Power of Eywa | Lo'ak

7. Spirit Tree

- Ryonan's POV -

I took off with Soul, beyond the reef but not too far. I sat still at the surface. I called out to Payakan with a kind of song/call. ( Frozen 2's call. ) After a few more calls, he arose in front of me. "Payakan!" I smiled a little and got of soul, sending her back home.

I sat on Payakan's fin and looked at him, "I think I like him, Payakan" I signed sadly. He answered with his sounds, "The boy?" He said.

I sighed, "Yes, Lo'ak. I never acknowledged my feelings towards him until I saw him with my sister" I signed.

"What will I do now.." I looked into the purple sky. Payakan put his fin down, making me go under water. "What is it?" I signed in confusion. He spun in a circle which meant, "let's go somewhere" I just nodded and held onto his fin while he took my somewhere.

- at the place

It was dark when we reached the place. Bioluminescent water appeared. We resurfaced and I sat on his fin, "The spirit tree.." I whispered. He led me down under to the roots and he stayed away, but he could still see me. I looked at the tree and touched it's leaves. I glanced back at Payakan and he nudged his head a little as a way of telling me to use it. I turned back and took my hair, slowly pulling it forward to attach myself to the tree.

Once it attached, I felt a wave of relief wash through my body. I slowly closed my eyes, and let myself be with the tree.

- ...

"Ryonan..? My dear sweet girl..." I heard the voice of my grandmother. I opened my eyes, "Grandmother?" I saw my one and only grandmother standing in front of me, with her sweet smile. "GRANDMA!" I exclaimed and threw myself into her arms. She hugged me back, tight with a laugh. "Why have you come see me, my child? She asked

"I missed you" I started to cry, "Oh darling.. don't cry" She wiped my tears away and held my cheeks, "How is your father? My son better be treating you right.." She spoke. I sniffed, "He isn't my father anymore.. The village sent me away, I am now with the Metkayina clan. The olo'eyktan took me in.. I am living a good life grandmother" I told her.

She clicked her tongue, "As long as you are living good, and are safe.. I will not complain." She hugged me again. "Come, let's take a walk" She held out her hand for me to take, and I took it. We walked through the forest of Tayrangi. I held her hand, her warmth had made me feel safe.

"Grandmother, there is this boy.." I started and looked at her. She looked back, "And what is his name?" She asked. "Lo'ak Sully" I smiled a little saying his name. "Sully? Is he Omatikayan? And is his father Jake Sully..?" She asked all this questions. "Yes..? How did you know?" I asked.

She laughed, "That kid.. Jake Sully is Toruk Makto. Years before you were born, he lead our clans to victory against the sky people. He is one great man" She told me the story. "So.. you like his son?" She giggled and I looked away, "I don't know" I said

"Yes you do. My grand daughter knows everything" She said as we stopped walking. I blushed a bit and sighed, "He likes Tsireya though.. She is Tonowari's, the olo'eyktan's, daughter. My sister" I said sadly. "Do you know for sure that he likes her?" She asked which made me think, "Not really..? But!-"

"Uh uh. No buts, if you don't know for sure then it might not be true" She told me. She was right though, "I am scared he will reject me though" I said and grandmother shook her head, "If he rejects a beautiful girl like you, he never deserved your feelings for him" She caressed my cheek.

I smiled, "It is time for you to go now, little one" She whispered. I nodded sadly, "I love you Grandmother. I will come visit you soon" I hugged her tight, waiting for me to wake up back at the spirit tree.

- Lo'ak POV -

It was getting late and I was heading back to the village since I couldn't find Payakan. All of a sudden, I heard a big splash from behind me and I turned to see him. "Payakan! Bro, what took you so long?!" I asked, but he kept splashing. "Payakan??" I said and he still, didn't stop.

He wailed loudly, surely people from the village could hear it, "Woah! Calm down Payakan, what is wrong??" I asked. He dove back into the water, as if he wanted to lead me somewhere. "Ok, Ok! I'm coming" I got off my ilu and sent him back home. As I started to swim to Payakan, dad and Neteyam showed up. "Lo'ak.. you aren't supposed to be with the outcast-" he started but Neteyam stopped him

"What's wrong little bro? Why is Payakan freaking out??" He asked and I shrugged, "that's what i'm trying to find out" I told him and Payakan wailed loudly again. "He wants me to follow him. I'm going, i'll be back soon" I said then kept swimming, "Lo'ak, wait up. We'll go with you" Neteyam called out but I shouted back, "No it's fine" I said.

"We're going." Dad said, getting off ride, and Neteyam getting off his ilu. I groaned but Payakan wailed even louder. "We're coming!" I said and we all held onto his fin. When Payakan set off, we all almost let go. Payakan went fast.. really fast.

In a matter of seconds, we made it to the spirit tree. He stopped near the tree and we all let go, "Why are we here?" I signed. Payakan wailed and swam to the leaves, revealing Ryonan.. Neteyam and I sprung into action, swimming towards the passed out Ryonan. She had her hair attached to the tree, and we feared that what happened to Kiri is happening to Ryonan. Dad swam to her quickly and tried to disconnect Ryonan from the tree, but her hair didn't get out.

We panicked, I held her body up, and signed to Neteyam, "Help dad disconnect her" And he nodded, after a few more attempts, she finally disconnected and all of the spirit tree's lights started flickering. I carefully and quickly lifted her up to the surface.

"Neteyam she isn't breathing" I shouted, "Get her on Payakan. QUICK" Dad shouted and Payakan arose to the surface. I put her on his fin and the rest of us got on, Payakan quickly swam back as close as he can go to the village. Luckily, there were ilu near by that we got on.

We made it back to the village with her in my arms, "HELP!" I yelled. Dad picked her up instead and ran towards one of the cots. I hadn't know which one was her parents. Neteyam and I quickly ran after dad who bursted into the Tsahik's cot. "Ronal" He woke her up and she saw Ryonan, "No" She said breathlessly.