𝖲𝗍𝗋𝗈𝗇𝗀 𝖧𝖾𝖺𝗋𝗍

𝗌𝗂𝗑

    

𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐢𝐱

༄𓆉︎♫︎☀︎︎❦︎☀︎︎♫︎𓆉︎༄

     THEY SWAM THROUGH THE WATERS ON THEIR WAY TO THE COVE OF THE ANCESTORS. Tuk said on the back of Tu’ahu’s ilu, holding her sister around the waist. Kiri was to their right, and Neteyam was to their left. Rotxo, Tsireya and Aonung were ahead of them.

      It was an amazing sight, Tu’ahu noted when they came above water. “This is the Cove of the Ancestors. Our most sacred place.” Tsireya said as the ilu continued to swim.

      “Look, Tu’ahu!” Tuk said excitedly, kneeling on the ilu’s back with her hands on her sister’s shoulders.

      “Eclipse is the best time of day to be here,” Tsireya explained, as the sun disappeared. Tu’ahu’s freckles lit up, as well as the ilu markings as the sky darkened. They moved closer to the center of the cove. “This is it. This is the Spirit Tree.”

      Everyone got off of their ilu and dived down into the water, swimming up to the tree. Eywa was here, Tu’ahu and Kiri both felt it. Kiri took her sister’s hand, using her hands to explain what she wanted to do. Tu’ahu understood; they would bond together to the tree.

      Tu’ahu saw Rotxo and Aonung with Tuk, so she grabbed her braid and made the bond to the same part of the tree that Kiri did. They held hands as they entered Kiri’s mind. Tu’ahu had very little power in Kiri’s mind, she was barely even there. She could only watch and help from afar as Kiri and Grace talked, their voices echoing.

      Kiri hugged Grace’s human form in the lab, and then they were in the forests, Grace in her avatar form. As they talked, Eywa came to Tu’ahu, who was watching the scene unfold. Get Kiri and yourself out, Eywa said. Get out now, she said firmer.

      “Kiri,” Tu’ahu spoke, using all of her strength to get her voice to carry. But Kiri ignored her, and Tu’ahu watched as Grace was sucked away. “No!” Tu’ahu screamed, as she was forced to endure what was happening to Kiri.

      Everything went dark in Tu’ahu’s mind, and she was shut-down. Outside, though, hers and Kiri’s bodies were in trouble. They were seizing uncontrollably under the water, still attached to the Tree. Tsireya broke the connections, hoping the seizing would stop, but they didn’t.

      Neteyam grabbed onto Kiri’s body, swimming up to the surface with her. Aonung immediately took Tu’ahu into his arms, struggling to get a grip on her moving body, even with Rotxo’s help. “Come on!” Neteyam yelled as they broke the surface. Kiri had stopped seizing but she wasn’t breathing.

      “Kiri! Tu’ahu!” Tuk cried, turning to Tu’ahu as Aonung and Rotxo made it above the water. Their ilus squawked, and Aonung and Roxto pulled Tu’ahu onto one of them. She was still seizing, coughing. “What is wrong? What is it?” Tuk asked her brother, looking at both of her sisters lying side by side on ilus.

      “It was a seizure.” Neteyam answered, holding Kiri on top of the ilu.

      Rotxo swam over to Kiri as Aonung gripped Tu’ahu. “She hasn’t stopped. Tsireya, she hasn’t stopped!” Aonung said with worry in his voice.

      Neteyam began to perform CPR on Kiri. “Is she breathing?” Rotxo asked, helping keep Tuk above the water. “Is she breathing?” On Neteyam’s second breath, Kiri gasped, coughing.

      “Get her to the village! Hurry!” Tsireya commanded, forgetting that Tu’ahu was still seizing.

      “I’m not leaving Tu’ahu. Aonung, do something!” Neteyam yelled.