After the trees, the seas | Neteyam

Chapter 17

Third perspective pov:

Neteyam, Lo'ak and Spider were keeping Hayla to the surface as she wasn't able to do it herself anymore. Her eyes were shut. "Hayla, stay awake please" Neteyam begged her but he got no answer back. Then Tsireya and Aonung arrived on their Ilu. "Come on guys, get on" Tsireya said, waving the group. "Help!" Lo'ak screamed to them before their expression darkened at the sight of the bloody water. "What happened?!" Aonung asked horrified as he approached the group. "She got shot!" Neteyam answered as he began to carry Hayla towards the Ilus. "Take mine" Tsireya said as she got off her Ilu and turned to look at Hayla. "Oh no.." she let out in a whisper before covering her mouth in shock. Her wound was bad.

"She's barely awake, we got to hurry!" Neteyam said. He got on the Ilu and installed her carefully in his arms, passing an arm under her shoulders and the other under her leg. Lo'ak took the front position and connected to the Ilu as Spider held onto the side. Tsireya rode with his brother. "We got to go to dad, he-" Lo'ak started but Neteyam cut him "No! Dad will do nothing, we have to bring her to Max and Norm!". "What about Kiri and Tuk, Quadritch got them.." Tsireya asked. Lo'ak turned and gave a look at Hayla in Neteyam's arms before he shook his head "We can't go back". His heart twisted to see Hayla that way, she was the only person who truly believed him, who always had his back. She was his best friend and he couldn't imagine how it would be like to loose her. "Follow me!" Aonung said before leading them all to the village.

Neteyam softly stroked Hayla's cheek, looking at her. She had her eyes closed but she was still breathing. "Please hold on Hayla, for me". He then reached for the device in his neck, pressed the button and spoke "Dad, it's Neteyam, you read me?". "I read you, is everything fine?" Jake asked, worry was noticeable in his voice. "No, Hayla got shot so we're bringing her to the village". There was a short moment before Jake replied "Where did the bullet hit her body?". "Lower stomach, and they have Kiri and Tuk, they're on the boat, I won't be able to help them..I'm sorry dad.." Neteyam said. "Don't worry boy, we're handling the situation, take Hayla for treatment. We're joining you as soon as possible". He wished he could have help his sisters but right now, Hayla needed him more.

Few moments later, they had reached the village. Neteyam carefully took her off the Ilu. "Aonung help me!" Neteyam told him. He quickly helped and grabbed Hayla by her legs while Neteyam was holding her under the arms. "Lo'ak, Spider, go and warn them!" Neteyam asked as they both executed. The wound was still bleeding and the blood rapidly covered Hayla's stomach once they were out of the water. They transported the girl towards the village when Lo'ak and Spider came back. "Come on guys, over here!" Lo'ak called, guiding them in a nearby hut. Norm and Max had already prepared the place and material. "Oh god.." Norm let out when he saw the excessive amount of blood and Hayla uncounscious being carried by Aonung and Neteyam. "She got shot" Neteyam said, pleading them to help.

"Lay her here" Max instructed. The boys carefully laid her on the metal table. "She lost a lot of blood, you got to stop the bleeding" Neteyam said. "We have to get the bullet out first" Max said as he prepared his surgical instruments. "Bro we should let them work.." Lo'ak suggested his brother. Neteyam leaned over Hayla and whispered to her "Please don't leave me okay? You got to fight, I know you, you're strong and you'll get trough this" he kissed her forehead as a tear rolled on his cheek "I love you" he whispered. Then the group left the hut, hoping they'll get the chance to see their friend again.

The little group had sat together near the water, in complete silence. Neteyam stared at the horizon with an empty look, he felt guilty not being able to protect her. He had washed off the blood from his hands and body, but it felt like it was still there. "It's my fault.." Lo'ak let out, his head low, looking at the water. Neteyam slightly turned his head to look at his brother. "No Lo'ak.." he tried to say but Lo'ak cut him "I'm the one who involved her..". "Stop" Neteyam retaliated. "It's none of you fault.." Tsireya said  grabbing Lo'ak's hand and giving a soft look to the other brother. "She's right, sky people are the one to blame" Spider said to his two friends.

***

Few moments later, the rest of the family had arrived to the village, all of them dead worried about Hayla. Jake rushed to the group, followed by Neytiri, Kiri and Tuk. Neteyam and Lo'ak stood up when they noticed their father. "Dad, I'm sorry.." Neteyam said looking at his father while his eyes filled with tears. Jake immediately brought his son close to him, hugging him tightly. He knew how close Hayla and Neteyam were and he could only imagine the fear and pain he was experiencing. "It's not your fault boy" Jake said in a comforting voice. Neytiri took Lo'ak in her arms. "Where is she?" she asked her two sons. "In a hut with Max and Norm, they're removing the bullet.." Lo'ak replied looking at the floor with watery eyes. Jake softly let go of Neteyam and looked at him in the eyes "Stay strong, for her" he said in low voice. The boy nodded. Jake and Neytiri were heading to the hut when Tuk intercepted them "I want to see Hayla" she asked in a small voice, filled with sadness. The parents' heart ached at their daughter's plea. "Not now Tuk, she needs to rest before okay?" Kiri replied, taking her hand and bringing her into an embrace. The young girl felt tears rolling down her cheeks to the thought of her friend's situation, she kept praying Eywa to let her live. Kiri then looked at her friend and smiled seeing him again after being apart for so long. Spider smiled back to her.

Jake and Neytiri quickly went to the hut. They got in and saw Hayla, laying unconscious on the medical table. Next to her, there were clothes stained with blood. "Oh Hayla.." Jake let out, shocked. Neytiri rushed to her side, laying her hand on Hayla's cheek "Oh my dear angel.. please stay with us" she said as tears ran down her cheeks. "How is she?" Jake asked even though he was scared to hear the answer. "She's lost a lot of blood.. from now, we can only hope she'll wake up.." Norm answered with a sorry look. "We successfully removed the bullet, but it left a pretty bad wound.." Max added in a soft tone as he was sewing it. Jake looked at her, and remembered the memories from when she was just a little girl. He had always considered her as his own daughter, she was brave, strong and had such a pure soul. He felt guilty for not being able to protect her like he promised her parents when they laid dying. He could still hear her sweet little laughers of pure happiness when she released her first arrow.

Jake came back to reality when Norm laid his hand on his shoulder. "There's still hope that she will wake up. We have to clung to this hope" Norm said before leaving the hut. "We did everything we could, now it's on her.. I'll come back later to check on her" Max said with a soft smile before leaving, bringing with him the bloody clothes and material. "Thank you so much Max" Jake thanked him before approaching Hayla. He softly stroked her head as his eyes became watery. He could not loose her. Eywa could not take her, not now, her life had barely started. Jake looked at his mate, and his heart broke even more seeing her face soaked with tears. "Hayla will make it" he whispered to Neytiri. She nodded before laying a kiss on Hayla's head.

***

Neytiri stayed with Hayla while Jake went to the children. Neteyam got up and waited for his father to speak. Lo'ak, Kiri, Tuk, Tsireya and Aonung had their eyes on him, hoping he would bring good news. "Her wound is patched. We have to wait to see if she wakes up.." he said softly.