You will fall (Neteyam x OC)

CHAPTER 40

CHAPTER 40
MA EYWA

Everything was...quiet. In a dark abyss Sao'Nae sat by herself, lost and listening for absolutely anything to tell her where she was or what to do. In a swamp of fear the girl sat. She was too terrified to do anything else. So she instead curled her knees to her chest, tail softly swishing behind her as her ears pricked at the sound of water droplets hitting the floor.

Hours passed. Perhaps many hours. It was hard to tell without being able to see.

The only thing keeping her sane was the continuous glancing at her long pale fingers, assuring herself she wasn't blind due to the void-like area. It was like nighttime without the stars, staring into an endless sea of black. Sao'Nae was almost perfectly sure this is what pain felt like. This must've been some kind of punishment. Why else would it be so cruel?

Tears stickled softly down her cheeks, clinging to her teal skin. She wanted to go home. This was far too scary for a girl to manage on her own.

" Neteyam?" She cried out, " Ao'nung?!"

All she received was an echo of her own voice.

" Anybody?!" She asked.

Still nothing.

Quickly Sao'Nae lifted her hands to be cupped in front of her face, sniffling, " Great mother please offer me your insight and guidance. Oh great mother, please!" She prayed.

For a moment the girl could've sworn she heard a whisper behind her ears.

The people.

Save.

Red.

Sorry.

Hope.

Rebirth.

A whirlwind feeling built in her gut. The very words she'd heard in her dreams many weeks ago repeated questionably in her mind. As much as Sao'Nae tried to write it off as a dream and nothing more, now that she was trapped in a void with no sign of rescue, she was finally willing to listen.

She took a wobbly breath, squeezing her eyes shut and crossing her arms across her chest, carefully kneeling her head down.

" Great mother, give me your wisdom..." She pleaded, " Let me walk among the people once more."

Why.

The wind around her asked, whipping through her hair softly. It didn't scare her. It was like the very air was brushing through her long tangled hair, cleaning the dirt and blood from her scalp without ever rinsing.

" I want to see Neteyam." Sao'Nae said calmly, not lying in the slightest, " I miss my family."

The wind howled, that same cooling voice chiming in her head.

Come with me.

Sao'Nae felt a chill prick her spine, goosebumps frosting her skin like ice in winter. She felt inclined to listen to the great mother, tilting her head innocently as she mulled over the thought.

No more pain.

The wind promised.

No more sadness.

" I'm scared." Sao'Nae spoke truthfully.

That's fine.

The voice assured. Then, gently, Sao'Nae felt a hand press on her shoulder. When the girl turned her head and opened her eyes, the woman from her dream so long ago stood before her. Eywa.