Kiri's pov:

I couldn't believe they would do that. I felt so furious.

I watched angrily as Tonowari scolded aonung but didn't scold rotxo. He just gets to get away with it.

I glared angrily at him but he wouldn't lift his head up, he was standing next to Ronal who had her hand on his back.

Once the crowd started to clear Ronal nudged rotxo forward as Tonowari took aonung away.

"Go on dear" Ronal told the boy softly and I glared at him. He fiddled with his hands as he walked up to Jake and neytiri.

Ronal stood behind him as he bowed his head. "I- I'm sorry for helping take lo'ak outside the reef.." rotxo muttered looking over at neytiri.

I could see my mother frown so I walked closer to her as Ronal nudged Rotxo over to lo'ak before she spoke to neytiri.

"My son aonung will be punished for the way he as acted and I hope you can accept my apology for his action" Ronal apologize and neytiri nodded.

"What about him?" I asked, pointing at rotxo who was talking to a not so happy lo'ak.

Neytiri swatted me away but Ronal spoke to my question. "I will scold him but he already knows what he shouldn't do" Ronal said looking over at the boy sadly. "He follows the crowd no matter how much he gets in trouble"

Neytiri nodded in understandment but I glared over at rotxo. "He's a shy boy isn't he, wanting to fit in?" Jake asked and Ronal nodded.

"He will be in trouble for his actions as well" Ronal told us and neytiri nodded with approval. "And will the boy's parents scold him as well?" Neytiri asked.

Ronal made a face and shook her head. "The boy does not have parents to tell him what is right and wrong"

Jake's eyes widened and neytiri put her hand over her mouth. I did feel a little bad for the boy who was making his way back over to us.

"Did you apologize dear?" Ronal asked rotxo, touching his back as he joined her side.

He nodded shyly, lowering his head away from all of our gazes. "Well we must get back to our dens" Ronal said, nodding to neytiri and Jake.

"My dearest apologies again" Ronal said, mostly looking at lo'ak now that he had joined us.

Ronal and rotxo began to make their way away from us and that's when I spoke.

"Does that mean Ronal is his mom?" I asked, thinking about how I thought of neytiri as my mom. Jake shushed me and neytiri placed her hand on my shoulder.

"Some kids aren't as lucky Kiri" neytiri told me.

We all walked back to the den, meeting neteyam who was holding tuk in his arms. "Did everything go well?" He asked and Jake nodded.

Lo'ak instantly went to his room wishing everyone a good night and tuk followed him feeling sleepy as well.

"Neteyam can I talk to you?" I asked and he looked at me confused before nodding.

We walked outside the den, sitting down and letting our feet drop into the water. "What do you want to talk about?" Neteyam asked me as I stared down at the water.

"It's about that rotxo kid" I said, swishing my feet in the water. "The shy kid?" Neteyam asked and I nodded.

"I feel bad for him" I told neteyam, rubbing the back of my neck. "Ah, so you need someone to voice your worries to?" Neteyam smiled and I nodded.

"The boy is sweet" neteyam told me. "I've talked to him a few times when he isn't with his little 'crowd' y'know" neteyam chuckled and I nodded. "He's a really nice guy, just follows the wrong crowd"

"Ronal said the same thing" I told neteyam and he nodded.

"What have you two talked about?" I asked neteyam bad he smiled over at me. "So interested in him huh?" Neteyam smirked and I pushed his shoulder. "Shut up!" I smiled and he chuckled.

"I've mostly asked him about tips on learning the ways of the metkayina clan but he's got a few jokes to" neteyam smiled.
"Jokes?" I asked, a small smile on my face.

Neteyam laughed shaking his head. "Yeah" he muttered.

"How many tickles does it take to make an octopus laugh?" Neteyam asked me and is stared at him confused. "How many?" I finally asked. "Ten tickles"

I couldn't help but laugh at the dumb joke. "Rotxo told you that?" I smiled and neteyam nodded smiling back at me.

"I guess I should get to know him huh?" I smiled down at the water.

"Yeah" neteyam said shoving my shoulder. "Don't be so hard shelled" he laughed and I swatted his hand. "He's the one being hard shelled!" I defended.

Neteyam shook his head with a smile. "Your both hard shelled" he said. "Perfect for each other" neteyam then cooed and I felt my face feel warm as I quickly stood up.

"Oh shut up!" I muttered hearing him laugh before I walked off to the den, neteyam following me.

What is wrong with me? I wondered touching my cheek.

Your in love with rotxo 🤭
Word count: 875