clash of lips, a battle of tongues, a storm of need. He didn't hold back, his body pressing into yours, his hands roaming freely, knowing exactly where to touch to make you shudder and feel satisfied.

The camera caught it all: the way his hands traced the curve of your hip, the way your body responded instinctively to his, the sounds of the mingled breaths. He broke the kiss, but only to trail his mouth down your neck. You gasped for air, a low moan escaping your lips, and the sound echoed in the small space, picked up by the camera's microphone.

He lifted his head then, his gaze locking with yours. "You like this, sweetheart? Like being watched, huh?" His hand slid down your leg, fingers tracing the inside of your thigh that made you inhaled sharply, a shudder running through you at the question.

"I love it..." You soughed.

"Yeah?" His voice was so dark with a teasing rumble. His hand moved higher, closer to hid under your loincloth for his fingers to be warm by your lower lips. He was drawing this out, making you wait, and the camera was catching every second.

You hated him for his bothering habit yet loved him for it at the same time. But in that moment, there was only one answer you could give. "Yes," you repeated.

"Good girl." His own gaze was hooded, the hunger in them intensifying. He was enjoying this far too much — the power, the control and the knowledge that he could bring you to the edge and back again, all caught on his magic human-box.

His hand moved higher, his touch both torturous and pleasurable, drawing closer to your center. The camera caught it all: your ragged breath, the way your hips lifted slightly, desperate for more. Yet he held you there, teetering on the brink, until you were trembling with need.

Your back arched slightly, and he watched in fascination as the camera captured every tiny reaction: the way your lips parted on another soft gasp, how your tail lashed against his leg in restless anticipation. He increased the pressure slightly, his fingers moving with practiced ease, he knew exactly where to touch, how much friction to give.

Your breath came in shallow pants now, and Jake could feel the tension coiling in your body like a spring about to snap. "Lick. Lick me, Jake." Your words stumbled out in broken pieces, unfamiliar and unshaped, and he couldn’t help the quiet fascination that flickered in his gaze.

Without hesitation, he lowered himself between your legs, still kneeling on the woven mats and hooked his fingers into the waistband of your loincloth. He made sure both of you were seen, you especially, sitting up by your elbows as you eyed him below.

With one smooth motion, he slid it down just enough to expose your damp lower lips. The camera remained pointed in your direction from its spot beside you as Jake leaned in and pressed a slow kiss on your slit with gentle pressure before dragging his tongue upward in one long stroke.

There was no reason to rush, he took his time tasting you with intentionally, savoring the salt, tangy savour of your deep universe. His tongue moved with skill honed by years of loving you like this, knowing when to tease and when to press down hard enough for a real reaction.

And he was killing it, just by the judge of you bringing your hips closer and lewd sounds escaping your lips.

Your eyes were challenging the camera, knowing and seeing yourself being fucked so well. Somehow with this camera made you feel devastatingly sexy, you knew your worth. How your husband glanced up at you through half-lidded eyes, smirking by the fact of your clear enjoyment before lowering his lips again to really get to work this time.

Licks and flicks. Swirls and curls. It was an entire messy devotion.

He was relentless, alternating between deep thrusts of his tongue and quick flicks over your clit, the piercing adding textured friction that had you seeing rubbish.

"Pussy still taste so sweet, baby." Your entire body jolted at the filthy praise. It caused your hips bucking up against his mouth involuntarily. That human word, that rough tone — Jake knew exactly what it did to you.

You cutted yourself off by the sudden detachment from Jake's lips, sitting up to get himself undone. Garbs hit the floor in a hurry from Jake’s loincloth falling to you shrugging off your feathered top with impatient hands.

He pulled you against him by your puny waist and kissed you once more, it was deep and filthy now that there were no barriers left between you both. Tongues tangled, naked chests pressed together, every point of contact burned like wildfire under Eywa's glow outside.

Your bodies slotted together perfectly, now skin on skin. The camera kept rolling from its spot on the mats — capturing Jake's hungry gaze as it traveled over your bare, lean figure: those sharp collarbones, the swell of your breasts, all his to devour and worship.

His hands mapped every inch of you: your back, the dip of your spine, the curve of your ass before he positioned himself behind you. You twisted to kiss him over your shoulder, messy and open-mouthed while Jake's other hand slid around to cup one of your breasts, his thumb brushing over your excited nipple.

He lined himself up, teasing you both with that slow, torturous drag of his cock against your slick heat. Every sweep sent sparks through him; he was painfully hard, aching to be inside you but savoring this moment first. Watching your back arch under the sensation, he exhaled sharply through his nose at the grasp of his dreads by you.

You gasped sharply as the first inch of him breached you, stretching you perfectly. Your fingers tightened in his dreads, grounding yourself as you adjusted to the feeling.

But he didn't move yet beyond that initial press, letting you both breathe through it. The intimacy of this moment was so strong and intense. The lens traced how your thighs trembled slightly where they framed his hips as he pressed a kiss to the side of your neck, he composed despite how badly he wanted to thrust in deep at that moment.

At last, he pushed in completely. A slow, deep slide that had your breath so brittle and his own jaw clenching at the overwhelming sensation of being you. His hips experimentally, testing how it felt to move together after all this buildup. The movement was slow at first, he withdrew just slightly before pushing back in, a shallow roll of his hips that made you whimper.

It felt bizarre how good it was, how your body welcomed him, the heat and tightness around him. Jake bit his lip to stifle a groan, focusing on keeping the pace steady despite every instinct screaming to take. He kissed your shoulder blade and then traced bites down your spine as your bodies began finding rhythm: soft pulls and gentle thrusts that built the tension.

The footage preserved the way Jake's hands slid up your sides as he kissed your shoulder, how your back arched into him with each slow thrust. The breathing was synced: deep inhales when you both stilled and soft exhales on the outstrokes.

But constantly, you were tightening around him, that was your signal for much solidity and his hips finally answered by pushing in deeper with a little more force this time, a test run for what came next.

With a low groan, he gripped your hips and began moving in earnest, deeper thrusts now, each one punctuated by the slap of skin against skin. The shot centered on the bounce of your body with every drive forward, his meaty biceps flexing as he held you steady for his rhythm and the connection from between your legs as his full sack kissed your clit repeatedly.

The marui was packed with the sounds of passion: panting breaths, whispered moans, the rhythmic slap of bare skin. His hips snapped faster, his pace turning urgent and chasing that sweet friction, that perfect angle where you would gasp and clench around him.

He could feel it building: the coil in his stomach tightening with every thrust; the heat pooling low in his gut. His mouth found your ear to growl: "Fuck, you feel so good baby." You whimpered at the praise, your nails digged lightly into his forearm.

Suddenly, Jake shifted quickly, guiding you onto your hands and knees before positioning himself behind you. The camera was still dutifully rolling and capturing the smooth transition, your back arching gracefully as you braced on all fours with his hand running down the curve of your spine to give a soft squeeze of your ass, admiring how perfectly your bodies fit like this.

Once again, his cock aligned with your entrance, but from this animalistic angle, the view was even more intense than before.

