It was a sunny day on the coast of Metkayina. The sky was a beautiful shade of cerulean, with just the faintest hint of white puffy clouds drifting lazily across it. The sea sparkled in the sunlight, its dark blue depths dotted with schools of colorful fish. In the distance, the mountain range rose up like a wall of obsidian against the clear blue of the sky.

In the heart of the village, Tsireya sat by a waterfall, the soothing sound of the water falling over the rocks filling her ears. She was drawing on the sand with a long sharp stick, her eyes flicking up from time to time to look at the colorful corals and seaweeds that grew along the shore.

Tsireya was jolted awake from her peaceful slumber, her heart pounding in her chest. She sat up with a gasp, her hand going to her chest as she tried to catch her breath. Her bright blue eyes darted around the room, blinking to focus in the dim light, only to realize in a moment that she was no longer in her family’s marui, but instead was sitting on the bare tiled floor, her back against the cold metal wall.

What… what happened?

Tsireya was struggling to remember how she ended up here, but the memories were just out of her reach. She tried to move, but a sharp pain shot through her body, making her gasp and wince. She looked down to see that her arms and legs were shackled to the wall, the cold metal cuffs biting into her skin. The cool air of the room made her shiver, and for a moment she was acutely aware of her lack of clothing — only a thin white cotton shirt was worn on her instead of her usual tribal attire.

Panic welled up in her chest. She pulled at her restraints, but they held fast, not even budging an inch. She was completely trapped, helpless. Her heart was pounding wildly, her breathing quick and shallow, her mind racing. She had no idea where she was, what was happening, or who had brought her here. A wave of fear washed over her, and she bit her lip to hold back a quiet sob.

Tsireya remained frozen against the wall, her wide, frightened eyes darting nervously around the room, taking in every detail. The cold metal of the shackles dug into her skin with each tiny movement. She was trembling now, not just from the chill but from fear and confusion. Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes as she struggled to process her situation. Where was she? What happened to her clan, her family? Panic threatened to overwhelm her, but she fought to keep calm, to think. She was a healer, a Tsahik in training. She had to stay strong, had to find a way out. But as she tested her restraints again and found them unyielding, despair began to creep into her heart. She was completely at the mercy of whoever had brought her here, a prisoner with no idea what fate awaited her. A soft, involuntary whimper escaped her lips as she huddled against the wall, praying desperately to Eywa for guidance and protection in this terrifying new world.

The room she was locked in felt nothing like her home marui — no woven decorations, no soft mats and pillows nor sleeping hammocks hanging from the ceiling, just cold, unwelcoming metal walls and floor made of huge marble tiles.