Author's Note: So, I know that this is really dragging on, but this was actually a really nice place to end it. Thank you all so much for your kind words! I really do hope that you continue to enjoy!
The ride back home took just long enough for the adrenaline flowing through Roxto's veins to finally give way to weary exhaustion. He's not sure how long he was hanging on to the exposed branches of the Tree of Souls while the ocean whipped back and forth, but it was enough to drain him of his energy and he can already feel the ache in his arms and shoulders starting to appear. Which is about the only thing convincing him that what just happened was real. He's always heard stories of how Eywa's actions aren't always subtle. Sometimes they are quite clear.
Well, he believes it.
It's still dark out, but once Roxto gets closer, he can see that the village is alive with activity. Which isn't a surprise. Roxto is still certain that the entirety of Pandora shook with the act of bringing Neteyam to him. Whether that was directly to where Roxto was, or back to life. Because that was it, right? That was Eywa bringing Neteyam back to them. It had to be. Roxto has no idea what else it could have possibly been.
But he holds out, despite the exhaustion that is dragging his shoulders down. He keeps looking down at the arm slung around his shoulder, despite how dark it is in the night, Roxto knows that there is something off with his color but that's kind of what to expect from someone who... just came back from the dead. Yeah, the more that he thinks about it, the more he thinks that this is true. He has no reason not to believe the Sully family about their own son and brother. Which means that Eywa did bring Neteyam back from the dead. Which is... insane.
He looks out, seeing some of the hunters floating out to sea, looking out for whatever it was that woke them - which Roxto can only guess was a lot of flashing lights and the entirety of Pandora letting out a massive roar - but that could have just been him. A few people send him curious looks, but mostly they're interested in looking around to see what happened.
Relief floods his system at finally being home. His eyes skim over the faces of people moving further and further to sea, cautiously. He can feel feather light, shallow breaths against the back of his other shoulder from the one that his arm is slung over.
A figure moves toward him, and he recognizes Tsireya right away. Her forehead creases in concern as she gets closer. "Where were you, Roxto? There was a sign from Eywa. It woke the whole clan - " she says, her pale eyes flickering to the arm flung over his shoulder as she walks into the water up to her knees to meet him. She stops, blinking rapidly before rushing forward, hands shooting out toward the body behind Roxto. "Is that Lo'ak? Lo'ak, are you okay?"
"No," Roxto says, his voice hoarse and scratchy. He... might have been screaming during the event. "It's Neteyam."
Tsireya freezes for a moment, her fingers wrapping around the thin arm of the eldest Sully child. Her eyes are blown wide as she looks between Roxto and the slumbering Neteyam, her lips quivering.
"That... he..." She whispers, slowly pulling Neteyam's arm from around Roxto's shoulder, her eyes taking in his face, as if never having seen it before.
"I found him at the Tree of Souls," Roxto rasps. "Eywa has brought him back to life!"
Tsireya's eyes couldn't get any larger as she and Roxto remove Neteyam's limp body from the ilu's back. Once the unconscious Na'vi is removed, the ilu chirps in farewell before racing off, still scared and seeking comfort back at sea and away from the epicenter of Eywa's act.
"Eywa saved him," Tsireya whispers, helping Roxto pull Neteyam up to the beach. Roxto is barely helping, all of his energy drained from him as the last tendrils of adrenaline drains from his system. Once they make it to the beach, Roxto's legs give out from under him. Tsireya almost drops Neteyam but manages to support enough of his weight to stop them from falling to their faces. "Roxto!"
"The Tsahik," Roxto says, shaking his head. "I'm okay. Just tired. Get him to the Tsahik!"
She spares him a few long moments of a worried look before scanning the Na'vi still wondering around, not at all bothering to pay them any mind. "Mom!" She calls, knowing that her mother wouldn't stray far from the village until they have some idea of what happened. "Someone get the Tsahik!"
A young woman, glances over at them, taking a few steps closer before realizing that Tsireya was holding someone up before spinning around and running deeper into the village in search of the Tsahik. Tsireya stumbles a bit, feeling Neteyam's weight pressed into her side and her energy starting to wane from the strain. She secures her hold on the older Sully child, pulling him closer until someone steps up to her side.