Jake exhaled sharply as he sank fully into you from behind, the new angle sending a fresh wave of sensation through you both.

It made you drop your forehead to the mats, a soft moan escaping your lips as you adjusted to the different depth. Jake gave you a second before his hands found purchase on either side of yours and he began moving again.

This time, each thrust was deeper, much deeper, hitting places inside you that made your vision explode behind your closed eyelids.

He set a punishing rhythm, each snap of his hips driving him deeper, harder. The camera swallowed the nasty chaos whole of your braids swayed with every thrust, your fingers twisted into the woven mats beneath you, his biceps bulging as he braced himself above you.

The slap of your skin echoed through the marui, wet and loud yet neither cared who might hear. The intensity between you both peaked and every movement, every breath synced in perfect harmony. His penetration became more erratic, his control fraying as pleasure coiled tighter and tighter in his gut.

You were just as far gone, from moans to desperate little cries with each deep stroke, you gazed at the camera, watching the hypnotic sway of your ass with every one of Jake's pounds that eventually made you earn a light smack. Your expression were glazed-over, equally mesmerized and aroused by the sight.

And he noticed where your were looking and smirked — oh yeah, this was hot for both of you. So he deliberately slowed his movements for a second, making each stroke longer, more exaggerated, showing off the connection like a performance just for the camera and for each other.

It was filthy. It was beautiful. And you were loving every second of being recorded like this.

Jake snapped his hips faster again to reach the sweet friction that would tip you over the edge soon. His hands slid up to grip your waist tighter, holding you steady as he drove into you relentlessly.

The camera shook slightly from the force of the intense movements now, the passion was too strong to stay perfectly still…

"I'm feeling it!" You warned, it was your explanation to say you were close to your release.

"Fuck, me too," he rasped, his own release barreling toward him like a runaway banshee. He adjusted slightly, angling his hips to hit your sensitive spot, his pounding turned erratic now; there was no rhythm left, completely pure need.

A cry tore from your throat as your orgasm ripped through you, wave after wave of white-hot pleasure. Your muscles clenched around Jake in rhythmic pulses, dragging a ragged moan out of him as he felt it too. That was all it took.

He followed right after, his hips stuttering before he buried himself deep inside you with his warm release.

Still, the camera was rolling. You managed to giggle through your heavy pants, gazing at the camera once again. "Oh that was fun, my love."

Jake laughed breathlessly against your skin, his lips curling into a lazy smile. "Fun is an understatement, baby." he murmured, pressing one last kiss to the curve of your shoulder before reaching for the camera.

He finally stopped recording, pressing a button on the side to pause it and set it aside gently. Then he rolled onto his back, pulling you with him so you rested half on top of him as your limbs intertwined.

Skin on skin, he was attached, never wanted to let you go. You felt him in your arms, you felt him in your nerves and veins, you felt him in your hidden universe that he penetrated over and over just to be filled by it. This was a secret shared only between you both and Great mother's watching stars.

Every breath was synced, rhythm of your bodies moving as one under eclipse night's hush. Neteyam braced himself on his mighty arms at either side of your head; his bioluminescent freckles glowed faintly along his shoulders and chest reacting with overwhelming emotion too vast for words.

In control? Most definitely, however he would take advantage. How he kissed your jawline between thrusts, how his forehead sometimes dropped briefly against yours when sensation spiked too intensely. Your hands mapped him endlessly, your fingers sliding over the corded muscle of his back, tracing his scars you knew by heart and gripping his biceps that flexed beneath his skin like a dart.

"Deeper..." The pleading whisper in your tone shook Neteyam like lightning.

A deliberate shift of his hips to adjust his angle before sinking deeper into you with controlled precision. Every inch given was measured: offered carefully as if this moment deserved reverence beyond mere physicality.

His golden eyes darkened further, the emotions were too overwhelming for words: devotion so fierce made his chest ache beneath the glow of the moon and stars. A low sound escaped him then, an exhalation laced thickly with feeling as your bodies aligned even closer than before.

His muscles flexed with quiet power as he shifted to accommodate your plea, angling himself just so to reach that depth you craved.

He earned a soft gasp, the hitch of your breath against his chest, the slight arch of your back beneath him responding instinctively. He watched every micro expression on your face — the flutter of your lashes when sensation peaked; how your lips parted slightly; how golden eyes glistened under moonlight shimmering with something profound.

He kissed you deep and slow, it was quite hungry, it seemed natural, the collision of your lips with his made him yearn for more.

He lifted one strong arm to hook beneath your thigh, his palm was warm and firm as it cradled the smooth curve and gently raised it upward toward his hip. The adjustment changed everything: the angle sharpened, depth intensified and rhythm shifted into something more powerful yet the compassion didn't lack.

A low moan vibrated between the joined mouth, the sound muffled by kiss but unmistakable in its sweetness.

The music your body made when it surrenders, first went soft and brittle then having no shame as pleasure built, he kept that steady intensity going because this was about feeling, never about chasing release alone. It felt like Ewya gifted you to him, you were the perfect fit, even spiritually.

Suddenly, the first pale streaks of sunrise crept over the horizon, yet you both remained lost in each other. Not even the break of dawn could stop this moment.

Dawn painted your tangled forms with warm hues, the light gilding his broad shoulders, catching on your bare back where it pressed against cool motherland.

You hadn’t noticed time passing, night bled into day unmarked by you because this moment transcended clocks, calendars or clan routines that usually ruled the lives you both carry.

The forest woke slowly, starting with the chirp of early birds returning to trees, rustling leaves stirred by morning breeze and even small creatures peeking out from hiding places now that predators were less active at this hour. Nevertheless, neither of you noticed wildlife yet either, too absorbed in this passion and closeness that had lasted all through eclipse night. He could do this all night and he achieved it greatly.

And whatever happens, the sky will forever remember how the twin flame's soul emerged, collided and remembered itself.

You stood at the edge of the water, the early morning sunlight dancing across your face as the waves lap gently at your feet. You were dressed simply for the ritual; wrapped in light, airy fabrics and hair pulled back from your face to prevent blockage in the water.

Your gaze was fixed on the horizon, already mentally preparing yourself for the dare ahead.

Nearby, Tonowari's gaze remained cool upon you yet there was a hint of pride in the smallest twitch of his mouth, knowing that this was it; the day you'd prove yourself once and for all.

Weakness was not a part of your nature no longer. With Tonowari's intense training and guidance, you aced in only five days, what could go wrong? — the same women who spent their days whispering lies about you and the chief, decided to pry into your treacherous breakthrough.

Ewya doesn't make things easy, can she?

Your mediation before the rite of passage was interrupted by their presence, not even nature could protect you.

"So you finally got the chief's attention? ... How surprising!"

Sa'tari started with a dramatic, exaggerated gasp, Ivä and Yi'ra joined in with snickers that threw lightly but you could feel it land like stones.

"Why is it surprising? You find it hard to believe a woman like me is capable?" It made you thought of yourself, was this all worth it? You were denaturing by the heat of their remarks.

"We all know the answer to that." That was a slap back to reality, and honestly, you wouldn't dare to continue because your voice was already brittle.

