𝐄𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐄𝐂𝐇𝐎𝐒

〶

Toku rushed in pursuit of Kiri and Tsireya, swimming under the majestic cliffs and towards the Spirit Tree. The rest of the Sullys seemed in awe of the beautiful floating cliffs and mountain ranges that surrounded them, but Kiri hung her head low, her heart heavy with unspoken emotions.

He made his best attempt to talk to her, only to be shunned away when she said, "Not now." The cold words wounded him, but accepting that she wished to be left alone, he carried on with the day. As the eclipse approached, they all swam to the Spirit Tree, diving into the cool water as the shadow of the eclipse darkened the sky, and the blue ocean turned deeper in hue.

Toku was transported back to when he and Kiri had first met, secretly stealing glances at her. However, this time, he received none back, and it left a pang of sadness in his heart.

He wished for her to understand, to give him a chance to explain, but he knew he could only wait until Kiri was ready to talk.

Meanwhile, Aonung and Tsireya demonstrated to the Sullys how to connect their queues, and he watched intently as Kiri closed her eyes, falling into a sleep-like state.

Toku hesitantly connected his own queue, and his vision instantly shifted.

His consciousness merged with Eywa. He found himself floating in a vast, ethereal space, surrounded by the glowing essence of the Na'vi ancestors. It was a place of tranquility and wisdom, a sacred realm where souls communed.

In this ethereal realm, Toku saw flashes of memories from his past and glimpses of moments shared with Kiri. He saw the laughter they shared, and the deep conversations that brought them closer together. He felt the warmth of their connection, the tender affection they had for each other.

Soon a vivid vision unfolded before him. There stood Kiri, but she had transformed into a woman, more radiant and mature than ever before. She laughed, taking his hand and leading him to the beach. Words were unnecessary in this vision, for their hearts spoke a language of their own.

They walked together, drawn to the edge of the ocean, where two children played joyfully in the sand. These kids bore an uncanny resemblance to both Toku and Kiri. A sense of awe washed over him as he realized that in this vision, they were a family—a family he had always dreamed of.

A mixture of emotions surged within Toku. The vision was beautiful, but he knew deep down it was not real. It was merely a glimpse of what could be, a tender fantasy created by the spirit tree.

"What's the matter?" Kiri's voice suddenly rang through the vision, her face betraying a hint of sadness.

Toku couldn't find the words to express the depth of his feelings. Instead, he pulled her into an embrace, cherishing every moment he had with her.

In that heartfelt hug, Toku yearned for the chance to make this vision a reality, to create a life with Kiri and have their own family. But he also understood that visions were not promises of what was to come.

As the vision began to dissolve like ripples in the water, Kiri faded away, along with the children and the world they had envisioned. Toku opened his eyes, taking in the physical world around him.

Toku couldn't help but smile. This glimpse of the possible future had stirred something profound within him. It was a reminder of the love he held for Kiri, a love that went beyond the present moment and into the realm of possibilities.

With a newfound sense of hope, Toku looked back at Kiri, who was still connected to the tree, and wondered what she could possibly be experiencing in the spirit world.

But then, to his shock, her body began to convulse, straining in unusual ways. Panic swept through the group, and before Toku could even catch his breath, everyone was rushing to get Kiri out of the water. Her seemingly lifeless body was carefully lifted onto an Ilu and carried back to the shore.

Toku's heart sank as confusion and worry flooded his mind. What could have caused this sudden and alarming reaction? Had something gone terribly wrong during her connection to the spirit tree? He was left wondering if somehow the vision she had experienced had affected her in some way.

〶