Still Breathing

Chapter 13. Reflections

"I see my reflection in your eyes." ~ The Neighbourhood

Erica woke up a bit later than the rest of her siblings and when she was awoken, Neytiri wanted to spend some time with her. The two spent the morning bonding while the rest of the family were off doing Eywa knows what.

"Ow!" Erica yelped slightly at the sudden tugging coming from her hair. A slight hiss escaping from her mouth at the pain.

"Sorry, try to hold still." Neytiri apologized as she loosened her grip on the strand of hair that she had in her hand. Neytiri suggested that the two of them learn a bit more about each other while she braided the young women's hair.

Once she felt that Erica had relaxed, she begun to braid her hair again. Neytiri was humming a song that Erica had heard her hum a few times before to help Tuk fall asleep on nights that she was restless. It was soothing to her as she closed her eyes and allowed her body to relax. "Kiri doesn't like me to braid her hair and Tuk's hair is still too short to braid so I'm glad to finally have someone's hair to braid."

"Didn't you braid Neteyam's and Lo'ak's?" Erica asked with confusion in her voice at Neytiri's previous statement. Neytiri smiled as she added a few purple and green beads to the ends of Erica's braids because those were her favourite colours.

"I did, but it's not the same. They don't want decorations in their hair." Neytiri laughed lightly as she added a small shell that Tuk given to Erica to the top of her scalp. Erica smiled to herself as she felt content with Neytiri's presence after they'd learned more about each other.

Neytiri learned that Erica used to be a dancer and that she was quite good at it, earning all kinds of prizes from her skills. While Erica learned more about Neytiri's past. Her stories were heart breaking as she told Erica about how her sister died in her arms. How the bow that she owns was once her father's but he gave it to her as he died saving the people. How her best friend died in the final battle, taking his last breath as Jake became the next Olo'eyktan.

However, Neytiri also talked about the Na'vi saying that every person is born twice and that she believed that her sister, Sylwanin, had been reborn as Neteyam. And her best friend Tsu'tey was reborn as Lo'ak. This brought the women great comfort knowing that her children were the people that she was closest too and that she'd get a second chance with them.

"Alright, you're all done." Neytiri stood up, offering her hand to Erica to help her stand up. There was a mirror like object in the room that Erica looked at herself in. She smiled, feeling that she looked like a true Na'vi now with a few beads, shells, and feathers mixed into the braids.

"I love it!" She exclaimed as she turned around a gave Neytiri a hug.

Shocked at first, Neytiri hesitated before hugging Erica back. A smile plastered on her face as she held her head against her chest.

"Thank you, Neytiri." Erica said as she looked up at Neytiri, childlike excitement evident in her bright yellow eyes.

"You're welcome." Neytiri placed a hand on top of her head in comfort before pushing her lightly towards the exit. "Now go find your siblings."

Neytiri watched until Erica was no longer in view, a sigh falling from her lips as she realized that she was beginning to care for the child as one of her own. She was still afraid of overstepping a boundary since she still wasn't technically her mother. Only as time went on would Neytiri know how Erica felt about her.

-

"Lo'ak! You skxawng." Erica heard Kiri call out to their brother who dove into the water, riding off with his Ilu as everyone looked at each other with either annoyed or worried expressions.