CHAPTER 112: SERAKAI OR TAHRAKA? (2)

Atia, Aiyana and Yoa had been inseparable since their first meeting—a joint punishment for causing trouble individually. Though they were aware of each other, each of them had been marked as more antisocial than others in the Oncari tribe. It wasn’t uncommon for jaguar shifters to enjoy their own company more, but this trio found each other’s company not as bothersome as others.

Even Atia, who was well known for his playful behaviour, even as a cub, socialising, he was still picky, and disliked the other cubs and adults who chose their friends and companions based on power and hierarchy within the Oncari.

Usually, the Elders punished children separately, but Solkara, the Sun Weaver, Goddess of sun, fate and guidance, must have woven her threads to place each of them on the same path.

Yoa had been caught already following trials beyond their village, trailing a wild boar with nothing but a carved stick and the courage of a jaguar cub ready to prove his worth.

Atia had been found up the palm trees again, dropping ripe fruit onto those passing by, swearing he was training his aim.

On the other hand, Aiyana was punished for an entirely different reason to the troublesome boys. She’d snuck out before dawn, unwilling to stay cooped up under guard. Being Tamuari’s daughter didn’t meant she’d remain in her cage.

As punishment, they were set to gather herbs, fruits, and tend to the tribe’s lesser tasks—chores still within reach of three mischievous cubs.

Over the seasonsYoa was gone a lot, training, fighting real opponents, earning scars and stories. The trials to become the next guardian became his life, and with it the weight of his absence left a strange hollow in their trio. Neither Atia or Aiyana said it aloud though, both wishing their friend the best, and hoping he wouldn’t return a corpse.

Instead of worrying over Yoa, Atia trained harder and started watching over Aiyana more. His attention sharpened and lingered more on her. She was tough, and a warrior through and through, she always had been, but since their trio had turned mostly into a duo, he caught more glimpses of her truth. She rarely rested, and had this ridiculous drive to prove herself to everyone, and didn’t let gossip faze her.

Someone needed to look out for her, and that someone was him. Aiyana was not weak—far from it, but sometimes she looked tired, even when she glared or smiled. Sometimes the burden of being the chief’s daughter pulled at her shoulders like invisible chains. She would never voice it, but it was true.

Tamauri and the Oncari expected a lot from the chief’s daughter, even if it was decided she would not lead the tribe but stand by another’s side. So, over time, Atia started to be that someone she could lean on, if ever she chose to.

One evening, after sparring with the warriors near the flame pit, Aiyana sank to the ground beside him. Her chest heaved, sweat clinging to her temples.

"You almost landed that last blow," she said.

"I did land it."

"You landed my braid."

He snorted. "I’ll count that as a moral victory."

She grinned, eyes flicking to him, a compliment easily leaving her lips, if only because it was between them and no other. "You’re better than most of them, you know. If I had to choose someone to fight beside me, I’d always pick you."

Those words hit harder than any blow. Atia looked away, pretending to watch the flames dance in the distance. "You say that like it’s not obvious."

She didn’t answer right away. Instead, she pulled a piece of fruit from her satchel and split it in half, handing him one.

They ate in silence, shoulders brushing. The firelight flickered across her face, and for a moment, she leaned just slightly toward him—almost imperceptibly.

Atia told himself it was for his warmth, even though heat radiated from her, worn out from the training session. But it stayed with him all the same.

After the second trial, Yoa had pulled away from them more and more, his training turning private. They didn’t give up trying to sneak him away when the load of his was too much for him to bear, and he needed to have fun. Atia and Aiyana were great at causing trouble, I.E fun.

But with Yoa away, Atia and Aiyana relied on each other, enjoying the company even if to outsidersthey always looked like they were bickering between them like an old mated couple. Yet, by always being together, training together, their fighting styles evolved as if choreographed by instinct.

Where she stepped, he pivoted. When she ducked, he covered. It became a rhythm no one else could replicate—flashes of movement, understanding without speech. It was like watching two flames dance, and many began to admire them, wondering if they were going to be star-fated mates.