"Enjoy your failure once again." The last message that was given to you before you entered the sea's venomous embrace.

You looked up and your world was spinning, the warriors already held your skimwing for you. To make matters worse you struggled so many times just to hop on the creature's back because all you could think of was the continuous mocking laughter that controlled your mind, the trio spreading Ewya knows what that made the clan looked at you as an ailen, your blood rushed to your heart as anxiety took hold. It was a moment you couldn't manage, already imagining the aftermath; to fail again, fail forever.

Suddenly, a pair of large hands lifted you up to place you on the skimwing. Tonowari positioned you to be upright and still, you couldn't deny that he calmed down your nerves especially when his hand rested then caressed your inner thigh —you almost lost your purpose.

You didn't know what else to try to keep yourself calm but his gaze; that brought comfort as well as the engorge between your legs. To relax, mediate, breathe, recollect.

You seeked his approval one last time before diving in. He said nothing at first, only studies you then gives a single, slow nod.

Without hesitation, You took off into the water with powerful strides until you plunged beneath its surface; graceful yet determined as ever.

From the shoreline, the clan watched you cut through the water with purpose. Tonowari's expression remains stoic as he tracks your movements with undivided attention but there was a glint of something else in his gaze: satisfaction, perphaps?

The other hunters followed, each one pushing through the waves to reach their objective. But none move with quite the same fervor nor skill as yours.

Tonowari stood there for a moment longer, every tilt of his head just to see you and your smallest details to be precise, his gaze was still firm on the ripples of water where you had disappeared beneath the surface.

A murmur spreads among the crowd of onlookers; gasps, whispers, then shouts.

From beneath the depths of the reef’s edge, You rose like a spirit born from water and light.

But you didn’t rise alone.

Clutching your hand was not just a skimwing —small, sleek, silver-scaled with fins like moonlight trapped in motion; but one rare among your kind: a white-skim, its body shimmering with pearlescent hues, eyes glowing faint gold like embers in deep sea. It twisted around your arm gently as if already bonded by soul-deep trust. No struggle. No hesitation. Just harmony with you.

The Metkayina watched in stunned silence.

The crowd goes eerily quiet at the sight, all eyes fixed on the unexpected union. The white-skim was a rare enough sight in itself, but to see one so docile, so immediately attached to a new rider...

It was nothing short of a miracle.

Even the Olo'eyktan seemed taken aback, his usual stoic expression faltering for a brief instant. His head bowed, a silent gesture of respect, but when he lifts it again, his gaze is sharp, almost piercing as it fixed on you; the young hunter who somehow achieved the impossible.

All bowed down to you, even the trio themselves. Unaware of what you had accomplished but you finally made it, and your achievement will be known to the entire clan.

With the shadow of the eclipse falling, you hesitated to let the day end without a word of gratitude for the chief, in fact, you gotten very comfortable to go to his marui hut.

By the time you arrived at the hut, the night had settled, and your voice carried into the quiet as you called, "Sir Tonowari." He looked up from where he'd been sharpening a spear, his expression his usual inscrutable self.

"___," he acknowledged, setting the stone aside and gesturing for you to enter. "Come."

As you stepped into the marui, Tonowari rose to his feet, his towering frame filling the space with every movement. He studied you closely, taking in the air of new-found confidence that surrounded you — the result of your extraordinary bond with your skimwing and the mysterious sliver wing.

The day was a success for you and he was extremely elated for that. To interact with your spirit sister, receiving your skimwing and most importantly: your first tattoo.

"It is dedicated to my spirit sister, ___." You admitted in a soft tone.

The intricate tulkun was strategically placed to flow with the natural contours of your torso, acting as a striking rib-to-hip centerpiece. Every inch of its silhouette was packed with a rhythmic language of stippled dots, swirling koru spirals, and bold teardrop cells that mimic the rushing of currents over your skin. The journey concluded at the expansive, where the ink curls into elegant, horn-like points, grounding the ethereal complexity of the patterns into a singular, powerful symbol of your oceanic heritage and balance.

"It's creative, lovely work of art." Tonowari complimented with a small grin, his hands weren't afraid to grasped your waist as his thumb brushed against the curves from your waist to your hips, the artwork ended close to your backside.

You didn't know how to feel, his tone was completely genuine and his touch was restful, you just couldn't put your mind on who was it coming from.

"You did well today," He added, breaking the tension, his voice low and steady. A faint hint of satisfaction edges beneath each word.

You kept your face neutral, as if you hadn't just achieved a miracle.

"Thank you, sir," you replied simply before you folded your body down into a graceful cross-legged position with a familiar ease. You met his gaze without flinching, now a far cry from the hesitant, anxious figure he'd met a few days ago.

"I won't be dramatic but if it wasn't for you, I would not even dare to face anyone ever again."

His eyebrow arched briefly at your candid response, a flicker of surprise in his gaze. He'd expected praise, respect yes, but... gratitude? And so freely given?

That was a first.

A corner of his mouth ticked upwards, barely noticeable, but his eyes remain fixed on you as he leaned back against the woven wall, arms crossing over his chest.

"You underestimate yourself," he said bluntly, his voice a low rumble. "You had the strength all along. I merely... helped you find it."

Your gaze dropped momentarily, bashfulness coloring your cheeks despite your best efforts to suppress it. His words, though delivered without flourishes or sugarcoating, cut through all the doubts and insecurities you harbored inside. It was a simple truth, brutally forthright, but there was a weight to it that left you seen.

You lifted your gaze again, meeting the intensity of his eyes with a quiet determination. "Perhaps," you shrugged, "But having you believe in me, it meant everything."

It was a simple statement, yet the weight of it hung between you both, charged with meaning neither quite understood. His chest tightened uncharacteristically, a feeling he shoved aside ruthlessly.

"You earned my respect," he admitted, his voice dropping an octave. "Not because you tamed an unfamiliar creature, but because you faced your fear. You endured."

He uncrosses his arms and leans forward slightly, his massive frame closing the distance between them with a quiet dominance. "And in my eyes..." His voice becomes even softer, almost personal. "That is what makes a true warrior."

His icy blue eyes hold your with an intensity that feels like fire beneath water. "You are worthy of more."

You tried to hold back tears but your throat couldn't tighten any longer. In fact, it was much odd for you to burst into tears in front of the highest person in this clan, the one whom everyone should be neutral to and not show emotions.

For a moment, Tonowari was utterly still as he takes in the sight of you — the way the tears well up in your eyes, the way your breathing hitches and you tried to suppress the signs of your vulnerability. He has to steel himself against the strange, unexpected urge to reach forward, to comfort.

He clenches his jaw instead, every muscle rigid with restraint. He has seen warriors weep over battle wounds and lost loved ones, yet a single tear on your cheeks seems to cut far deeper.

A long silence follows. Then, his hand lifted slowly, deliberately and with the backs of his knuckles, brushes one tear from your cheek. The touch was really tender. It felt intricate. The tension was so strong, you couldn't tear your gaze from his. Something about his proximity, the rawness in his voice, it ignited a spark deep within you.

Then his arm, so large it encircles your entire back, wraps around you, pulling you firmly against him for your head to rest on his shoulder. The warmth that radiates from him was overwhelming like a physical embodiment of strength and control.

