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06

Neytiri and Tsu'tey hadn't left Aponi's side since the shooting. Grace had stabilized her, but she had yet to wake up, and it was beginning to frighten them. 

Not to mention on top of that, Sylwanin was dead. Her funeral was beautiful, but they wished Aponi could've seen it. Could've had her peace. Neytiri grasped Aponi's hand tighter, shuffling to rest her head on the human's chest. Her heart was beating, but it was weak. It grew slower as the days began to pile up.

Eytukan and Mo'at had been having conversations when Neytiri and Tsu'tey were at the human's side, always glancing at the two as they spoke. It would've made the female Na'vi suspicious if she could take her eyes off of the human. Off of the struggled rising and falling of her chest. 

She wasn't going to wake up at this rate. Neytiri had heard Grace whisper it to Mother, and she knew it was inevitable. 

Her Aponi. Her... mate. Potential mate, she supposed. 

She was dying and Neytiri could do absolutely nothing to stop it. No amount of praying could take the pain away, or make Aponi open her eyes. 

Except one day, an exact week after the massacre, Mother sat down next to her. There had been a revelation in the woman's visions, a sign from Eywa, that they could save Aponi. Her everything in the body she was born in could be transferred to her dream walker body. 

Neytiri tried to swallow the bitter feeling in her throat as she realized that something could be done for this human, but not for her sister. She turned to look at Mo'at and nodded, steeling her gaze. 

She'd do anything she could to save Aponi. She knew Tsu'tey would, too. 

She was the only thing the two had left, the only being that knew Sylwanin the way they did. They couldn't lose her, not like this. Not ever, if Neytiri could prevent it. 

Preparations were made, Aponi's body delicately dressed in leaves and vines as Neytiri helped her mother. Tsu'tey sat by her side the entire way through, though it held no real comfort. 

Nothing seemed to bring her comfort anymore. 

She snapped out of her thoughts as Mother placed a hand on her shoulder, directing the woman to put Aponi's human body right in front of the roots of Vitrautral, the Tree of Souls. Tsu'tey placed her Avatar body across from Aponi, their almost identical faces close together. 

Neytiri watched with great fascination as fibers began to cover Aponi and her Avatar body, and began to chant with Mo'at and the rest of the people, hoping and praying that Aponi survived the transfer. 

She couldn't die, not like this. Not when Neytiri hadn't gotten to tell her just how much the other meant to her. 

Minutes that felt like hours flew by as the people chanted, before silencing as Mo'at told them to stop. Neytiri and Tsu'tey stood up, rushing to Aponi's side and searching frantically for a sign that she was okay. That she was alive. The breathing of her human body had come to a stop, and Neytiri's shaking hands lifted the exo-pack off of her face and moved closer to her Avatar body.

The silence was heavy as they waited for a sign. A twitch, a jerk, anything. 

Eywa must have sensed their desperation as Aponi's new body began to twitch, and her golden eyes opened abruptly. Neytiri let out a sob of surprise and relief, grabbing the woman's shoulders and pulling her into her embrace. She could've died then, feeling the way Aponi's hands gripped her waist like a lifeline. 

"Thank you, Great Mother." She whimpered, tail happily whipping the air as Tsu'tey got up and began yipping in celebration at his sister completing her transfer. The people soon followed after, cheering and hollering and celebrating the rebirth of one of their people. 

-

Later that night, Aponi was placed back in the medical section of the Home Tree due to her mind having to come back from the feeling of being shot so many times. Mother had just pulled her and Tsu'tey to the entrance of the room, looking at them with an expression that had Neytiri's stomach churning with dread. 

"She cannot stay." Mo'at said at last, her expression firm. The two younger Na'vi looked at each other before turning back to the Tsahík, nodding. Neytiri was feeling too bitter over the entire situation to disagree, and she knew that even if Aponi wasn't apart of the people it wouldn't stop the two from meeting. 

"At least let her stay overnight, she is too weak to face the nights of Pandora. Her mind is still coming back to her." Neytiri spoke, and looked back at Aponi to see that she had shifted in her sleep, turning on her side. At least she would have this final night to herself with the woman. 

"Then it is decided. When she leaves, tawtute will never be allowed to return." Mo'at spoke with finality, turning out of the room without looking back. Tsu'tey hadn't said anything the entire time the conversation went on, and he looked down at Aponi with a blank expression before turning out, not being able to stand there and watch as she gets snatched away from her yet again. 

Neytiri sat with the woman, rubbing her back and pressing soft kisses to the skin she could reach. She tried committing every part of Aponi's features to her memory, fingers softly tracing the bioluminescent freckles that dotted her face in a pattern that reminded her of the constellations Grace had taught her about. 

It was past eclipse by the time she left, tired and dreading the next day. She left with a kiss to Aponi's forehead and a promise to come back when the sun had rose, quietly making her way back to her hammock and falling asleep as soon as she slipped into it. 

Only, she didn't get to come back to her the next day. 

When she went into the room to greet the woman, she realized that Aponi was gone. There was no trace of her, the hunting knife Tsu'tey had made for her 21st birthday and Neytiri's old bow sitting where she had once laid. There wasn't a note, there wasn't anything. 

Neytiri felt her chest constrict. And then she let out a scream, tearing the room apart looking for Aponi. She searched the entire area surrounding the home tree, a wild look in her eyes. She didn't stop until Tsu'tey grabbed her, looking concerned. "Kä! What is wrong?" He asked, and was startled when she pushed him away.

"Where is she?" Neytiri yelled, tearing up. Tsu'tey had a confused expression on his face, still not knowing what the other was talking about. "Aponi! She's gone, there's nothing- she left everything!" She cried, moving around him and marching to Mother to ask the same question. 

Nobody had an answer for the crying Na'vi. None had seen the woman leave, or hear any disturbances in the night. She'd left and it was like she never existed. 

Neytiri never stopped looking for her. Neither did Tsu'tey. The hurt and pain she felt for the other soon turned into anger and hatred, not only for Aponi but for all other humans on her planet. 

But she never stopped looking for Aponi. 

Even two years later, when she stumbled upon Grace and the two new Avatar Drivers that jumped off the helicopter with her. She was surprised to see Valentine with them, acting too comfortable and friendly with the one holding the gun in his hands. The interactions reminded her too much of Aponi, his best friend. It was only because of Valentine that she followed them, leading to her following the stupid skxawng that got separated from the rest of the group.

It seemed Eywa had bigger plans for her after all.