Chapter Text
I WAS WALKING THROUGH A wide, sun-dappled valley, the long grasses swaying within a gentle breeze. As I traipsed through the vale, I ran my fingers along the wild blooms, humming to myself.
“Parultsyìp!” a voice called out. I turned, a smile already lighting up my face.
Entu stood just over the ridge with two other men. One, I failed to recognize. The other—
As my gaze fell over So'lek, both our eyes widened, his ears flicking back. Slowly—cautiously—I made my way toward the trio, gaze dancing between them each. In all the times I had connected with the tarsyu to pay my respects to the ancestors, never once had I run into anyone else. Not those amongst the living, that is. I figured that our visions were different because we each walked separate paths. Ri'nela convened with past tsahìks; that I knew. She had told me as much herself. Teylan had once mentioned sitting with his parents, talking for what had seemed like hours, finally getting the chance to know one another.
Though Nor had never shared what his visits consisted of, I knew they had colored his overwhelming hatred of everything human. In truth, I was glad to have never walked together through the realm of the ancestors.
Even here, inside Eywa, I felt as if my heart were racing. Why was it that So'lek and I would walk together the very first time he made tsaheylu with a tarsyu?
I stopped short before the three men, extending my greeting to them each. They returned the gesture in turn, So'lek keeping his eyes on me all the while, tail flicking steadily behind him.
“Zola'u nìprrte', ma'eveng,” Entu smiled. “We have a newcomer, I see.”
Were I in my body, I'd have to clear my throat. “This is So'lek te Elusa Kiro'itan, of the—”
“Of the Trr'ong clan, yes,” Entu nodded. “And this is Hawnutu'un, founder of the Trr'ong.”
I stilled, eyes widening once more. “Oel ngati kameie, Hawnutu'un,” I said softly, my hand sweeping down from my brow.
He nodded, mirroring the movement. “Well met, 'ewan tsamsiyu.”
“I-I am no warrior,” I stammered.
“Pay her modesty no mind,” So'lek interjected. “Tamtey te Rokel Kataru'ite is the finest tsamsiyu I have ever known,” he murmured, regarding me with a strange light in his eyes, his ears swiveling toward me. I couldn't help but frown at him, unsure if he was teasing me.
“I trust the word of the pänuyu,” Entu smiled, his weightless hand coming to rest over my shoulder. “It is a curious thing, being born into one clan, only to find yourself within another later on. Is that not so, Trr'ong'itan? Or, should I now say, Sarentu'itan?”
So'lek nodded his agreement, his expression grave. “I trust the path which Eywa has set before me. It has been unrelenting, and yet,” again, his eyes flicked toward me, “worthwhile.”
I suddenly found myself grateful that my cheeks could not flush in the spirit realm—all from So'lek and his needless taunting. To redirect, well…everything so far, I asked, “Is there a reason you have brought us here, leiokoaktan?” turning toward Entu.
“The addition of a new olo'tu is an event to be celebrated, 'ewan'ite,” he nodded, gesturing toward So'lek, then to Hawnutu'un. “Ma'eylan entrusts the last 'itan of his 'olo to us, so that the Sarentu may treasure him. I leave that task to you, Kataru'ite.”
I folded my hand over my heart, stepping closer to Entu. “I accept the task, leio'eyktan. But…where are the others?”
I hadn’t noticed So'lek move, shifting toward me. But his voice was at my ear as he said, “Look, Sarentu.” I turned to find him beside me, so near we were practically touching. My gaze flitted from his bare chest to his golden eyes, creased with something I could not name as his lips tugged into a grin. Just over his shoulder, I could make out the others coming toward us, each with a wide smile on their face.
Well, all except for Nor. But by now, that was to be expected.
“Tamtey!” Ri'nela called. As her gaze fell over So'lek, her eyes widened just as mine had. Teylan didn’t seem the least bit phased, merely glad to see us both here. Nor lingered at the edge of the group, his jaw tight. But Rasi…
Rasi’s mouth fell open as she crested the ridge, catching sight of Entu. Unlike the others, she was shocked to lay eyes upon him, her trembling fingers falling from her brow. “Oel ngati kameie, ma'leiokoaktan,” she greeted, her voice soft with reverence.
“'Ite,” Entu nodded, beckoning for all the Sarentu to gather together. We formed a circle, just as we had at the tarsyu, Entu and Hawnutu'un gravitating toward its middle. The founder of the Trr'ong turned toward his descendant, waving him forward.
“Za'u, maitan. Lu'awpo Sarentu,” Hawnutu'un’s steady voice rang out. “Once more, you have chosen belonging, peace. Once more, you have chosen soaia. Honor them well, 'itan, and they shall cherish you.” The first Trr'ong held up a small shell filled with paint. He dipped two fingers into the orange mixture, drawing the symbol of the Trr'ong over So'lek’s chest.
Entu stepped forward, his own shell cupped within his palm. “The Sarentu accept you, So'lek te Elusa Kiro'itan. Our struggles have become your own, and the ancestors will hold you once you have breathed your last.” He stood before So'lek, drawing his thumb over Hawnutu'un’s mark. Entu traced the swoop of his torch, dotting the four embers just below. “Zola'u nìprrte', Sarentu'itan,” Entu nodded. He reached for So'lek’s hand, holding it high above them.
As we cheered for our addition, the scene began to ripple and fade. I gradually became aware of my breaths, the sounds of night all around me, my own pounding heart. And before I knew it, my eyes were fluttering open, the tarsyu glowing before us all once more.
I let my kuru slip away, drawing in a deep breath. As each of the others came to, they shared smiles and laughs, recounting what we had seen. Only, So'lek’s eyes never strayed from mine—steady, unreadable. Conveying something I lacked the words for, yet I understood in its entirety.