"Give him to me."
Tsireya's eyes find her brother stepping up, his face pinched in the same pained look that he's been carrying for weeks now. Since the attack on the Tulkun. Since Neteyam's death.
"He's alive," Tsireya gasps, making Ao'nung's face twist with a strange emotion, one akin to hope. And pain. His lips press together tightly, eyes flickering down at the limp body between them.
Ao'nung pulls Neteyam tightly against him, holding up most of the other young man's weight. One hand holding his arm around his shoulders while the other one is pressing his ribs toward him.
Tsireya presses her own lips together, blinking away the tears building up in her eyes at the swell of emotion on her brother's face. The first she's really seen in a long time. Since Neteyam died... Tsireya can still remember the look on her brother's face as he hugged her close, relieved that she was alive. He didn't even seem to hear her at first as she kept repeating, "He's dead. Neteyam is dead."
He finally pulled back at the time, confusion written across his face, light blue eyes flickering across her dirty and beaten face. He blinked a few times, processing what she kept repeating before lifting his gaze to the Sully family trudging up out of the water, dejected, and silent. Neytiri and Jake still looking out toward the sea. Jake pulled away from his wife long enough to speak to Tonowari, hugging and kissing their children before retreating back into the water to search once more.
"He... what? Where are they...?" Ao'nung mumbled, eyes flickering back and forth in confusion.
"He was shot by the Sky People," Tsireya whispered, voice trembling. "But his body was dragged to sea. Neytiri and Jake are going back out there to search for him. But.. he... he's gone." Tears slide down her cheeks. "We searched for over an hour but..." She shook her head. Ronal made her way over, most of the Metkayina having returned after the initial assault to assess the damage to their numbers and having been chased off by the Sky People.
The Sully family and Tsireya spend over an hour searching the blackened waters looking for the eldest Sully child, but they were all hurt and exhausted and Tuk, especially needed to get out of the water and get some rest, as she was falling asleep on the rock that Neytiri left her on once she was too exhausted to continue to swim around looking for her eldest brother's body. And Tsireya was exhausted and in pain from being thrown around and shot at. She needed to make sure her parents were okay too. And Ao'nung.
But Neytiri and Jake weren't ready to give up. Once their children were home safe, along with the strange Sky Person that Lo'ak, Kiri and Tuk called Spider, they went out again. Tonowari and some of the hunters went with. So did Ao'nung. They would find Neteyam. They would bring him home.
But they didn't. They searched all night and they never found him.
Tsireya remembered standing on the beach, not having been able to sleep a wink as nightmares gripped at the edges of her mind every time she closed her eyes despite how tired she was, watching the defeated and dejected clansmen return home, shoulders drawn, and heads bent. Her father kissed her on the forehead as he pasted, exhaustion weighing on him as he trudged toward their marui. Ao'nung stood in the water, still looking out at the ocean with his face pinched in pain. And Jake and Neytiri. They walked side by side, silent, beaten and bruised. And while their shoulders were mere inches from one another, they seemed miles apart. They didn't look at one another or even speak as they made their way through the throng of marui to their home deeper within, closer to the forest.
Until Neytiri's blow up at the Tree of Souls a few days later, Tsireya isn't sure either Sully Matriarch or Patriarch even spoke to anyone, let alone each other.
Tsireya had to walk out into the water to take hold of her brother's hand. At first, he hadn't responded, just stared out at the calm waters as the sun crested over the horizon, his lips pressed together tightly and his eyes scanning, back and forth, back and forth. She had to drag him to bed, to try and get a few hours of rest. But he always went back to the water, when his duties weren't impressed upon him, he just stood there at the beach, face pinched, staring off into the distance, watching the waves. Searching. Never ending.
"He's alive," Ao'nung says, pulling Tsireya out of her memory. His lips barely moving, as if he couldn't believe it even though he was helping his sister carry him toward their marui.
