I WANNA BE SAVED, neteyam

Ch 32: Neteyam

Eclipse had come and gone, but yet Ayatney did not want to return to the village like she promised. She didn't want to go back to Jake and Neytiri, who were more than likely waiting for her return.

She wanted to stay close to where she would be able to feel him, Neteyam, most.

The spirit tree seemed to light up brighter as Ayatney neared it, as if it knew it was expecting her soon. The ilu under her whined, sensing its riders pain. Giving it a pat on its long neck, she disconnected their tendrils as she slid off its back.

The ilu chittered before swimming away, leaving Ayatney to float along the surface herself. She looked up at the stars, counting down from five before closing her eyes and pushing herself under.

The chill of the water awoke her senses, hugging her from all around as she used her hands to cut through it.

The wild life was vibrant as it glowed with the familiar bioluminescent colors. The purple color, that came from the tree, shone ever so brightly as she took hold of its tendril like leaves. The soft and fuzzy feeling under her fingers warmed her up, radiating a sense of peace.

Hesitantly, Ayatney brung her braid forward.

She wanted to see him so bad, but she was so scared of what she would see.

Would he be alright? Was he in the place he wanted to be most? The place where they fought and played as children? Most of all, did he miss her the way she missed him?

Ayatney would only know the answer if she saw and talked to him.

Finally, she connected to the spirit tree, calming her heart before closing her eyes.

The first thing she heard was the call of her name, the familiar voice ringing in the forest all around. The moss and dirt was soft under her feet as the large leaf of fern blocked her vision. The air was humid, giving her skin a sticky feeling as it made contact with the fauna.

Pushing the leaf out of the way, Ayatney spotted her father with her first bow she made.

He was looking high and low for her, a worried expression pasted onto his face. Her father looked the same as he did that day, young and barely aged.

She remembered this memory, there was a lesson that was well taught that day with words rather than actions. The words were forever engraved into her mind, the terrified and fear stricken look on his face was a sight she will never forget.

Ayatney decided to keep herself hidden, slowly backing out the other way. It was a mistake to do so, the low growl of the beast protecting its babies made her stop. She did not want to face it, but in order to survive she was going to have to.

Slowly, Ayatney turned on her feet, coming eye to eye with the palulukan. Why did it look so great in size? Surely it couldn't have grown any bigger than its original size... right? The girl suddenly felt small again, only to look down at her own hands to see she was right. In this vision, Eywa had chosen to put her back in the child's body she once had.

Was this what Eywa wanted her to see?

The palulukan let out a great roar, lunging at her. It's great jaws were wide as it's sharp teeth gleamed in the sunlight. Ayatney fell onto her bottom as she shielded herself with her arms, awaiting for its attack. But it never came.

Instead a big gust of wind brushed over her, making her squeeze her eyes tighter.
Once it had passed, she hesitantly cracked one eye open, dropping her arms as the dark particles, that once made up the palulukan and its babies, floated behind her.