CHAPTER 113: SERAKAI OR TAHRAKA? (3)

When Yoa returned fifteen sunrises later, he was a little... different. He looked like he’d lost weight, and his eyes they shown with ancient wisdom, looking unnatural on a boy who had to become a man, a guardian of Tayun so young. For a while, Yoa kept to himself more, leaving at first light and returning to the tribe late afternoon.

His parents were proud of him, though they couldn’t show off his achievement as only a select few knew about it. One day, Atia caught him on his return to the Oncari lands, before the village, and pulled him to the side. Aiyana dropped from a tree, who’d also been spying on Atia because of his jittery, sneaky behaviour that he couldn’t quite mask in front of her.

Atia frowned at her, and she gave him a smug look that suggested he should have been paying more attention to his surroundings. "You’re ambushing me now?" Yoa’s eyes flicked between them, narrowing slightly, noticing the differences between them.

"Believe me this wasn’t planned. I followed Atia, and he was waiting for you..." Aiyana shrugged causally like her words didn’t mean anything.

Yoa stared at her for a few moments before he looked back at Atia. "So... You have me cornered..."

Atia frowned at his choice of words. "I am not cornering you, Yoa... We are worried about you. We have yet to talk since your return."

Aiyana nodded along, like she was a part of this from the very beginning. Atia didn’t complain though, it was support he didn’t think he’d needed in facing Yoa. But with the changes that might have never been noticed by others, but enough to worry even Atia, Yoa needed to be reminded that he was still him, an Oncari, and their friend.

Yiska or not. Powers or not. This huge duty of protecting the island or not. He was still Yohuali.

Yoa nodded once, and turned, leading them to Soluma where nobody would interrupt them. As they approached, some Apatka tribesmen had been lounging in the river, too far away from their territory. At first, they snorted at their arrival, noting the young Oncari, until their eyes locked onto Yoa’s.

His face was hard, emotionless. "This is not your territory," he claimed, voice low, a tinge of menacing mixed in it.

Aiyana and Atia froze, eyes widening slightly before they composed themselves, watching Yoa like he was someone much older than his age.

The three Apatka warriors glanced at each other, two of them standing up from where they’d been floating idly on their backs in the river, hands and feet keeping them from being pushed downstream. They shared a look amongst each other, unsure about what their instincts were telling them about the young boy whose aura almost matched even surpassed their Chiefs. He was powerful and strangely intimidating.

They looked as though they might cause trouble, even while Yoa was the one to call them out. "It is busy in Soluma today," one of them stated, clearing his throat and scowled like he couldn’t believe he was explaining himself to someone younger than him.

"That’s not our problem," Yoa replied coldly. "Do I need to speak with Yara?"

Atia and Aiyana inhaled sharply. Was that really such a threat... their joined thought trailed off as they remembered their few meetings with the Apatka chief. Yes it really was a threat. The crocodile shifters might be brawlers, always looking for a fight, but they still obeyed and respected their chief.

The Apatka shared a look, silently agreeing before starting to move away. The leader’s upper lip twisted as he looked at Yoa like he was an insect. "You’re not worth our time or energy, cub. Playtimes over, your mumma must be worried where you are."

The other two snickered like it was the best insult ever even while they stepped out of the other side of the river, widening the distance between them and began walking away. Atia and Aiyana’s brows rose as they looked to Yoa, surprised by his confidence and how they left so easily.

Had he really only been gone for fifteen sunrises?

Nonchalantly, Yoa walked to one of the rocks, standing over the river as the wind fluttered some of his stray hairs back, the rest pulled back in a knot.

"Are you truly ok, Yoa?" Aiyana was first to ask after they watched him and how the forest seemed to act around him.

Yoa nodded, keeping his back to them as he gazed at everything with a stern expression. Aiyana frowned, wanting to say more but she looked to Atia instead, silently telling him to try and speak to him.

