Avatar: The Return of The Songbirds

Chapter Fifty-Three - They Are With Eywa Now

This walk into the forest was quiet. Everyone still needed time to process what was about to happen. Chris and his friends had no idea what a Na'vi funeral looked like, and Lìyìnuk hadn't really explained it yet either. And for what Sakire said, never seeing them again, was different on Pandora. For Chris, human's had learned to take the consciousness of someone, and for the lack of a better word "copy and paste" it into another Avatar. But that didn't seem to have the same cadence here. None of them knew what to expect. All they could do was follow behind Lìyìnuk, carrying their fallen friends with them.

Vialo looked back at Chris who looked...broken which in turn made Vialo feel the same. She hated seeing the man she had fallen in love with look so shattered. "Vialo? Are you alright?" Lìyìnuk questioned, taking hold of her daughter's hand.

"No...seeing them like this breaks my heart. I wish there was something I could do that would undo their pain." Vialo confessed, looking down at the ground.

Lìyìnuk let out a gentle sigh, as a smile grew on her face. "We will my love." Lìyìnuk promised.

Vialo looked up at her mother, confusion filling her eyes. "How? How are we going to help them?" Vialo stated curiously.

"They do not know what our burials look like." Lìyìnuk proclaimed. "They do not know that once their loved ones become one with Eywa, they live on through our great mother for eternity." She added, seeing a familiar glimmer of hope start to shine in Vialo's eyes again. "They think death is final." Lìyìnuk added, looking back at the human's behind her. "We will show them that death is only a new beginning." She finished with a bright smile.

Vialo let out a happy sigh, looking back at Chris once more. "Death is only the beginning." Vialo repeated, before continuing forward.

The walk had taken about twenty minutes, and just as Chris was about to ask how much further they had left to travel, Lìyìnuk stopped in her tracks. "Welcome to one of Eywa's many beating hearts." Lìyìnuk exclaimed with a soft smile. She pulled the long vines in front of her back, and revealed a huge glowing tree that stood before them.

"Wow..." Nick whispered, as he made his way past Lìyìnuk and towards the massive tree. "What is this place?" He questioned.

"This is a spirit tree." Henilo replied gently. "This is where Eywa holds all of her children." He continued.

"Holds?" Matt exclaimed. "What does that mean?" He added.

"When you die, your body is brought to Eywa. And once you are laid before her, she takes all that you are and pulls it into her heart. All of our loved ones live within Eywa." Tatal explained, gaining the attention of every human before her.

"I...I don't understand." Maria whispered. "That doesn't make any sense." She continued.

Tatal smiled lightly and made her way over to Maria. "Once the burial has been completed, all will become clear." Tatal reassured the female, as she held her hand out. "Come, my brother will carry your sister." Tatal stated. Maria just did as she was told...she didn't understand what was about to happen, but at this point any chance that she may be able to see Carmen again was enough for her to go along with it. "Zuko, and Väluka will carry Sandra and Owen." Tatal added, watching as the pair made their way over to their bodies. "My father will carry Lance." She finished, looking over to Charlie, who looked shocked at Tatal's words. "Do not worry Charlie, your cousin has a place with Eywa too." Tatal promised, motioning the young female to come to her. "Eywa forgives all mistakes. She is your cousin's second chance." Tatal vowed. Charlie didn't say a word. She felt like she was going to cry again, but took the first step. It took her a minute, but she made it to Tatal's side and took hold of the woman's hand. "Let's lay them to rest." Tatal proclaimed, tightening her grip and both Charlie and Maria's hands, before continuing forward. Pxäkngam, Henilo, Zuko and Väluka following close behind her.