Payaka's Past
Three days passed and all seemed quiet. No more reports had been heard of the Sky people. Still, the threat was out there. And Jake and Neytiri had made it extra important to know everything each of their children was doing. The twins talked to neither their father nor their brother; they were so angry at them for making them feel so trapped. Neytiri tried to mend the estrangement between them but neither of the twins was willing to listen much to her distress.
It was a late afternoon. Whilst their parents were away getting fish, Neteyam was pacing towards the tent. He stayed where he was right out of sight of the entrance. "Guys…" he spoke up. "Can we just talk?"
"They're not talking to you," said Kiri from nearby, arms crossed. She too was outraged at her brother for what he'd done. "First you accuse them of being reckless and endangering our lives. Then you get them confined like prisoners to our hut,"
"I was just looking out for them,"
"Really? That's all you can say?"
"I'm not jealous if that's what you're assuming,"
"You are jealous. I can see it in your eyes. You haven't even tried to meet Payaka or Tsu'tey and yet you still treat them like they're killers and savages. At least Tuk and I were willing to give them a chance. If you saw how much fun Tuk was having with Tsu'tey, you'd understand," she walked away to find Tuk, leaving him to shut his eyes and sight. He walked to the tent. He didn't care what Kiri said. He was going to talk to them. "Look guys…" when he entered inside, he gasped to see it was completely empty.
Tsireya and Aonung were chilling out when Atuiko and Roxto came running to them. "What is it?" she knelt up.
"Lo'ak and Sylwa went beyond the reef,"
"Why would they go without you?" asked Aonung, knowing how inseparable they had become.
"They were afraid of getting me into more trouble. But we need to try and find them before their dad gets even more mad,"
Instantly the four called ilus and started swimming off, later on joined by Neteyam having summoned his own and become desperate to find the twins before they'd get into even more but something told him, that was most unlikely.
On their ilus, Lo'ak and Sylwa looked back, glad that their dad wasn't following them. They had waited for the perfect opportunity to make an escape for it. "I feel guilty leaving Atuiko behind,"
"We can't afford to get him into any more trouble," Lo'ak couldn't bury the guilt he had felt from facing the outraged general the other day. "Sylwa, do you think Paya will be able to tell you why she's an outcast?"
"I hope so. It's the only way to help her,"
"When Aloa saw my memories she saw Payaka and she believed me when I told her she wasn't a killer and that she saved your life, but she said, if she's to tell the other Tulkun of her innocence, she needs to know what really happened,"
"But how am I to ask her without upsetting her?"
"You'll figure it out. We both will," he encouraged.
"I'd rather do it alone it that's okay,"
They arrived at the three Brothers Rocks and to their delight, Payaka and Tsu'tey awaited them. The moment they arrived, the told them everything that had happened and they were so disheartened to learn that they had been confined like prisoners by their own dad. Though relieved he didn't know about their forbidden friendship with them, they feel deeply guilty for what happened. Still, the twins declared it was not their fault and that it was their choice whether or not to come and see them.
I know what will make you both feel better. Said Tsu'tey.
"Why don't you guys go and do it yourselves?" asked Sylwa. "Paya and I need to talk about something. If that's okay with you girl,"
Of course. She squeaked.
"We'll see you soon," bid Lo'ak. He mounted Tsu'tey and he galloped into the distance, eager to show him something very special.
Sylwa leaned on Paya's fin. "I know you don't want to talk about it…but please tell me…why are you an outcast?"
Payaka guilty and pain consuming her. Her eyes turned wet. I can't. You'd hate me.
"No," Sylwa pulled herself. "I wouldn't hate. I could never hate you. You saved my life and I promised to be your friend. I will never be able judge you at all,". Still her Tulkun saviour remained reluctant. "Look, I'm trying to help you. But in order to do that, you have to tell me what happened. Please?" she begged. "My brother bonded to a kind Tulkun called Aloa and she saw his memories of you. He says she could tell the other Tulkun you're innocent if you tell me what really happened. I know how you feel. I feel…all alone too,"
I can't tell you. My words are inadequate. Payaka answered miserably. Sylwa hung her head. But I can show you. Go underwater.
Sylwa slowly submerged herself and she joined her.
