Moonchild | Neteyam

3

"Come on," Spider said and offered Kiri his hand to help her up.

The group made their way back through the forest, walking over moss and balancing themselves across fallen trees. Suddenly Lo'ak crouched down and Spider hopped down to join him. "What is it?" Kiri asked them.

Erìhe walked over to them and glanced at the ground from over Spider's shoulder. She frowned and crouched down beside them, "What is that?"

"We're always supposed to be home by eclipse," Tuk said worriedly as she and Kiri leapt down to join them.

"That's way too big to be a human," Lo'ak said as he looked around.

Erìhe glanced back at the large footprint in the soil. "Avatars?" Spider asked.

"Maybe," Lo'ak said, "But they're for sure not ours." He stood up and started following the tracks.

"What are you doing?" Erìhe held him back, "Your dad will murder us all."

"I'm tracking," Lo'ak said simply, "If you're scared, you can go."

Erìhe scoffed and followed the two boys. The group was approaching the old site which had been forbidden for them all. Erìhe stood beside Spider as she peeked through the leaves at the opening.

"We are never supposed to come here," Kiri whispered. In the clearing, they could see a group of avatars. "Dad is going to ground you," she told Lo'ak, who shushed her.

"Can you stop?" He said.

"For life," Kiri finished.

"Bro, we have got to check this out," Lo'ak turned to look at Spider and then jerked his head at the avatars.

"No-" Erìhe hissed. She snarled when Lo'ak and Spider paid her no mind, instead carefully going forward to get a better look. "These idiots," she mumbled to herself before following behind them. She held up her hand when Tuk made a move to join her.

Erìhe took her bow off her back, just in case it would come in need. These avatars were dressed from head to toe in weaponry, and it seemed as though they were not afraid to use it.

The three drew closer to the opening, staying hidden in the shadows of the forest. "Bro," Spider spoke to Lo'ak, "That's where your dad and my dad-" he turned his head toward Lo'ak, "-fought."

"That's your dads actual suit," Lo'ak pointed at the heap of metal that was by now almost entirely covered by plants.

"Holy shit," Spider chuckled.

Erìhe grimaced. They really were not supposed to be there. "Call this in," she told Lo'ak, looking at him from over Spiders head.

Lo'ak nodded and started heading back.

"No, bro," Spider disagreed, "We're gonna get in trouble."

Erìhe shrugged, "Not my problem," she backed away from the clearing, keeping her eyes set on the avatars.

"Devil dog - Devil dog this is Eagle eye. Over," Lo'ak whispered while pressing the button on his neck piece once he had made it back to Kiri and Tuk.

"Eagle eye, send your traffic."

"I got eyes on some guys," Lo'ak told him, "They look like avatars - but they're in full camo gear and carrying AR's. There's - six of them," he said after doing a quick head count, "Over."

"What's your location? Over."

Lo'ak briefly looked over at Erìhe. "We're at the old shack.."

"Who's "we"?"

"Me, Spider, Erìhe, Kiri," Lo'ak said and looked over at Tuk who looked scared, "..and Tuk."

"Son, you listen to me very carefully," Jake said sternly, "Pull back right now. Do not make a sound - get the hell out of there. Go. You copy?"

"Yes, sir," Lo'ak replied, "Moving out."

The group stood up to retreat. "See? I told you," Kiri hissed.

Erìhe glanced back at her, "Now is really not the time."

Not listening to her, Kiri went on, "You're going to be in so much trouble."

Erìhe hopped over a fallen tree and followed Tuk who led the group.

"Kiri, Stop," Lo'ak said.

"Come on," Spider told them.

Tuk turned around to look at them, "It's almost eclipse! Come on!" She turned back around and let out a scream when she was grabbed by one of the avatars.

"Tuk!" Kiri yelled.

Erìhe, Spider and Lo'ak drew their bows. Erìhe aimed right between the man's eyes, "Let her go," she snarled.

Other avatars came up from behind him, aiming their guns at all of them, "Put them down!" they yelled. "Put it down or I'll shoot you!"

Lo'ak was the first to obey them. He set his bow down and looked back at Erìhe, "Put it down."

The sky people spoke English while they all talked in Na'vi. It was natural for them, and in this case it helped them speak to each other without the avatars understanding.

With a glare at the man holding Tuk, Erìhe set down her bow. After that she held her hands up in peace.

"Spider!" Kiri said when Spider was the only one who had not lowered his weapon. Hesitantly, Spider did as they were being yelled at to do. He dropped his bow to the ground and held his hands up.

Erìhe snarled as one of the avatars rushed forward to pin her arms behind her back. She felt pain as the avatar grabbed onto her queue to keep her still, making her unable to move. "Tuk, it will be alright," she told Tuk who looked like she was going to start crying.

They were all forced to their knees and Tuk began sobbing, "Kiri!"

"Calm. Be calm," Kiri told her.

"Shut up! Don't move!"

One of the avatars came forward and Erìhe assumed him to be the leader, "What have we here?" He said as he walked through them. The man glanced at Spider, who gave him a weird look.

"Colonel," The man holding Kiri beckoned the man to him, "Four fingers. We've got a half-breed," he told him, holding up Kiri's five fingered hand.

"Shit.." Spider mumbled.

The colonel gave Kiri a look before turning around, facing Lo'ak, "Show me your fingers."

Lo'ak glared at him before ever so slowly lifting up his hands, flipping the man off as he watched him angrily. It seemed he was not afraid at all.