It's been two weeks since Niko last visited her family, but the pain of that last visit still lingers. She tries her hardest not to show it, keeping herself busy to distract herself from the invading thoughts whenever she's alone. Lately, she's harder on herself, pushing herself to train longer and harder, not wanting to make mistakes again. But as much as she tries to bury her feelings, they keep resurfacing. She still hasn't told anybody about what happened on that island, not about the strange figure nor about her breaking down and missing her family. She thought Teyluk was going to tell someone, but he kept quiet. So much so, that he doesn't even speak a word to her anymore. The tension that was clear in the first week the Poteks arrive here has returned. Dhati and Ori also notice that she's quieter than usual, keeping to herself. She gets aggravated easily, easier than usual.
Another week passes by and Anu himself notices something is wrong. She hasn't even visited her family, not once, which is too strange. Because whenever she feels this way, she always goes to them. But now she doesn't feel safe there. Somebody knows her safe place, the place where she can be herself. Sad, vulnerable, the only place she knows to let out all these emotions. Somebody knows it and she isn't only referring to Teyluk, but the mysterious figure as well. Maybe she is a hypocrite, she does what she tells Teyluk not to do, let out her anger on somebody else. She hasn't even gone flying since she doesn't know where to go, where to fly to. She's sitting on the beach when she sees Akit walking towards her, she smiles gently thinking Akit is just passing by. But then, Akit stops when she reaches where Niko is sitting, quietly looking at her.
“Is this seat taken?” Akit asks pointing to the spot on the left of her. She shakes her head then turns her gaze back to the ocean in front of her.
“Can I ask you something?” Akit asks softly, “It's okay if you don't want to answer.” She adds as Niko nods.
“Are you okay?” She asks, when Niko hears this question, she wants to let it all out. But she tries her hardest to keep everything she has been feeling locked up.
“Why are you asking?” Niko replies, “Do I not look okay?” she turns to look to Akit, she notices that Akit's eyes widen.
“No! You look good, great. You look great!” Akit replies panicked, as Niko chuckles.
“Honestly.” Akit says afraid of Niko's reaction to what she is about to say, “You look miserable.”
Niko's smile disappears slowly, is it that visible? Did anybody else notice? A lump form in her throat, as she tries to hold her tears back. Akit notices and her eyes become sadder. Niko takes a deep breath in another attempt to stop the tears from falling down.
“Yeah, I have a lot on my mind lately.” She says as she holds her legs closer to her chest.
“Can I help with that?” Akit says, inching closer towards Niko.
“Sadly, I don't think you can.” Niko replies, looking to Akit while smiling gently.
“Does it have to do with Teyluk?” Akit asks again, Niko's eyes widen a little when she hears his name.
“Partially.” She continues, “Something happened, and I was a little too harsh on him.” Niko replies, looking down and her hands.
“My pride won't let me apologize.” She adds scoffing.
“I know how that feels, imagine living with him.” Akit adds chuckling.
“Whatever happens, It gets better. Didn't you tell us that?” Akit says nudging Niko.
“I know it does, I just don't know when.” Niko replies quietly, “But thank you for this, who would've thought you would be here cheering me up.” Niko says smirking.
“Never imagined it in a million years.” Akit laughs, standing up.
“I'll leave you to it. If you ever decide to talk, I am here. Would I judge you? Probably.” She laughs, Niko joins.
“But I am here, it's the least I can do.” Akit smiles gently, as Niko does the same.
Akit turns to leave, as she walks away. Niko thinks to herself, how could both her and Nevan have Teyluk as their brother. He is so different, stubborn, and annoying to be honest. Why does she care so much about what he thinks? A realization comes to her. But she doesn't want to admit it because even if she does, she'd be wrong, he despises her now. She has built these walls around herself and when she senses that someone is about to tear them down, she pushes him away, trying to raise them higher. She stands up, pats Ash on the head and heads home. She has been living by herself since she turned thirteen, Dhati and the others of course visit all the time, but she wants to have her own space. She heads to bed, way too early. When she starts feeling restless, she decides to go back to fly with Ash. She needs it.
Akit, on the other hand, is heading home when she notices Nevan and Teyluk sitting on the beach while Nero plays with Dhati further away. Nevan is smiling as his eyes follow Dhati around, Teyluk notices and laughs.
“What's funny?” Nevan asks as he blushes.
“You're down bad.” Teyluk chuckles as he leans back on his elbows.
“Hey.” Akit says, sitting down beside them.
“Where were you?” Nevan asks, trying to change the subject.
“I was talking to Niko.” As she replies, Teyluk's face tenses.
“You saw her, Where?” Nevan asks, looking around.
“She was where she used to train us, but she left.” She adds, kind of glaring at Teyluk.
“What did I do?” Teyluk says defending himself against her glare.
