Ma Neteyam

39

Yet as more and more time passed, sitting there in pure stress and worry, trying to figure out a way she can mange both tasks, she knew she was merely kidding herself. All she could do was hope that the others make it out alive so that they could help her sooner rather than later.

But as her anxiety blinded her vision and made her brain foggy, she hadn't realized the slight rise in Neteyams chest, one so subtle it would be mistaken for a trick of the eyes. She also failed to notice the way his lips parted, a hint of a breath exiting them...

" Tsireya!" By the time someone finally called out her name, eclipse had already ended and the sun began to shine down on them. She looked out to see her Father rushing towards her, the Sully's following closely but slowly behind.

Her entire body began to shake as she watched him jump on the rock and rush forward towards her, stopping only to see Neteyams body beside her. " My daughter, are you alright?"

" Where were you?" she cried, " I was alone and we needed h-help..."

Her father hugged her tight and rubbed her head in a attempt to soothe her, apologizing under his breath as he could only imagine the pain she went through. The trauma she experienced by herself. He only let go when Neytiris own soft sobs were heard when she saw her sons body again.

They all stared solemnly, Tuk and Kiri seeing their dead brother for the first time as tears instantly filled their eyes. The youngest of Sully's walked forward, a small whimper exiting her as she said lowly, " Teyam?"

Tuk kneeled down and went to hug him, but Tsireya had other issues that needed to be handled. Tugging on her father's arm she began, " Vareya, you have to help me find her she-"

Tuk then suddenly screamed, jumping back into her mothers arms, " What's happening to him?!"

That got all of their attention spiked, and all of a sudden as they looked down, they all stared in astonishment at what they were witnessing. The skin around Neteyams gaping bullet wound was somehow mending on it's own. None of them moved, all stood frozen as they waited until the skin looked as if nothing had ever happened.

Jake dropped to his knees then, hurriedly resting his head against his sons chest. Then when his eyes widened and breathing fastened, he exclaimed, " He has a heartbeat!" then almost to verify, he listened again, " He's alive! How is this possible?"

Neytiri fell to her knees, doing the same as her mate except she screeched in excitement when she heard the sound of life, " My son is alive! Thank you great mother, thank you!"

The entire family was then huddled around him, yet while Lo'ak had a look of relief and the largest smile, he still repeated his Dad's earlier words, " But he had no heartbeat before. We watched him die, how is this possible?"

That was when it all clicked for Tonowari, and then suddenly panic set in. Grabbing his daughters shoulders he said urged, " Vareya, you were saying something about Vareya! Where is she!?"

Tsireya rushed over to where she fell and pointed at the water below them, " I saw her father, I saw her connect her queue but then her eyes, a-and her ears, and then she collapsed-"

He didn't wait for her to finish, diving into the water while she was mid sentence. He searched around, swimming and scanning every part of the ocean floor around them. He checked which way the current was heading, hoping to see her drifting body nearby.

His heart was pounding rapidly inside his chest and he looked for his niece, the one he swore to protect. The one who he failed to care for as he promised. The one that had such a special part in his heart yet failed to notice. He had so many regrets, so much guilt, but he could not let her slip from him this way.