─── ⋆ IN THEIR LAST MOMENTS
the pa’li stood idly, ears flickering and legs occasionally stomping as she watched the two sisters before her with patient but wary eyes. vaylän kept her voice steady and soft.
“you must be gentle or you will frighten her.” vaylän said, using one hand to stroke the creature’s warm neck and the other to hold her little sister’s hand.
“i frighten?” ni’roh wondered, tilting her head with childlike curiosity.
vaylän paused, pretending to think. “only when you do not listen.” a slow smirk curled at her lips. “you are too small to frighten anything.” she teased, slightly bending to tickle her sister.
ni’roh quietly squealed and tried twisting away. “vaylän! stop— i cannot breathe!”
vaylän fingers slowly came to a stop, easing off with the affectionate torture. she lowered herself to a crouch, brushing a loose strand of hair from ni’roh’s face before gently cupping her cheeks. “you know… you’re a little too chubby for a na’vi.”
ni’roh eyes widened in offense, cheeks puffing up. “i am not!” she squeaked, swatting at vaylän’s hands.
the eldest held back a laugh. “hm… then why do your cheeks do that?” she teased as ni’roh’s tail lashed harder.
she turned, back facing her older sister, arms crossing tightly as her ears twitched in outrage. “i’m telling.” she huffed, beginning to walk off.
“ni’roh wait!” vaylän laughed out grabbing ni’roh arm. “i only tease.”
“well it’s not funny.” she respond.
vaylän’s smile faded into something gentler. “come here,” she murmured, tugging back into her arms.
the young girl let herself be pulled in, still pouting, her tail coming to a stop. vaylän pressed a soft kiss against her cheek before pulling back.
that small moment of silence seemed to settle them. when vaylän raised her head from where it was rested, she noticed the female pa’li had drifted off from the two, now feeding on a patch of grass.
“alright.” she sighed, standing up and taking ni’roh’s hand. “let’s try again, yeah? you are not bonding with her— only building a neutral trust between the two of you.”
“fine.” ni’roh agreed. “as long as she is not aggressive.”
the pa’li lifted her snout at the sound of the sisters closing the small distance, her ears twitching forward. ni’roh’s hand tightened around vaylän’s as she came to a stop.
“she is calm,” vaylän assured softly. she guided ni’roh a step forward, careful to not upset her or the pa’li. “she listens to your heart, if nothing else.”
ni’roh swallowed, eyes fixated on the creature’s massive face. “well, my heart is beating very fast.” as she looked up at vaylän with uncertainty.
“then let her hear it, and she will see you are no threat to her,” she replied, beginning to rub the pa’li’s coat.
the pa’li’s head still raised as ni’roh reached out toward her with a steady hand, copying her sisters movement.
when the direhorse responded by leaning into her warmth, ni’roh gasped.
“she likes me!” she exclaimed, turning to her sister, eyes searching for approval.
vaylän’s lips slowly curled into a soft smile. “yes, i see. now speak to her”
the six year old eyes lit up, and snapped her head back towards the mammal-like creature.
“i see you,” ni’roh whispered, her tiny three fingered hand still pressed against the pa’li’s warm hide.
vaylän’s smile widened with pride, “good, very good sister.”
the pandora-born creature basked in the attention of the young child, her eyes relaxed. then her ears began to twitch — once, twice, sharp and rapid, turning toward the distant horizon—tail going still.
as if she was sensing something coming.
the two sisters began to feel a change. one after the other.
the agitated looking pa’li.
the shift in wind, breeze suddenly coming to stop.
and the light that was once so bright, dimmed, not from the clouds but from something far beyond the sky.
a low hum rumbled through the air, metallic and wrong. it vibrated through vaylän’s ribs and into her heart. a noise that pressed too sharply against ni’roh’s ears.
she looked up, gaze filled with tears. “vaylän, what is that?”
through the gaps in the trees, they saw it..
slowly descending from the sky was a metal shaped ship, too large and loud, too unnatural to belong on pandora.
