A/n: Sorry for the delay on this chapter. I had a lot of competitions i think i mentioned in the a/n for the previous chapter, but what i didn't mention is that i got sick after that and had to take a couple days off. I could have written then, but i didn't feel like it and also i started rewatching another tv show i love and started getting fanfic ideas from that. All that matters is it's here now.

Now, I don't remember if Neytiri and Tuk really had much conversation when they were stuck in the ship, but in my mind, they have this conversation.

When she'd first heard about what had happened, she hadn't really understood.

To be fair, no one had explicitly said what happened and she was tied to a railing for the second or third time that day, so pardon me if she, as an 8 year old didn't understand in that situation. She didn't even have any time to ask about it because her parents were busy fighting and she was busy running, but she couldn't get it out of her head.

What had her dad meant when he said he'd make Quaritch pay? Her mom when she said a son for a son? She'd ignored it in the moment, just relieved that she was finally safe.

Or maybe not, seeing as she was now trapped with her mother in the ship with no way out and water quickly filling the space they were in. For as much as she tried to prove that she could do everything her older siblings could, she had to admit in that moment that her small size was working against her. Her mom was the one having to almost carry her so she didn't get swept away like earlier. That had been a terrifying experience that she did not ever want to repeat. The lack of control she'd had in that moment terrified her. Just like it did now.

The whole ship kept turning, and they kept running, the water chasing them everywhere they went until they couldn't run anymore. Trapped in a corner of the ship with her mom, water rising all around, Tuk thought that if they were gonna die here then she might as well know what her parents had been talking about.

"Mom…," she started, getting her mom's attention, "did anything happen?"

Her mom just looked at her, confused. "What do you mean?"

"You and dad kept saying stuff… 'a son for a son', things like that."

She watched the emotions play out on her mom's face, the slight shock of the question, then the pain and some tears threatening to spill then a bit of panic and confusion of how to explain.

"Tuk…" Before she continued, Neytiri took her daughter in her arms, hugging her while still debating what to say. "Don't worry about it. Nothing more can be done. For now, just worry about getting out of here."

Tuk felt a little annoyed that her mom was withholding this information, likely because she was deemed 'too young' for it, but that was dwarfed by the growing bad feeling in her gut that said something really bad had happened. Especially if her mom wasn't telling her. And if how tightly her mom was holding her was any indication…

The water around them continued to rise, and the two just held on to each other, waiting for a rescue or the end. Thankfully, the latter never came because soon enough, glowing fish filled the water in a river of their own. As her eyes followed the river of fish, she saw Kiri swimming towards them. Her mom's relief was almost palpable, and Tuk smiled.

Following Kiri out of the ship, she was grateful for her sister. Their move hadn't been the best, all of Tuk's friends left behind, but they'd learnt so much. She was able to hold her breath the whole way, swim alongside the fish which her amazing sister had found friends in. Kiri had never looked so at home than in the sea and Tuk was happy for her.

They resurfaced just as her lungs started to burn, Kiri first, Tuk a few seconds later followed by Neytiri. All three stayed in place, treading water as they waited to be joined by the rest of their family. It didn't take Lo'ak and Jake long to find them. Seeing her brother, Tuk relaxed a bit, knowing that it hadn't been Lo'ak her parents had been referring to. But then…

"Where's Neteyam?" Her small voice was almost swallowed by the wind and waves, but everyone still heard. It was the question in all their hearts, three of five having the answer too.

Neytiri wasn't the one who answered, but she embraced Tuk as best she could in the water as Kiri spoke up.

"He's gone, isn't he?"

Tuk looked frantically around at her family, then at the water around them as if Neteyam would suddenly pop up behind her and they'd all laugh together but Neteyam was never the one to play these kinds of jokes on her. That was Lo'ak. So where was he?

She knew, of course, that Kiri was right. She felt it deep within herself even before her dad nodded sadly in affirmation. Her breathing quickened, knowing what had happened but not wanting to believe it.

Neteyam and her had never been as close as he was with Lo'ak or as she was with Kiri but he'd always been a constant in her life. Since Neteyam was usually able to go with their dad on resistance mission, they didn't see each other enough to get close, but she has faint memories of before he was old enough to help their dad. She had been really young, so the memories weren't the most accurate, but she remembers that sometimes if her parents were busy with leading their people, or arguing, Neteyam would be the one to take care of her.

He'd take her and the others on a trip around their base or the nearby forest when their parents were arguing, carrying her so she wouldn't fall behind even if he himself would end up lagging behind from the extra weight. If Neytiri had gone with Jake on a mission and it was nighttime, then Neteyam would tuck her back in with a story if she woke up from a nightmare or she couldn't sleep. Sometimes if she was out exploring with her siblings and she got hurt, Neteyam would distract her by making silly faces and really bad jokes just so she wouldn't cry.

Even when he was old enough to go on missions, he'd still check up on her occasionally, still look out for her, but their interactions between just the two of them became fewer and further apart as time progressed.

And now, as they made their way back to the island on the back of Payakan and saw that Reya had already brought Neteyam - his body - back, she realised that she'd never get a chance to make any more memories with him. The few fuzzy ones from her young childhood were all that were left.

Then and there, those memories instantly became more valuable than anything else. Those memories were now some of her most treasured, an opportunity lost to make any more like it.

When she cried later about the loss, she realised something that just made the whole situation all the more real. She realised that Neteyam wasn't there to wipe away her tears and comfort her like he almost always did. He never would be able to ever again.

Knowing that only made her cry harder.

A/n: Lots of things to say, okay. First: halfway through writing this, i realised that Kiri wasn't there when Neteyam died either, so this would've been the first time she heard of it too, but i justify her lack of reaction as she already knew from her connection with Ewya. A stretch, ik, but not entirely infeasible. ;)

Second: I felt like the siblings didn't get a lot on onscreen bonding between themselves; it was mainly with the sea or other people, and that made me kind of sad. Especially when Neteyam died, I just thought about the impacts that would have on the others and i hope they don't downplay the effect of that in the following movies, but especially Tuk's I think is really important because she is really young and she lost her oldest brother. That's gonna leave a mark but they didn't exactly set up their relationship specifically too well (imo and also from what I remember bc it's now been a few weeks since I watched it).

Third: This was effectively the last chapter of this story BUT if you guys want more then please comment and let me know and I can see what I can do. Lmk who's pov to do and roughly when in the story it's placed. But if you guys are happy with this being the end then that's great too.

Stay safe, be kind, and see ya soon.

CrowofArcadiaOaks