Together in Eywa

Part 1

"Just try and keep up Crescent." Spider yelled, laughing as he sprinted through the forest, vaulting over branches and logs. His breath fogged up his mask as he ran, his breathing heavy from how fast they were going.

Crescent scoffed at him, "You wish you had a chance. Race you to the village."

"Oh you're so on." He immediately sped up, his bare feet slapping against the dirt.

Crescent laughed, leaping onto a branch and swinging up into a tree. She hopped from tree to tree, taking the high route. Soon, she was running right above Spider. When he looked up she gave him a smug expression and winked, rolling her eyes comically when he stuck his tongue out at her.

They'd been best friends since birth, obviously, as they were the only humans who had grown up on Pandora. Yeah, sure there were the other scientists, and her father Norm, but they all had access to avatars or at least had grown up back on Earth. Her and Spider, they had never really fit in anywhere on Pandora. But they had always had each other, and that was something Crescent would always be grateful for.

That being said, she loved growing up on Pandora and alongside the Omaticaya clan, but she also knew her and Spider would never really have a place among them without avatars of their own. It was a hard truth to face, and she knew it weighed on Spider more than anything.

Crescent's feet hit the wooded platform of the village seconds before Spider's. He grumbled in annoyance before promising he'd beat her next time.

"You say that every time Miles, and I have yet so see it happen." She bragged. A corner of his mouth lifted at the sound of his given name. He absolutely hated when anyone else said it, but for some reason he had never asked her to stopping using that name. So she had always used it. It felt right for some reason.

Spider and Crescent glanced at each other when they heard chanting from the center of the village. She glanced around, finally noticing that no one was around the outskirts of the village. Spider must of noticed the same thing because he tilted his head, signaling that they should go check it out. Together, they moved towards where the commotion was coming from and found the entire clan gathered. Jake Sully was standing before them, explaining a plan for what sounded like a raid. So, they were about to attack another one of the sky people's supply trains.

Crescent saw Neteyam standing near his father as Jake finished up what he was saying. She fought the blush that wanted to rise to her cheeks as he looked over at her. He winked, giving her a knowing look. Crescent just smiled and shook her head in amusement. Hopefully the raid wouldn't get in the way of their plans they had made for later that night. It was already hard enough to escape the notice of Neytiri, not to mention the whole clan. But, she would worry about that later.

The warriors finally began gathering their weapons and supplies, so Crescent and Spider took the opportunity to run up to Neteyam and Lo'ak. Spider gave Lo'ak a high five as Crescent asked, "Another raid?"

Neteyam nodded, his hand brushing hers so lightly that there was no way anyone else noticed but her, "Yeah, a cargo train is traveling through only 2 miles to the east."

"Come on bro," Lo'ak grabbed his brother's arm, "they're leaving."

"Wait," Crescent said, motioning to Spider and herself, "let us come with you."

Neteyam laughed, "There's absolutely no way my dad would let you come."

"I'll just keep watch from the trees," she promised, "I won't even go near the action." Crescent fingered the glowing wooden whistle wrapped around her neck. She had made it a few years back when she had stumbled across a piece of thick bark from the spirit tree. When she blew into the whistle, it emitted a tone that only the Na'vi could hear so she had named it the Na'vi call and used it in situations like this. It helped warn them if she ever saw something they didn't.