‘something is wrong. very wrong’
“what is it?” ni’roh whispered in a panic, barely finishing her question before a figure emerged from between the trees— their mother. her breath uneven and eyes wide with something that made vaylän’s heart beat too fast.
“daughters” she breathed out, relief flooded her voice. she ran up to vaylän and ni’roh and pulled the two of them into a tight embrace, holding them as if she feared they would vanish.
only when the mother calmed herself did she release them from the warmth of her arms and checked over them, hands hovering over their arms and faces.
“come children” she urged, gripping both of their wrists, her grip was firm but not harsh.
the mother rushed back with her daughter in tow. she tried to remain calm and collected for her children, but vaylän saw right through it, every little twitch whenever the trees would sway too hard.
they could feel the forest floor tremble beneath their feet every so often, worsening each time it rumbled. winged creatures burst from the branches, their movement frantic.
smoke slowly threaded through the tree gaps, bringing a scent of burning bark. ni’roh coughed softly, but how much time would it be before it’s a full-on wheeze.
“mother… what is this?” vaylän whispered.
their mother did not reply, instead, picking up her pace while her jaw was tight and her eyes fixed ahead.
the clearing opened suddenly, revealing the gathered na’vi in a tight, panicked circle beneath the shaded light of the trees. their voices overlapping with fear and confusion.
children were crying, elders were praying, hunters and warriors were shouting over one another.
and at the center of it all stood their father, the olo’eyktan, trying to calm his people even while his own tail lashed with unease.
once he caught sight of his daughters, his once tense shoulders began to drop. he rushed forward, pulling the three of them into his arms.
“thank eywa,” he breathed out, pressing his forehead to his daughters’ and pausing for a moment before stepping back into his role as the olo’ektan. “we do not have much time,” he addressed his wife in a hushed tone, the two of them maintaining eye contact until a deep roar rolled across the sky, it was loud now, and closer.
the clan looked up in union.
through the canopy, they saw an orange light flickering, reflecting fire. the tops of distant trees glowed unnaturally bright, bending under the force of something descending.
it was another demon ship entering the atmosphere, and right after that one, was another.
the forest shook as the flames licked upward, devouring leaves, and sending sparks spiraling into the air.
ni’roh shakily released vaylän’s hand to cover her ears as the noise sharpened painfully—tears spilling down her face.
vaylän swallowed hard, “they’re burning the forest.” looking towards her father.
their father broke from his trance and stepped forward, voice strong, forcing his own fear he had aside, for his people came first. “ run to the hill, we will meet there” he ordered.
the clan broke their gaze from the demon ships and burst into motion— parents gathering their children, warriors collecting weapons, and healers grabbing only want was important.
their mother turned to her oldest daughter and grabbed her arms, “i need you to take your sister, and leave this forest… and whatever happens, you do not look back.”
vaylän looked hesitant, her mouth opening and closing before she finally said something. “mother—”
“please ma ‘ite.” her mother’s voice came again, desperate this time. (my daughter)
vaylän’s fight slipped away, “ok.” she finally agreed.
“ok” her mother mimicked, she kissed both of her daughters forehead before stepping away. “now go,” her mother urged.
“come, ni’roh” vaylän said, scooping up her little sister before running for the hill.
ni’roh eyes began to shine, filling with panic. “mom!” she yelled, reaching out for her mother.
why is she moving farther away from her parents?
why did her sa’nok sound like that when saying vaylän’s name?
and why was it so much screaming?
why is it so loud?she pressed her face into her sister’s shoulder, crying now.
vaylän pulled her close,“it’ll be ok, ni’roh.” she whispered, as she continued to follow the clan.
she ran until the path ahead exploded in sparks — a burning tree crashed down, blocking their way. vaylän stumbled back, clutching ni’roh tighter as another trunk groaned behind them, leaning, ready to fall.
it felt like the forest had begun to close in on the two of them, heat pressing against her skin, smoke curling low around their legs.
ni’roh whimpered, pushing herself closer into her sister’s shoulder. vaylän’s heart began to pound against her chest as she turned in a frantic circle.
cornered by two flaming trees.
vaylän searched for any type of exit.
the first born child’s heartbeat began to fasten as she set her sister onto the floor of pandora.
