𝗂𝗇𝗏𝗂𝗌𝗂𝖻𝗅𝖾 𝗌𝗍𝗋𝗂𝗇𝗀, 𝙉𝙚𝙩𝙚𝙮𝙖𝙢 𝙎𝙪𝙡𝙡𝙮

𝗑𝗑𝗑𝗂.

𝘛𝘏𝘐𝘙𝘛𝘠－𝘖𝘕𝘌

        METKAYINA FUNERALS WERE A WAY to give a lost life back to Eywa, so the Great Mother could take them and protect them. Seylu had attended many funerals in the Cove of the Ancestors, but she had only been a part of one before. Nori's. Now, almost ten years later, her mate would be joining her best friend with Eywa.

The day after the escape from the sunken ship. Seylu had not spoken a word to anyone. It was the same scenario as Nori's death, and Ao'nung, as well as Tonowari and Ronal noticed the parallels between her reactions to both deaths.

Seylu had spent the day finishing her hammock after Ronal had removed the bullet from her leg, placing a remedy made with the purple dust from the waterfall into her wound to heal it. Tsireya sat beside Seylu, offering her support to the girl.

Jake and Neytiri, both still heavily grieving their son, had walked through the village towards Ronal and Tonowari's mauri, finding the two seated outside while their children were in the home. "Can we ask for a burial? For our... For our son?" Jake had asked, cuts and wounds all over his face from fighting.

Ronal stood, embracing Neytiri as Tonowari nodded. "You do not need to ask. We will prepare it for tonight, if that is accepted by you and your family." Tonowari said, glancing at his oldest daughter, who had been on the verge of a panic attack since Neteyam's death.

Jake and Neytiri nodded, Neytiri wiping her tears. "Thank you. Thank you." she nodded, glancing to Jake.

"May we speak to Seylu?" Jake asked, watching as the girl inhaled sharply, cyan fingers weaving her hammock.

Ronal walked into the mauri towards her daughter. "They would wish to speak with you." Ronal said, placing her hand on Seylu's shoulder, sharing a look with her other children.

Seylu placed her hammock down, standing and leaving her pod with a slight limp from her wound. She passed Neytiri and Jake, leading them to the end of the netting, looking out at the horizon. "What is needed of me?" she asked, avoiding eye contact with either of Neteyam's parents, busying herself with her fingers on her necklaces.

Neytiri placed a hand on Seylu's shoulder, noticing her surprised shudder. "We ask that you be a part of our son's burial with our family." she spoke gently. Seylu glanced at her, noticing Neteyam's necklace around her neck.

"I am not one of your family members. It is not right." Seylu spoke quickly, scratched eyes viewing the world in front of her.

Jake looked at Neytiri before he spoke. "You were his mate. Our family wants you there with us. You saved my wife and my daughters before yourself, letting yourself drown. You saved Lo'ak and Tuk on the ship, even though it got you shot. You've taught me how to ride a tsurak, and you've taught our children the ways of your clan. Our son loved you, so much. He needs you with him, just like he's always needed you by his side." Jake said slowly, softly, gauging Seylu's reactions.

They wanted her there. She couldn't say no. Seylu nodded slowly, gray eyes flashing over to the Omaticaya parents. "I will be there with you. I will help you all prepare." she said before she turned to leave.

Neytiri grasped her forearm gently before she could get away, pulling a piece of jewelry from her husband's hand. She extended the cuff to Seylu, who looked at it skeptically. "Neteyam made this for you. He wanted to give it to you, but he never got the chance." Neytiri spoke, and Seylu took the cuff.

She nodded to Jake and Neytiri, walking back into her mauri pod silently. Seylu sat on her mat, observing the cuff. It fit perfectly on her wrist. She wiped a tear from her eye before it could be seen by her brother and sister. The cuff was beautiful, beads and shells adorning the tightly tied purple, pink and turquoise strings, mixing both of their cultures together. She noticed the colors of the strings resembling the place in the Spirit Tree where they mated.

Seylu smiled, going back to her hammock, finishing it just before she had to prepare for the funeral. Seylu painted her face, as well as the entire Sully family's with Tsireya's help. She wore the top that she knew Neteyam loved, the one they wore the night they became each other's mates.

She prepared his body, keeping a neutral expression as she placed the pink flowers in the wrapped leaf he laid in. The same flowers as the one he gave her in the rainforest. Lo'ak's hair tie was in his hair, and he looked so peaceful. Seylu didn't dare touch him until the funeral.

As eclipse fell and the island was consumed in darkness, the clan ventured out to the Cove of the Ancestors to lay Neteyam at rest. Torches were in the villagers hands, but Seylu only saw the colors from the corals below them.

Jake rode an ilu, pulling the leaf Neteyam laid in towards where he would be laid. Neytiri and Tuk held onto the leaf on one side, Lo'ak and Seylu on the other, protecting him. Kiri and Spider followed on an ilu.

Ao'nung held Tsireya, holding a torch with Rotxo beside them. Their parents had performed the ceremony, in their burial garments, keeping a watchful eye on their oldest daughter. Seylu's long hair moved in the water as she swam. Her curls were untouched, the way both Neteyam and Nori liked them. She wore her headdress, lavender pearl on her forehead. Her stringed shawl, cleaned of his blood adorned her shoulders.

Seylu remembered Nori's funeral. It was just like this, her father pulling the leaf, her mother and Seylu holding onto her body. She cried at her funeral, and she cried at Neteyam's. Her tears were silent, simply rolling down her face and into the water, no noise coming from her.

Once they reached the Spirit Bed, where all bodies were to be laid with Eywa, Jake, Neytiri and Seylu pulled Neteyam from the leaf, pink flowers falling into the water. Tuk touched Neteyam's face, Lo'ak held his forehead, saying goodbye to their brother for the last time. As he passed her, Seylu pressed her lips to his forehead, fingers tracing his stripes and darkened freckles in the pattern she remembered.

Neytiri and Jake inhaled as they brought their son's body to lay at the bright yellow Spirit Bed, tendrils moving as they felt a presence. Their children, as well as Seylu and Spider dipped their heads into the water, watching as they cried. Seylu held Tuk, still crying silently as she watched her mate be returned to Eywa.

She was alone now without him, and as Eywa consumed Seylu, she replayed their moments in her mind. Meeting him, teaching him, hunting with him. Becoming friends with him, connecting with him, feeling him. Realizing her affection towards him, kissing him, mating with him. Flying with him, fighting with him, and then his last words, which were to her, as he tapped his fist to her chest.

And as she held his baby sister while she cried, Seylu knocked her fist against her sternum, finally feeling something. Grief, loss, sadness. But it was something, and she knew she wasn't alone in her feelings.

But Seylu felt alone. More alone than she ever had before.

꧁꧂༺༻꧁꧂