Where's My Love? - Lo'ak

Chapter 34: Rumbling

Esmyrie wouldn't stop crying and it was frightening Neteyam.

He tried to ask what she saw but she couldn't get a word out, leaving unanswered questions.

She was so out of it, the pleads and cries never leaving her mind that Neteyam had to take her back on his own Ilu, her not being able to ride her own.

When he gets home he remembers that his other sister was also injured because of the tree, Kiri's being more physical than mental.

"Help, someone help!" Neteyam yells out, seeing that Esmyrie's state is getting worse.

She now is repeating the word 'dead' and 'ship' over and over, gripping at her arms so tightly she is drawing blood.

Jake and Neytiri are with Kiri, Jake calling Norm of Kiri's injury, learning that Norm won't be able to be there until morning.

Lo'ak however was back in the hut, being told by his parents to watch over Tuk and the sea for when Neteyam returns.

When Lo'ak hears the yells of his brother he is instantly on his feet, telling Tuk to go to their parents before quickly running towards the shore where Neteyam and a crying Esmyrie are.

"What happened?" Lo'ak asks, instantly moving towards his brother.

He checks Neteyam for wounds first and when he doesn't see any he turns to Esmyrie who is crying and repeating words that don't make sense, her arms dropping blood that she caused.

"I don't know... I don't - she was connected to the tree for awhile. I think she saw something she didn't want to see." Neteyam says, handing Esmyrie over to the boy, Lo'ak instantly holding her bridal style and whispering soft words of reassurance.

"Did she tell you anytime?" Lo'ak asks his brother.

"No... No. Only been repeating dead and ship. She was scared of me when she disconnected from the tree though." Neteyam says, his eyes moving towards Esmyrie who is still crying and digging her nails into her skin. "Kiri... Is she?"

"Roxto and Tsireya got her here safely. Norm is on his way but won't be here till morning. She is breathing but unconscious." Lo'ak explains, knowing how worried Neteyam gets about his siblings.

"And Tuk?"

"Safe, just went to find mom and dad." Lo'ak explains, rocking the girl back and forth, trying to lightly tear her hands away from her arms but not getting any luck.

"Dead. Dead dead...." Esmyrie mumbles, her tears slowing stopping.

She can still hear the cries. The gunshots. The creaking of a sinking boat. She sees the blood, a dead body. Eyes. Neteyams deadly still eyes. She gets reminded of the fire, the destruction of homes. The dead Tulkun.

She tries to focus on the images Eywa showed her of Lo'ak in the future, hoping that would calm her down but anytime her brain went to the kids she saw or Lo'ak in his thirties she would feel a sharp pain in her head before being reminded of the cries, the gunshots and the boat.

"What's dead? Esmyrie please..." Lo'ak begs, his hands going to pull at her own again, attempting to get her to stop hurting herself but she seems to latch onto her self tighter, causing more blood to drip.

The Ilu Neteyam was riding seems to let out a broken cry, even trying to get into the shore where the girl is before getting slightly pushed by Neteyam. He doesn't want his Ilu getting stuck on the sand.

"Esmyrie please stop... You're hurting yourself... Baby please." Lo'ak begs, his hand moving to interlock in hers and finally she lets go of the death grip on her arms.