Fortress - Avatar: The Way of Water

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One Year Later

They were at war. That was clear as soon as the invasion took place. The Na'vi vs the Sky People once again. It was time to put that bow and Ikran training to good use. 

A year of war had put its strain on the people, and on the Sully family. Life was no longer the idyllic scene it had been, but they were together, and had each other, and that was what mattered. 

Dad led the air forces, riding on the backs of Ikran. "Let's go!" he ordered through the comms system. 

Mama gave a battle cry and lifted her bow in the air, echoed by the other riders, including Eytu. 

An ugly Sky People train sliced through the forest, their forest, that which they sought to reclaim. With a blast from the air forces, they managed to de-rail the train.

"Ground forces, go!" ordered Dad. If they worked fast, they could commandeer the weapons and other supplies, taking the invaders' goods to use against them. 

Their attack was quickly detected, and aircraft swept in, firing upon them.

"Eytu!" called Mama.

"I've got your back, Mama!"

Sharing another whoop, Mother and child soared in, bows and arrows at the ready. 

"AH!" Mama gave a yell and fired, striking one craft right through the front window, hitting the driver. Without any control, the craft quickly descended and crashed.  Eytu gave a victorious whoop. 

"Ma Jake," Mama was soon updating through the comms. "We are clear up here."

"Copy that."

Neytiri turned to Eytu.  "Go to your father."

Eytu swooped down and landed their Ikran amongst the others who were gathering the supplies from the train.

"Shit-" Eytu followed Dad's gaze to see Neteyam and Lo'ak also digging through supplies. "Go to your brothers."

"I am not babysitting-"

"Eytu, now!"

"AH!" they hissed, baring their fangs, but stomped over to where their brothers were.

"Give me that-" They ripped a gun out of Lo'ak's hands. "What the hell are you doing here? Let me guess who's shit idea this was." Their eyes were on the youngest brother.

"We've got this, Bro." Lo'ak took the weapon back.

"Don't call me 'Bro'!"

"Bro," he mocked back, clicking the weapon into place and raising it into the sky.

"You don't even know how to use that," cried Neteyam.

"Dad showed me." 

"Everyone down!"

Eytu and Neteyam hit the ground upon Dad's order - another aircraft was inbound. 

But Lo'ak stayed standing.

"Lo'ak, get down!" His siblings tried to drag him down.

But he took aim and opened fire upon the aircraft, which was firing back. His blast hit its target, sending the craft crashing down - right on top of the gathering. Their people began running out of the way. Eytu stayed down. 

The crash shook the ground. Then the shouting started.

"Eytu! Neteyam! Lo'ak!"

Eytu got up, dragging Lo'ak, who had landed nearby, to his feet none too gently. 

"Kids!" Dad was charging towards them - an injured Neteyam in his arms. 

Eytu's heart lurched at the sight of their bleeding brother.  "Neteyam!"

But Dad was shouting orders into the comms.  "Regroup! Everyone back to camp now!"

Their stronghold and base of operations had been established high up in the mountains. As soon as they landed back at camp, Eytu helped Dad get the injured Neteyam off the back of the Ikran.

"You skxawng!" They shoved Lo'ak, again, none too gently. "Nice going 'Bro'!"

"Eytu," broke-in Dad.  "Can I do the reprimanding please?"

"AH!" They hissed, and headed off in a huff. 

After Neteyam was given medical attention by Kiri and their grandmother, everyone was leaving the medical tent.

Neytiri stopped Eytu. "Eytu, let Mama braid your hair." It seemed that their braids always had a habit of coming undone, spilling hair all around their face, especially when flying.

The young adult was patching up some weapons.  "Now Mama?"

"Yes, come." Neytiri waved her eldest child over. 

They rolled their eyes but obeyed and flopped down in front of their mother, back to her. "Ow!" they cried as she started pulling on their hair.

"How does it get so tangled?" Neytiri carefully picked apart the coiled strands. 

As Mama started braiding, Grandmother came to sit with them.  "Eytu'tom, my eldest grandchild - it is time for you to start thinking about finding a mate."

Eytu gave a half-hiss, half-groan in response.

"Hey," said Mama.  "Why are you acting like that?"

"I don't want to find a mate. Besides, who would I choose? We know everyone in the clan. And we mate for life - no pressure."

"Your father and I-"

"Got lucky, yeah, yeah, I  know the story, Mama."

"And you will be lucky too. The Great Mother will guide you and your beloved to each other."

"Maybe," they grumbled. "But we have more important things to worry about now." They pulled away and stood, retrieving their weapons and leaving the tent, leaving their hair only half-braided. 

(I saw the movie again so it's all fresh in my mind! ;) 

This story keeps evolving in my head and I can't wait to write it!

Thank you so much for reading and I hope you enjoyed! :))