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Tonowari's face was aghast as Neytiri carried Pril and Ronal off of the ikran, keeping the sling tight as she laid the Tsahik's body down amongst the fallen Na'vi whose bodies they had managed to salvage. All the rest who had gone missing were most likely dead, burnt, or maybe mangled beyond recognition to even bring back.
Tonowari's blue eyes caught the light, and he looked up from Rotxo's body laid out among the bodies, his face transforming.
The reef olo'eyktan let out a guttural cry at his mate's body being laid down next to Rotxo's, and he stumbled to get to her side, pressing his forehead into Ronal's chest as he wept, long, loud mournful sounds into the Tsahik's side that made Neytiri feel like her heart and throat were being gripped every time she heard them.
His cries alerted Tsireya and Aonung, who were still knelt over their close friend's body just a few feet away. They collapsed at their father's side, caught in similar states of grief; disbelief from Aonung as he blinked down numbly at Rona's unmoving figure, immediate desperation from Tsireya as she pleaded with a ghost, pleaded to Eywa, to anyone who was listening to spare her mother and her sibling.
For a long while, these were the only sounds the Metkayina Clan heard, and when even Tonowari's miserable sobs went silent, the Olo'eyktan looked up at Neytiri, his eyes hollow as she remembered her own to be when she'd heard Neteyam's breaths no longer coming, witnessed her son's eyes dulling. He was desperate, she recognised. And her heart broke for all of them again.
"The child?" Tonowari asked quietly, his voice no longer booming like it usually was, no longer guided by an invisible presence that kept his head held high. A shell of what it used to be.
Neytiri fought back tears and the lump in her throat, nodding as she unclasped the sling from her own front, letting Pril's father hold her for the first time, albeit with shaking hands.
"I'm sorry." she uttered softly, her voice barely a whisper on the wind that was as dead as her will to keep going felt at that moment. "I could not save her, Tonowari."
At his name mentioned, the reef king's body jerked, his eyes squeezing shut tightly as he cradled the baby ever so gently to him, despite his body tensing so fiercely.
"No matter." he uttered. Soulless. Gone. "This was Ronal's last gift to us. I will treasure it. With all I have to give." He vowed. The clan felt lighter, ever so slightly at their leader's will.
"...Her name." Neytiri said quietly, kneeling down to address him. "It is Pril. Ronal named her."
Tonowari nodded, breathing deeply. "It is a good name." He nodded, standing up.
"Brothers and sisters," He addressed, his voice trembling as he projected to the clans gathered. "Today we lost many. Sacrificed all we have. But this," he held his child up with both hands. "this is a sign of hope. We will not give in, for as long as there is our families to protect. Our children-" his voice wavered. "-to protect."
Ikeyni of the Tayrangi Clan stood in response, silently raising her bow in support.
Neytiri joined, her eyes burning with tears. For Neteyam. For Ronal, and for Rotxo. For Eytukan, for Tsu'tey. Grace and Sylwanin. And for all they'd left behind, where the Great Mother carried them in her heart.
Tsireya, joining hands with Lo'ak, raised her spear as Lo'ak himself removed Neteyam's choker, raising it high.
Soon, Na'vi after Na'vi were lifting their weapons and possessions, hearts bared to the sky in a silent, mournful display.
For all they'd lost.
For all they were fighting for.
For all they loved.
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