Moon Child

04

{The Watcher}

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Even after Ixchel had explained her disposition to the Sully children in great detail, Neteyam was constantly asking her questions.

"My mother was struggling to have children before me. And when she was pregnant with me, it was very likely that I wouldn't make it, that I wouldn't be born," Ixchel explained that night on the shore. "And so everyone, the entire tribe, prayed to Eywa to give my mother her child. That night my mother had a dream, a dream of the moon goddess, Ixchel. And as soon as she woke up, she was in labor and had me, by the grace of Eywa."

"And then, our mother was blessed with three others, one after another," Tsireya explained. "With one more on the way too."

"Yes, but—" Neteyam turned to Ixchel. "The blood, how does the blood work?"

"For every drop of blood that my neighbor loses, a drop of my blood can restore them," she recited. "That is what my Mother says, how she explains it. I was giving my life so that I could return life to other people, kame? Eywa blessed my mother with a child, so I could bless others."

"So you can just...heal people?"

"Yes, underneath the moon. And only under the moon."

"And you can resurrect people?" Kiri asked, taking Ixchel's hands in hers. "Anyone you want, you can bring them back? Back to life?"

Ixchel shrugged, "I'm not sure, eylan. I've never tried. When people die here, it is normally of natural causes. For as long as I've been alive at least. And we believe death is purpose so...I've never been asked to bring someone back." Kiri glanced up at her Neteyam very solemnly. "Is there someone you had in mind?"

"My mother," she said desperately. "She is...her body is still here, preserved."

Ixchel nodded. "I've never tried it before. And I've only ever tried scars with blood, so...it might depend on how she died. Do you understand?" Kiri nodded. "But...I'm sure that if I asked my Father, he would let me try. If you could bring me to her, I could try."

"No."

"But, Father—"

"I said no, oeyä'eveng." He was stern and left no room for argument. "I will not let you go to land alone to try to cure someone you're not even sure can be cured, I will not allow it. And your mother would not either, you know this."

Ixchel would not back down. Kiri placed her hand on the girls shoulder, "It's fine, Ixchel, really."

"You're being unfair, Father. She's asking for my help—I wouldn't even be alone! They would come with me, Neteyam said that he would escort us—"

"No, he will not," Jake stated. "Neither of you will be going anywhere near the land. It's too dangerous." Jake pointed at Neteyam. "You know better. None of you go near that land. We stay here. Alright?"

"Yes, sir."

"I won't hear another word of this." Tonowari waved the children off.

Neteyam took Ixchel's hand in his, pulling her out of the marui. The children all made their way to the docks, not speaking of the argument between Ixchel and her father.