Not the End

1 - Battlefield

The grass beneath my feet is overgrown, completely hiding the forest floor, I worry I might step on a small creature. Each step is light and deliberate, I can't leave an obvious trail behind; this clearing held the great battle where Colonel Quarritch met his end at the hands of the mighty Neytiri. Places like this are strictly forbidden, especially for children. However, I knew I would not do anything stupid, and I was not going to get caught.

I come upon a bashed up pod, almost all the windows are shattered, it is strange how a place of such significance can remained untouched for so many years. I run my hand over one of the large dents in the metal wall, leading me to a door. I duck my head as I enter, making sure to watch my step. Before I get the chance to explore further, I hear hushed voices nearby. I quickly hid under a broken window, to my left, a door is jammed open, shielding me from outside view.

"Bro, you know we cannot go in there." I try to focus on the voices, to place who they were coming from.

"I saw someone move in there!" A second voice stubbornly replies. Sounds like teen boys. The other one sighs loudly, in either disbelief or disappointment.

Footsteps approach from the opposite side of the pod I entered. They are quiet, like well trained-hunters. I held myself completely still, breathing slowly in through my nose, out through my mouth. They stop moving, still pretty far away from the pod. I slowly lift my head just enough to peek out the window, two teen boys stood, the smaller one in a defensive position. The older one looks up, turning towards me, I crouch back down out of sight, holding my breath. My heart pounds rapidly, I try to slow it.

"If dad finds out..." the voice trialed off, I shift my weight, and a shard of glass from the window pierces the sole of my foot. An involuntary hiss slips out of my mouth, a sound they most definitely heard.

"Bro! Someone is in there!" The second boy exclaimed in a whisper shout.

"Don't move." The first boy ordered. His footsteps approach.

"I know you are in there. This area is off limits. Come out now and there will be no trouble."
I covered my mouth, I will not dare to move again. The glass sinks deeper into my foot, forcing a tear to slip from the corner of my eye.

The boy sighed, "If you don't come out here, I'm coming in." He said with authority. I heard the sound of a knife being pulled from its leather sheath. With each step he takes, my heart rate increases.

He walked up to he door next to me. "If you try anything I will not hesitate." His knife appears through the doorway. I can't run, I can only sit still and hope he doesn't see me, but it's inevitable. He slowly moves in, and looks to the left. I hold my breath and stay still, squeezing my eyes shut.

Suddenly he turned to me, I am still hidden behind the door, "Show yourself!" He shouts, moving towards me. My eyes flick open, and my stomach drops, my tail sits on the floor, right in his line of sight, he lunges at me without hesitation.

"No, please!" I shout, putting putting my handss up. He halts, looks me up and down, then relaxes from his defensive position.

"Damn! Why did you hide? I could have hurt you!" The boy says rubbing his forehead. He puts his knife away and looks back at me.

I try to think of an answer, but all I can do is stare back at him. It is Neteyam.

I try to stand, forgetting about the glass my foot, I fall towards the wall. Why am I being so stupid? Shit.

"Shit! You are bleeding!" He grabs my arm, steadying me. He looks around then sticks his head out the window at the other boy, "Lo'ak come help me!" Great, Lo'ak is the other one. Neteyam looks at me again, I quickly look away, my heart still pounding, the pain in my foot is almost entirely overpowered by Neteyam's hand on my arm.

"Bro you think you are such a mighty warrior but you always need my-" Lo'ak stops when he sees me.

"What's this?" Lo'ak asks, looking between Neteyam and I.

"She's hurt, just find something to help her." Neteyam orders his brother. I open my mouth to speak, I want to tell them I can take care of myself, but I can't seem to form any words. Lo'ak rolls his eyes and turns to rummage around the pod for some supplies.

"Here, sit." Neteyam says softly, gently wrapping his other arm beneath mine for support. He helps me to a big, metal case, which he opens with ease. He guides me to a soft, gel padded bed, with a human sized cut out. I feel like I am committing a crime touching anything in here.

"May I see?" He asks politely, too politely, gesturing towards my foot, I nod. I cannot believe this. He squats down, gently lifting my foot to assess the wound. I take a deep breath. "What happened?" He looks up at me calmly.

"Glass from the window." I say, frustrated, "I'm such a skxawng." How could I let this happen? Now they think I am some clumsy idiot, like a baby. The last thing I have ever wanted is to be a damsel in distress, but here I am.

"Shit." He says glancing at Lo'ak who was still searching for stuff. "What are you doing here anyway?" He says with concern.

"I just got curious." I reply, looking at my hands, I sigh. "Please don't tell anyone I was here." I look into his eyes for the first time. They were a lot kinder than what I expected Jake Sully's eldest's to look like.

"Nah, then I would have to explain why I was here." He says taking a breath. "I won't. Do not worry."

"Okay I found an old first aid kit." Lo'ak said from across the pod. He walks toward us, trying to open the tiny box, he gives up and hands it to Neteyam.

"This should have something useful." Neteyam mutters, opening the kit. "What's your name?" He asks as he sifts through the box. I open my mouth to speak, but before I can, Lo'ak does.

"Safi." Lo'ak says all matter of fact, acting nonchalant as he pokes the gel bed. Neteyam and I stare at him.

"You are a freak, bro." Neteyam says under his breath, smirking. I laugh quietly.

"How did you know?" I ask. He clears his throat and sits up straight.

"It is my duty to know the whole village." He jokes, Neteyam gives him a disgusted look.

"Dude." Neteyam shakes his head disapprovingly. He returns back to my foot.

"Oh, I can do that, you do not need to take care of me. I am not supposed to be here anyway." I say, hoping to end this interaction as soon as possible. He furrows his brow at me.

"You got this because of me, please just let me." He says, the authority in his voice makes it hard to argue back.

"Fine." I give in, sitting back on my hands.

He braces my ankle gently with one hand, and pulls out the glass carefully with his other. It hurts a little, but I make sure not to flinch, I cannot look like a baby in front of Toruk Makto's sons.

"Damn bro!" Lo'ak says, looking at the gash in my foot. "You are not walking out of here." He looks to Neteyam.

"Where is your ikran?" Neteyam asks me, he thinks I have one?

"I do not have one." I say hesitantly. He looks surprised.

"Go tell Tsahik we are coming." Neteyam tells Lo'ak as he tapes the cut and wraps my foot. Lo'ak walks out of the pod.

"Thank you for helping me." I say softly, looking in his eyes again. "And thank you for not killing me."

"You're welcome, skxawng." He replies, cracking a smile as he stands.

"Why don't you have an ikran?" He asks. I looks down at my feet.

"My family doesn't let the women fly." I roll my eyes. "It's stupid."

He smiles, "Well you already broke one rule today. Come on." He helps me up and out of the pod, then calls his ikran.

A.N: I hope you liked chapter one!! Lmk if I had any spelling errors or anything and if you liked it! <3