Moonchild | Neteyam

35

Erìhe looked at the water longingly - thinking about what it would feel like to drown herself in the shallows.

"Tell me," Níawi demanded.

Erìhe could tell that the girl was about to go on a rant or else keep begging her to spill, so she sucked it up and sighed. "I kissed Neteyam," she admitted and immediately felt her face grow hot.

Níawi looked beyond shocked. Then she cleared her throat, "Why do you look disgusted?" She referred to the mix of a grimace and scowl on Erìhe's face. "Was he a bad kisser?" She demanded, "That's tough-"

"No - it was even that kind of a kiss," Erìhe cut her off, "I look like this because it's humiliating!" She admitted.

Níawi's mouth fell open, "He didn't kiss you back?" When Erìhe nodded slowly, she gasped as she placed a hand over her mouth while her eyes grew wide, "Is he crazy? Why wouldn't he kiss you?"

Erìhe shrugged, the same look of embarrassment and unease evident on her face, "He doesn't like me, I suppose," she mumbled, "Which is fine - except it makes this whole thing so much worse. I admitted my feelings to him. How embarrassing."

"Yeah.." Níawi agreed, earning herself a glare from Erìhe, "What? You said it first."

"What do I do?" Erìhe sighed as she placed the shell inside her small basket.

Níawi seemed unsure, "Talk to him?" She suggested. When she saw Erìhe's expression, she hurried to continue, "Remember the party? When Neteyam climbed that tree?"

"Yeah?"

"He was staring at you the entire time," Níawi told her, "I'm sure he climbed onto that branch just to look at you without being caught."

Erìhe smiled as she looked down at her hands. The thought of him doing that made her feel giddy - but then it quickly made her sad once she realized that she had kissed Ao'nung that night and then proceeded to tell Neteyam about it. What if he had liked her since before then?

Then she felt horrible.

Shaking her head, Erìhe cleared her thoughts, "Anyways - what's up with you? What's going on in your life?"

Níawi knew that Erìhe was trying to deflect the topic of her and Neteyam - and she smiled but nonetheless decided to give in. "I'm fine," she replied.

"Where's the bracelet that you made?" Erìhe asked as she glanced down at her wrist. Níawi knew that she was referring to the bracelet that was to be given to your interest.

"I lost it," Níawi told her with a sad frown. "I have no idea where it has gone."

"That's a shame," Erìhe nodded slowly, "Did you have anyone you wanted to give it to?"

Níawi seemed to ponder the question for a moment before shaking her head, "Not really."

Erìhe raised a brow but dropped it. Instead she turned to take in the scenery. Ahead she could see Aluva and Tsireya laughing as they swam along the surface, occasionally sticking their heads in the water in search for shells.

Erìhe had tried her very best to prevent things from becoming awkward between her and Aluva. The girl had done nothing wrong, but Erìhe couldn't help but feel furious when she thought back to the bracelet she had given Neteyam.

She did not want to be fake, so she did her best to push the thought out of her head.

"What will these shells be used for?" Erìhe suddenly asked as she walked a few steps forward to pick up another shiny clam shell from the sand.

"Probably a top," Níawi shrugged, "Or jewelry. It's for the Tsahik," she explained, "She will use it in the ceremony that gives her baby a name."

"Oh," Erìhe breathed out. Immediately she looked through her basket of shells and dumped a bunch of them out - leaving only the prettiest behind.

"What are you doing?" Níawi asked, a look of disbelief on her face.

"If it's for such an important occasion we should gather only the prettiest shells," Erìhe chuckled as she explained. She glanced around the shallow waters, seeking for more perfect shells.

-
A/n:
I wish this book would fucking write itself

And this isn't a movie but damn this shit isn't passing the Bechdel test.. not very girlboss of me

Also YALL OMG - xinakeadehara made this beautiful drawing of what they imagine Erìhe to look like and I am in love 😔🤞

Like the technique and everything?:!$:&:&

And don't repost that or anything even though it is gorgeous - I asked for permission <33