CHAPTER 15

By some miracle, Erìhe had escaped Neteyam's parents without a long lecture.

Though Erìhe knew that both Neytiri and Jake suspected something, she was willing to live with it. It was fine.

While she was spared from having to sit through a certain uncomfortable lecture she at all costs wished to avoid - Neteyam had not been as lucky.

He had been so embarrassed to sit through a late breakfast with Erìhe after hearing all kinds of things from his father. And Jake spared no details. So as one could imagine, it was very awkward sitting across from her as they ate. He did not know where to look.

After eating breakfast with Neteyam, Erìhe had left him to go find her new friends. She had found them by the beach sitting in a small circle, working on some kind of crafts. As she neared them, Erìhe could see that it was not only Riik'o, Aluva and Níawi there, but Tsireya had joined them as well.

"What are you guys doing?" Erìhe asked as she tapped Aluva on the shoulder, sitting down cross legged beside her. She looked around at the girls and noticed that they seemed to be making bracelets.

Instead of answering her, Riik'o reached over to run her hands through Erìhe's hair, "You took out your braids," she said sadly.

Erìhe smiled guiltily, "I was trying to do something nice for someone - I'm sorry." She thought she saw Níawi giving her a funny look at that, as if to ask who and what - but Erìhe ignored it.

Riik'o laughed, "Well, don't worry! I'll do them again!" She shuffled to stand behind Erìhe and immediately set to sectioning her hair.

Tsireya laughed at her friends enthusiasm before holding up her unfinished bracelet, "We're making bracelets."

Erìhe could not nod due to Riik'o tugging at her hair, so she merely hummed, "For who?"

Tsireya blushed, smiled and looked down. Níawi spoke up, "For the boys that we like," she giggled.

Erìhe looked around at the girls with a smile, "You all like someone?" She questioned with a cheeky smile on her face.

"Don't you?" Aluva asked, nudging her with her shoulder. Riik'o scolded her for making Erìhe move, and she apologized with a laugh.

Erìhe shook her head, "No."

"What?" Níawi asked, "Not even that tall boy you came with?"

Tsireya rolled her eyes at her fiend who had not bothered to learn their names, "His name is Neteyam."

Níawi held up a dismissive hand, "Whatever," she said, her eyes trained on Erìhe. "Not even him?"

Erìhe frowned, "Why do you sound so shocked?"

"Well, at first I thought you two were siblings because you seemed to always be arguing - but then you said you aren't family and I just thought you liked each other," Níawi explained.

"So you don't like him?" Aluva asked as Erìhe bit her cheek to stop herself from laughing. "I heard you two snuck out last night and returned only this morning. His parents were so worried they almost alerted the Olo'eyktan."

Riik'o gasped and shoved her head in front of Erìhe's face, "Is that why you took out your braids? Did he not like them? Should I try a different style?"

"No, no, no," Erìhe chuckled, "I liked the braids, I don't care if he likes them or not. Just do them again," she shrugged.

"You truly don't like him?" Aluva asked again, a disbelieving smile on her face.

Erìhe laughed once more, "No!" she shook her head - then hissed when Riik'o pulled on her hair, telling her to stay still.

"Do you still wish to make a bracelet?" Tsireya asked as she held up a thread toward Erìhe.

Erìhe accepted the thread, "Sure - But you will have to show me how," she laughed as she looked at the other girl's bracelet. The Metkayina girls were obviously more experienced than her - they could form patterns with all the beads and shells that they were using. Erìhe had never done anything artistic. Her life back in the forest had been all about her warrior training - it left barely any time for craftsmanship.

"I will show you how," Níawi said as she laid on her stomach across the sand, her chin rested in her hand. She handed over the small bowl of tiny little beads and let Erìhe choose the colors she wanted.

"It's sort of tradition here - to make bracelets for the one you adore," Riik'o said as she picked up one of the largest beads to place in one of the braids she was doing for Erìhe.

Erìhe was tying a knot on one end of the thread, "Really? Do boys do this as well?"

Níawi looked down with a sad smile as she fiddled with the bracelet she was making, "They do not care enough to."

"Oh," Erìhe hummed, "So then why do you make them?"

"When we are so young, it is too early to mate," Tsireya explained, "It is why we make bracelets. To show others that they are already spoken for."

