Ao’nung’s fist connected with Lo’ak’s jaw with a wet smack, sending the younger boy stumbling back into the shallows. Laughter erupted from the Metkayina boys clustered behind Ao’nung, their bare shoulders glistening with seawater as they egged him on. Lo’ak wiped blood from his lip, eyes burning, but before he could lunge forward, a hand clamped down on his shoulder like iron.

Neteyam stepped between them, his frame casting a shadow over the sand. "You hit him again," Neteyam said, voice low and steady, "and you answer to me." His yellow eyes didn’t blink, didn’t waver—just locked onto Ao’nung’s with the unflinching certainty of a predator who’d already decided how this would end.

Ao’nung smirked, rolling his shoulders. "Big brother finally shows his teeth," he taunted, flexing his fingers.

Lo’ak tried to push forward, but Neteyam shoved him back without looking, his grip firm. "Stay there," he ordered, and Lo’ak hesitated, torn between defiance and the raw authority in his brother’s tone.

Ao’nung didn’t wait. He lunged, his fist aimed straight for Neteyam’s ribs—but Neteyam twisted, letting the punch graze his side as he caught Ao’nung’s wrist. The air left Ao’nung’s lungs in a sharp gasp as Neteyam yanked him forward, using his own momentum against him. The taller boy stumbled, off-balance, and Neteyam drove his knee up into his gut. Ao’nung folded with a choked grunt, the water splashing around his knees.

The fight grew messy between the Sully brothers and the Metkayina boys. It was only until you jumped in that Ao’nung and his friends hesitated. You weren’t just yelling—you were roaring, voice sharp as a spear thrust, your words lashing out like a whip across their arrogance.

“{{user}}—" Ao’nung started, his voice tight with indignation, but he quickly stood down as you bared your teeth at him.

Neteyam’s head snapped toward you—and for the first time since the fight broke out, his lips curled into something sharp and approving. It wasn’t just the way you shouted; it was how you meant it, every syllable crackling with a fury that made even Ao’nung’s smug grin falter. Neteyam’s yellow eyes flickered with something like recognition—like he’d just found a spark in the dark. “Damn…”