You didn't move nor speak, you simply leaned deeper into him, your body molded against his as if it was always meant to be there. The fire crackled low, outside the waves whisper across the shore like secrets kept between sky and sea. No one had never kept you alive, made you believe you had a purpose especially in Awa'atlu, this was your moment you waited all your lifetime, to connect with peace. He was peace.

Just then a shoulder to cry on became a dick to ride on.

The hut was bathed in shadows, lit only by the dim glow of the dying fire in the center and the moon spilling through the woven walls. The air was heavy with the scent of saltwater and an undertone of raw, undeniable masculinity that seems to cling to him like a second skin, guiding your body to bounce steadily on his huge, suffocating length. He didn’t mutter a word. Why should he, when he could admire you?

Your every move pulled him in, every plead and coo enlightened him. You gasped as his hands clamp firmly on your hips, guiding you with deliberate, unyielding strokes. Heat pooled low in your tummy, spreading with each press, each pull, each brush of his touch.

Your back arched instinctively, your breath hitching, and a moan ripped from your lips: loud, raw, unrestrained. The world narrowed to the slick rhythm of him against you, the taste of your own need, and the pulse of his presence, magnetic and overwhelming, that makes it impossible to think of anything else.

You wanted to be quiet for his sake, to respect the Olo’eyktan… but he wouldn’t have it. He needed to hear you, to hear exactly how much you wanted him, knowing better than anyone else who was really aching for this moment.

Tonowari gave you brief pauses and to shift slightly now and then, making sure he stayed in place. He was a massive presence wrapped in warmth.

Smooches trailed across your neck, shoulders and breasts, slow and teasing, each kiss stayed long enough to set your nerves alighted. Even his warm hands kneading your soft butt, he showed you his love in ways words could never capture, through hands, eyes, and every intentional gesture.

Then his hands gripped you tighter, it was now a quicker pace, driving deeper with each powerful upward thrust. The rhythm was relentless, building heat between you both like a storm about to break. You wanted forever, now you'll have it… bound to him. You held onto him as your eyes rolled back by the repeated, vicious pounds to the exact point of bliss.

The force of his thrusts grew stronger, each one sending electric shivers rippling through your body, igniting every nerve ending. You clung to him like a lifeline, fingers digging into the solid planes of his strong shoulders, arms trembling as waves of pleasure roll over you again and again.

Your breath came in desperate gasps, spilling from your lips without restraint. How could you hold it back? He demanded it. Every low growl, every commanding touch drags another moan from deep inside you, pulling it out until it vibrates through your chest. His hands gripped you tighter, guiding, controlling, yet worshiping every curve, every quiver of your body.

You arched against him as every muscle locks with the force of your release. Pleasure surged through you, blinding and consuming. When it struck him, a deep groan tore from his throat as he pulled you against him. The storm finally broke and for one rare moment he lets go.

The air was thick with the aftermath: heat, salt, and something deeper, a quiet understanding forged in the fire of your connection.

"My darling, ___. You will never be unloved by me. You are too well tangled in my soul."

In truth, the last thing you wanted was to leave his arms. Being pressed against his solid strength, feeling his heartbeat thunder beneath your cheek, slow and steady like the sea at high tide was more comfortable than her own hammock. You could finally rest.

You truly understood just how alike you both were; perhaps that was why sparks flew so often between you both. He didn't judge you and neither did you.

You hadn't realized you were watching him with quiet intensity, your gaze steady and thoughtful. Heat crept up Lo'ak's neck before he could stop it, his confidence faltering just enough to make him shift in the sand.

"Uh... ___?" A small, shy smile tugging at his lips. That look was so soft and searching, it was doing something to him.

"It is clear that Ewya doesn't want to hide your beauty in the night." Your voice came out soft and sweet, blending into the calm night around you both.

He was stunned. Your words wrapped around him like a lullaby sung by the stars themselves. In the hush between waves and wind, with moonlight beginning to silver the sand around them, he felt something inside him crack open just a little.

He could say something stupid and ruin everything or he could say what actually lived inside him, the quiet truth that had been growing for months whenever you smiled at him across campfires or shared your lunch with him without being asked.

You could see the hesitation in his eyes, yet eventually, he admitted it. "I… I really like you, ___."

He never knew silence could be so loud. That quiet stretch of seconds where you just looked at him? It felt like an eternity. Long enough for panic to crawl up his spine, whispering: She doesn't feel it back.

He almost wanted to swallow his words back, to say something else, laugh and pretend he hadn't just bared his whole heart.

Until eyes softened further than they'd ever been before a smile bloomed on your face. "I like you too, Lo'ak."

He looked so much like a dork, it amused you how his cheeks went purple immediately. A lump rose in his throat again—but this time with something fiercer than nerves: affection so strong it burned behind his eyes.

"You're super kind to me," He continued. "You laugh when I tell stupid stories. I don't feel like an outcast."

The moment shattered when a seashell crushed underfoot.

You both whipped your heads toward the sound— the crunch of sand, the rhythmic plop-plop of bare feet moving too casually through camp. His heart, which had been thumping in tender rhythm seconds ago, suddenly lurched with alert.

A Metkayina hunter had chosen this exact second to waddle near to the plants and relieve himself right there by the dying flames. He didn’t even glance at them; just tugged his loincloth with zero shame and started pissing.

...

You locked your eyes for a second, it would make matters worse to burst out laughing.

The hunter finished his business with a grunt, shook himself and casually re-tied his loincloth, unaware of a pair of eyes in disgust watching from a distance. Back toward the sleeping huts he went.

"Nasty ass..." Lo’ak exhaled sharply through his nose, a quiet snort of disbeliefand finally turned back to you.

He cleared his throat softly.

He began again, voice quieter now but steadier than before — the shyness from earlier returning in gentle waves instead of crashing over him. "We are different but we have this connection, I can't even explain. I always feel too loud everywhere else," he admitted quietly. "But with you? It’s okay."

"Okay?" You repeated.

"No- I didn’t mean you're just okay," he said quickly. "I mean being with you feels okay. No- shit- not just okay, that sounds bad too." He groaned softly and covered part of his face with his hand.

You giggled softly, "Lo'ak, don't panic. I feel okay with you too."

His heart swelled, a pulse of pure joy that surprised even him because... wow. He hadn't realized how badly he'd wanted to hear that until now.

Without thinking, he leaned forward slowly, hoping to make it romantic, but at the last second both of you moved at the naturally.

Ow!

The collision was a light stung of noses colliding like two waves meeting at shore. Your nose bumped his.

Lo'ak frozed, he didn't not imagined this every night before he went to sleep. The awkwardness was there, the slight tilt of heads, the lingering press of noses. Instead of jerking away or laughing it off, Lo'ak stayed perfectly still and carefully, so slowly.

He adjusted his angle, tilted his head to the side and leaned in again. This time aiming not for your nose but your lips.

However, a soft thunk of a misaligned kiss was followed by a shared, awkward laugh. Lo'ak was startled again.

"Sorry. I must go to the left?" You suggested.

