Chapter 54 – Eywa's Resilience
Daybreak's first light illuminated the river basin…
I awoke with a sudden flinch that sent waves of pain through my bruised body. My eyes slowly opened and this time I was able to focus on my surroundings. Some of my strength had returned, thanks to the rest I'd unwillingly endured sprawled out along the riverbank.
My right hand ached as I forced myself to release my grip on the handle of the knife that lay in front of me. I wasn't sure how many hours I'd laid here, but daylight had finally come. I stretched my right hand several times to force the muscles to work, as I slowly lifted my head off the soft sandy riverbank. Sand and dried blood were caked all over my face.
I took in the view of the forest in front of me. I didn't see Pierre's body. The forest appeared frail and sick, no doubt a result of the blast wave. I noticed the forest and riverbank were littered with burnt flakes. It was fallout from the blast. It occurred to me, even thermobaric weapons cause fallout but thankfully it wasn't radioactive. The logic was cold, as I thought; they didn't mind all the death and destruction, as long as it didn't irradiate their precious ore. I muttered, "Damn their logic. Damn their bottom line. Damn me for not stopping them."
This was what defeat felt like. Along with the peculiar dreams and nightmares, a deep depression had taken hold of me. Waiting for reinforcements didn't seem like a viable option any longer and I was out of ideas. It seemed apparent now that no one was coming and the chances for the Na'vi to win this fight alone were non-existent.
While I lay there on the riverbank, daylight crept through the forest trees. I was fearful of what I would see once I stood up to go survey the damage. I doubt anyone at Fort Chacon could have survived a blast of that magnitude.
Just as I started to move my legs and lift myself off the sandy bank, I noticed hundreds of woodsprites float by overhead and into the sickly forest beyond. I thought it was incredible; Eywa's resilience maintains the balance of life. Just as many of those trees will die, new ones will rise to take their place in due time.
While my mind reached back to the lessons Niysia had taught me about Eywa, I noticed two woodsprites had floated down to caress my shoulder. They floated down my right arm, as I intently watched them. Niysia and I had patiently watched woodsprites float through the forest many times. They were beautiful, especially this morning with so much death in the air. Here was a pure spirit of life that had come to restore the balance of nature.
The woodsprites floated down and slowly hovered along my blade's edge, both of them bouncing up and down in the air several times along its edge. As I focused my attention on them, I lifted the blade, moving it back and forth. The woodsprites followed it even while the metal glimmered in the new beams of daylight that pierced the forest.
I recalled something Niysia had said during my lessons to become Omaticaya, "Eywa doesn't take sides; she only maintains the balance of life." She reminded me several times, that as a Na'vi I was now a part of that balance, as were all Na'vi. Eywa compels us to become one of the people, to take a lifemate, and then family.
My thoughts wondered aimlessly for a moment as I fantasized about what a family with Niysia would be like. A glimmer of light reflecting off the blade and blinded me for a second, then my focus returned to the knife and woodsprites. Just as they'd floated by, the woodsprites lifted themselves up onto the air to float toward the forest. I watched them float away and a moment of inception crept into my mind.
I don't have to win. A stalemate for the Na'vi would be the same as victory.
The mere existence of balance was the endgame Eywa and the Na'vi needed. My eyes squinted as I stared at the knife blade in front of me. Its metal glimmered in the daylight and it occurred to me, despite Eywa's subtlety, I think she just asked me to make good on the promise. How or why? I can't explain it; I just know it. Niysia, Jake, Neytiri, all of my people are in need of someone capable of restoring the balance and somehow Eywa knows it's within my power.
I am Omaticaya, but I'm also something else; I'm Eywa's Blade. I glanced skyward and thought, I may never know why, I just know you weren't here when Pandora needed you. I turned a cunning gaze back to the forest and realized it's time I put my head back in the game and when I'm finished these bloody humans will wish they'd never set foot on Pandora.
Despite my aches and pains, I struggled to pull myself off the ground and onto my hands and knees. Finally, after a few moments of rest on my knees I forced myself to stand. I sheathed my blade and dusted the sand off my chest, face, and legs. My head still felt a little dizzy but it was slowly clearing.
I focused on my surroundings and I was shocked at the scene before me. Pierre's body had been pulled down from the vines by viperwolves in the night and was mangled and mauled. Blood Stripe's body lay untouched and four lifeless viperwolves lay on the riverbank next to the edge of the forest. It was obvious the powerful claws of a Thanator had killed them. I reflected for a moment. What I thought was a dream really happened last night. I recalled once before a Thanator in the forest had saved my life. It was my spirit animal and once again it had proven to live in more than just the spirit world.
Before I departed the riverbank, I took the time to bury Pierre's body, the four viperwolves, and Blood Stripe together. Thankfully, the riverbank soil was soft and the digging was easy. Strangely, the digging helped my muscles limber up and fill stronger. My strength had begun to return as my head cleared. I knew I would need all of the strength and wits I could muster.
The fact that this burial incorporated the blood of both worlds didn't escape me. I caught one of the passing woodsprites that floated nearby and placed it in the hole with the bodies. I spoke aloud, "I see you, Brothers. Your spirits go with Eywa while your bodies remain behind to become a part of her life-giving forest. I thank you and will never forget the sacrifice you made here." I filled in the hole while I hummed an old Earth hymn my mother taught me when I was a boy. I couldn't recall many of the words, but the song seemed appropriate. The hymn was called "Amazing Grace."
