Neteyam was dead. He died a warrior, protecting his family, his best friend, and his people. They all suffered from the loss, but nobody hurt as much as Ao'nung. In secret, he had bonded with Neteyam weeks before the fight against the demon ship. Na'vis were able to bond beyond what humans thought imaginable, and a mate's death was the worst pain they ever knew. Neteyam's death would have destroyed Ao'nung, if it weren't for one thing : He never felt the bond break. As much as he tried to tell his people, nobody believed him. But he knew. He couldn't explain it he simply knew. Of course, the only person that was ready to believe him was the one that couldn't accept Neteyam's death the most, and also the one that never obeyed a single order : Lo'ak. Or: How Neteyam and Ao'nung got together and how Ao'nung saves him from death. English is not my first language please be kind ;)