He nodded, trying not to grin too much. "Yeah… I think?"

One more try, you overshot just a bit, and his lips landed on your jaw instead of yours.

He furrowed his eyebrows. "Uh... that was your right, ___."

"Sorry I don't know this way of how to show your love." You admitted.

"You don't know a kiss?" Lo'ak questioned.

"I don’t know," You whispered, and he could tell by your face, it was full of confusion.

"Alright just let me," Lo'ak moved with quiet certainty this time. He pressed his lips against yours slowly and carefully like the first brush of waves on sand at dawn.

Unfamiliar but you leaned into the kiss, as if testing the sensation. Your skin was warm under his lips, and your breath hitched in a tiny way that made Lo'ak's stomach flip.

The kiss deepened by natural rhythm. A silent agreement between you both.

Lo'ak's hands lifted tentatively before one came to rest gently on the side of your face. His thumb brushed your cheekbone once which made you sighed softly into his mouth by the light touch, a sweet little sound that made his chest tighten.

You kissed with more confidence this time that was quite not needed: pressing closer slightly, tilting your head to the left, letting your lips move together in a slow dance under the moonlit sky.

The kiss wasn't clumsy, awkward, off-center nor interrupted by noses colliding. It was just...

MOTHER-!

Lo'ak's tongue throbbed slightly where your teeth had grazed it, just an accidental nip in the heat of kissing. Thank Ewya there wasn't blood flowing over his lips.

He pulled back and sucked air through his nose sharply, blinking rapidly as he processed what just happened.

Your hands flew up in panic, a horrified gasp escaped your lips. "I am so sorry!"

The genuine, wide-eyed regret and his heart instantly softened. He knew it wasn't your fault, it was an accident, clearly you were inexperienced. A dumb, clumsy moment that could’ve happened to anyone kissing for the first time under pressure. His heart was too pure to scold or even embarrass you, plus, it didn’t even hurt that much.

Suddenly, he reached out and gently pulled one of your hands down from where you covered your mouth. Your hand was brought to his lips, a soft kiss landed on the back of your palm, you couldn't deny that it calmed your nerves.

"Good try. But maybe a hug would be better." Lo'ak stated and you agreed. He opened his arms wide and inviting to you slid into the embrace. He wrapped both long arms around your shoulders and back, pulling you close with a warmth that came from deep in his chest.

That night you will never forget, you may not know what plans Great mother have for both of you, however, this moment with him was just the beginning and you couldn't wait for more moments to cherish and probably ask for lessons on 'kissing' the next day.

Mighty, Methodical, Mesmeric, Muscular, Meaty... what a man. — You needed help, that was your goal. Besides, he is the highest among all.

However, heading towards him wasn't easy. Of course, he had to protect the clan, being the peace arranger and alert you all for danger. Although, you couldn't deny his silent observations on you — the slightest, it could be you harvesting, rafting, every small detail counts to him, you just needed to accept it.

You caught up to him close to dusk as he perched on a boulder, meticulously weaving and repairing a damaged fishing net. You wanted to be brave too, like him. To greet with firm assurance.

It was a fail.

"Sir Tonowari," Tonowari paused his work and glances up at the call of his name, his gaze falling on you, bashful.

"___," he called your name, he said your name and he pronounced it so well. You expected a rigid response, but it was startlingly calm. "What brings you here?"

You fidgeted anxiously under the Olo'eyktan's unbreakable gaze, your eyes darting downwards for a moment before meeting his again. You took a deep breath to gather your courage and then spoke.

"I was wondering, Sir Tonowari. If by chance... I could speak with you and my disabilities."

Tonowari sets the net aside, his icy blue eyes narrowing slightly — not in anger, but in heed. He tilts his head, confused.

"Disabilities?" he echoed. "You speak of weakness as if it is a stain. What does the tide whisper when you stand at its edge?" He rises slowly, towering over you like a storm-born wave. Tonowari's words leave you in thoughts, contemplating the weight of your own perceived weakness.

You added, "I just don't think I’m strong enough."

"Nothing grows strong without first being bent by wind." His clawed hand beckoned, "Come."

You obediently stepped forward, following the towering, broad-shouldered Olo'eyktan. Tonowari lead you down to the shore, the water shifting beneath your feet until the sand laps gently against your feet until you arrive at his single mauri hut.

After the short, suffocatingly, silent journey, Tonowari gestures for you to take a seat on one of the woven mats that lined the floor. The room was dimly lit by the dancing flames in a small central fire, and the scent of sea salt and wood smoke hanged in the air. The leader took a moment to settle down opposite of you, folding his long limbs with a grace that belies his imposing stature.

Once comfortable, he turns his full attention upon you, studying your features carefully in the soft light. "Now," he started, his voice barely above a murmur. "Tell me your desire, love."

You hummed in thought as your hands twisted in your lap, you hope you wouldn't stuttur or got a voice crack. Eventually, you blurted out, "I can't hold my breath as long as the others." Tonowari could hear the brittle tone of your voice. "When we dive for pearls or kelp... I always have to surface first and my people laugh. I try to train alone, but it only makes me panic more."

"...I fear I'll never earn my mark," You added.

Tonowari's expression softened beneath the firelight, he understood you, he observed your distress. Although he made things awkward by the loud silence, he gave a glance that dripped with incredulity.

"Fear," Tonowari murmured thoughtfully, voice low. "You fear your own limits. You fear disappointing others than yourself."

He leans forward ever so slightly.

"And tell me, ___... Who do you strive to please?"

"You."

You wish you could say that out loud.

"I... I want to prove I belong," You admitted. "That I'm not weak. That my clan won’t pity me or pass me over like a broken coral."

Something akin to understanding flickers in the leader's eyes as he absorbed your confession. This was more than a mere issue of skill or ability; it has become a matter of self-worth and identity within the clan. The man held your gaze, unblinking.

"The first mark we earn is not on the skin," he said quietly. "It is here." He pressed a clawed finger to your chest, just over your heart

The tiniest detail you barley noticed, he didn't dare to touch your bust that your pearl-beaded top was definitely not agreeing with to keep coverage, he didn't mind it and you mesmerized the least. "And again... here." Then his fingertips tapped gently against your forehead.

All you could think of was him, and you were in a moment with him, only you. Your eyes were glued onto the Olo'eyktan, every young woman's dream perphaps? You heard of all the raunchy girls' talks about the chief and you wouldn't dare to speak because they would laugh at a spineless that thinks they would get a moment.

Now you do, and all this honey coated talk from him, maybe you weren't spineless after all.

You wouldn't say you were man-crazy but the benevolent words that you received, was from the soul you never thought would find you.

"I have watched you rise before dawn to dive alone. Watched you push through fear when others would have quit." A pause. Then a rare, subtle curve of his lips — not quite a smile, but close.

"I see you, ___." His voice deepens with certainty.

Were you hearing that correctly? The highest among all in the clan, seeing your inner light, strength and spirit, recognizing your value and vulnerability you can hardly see yourself. Yet, you couldn't have wish for anything more.

"And when the time comes… your mark will know it too."

