The Metkayina wanted war, and rightfully so. The connection they had with the Tulkun were unlike the bonds we shared with our Ikran.
They could communicate with each other, compose and sing songs with their soul brothers and sisters. I was ready to mount Seraph and find the humans who had killed Ronal's soul sister and calf and kill them with my bare hands, and I would have enjoyed it.
Jake had talked them down, telling the Metkayina clan to warn the Tulkun. To tell them about the danger that they were in and to run at the first sign of humans.
But I was done running.
I was in our bungalow preparing for the battle I knew was coming. The Metkayina people wouldn't stand by while their family was killed, and I wouldn't either. So I dressed for war, replacing the clothes from my mating with something that war more appropriate for the death that was to come.
Black and purple battle garments to match Seraph, my brave warrior, my angel of death.
Because that's what we became when we flew into battle.
Walking down the beach with Seraphs saddle over my shoulder, I called my Ikran, adjusting it to his body.
I was counting arrows when Aonung approached from the water.
"You look like death itself." He said, taking in my appearance.
"Good." The words came out harsher than I meant them to. "I'm sorry, I become...different before a battle."
"Aren't we trying to avoid that, by telling the Tulkun to flee at the first sign of humans?" He asked, running a finger down the feathers in the fletching of the arrows stilling out of the ground in front of me.
"You can not avoid them." I shook my head and shoved the arrows into their quivers before strapping them to Seraphs saddle. "You can only survive them, and hope that you are the one left standing at the end of the altercation. Them killing the Tulkun is only the beginning."
"So you think that we will fight?" He asked.
"I don't think, I know." I looked at him then, the friend who'd taught me so much about the way of his people. "Promise me something."
He gave me a worried look, not wanting to hear what I had to say next.
"If we fight the humans... if I die, don't let Neteyam lose himself." I blew out a shaky breathe, my words thick as they left my mouth. "When my father died, my mother was never the same. She puts on a brave face for me and my brothers, but she is not who she used to be. Don't let Neteyam become something he isn't."
He looked at me for a moment, really looked at me as if for the first time.
"I promise." He nodded, his eyes filled with apprehension. "Let's home it doesn't come to that, I would hate to lose a friend."
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I knew something was wrong when Neytiri had called her Ikran from the jungle and the Metkayina were running around the village grabbing weapons and diving into the water, riding off on their battle mounts.
Seraph and I were in the air, flying after Neytiri's Ikran.
"What happened?" I said into the radio, pressing it against my throat.
"The humans are attacking another Tulkun. Lo'ak went to warn his spirit brother, the humans had already gotten to him by the time they arrived." She gripped her fathers bow in her hands.
"Neteyam?" I asked, already knowing the answer. If Lo'ak had left to warn his spirit brother, Neteyam would have gone to protect his brother.
She nodded her head and our eyes both assumed the same cold expression.
The killing calm, my father had called it once.
"We'll find them." It was a promise, from student to mentor. From daughter to mother.
We arrived at the three brothers, Seraph circling high above the water.
Jake had told Tonowari and the other Metkayina to stand down and he had gone to meet with Quaritch himself.
He had Tuk, Tsireya and Lo'ak cuffed to the railing of his ship. Neteyam was no where to be seen, neither were Kiri, Aonung and his friend.
Things happened so fast, one moment Quaritch had Jake in his sights, ready to kill him. The next a Tulkun was breaching out of the water, slamming down on the human ship.
Seraph dove, falling fast toward the ship. He opened his wings wide, stopping us from hitting the ship. I drew an arrow, burying it in the chest of a human wearing a metal suit. Another hitting a human avatar between the eyes before Seraph had to circle back around.
More arrows found themselves buried inside their targets and then the Tulkun slid back into the water, disappearing beneath the surface.
My eyes landed on Neytiri, her Ikran bobbing and weaving through the air, Quaritch hot on their tail.
I let out a battle cry, Seraph roaring as we chased after them.
Jake and his battle mount leapt from the water, shooting at Quaritch and I shot arrows at him above, none of our shots landing a killing bow.
Quaritch looked up as we flew over him, our eyes connecting for one fatefully second, and then we were falling.
Pain. Such raw and terrifying pain coursed through the bond, my chest burning with it.
Seraph crashed into the top of the human ship, his body going limp.
I dropped down from his back and a sobbed racked through my chest as I slid down to my knees, pulling his head in my lap.
"Please, no. No, no, no, no." Seraph's eyes opened weakly, finding mine instantly. "Seraph, it's gunna be okay."
I pressed my forehead against his, stroking his neck.
"My brave warrior," I cried, my trembling as the pain lingered in my chest. "My angel of death, don't leave me now. Fight."
"We'll isn't. this. something." I looked over my shoulder, a human avatar pointed his rifle at me. "The savages do have feelings after all."
"Demon!" I hissed, my bow tightening my hands. "All you cause is pain and destruction! You don't deserve to wear the skin of my people."
He laughed, shouldering his rifle and putting his finger on the trigger.
"I'll make it painless, I promise." He smiled as his finger tightened around the trigger, "I'll put you down easy, just like your pet."
I closed my eyes, knowing that I wasn't fast enough to kill him before he killed me.
With the last of his strength, Seraph lashed out, his powerful jaws clamping around the human avatar's neck. Seraph thrashed and thrashed until the avatar's head severed from his body, falling into the water below.
Seraphs body collapsed once more on the ships deck, moving his head toward me slowly.
"Thank you." I whispered, placing a kiss between his eyes. "You fought well, my brave warrior. You can rest now."
His body shuddered, and his eyes closed forever. Returning to Eywa
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i was on verge of kms and still am 😕
virtual kiss on the hand of the author tbh
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𝐈 𝐒𝐄𝐄 𝐘𝐎𝐔 | 𝐧𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐲𝐚𝐦
Fanfiction** 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒑𝒍𝒆𝒕𝒆𝒅** When Äeya was promised to Neteyam when they were born, she thought that their life together would be peaceful. Things were peaceful and easy when they were children, but now the humans have returned and Neteyam has grown dis...
