𝐆𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐋𝐄 𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐄𝐙𝐄 , ao'nung + neteyam

chapter 15

*ੈ✩‧₊˚ gentle breeze •°. *࿐

the end.

You remember both you and Tsireya keeping Neteyam's out of the water, taking him up higher on the rock and propping his back up. Your hand caressed his lifeless face and even though you were admiring a dead body, you had strong feelings for him and you didn't know how to feel now that the initial shock and grief was gone. When your hand dropped, Tsireya finally said something.

"Are you okay?" she asks, with a weak voice, tears still filling up her eyes. Yours were currently dried on your face, stopping just seconds ago.

"I don't think so but I'll be fine for now," you say, looking over at her cowering form. Your arms find their way around her once again, the both of you starting to cry in each other's arms as you wait for the Sully family to come back.

"I'll always be here for you," Tsireya whispered through sobs. You shakidly nodded your head in response, not finding the words to say anything back to her. But you had hoped she knew that you would always be there for her as well.

The wait for deafening, you try to drown out the sound of tears with the waves of the ocean, knowing that grief won't be leaving you anytime soon. The night blanketed the both of you in its comfort, blocking your vision from the body of Neteyam and kissing your skin with the cold. Hoping nothing bad would happen to the Sully family was hard, especially when a ring of flames burst from around the ship. You let out a yelp, hand over your mouth with your eyes open in terror, Tsireya mirroring your actions. Looking at each other, you held on to each other harder, squeezing each other to the point where it was hard to breathe.

The anxiety for the Sully family got worse when the ship started to sink in the water, Tsireya's tears started to run once again while you blankly looked at the sinking ship. It was hard to believe anything was happening. First, getting caught up with the sky demons, getting stuck on the ship and whatever they wanted. Second, Neteyam's death. Lastly, the sink shipping while being beside Neteyam's dead body. Your mind seems to go empty, nothing else from then on was able to process through your mind.

As if no time passed, the Sully family came back to you and Tsireya, relief washed over as you let go of a breath that you didn't know you were holding. Tsireya removed herself from your arms, popping up to hug Lo'ak and cry into his arms. Tuk and Kiri had faces of disbelief as they came up to Neteyam's body, being too tired to properly grieve their lost brother. Eventually, Tuk goes over to you for comfort, you hold her tightly in hopes she would be able to feel your empathy. Jake picked up Neteyam's body bridal style in his arms, letting out a deep sigh as he turned around to face you all.

"Let's go back," he said, melancholy shining through his voice. It took you all a bit to get up and call some more ilus and you all went back to Awa'atlu , Jake on his skimwing, and Neytiri on her ikran. Neytiri being the one who carries Neteyam's body, her ikran having the equipment to carry his body. Kiri had the human with her on her ilu, as you all ride your ilus leisurely on top of the surface, you look at him with a confused look.