I love the “herbs from my forest heal faster” line because, while on a surface level it seems like nothing more than a bratty remark, it actually reveals so much of Neytiri’s inner feelings.
Neytiri has been forced to leave her beloved forest because of war, after already losing her home once, living without a hometree for 15 years and being displaced for one. She’s been living in emotional isolation for months exactly because of the separation from her home and people, a state that has significantly worsened with the death of her son. And when she finally did return home, she was injured, having barely survived a mortal wound, and most importantly she was terrified for her children’s safety. She saw her forest again, but because of the situation she didn’t even have the chance to rejoice or find solace; she saw only a glimpse of home, and soon had to go through the pain of leaving it, her mother and her people once again, without knowing if she would ever be back, with the ever-growing shadow of a new war looming ahead, a war that could very well take that home and everything and everyone she loves away from her permanently, a war she currently can’t even fight in because of her injury.
She is depressed and bitter and frustrated. So of course she rudely brags about her forest to Ronal—the woman who publicly shamed her and her family for their forest people features. It’s the only way she can show pride about the Omatikaya roots which she has been forced to abandon time and time again.
