#seze

Neytiri and Seze are shown very clearly as having a close bond in the first film. Spirit sisters in a way. So it makes sense that in a time of war and the unity of the clans against the RDA, Neytiri would draw strength from her companion. Firstly not only are the colours she chose similar to Seze’s colouring, (predominantly teal, black, yellow) but design-wise, they both involve black around the eye area, the paint on Neytiri’s forehead and nose has lots of arrow designs that lead down the face, much like the pattern on the top of Seze’s head, even the chevron echoes the yellow and green heart shaped marking on Seze. The yellow dots on her cheeks call back to Seze’s second eye. There are also the diagonal stripes across Neytiri’s cheek and Seze’s jaws. The stripes on Neytiri’s torso are similar to the pattern on Seze’s underbelly, as well as the yellow lines on her back and shoulders being like the yellow ripples on Seze’s wings, even the red and pink colours of the feathers in her hair and armband craft resemblance with the red on bottom of Seze’s jaw and tail. Though I believe the warpaint, whilst in part represents the unity between the pair, (<- and aids in making Neytiri’s loss all the more heartbreaking) also serves a more practical purpose: camouflage. Ayram Alusìng began as an ambush - blending in with your Ikran would be necessary for their plan to work.

(excuse the image quality)

Seze was not Neytiri’s spirit sister. As far as we know, the Omatikaya or the forest people in general have no “equivalent” of a spirit sibling; that seems something only the reef clans have, and we don’t know if the Na'vi form such a bond with an animal other than the tulkun.

That isn’t to belittle the relationship between Seze and Neytiri. I don’t think her loss was any less devastating just because Seze is not “classified” as her spirit sister; ikran and their riders are bonded after all, and we know from Eetu and Zomey how intense such a connection is.

But I totally understand why people are led to believe that. I think it’s because most fans rightfully view the bond between an ikran and their rider as something truly deep that forms between equals rather than a “superior being and their pet” kind of relationship (not like a certain someone that makes a whole journey to learn the Na'vi way and become one of the People, yet still treat animals like they’re something to “tame” – looking at you Jake “you’re mine, shut up and fly straight” Sully). The nature of the bond might be different, but they don’t see it in any way inferior than that of a reef Na'vi and their tulkun spirit sibling.

Also taking the Zeswa and the zakru as an example: they do not consider each other spirit siblings (as far as we know), yet their entire lives revolve around each other. I would never think that the Zeswa’s connection with the zakru is any less important or deep than the Metkayina’s with the tulkun. They don’t have the bond of spirit siblings, but that doesn’t mean it’s any less strong, only that it is different.

don't mind that this is like an 8 days late pride month post but i just think misty n seze deserve more love