I See You
The Link was severed and I woke up in the shack, struggling to breathe.
I opened up my Link bed lid and tried to get into my chair, but I only succeeded in pushing it away. I leaned out as far as I could, trying to reach the Exomasks, and failing miserably. I grabbed a rail and tried to reach up. I almost had the mask, but I hadn't taken my pain medicine recently and the unbearable agony caused me to cry out and collapse.
My vision began to fade and my breathing became increasingly shallow. A tear escaped my eye. This is it, I thought. I was going to die. Tsu'Tey, forgive me. I closed my eyes and prepared for whatever lay ahead of me.
But Eywa was truly looking out for me. I felt Tsu'Tey's arms around me. He was calling my name in worry, but I was too out of it to respond. I wanted to tell him how much I loved him, how sorry I was, but I couldn't get the words to form.
The next thing I knew, I felt something pressurizing on my face. I inhaled sharply before coughing and then taking several deep breaths. I began to breathe more easily and I felt safe. Tsu'Tey was holding me and looking relieved and happy. He placed his hand on my face and I covered his hand with my own. We were both smiling.
"I See you," I murmured.
"I See you," he said. He held me close to him and I wrapped my arms around his neck, ignoring the pain that wracked through my body. "MyDawn, thank Eywa you are safe."
"Thank Eywa that I still have you," I said.
"We have won," he said. "The Sky People are leaving. We have peace. We have won because of you."
"Because of all of us and Eywa," I corrected.
He smiled and nodded.
We remained in each other's arms for a little while longer and then I pointed to my wheelchair. "My love, help me into that chair. I can use it to move across—"
"No," he interrupted. "You are my mate. I shall carry you to a place where you can become a Na'vi again until we can help you pass through the eye of Eywa if you wish it. Do you want it?
I inhaled sharply. Me, pass through the eye of Eywa? Spared from my death sentence, freed from my crippled legs, and able to live a full life with the one I loved most? It didn't seem real. I imagined the possibilities and then I remembered Grace's fate.
"Tsu'Tey, I want that more than anything. But what if I don't make it?" I asked.
"You will," he promised. "You will."
I nodded and then I pointed to my medicine case. The pain in my body had become too much. I let out a small groan and Tsu'Tey looked concerned.
"What is wrong?" he asked.
"I need the medicine for my sickness," I said, faintly. I pointed the medicine case. "I need it to make the pain go away. Put me down and get me that black thing. My medicine's in it."
He did as he was told and got me the case. I managed to open the case and he helped me inject the medicine. The pain went away within seconds and I relaxed. Tsu'Tey looked relieved, but there was still concern in his eyes.
"You are alright now?" he asked.
"For now. The medicine works quickly, but it'll only last for so long," I murmured. I felt a twinge of shame as I gazed at my human body. It was nothing like the strong, agile warrior the Omaticaya knew as Toruk Macto. It was thin, pale, frail and weak. "I'm sorry."
"For what?" he asked, looking confused.
"That you're stuck with this weak thing," I said, beckoning to my body. "I don't know how you can even look at me."
Tsu'Tey shook his head and placed his hand on my shoulder. "I See you, MyDawn. I see what you cannot. I see the woman I love and the warrior who had the power to command Ewya's creatures and was brave enough to become Toruk Macto. You are not weak. You are the strongest person I have ever known. I love you."
Tears stung my eyes as I covered his hand with my own. "I love you too," I said. He still loved me, in spite of it all. I didn't deserve him, but I would try to. "Come on. Let's get me to a Link and then let's go home. We need to speak to the Clans and share the victory together as one."
He smiled broadly and then I put the case in my lap and reached for him. He took me into his arms and carried me.
We rode on Toruk after strapping my Avatar body to it and then we flew to the other mobile site where Norm was waiting with Trudy. I was so glad to see that they were alive. I hadn't dared to hope.
Tsu'Tey narrowed his eyes at them, but I held up my hand.
"Calm yourself. It's alright," I told him. "We can trust them. Trudy and Norm are friends. They helped us in the battle."
Tsu'Tey believed me. He lowered me down so they could see me after we got off of Toruk, but he did not let me go.
"Dawnie!" said Trudy, as she ran over to me. "What happened to you? Who's this?"
"This is my mate, Tsu'Tey. Quaritch attacked the shack and destroyed my link bed." I said. "He's dead now. I'll explain later. I'm just glad you're alive."
"Likewise," said Norm. "I can't believe it. We won. We won!"
"Yes," said Tsu'Tey. "We have won. Other Sky People are taken care of?"
