The Sullys stick together ⤝Avatar The Way of Water⤞

Chapter 6: All hell breaks loose

After the arrow hit the man, chaos ensued. Liläk took the opportunity to go get her bow and shoot at the man that held Tuk. For his part and after a call from Neytiri, Lo'ak bit the arm of the man who held him after he opened a smoke grenade from the soldier next to him.

Liläk grabbed Tuk in her arms and waited for Lo'ak to join them as they ran away from the soldiers. When they were as far as they could, Liläk cut Tuk and Lo'ak's restraints. As soon as Lo'ak was free he hugged Liläk.

-Don't ever do something like that again.-he said, out of breath.

-It wasn't me who flipped him off.-She said while holding the side of his head fondly.

-Liläk.-Tuk said as she hugged her sister.

-It's okay Tuk, we're okay.-She looked in front of her as she could hear commotion going on. She couldn't stay there without making sure everyone was okay.

-Stay here...-She quietly moved through the forest cautiously.

Lo'ak obeyed as he grabbed Tuk.

-Stay close.-Liläk could hear him say.

She stayed behind a tree as she looked her surroundings...she didn't see anyone but that didn't mean they couldn't see her. She climbed the tree and crouched on a lower branch, waiting, listening.

-That you Mrs Sully?-She heard Quaritch speak.-I recognize your calling card.

Neytiri gasped behind a tree, finally realizing who they were dealing with.

-Why don't you come out Mrs Sully?-He taunted.-You and I we've got some unfinished business.

-Demon!-Neytiri spat with rage.-I will kill you as many times as I have to.

-I guess you and the corporal have been pretty busy haven't you?-His voice echoed thorugh the forest.-You have got yourself a whole litter of half-breeds...Liläk is a feisty little one...reminds me of you...I bet she's the corporal's favorite, I wonder how he will feel when he knows I almost kill her right here...-Neytiri's rage reached a peak she didn't know existed as he heard that vermin speak of her daughter that way. She held her ground but almost doubted as she grabbed her bow strongly. Jake's blood boiled from where he was hiding, but he was thankful that Neytiri and Liläk -wherever she was.- remained hidden.

Liläk shivered, yet she knew he was just taunting them, to distract them. She frantically searched for her parents and Neteyam with her eyes, listening and expecting anything, to give her some kind of sign of their whereabouts.

Suddenly, she heard an arrow being shot, she looked at her right and there he was: Neteyam.

The man he had shot turned around, preparing to shoot at him.

-Neteyam!-she exclaimed. Neteyam was trying to put another arrow on his bow as Liläk did the same. The man shot once, Liläk's heart stopped. But someone had gotten him out the way. She shot at the man on the leg before running towards Neteyam, crouching as another soldier joined the man and opened fire on them.

Jake breathed relieved as he saw Liläk.

-You okay? You okay boy?-he asked Neteyam frantically. He then grabbed Liläk's arm and put her on his side.

-Are you hurt?-he now asked his daughter.

-No, no.-she replied, out of breath. Behind them hell was set loose.

-Follow me, you ready? Ready? Ready?

Liläk took Neteyam's hand as their father screamed at them.

-Yes sir.-Neteyam's voice raised.

-Yes!-Liläk screamed, though she doubted her father had heard her above the noise.

Jake got out from behind the tree and shot at the two guys.

-Move!-he yelled.

Neteyam and Liläk followed their father as fast as they could. Jake looked behind him to check if they were following him.

As they were running they bumped with Lo'ak and Tuk.

-Hey, hey, are you hurt? Are you hurt?-Jake kept asking his kids.

-Daddy!-Tuktirey threw herself in his arms, shaken up.

Neteyam approached Liläk and looked at her temple that was still bleeding.

-Are you okay?

-Yes...-she replied, quietly, out of breath.

They all watched as Quaritch and his team retreated. Liläk was in shock, still in disbelief that they survived and she had gotten them out of there alive. For a moment she thought...she pushed away the possibility. She knew his father was muttering calming words as he asked everyone how they were, but she couldn't hear him...she just kept looking at the ship leaving, convincing herself that they were alive.

She felt a tug in her arm as her dad turned her around and hugged her tightly. Neteyam and Lo'ak were getting their breaths back.

-Jesus I though he would kill you...-his voice broke.-I thought...

Liläk remained quiet, finding relief in his father's arms. Neytiri came running with Kiri. Jake looked at them and let Liläk go. Jake then embraced Neteyam and Lo'ak. As Tuk saw her mom she ran to her arms. Neytiri got to her knees and hugged her youngest daughter. When she saw Liläk was okay she held back a sob, the way her heart had stopped when she saw how Quaritch was holding her, promising her that she would kill her right after he had hit her.

Liläk got beside Kiri and hugged her mother and her sister as her eyes wet up, not being able to hold the emotions bubbling up inside her as the anguish of having been at Quaritch's mercy flood her in.

-Thank you great mother!-Neytiri exclaimed.

-Where's Spider?-Lo'ak asked. As Jake held him.

Kiri looked at him, anguish in her eyes.

-They took him...they took him.-She began crying, looking at her dad.

-It's okay, it's fine babygirl, alright?-Jake hugged her as he spoke.-He's going to be fine, okay? He's a tough kid.

Liläk quietly sobbed as she saw her family. Neteyam looked at her worried, he knew she wasn't crying for Spider.

-Hey, it's okay...you're okay.

He hugged her.

-I didn't know what to do.-she wept.-I didn't what to do to keep them safe.-she repeated, the fear of the recent stress engulfing her.

-You did good...You did good, they're okay, they're all okay.

Neytiri stood up still holding Tuk's arm. She touched Liläk's head and she turned sobbing into her mother's chest.

-It's okay tsawksyul...you were brave.

Liläk could hear as his father comforted Kiri.

-We're all going to be okay.-She heard him say. For the first time in her life, she didn't believe her dad when he reassured them that.