Between Two Skies

chapter eighteen

Today I didn't feel like training. Especially after the dream.

I was exhausted, physically and mentally. My body still felt heavy, like the night hadn't fully let go of me yet. The words from the dream clung to the back of my mind, quiet but sharp, like a thorn I couldn't pull out. No matter how much I tried to shake it off, it stayed there, pressing against every thought.

So instead of grabbing my gear or forcing myself into another exhausting routine, I just walked.

The forest welcomed me the way it always did. Soft light filtered through the tall branches above, painting everything in shades of blue and violet. Tiny glowing particles floated lazily through the air like drifting dust. The ground was springy beneath my boots, covered in moss and fallen leaves that smelled fresh and damp.

I didn't rush.
I let my steps slow.
I let my breathing settle.

Without really thinking about it, my feet followed a familiar path. A curve between two wide roots. A narrow opening where hanging vines brushed against my shoulders. A gentle slope that dipped slightly before rising again.

I recognized it.

Neteyam had shown me this way once.

The realization tugged at my chest, not painful exactly, just... heavy. Like a quiet reminder I hadn't asked for. I almost turned back. But something kept pulling me forward.

The tree appeared between the mist and glowing plants, tall and ancient, its trunk glowing faintly beneath the bark. The air around it felt different.

Eywa.

I slowed until I stopped in front of it.

For a moment, I just stood there, unsure what I was even doing. Then I lowered myself to the ground and placed my hand against the bark. It felt warmer than I expected. Not hot. Just alive.

"I'm..." My voice cracked slightly. I cleared my throat. "I'm probably talking to a tree right now."

It felt silly, but I stayed.

"There's this boy," I continued quietly. "And I betrayed him."

The word sat wrong on my tongue.

"I know there's nothing I can do or say to make it better. I messed up badly. I didn't mean to hurt him, but I still did."

My fingers pressed gently into the rough surface.

"But if you're actually there," I whispered, lifting my gaze slowly up the massive trunk, "tell me what to do."

Nothing answered.

Only the soft whisper of leaves above. A distant call from some unseen creature far away. The quiet hum of the forest breathing around me.

I exhaled slowly.

But then a faint rustling sound made me stiffen. My eyes darted to the side.

Nothing moved. Only tall grass swaying lightly in the breeze.

I let out a nervous breath. "Okay, miss paranoid."

I pushed myself to my feet, brushing dirt off my hands. Staying here wasn't going to magically fix anything. Standing still only made my thoughts louder.

So I wandered.

The forest opened into a wider stretch where glowing flowers clustered along fallen logs and stones. Colors shimmered softly under the filtered light. Some petals pulsed faintly, almost like they were breathing. It was beautiful in a quiet, unreal way.