Behind colossal streams of kelp, the Metkayina kids and Neteyam watched intently as Payaka swam in front of her. She then opened her three jaws. Remembering how Lo'ak bonded with Aloa, Sylwa swam inside her mouth. It shut.
Neteyam tried to swim over but Atuiko stopped him.
What are you doing? He sighed.
Just trust her. He implored desperately.
This is a special moment. Tsireya signed. Don't disturb it.
They pulled Neteyam back behind the kelp and they remained watching the moment.
Sylwa awed as Payaka's insides glowed like the night sky. She turned around and saw her tendril rolling out towards her. She pulled out her queue and as their golden hairs connected, she felt a flash of energy flowing in to her mind and she closed her eyes.
Payaka, a beautiful Tulkun who looked like her and their pod were trying to flee from a squadron of daemon ships. Though the smaller ships were closing in, they did not fight back.
'We have to fight!' squeaked the young Payaka. 'We can take them'
'No! This is against the Tulkun Way' disagreed another one, ahead of her.
'It make work for Tulkuns but running from these daemons won't save us. We have to fight!'
'My daughter is right' agreed her mouth. 'We have to…Ouch!'
'Mother!'. Payaka watched in horror as harpoons were shot into her fits, creating giant orange balls that pulled her up to the surface. 'We have to do something! Help me!'. But the pod did nothing. And before she could do anything, a giant roped harpoon shot underwater and struck the stomach of her mother. And then boom!. Her mother cried.
Sylwa felt her heart drop in shock. What she saw was so brutal. She wanted to disconnect but she remained where she was as more memories came flashing into her head.
Payaka cried as her mother was killed by the Sky people, now slowing down to dissect her. They could have done something. They could have battled those small ships for they were much larger but instead they did nothing. And more of them were coming. With grief and rage filling her spirit, she turned around and charged towards them.
'No!' cried another. 'You will only make things worse!'
'They killed my mother! Swimming didn't save her! You could have all saved her but you didn't! And now you're all gonna flee like cowards and let them kill you no matter what! At least I'm gonna do something about it! If we let them live, they will kill us!'
She charged. Many of the pod tried to pursue her, trying to stop her. But there were giant explosions underwater and they were struck. Moments later, Payaka submerged for air but just then a giant flying ship shot an explosion and she was struck. Her left front fin was lost.
The conflict was brutal and deadly. And all that surrounded Payaka were the sinking bodies of her entire pod. All dead. Pain consumed her. She was the only survivor. But the daemon ships remained intact. The Sky people were about to kill her too. When out of nowhere appeared a beautiful Navi with wavy hair, wearing pearl jewellery, riding an ilu, signing. 'Go!'. She implored. 'I'll distract them'.
'No'. Payaka refused to leave the Navi woman behind but…boom! Shockers erupted underwater water and explosions came from out of nowhere.
Payaka couldn't show anymore. Sylwa's eyes opened. She felt like she was about to lose oxygen from shock. She unplugged her queue from Payaka's mouth tendril. The Tulkun's mouth opened and she swam out and the moment her head pushed up to the surface, she inhaled deeply. She slowly swam over to her heartbroken spirit sister whose eyes were wet with grief. "I'm so sorry," she embraced the Tulkun, comforting her, feeling guilty for asking her to reveal the truth of that tragic day. "I'm so sorry," their hug lasted for a long while, their tears falling into the water. Seeing her memories, Sylwa had finally sought out the answer. "What happened that day wasn't your fault,"
That's not how I feel. Payaka lamented. For being the cause of all those deaths, I was rightfully cast out and shunned by all Tulkun and Na'vi alike.
Sylwa sat up on her fin. "But you didn't kill anyone. They have it all wrong,"
It doesn't matter. I attacked those whalers. They tried to stop me from making things worse and I did. I thought I was protecting them but instead I got my entire pod killed. I am a killer in their eyes. For a long time, I didn't want to believe it. But for a while, I've begun to accept that that's what I am.
Sylwa gave her another hug. "You're not a killer. Don't be so hard on yourself. You broke the rules because you needed justice. You fought back…because you knew you couldn't just stand back and do nothing. It was better to fight back than do nothing. You had the best intentions to protect your pod. Nothing would have made a difference," Her heart was filled with sorrow seeing her words unable to soothe Payaka's grieving heart. She couldn't bear to see her suffer like this anymore. "I don't blame you for what happened," Payaka shed a tear remembering her dear mother. "Those people did something so cruel to you. It's not something you just…let go," Payaka was comforted by her words. "I'll tell the chief what really happened. He'll understand and you won't ever have to be alone again. And Lo'ak can tell his Tulkun spirit sister what happened and she could convince the other Tulkun too,"
Nothing you say will change their minds. This is what I deserve.
