Kailua's decision is made, and it stirs all worlds.
*mega long bc it needed to be*
*also I hated myself today*
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Do it better, crazy kids, nothing is lost
"Why do I have to choose?" Kailua asked. "I've already made my choice, but why do I have to pick anyway? Neteyam is dead, for one. His soul has already rested... and what kind of person wouldn't fight for their legs back?" She looked up at Eywa. The great mother sighed softly. "It is a tough choice, child. One even I would struggle with. However; at the same time," She paused and waved her hand palm down in front. A ripple changed the scene. "I would know what to pick. Much like you." Eywa turned. Kailua rubbed her eye with a deep sigh. "Who do I tell? About my choice?" She asked. Eywa held a single finger up. "Before you choose; I must show you a few things first. To make sure your decision is balanced and fair. One you will be happy with until you pass on, as this is a lifelong choice, child." Kailua nodded. "You can show me, but my decision probably won't change,"
She glanced down at her numb legs as Eywa showed her an image. "It is a memory. Several memories. Of the Sully's." Kailua frowned. "Yes, if you choose to leave the Sully boy, you will walk again. You will see a new level of happiness you haven't seen before; you will appreciate the gift you had. The clan will appreciate you more," Eywa began walking slowly. "You will be a valued member of the clan, further than Olo'eyktan's daughter. You will be a teacher, a mentor, a person they confide in, and you know what they mean." Kailua stayed quiet. "However; I am required to show you some memories of the Sully family." Kailua rolled her eyes. "I know how much they loved him, I don't need to relive it,"
Eywa held up her hand. "It isn't an option, child. Shush and watch,"
~.~.~.~.~
One morning, Neteyam was outside the hut watching the sunrise. As he sat there, he heard unsteady footsteps. When he turned, his baby bro was toddling towards him, arms outstretched as he wobbled. "Hey! There you go! Come on baby bro! Come on!" He cheered quietly. Lo'ak babbled happily as he stumbled the final few steps. Neteyam hugged him tightly, leading him back to the hut. "Sa'nu! Sempu! Lo'ak can walk!" He shouted. His mom and dad shot awake, gasping for breath. "Nete," His dad moaned, collapsing back onto the bedroll. His mom slapped his chest. "He can walk! He walked to me!" He gently pushed his baby bro in front. "Go on! Walk to sa'nu," He smiled. Lo'ak glanced back with a quiver in his lip. "It's ok! I'm behind you!" Neteyam smiled.
~.~.~.~.~
"Hey, you ok?" Lo'ak hastily wiped his eyes. "Fine. I'm fine," Neteyam grunted softly as he took a seat. "You ran off pretty quickly earlier. What happened?" Lo'ak refused to meet his eyes. Neteyam hummed quietly. He began to play with Lo'ak's braid-free hair. "This looks awful short and braid-free. Decided you wanted a new look?" Lo'ak exhaled shakily. He could feel Neteyam's eyes narrowing. "They also caught your ear. It's bleeding," Lo'ak turned, shocked. "How did you know they cut it?" Upon Neteyam's furious rage in his eyes, Lo'ak knew he didn't know. "I didn't," He confirmed. "But I do now." He ran his hands through Lo'ak's hair. "Who did it? Who cut off your hair?" Lo'ak was silent for a second before he mumbled: "Ngato, Xilown and Olan'ity" Lo'ak prepped himself for Neteyam storming off in favour of battering the three bullies, but instead pulled out his wooden comb. "Sit still, this might hurt a bit," They sat there until long after the eclipse, Neteyam brushing out every single mat and knot caused by the butchering. He re-braided every single strand, looping it all together with an old armband that no longer fit.
~.~.~.~.~
"Skxawng, stay fricking still!" Neteyam hissed, pulling a braid. "Ow! Jesus, fine," Lo'ak glared, despite Neteyam not seeing it. He tugged anyway. Lo'ak whipped around, hissing. "I saw the glare," Neteyam slapped his bare shoulder with the wooden comb. Lo'ak narrowed his eyes. "Just get on with it," He grumbled, turning back.
~.~.~.~.~
"Bro, how's the hand?" Neteyam sauntered in smugly. Lo'ak huffed petulantly, flexing his fingers. It hurt, but he didn't show it. "Fine. Near perfect, dear brother. Why do you ask?" His eyes began to water. "Because you're crying and it's swollen to the size of a yovo fruit," Lo'ak grumbled, narrowing his eyes as Neteyam strolled forward. "What've you got?" He asked. "I found some cool beads in the riverbed. Thought they'd look good on you," He shrugged, already threading the beads onto one of Lo'ak's loose braids that dangled at the front of his face. He grinned, stepping back. "Sick, cuz! Thanks,"
~.~.~.~.~
Another argument had Lo'ak storming out with tears racing down his face. Fuck knows where he ended up, but it was somewhere high. Some of the ikran flew below him, readying for their night's rest. Lo'ak debated just leaning that little bit too far. The branch would break, and his suffering would be over. His parents would have the perfect family: perfect Neteyam, special Kiri, and perfect Tuk.