Chief Tamuari marked Atia as a potential spouse as young as fourteen, when they were first showing signs of being great warriors together. He was harsher on Atia, but he didn’t complain.

Aiyana thought her father was being ridiculous while Atia secretly worked to win her father over. It didn’t hurt to have the Chief of the Oncari on his side. But to be Serakai? No way, they just trained together a lot. If anything they would gain that warrior bond when they turned eighteen, and besides, Aiyana had shown interest in some crocodile shifter.

An Apatka... Seriously? The guy was huge but she could do better. Not that Aiyana was looking for anyone. If anything, Atia assumed she was working on ways to win her title, or crush any potential spouses.

Many men wanted Aiyana’s hand but she kept turning them down. Her father accepted this only because she had still been too young. Though, he still watched Atia closely after the pair subtly began showing signs of intimacy more than mere friends.

During a trial exercise, they were paired against two older warriors. Everyone expected the elders to win. They didn’t.

Aiyana struck first, feinting left as Atia swept low, tripping one of the men while she cracked the other across the ribs with her staff. The sparring circle erupted in cheers.

"They fight like two halves of the same blade," someone muttered.

"Serakai or Tahraka?" Another pondered aloud, while others even started betting on the pair. Atia ignored them and the squeezing sensation in his chest.

Though there was one thing he couldn’t ignore, the warmth that filled his chest after Aiyana grinned at him, eyes sparkling and bright with victory. He was certain whenever her mask of indifference fell, and she couldn’t hold back that beautiful smile, she lit up the entire jungle.

°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

When Atia was fourteen and Aiyana thirteen, a memory almost remained ingrained in Atia’s mind. They sat at the river’s edge after sunset, their feet in the water, sitting close together. This time they were no way near the Apatka territory so it was only them.

The village drums were distant, muffled by the trees. Usually the Oncari weren’t loud in the jungle, they preferred their privacy the most and didn’t want others visiting their lands—not that anybody dare would. But tonight they celebrated, though only a select few knew why.

Yohuali had been taken to go through with his final trial. Neither Aiyana or Atia wished to partake in the festivities, nor did they wish to voice their fear for their friend and instead, sat here.

"Do you ever wonder what it’s like beyond the island?" Aiyana asked, tossing a pebble into the current.

"No," he said. "I wonder what it’s like to be chief." He froze, realising his words and glanced at her all bug-eyed, but she didn’t think there was any other meaning behind his words.

He didn’t even know, not truly, what he’d meant. Did it mean he wanted to be Aiyana’s mate? Was that what kept stirring in his chest whenever they briefly made contact.

Instead, she snorted. "Try being the chief’s daughter first. It’s mostly listening to old men argue about tree borders."

He chuckled. "Then I’ll stick to hitting things."

She looked at him, really looked. "You’d make a better leader than you think."

"You saying I’m wise?" His jest didn’t work on her this time. She meant what she said, and he needed to accept compliments when given.

"I’m saying you listen."

Atia opened his mouth, then closed it. The sky glowed purple above them, and the water carried their reflections—blurred and still, side by side. Aiyana’s hair blew softly in the wind, even while pulled back into two braids, a new style created by Atia. It suited her, though their tribe didn’t style their hair like that usually, but Atia wanted to practice it before styling his own hair in that manner.

Aiyana pulled her knees to her chest, wrapping her arms around them. "I’m scared, sometimes," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

Atia paused. The entire time he’d known Aiyana, she’d never admitted anything like that to them before. Did that mean she felt completely comfortable with him to expose herself like this?

"Of what?" He asked gently, keeping his eyes trained on the water, watching her expression through the reflection instead.

"Not being enough. Not being the kind of daughter they expect me to be. Not knowing if I’ll be strong enough when it matters."

"You’re already strong," he said. "Stronger than anyone I know."

She didn’t reply, but she leaned her head against his shoulder. Just for a second.

He didn’t move.

He didn’t dare breathe.

His heart fluttered at the contact.

Besides brawling with everyone, Aiyana wasn’t meant to be touched or touch another, especially a boy who could potentially one day be her spouse. Though, that last part never occurred to either of them at the time, just merely aware that sitting close together like this, was forbidden.