“vaylän…what do we do?” the young na’vi coughed out, her hands shaking against her ears.
she didn’t answer. her eyes still darting over every corner— looking for anything.
the trees were to tall to jump over, and to close to another for there to even be space for them to squeeze through.
that was when vaylän’s eyes widened, filling with hope.
hope that could at most save her sister and not cut her life short.
there just ahead—was a narrow gap between the forest ground and the third fallen tree, held up by a single thick branch.
she quickly turned and grabbed onto ni’roh’s hand, grip tightening as she guided her sister to the gap—not wanting to waste a second.
‘do not fail me now eywa,’ she begged.
vaylän lowered her sister to the ground, holding onto her trembling arms. “you have to crawl through.” she whispered.
ni’roh turned to the eldest of the two. “you will be behind me?”
the youngest hesitated for a second.
but they did not have a second more to waste. something vaylän knew.
she began to pushing her sister to the opening, more desperate this time.
ni’roh stumbled out, dragging herself across the dirt before standing up. as vaylän began to slip her way through the clearing, the branch supporting the fallen trunk gave away with a sharp crack.
before she could react, the tree had collapsed against her ankle, pinning it the forest floor.
pain shot up her leg as she gasped, fingers digging into the dirt as the weight held her in place.
ni’roh rushed to help, grasping onto her sister’s wrist and pulling with all her strength. but the heavy did not budge tree did not budge.
“it won’t move,” ni’roh choked, voice breaking. “vaylän, it won’t—“
“ni’roh,” vaylän hissed through clenched teeth, glancing up at her sister. “calm down. breathe.”
ni’roh’s chest hitched, tears smearing the ash on her cheeks.
“in… and out,” vaylän whispered, even as the pain continued to take over her leg. “good. now try again. pull when i say to.”
ni’roh nodded, though her hands trembled violently.
vaylän braced her palms against the dirt, jaw tightening.”ready… now!”
the little girl pushed with all her strength as vaylän kicked as hard as she could against the trunk, a sharp cry escaping her as a jolt of pain shot through her ankle. the tree had shifted— only a fraction, but enough.
she sucked in a breath and twisted, sliding her foot through the narrow space before the tree could settle again. bark scraped her skin, heat licking at her heel, but she didn’t stop until her ankle was free.
she collapsed forward with a gasp, grabbing ni’roh’s shoulder to steady herself.
“you did it,” ni’roh breathed, wide‑eyed and shaking.
vaylän forced a nod, swallowing the pain that pulsed up her leg. “come on.”
she set herself on her feet and latched onto ni’roh’s wrist.
they sprinted (well, one of them) blindly through the smoke‑choked undergrowth, lungs burning, vision blurring. the world was nothing but orange light and the thunder of collapsing trees.
vaylän didn’t see that the forest floor had changed ahead until her foot from under her.
one step — and the ground had tilted.
she and ni’roh tumbled forward together, rolling down the steep forest incline. branches whipped past them, dirt and ash kicking up around their bodies as they slid faster, unable to stop. ni’roh’s cry echoed once before the world spun too quickly to tell up from down.
they hit the bottom hard.
the impact knocked the air from vaylän’s chest; ni’roh’s voice cut off in a choked gasp beside her.
then everything went still.
ash drifted down like slow, gray snow. the roar of the fire above softened into a distant, muffled rumble.
vaylän tried to push herself up — but her limbs felt heavy, her vision swimming. ni’roh lay beside her, unmoving except for the faint rise and fall of her chest.
darkness pressed in at the edges of her sight.
she reached out blindly, fingers brushing her sister’s hand.
and the world slipped away.
Author note: this is not best but it’s fine for now.
(𝘸𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘣𝘺 𝘯𝘤𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘨𝘪𝘤𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴)
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