"No," Sylwa press her hands against her head. "You saved my life. You could have left me to drown but you didn't. And you helped me find my brother and helped us get back home, even though you knew how the Metkayina would react if they saw you. I won't let you suffer like this,"
You'll get into big trouble. I don't want you to feel responsible for me.
"I don't care what happens to me. I won't see you my spirit sister being deemed a killer like this,"
Payaka was truly touched by her words. Do you really mean it? Her purring echoed feelings of love and compassion into Sylwa's ears.
Sylwa smiled. "I'd do anything for you,"She embraced her again and Payaka closed her eye, squeaking emotionally from the unconditional love that the forest girl felt for her.
The children swam up to the surface. Payaka's eye spotted them and she squeaked in alarm. Sylwa twisted around. She was shocked to see her brother and friends there. Atuiko mounted his ilu and swam over to her. "What are you doing here Atu?"
"I came to find you and Lo'ak,"
"We're sorry we left you but we couldn't bear to put you into any more trouble,"
"If you two get in trouble, then so do I. Remember her vow?"
Sylwa pressed her lips together, smiling, nodding. "What's wrong?" Atuiko saw her tears.
"I know what really happened that day," she said. She looked at the heartbroken Payaka whom the kid swam over to embrace. "I know what really happened to her pod. And I'm gonna take her to show to the chief and tell him what happened,"
"Are you insane?!" shouted the loud voice of Neteyam as he and the others approached her.
"Do you want to get into more trouble?" Aonung asked.
"Guys, your people have to know what really happened. She didn't kill anyone,"
"Sylwa…" Tsireya didn't want to betray her in any way. "I know you want to help her but my father won't listen,"
"I have to try. I can't just let Payaka suffer like this for the rest of her life for something she didn't do,"
From a distance, Soxato and some soldiers saw them. He was furious to see his sons close to the outcast like this. "I don't believe it," he cursed. "This ends now,". They swam underwater on their skimwings.
Payaka felt something underwater. She squeaked in horror.
"What is it, girl?" asked Sylwa.
Before anyone could react, Soxato rose from the sea with his soldiers and they gasped. Atuiko shuddered seeing his red face. "So…this is where you've been?" he snarled, tensing Sylwa who held tightly to Payaka who was so anxious. "Hanging out with this outcast? This killer?"
"She's not a killer," Sylwa defended.
The general frowned. "What did you just say?"
"I know what really happened. And I want to tell the truth to the chief so that my spirit sister doesn't suffer from seclusion for a crime she didn't commit,"
"You dare think to bring that outcast to our shores?"
"Does this look like the face of a killer to you?" Atuiko challenged, gesturing to miserable Tulkun. "Whilst you guys see a killer, we see a lonely heartbroken Tulkun who doesn't deserve to be shunned like this. Just listen to her,"
"I have nothing to say to you," he spat, disappointed in his son for allowing this to happen.
"How dare you talk to him like that!" Sylwa shouted, standing on Payaka's fin. "How dare you threaten me and my brother when we've done nothing wrong to you! I'm taking Payaka to see the chief and there is nothing you can do or say to change that!"
Soxato grabbed a net and threw it over her, pulling her into the water.
"Dad! Stop it!" Roxto shouted.
Tsireya and Neteyam tried to stop him but the soldiers blocked them off. Soxato pulled her out of the water binding her securely. Atuiko tried to stop him but Roxto held him back, knowing this would only lead to more harm.
How dare you! Payaka roared. She dived down and submerged again raising her head. The Sea Navi became afraid. They had never seen a Tulkun act so aggressively before.
Sylwa saw what she was about to do. "Paya don't!" she begged. "Don't be what they say you are!". Payaka wouldn't back down. "Just go," she pleaded, afraid of getting into trouble. "I'll be okay. Just go,"
Squeaking with heartbreak, Payaka swam away deep underwater. "Let her go, Dad!" Atu shouted. "Let her go! If you have respect for Mum's memory, let her go now!"