"Max is taking care of things back at the base, but he says it's okay now," said Trudy.
"Come on, Dawn. We'll get you linked up," said Norm.
He tried to take me, but Tsu'Tey didn't want to let me go. He gripped me tighter.
"It's okay, big guy," said Trudy. "We'll take good care of her, we promise. We'll get her something to eat, she'll sleep for a little while and then she'll get back in her Avatar body and you can hold her all you want."
"It's okay," I said. "I won't be long. You can watch me from the window and then I'll be back in your arms, I promise."
"Alright," he said.
He handed me to Trudy, who carried me inside. She was surprised how light and thin I was and said I was going to eat until I burst under her watch if this was how I was taking care of myself. I just laughed and hugged her.
I ate until I was stuffed and then I got a little sleep before I got linked in. When I was back in my Avatar body, Tsu'Tey and I went back to the Clans and announced our success. They all cheered in joy. The war was over. The Sky People were defeated. Over the next several days, we worked to tie up loose ends.
The aliens went back to their dying world. Only a few of the Sky People were chosen to remain, Norm, Max, Trudy, and myself. The time of Great Sorrow was ending; Toruk Mocto was no longer needed. It was hard to part with Toruk, but I knew it needed to be done. Before he went back into the wild, he promised that he'd be there if I had need of him as I was the first female who had ever ridden him, I was a Dreamwalker with a power from Eywa herself.
After the Clans departed and returned to their homes, I went back to the old Bio-Lab again, just to say good-bye. So much had changed in so little time, and more would change now. My Avatar body still wore Grace's necklace and I was planning on passing it down one day to my own daughter. Before leaving, I made one last video log.
"Well, I guess this is my last video log," I said. "Because whatever happens tonight, either way, I'm not coming back to this place. I can't believe how much has changed, but I'm glad it did. Rose, if you can see this, I hope I made you proud. Well, I guess I'd better go. I don't want to be late for my own party. It's my birthday after all. This is Dawn Light signing off."
I switched off the equipment and then I got my Exomask and went outside where Tsu'Tey and the others were waiting. As a reward for all I'd done, because I was Tsu'Tey's mate and dying, Mo'at was more than willing to help me pass through the eye of Eywa. She also told me in private that she'd gained further admiration of my strength when she was fully aware of my condition and all I'd done in spite of it. She told me not to be nervous, but I couldn't help it even though but Tsu'Tey swore to me that we'd always be together no matter what.
One Na'vi carried my Avatar body, while Tsu'Tey carried my frail human form. He was gentle as always and he carefully placed me under the Tree of Souls. Tsu'Tey stayed beside me, holding my hand as the ceremony began.
"I love you," I whispered, as tears stung my eyes.
"I love you," he whispered, as he kissed my hand.
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath as I squeezed Tsu'Tey's hand. Moments later, I faded out and could no longer hear Mo'at and the other Na'vi. What I saw when I passed through the eye of Eywa, I'll never be able to explain as it's beyond words. Miraculous, is the closest I'll ever get.
Soon, I woke up and was breathing easily. I glanced at my hands and realized that it had worked. I was a Na'vi, forever. I slowly stood up and saw Tsu'Tey smiling face and his golden eyes glistening with happy tears.
"I See you," he said.
"I See you," I said.
Without anymore hesitation, I ran into his arms and kissed him passionately as the Na'vi and Mo'at cheered me on. Everything was okay now and for the first time in so many years, I had something to look forward to.
Seasons passed. Tsu'Tey and I brought a Golden Age to our Clan. There were no more problems with the Sky People. We were free to live our lives in peace at long last. We were all happy and surprised when Mo'at was told by Ewya that a new Hometree was awaiting us.
After a year, Tsu'Tey and I had three children, a daughter whom we named Grace Rose, in honor of my surrogate mother and my twin sister, and a year after that we had twins—a boy and a girl, Sielena and Markos. Tsu'Tey is a great leader and a great father. Even if he is busy, he makes time for me and for our children. He makes sure we know we're loved and protected by him. The children are happy.
My place in the Clan is simple. I am a wife, a mother, a warrior and a mother. I tell the story of my life before and after I came here—the children especially love to hear of how I, a female former Dreamwalker, became the sixth Toruk Macto—and I've since passed down my gift to my children.
There are times when I look back and I cannot believe how much has changed or what has happened, but I never regret it. There are times when I miss my old family and Grace, but I'm at peace. I know they would've wanted me to be happy, and I am. And everyday until the time comes for me to join Eywa, I'll continue to strive to make them proud and honor their memories with my life among the Na'vi.
The End