CHAPTER 4

Kiri - as it turned out - had taught herself to ride an ilu. 'Kanu had been astonished upon seeing the girl swim around on the back of an ilu without receiving any form of help.

At that moment the Sully children were sat in a circle with Tsireya, Rotxo and Kuna. They were being taught their breathing technique. The technique that allowed them to stay under water for such long periods of time at once.

"Breathe in," Tsireya said before her, Rotxo and 'Kanu demonstrated. The three of them took deep breaths in, encouraging the others to do so as well, "And breathe out." Rotxo and 'Kanu showed how.

"Imagine a flickering flame," 'Kanu said, holding her hands elegantly before her.

"You must slow down your heartbeat," Tsireya said, placing a hand on her stomach and chest.

'Kanu saw Lo'ak struggling to follow their teachings and she leaned over to place a hand on his chest and the other on his stomach, "Breathe in," she told him. Lo'ak did so, and she applied gentle pressure to his abdomen, "Breathe from down here. Breathe out slowly."

Lo'ak let out a shaky breath as he looked at her. 'Kanu frowned as she believed him to be nervous. It was truly not that difficult. "Lo'ak, your heartbeat is fast," she informed him, looking up into his eyes.

"Sorry."

"Try to focus."

"Okay."

Neteyam looked at Tsireya and the both of them laughed silently to themselves. Kiri looked over at Lo'ak and 'Kanu quizzically before rolling her eyes. Rotxo gave pretty much the same reaction as Kiri.

Soon the others declared that they were done for the day, leaving only 'Kanu and Lo'ak alone to practice.

'Kanu thought Tsireya was mad for leaving her alone with this boy. She was beginning to get frustrated by his slow progress and Tsireya knew better than anyone how much of a bad teacher 'Kanu was for this exact reason.

"You're not doing it right!" 'Kanu groaned, falling backwards onto her back on the rocks. They had been working on his breathing for a while now.

"I'm sorry!" Lo'ak said. He finally felt like he could breathe properly. For probably an entire half hour they had sat still with 'Kanu's hand on his chest and stomach, trying to get his breathing right. He had found it impossible to concentrate on what she'd said to him.

Being gentle and calm had not worked out for 'Kanu so far, so she decided to try things differently. She propped herself up on her elbows to narrow her eyes at him, "Tuk would've learned this by now."

Lo'ak frowned back.

"She even learned to ride an ilu quicker than you." This made Lo'ak angry. His whole life he'd tried to be like his older brother, since he was who he compared himself to constantly. But now he was being compared to his little sister as well?

"I was just nervous, okay?" He snapped at her.

'Kanu sat up straight, "About what? It's like treading water. Easy."

To Lo'ak, it felt like she was dismissing his efforts by simply saying it was easy. It was not. She'd just grown up with it - he'd grown up somewhere entirely different. She'd never have to know what it feels like to uproot her entire life and move kilometers away from home - some place where all the skills she'd ever learned became useless.

'Kanu was yet to realize how angry she was making him. She thought that this kind of approach could help him learn faster. For her it did. So she pushed him further, "Kiri learned without even being taught. She will master the breathing in no time."

"Maybe you just suck at teaching," Lo'ak challenged.

'Kanu blinked in surprise at his tone before her eyes hardened, "I have taught plenty children. They learn faster than you."

Lo'ak scoffed and stood up. He turned around and walked off toward the village. 'Kanu hadn't realized until it was too late that this was not the way to go on about teaching Lo'ak.

₊˚.༄

Tsireya sat beside 'Kanu at food time. She looked back and forth between Lo'ak and her sister, who would every now and then cast each other looks. Lo'ak would look angry, while 'Kanu looked sad.

"What did you do?" Tsireya asked, looking straight ahead at the fire before them.

"Why do you assume I did something-" 'Kanu started, but fell silent as her sister gave her a look. "Right.. of course I would have done something."

"Exactly," Tsireya said, "So, what was it?"

"He wasn't learning, so I decided to try a different approach," 'Kanu hung her head in shame.

Tsireya sighed, "Don't tell me you made him cry."

"What? No! Why would you think that?"

"You've made many of the children cry as you tried to teach them," Tsireya reminded her. Then she looked back at Lo'ak, "He sure does not look happy."

