Solo

twenty-three

"Everyone okay?" Jake's hands grabbed his two sons and bought their heads to his as he sighed in relief.
We had reached the edge of the reef and by this point, my arm had gone practically white.
"You cannot tell this to Ronal." I shook my head as I looked back at the demon ship, it had drove off in a different direction, for now.
"She will want war." I told him breathlessly.
He took a step closer to me and frowned.
"Are you okay?" The back of his hand touched my forehead and I shook my head.
"I am fine but-"
"Your arm." He grabbed it and hissed, I felt nothing.
"It's cold. Give me that knife." He held his hand out expectantly and Neteyam passed it to him.
"We have to go back." I gestured back to the island and
Jake sliced the rope, he took a step back, I glanced a look at my arm and believed I saw some colour tracing back.
"Thank you." I told him.
"Let's go. All of you. Did the demon ship see you?" Jake asked and we all looked at each other.
"No." Neteyam answered.
"But they will catch on. They will wonder how the Tulkun escaped." I told him.
Jake looked out at the demon ship for a few seconds before commanding we all go back, him following shortly after.

"SPIDER COULD HAVE BEEN THERE!" Lo'ak yelled at his brother.
"AND WE COULD HAVE ALL BEEN KILLED!" Neteyam yelled back.
I held Tuk to my chest as her brothers argued.
"That's enough." Jake spoke sternly.
Neytiri paced back and fourth and she looked at her mate.
"We must fight Jake." She told him.
"No."
"We cannot run from him. We must kill him." She tried to explain but he shook his head further.
"They're not hunting Tulkun." He spun to her.
"They're hunting us."
"Jake is right." I spoke.
"If they have spider, we have to help him dad." Kiri pleaded with her father.
"I have to keep you all safe." He tried to explain.
"But he's our family." Kiri replied and Neytiri hissed at this, making me think she differed in opinion.
"Dad!" Kiri begged and he looked at her.
"Baby girl. Please."
"She's right dad. He's part of this family." Lo'ak explained.
"That's enough." Jake warned them.
"I am protecting this family. That I can do."
Lo'ak looked at him in anger and let out a growl.
"I will get him." I told Lo'ak.
"No." Him and Jake both said at the same time.
"I can do it." I nodded.
"No. It is far too dangerous." Jake shook his head.
"You want to keep your family safe? You can do that. But if you say no they will go anyway. If I go, I will bring him back." I explained.
"No." Lo'ak looked at me and then his dad.
"No way dad."
"I can't let you do that Laya." Jake shook his head.
"This is it." Lo'ak breathed, his hand kissing mine.
"Me and you."
I looked up at him and he nodded.
"No harm can come to me when I'm with you."

The End.