DR. RUTH CARSON grew up hearing about Pandora as a kid, of the alien moon that promised beauty and awe. A world with promise, life, and joy.
Yet, the most dangerous thing about Pandora, is that you can grow to love her too much.
( Tsu'tey x fem! oc...
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FLIGHT excited Ruth Carson so much so that she insisted to be hanging from the door gunners position mid-flight, the wind battering against her face and sending her braid billowing at her back. Four avatars cramped into the SA-2 utility helicopter had been a challenge, but with Ruth and Jake willing to hang from either gaping window, sitting space remained available. This left Grace and Norm secured in the middle. Going about ten or so clicks outside of base, they were in search of particular samples that day.
Choosing to dress herself in cargo pants similar to that which she wore as a human, a green tank top embroidered with some random patterns and a backpack latched around her hips and shoulders, Ruth was ready to spend the late morning and afternoon in the forest.
More than once since they'd loaded into the aircraft did she notice Norm's gaze lingering on her a little longer than casual observance, ears perking anytime he thought she might be turning to speak to him. He'd been more timid upon their arrival but now had gained a sense of boldness she had no desire to deal with. She and Grace had shared a few looks after the instances during the flight, an unspoken understanding that the new doctor had already taken a liking to Ruth.
Far too many men had pursued her since arriving at Pandora, whether it be the military grunts or fellow scientists. Colonel Miles Quaritch, the marine senior officer at least fifteen years her senior and a prominent figure on the base, had made a move on her fairly early on into her arrival to the moon.
Since the interaction that had involved her vehement rejection of him, despite his willingness, Ruth made every effort to avoid the man. No matter what his proposition was, not with his willfulness to accept her wishes.
She had learned quickly that he did not handle rejection well. Perhaps it was his innate desire to have control over anyone and everyone, possibly the reason he chose the military life. Or worse, he saw women as a conquest. That thought alone had left her with a particularly sour taste for the colonel at any given time. Regardless, the men in Hell's Gate pined for female attention.
Eyes squinted to bare against the wind, Ruth Carson gazed over the lush terrain of the forest the zoomed under them. Her heart thudded with excitement, as it had been quite some weeks since they'd gone to the field.
With her focus of study primarily on the fauna of Pandora, the animals for simpler terms, one of Ruth's biggest goals was to finally spot and document the Thanatora Ferox — the apex land predator on the moon. Thanator, a word derived from the Greek word of death, she'd once read.
Perhaps it was best that she had never seen one in her three years of being here, some would consider it lucky. For her, the beast was a challenge. Not much was known of its anatomy or behavior except a few notable rituals that could be observed from a safe distance. Part of her never believed she'd get the opportunity. Alongside the apex land predator, there was an apex aerial predator. The Great Leonoptryx was a dream of every scientist on base to study. That flying creature was considered harder to find, let alone observe safely. Seeing the animal made you one step closer to death.