The general released Sylwa and she swam over to the concerned Tsireya who pulled her onto her ilu. She wouldn't make eye contact with Neteyam much to his dejection.
"We leave. Now," ordered the general. His children gently forced the children to steer their ilus towards home but as they did, Sylwa turned her head to see if Payaka would submerge. But she didn't. She shed a few tears.
Lo'ak enjoyed the taste of freedom again as Tsu'tey galloped and galloped across the ocean, making sure to make stops along the way for them to climb up sea stacks and leap off the top to glide and fly. "Thank you," he stroked his neck.
Thank you for coming to see me and Payaka. Even though you and Sylwa were grounded.
"As if we would ever forget you two,"
You know that morning we played for the first time I showed you that crystal…and what I was doing with it….well, I want you to experience it.
Lo'ak wondered what he was talking about.
Look ahead.
The boy did and he saw a giant mountain standing above the sea. He was amazed. He had never seen anything like it.
Hold your breath. Tsu'tey dived underwater and Lo'ak hang on tight, feeling the bubble he had blown out, float over his head giving him oxygen. They swam through a kelp forest of glowing green and blue and to Lo'ak's surprise, they saw a giant glowing opening. They swam through and upwards.
Pop! Their heads popped above the pool and around them was the most incredible thing, Lo'ak had ever seen. It was a giant grotto of multi-coloured crystals and glowing plants growing everywhere. And the bubble sprits with crystal flowers were floating around the air as well. "It's beautiful,". Tsu'tey climbed out of the pool and Lo'ak dismounted him.
"Amazing," he breathed, taking all the miraculous luminescence in. "I've never seen anything like it,". His spirit brother showed him everything. The pools of glowing rainbow water. The flowers and flora that glowed several colours and had diamond stigmas. He became overcome with the same ecstasy that had consumed the day they met. They dashed about splashing water, chasing the bubble spirits and to Lo'ak's alarm when he touched the crystals and flowers they rung like bells, sending a deep echo bouncing off the cavern walls.
Follow me. Tsu'tey led Lo'ak to a pathway of glowing moss which led down to a lower level. Lo'ak followed him down carefully. And when they came to the very bottom, in front of them was a ginormous gem of beaming red like blood, like the beating heart of living being. The boy watched intently as Tsu'tey raised his queue and connected its hair tips to it. He turned to him. You try.
Lo'ak stepped over, seeing their reflections on the shiny surface. He reached behind. But when he did, he remembered his grandfather's words. You mustn't connect to one or they will kill you. A cold tingle shivered up his spine. He paused.
Tsu'tey noticed. What is wrong?
"When I connected to the spirit tree, my grandfather told me that if I connected to one of these crystals…they would kill me,"
Who was he talking about?
"I don't know. He didn't give an accurate answer. All he talked about were Navi who...didn't respect the balance of life like my people do,"
Haven't you tried asking him?
"I can't connect to the spirit tree again. I was connected to Eywa for too long and I nearly drowned. But he also told me to trust my instincts too," He felt conflicted.
Whatever you decide to do, I won't judge you. He assured.
Lo'ak felt a little guilty. Tsu'tey had brought him here to share this special ritual that Taquamares performed. His grandfather had told him that perhaps he was meant to be the bridge between the Navi and these spiritual creatures. Already he had told his spiritual Tulkun sister and her pod of their ways and they were beginning to spread the word to the other Tulkun. Perhaps this was the very reason he was blessed by Eywa. Whatever it was that his grandfather warned him about, he knew deep down Tsu'tey would protect him. And his instincts were telling him to be that bridge, he needed to do perform exactly what his spirit brother was showing. "I will do. I trust you Tsu'tey,"
Connect your queue's hairs to mine and place your hand over them and we will be together wherever we are.
Swallowing his fear and replacing it with trust and valour, he clasped his queue. The moment their queue hairs touched the crystal and Lo'aks hand place right over them with eyes shut, there was a sudden burst of energy and he felt his mind flashing like when he connected to the soul tree.
So Sylwa has found out Payaka's past. It's so sad. And once again the general arrives to spoil everything. What do you think of that beautiful cavern Lo'ak and Tsu'tey are exploring together? And what will happen now that Lo'ak has connected to a crystal with his spirit brother? What will happen? What will they see? We'll have to wait and find out.
