Captured

It was early evening. The day's light was dissolving into twilight. With its rotating clouds, Polyphemus filled the sky overhead but the thick canvas of rainforest trees blocked much of its view and made it appear even darker than it was.

Inside a small depression, Mo'at and three other Na'vi elders, two males named Kevul and Tisal, and a female named Seriya, were sitting in a circle with arms entwined, surrounded by the beautiful flora of Pandora. There, they were taking part in an ancient healing ritual, chanting to Eywa and encouraging the sprouting new growth near where their old home tree once stood. This ritual was a daily occurrence undertaken by Mo'at and her companions since the day the Sky People left.

As beautiful as the surroundings appeared, one only had to dig a tiny bit to find remnants of their old home and the life they used to live. Charred and blackened chunks of wood were scattered everywhere underneath fresh, new foliage. Thick, long branches that snapped off when the tree toppled were dotting the area. Many were scarred with stripes black as coal. Pieces of old looms, racks and sleeping hammocks were strewn about. Bits of broken pottery and small cooking utensils, deemed unsalvageable, could still be found sticking out of the ground in places where fire pits had been.

The immediate area where the tree once stood was off limits to curious children, but sometimes the older ones would defy the rule and explore the outskirts. Quite some distance away from where the tree actually fell lost treasures such as beads and necklaces or woven cloths were often found in odd places, as if these items were once living and had tried to run away from the destruction that day.

The Na'vi's healing ritual was old. It hadn't been used in a very long time. However, it was very sacred and passed down to every generation. It was usually used in times of great sorrow, such as this. The purpose was to call upon five major forces needed to heal and restore life to the area. Each elder represented four elements: sun, air, water and soil. Eywa herself was the fifth. Beaded necklaces and other elaborate decorations draped their bodies in honor of the element they represented.

Gradually intensifying in both pace and volume, the chants that comprised the ritual were an almost incoherent mix of prayers and poems. Occasionally, Mo'at would raise her arms delicately into the air. A gentle, wispy breeze met the larger plant growth, causing it to sway and bend as the four Na'vi elders worshiped. They asked their deity to bless the ground, the new growth, and any fauna who wandered onto the land.

Finally, after a significant amount of time, their chanting reached a crescendo and all four suddenly fell silent. They lapsed into a deep meditative state. Eyes closed, arms still entwined, they began to rock in unison. Every so often a soft murmur would escape their lips.

Within minutes of this new phase of the ritual, the flowers and plants around them began to respond. They pulsated in a vibrant display of colors, changing from dark blues to violets, fuscias and light pinks. Several brightly colored flying creatures, similar to Earth's exotic butterflies, emerged from the flowers one after the other. With six wings as thin as tissue paper and streaked a bright orange and blue, they danced and fluttered around the four healers. It was a dazzling display, a visual symphony of movement and color.

Typically, this part of the ritual was quite peaceful and would go on for some length of time. Suddenly, however, there was a disturbance that went unnoticed by Mo'at and the others, whose eyes were still closed in meditation. The flying creatures, sensing something out of the ordinary, quickly darted back inside the flower heads for shelter. A moment later, the flowers themselves closed up and started retreating slowly into a protective cocoon-like structure.

A mist began to appear. At first, it crept along the ground, barely noticeable. But then it expanded and rose higher into the air. It enveloped the area like a heavy morning fog. As it thickened, a faint hissing sound could be heard. When it got loud enough to hear, Mo'at opened her eyes to find them all quickly becoming engulfed in the thick white cloud.

"Awaken!" Mo'at yelled out. Startled, the three others opened their eyes. As the gas neared, they started coughing. Covering their mouths, they stood up and tried to run but were soon consumed by the tainted air around them. One after the other, they fell to the ground, choking and moaning.

Hearing her companions struggle for fresh air, Mo'at faintly cried out, "Neytiri" before falling unconscious.