Fortress - Avatar: The Way of Water

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It was nearing eclipse. Eytu and Neteyam were out doing an air patrol with Mom and Dad when Lo'ak's call came in.

"There's six of them, definitely avatars. They're in full camo and gear. Armed."

"Where are you?"

"We're at the old shack."

Of course they were. A place they were told not to go to. Whose idea could that possibly have been? Eytu growled under their breath at their youngest brother's - once again - careless actions. 

"Who's we?" Dad demanded. 

A pause, then, "Me, Spider, Kiri-" Another pause.  "-And Tuk."

Mama gasped. Dad gritted his teeth. 

"Son, you listen to me very carefully: you get out of there, now. We're on our way."

"Yes, Sir."

Eytu bared their fangs and hissed. "I'll skin him."

"Let's hope these avatars don't beat you to it," Dad said grimly. 

"Come on, I know a shortcut," Neteyam called, he and his Ikran swooping down, leading the way. 

When they reached the approximate location of the other Sullys and Spider, it was well past eclipse, and in the heart of a downpour. Eytu prayed to the Great Mother that the group had left in time without being spotted by the newcomers. Please, Great Mother, please...

"Eytu, with your mother and I. Neteyam, stay here with the Ikran."

"But Dad, I'm a warrior, like you," he protested. "I'm supposed to fight."

"Stay  with the Ikran. And keep an eye and ear out for your siblings and Spider."

Neteyam sighed and lowered his head. "Yes, Sir,"

Eytu patted his shoulder as the three left, tip-toeing into the trees. 

Their prayers had been in vain: the group had been spotted, and not only that, but captured by the intruders. Eytu repressed a hiss, a growl blooming low in their throat instead.

Dad gestured silently for Mama to go left while he took the right, and then gestured upwards. Eytu silently and swiftly scrambled up into the trees. The family would cut them off from both sides and above. 

Soon Eytu was above the scene, looking down, undetected.   They could just make out Kiri's voice as she prayed aloud to Eywa.  Seeing the state their siblings were in, Eytu sent a few more silent prayers to the Great Mother as well. Please, do not let anything happen to them - and leave Lo'ak to me.

Then, their ears flicked as they picked up a call from deep in the forest, off to the left, faint, but recognizable, at least if you knew it: Mama. She was calling to the captives, letting them know they were there to help them. 

From Eytu's vantage point between the branches, it appeared the siblings had heard it too. Help was on the way.

Mama gave one last call, sharp and echoing, and Eytu knew, they just knew, that that was their cue.

As silently and swiftly as they had climbed up, they dropped down, behind the intruders, striking from behind. 

Mama's arrow whisked through the air, striking one of the avatars in a direct hit. Eytu had to suppress a cheer. 

Gunshots ripped through the branches and leaves, from both the avatars and Dad. The siblings flailed - and bit - their way free. Eytu grabbed Tuk and followed the others as they sprinted into the thick of the trees. 

"Is that you Mrs. Sully?" called one of the avatars.  "I recognize your calling card. Looks like you and the Corporal got busy. Why don't you come on out - we've got some business to finish."

Mama's voice bit back.  "Demon! I will  kill you as many times as I have to!" This was followed by the telltale sound of another arrow shooting and striking. 

The sounds, loud as they were, were thankfully beginning to fade, which meant Eytu and the others were on their way to safety. 

A blast shook the forest floor. Tuk screeched in Eytu's ear and they stumbled, but kept running, tightening their arms around their little sister. Don't look back, don't look back, just keep going!

Everyone skidded to a halt and cried out when a figure jumped out of the bushes - but it was Dad.

"You okay? You alright?" he cried. Neteyam and Lo'ak were there, as well as Eytu and Tuk.

"Ma Jake!" Mama burst through the trees, holding onto Kiri. 

"Daddy-" Tuk tearfully snuggled into Dad's chest as he held her close.

"Oh Great Mother!" Mama was crying, head tilted up to the sky.  "Thank you! Thank you!"

"You-" Eytu leaned down so their face was  more level with Lo'ak's. They were tall and gangly, between Mama and Dad's height, tall for their age, a towering presence. They snarled.  "What were you thinking-"

"Eytu," said Dad.

"I know Dad! But he never listens! He never thinks about the consequences. And Tuk was with them, our baby sister!" Instead of saying anything more they just hissed, fangs bared. 

Kiri was crying.  "Spider! They took him!"

A quick assessment of the group proved that there were indeed only Na'vi among them, no Sky People. 

Eytu clutched their knife in one hand, and their bow and arrows in the other. "Come on, Dad, we can go after them. We can get him back." They went to move, but he didn't. "Dad?"

But Dad didn't move.  "He'll be okay. He's a tough kid.  It's okay, Babygirl." He tried to console Kiri, but she was sobbing. Everyone took a sharp breath.

~ ~ ~

Back at camp, Mama and Dad were arguing in the family's tent. Outside, the children huddled, hoping to overhear. Tuk, being the smallest, could lean down and try to peer under the base of the tent. 

"I cannot leave," Mama was saying. The flames from the fire within cast their shadows back onto the tent's surface, dark figures moving behind the canvas.  "I cannot abandon my people. My father gave me this bow as he lay dying and told me to protect the people."

"This will protect the people."

"The children, the forest, all they have ever known - this is our home!"

"He had our children under his knife. They were taking them away, we were almost too late. I got nothing. I got no plan. But I do know one thing: no matter where we go, this family is our fortress."

Eytu stood from where they were crouched.  "That's enough - we should not listen any more."

"But it's important," Lo'ak protested, of course arguing. 

"Have you not done enough?" the eldest sibling snapped. 

"No more arguing, please," requested Neteyam.

Kiri didn't even comment, too worried about Spider. 

"I don't want to leave," Tuk whimpered. 

"I know, Tuk," Eytu said, reaching out to brush her cheek.  "None of us do. But it may be the only way to keep us safe now. We must all be strong, and have a strong heart." They touched their own chest, beneath which their heart hammered. 

"Strong heart," agreed Neteyam.

"Strong heart," echoed Tuk. 

Lo'ak said nothing, getting up to leave. Kiri was still shaken, still silent.

(I've been reading so many great Way of Water stories and am feeling SO inspired!

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