Atia stepped up to the rock, halting on one slightly behind him. "Will you tell us what happened in the final trial? We don’t like seeing you like this. Brother, please."

Yoa’s head moved slightly, releasing a breath as he heard Atia’s plea. He did not tell them about the final trial. "I do not remember much of it. But there is no need to worry." He turned and placed a hand on Atia’s shoulder, his golden-red eyes shimmering as he stared at his friend. "Thank you." His gaze moved to Aiyana. "Both of you. I will be fine soon."

"Promise?" Aiyana asked, sounding like the girl of her age for once.

Yoa’s eyes crinkled, the only sign hinting at a smile. "I promise."

As he made that promise, the jungle reacted, the trees bending and leaning slightly closer like they might whisper in his ear.

Still, Yoa kept his distance for a while. Atia and Aiyana tried to be patient but one night, when the bonfire burned brightly, and celebration was afoot, tribesmen dancing before it, Aiyana’s patience snapped especially after watching a few blushing, bumbling fools, try to speak to Yoa when it was clear he had no intention of talking. It was rather rude, and comical.

Yoa gazed into the flames, another girl drifting closer with adoration in her eyes, until a single look from Aiyana sent her retreating. She sat beside him with a huff, narrowing her eyes at him when his lips curled up slightly.

"You know others will start to think something is wrong. You went missing for a while, with only a few of us aware of where you’d gone. Then you return and you’re..." Aiyana looked him over. She couldn’t quite explain it. It was almost like something was missing, a light dimmed somewhat in his expression. "Did something happen that you cannot let go of?"

Yoa’s gaze returned to the flames, the shadows of the dances and firelight flickering over their features as he answered, "No... I don’t think so."

"You don’t think?" Aiyana probed more.

"I do not remember most of my trial," Yoa admitted quietly.

While they spoke, sitting side by side, the bonfire casting shadows over them, Atia paused behind them, feeling this twisting sensation low in his chest, quick and hot, as if a spark shot beneath his ribs. His jaw set, and shoulders tightened like a bowstring with his eyes locking on them, unblinking, and a restless heat prowling under his skin.

He didn’t like it. He didn’t like the feeling or seeing how close Yoa and Aiyana were together. His brows tugged together, disliking these thoughts. They were his friends, and there had never been anything between them. Not that that should be an issue in the first place...

As though to compensate for these feelings, and the guilt that followed, Atia stepped in when Kanti, a girl who hadn’t once shied away from revealing her like for Yoa, tried speaking to him, interrupting the conversation between Yoa and Aiyana.

The moment his arm landed over Kanti’s shoulders in his usual carefree way, Aiyana’s eyes snapped to the contact. Her eyes burned into Atia’s arm as he led Kanti away, and barely listened to Yoa who was actually speaking more than he had since his return.

"She would have bled my ears out from her constant chatter," Yoa chuckled, trying to diffuse what was clearly a pang of jealousy. "Atia saved us her company."

Aiyana rolled her eyes. "I’m sure that’s exactly what he’s doing."

Yoa followed her attention to where Atia was making Kanti laugh. "You two have grown close," he mused.

Aiyana looked away.

"Just so you know..." Atia sauntered up to them, scratching the back of his neck. "You’re never alone, brother. We are here for you.. whether you’re acting a moody cub or not."

Yoa smirked at Atia’s choice words and looked between them before tugging Aiyana to stand and embraced them both. "Thank you."

Then, abruptly he pulled away, and was off, carrying the weight of the jungle, though his head was a little higher.

"What are we going to do with him?" Aiyana pondered as her hand brushed against Atia’s accidentally. She leaned away, breath catching the slightest as she was still trying to understand what had come over her earlier when he was talking to Kanti.

Atia’s fingers hesitantly found hers again and squeezed gently. "For now, keep an eye on him. Mother said boys and girls go through phases like this, so its probably nothing."

Aiyana relaxed and released her breath, gently squeezing his fingers back in thanks, the comfort seeping into her until she pulled away before anyone else might see them.