“I don't know, she wouldn't tell me. All I understood is that it had something to do with you.” Akit says firmly.
“She thinks she was a little too harsh on you about something.” She says, and figures by the look on Teyluk's face that something big must've have happened.
He is about to explain when he sees Niko on her dragon flying away from the island. He quickly stands up to go follow her.
“Hey!! Where are you going?” Nevan shouts, as Teyluk has now become too far to hear him.
“He likes her, doesn't he?” Nevan asks Akit, still looking his direction as he gets on his horse to go after her.
“He won't admit it though.” Akit says shaking her head.
Niko is flying, her eyes closed as the wind breezes through her hair. Her train of thought is interrupted when she hears the same sound, she hears on her way to her old island the last time. When she turns around, she sees Teyluk trying to catch up with her. She lets out a frustrating sigh and rolls her eyes. Why does he keep following me? She thinks herself.
“What is it with you following me?” Niko asks, frustrated.
He doesn't reply, keeps looking ahead, even though she is flying in front of him.
“Well, not to burst your bubble. I'm not going anywhere.” She adds, “ I'm only flying for the sake of flying. So, if you want to ruin this for me too, be my guest.”
When he hears those words, he attempts to look her in the eyes, bewildered. He doesn't understand how he could have spoiled her trip to that island. He doesn't even know why she was there. He just remembers her becoming upset while spying on these Earthers and following her into the woods. Then he recalls her crying, like if she was shattered on the inside. The other side of her was only unlocked when she arrived on the island. Another thing he can't forget is the person she followed; he recalls her shooting him in the shoulder, but nothing else sticks out.
“This can't get any worse, can it?” she says, as she palms her face.
“Sure it can! Just give me a minute.” He says smirking, as she turns her head slowly to look at him annoyed.
When she turns her head back, she smiles to herself, but not too wide for him to notice. They continue to fly in silence, occasionally checking on each other to make sure no one falls behind. He has been contemplating talking to her for a while then, not wanting to undo any progress. He gets closer so that they're flying side by side.
“You were crying, weren't you? On that island” Teyluk asks as Niko tries to act confused, pretending she hasn't been upset.
“That's why you got so angry and didn't want me to tell anyone.” He clarifies, tilting his head partially as his eyes soften.
She turns her head slightly so she can see his expressions, but he can't see hers. Which is a tearful one, her eyes tearing up as she recalls the incident.
“That was my safe place, the place where I felt whatever emotions I wanted to feel without the fear of getting judged.” She explains, now they are flying side by side.
“That island was my home, where me and my family lived before-”. Her voice cracks as she adds, “Before they died.”
“Does anyone else know this place?” He looks down as he asks, “Other than me.”
“The Avits know, along with some other families. We all lived there before moving to our current island.” She explains, “But no one visits after the attack, other than me.”
“I am sorry.” He says gently, his eyes going from her to her hand and going back. Noticing that she is holding her dragon's rein so tight.
“I don't want your apology. But you need to know boundaries.” She firmly says.
“Boundaries.” He replies, scoffing sarcastically, thinking she is kidding. But she glares at him.
“Fine! Fine!” he says as he feels her glare burn holes through him.
“Nothing ever pleases you, does it?” he asks as she turns away.
“Nothing you do.” She says smirking.
On their way back to the island, it is late at night, they decide to head home, get some rest. Teyluk enters his house, finding Akit and Nevan sitting there waiting for him, staring at him as they smirk. He is surprised they are still up but is confused as well because they kept looking at each other, grinning.
“What?” Teyluk asks as his eyes go from Akit to Nevan.
“Where were you?” Nevan teases him as Akit crosses her arms smirking.
“I was out.” Teyluk replies setting his stuff down, not making eye contact with either of them.
“Really. I thought you were here the whole time.” Akit says sarcastically.
Teyluk looks up at her annoyed and says, “You are so funny.” He adds, “I was flying.”
“Alone?” Nevan asks, wiggling his eyebrows at him.
“No.” Teyluk states bluntly, heading to his room.
“C'mon, give us anything.” Akit begs, scooching closer as she remains seated on the floor.
“Ask nicely.” Teyluk mocks them both.
“Screw you!” Akit snaps getting annoyed, as Teyluk laughs.
“I was flying with Niko.” He recalls, crouching in front of them.
“We know that part, what else happened?” Nevan adds getting impatient.
“We talked and I think we're good now.” He adds smiling as he zones out.
“Good?” Akit says as she turns to look to Nevan, who is forcing a smile.
“Yeah.” Teyluk adds, then stands back up to go to his room.
“Is he stupid or is he just acting like it?” Nevan whispers to Akit.
“I am afraid, he is stupid.” Akit whispers back, face palming.
ns 18.68.0.105da2
