𝐋𝐈𝐓𝐓𝐋𝐄 𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐎𝐍 • 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐲𝐚𝐦 𝐒𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐲

to Eywa you go¹⁶

chapter sixteen
[ to Eywa you go ]

     Nakili was dressed in the finest clothes. weaved beads and string necklaces and bracelets covered her neck and wrist. her hands were crossed on her chest as she layed on her side—balled up into a ball.

her family, her blood, floated her to the area, with paint on their foreheads, the centered her in her place. Ao'nung swam beside her head, Ronal and Tonowari at either end on her, Tsireya beside Ao'nung, and Kiri and Neteyam on the other side of her.

Kiri couldn't helped but breathe a shaky breath as a few tears fell from her eyes and into the teal ocean. not only her, but Ao'nung also.

Neteyam stayed calm. he knew what she would do, so that is what he did. calming his heartbeat and balancing his breath.

everyone was aware of Nakili. Neteyam knew that Nakili felt as if nobody but her brother saw her. and as Neteyam would've found any way to make her seen, he didn't think it would be this way. all eyes were on her.

gently, the took Nakili off the platform and her body laid gently on the surface of the water as she was supported by the others. Ronal and Tonowari allowed the children the take their hands away.

Ronal and Tonowari guided Nakili to the bottom of the water. at the bottom sat nothing but yellow vines. Ronal and Tonowari both touched Nakili's forehead. hesitantly, they then... gave Nakili to Eywa.

Neteyam watched as Nakili was engulfed by nothing but yellow. Ao'nung began to cry underwater, water entering his mouth.

Ao'nung claimed to be a man. he was strong, and he didn't cry. but now? it's just didn't matter. Ao'nung came up from the water, breaking the surface. Tsireya quickly pulled him to her as he cried into her hair.

in that moment, Ao'nung sought himself to be weak. he hated to feel weak. he had to be Olo'eyktan one day, but what was the purpose if he wasn't strong. however, once the tears began to fall, there was not enough telling wether they would ever stop or not.

Neteyam simply stared through the water from the surface as the yellow dimmed until there was nothing at all.

he thought. his mind was spinning ninety to absolutely nothing. he knew how she would've earned another tattoo. but now she wouldn't. the only tattoo was the one on his heart that was left by her. the tattoo that resembled a scar of a broken heart and an empty future.

"...hi mom." Nakili smiled

"hello, my daughter. my great poet."

perhaps this is what made her different.

a/n
this chapter is violently short but i am also violently crying 😘

last chapter so i'll see you guys in my authors note lmao <33

xoxo-birdie