Beyond thinking
Nuäfperìl
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Tsu'tey had taken care when putting Kyra to rest. He wasn't fond of her yet and was getting used to the idea of her around, but she was here and had nowhere to go. The bullet wound in her friend was like the bullet wounds from long ago.

He wasn't hesitant to go to Mo'at for her guidance, it was her scolding that he wanted to avoid. He stepped up, a stoic look on his face.

"Ma Tsahik, oeyä numeyuri tserurokx. Poeti kekem ke si krra oe poltxe."(Matriarch, my student rests. She did nothing when I spoke to her.) Tsu'tey said when she had laid her attention on him. She turned her full attention to him, suddenly intrigued and concerned.

"Ngat sngum teri poeri."(you worry for her.) she stated.

"Oe sngum teri nìwotx oeyä aynumeyu."(I worry for all my students.) he disregarded.

Mo'at's eyes blinked in understanding before following him to the hammock she was asleep in.

"Nga sweylamu molunge poeri ne oeti."(you should've brought her to me.) she scolded, motioning to her. Tsu'tey stepped into her hammock, lifting her out, waking her. With care, he helped her to her feet.

"Kempe sìyi srak?"(what will be done?) Tsu'tey asked.

"Oeng pìylltxe hu poeti."(we will speak with her.) Mo'at said, "fu poeti tswìya'."(or she will forget.) mo'at said cryptically.

The trio walked down into the shaman's den under the great tree.

Tsu'tey had her sit as they all did.

The Tsahik exchanged glances with Tsu'tey before opening her mouth to speak.

"Kìra." She said, earning the Kyra's attention. She had a hazed look.

"What troubles you?" Mo'at had genuine concern in her voice. As a mother, to two- one, she sees a bit of her children in all of the people.

Kyra stares blankly, eyes filling with tears. The Tsahik leans forward and takes her hand.

"I..." she tries, "I'm not like Jake. Not an avatar." She said.

"What do you mean?" Tsu'tey asked, eyes trained on her.

Something swells in her stomach as she felt his eyes. She clasps her hands together.

"I'm dead. I have no other body. This is my body." She murmured. She knew they couldn't really understand.

"This year is twenty-one fifty-four. I was born in twenty-twenty-six." She tried to explain. They have no concept of a year, instead of celebrating birthdays, they celebrate milestones.

"My body died in a battle long ago. About as long as a person lives for. I've been dead until a few days ago."

She could tell they were trying to piece it together. One-hundred and twenty-eight years. She's been dead.

"How do you live?" Tsu'tey almost blurted.

"When I was dying, they copied me. The Skypeople put me in this body as a test." She said, "I don't know why. But now I am here."

Tsu'tey was aware of their odd way of measuring time. Their shorter lifespans.

"You are here now." Mo'at said.

Kyra nodded. She sat there, adjusting. She wished she hadn't asked, but now she knows.

Tsu'tey looked at her with understanding of her emotions, what she must be feeling. His eyes glanced over her, reading her silently. She's stuck here. She might as well be na'vi. Her spirit however... it's far too human.

"I knew you weren't quite like Jake. Your are in-tune with this body, whether you know it or not. You walk like us, you've already learned much of our language as if you've spoken it your whole life." Mo'at said, trailing off.

"If only there was a way to know how this body was made... something never comes from nothing." She whispered.

"I have no way of knowing." Kyra replied.

They wouldn't have to wait long for an answer. Jake asked Grace. She headed the whole department. She had the resources to figure it out and it took some digging and to her horror, the genes used for her avatar came into the RDA's possession through malicious means.

Jake returned in the morning knowing more than he wanted to. He ghosted about the place, avoiding people's gaze as if he'd seen something he shouldn't have. Seeking out Kyra who was weaving something intricate and rich in color.

"Kyra." He said to catch her attention. She looked up with brighter eyes than the day prior.

"We gotta talk."

Kyra pinned her creation and got to her feet.

"What about?"

"Your avat- I mean, you know what I mean." He rubbed the back of his neck nervously and bit the inside of his cheek.

She nodded.

"Grace did some digging. I mean literally. We found bodies under the school. A kid. Not all of them were buried here. And there was one extra. A grown woman. She had a tail like yours." He said above a whisper.

"Grace recognized the body of the girl. She was Peyanu. Daughter of Sa'nueya." He said shakily.

"Record of the other is in the avatar database. Her name was Manuya according to the recordings of her conversations before they... they killed her." He said tensely.

"Oh my god." Kyra was stunned. Is Sa'nueya still here? In this clan? This village? How would she react, should she say something? And that Manuya, that must've been hell.

She had to tell the Tsahik.

•—————•—————•—————•—————•

"Ma Tsahik, I have learned the origin of this body, if you'll listen." Kyra approached Mo'at when she was mostly alone. The Tsahik put her whole attention on Kyra.

"Speak, child." She ordered.

"One of the children is buried under the school. And there's a woman's body too. They were called Peyanu and Manuya." She said in a quiet, reserved tone.

Mo'at's expression was one of concern and horror.

"Did Grace tell you this?" She said.

"I heard it from Jake. He and Dr. Augustine found the bodies after I asked him what year it was." She reported.

"Ma Eywa..." Mo'at mumbled. But then she looked over Kyra's features. Blue and gold speckled eyes, deep tones and darker markings. Markings like Sa'nueya's.

It made sense. But it was also horrific.

"The child was so young that her spirit could only pass on through the soil instead of being passed into the tree of voices. Perhaps... a piece of her lives on with you." Mo'at said quietly.

"Once your Iknimaya is finished, you will train with me." Mo'at said.

Kyra nodded.