"Yes, thank the Great Mother," Tsireya gasps, tears still streaming down her face. She couldn't believe it. It was just... Eywa was really looking out for them. She would never not thank the Great Mother for saving her friend.
Ao'nung looks down at Neteyam's face, noting the pull of his eyebrows and the press of his lips, as if in pain. Ao'nung sucks in a breath before signaling his sister to stop and sliding in front of Neteyam, lowering himself so that Tsireya can help put the unconscious Na'vi onto his back. Carefully, they adjust Neteyam until he's secure before Ao'nung straightens up, making a beeline for home.
He says to his sister, over his shoulder, "Go and alert the Sullys." Just as Ronal rounds the corner with the Na'vi woman who went to fetch her.
"Mom!" The siblings gasp as the pregnant woman moves closer, her eyebrows pulled together, and lips drawn down in worry. Surprise dances across her features when she recognizes the face resting on Ao'nung's shoulder.
She stares for a single moment before her expression hardens and she nods. "Come, Ao'nung," she commands before turning on her heel and heading for the marui.
Ao'nung obeys, sending another look at his sister with a quick, "Go now, Tsireya."
Tsireya jolts before nodding, racing off through the homes toward the marui holding the Sully family. Yes, yes! They need to know what has happened. They need to know that Eywa saved their son and brother. That he is back in the village. That their pain has come to an end. How could she have forgotten?
As soon as she makes it to the Sully home, she frowns, seeing it empty within. Yes, they were awakened by the event as well. They had to be amongst the others still wondering about trying to see if there was any danger to the village. Her father had yet to call off the search, so they were probably still out there, which means they could be anywhere!
Tsireya peers into the darkness of the Sully home, almost praying that either Tuk or Kiri were still in there, but the marui was empty. Frantically she glances around, lips pressing together before she heads toward the forest. They have to be there, right? They are much more suited for it. And Tsireya's befuddled mind supplies to her that she had heard Neytiri's ikran roar as she soared around the forest, hunting for the explanation for the event. Maybe Jake's too. Eywa, they had to be there. They had to know about the miracle that just occurred.
Tsireya makes her way toward the forest, praying that she was right. Her eyes scan the Metkayina as she passes them, searching for a familiar dark blue, even in this darkness.
She makes it to the tree line before she spots the youngest of the Sully family.
"Tuk!" She gasps, surprised. She makes her way towards the young girl, who twirls around at the waist at the call of her name.
"I was going to go back as soon as I knew everyone was okay," Tuk says, fiddling with her beads around her neck. She bright golden eyes flickers toward the forest, as if worried that something scary would come out. Like all the Sullys. Even the youngest of them has changed since the loss of Neteyam. She seemed scared. All the time. Worried that another sibling, or one of her parents might be taken away from her.
Tsireya wonders, by the young Na'vi's words, if she was told to stay behind in the marui.
Luckily for the young Na'vi, Tsireya's certain that Jake and Neytiri won't have time to be upset about her disobeying. Not tonight, at least.
"I'm not mad at you, Tuk," Tsireya says softly, reaching out to touch the young girl's shoulder. "I am looking for your parents. Where is Jake and Neytiri?"
Tuk tilts her head a bit. "In the forest. I saw Lo'ak and Kiri go in to speak with them."
So Tuk wasn't the only one probably told to stay behind. She was probably the only one told twice, though. But once more, this was too important of a situation for anyone to care, Tsireya's sure. But first, she has to find Jake and Neytiri. And Lo'ak and Kiri. Even little Tuk. They have to know. They all do.
"Go to my mother's marui," Tsireya says, looking down into bright golden eyes. "Go, quickly. I will right behind you with your parents and siblings."
Tuk's head tilts more to the side in confusion. "What? Why?"
Tsireya smiles, feeling tears welling up in her eyes. "Your brother is there with her. He's waiting."
Creases form between her eyes. "Lo'ak? No, I saw Lo'ak go into the forest with Kiri to look for mom and dad. He can't be with the Tsahik." Concern floods her features as her eyes widen, reaching out to grab onto Tsireya's arm. She studies Tsireya's expression for a moment before jolting, panic flaring in her eyes. "Is it Lo'ak? Is he hurt? Is he going to die?"
