CHAPTER 5

'Kanu picked up a clam shell from the shallow waters and waded toward where Lo'ak stood waiting for her. She held up the clam and beckoned him to follow her. The two of them swam out to a deeper part of the sea.

"I will throw this," 'Kanu showed him the shell, "Can you fetch it for me?"

Lo'ak nodded with determination and swam further out. 'Kanu smiled at him and pulled her hand back before throwing it forward, letting go of the shell and watching as it fell through the water. Lo'ak looked at her and she nodded at him.

He took in a deep breath before diving. 'Kanu stuck her head into the water to watch as he swam after the clam shell.

The way of water has no beginning, and no end.

It's was dark outside, but inside the water it was like the brightest point of day. Lights shone on Lo'ak from every angle as he dove deeper. The marine life glowed in the dark around him.

The sea is around you, and in you.

Lo'ak could see the shell. It gleamed brightly in the luminescent light. He just had to fetch it.

The sea is your home. Before your birth, and after your death.

'Kanu's words repeated in his head as he willed himself to go deeper. The lack of oxygen would have gotten to him by now, but instead he was able to hold his breath. Just like she could.

Our hearts beat in the womb of the world. Our breath burns in the shadows of the deep.

When she wasn't being mean, 'Kanu was a great teacher - thought Lo'ak. The shell was now mere inches away from his fingertips.

The sea gives - and the sea takes.

Lo'ak was able to grasp the shell and he kicked off from the bottom of the water. Toward the surface.

Water connects all things.

As he made his way toward 'Kanu, he was mesmerized by his surroundings. The lights, the shapes. But the lack of oxygen was slowly beginning to bother him. He could make out 'Kanu's features as he swam upwards.

Life to death. Darkness to light.

Lo'ak's head broke the surface and he held up the shell. "I got it, 'Kanu!" He said, laughing as he looked at the shell in his hand.

'Kanu laughed and held his hand that was wrapped around the shell, "You did it!" She said, smiling gleefully.

₊˚.༄

"How did you manage to teach my knucklehead brother your breathing technique?"

'Kanu looked over her shoulder and laughed as Neteyam approached her. "He isn't a bad student."

"No," Neteyam shook his head as he came to a halt beside her, "You must be a great teacher."

'Kanu merely shrugged, she would take the compliment. She didn't feel the need to tell him how many of the children were angry at her because of her teaching methods. She wasn't cruel or anything - she only tried to get them motivated through challenge. She blamed Aonung for it.

"Well, Lo'ak can't stop talking about how he caught that shell," Neteyam continued, "He kept it."

'Kanu smiled to herself. Neteyam saw this and was going to tease her for it, but just then Rotxo walked up to them.

'Kanu rolled her eyes and started walking in the opposite direction. Neteyam looked from her to Rotxo, deciding to just walk away.

"'Kanu!" Rotxo called as he jogged to catch up with her. Glancing over her shoulder, she saw Neteyam walking off.

"What is it, Rotxo?" 'Kanu sighed and stopped walking. Rotxo went around her so that she would be facing him.

He smiled, "How are you?"

'Kanu couldn't help but chuckle. He was a pain in her ass, but he had his moments. "I am fine, and you? Aonung treating you well?"

Rotxo made a face, "Ay! You know it wasn't like that!" He waved his arms in the air in denial.

'Kanu laughed. She knew they were only fighting that one time she had stumbled across them at the beach, but implying that she thought it was something else got some great reactions out of her brother and his friend. "So you say," she smirked.

"You know how I feel about you," Rotxo suddenly said, ruining her mood. He wouldn't stop saying that.

"And you know how I feel about you," 'Kanu narrowed her eyes at him.

Rotxo smiled gently, "Your brother's annoying friend."

"Exactly," 'Kanu said sternly.

"But we are still young," Rotxo said, "Do not say no yet."

"I have already said no a thousand times!" 'Kanu threw her hands in the air in frustration.

"Give it a break Rotxo."

'Kanu turned to see her brother walking over to them. As he approached, he wrapped an arm around 'Kanu, pulling her toward him. 'Kanu groaned in annoyance as she tried to put some distance between them.

Aonung laughed and ruffled his sister's hair.

