𝐓𝐎𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐃𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐔𝐍 | neteyam

015 | THE WAY OF WATER

Nature is an interesting thing. As beautiful as it is, you can sometimes get used to the wonders that are right outside your home, surprised when people awe in its beauty when to you it is just another day. However, every once in a while you are able to feel that awe you once had; either just by taking a step back to relive what you already know to be there, or finding something new to focus on.

That was how the Sully's would feel tonight. Living with the Metkayina for the last few weeks had given them time to see much of the area's beauty, but never like they would see during Ay'yeiva's ceremony.

The bioluminescence of the Na'vi skin created a shower of bright patterns to light up the shore, guiding Eixtri and Ay'yeiva through the otherwise dark scenery. The younger kids of the village were at the edge of the path for the two, each of them dawning similar face paint to symbolize that they were yet to become adults and were going to have a ceremony of their own one day.

All four of the Sully kids had been given similar face paintings, being younger than Ay'yeiva. They stood in front of their parents next to Tsireya and Aonung, the girl begging her parents the previous day to let them be up close.

The six of them watched as Ay'yeiva and Eixtri started walking down into the water, connecting to Lan and an ilu respectively. Lan, with the help of the village children, had been decorated herself with paint and shells, which added to her bioluminescence.

They started swimming off, everyone else filling in behind on their ilus and skimwings.

Tuk joined Neteyam on his ilu and held onto his back as they swam behind Tsireya. She had been walking them through what to do and didn't want to accidentally mess something up.

Entering the Cover of the Ancestors, Tsireya motioned to the rocks and reminded them of something she had said the day before, "Everyone will stand on the rocks with their families and hold their hands in a circle. It is supposed to represent how everyone in the Village is connected and will always be connected under my sister when she becomes leader. It is to prove to her that we will always stand by her."

Neteyam detached from the ilu when his family found a rock, helping Tuk up onto it before helping his other sister and standing with his family. The rock they were on was quite large, a few other families being on it with them as they all joined hands.

Ay'yeiva was standing on the center rock, the same one her family had been on 18 years prior when she was born. The only difference was that only she and Eixtri were on it this time. Eixtri was standing in front of a kneeling Ay'yeiva, waiting for everyone to get to their places before beginning to speak.

"The way of water has no beginning and no end."

The clan began humming as she spoke, "The sea is all around us and within us, serving as our home before birth and after death. Water connects all things; bringing life to death, and darkness to light."

It went quiet, and Eixtri began painting white lines on Ay'yeiva's face; a mixture of warrior and leader designs. "You are like your mother and father, and their mothers and fathers before them. Born of the ocean with waves flowing through your veins." She put the bowl of paint down and let Ay'yeiva open her eyes. "You are who makes the Metkayina mighty."

Tuk, curious as ever, looked around the Cove wanting to see Ay'yeiva. She flinched slightly when drums began being played and the clan began singing, looking to Neteyam for security. She had to squeeze his hand to get his attention to come back from where she had also been looking, earning a squeeze back as they both looked around the circle they were in.

The singing lasted until Eixtri was the only one on the rock. Ay'yeiva had gone in the water and had swam down to the Spirit Tree. She connected her cue to it, closing her eyes before seeing a blurry view.

She turned her head around and realized she was on the beach. Fully embracing the vision she was seeing, she noticed it was the same spot she had stopped her brother from fighting the Sully's.

Everything happened so fast she didn't have time to comprehend everything that was going on. She saw ships out in the distance and flames everywhere, eyes growing wide in fear. Her hand reached out for a weapon of some kind, but she couldn't find one. Not her spear. Not her knife. Not even a rock on the ground she could throw at someone. She had nothing.

There was a tug on her arm and just as the vision was starting to fade she heard a voice, "Come on, let's go!"

She opened her eyes as her cue detached from the Spirit Tree, attempting to slow her panicked breathing. She couldn't panic. She couldn't show distress.

As she swam back up to the surface, she realized she knew that voice; The voice that was accompanied by a soft hand in hers.

She surfaced the water with a neutral expression, making her way to her parents who stood waist deep in the water in front of the rock Eixtri was on. Ronal placed a necklace of shells and beads over her daughter's head before Tonowari handed her her spear, which was now decorated with its own designs and small shells.

She held her unwavering expression for as long as she could while her grandmother spoke to the clan again, giving her parents a look of despair. Tonowari leaned in closer to her, letting her speak.

With a calm voice and pain in her eyes, she did.

"Something is coming."