Moonchild | Neteyam

51

"Dad.." Lo'ak said in a voice that quivered, yet he remained rooted to his spot. He watched as Jake and Spider disappeared into the water. Silence fell over those left behind and Ronal, Tsireya, and Erìhe offered Lo'ak glances filled with sympathy - even the Tsahik not really knowing what else to say or do.

But not even a full minute had passed since Jake's departure when Lo'ak spoke up again. He addressed Tsireya, caressing her cheek softly, "Stay with him," he told her in a soft voice, barely acknowledging the two other women before he retreated into the ocean.

"No!" Tsireya called after him as Erìhe said his name, hoping he would see sense and turn back around. He didn't - and Erìhe should have known he wouldn't. She would have gone after him, had the circumstances been any different. But she couldn't leave Neteyam, too. She knew it was a long shot, but what is he woke up and she wasn't there? She wouldn't take the risk.

The Tsahik barely spared Lo'ak a glance as she pressed a cloth to Neteyam's wound after coating it with some balm. "He will get himself killed," she said in a disapproving tone.

Her nonexistent faith in Lo'ak caused Erìhe to narrow her eyes at Ronal, but she remained silent. Yes, the boy made rash decisions, but this was also why he made it out alive from tight situations. She believed that he could be smart about this.

Tsireya sniffled and Erìhe held out her free hand toward the girl, who gratefully latched onto it and squeezed it. Tsireya offered Erìhe a small smile which she returned, before both of them looked back down at Neteyam.

By now the Tsahik was mumbling words again, chanting something under her breath - no doubt speaking to Eywa or otherwise completing some kind of Metkayina healing ritual. It didn't differ much from the way the Tsahik back in the forest used to heal wounded Na'vi, but Erìhe still found herself being unable to look away.

She continued to watch the Tsahik in silence along with Tsireya. One of her hands was being held by the girl and her other was squeezing tightly onto Neteyam's. The quiet continued until a loud explosion could be heard coming from the mothership and it began sinking faster - faster than it had been before. Erìhe flinched and so did the others, but none of the three women said anything regarding it, though they all were undoubtedly worrying about the Sullys.

After another moment of eery silence, splashes could be heard from one end of the rocks and from her peripheral vision, Erìhe could see three figures stepping out of the water and hurry across the rocks toward them. Startled and frightened, Tsireya whirled around to face them but both her and Erìhe relaxed upon seeing three familiar girls.

Aluva, Riik'o, and Níawi came to a stop in front of them, wide eyes glued to Neteyam who remained unconscious on the rocks.

Tsireya quickly got onto her feet and pulled the three girls into a hug, crying into Aluva's shoulder. "What happened to him?" Níawi peeked at Erìhe from over Tsireya, her arms lifted to hold tightly onto the girl hugging her.

"Is he dead?" Aluva voiced, voice sounding incredibly frail and shrill and Erìhe found it hard to believe that the voice had actually come from her: she usually sounded so confident - even demanding at times.

"No," the Tsahik said with a sigh, sitting down properly now and leaning back on her arms. She looked exhausted, Erìhe noted. "He's alive," she told the girls, "Hear that? His heartbeat is getting stronger." All three of the newcomers seemed to take in a deep breath at the news.

Though him being alive was no news to Erìhe, she still inhaled sharply as Tsireya squealed joyously, rushing over and pulling Erìhe to her feet and then into a bone-crushing embrace. "He's going to be fine!" She whispered and Erìhe nodded, closing her eyes as she melted into the hug.