The forest was alive.
Everywhere I looked, Pandora breathed—plants pulsed faintly with light, leaves shifted as if listening, and even the ground itself seemed aware of my steps. It was nothing like Earth. Here, the night wasn't empty; it was vibrant, glowing, conscious.
I walked slowly, testing my new body. Each stride covered more ground than before, my balance perfect, my movements silent despite my size. My hearing stretched farther than I could comprehend—I could hear the rustle of insects, the distant growl of predators, even the slow heartbeat of a slumbering beast miles away.
And beneath it all… a hum.
It's not just sound. It was a presence. Gentle, yet vast. Curious, yet eternal. Like the planet itself was… aware of me.
I stopped under the canopy of a massive tree, eyes scanning the glowing roots that seemed to pulse with life. Instinctively, I reached out, resting my palm on the bark.
And then—
"Child of stars…"
The voice echoed directly in my mind, warm and resonant. My breath caught.
"Who… who's there?" I whispered.
"You are not of this world, yet this world breathes within you."
My chest tightened. The voice wasn't human, wasn't singular—it was many, layered, as if a chorus spoke through every leaf and root.
"Eywa…" I breathed, realization dawning.
The forest pulsed faintly, as if answering.
"Power… vast as suns. But will you protect? Or consume?"
A shiver ran down my spine. I wanted to speak, to promise, to swear—but the words tangled. My fists clenched. I don't even know who I am here. A god? A demon? A savior?
Before I could answer, the silence broke.
A sharp rustle. A whisper of movement.
I turned, senses flaring—heartbeat, footsteps, the creak of a bowstring being drawn.
Voices.
"Skxawng," a low male voice hissed. "Too big. Not one of us."
Another, sharper: "Monster. Look at his size."
From the shadows, figures emerged—Na'vi. Tall, blue-skinned, armed with bows and spears. Their golden eyes burned with suspicion as they circled me. Even at nine feet, I was taller, broader. To them, I must've looked like some twisted spirit.
I raised my hands slowly. "I don't want to fight."
The lead hunter snarled, drawing his bow fully. "Demon!"
The arrow loosed—faster than a bullet. But to me, it crawled. I tilted my head, watching it drift through the air as if time itself slowed. My hand snapped up, plucking it between two fingers like a child catching a falling leaf.
Gasps echoed around me.
The hunters froze, their golden eyes wide.
I looked at the arrow, then at them. My voice was calm, steady, but carried across the forest like thunder.
"I am no demon. I am… a protector."
Silence. Even the forest seemed to pause, as if waiting for what would come next.
The Na'vi exchanged uneasy glances, their bows trembling.
But before any could move again, the whisper in my mind returned—stronger this time, a command that echoed through my very bones.
"Walk with them… for your path begins here."
Eywa's voice. Guiding me.
I slowly released the arrow, letting it fall harmlessly to the ground. Then, with deliberate calm, I lowered myself to one knee, bowing my head before the hunters.
Their leader stiffened, his bow still trembling in his grip. "What are you…?"
I met his eyes, my voice steady, carrying the weight of truth.
"Someone who does not belong… but someone who chooses to stand with Pandora."
The forest glowed brighter for a heartbeat—Eywa's silent approval.
And in that moment, the Na'vi hunters knew: whatever I was, my arrival was no accident.