"I said a few things.." 'Kanu admitted quietly.

Aonung - who sat beside his sister's - also looked at Lo'ak. Upon seeing his frustrated expression, he laughed and clapped his sister on the back. "Well done, sister of mine!"

Tsireya glared at their elder brother before placing a hand on 'Kanu's shoulder, "Go apologize to him. You will teach him properly from now on."

"But why can't you - I mean - you're the best teacher!" 'Kanu pleaded but Tsireya wouldn't hear it.

"We shall not run from our problems," Tsireya said, "You will plea for forgiveness."

Aonung smirked, "Or are you scared to?" He was the reason 'Kanu had believed mocking had been the best way to teach Lo'ak. He always mocked her and challenged her to do things. It was the way she learned.

'Kanu sighed before standing up. She determinedly made her way over to the Sully children, who once again sat by themselves. Most of the time their parents would eat with them, but on the rare occasion they would sit with the Tsahik and Olo'eyktan. Today they ate with them as well.

Neteyam looked up as her shadow darkened the ground before them. He smiled up at her in greeting, the only thing he could properly see was her outline as she stood in front of the fire.

"May I talk with Lo'ak?" She asked, looking at the younger boy.

Lo'ak glanced at her before huffing and continuing with his meal. 'Kanu crossed her arms, planting her feet. She supposed she wasn't moving from there any time soon then. It wasn't until Neteyam nudged him that Lo'ak begrudgingly got up to his feet.

"Come with me," 'Kanu said, leading the way through her people. She walked on ahead of him, glancing over her shoulder every once in a while to make sure he was still following her.

Finally, they arrived at their destination. 'Kanu had chosen to take him to a remote area of the beach. The roots of the trees were so high that they almost formed a wall, separating this part of the beach from the rest. Just like the rest of the island that Lo'ak had seen - he thought this place was beautiful.

"What is it?" Lo'ak asked as he stood in front of her. It was already dark. The only light came from the stars, their bioluminescent markings and from within the water, where everything was filled with bioluminescence.

'Kanu rubbed her eyes before sighing, "I'm sorry for being so harsh on you," she mumbled, looking into the horizon instead of meeting his eyes.

Lo'ak's ears perked up as he turned his eyes to her, "I'm sorry - I didn't hear you."

"You did-" 'Kanu started to say angrily, taking a step toward him. She shut up when Lo'ak raised a brow at her. She exhaled again before facing him, "I am sorry for what I told you earlier."

Lo'ak seemed to consider her apology for a little while before he broke into a smile, "Okay. I forgive you." 'Kanu smiled back. Then Lo'ak sighed, "But you are right - I am a bad student. I don't learn." He sat down in the sand, bringing his knees up to his chest.

"That's not true," 'Kanu told him, sitting down beside him, "You've learned many things before."

"How do you know?" Lo'ak looked at her sideways as he rested his chin on his knees.

"You come from the forest!" 'Kanu smiled, "It is a large place. Specific skills are needed."

"The sea is larger," Lo'ak said sullenly.

"That may be," 'Kanu shrugged, "But you are adapting. Take me to the forest - I would die!" Finally Lo'ak laughed with her. 'Kanu laughed with him for a short while before looking back at him. Within the moment of silence that ensued they just looked at one another. Then she spoke again, "Do you want to try breathing now?"

Lo'ak nodded, but when she moved over to place her hand on his chest again, he moved ever so slightly backwards. He knew he would only get nervous and mess it up if she touched him. 'Kanu held her palms up, showing him she wouldn't touch him, "Do it yourself, then." She placed one of her hands above her own heart, and the other on her stomach - showing him how. "Breathe. From down here," she told him, taking in a deep breath herself, "Feel your heartbeat grow quieter. Calm down," she spoke in a meditative voice.

It seemed to be helping Lo'ak. He had his hands positioned where she had shown him. His eyes closed as he concentrated on the task.

After a few minutes, Kanu stood up. When Lo'ak did not even move, she gently poked his shoulder. This caused him to open his eyes and look up at her. Had he been sleeping?

No. He was just concentrated.

"Think you've got it?" Kanu asked him. When he nodded and stood up, she beckoned him toward the water.

When they were both waist deep, 'Kanu started to speak again. She decided to recite something her sister and mother always told her when she struggled.