You opened your mouth after a long while of being a total stone, trying to find words to convey the whirlwind of emotions within but all that left your lips was a soft, "Thank you, sir."

The silence between you both stretched, charged with an unfamiliar tension. Tonowari's eyes seem to hold a myriad of emotions —understanding, concern and... protectiveness, that he normally keeps carefully guarded behind his mask of a leader.

"This fear, it does not define you. Do you understand me?"

"...Yes. I understand, sir." You nodded, a tremulous movement that betrayed nerves still frayed with emotion. But beneath the fear that has ruled you for so long, a small ember of conviction began to flare.

For a moment, he studied your face, as if trying to measure the truth of your words. Then he let out a low hum, deep in his throat, a sound that could be interpreted as approval or something else entirely.

"Tomorrow. Go to the reef at dawn," he informed, "Dive not for pearls but for breath." His ocean eyes captured yours one last time.

"And when your lungs burn... remember who waits on shore."

"You will help me?" You asked as though the truth refused to settle with you.

A small smile tugs at the corner of his mouth and your heart jumped at the sight of that smile. It was rare, on the stern Olo'eyktan of the Metkayina— and yet, when it is directed towards you, it felt almost like a gift.

"Have you ever known me to leave a warrior without guidance?" he retorted, but there was something else beneath the gruffness.

A promise.

"I will help."

You stood up to your feet to amble your way to the outdoors, feeling the weight of his promise settle upon your shoulders like a cloak. A feeling of anticipationn mingled with the beginnings of hope spread through you, and for the first time in a long while, you dared to believe.

"I will do my best, sir." Hesitant, however, you were sure of it.

Tonowari's meaty arms crossed over his chest —his massive frame blocking the entrance just enough to cast your in shadow. The firelight caught the sharp angles of his face as he studied your raised chin.

"Do your best?" He scoffed softly. "No."

"You will excel." He added.

"And if you do not..." A slow blink, the only warning before a low tone rumbled beneath his words. "I will drag you back myself."

Then with that final threat-turned-vow hanging in the air, he stepped aside and motioned towards freedom with one clawed hand:

"Enjoy the rest of your evening." His eyes said more than any order could: Tomorrow begins your mark.

You hesitated for just a moment longer, as if memorizing the weight of his words, the way they settled into your bones like coral rooting itself into stone. Then you bowed deeply — an act of respect that feels different now, not out of fear or submission but gratitude.

"Thank you," You murmured, the flap of the hut closes behind you with an oddly final sound. Tonowari stood there a moment longer, watching your shadow retreating into the eclipse.

Something about the look of determination on your face has ignited a spark within him.

A quiet something that feels dangerous, yet exciting. Exhilarating.

He cleared his throat, dismissing the thought.

Tomorrow.

The sky was just beginning the slow, reluctant transition from night to day as you arrived at the reef.

Standing at the edge of the water, a dark figure silhouetted against the growing light. The waves rolled gently to your feet, leaving frothy white against the sandy tide-line. Still, waiting as instructed.

Waiting for Tonowari.

As if summoned by your very thought, the Olo'eyktan appears with the first rays of dawn, his broad silhouette cutting through the misty air.

Without a word, he stopped beside you, his gaze fixed on the horizon. The early light catches the blue undertones of his skin, painting him in shifting hues like the surface of the sea.

"Are you prepared, ___?" He asked.

You startled slightly, pulled out of your own racy thoughts. You looked at the Olo'eyktan briefly, then nodded once in affirmation. The weight of expectation hanged in the air between you both, and you could feel your heart thudding in your chest.

"Yes, sir," You managed to answer, "I'm prepared."

Tonowari exhaled through his nose, he turned to face you fully now, the rising sun casting long shadows across the sharp planes of his expression.

"Great, show me." He challenged.

With that, he waded into the water without another glance back, expecting you to follow. Each step forward cutted through waves as if they were nothing but inconvenient curtains parting for him.

But you didn't even hesitate. As if pulled by some invisible string, you moved after Tonowari, your own strides growing more confident with every wave that breaks around your ankles. You matched his pace as best you could.

For once, fear did not rear its ugly head. Instead, there was an overwhelming sense of purpose and determination.

When you both reached a spot where the water is chest-level, Tonowari finally stopped. He turned slightly, "Deep breath."

You sucked in a sharp breath, panicking yet resolving, then you dived.

The water swallowed you entirely, your lungs burned almost instantly from the sheer force of it all: the pressure of Tonowari’s presence above you, his expectations pressing down like ocean depths themselves.

Your body screamed for air yet you held on longer than before because now there is something worse than drowning waiting if you failed: His disappointment.

The world returned abruptly as you gasped for air and your lungs werevaching. You surfaced with a shuddering breath, spitting out seawater as your eyes readjusted to the sudden brightness.

Tonowari was beside you, his arm wrapped around you for support while the other pushes your wet hair away from your precious yet fragile face.

"I can't," You gasped for air eagerly.

"You can," He firmly stated.

Tonowari's eyes soften briefly at the sight of that indomitable fire rekindled in your gaze — but just as quickly, it hardened again. This was not a game, no playful sparring. He meant to push.

Without warning, he hoisted you up against his chest with a display of raw strength that bordered on effortless, your hands instinctively grasped at Tonowari's shoulders for balance as he plunges you both beneath the waves again.

The second time under was somehow more difficult than the first. The pressure bears down fiercely against your eardrums, your lungs screaming for mercy even faster than before.

You fought but it was an uphill battle against your own body's traitorous responses. And he felt your struggle, however, he didn't relent. He kept you both underwater for a count of ten, every second like a lifetime in the silent, crushing depths.

When he finally pulled you back up, the gasp you made was ragged and pained, nearly a sob. But he held you there, refusing to let you escape just yet.

"Okay, I understand your problem." He tsked.

"You fear the water," He continued bluntly, not a trace of mockery nor judgment in his voice. You lifted your head with difficulty, every muscle protesting even that slight movement. The world still swam in your vision, a blur of color and movement. His fingers tighten slightly against your back, a silent reassurance even as he kept you pinned against him.

"Look at me." You managed to find his gaze, locking onto those glinting blue eyes, only understanding within them.

"You can't do it because you acciquise to defeat before you begin." He held your gaze, steady as a rock against the churning sea.

That was true, you were ashamed of it at first, and to be fair, he just revealed you it was possible. You had no reason to doubt.

"Trust yourself, ___." His words were a command, quiet but firm. He didn't release his hold on you although, if anything, his grip will tighten, holding you up when your own strength seemed to fail.

"Do not fight. Breathe."

Despite the protest in every muscle, you did as he said. Your eyelids flutter closed, shutting out the chaos of the world for a moment. Tonowari waited until he felt your body relaxed, your muscles were unclenching as the tension seeped out with your next exhale.

The thought ignites a strange, possessive feeling deep within him that he shoves himself aside for later examination.

You began to breathe slowly, deeply. Your panic was ebbing away like retreating tide and each breath became easier than before.

Tonowari's voice dropped to a whisper only you could hear: "You're stronger than you think... ___."

