Not the same

now that you're gone it hurts

chapter thirteen.

It was about twenty minutes prior to the eclipse. All the kids headed on their ilus, towards the Spirit tree. This was the first time the forest kids would be seeing the tree and connecting to Eywa since they arrived.

"This is the cove of the ancestors." Tsireya announced as they all rode in. "Our most sacred place. Eclipse is the best time of day to be here."

Za'nara smiled widely, as she took in the scenery, as it had been so long since she had been in Eywa's  embrace.

The eclipse came upon them and they rode over the Spirit tree, where it glowed a bright purple in the dark.

"This is our spirit tree." Tsireya announced, gesturing her arm over the tree.

The kids hopped off their ilus and dove down to the tree. They all plugged into the Spirit tree. Za'nara took a deep breath before plugging in. Preparing herself. Kiri turned to her and smiled, an attempt at calming her nerves. Za'nara smiled back and plugged her braid into the tree.

{Za'nara's experience inside of Eywa}

Za'nara walked around this familiar place, it was her family home growing up.

She entered the home to see her Mother and Father sitting on the ground with a young girl. It was herself. Her younger self.

"Ma syawn, Ma prrnen." Mäzuä spoke gently to baby Za'nara. "Oel ngati kameie."

[Translation- My blessing, My child. I see you.]

"How'd we get so lucky?" Niriko asked his mate.

"The Great Mother is on our side, Ma tìyawn." Mäzuä replied with a warm smile.

[Ma tìyawn- My love]

"Mommy?" Present Za'nara whispered. "Dad?"

Before Za'nara knew it, a wind washed away that memory and she turned around to see her parents in front of her.

"Mom?" Za'nara asked with tears in her eyes.

"Baby." Mäzuä whispered.

Za'nara ran upto her Mother and hugged her tightly, a hug she had been waiting for, for ten years. She cried every-night, dreaming about being held in her Mother's arms again.

Tears ran down Za'nara's cheeks as she held her mother in her embrace.

"Oh my baby." Mäzuä whispered, holding her daughter tightly. "My sweet child."

"I'm so sorry mother, I'm sorry." Za'nara apologised.

"None of what happened to you was your fault. I have blamed myself for years, for not being able to save you." Mäzuä explained to her daughter.

As the two shared a special moment, reunited with each other again. Niriko, Za'nara's father, appeared.

"Daddy." Za'nara said as she ran into her father's arms. The arms she always felt safe in.

"Baby girl." Niriko whispered as he wrapped his arms around his daughter.

The family all fell to the ground and hugged one another, not wanting to break from each other's warm embrace. This was the moment they had been dreaming about for ten years.

"I don't want to leave you guys again." Za'nara cried out to her parents.

"We are always with you, Za'nara. Im glad you are safe, back where you belong." Niriko explained, rubbing his daughters cheek.