The Takaru tribe consisted of them mostly remaining in their spider monkey forms. Still, many men and women hung from branches, the smallest bit of clothing covering their private parts as they watched curiously. Nova noted their sizes were bigger than those who hid in the back of the trees. They must be their 'muscle' in case anything goes wrong, as Yoa passes by foot beneath them.
The man boasted with confidence, strolling through like he owned the lands. Maybe he did? His strides were long and relaxed, completely unconcerned about this tribe. It was a welcome change compared to coming across the capuchins and the jaguars who attacked upon sight.
Nova wasn't 100% sure if the Takaru would have acted this way if she had been by herself, though. They were small monkeys in human form, still probably taller than her and definitely shredded down to the last V-line-- nowhere close to Yoa's rock-hard, almost cemented, and perfectly sculpted body. Seriously, he could be a Greek God, especially with that long hair.
Although many of the Takaru pulled back and kept their distance, there was still that first line, almost a wall of bigger men and women acting as protection in front of the rest of the tribe. They hung so casually, long, lean limbs, but their expressions were wide and tense, watchful of Yoa's every move.
"Yohuali…" Many whispered in fear.
Nova also heard the faintest words of 'pale face' and a few even questioned if she was Electa? No, it's Nova, but she didn't want them to know her name. She would make do with pale face, none of this 'Electa'.
Was there another pale-faced woman by that name on this island? Did Chad bring another girl to this island?
"Stop dawdling," Yoa growled, snapping her from those spiralling, insecure thoughts.
"Sorry," Nova murmured and picked up her pace, even reaching for the back of his… rag? That left little to the imagination about his muscular buttocks.
Yoa glanced behind him with a slight smirk. Nova missed it as he looked ahead again, guiding her through the Takaru territory. The tribe didn't do anything, nor did they greet Yoa, but they stared, pausing their actions, and only a few followed from high above.
Only the soft, uneven crunch of Nova's footsteps in the damp earth broke the silencing forest. Birds called faintly in the distance, and the wind whispered through the leaves, rustling them as they passed. It wasn't until the thunderous roar of water hitting the ground drowned out all the other sounds that Nova realised the Takaru had stopped following them.
They must have been out of their territory. Although Yoa stated they weren't a threat, Nova still anticipated some sort of attack. Her shoulders relaxed, she exhaled slowly and felt a sense of ease, especially with Yoa by her side.
The more they walked, the air grew thicker with moisture, and the trees and ground damper. The constant roar of water pounding into the ground grew louder. The foliage gradually parted, revealing a massive waterfall cascading down from rocks, it's frothy water crashing into the pool below.
A mist hung heavy in the air like a cloak veiling the surroundings of the water. Nova stared at it in wonder. It was mystical, enchanting and even a little eerie, with the mist that clung to the closest trees, almost acting like fog, concealing parts of the waterfall.
The sound of the water was soothing, yet Yoa's muscles were tense, his back ramrod straight.
"Yoa?" Nova whispered, leaning closer, her hand clenching a little tighter on that rag as the fine hairs on the back of her neck prickled and rose.
She silently cursed at herself. Obviously, Yoa couldn't hear her because of the noise of the waterfall. Duh.
She was about to speak louder, but Yoa's head whipped around, and he placed a finger on his lips, silencing her. Those otherworldly eyes locked hers in place, silently communicating that he heard her and to follow his lead.
Yoa signalled Nova to stay where she was as he ventured closer to the water, away from the trees' coverage. The mist still acted as a layer between the top of the waterfall and where they stood on the ground, but Yoa was alert. Was there a hidden danger?
Nova's gaze swept along their surroundings, but she was quite useless in this context. It appears that her eyesight and hearing weren't nearly as great as Yoa's.
Yoa signalled Nova to move. He was still ever watchful as he scooped the water into his hands from the pool, drank it, and then splashed more over his face, the water droplets catching in some of his hair. Nova's steps paused as she gazed at him and the way those droplets of crystal-clear water slide down the contours of his chest.
Her gaze instantly flicked to the pool of water when he caught her staring. Yoa smirked, he was used to smelling and hearing everyone's fear towards him, so Nova's admiration was refreshing. Many admired his ability to strike, stalk, maim and kill, some were attracted to his dominance and ability to protect but none of the females on the island caught his attention.
They merely wanted him for offspring. Why wouldn't they? He was one of the most powerful beasts on the island.
But Yoa didn't like them. They were cruel with their kills, they liked to play with them. He used to but now he deemed it a waste of time. Hunting and eating were just a part of the cycle, a necessity to survive.
The rest- the violence and games, felt meaningless now. Yoa no longer found satisfaction in proving his strength through cruelty. The forest knew who he was. They whispered his name:
Yohuali and to those that knew his truer form- Yiska.
Nova was so obscenely inexperienced with this way of life, her innocence, and her lack of understanding of this forest that he couldn't bear to see her fall to it. It was kill or be killed. If they'd met years back, prior to what he was, then untying him would have been a far bolder move on her part. The idea of hurting any part of her made him visibly shiver.
That alone made his brows tug together. He didn't understand this feeling. He'd never felt protective of someone before.
His instincts to protect kicked in when something in the distance suspiciously like the sounds of wings flapping drew his attention skywards.
Unaware of the looming danger, Nova blissfully splashed her face, feeling refreshed as she wiped away the foundation that had probably caked her skin. She felt icky and disgusting. She sighed, running her damp hands through her locks, brushing them back.
Soon she would be in a nice cool shower, washing away all the muck from the last 24 hours, or was it 48 hours? Had it only been less than two days? It was strange because the short time she'd been in Yoa's presence she'd felt like they'd known each other for much longer.
"We need to move." Yoa stood abruptly.
Nova's head whipped to the side and she followed his gaze upwards. Her breath caught at the sound of that haunting whistling and the razor sharp talons that drove through the mist, aiming for her. Yoa leapt, tackling it the eagle out of the sky but it was too late.
Nova's breath whooshed out of her as something snatched her from behind.