It should be strange, the way this formidable chief was guiding you through your biggest fear with a patience you never imagined he possessed. Yet there was something so natural about it too — the rhythm between your breaths growing even more synchronized, more natural. Your panic was almost entirely gone now; it was replaced with a focus so intense it's like your chaotic deep world had shrink down to this moment.

Then you slowly dipped yourself in the ocean, remembering Tonowari's words to relax, not panic, your ears muffled by the density of the water and eyes were close.

Beneath the surface, you were nearly weightless, your hair fanning out around you like a dark halo. You drifted there without fight or protest, as still as a figure in a painting...

A perfect tableau of grace.

The Olo'eyktan's eyes never left your form, watchful for any sign of distress. But the longer you remained underwater, the more he saw your improvement.

Your body no longer instinctively tried to fight the surrounding waves, shoulders relaxed, you were not just holding your breath now; you were meditating.

And that changed everything.

You finally surfaced again with slow deliberation instead of panic-fueled gasping, your eyelashes clumpy with saltwater and lips parted as you sucked in air.

You opened your eyes to find Tonowari's intense gaze still fixed on you, his expression almost was calculating now. The look in his eyes was hard to decipher: surprise, curiosity... something else you couldn't quite pinpoint.

"...How was I?" You wondered.

Tonowari considered for a moment, his expression remaining inscrutable. Then, finally, the corner of his mouth ticks upwards in the briefest hint of a smirk.

"You deserve to shine among your people," He said bluntly.

Ever since that response, fears became unshakable.

Your smile outshined the morning's promise, the weightlessness of freedom, the thrill of wind running wild and untamed in your thick hair. This was why you loved to fly, every possibility seemed within reach especially when Neteyam was by your side.

Both ikrans dove in tandem, streaking towards the treetops, weaving between trunks and branches with all the grace of a dance. You watched admiringly as Neteyam led you through the forest, weaving effortlessly in and around the trees. His laughter flitted through leaves, bright and full of life as he glanced back to smirk at you.

Your heart pounded. For once, it wasn't from adrenaline.

It was surreal to look at him this way, he was in paradise, besides you being here with him. Free from everything. He glowed the way mirages do— real enough to believe in but unreal enough to vanish. The smile reached his eyes, alive with simple delight. He flew like he was born to the skies, Ewya shaped his wings first and forgot to tell all.

Time was endless, lost all form above the clouds; perhaps hours or minutes passed in between the endless day. The bonded ikrans screeched as one, spiraling in all directions. Neteyam shifted in his saddle, weight in his hips, turning his gaze back to your surroundings. The wings spread in a long V formation as they’d caught the wind current and rode it with ease.

The trees parted beneath them, giving way to a vast field of grass. Neteyam brought his ikran into a graceful landing, dismounting with a practiced ease that made it easy to believe he'd been born to fly. He ran a hand across his ikran's head, rubbing affectionately at the creature's crest as it preened. Your ikran landed next to its mate a moment later, and you slid off the saddle with an unhurried elegance.

Neteyam laughed as you tugged him forward, his bare feet catching on the thick vines of the root-bridge. He stumbled, just a little, more from surprise than clumsiness, but you didn’t let go. Your hand was warm in his, pulsing with that strange energy you could never name whenever he was near.

You both hurried side by side down the root-bridge and into a clearing, where the grass was softer and greener, dotted with bright purple flowers. The wind rustled the treetops like ripples over water, whispering secrets to the forest. Neteyam led you to the center of the clearing, where the grass was even more lush and thick.

The wind curled around the pair of you, warm and sweet with the scent of blossoms. You made a little yelp once Neteyam’s hands that float, too light to belong around your waist, "I'm already stuck with you, Neteyam." You chuckled softly.

He grinned by your answer before replying, "You came back." And then his voice dropped, warm yet low, "So I'm keeping you."

Should you back? Back to duty, harvest, war... You both promised to last forever, bonded for life, wherever you go and whatever you do. He remind you of a time when things weren't so complicated, all you need was to see his face.

Your surroundings faded into background noise, distant and unimportant. There was only him. Gold eyes burning like the sunlight, his body a warm weight against you in spite of how surprisingly light he was. He was still touching you like you were something fragile, something precious and delicate.

It made you shiver.

That strange, electric energy hummed between you two again, stronger than before. His fingertips traced up your spine to your neck, tilting your head gently towards him. His gold eyes roamed every plane of your face, from the smooth slope of your nose to your lips.

Yet he was patient, waiting for your answer.

"We vowed. It will never break." You stated firmly.

Something flickered in Neteyam's eyes, an intensity that made you shiver, you reached for his lips.

And felt only emptiness.

You were deceived sweetly, eyes fluttered to see the truth that refuses to stay buried. When the moon was asleep, here laid with your mother and young brother in the hammock — they lay sleeping, expressions softened, as though a lullaby lingered in their tired minds — safe and sound.

But you? A complete daze.

A frown took over your face before you could think of the realization. Still, Neteyam is dead, and you didn't dare to peek through the Sully's marui because during these hours would be a pocket of peace with him to the outside world. Atleast Metkayina outdoors' presence was a loose hug — sand buried in your feet, whistling breeze against your cool skin, body still like a goodbye that wasn't properly given. He reminded you to keep breathing, but you weren't just frustrated, you were also depressed, heartbroken... You didn't need to connect to Ewya within the spirit tree, you saw him with your eyes closed, even so, none of it was real.

It was all an illusion.

Gazing at Great mother's night sky, your face was calm yet distant, eyes fixed forward with a quiet intensity that felt heavy with thought. Not a smile nor a frown, but a muted seriousness settles in your gaze, absorbing difficulty, maybe even quietly bracing yourself, but the truth cannot be accepted as yet. Within you, there are sobs you can't explain.

One star shone brighter than the rest, steady and patient, as if it knew you by name. Your eyes drown in tears, you just pray to Ewya that Neteyam was filled with happiness, forever. You will be happily forever after, even in spirit, and even in your dreams, he loved you back.

How I missed you, my love.

❤︎. in all honesty, the fans attending were very questioning. however, he approached you in a bashful manner with a goofy joke that made you giggle nevertheless, you thought he was pretty cute and you never left his side ever since, he just genuinely love the culture.

❤︎. you both clicked well... super well. britain is definitely an introvert, it showed from the start but he was a yapper with you. talked about your favorite anime characters, shows that are overrated and underrated, figure shopping, you both already made plans to go on trips to japan. you just made his entire day complete, he had to get your number and nearly, two years you glad you accepted him.

❤︎. the best boyfriend ever!

❤︎. people judge dating outside your race but honestly, you didn’t care. you are quick to stand up for him and he does the same for you.

❤︎. britain worships you to the ground!!! nobody never understood the "his eyes lit up" phrase but damn, was it strong whenever he looked at you. you got your friends thinking they need a white chocolate in their lives.

❤︎. you are his favorite girl and he isn't hesitant to show you off. majority of the time, he ain't going to places unless you're going, you are his happiness.

❤︎. he's comfy to show off his 'odd' side, always deep convos with him like: "why is the sky blue?" - "why is it only 5% of the ocean been discovered?" - "what's the afterlife like?". and you will never be uncomfortable because you question it the same way.