Tears slide down her cheeks as she looks toward the collection of marui in front of her, like her eyes can peer through all of them and locate the one belonging solely to the Tsahik. To see the injured brother that she fears is in there.
"No, Tuk," Tsireya says softly, pulling the little girl's eyes back to her. "No. It is Neteyam. Eywa has saw fit to return him to us. He is with my mother. Go, quickly! I will bring your siblings and your parents."
Tuk blinks rapidly, processing her words. "Ne...Neteyam? He's... with the Tsahik?"
Tsireya nods, offering a watery smile as hope flickers across her little face. Softly, gently, she whispers, "Neteyam is here?"
"Yes, Tuk," Tsireya whispers. "Yes, he is."
Tuk hesitates for a moment, terrified to hope, before pulling away from Tsireya and rushing to the Tsahik's marui as fast as her little legs can carry her.
Tsireya swallows down the trembling in her throat, taking a few breaths before hurrying into the forest in search of the rest of the Sully family. She's been in this forest many times in search of things for the village, but she wasn't like Lo'ak and the others. It wasn't natural for her. Her bare feet found every stray stick and stone they could find. She flinches but pushes on, eyes scanning the darkness looking for her friends.
"Lo'ak!" She calls, hearing her voice disappear into the darkness of the forest. Without the plant life's natural bioluminescence, it's almost impossible to see anything aside from darkened shapes. "Kiri!"
She opens her mouth about to call out again when hands appear from the darkness, grabbing onto her shoulders to stop her. She choked on the gasp, stepping back to get away from whatever had her, when luminescent freckles revealed the shape of Lo'ak's face as he pulls her closer.
"Tsireya? What are you doing here? Are you okay?" He asks, eyes skimming up and down her body, even in the darkness, looking for any visible sign that something was wrong with her.
"I'm okay, Lo'ak," Tsireya says, no longer pulling away from the other Na'vi, turning her eyes toward Kiri stepping up next to her brother, a frown pulling at the corners of her pretty face.
"Are you alright, Tsireya?" Kiri asks, blinking at her with wide, wise eyes. "What's wrong?"
"Where is Jake and Neytiri?" Tsireya asks, her heart rate picking up again, grabbing Lo'ak's hands with her own, giving them a squeeze to try and ease some of the tension in his shoulders.
"I had a feeling," Kiri says, in way of an answer. "I needed to talk to dad. I feel like... I don't know... something happened. Something big."
Tsireya spares the Sully daughter a long look, still surprised how connected she seems to be to the world. Ao'nung and his lame friends would joke about how strange they thought that Kiri was, and while Tsireya could admit that she was a bit strange, Tsireya thought that she was wonderful. So free. So expressive. She seemed to be connected to Eywa in a way that Tsireya will never be able to understand. And she envies the girl. And stood up for her whenever she would hear anyone speaking ill of her. Just because she was different didn't mean anything. Tsireya really liked the other girl.
She smiles faintly at Kiri before looking over at Lo'ak, finding his eyes, even in the darkness. "Lo'ak, I need to see your parents, right now."
Lo'ak studies her for a moment before twisting around, pulling his hands from her own to stare into the forest. He sucks in a breath before letting out a distinctive yelp. He waits a moment, then does it again. After a third time, there is a return sound.
"Mother is coming," Kiri supplies at Tsireya's curious look.
Lo'ak waits another moment before letting out another yelp. The return sound is almost immediate and a moment later Neytiri appears, skulking from the darkness as the shadows fell like water from her. Her steps precise and silent even in the unnervingly silent night. Tsireya tenses slightly as the Sully Matriarch scans the space around her children, eyes burning like molten gold, looking for dangers. In one hand, her bow is clenched, while the other hangs close to the knife strapped to her thigh.
"Mom," Lo'ak says in sync with Kiri.
