Amalthea - the true daughter of Eywa. Just over a year after Neteyam's death, Lo'ak has an accident that renders him comatose. In the "limbo" of life, she intercepts his journey.
~
"Are you sure this is what you want? Once this choice has been made, there is no undoing,"
"I'm sure... I really, really, am."
~
​​​​​​​Lo'ak woke in an oddly familiar place. "You have awoken," A voice spoke to his left. He turned. "Who the hell are you?" He snapped. The woman cleared her throat as she floated toward him... wait, floated?? "I am Amalthea. And I am here to help your choice," Lo'ak frowned as he stood. "What choice? I still don't know who you are," Amalthea gestured to the place they were in. "You are in Eywa... you are very close to death, young one," She gently tapped his shoulder and the scene shifted. "You are currently in soul form. Your physical form, there see?" She pointed.

Lo'ak was shocked at how awful he looked. "Is too weak. It will die soon. Or, if the Tsahìk provides the correct cure, it will live a life not worth living," He frowned as his eyes fell upon his beloved. "What do you mean by that?" He asked softly. "I mean, your body is dying. Your injuries are much too great to survive. You will lose your legs if the cure works. And I'm not sure how long it would last before succumbing to the injuries." Amalthea paused, seeing the tears in his eyes. "I can stop if you wish for some time," Lo'ak shook his head. "No. Keep going,"

She nodded. "The body would die by the winter solstice if the cure works. It would die horribly and painfully, with no cure or remedy to lessen the pain. If I'm correct, the ribs are putting pressure on the heart and lungs. It would take one wrong move for them to puncture." She went quiet, letting him think through it. After a while, he cleared his throat. "What... did you mean... when you said my physical form is dying?" Amalthea gave a small smile in hopes of easing the burden. "Your soul is too young, my mother is not ready to accept it yet. You are too young still. My mother may be balanced, but she is not cruel,"

She anticipated the rush of anger in his eyes and loud scoff. "Then why'd she let my brother die? Huh?" Amalthea placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Like you: his soul was too pure for the world. Had the sky people chosen peace instead of war, the world would have been gentle enough for his soul to blossom." She met the seventeen-year-old's eyes. "He was too focused on shielding you and your sisters from the horrors, his soul became too fragile to take it. Either his physical form died, and he continued here in peace, or both died. It was a tough choice my mother made,"

"Wait, he's alive? He's here?" She was already walking. "Come, I'll show you,"

~

The next day, Amalthea asked about his decision. "All energy is borrowed, yes?" He began. Amalthea felt herself frown. "Yes... what a question, Lo'ak." He cast a forlorn look at the crying Metkayina woman. "I'm dead already. My body won't live till winter, you said so yourself. So: I want to exchange my energy for my brothers," Amalthea's eyed widened. "I don't know if my mother can do that, Lo'ak. Your brother's physical form died as well." Lo'ak gestured angrily. "Unlike me, his soul is still mostly healthy. Combine the energies from our dead bodies or some shit!" Amalthea gave a single nod. "Are you sure this is what you want? Once this choice has been made, there is no undoing," She warned. "I'm sure... I really, really, am." Lo'ak spoke. Amalthea stared deeply, waiting to see a ripple in the soul. A ripple, depending on the size, indicated a lie.

His soul was still. "You will have one week to say goodbye. I cannot offer more, but I can heal your body enough for that," His eyes lit up. "You will have to be careful still, as I have not done this before. And when the time comes, you will pass painlessly in your sleep on the seventh night,"

After she'd escorted his soul back into his body, she informed her mother of her decision. "Wise, daughter. Perhaps emotionally driven, but wise nevertheless. I have never seen an energy transfer before," Amalthea smiled. "It was his idea, mother. He was ready." She waited for a week, and as promised, collected his soul.

"You will now reside here, where your family previous roam free of pain and war," She gestured to the Omitikaya forest. "I think you will enjoy it here,"