❤︎. just for fun and games, you both take the time out and study japanese together, although when you guys communicate it's not normal, you guys got fluent without even noticing.

❤︎. loves everything about you especially that melanin skin how smooth it looks and feels, lips coated heavy in lipgloss, your natural smell of shea butter, you in PINK.

❤︎. hell, you love him especially when he's so respectful and a lover boy but can't keep his hands to himself. you are his pillow, it's always a thigh grab, hugging your small pooch, resting his head on your butt. and if he really wants a good night sleep? his face is buried in your stomach with his beefy arms around your waist, don't you dare to move not even to grab your nitendo switch.

❤︎. you guys communicate in kaomojis, it doesn't matter if its cringe to him, as long as both of you guys are happy and free.

❤︎. spoils you endlessly, with: sanrio hello kitty plush toys, big and small, whenever he goes to japan. every shade of pink bows. every shade of pink jumbo phonecases. pink makeup palettes. honey, strawberry and vanilla scented body splashes. it's scary sometimes, you have to hide his savings from him.

❤︎. and even matching underwear sets (if days when he was bold enough to gift you one, shyboi), he finds himself a pervert to gift you them but you would prove him wrong by sending pictures of you and your brown glowing skin in them. how can someone be cute yet so sexy at the same time?

❤︎. he definitely blushes and covers his face whenever he gets your pics in public.

❤︎. has an entire photo album of you because you are that adorable: your gyaru makeup, pretty smiles, off guard pictures, cosplay outfits, duck faces, doe eyes, smudged lips, only in stockings, dare i go deeper?

❤︎. bending over in small skirts in front of him and thinking it would make him flustered but eventually he would bend you over and fuck you with it on.

❤︎. makeout sessions hit different with him, holding onto your hips, getting high of your cocoa butter scent, he won't ever stop, his only excuse is to say he ain't done eating his chocolate.

❤︎. by looks, people wouldn't think you are a hottie, you adore megan thee stallion she lets you proudly emphasizes your status as a genuine anime fan and as a black woman showing off her nerdy side.

❤︎. but you will break out of your shell when listening to her songs.

❤︎. one time you both went to the club and when a megan song started playing, you threw it back on your man, and britain just stared at it awe. he's never seen you ass move like that before, he swore blacked out a bit that night.

❤︎. uses you as his workout equipment. dumbbells? nah. you sit cross-legged in his arms while he does slow, careful curls. each sit up equals an earned kiss from you. push-ups with you sitting on his back, laughing every time he shakes.

❤︎. good morning messages are a must from him. he texts first always, even if it’s just: "morning, pretty." sometimes he follows it up a few minutes later with, "did you sleep okay?" other mornings, that’s all he sends since he has a major job — but he lets you know you were on his mind before the day could claim him.

❤︎. best names to be called ♡ angel, doll, princess, babydoll, pretty girl.

❤︎. britain love his brown sugar princess. he don't want a snow bunny, he needa ebony.

ii. riding your spirit animals together, from the sky to oceans, the spirit of your animals could received the love naturally because the connection that started it all was real.

iii. his observations on you is like an atom. your natural hair, your soft skin, even that bashful giggle that escaped your lips. great mother, his stare confessed everything, but the compliment turned joy loose in your belly. ❛ you're amazing, baby. ❜

iv. being teased make you ick alot, for lo'ak, it will be a punch on the arm by how easily you could just blush purple by his silly pranks.

v. ❛ i see you ❜ is a permanent heal for the people, in fact, it came from lo'ak in various ways, but moments your faith were weakened: family disagreements, your world broken piece by piece, being told to be strong but what people meant was silence. so much to handle, his hand found yours to clasp with because he knows how it feels to be misunderstood.

vi. climbing fruit trees for you and feeding you first, just because he doesn't believe the concept of his girl to do anything called ❛ work ❜.

vii. if anyone, even the chief himself, tried to mess/disrespect you. lo'ak would dare to defend you, holding your waist for you to go behind him while he spat out, he wouldn't careless if his dad scold him in the end because he knows he would do it all over again, for you.

viii. if it's possible, his ❛ demon blooded ❜ side awakens to carve your initial with his initial with his knife, on the near-by tree close to the secret place where you both gossip about your day.

ix. lo'ak doesn't fancy war parties yet he will get loose once you are there, you both would be the highlight of the party.

x. fixing or sharpening your belongings without being asked, just because he noticed they needed it.

xi. ❛ if this world was mine ... ❜ every star would bow to you, i would keep your dreams safe, you would never know fear, the air would be your favorite scent... all the promises he made gave you comfort because you knew he would never break them.

🌊. ao'nung, his name alone brought excitement to everyone but not you, partially. yes, the chief's son, that goes around and boosts his ego because of his temporary role and toys with hearts and moves on, leaving each day behind without a glance back. genuinely he doesn't care, yet somehow he was like a headless chicken when it came onto you.

🌊. and you didn't take it nor him seriously.

🌊. it all began with your scrolls on the shore, you saw him and his low-rent companions snickering while making plans to get at you. ao'nung interrupted with sweet talking:

❛ be honest, was i the reason you stopped scrolling? ❜ — ❛ we can take a dip in the ocean to get you wetter. ❜ — ❛ i don’t flirt for fun. i flirt when i already know the ending, cutie. ❜ ew.

🌊. your responses would be a stank eye roll, bored yawn and to end his performance, you would bark a ❛ back off, moron! ❜. he will just raise his hands in mocking defense and a promise ❛ i'll see you later, baby. ❜

🌊. he never broke his promise, he continued keeping himself visible to you — flirty gazes, showing off his skills while riding on his ilu, his friends wooing you and random gifts... even a literal rock because he saw you once 'admiring' them. you didn’t see it then, but no one was indulged the way you were for him.

🌊. he didn't stop and one thing you noticed like a hawk, around his friends, he's all cocky charm but alone, he's a literal dork. to you.

🌊. you knew your worth and minded your own business, you didn’t run after anyone. that got him on his knees.

🌊. when alone his conversations with you feels more relaxed if you were honest. bold yet very truthful, you could see yourself talking to him from time to time but you don't like time being wasted.

🌊. a night ao'nung would never forget is the major clan party of celebration — hair perfectly braided, various seashells and pearls as your jewelry, well-woven outfit. no words left his lips, but his thoughts overflowed with admiration.

🌊. you both got closer, in fact, he ditched his friends just to let that moment stick with you, only you. feasted, danced, competitions there and there, sand play and even drew multiple arts on your light blue skin.

🌊. you were the only one he trusted enough to do the things he normally wouldn’t allow, specifically touching his afro-textured hair, you loved how softer it was whenever he just took a dive in the ocean. intimatively, caressing his sharp jaw. this was the moment you could no longer deny it, ao'nung was madly in love with you, shown in the gentle touch of his hand slipping into yours yet his narrowed eyes hold a sharp glare, while a faint smirk tugs at his lips —quiet confidence but a genuine softness in one look... and that was rare.

🌊. ❛ what's your name, girlfriend? ❜ somehow you finally gave him. that fish lip was now your sweet dip.