Erìhe frowned, "Why would boys not want to show the others that their girl is already taken?"

"Who knows," Níawi sighed.

"They lose interest rather quickly," Aluva said, "I don't know how many girls Ao'nung has seen in just this village. I will not even mention the girls from other villages-"

Tsireya threw sand at her legs, "Ew! That is my brother!"

"This is common knowledge!" Aluva laughed as she drew her knees to her chest in an attempt to avoid the sand being thrown at her.

"You're getting that everywhere, Reya!" Níawi complained as she swatted Tsireya's hand, causing her to stop throwing sand. When she had stopped, Níawi resumed her comfortable position and pointed to Erìhe's bracelet, guiding her with how to make it. "But yes - boys here suck."

"Which is why Reya likes your friend," Riik'o said with a teasing tone.

"Riik'o!" Tsireya protested.

"Lo'ak?" Erìhe asked. When Aluva nodded, she laughed. "Everyone knows that."

"What?" Tsireya almost yelled.

Erìhe nodded, "Yes-"

She was cut off by someone approaching them from behind Erìhe. "Hi!"

Erìhe turned her head, struggling to do so as Riik'o was doing her best to keep her head still. When she saw Neteyam standing there, she groaned, "Run along," she shooed him.

"That's not nice."

"Go make some friends," Erìhe rolled her eyes.

"Rude - did you know that guys are far less accepting than girls? It's hard trying to make friends here," Neteyam said and poked her forehead. The girls that surrounded them all nodded in agreement - he was speaking the truth.

Erìhe shot him with a look that screamed go away. "Well then go make some girl friends."

Neteyam stood still for a moment, studying her face. Then he shrugged and sat between Erìhe and Aluva. "Alright. How is everyone?" He smiled at the girls. Níawi, Riik'o and Aluva giggled while Tsireya laughed. Níawi returned to a sitting position as she grinned at him.

Before anyone could answer his question, Erìhe spoke again, "I did not mean us," she said.

Neteyam sighed, "And I did not mean you." Níawi and Riik'o shared looks as they held back their smirks while Erìhe glared at him out of the corner of her eyes. "So - what are you guys doing?" Neteyam asked as he looked down at the bracelet that Erìhe was struggling with - Aluva was helping her the best she could, but there was only so much she could do for the bracelet.

"Bracelets for the boys we like," Erìhe told him without lifting her gaze from the bracelet.

Neteyam's eyes widened, "You like someone?" He asked disbelievingly.

"No," Erìhe rolled her eyes, "I'm just doing it for fun," she shrugged.

"Oh-" Neteyam said. Tsireya tried not to smile. "Can I make one too?"

Aluva handed him a thread and placed Erìhe's bowl of beads between him and Erìhe, "Do you like someone?" She asked as Neteyam took the thread from her.

Neteyam looked around at all of the girls, who's eyes were trained on him, "No," he finally said, "It's just for future purposes, I suppose."

Riik'o sighed dreamily as she bent down to retrieve a she,k from the bowl, "If only the boys here were as romantic."

Erìhe shot her a glare, "He is not romantic."

"And how would you know?" Neteyam demanded.

"I've heard the horror stories from back home," Erìhe chuckled. She remembered girls talking about how he never got a hint and accidentally led at least three girls on.

Neteyam frowned, "That's a lie - she's lying," he told the others.

"So you say," Erìhe laughed as she held out her bracelet to Aluva, "Can this be saved?" She asked her with a concerned look. The bracelet resembled the furthest thing from a bracelet. Like the others girls, she had attempted to make one of those bracelets with more than one layer - so that it was larger than just a decorative string - and she had failed miserably.

Neteyam peeked at her bracelet and snorted. Erìhe hit his arm without looking back at him.

Aluva contained her laugh, "I think I can try to rescue it."

"That cannot be saved," Neteyam laughed, looking at the bracelet in Aluva's hands.

-
A/n:
I'm publishing this chapter earlier today since I'll be busy in the evening ! (I'm watching atwow for like the ninth time I don't even know)

Initially I didn't want to make any authors notes at all but I guess it kind of stuck- last chapter there wasn't one and people were saying it didn't feel right 😭 so here's this <33

I love everyone's comments you guys are the sweetest <3