Kea Am'a

2-7:Leram Snamaytx

That night, they fell asleep in an cave, closed off from the rest of the clan. Beyond that, not much happened. Tsu'tey is too respectful to make any moves towards her and she's too shy to try anything. Their time will come.

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By morning, the valley was full of warriors. Fifteen clan's and counting, plains clans, sea clans, clans from the mountains. They all came at Toruk Makto's call. Maybe Jake really was meant to lead them.

Throughout the next night, Jake and Tsu'tey made war plans with the other clan leaders. Jake handed out throat microphones to Tsu'tey, Neytiri, Norm, and I. The dread of war began to fill me, but it's what must be done. For the future of my home, for my family, Tana'rì, Tsu'tey, and for the possibility that I can find Kea.

Tsu'tey and I spent the night readying for war.

"I'm not certain I want you to leave for battle. I could loose you."

"And I could loose you. The only way we'll know is to try. I am not going to abandon you."

"I will return to you, I promise." He pressed a quick kiss to my forehead. I caught him before he pulled away and kissed his cheek. He smiled a little at me.

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In the morning, I painted myself using a mirror.

Here's a few choices. I got the idea from reading "Only One" so make sure to check it out. The first one, red and gold is based on the galactonotus viperwolf. The second one are the markings from Tìve'ki. The third one is a variant of the markings from Tìve'ki. The last one is a variant of the third one. Comment which one you chose.

I tried to paint Tìve'ki, but she ended up rubbing it off. On Jake's command we followed Tsu'tey to the mountains. The rallying of the warriors was melancholy for lack of a better term. Those we were leaving behind didn't want to believe anyone would die, so we were sent off like it was a hunt.

The wind was light, the air was cool but humid, I felt light as a feather with Tìve'ki. The cries of other Ikrans filled Tìve'ki with pride, she hadn't heard so many of her kind since she migrated here.

"Sanuì, stick with me unless it's not safe. Use your best judgement." Tsu'tey's voice came in through the speaker.

"Of course." I replied shortly.

I analyzed my bow one last time for any imperfections, I made it this morning and I loaded the quiver on Tìve'ki's harness full of arrows. It wasn't hard to find people who would donate arrows since it wasn't just warriors who made them.

I looked up when I noticed Tsu'tey's eyes on me. In his warpaint, he looks very fierce. Almost scary since the paint is so close to his eye color. His expression is unreadable but I hope its nothing bad.

The whole ride into the mountains was stomach stirring, from what I heard from Jake, they're throwing everything at us to exterminate and destroy. What are my parents doing now?
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They could hear the wind being sliced from a mile away, probably even farther. And as they came into view, just as the window of distraction was about to close, Jake followed by Tsu'tey, Neytiri, and I glided between the mountains and began our descent upon the metal beasts below.

"Attack! Attack! Attack!" Tsu'tey commanded.

"Brother I'm gonna punch a hole, you follow me through." Jake's voice came in through the speaker.

"Let's ride." Tsu'tey confirmed.

"Ess, you stay behind Tsu'tey, Neytiri will watch your flank, we're going right for the Valkyrie." He said.

"Got it." I said while nodding. I flipped down my visor and secured it properly before readying my first arrow.

I leaned up against the harness holding onto Tìve'ki and fired into the pilot side of a Sampson carrying a patrol's worth of men. My cry while firing was a war cry, and hopefully the last thing they hear.

As we went to regroup, the formation broke, making our clear checkpoint muddled. I lost track of everyone but Tsu'tey. I kept our flanks clear while trying to avoid being in anyone's sights. An explosion too close for comfort rattled my ears and made me shiver when it hit me.

I am killing people.

But finally, the checkpoint was in sight, the window was open, I stuck behind Tsu'tey.

"Don't follow me in, circle behind. You'll be my ride until Tsam'uk comes back." He sounds determined.

"Be careful." I warned.

"I'm always careful." He scoffed.

Tsu'tey began his entrance grandly, jumping in and firing at the same time, I couldn't quite hear his war cry with the wind in my ears. He rolled and tossed out a human, striking another. I began to ready an arrow just in case. He threw another and used the same momentum to strike another. There were two left. He broke the glass of the mask on the second man before pulling out his knife.

I fired at the last one just to be sure, but I saw the flash of the barrel. He began to back up. My arrow struck true, but Tsu'tey was already hurt. Dead even.

I dove after him on Tìve'ki, but the cutting of air and the scream of an engine made me nervous. I turned back and gunfire was upon me, keeping myself descending and moving so I'm not easy to hit, I lost track of Tsu'tey.

I lost them in the trees so I hopped off of Tìve'ki and kept an eye out among the dead and dying. No simulation could've prepared me for the sights I saw. I ducked behind trees to avoid gunfire which was pouring out from the opposite side of the forest. They were setting fire to everything around them. I had taken most of the arrows from the harness, not all. Just as much as I could carry. The forest was clear of the living, only the wounded and dying remained with me.

Where is Tsu'tey?