"Don't! You'll ruin my braids!" 'Kanu complained, swatting his hands away from her hair. She had spent a long time sitting still just to get them done. She didn't want to have to go through that again because of her brother.

Aonung and Rotxo both laughed at her reaction as she scowled, flicking her hair over her shoulder.

"Rotxo, stop bothering my sister," Aonung turned to his friend. He wore a smile but both 'Kanu and Rotxo knew all too well he was being serious. Deadly serious. This made 'Kanu smile cheekily at Rotxo. "You'll wear her down," he continued.

Rotxo sighed, "Alright, alright," he said, defeated.

'Kanu narrowed her eyes. Did it really take her brother telling him off before he believed her? She rolled her eyes - boys.

As she looked off in a different direction, she caught sight of Lo'ak. He was independently trying to ride an ilu. 'Kanu took off running in his direction, leaving her brother and Rotxo standing together.

"Lo'ak!" She waved as she ran into the water. The ilu made a sound that indicated she had started him. 'Kanu merely chuckled and stroked his head, "Sorry," she told him quietly.

When she looked up to meet Lo'ak's eyes, he was already smiling at her, happy to see her. "'Kanu," he said.

"Do you want help?" 'Kanu asked, a wide smile stuck on her face. She glanced back at her brother and Rotxo. Rotxo seemed pissed - he kicked the sand in frustration as Aonung laughed at him. However she saw how his smile faded when he turned to look at Lo'ak and her. 'Kanu quickly averted her gaze and turned her attention back to Lo'ak, still smiling.

"That would be great," Lo'ak said.

"Alright," 'Kanu grinned, "Come."

Lo'ak looked confused as she started leading the ilu deeper into the water. Soon they were swimming further.

"Maybe starting from land isn't the easiest for you," she said, holding the ilu steady. Lo'ak looked at her questioningly. 'Kanu chuckled before connecting her queue with the ilu's. "Let's try form under water. It may be easier for you."

Lo'ak remained confused, but he nodded. When 'Kanu dived under the water with the ilu, he followed behind.

They remained just a few feet under the surface and 'Kanu beckoned him to come closer. She couldn't speak under water, and she realized he didn't yet know their sign language that well. They'd have to manage though - if need be, they would just go up to the surface to talk.

'Kanu disconnected her queue but held the ilu in place by its handle. She beckoned him to come over and held up the ilu's antenna.

Lo'ak knew she was asking him to make the bond. He reached for his queue over his shoulder and connected it to the ilu's. 'Kanu smiled and took his hand, guiding it to the handle. She had showed him a few times before how he should sit on the ilu, so Lo'ak went ahead and did that.

Kanu waved her hand in front of his face to get his attention. When Lo'ak looked at her, she pressed her chin to her chest. Lo'ak frowned at her and she rolled her eyes before signing that he did the same. She's forgotten that he did not understand her and only remembered when Lo'ak shrugged his shoulders.

'Kanu reached her hands over to him and placed a hand on his chin, making him look down. Starting like this would make it easier for him to learn.

Lo'ak looked at her form the corner of his eye as his head was angled downward. He then disconnected his queue from the ilu's and started swimming upwards.

When 'Kanu broke the surface after him, she frowned, "What?"

"What am I supposed to do?" Lo'ak asked, "What's this?" He angled his head down again, mimicking what she had showed him to do.

"It's easier when you look down and your head is angled to the side," 'Kanu told him.

"How should I see in front of me if I am looking down?"

"You won't swim like that forever," 'Kanu assured him, "It's just so you don't get the current in your face at the start."

Lo'ak sighed before nodding. They dove down again and 'Kanu called the ilu once more. This time, Lo'ak did as told and looked at her, waiting for the sign to go.

'Kanu smiled and waved her hand, shooing him. Telling him to go forward.

Lo'ak took off and to his surprise, everything came easier to him this time. He had started off in the water, so the current wasn't sudden and it didn't cause him to fall off. Soon he found himself able to look forward without having to squint too much.

Lo'ak laughed as he willed the ilu to jump into the air before diving back down.

'Kanu cheered as he circled her in the water. She watched as he sometimes resurfaced to wave and laugh, "You have done it!" She laughed, waving her arms wildly in the air.

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I drew the picture at the beginning of this chapter to be the new cover but idk I kinda like the current one so it's just there now