The gift of Eywa

chapetr 14: discovery

Ignoring everyone's shocked eyes i get leap down and stroke thier head as i creep toward my childhod friend whilst Jake mirrors my action until we meet between the two great last shadows. We stare at eachother, eyes locking, for a few minutes before rutuning to the people who stare at us, stunned.

One the faces of the Omaticaya, hope now dawns in their eyes. Whispers flow around the crowd, repeating the words, "Toruk macto... toruk macto..."

Jake follows behind me as we walk, straight to Neytiri, who is at the foot of the dais. I look into her enormous eyes, filled with both guilt and relief. Neytiri felt extreme guilt after Nova had left. He had driven away the person he was sworn to protect. But now that's she is standing, here, infront of him, he ain't going to let her go again. And the same is said towards Jake and Tsu'tey.

"I see you" Neytiri says. "I see you" I say, barely above a hoarse whisper. After I say that Neytiri's eyes start to brim with tears. "I am so sorry, I was afraid for my people- but not anymore." "It's alright. I would have done the same thing if I was in your position."

I take Jakes hand as we climb the step of the dais. Mo'at steps back in awe as we approach. We turn to Tsu'tey who stares in fear, incomprehension and relif.
"Tsu'tey of the Rongola, son of Ateyo. We stand before you, ready to serve the people. You are Olo'eyctan, and the best warrior. We can't do this without you."

Tsu'tey struggles to come up with an answer, finally, he answers. "I will fly with you" "ireiyo". 'Now that that's over,' I turn to the matriarch. "Grace is dying. I beg the help of the mother tree." Mo'at speaks, "Bring her to us Jakesully, Nova."

I let Jake carry Grace's human body, like a child in his arms, as Norm trails behind, carrying her limp avatar body. "Look where we are Grace." I say to her in a hushed voice. Her eyes flutter open as she looks in wonder at the mother tree. "I need to take some samples." Now that made me chuckle. 'Same old Gracie huh'

Mo'at directs them to lay both bodies amongst the roots on the altar rock. She speaks in a quiet voice. "The great mother may choose to save us all that she is in this body." Whilst using her hands to Gesturing to avatar Grace's body.

"Is that even possible." I say realising the enormity of what she is suggesting. "Possible, yes. She must pass through the eyes of ewya and return. But Nova, she is very weak." I kneel next to Grace, taking her tuny human hand into my gigantic avatar one. "Just hand on Grace, there gonna heal you. Your gonna be alright."

Grace is barely conscious but she still manages to grip my hand. "I always held back- but you gave all of us heart Nova... I'm proud, to call you my daughter." Tears escape my eyes as my throat burns and squeezes with emotion. "And I'm proud to call you my mother... mom." She chuckles, "Yeah, that sounds nice."

Mo'at stands in some kind of trance amongst the tendrils of the mother tree. Neytiri and the other acolytes dance hypnotically. All the Omaticaya sway and chant to the rhythm of the drum. Suddenly fine hair like threads emerged from the roots and are gently spreading over Grace's human skin.

I am still jilding her hand while watching her body being fused to the root floor by a thousand connection. Grace's avatar is also gently connected by the same questioning root cilia. They intertwine with the queue and spread all over her body.

The grotto is dark except for the spectral glow of the willows. The chant continues hypnotically. Mo'at is on her knees beneath the mother tree, she writhes her arms in a trance state. Her eyes are rolled back, only showing white.

Grace gasps and her eyes snap open. Her expression is amazed, as if seeing something so beautiful it can never be explained. "I'm with her Nova- she is real." When suddenly Grace shudders in pain. Blood seeps through the silken whit root cilia growing across her abdomen. She exhales her last shuddering breath before she goes still.

"Grace!" I see the roots falling away from her human body. I turn hopefully towards her avatar, but he roots are falling away from it as as well. It sleeps, vacant.

Mo'at stops the chant as she crosses over to me and kneels, touching my shoulder. "Her words were too great, there was not enough time. She is with ewya now." Hearing that I burst into tears refusing to belive that Grace was gone.

'No no no no! She can't be... she can't.' I stay seated as I feel Jake Tsu'tey and Neytiri's worried glaze in be but I do not care. All my focus is on Grace's lifeless form. "You can't die, you promise... please don't leave me... please." I plead in barely above a whisper.

3rd pov

All the Omaticaya could not bring themselves to look at the heart breaking sight. Tsu'tey, Neytiri and Jake stood there, wanting to comfort Nova but knew she needed time to morn. "You can't die, you promise... please don't leave me... please." She said in such a quiet voice that no one could hear, besides Mo'at who could barely make out what Nova said.

However, gasp resonated from Mo'at causing all the Omaticaya to look at them in curiosity before transforming into shock. Nova was lit up like a christmas tree... kinda... nevermind. Nova was radiation some type of glow from her marks made by the pure wood spirits.

And ombre affect between the colours white purple and black. Though it was frightening what was happening everyone present there could all agree that ther site... was absolutely stunning. "Please don't leave..." as soon as those words left her mouth the light grew stronger as white hair like cilia grew once more from the ground.

"You promised..." the light once again grew stronger as the cilia has now covered Nova and recovered Grace's bodies. "I won't let you die... so please... come back to me." Until the light grew to a point were it temporarily blinded.

Once the light dies down the sight that was revealed stunned them to their core.

Nova's pov

"I won't let you die... so please... come back to me." As soon as those words left my mouth a blinding light was emitted from God knows where.

After a minute the light became no more, allowing me to see, I felt myself tremble with happiness. There... infront of me... my mothers avatar body... alive and moving!

Sh was looking at her hands in shock before I leaped forward and brought her into a bond crushing hug. "Grace!" It took her a few seconds to realise what was happening before she reciprocated the hug. "Wha- how?" "I don't know but I'm happy your here."

I can feel the shocked looks of the Omaticaya directed at me. 'Why are they looking at me, Grace is the one who came back from the dead.'

All my happiness and energy was replaced with suddent tiredness and fatigued that hit me like a brick. I can feel myself falling back as my eyes rolled into my sockets. "Nova!!" Was the last thing I heard before it all went black.

3rd pov

As Nova falls unconscious Mo'at and Grace are barely able to catch he in time as Jake Neytiri and Tsu'tey leap forward at a fast pace, racing to their unconscious mate with worry. "What happened to her?" Grace says with consern, seeing her daughter figure faint like that. Mo'at starts exzaming her body as Nova's three mates wait beside, impatient and anxious, before she comes to a conclusion.

"She is exhausted. Depleted energy. I don't know how but whatever she did to bring you back to life, her body was not ready for it. Hence the fainting. With enough rest she will be alright." Mo'at said as the four surrounding Nova facial expression turned into one of relief. "Come, she must rest." Tsu'tey takes Nova in his arms as Jake and Neytiri follow behind whilst Norm and Mo'at helps Grace.