Neytiri scans the area once more for any sort of threat before turning her eyes to the three children before her. "You're supposed to stay in the marui," she says, voice flat. She stares down Lo'ak, who looks away, then to Kiri, who was already staring at the ground. "Both of you." Her voice hollow, angry, as it has been for weeks, since the death of her son, Neytiri has been polarizing between enraged and mournful beyond comfort. And when the rare occasion comes when she is neither of those things, she's a shadow. She stalks the forest at night, hunting and gathering in the cover of darkness. Angry beyond words but channeling it into providing for her family. For the clan.
Ronal and Tonowari have both expressed their gratitude for Neytiri's contribution but said that she needed to take time to really process her grief. Neytiri just stared through them with a blank expression before tipping her head slightly and walking away to watch her children. Whether it be to watch Tuk work on her lessons, Kiri stare mesmerized into the sand, or Lo'ak making a beaded necklace that he had yet to reveal the recipient of it.
Before either child could respond, Jake steps out of the darkness behind Neytiri, cutting a sharp look to his two children, making both of them hunch slightly, before he looks to Tsireya. He steps up next to Lo'ak, reaching out to put a hand on the top of Lo'ak's head, making the boy glance up at his father, gold eyes bright as the hand slides down to his shoulder.
"I got a feeling I know why my disobedient children are here, but why are you here, Tsireya? Is Tonowari calling off the search? Did we find out what that was?" Jake asks, using his other hand to scratch at the new scar over his nose.
Before Tsireya could respond, Kiri says, "I felt something, dad. I felt something big. Eywa has done something. She stole the colors of the land. Stole it's light."
Silence. Everyone in the semi-circle look at the space around them, unable to actually dispute her words. That was a pretty good depiction of what she did. But not even giftedly wise Kiri could know what the Great Mother did with the light she took from the land.
"Kiri is right," Tsireya says, feeling her heart skip a beat as all four sets of golden eyes turn to her once more. "Eywa has given us a great gift. She has brought Neteyam back to us."
Silence. None of the Sully family seemingly able to process her words. Tsireya reaches forward, grabbing hold of the Sully Matriarch's hand, the one not holding her bow, and staring into her eyes.
"Come, Neytiri. My mother calls for you." She pulls the stunned woman behind her as she makes her way back the way she came. The first three steps were tough as she had to drag Neytiri with her, but when they reach the fourth step, Neytiri is walking on her own. At first, stunned, stumbling steps. Then she's walking faster. Then she's sprinting and Tsireya has to run as fast as her legs can move to keep up with the lithe forest Na'vi.
Neytiri doesn't let go of Tsireya's hand, instead gripping it tightly, as if too terrified to let go.
It takes them exiting the forest for Tsireya to realize that the others are racing after them. Distantly, she heard Jake say, "Go, I'll get Tuk."
"I already sent her there!" Tsireya yells back, not seeing any need to mention where she came across the young Na'vi, pushing herself to match Neytiri's near impossible stride. Somehow, though, she managed. Before she knew it, they stopped outside Ronal's marui. Neytiri's feet seem rooted to the ground as she stares into the light of the marui, yet unable to see anything. Unable to see Neteyam. But she doesn't move, terror written across her face.
She squeezes her eyes shut for a moment, despite her heavy breathing, she holds herself unnaturally still, trying to calm herself down. Her hand finally releases Tsireya's as she turns to look at Jake, who stopped next to her, his own face twisted in a vulnerable expression. Both parents too scared to hope. If this was some sort of sick joke, it would break them both.
Neytiri and Jake look into the eyes of the other, absorbing strength from one another just by sight alone. Tsireya steps aside, ignoring the painful heat in her hand from how tight Neytiri was squeezing it, as Jake moves to the forest Na'vi woman's other side to take her now free hand.
"Ma Jake..." Neytiri whispers, terror and pain still etched into her features.
"I'm here," Jake says, throat bobbing. "We go together." He glances over his shoulder to his two children standing behind them, both their eyes blown wide and chests heaving from racing through the village to get here. Their heads bob at the silent command in Jake's eyes and as a unit, they all march into the marui, ready to face what was before them.