Myself and Aonung would fly often. We explored, found new beautiful places and we talked. Talking always seemed easy. A conversation would naturally flow, and sometime it would flow for hours on end. One day we were sat on the highest point of three brothers' rocks, our feet dangling over the side.

I laughed as he finished telling me the story of his first real hunt. And how he took the tooth as commemoration.

"You can't tell anyone," he said with a chuckle of his own. 

"I won't, I promise," I calmed my laughter the image of Aonung trapped in a fishing net far too clear in my mind.

"You have something here," he said going to brush something off my arm. 

"Oh it's a scar," he muttered.

"Yeah, I'm full of them aren't I?" I asked jokingly. Yet he didn't laugh.

"What is it?" I asked softly reaching over to grab his forearm. Placing his hand over mine he continued to look over my body. His expression becoming more somber with every scar he saw.

"Are they from the sky people?" he asked solemnly. I hadn't really taken notice of all my scars, it did faze me much. Yet looking down at my arm I took notice of how many actually sat there.  

"Most of them yes," I nodded as his thumb gently brushed over one.

"But not all," I said with a fond smile Aonung looking up to meet my gaze confused as to why I sounded happy. 

"I got this when I bonded with Oogi," I said pointing to my forearm where a small scar sat.

"I got this when Loak and I were playing," I said pointing to my temple the small scar hidden by my braids. 

"And I got this when Neteyam and I raced through the trees," I said pulling my hair to the side and turning around to show the scar on the back of my neck.

"The skxawng tripped us both up and we fell," I chuckled smiling fondly at the memory. My body froze as Aonung's hand gently placed itself on the scar running his fingers down it.

"Did it hurt?" he asked.

"They did. But I am glad I have them. They tell stories of my life," I smiled turning back around to him his hand still placed on my neck.

"Your song cord should do that," he said a glare settling onto his features as his thumb gently brushed my jawline. He wasn't angry at me, I knew that. He was angry at the scars. Father sometimes wore that expression when he saw them. 

"True. By they are marked into my very skin. Just like your people's tattoos. They speak of my bravery, my mistakes, and my flaws. They remind me of who I am every day," I said simply. I had come to accept my scars long ago. It was a funny thing. I had hated them for a long time. That was until Tuk was old enough to understand what they were. 

Her little eyes filled with aww as she said one simple phrase that changed my whole view of them.

"They're beautiful," she had said. That little phrase changed my whole outlook on them. 

"You have been through so much," he whispered solemnly bringing me out of my memory. 

"And I have survived," I whispered placing my hand on his arm as it moved up to cup my cheek. At that moment, with my words, Aonung's mind raced with everything I had faced. The dangers, the pain. 

"To think of you hurt," He huffed struggling to find the words. 

"It crushes my soul," he whispered. Aonung watched me for my reaction. Watching to see if his truth-filled confession was too much. For he didn't really understand why he cared for the forest girl as much as he did. All he knew was the thought of her hurt crushed him. It made it hard to breathe. Relief filled him as I smiled gently reaching for his cheek and pressing our foreheads together.

"Getting hurt is a part of life," I whispered.

"I won't let it. Not for you," he said defiantly placing his hand over mine. His eyes showed a determination that I couldn't argue with. I breathed deeply my heart racing. His as well.

"Then stay by my side," I whispered hesitantly. The words had left my mouth before I knew it. 

"Always," he whispered back without a moment of hesitation. 

"Skxawng," we sat there for a few moments breathing each other in. Our scents, the feeling of our hands on each other. The moment of peace that felt so right. 

"Besides, they look cool don't they?" I asked referring to the scars. Aonung chuckled pulling back his hand and moving to tuck my braids back putting the scar on my forehead on full display.

"They look exactly like the one who bears them," he said simply looking over the scar before returning his gaze to mine.

"Beautiful," he said simply. My whole chest warmed at his words the biggest smile spreading across my face. A smile that had Aonung's whole chest warming as well. 

That afternoon Kiri, Tuk, Neteyam, Rotxo, Tsireya, and I went to the cove of the ancestors. As soon as we breached the surface a breath of aww left my lips. It was beautiful. It reminded me of home as well. Floating rock formations, and in the distance rock that circled cusping the great moon. 

"This is the cove of the ancestors. Our most sacred place" Tsireya opened her arm to the beautiful scenery. 

"It's beautiful," I said.

"Eclipse is the best time of day to be here," she said as the light disappeared and the bioluminescence of the dark appeared. Once it did we could see the great light illuminating from beneath the surface.

"This is it, this is the spirit tree," she said waving her hand over it. Slipping off the Ilu we all dived down Tsireya giving us the signal to connect our queues. Gently taking a long leaf in hand I connected my braid. Closing my eyes a smile spread across my face as the thousands of voices I heard. Of the ancestors that lived on in Eywa. Of my grandfather, of my aunt. Of my people. It was peaceful and beautiful. Until it wasn't. A sickening feeling snuck into the pit of my stomach. Opening my eyes I frowned seeing the tree pulsing with light. Then I saw Kiri. Her body locked up and spasming like crazy. Everyone was instantly to her side, disconnecting her queue and swimming her to the surface. 

"Come on," Neteyam heaved her to the surface swimming over to his Ilu. Hopping on I helped him pull Kiris body out of the water.

"Kiri, Kiri," I called desperately.

"What is wrong? What is it?" Tuk asked just as scared.

"It was a sezier," Neteyam said quickly starting mouth to mouth.

"Is she breathing?" Rotxo question had my heart crunching. She wasn't.

"Is she breathing?" he asked again. A relief gasp washed over me as she took a stuttered breath. 

"Get her to the village, hurry," Tsireya said.

"Let's go, let's move," Neteyam said heaving her up more before taking off. Grabbing Tuk I mounted the Ilu and followed right behind. 

When we got back to the village it was light again. 

"DAD!" I screamed. "MUM!" I kept them beside Neteyam and he carried her. The villagers gathered at the worried cries.

"DAD!" I screamed. Dad burst through the crowd his eyes intently training on Kiri.

"What the hell happened?" he asked with pure worry looking over her.

"She had a seizure, she's not waking up," I pushed the words out through tears. 

"Neteyam contact norm, Get him out here," father demanded taking Kiri into his arms and rushing her to the hut. I stayed by her side holding her hand tightly as we waited. Norm rushed in with Max setting up all the gear.

"There's no bleed, no fracture. No effect of hypoxia. The brain looks good," Max explained showing the scan to Norm. 

My attention was pulled away by Ronal as she entered the hut. She looked over all the human instruments with somewhat of a disgusted face.

"I see I am not needed her," she said going to leave but was stopped by mother.

"You are tashik" she hissed as she grabbed her upper arm. 

"Remove these things," Ronal demanded.

"OUT! You have done nothing!" Mother hissed. Father hurriedly ushered them out allowing Ronal to begin. I assisted where I could. And when I couldn't assist anymore I took Kiri's hand and I prayed to eywa for her to return my sister to me. 

My eyes flung open as Kiri's grip tightened. 

She was awake.

"Oh thank the great mother," I whispered.

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