like memories of dying days | avatar

Lo'ak was jolted awake in the middle of the night with a large hand shaking him aggressively. He opened his eyes to a frantic Ao'nung, his eyes seemed to be open in absolute horror.

Fighting the urge to roll over and go back to sleep, Lo'ak kept his consciousness long enough to at least figure out what the hell was going on, "Ao'nung? What-"

Ao'nung forcefully cut him off before he could even ask his question.

"He isn't there."

Any sleepiness Lo'ak had was now fully gone. Ao'nung wasn't joking. He was serious. He sat up, rubbing whatever sleepiness remained, and as his vision cleared, he saw the tears in the Metkayina's eyes. Now fully alert, Lo'ak placed his hand on Ao'nung's shoulder.

"Who isn't there, Ao'nung?"

Silence hung in the air, and Ao'nung continued staring at Lo'ak's eyes in such a way where it looked like he was trying to remember something.

"Ao'nung?"

"Neteyam. I went to visit the spirit tree, but," Ao'nung paused for a moment, the words catching in his throat, "he- he wasn't there."

"What?"

- - - - - -

Or, Eywa had other plans.