He was finally drifting off to sleep when something crawled on the branch with him. Lo'ak froze and pretended not to notice, worrying it was a Palulukan. He kept his eyes shut, craning his ear to listen. "Oh, Lo'ak," It spoke softly. A blanket was draped over his form. Neteyam. Lo'ak shifted subtly. Neteyam sighed. "They're too harsh, baby bro... I'm sorry,"
He wiped away the tear before Neteyam noticed.
~.~.~.~.~
Lo'ak wrinkled his nose. "I hate this shit, you know that?" Neteyam snorted. "Don't be a wuss," He smirked. Lo'ak rolled his eyes as he backed against the side of the hut, the sturdy wall keeping him upright. "Come on, try and get some rest before the others wake up,"
Neteyam, upon his brother's insistence (read, begging), tried to get some shut-eye as well. Satisfied his brother was long gone, if the small trail of drool leaking from his open mouth, and expressive eyebrows were any giveaway, Neteyam laid down on his bedroll and shut his eyes. Just as he was drifting off, he felt something touch his leg. He opened his eyes with a small sigh. A smile lit his face when the guilty one was his brother's tail trying to wrap around his ankle as it used to when they were young children.
He smiled to himself and let it.
~.~.~.~.~
Kailua cleared her throat. "Why show me those memories? I know Lo'ak was close," Eywa gently took a seat on the ground. "They had a bond stronger than anything I had seen in a long while. It went beyond sibling love. They would have gifted the world as a simple present. They would have died for each other," Eywa said softly. Kailua shut her eyes. "My decision was already made. Why show me those memories?" Eywa simply stood. "Do you understand the magnitude of grief for the family? Specifically the eldest boy?" Kailua repressed the attitude and fueled snapback. "He nearly died in the week afterwards," She said.
Kailua frowned. "The boy was so close to death, he was shaking hands," Eywa's eyes looked suspiciously wet as she spoke. "I thought I would lose him to grief," Kailua subconsciously touched the necklace he gifted her. "Do you know what dispersed the foggy thickness of grief?" Eywa asked. Kailua hesitated. "No, great mother," Eywa pointed. "You did,"
Kailua blinked in surprise. "Me? Why? I-I was unconscious!" Eywa nodded. "Exactly. The sacrifice you made to fight for his, and his brother's life, brought him back from the edge of death, child. You kept him alive," Kailua shut her eyes tightly. "Please... no more. I'm supposed to hate him! He called off a courtship! That's not done lightly!" Eywa stroked Kailua's head. "Child, that was done emotionally. Do you really think he meant it? You were both too prideful to admit you were wrong." Kailua sputtered. "Hang on, it was my mother who told me to do it!" She argued. Eywa raised a brow. "She also told you to stay in the hut. Yet; here we are,"
Kailua looked away with a sigh. "Please... no more," She begged. Eywa waved her hand again and the scene changed back to the sea. She touched her legs with a shaky sigh. "I told you before; I've made my decision,"
Lo'ak was rolling up the family rug when Tuk came running in, sobbing. "Hey, hey, hey!" He ran over. "What the hell happened?" Tuk continued sobbing heavily. "Tuk-Tuk. Stop." He crouched and grabbed her shoulders. "Breathe! Jesus, breathe!" He glanced over her head. "Mom!" He shouted. Tuk continued to sob frantically, scratching at his torso. Mom ran over and took the frantic girl in her arms. "Tuktirey!" She barked. Lo'ak's eyes widened. Tuk stopped crying frantically though. "Now. Tell me what has happened. Calmly," Tuk panted. "It's Kailua. Come quick,"
Lo'ak (rather embarrassingly) outran his mother quickly. He skidded on the ground, stopping inches in front. "Whoa!" She barked, stepping back. Wait. He gestured, smiling. "Hey! You can walk!" Kailua grinned. "Kinda. Norm gave me the walking frame they were going to give to your dad. He said I can practise in it until my surgery,"
Lo'ak smiled genuinely. "It's good that they're giving you the surgery. Then you can swim for hours on end again," At the shift in Kailua's face, he frowned. "Not necessarily for hours on end," She said. "Tuk! All that fuss for nothing!" Mom chastised. Kailua shook her head. "Neytiri?" Lo'ak winced. His mother had never really gotten along with Kailua. "Can you get my hairband from inside my room please?" Lo'ak hissed in shock. "Am I a slave?" Mom snapped. "Please?" Kailua begged. Lo'ak watched as his mom's eyes narrowed dangerously. "How about I get it?" He pushed open the door with his foot, holding his hands up to the women in a death stare match. Upon his mother's sharp gasp, Lo'ak turned.
"Hey baby bro,"