Still Breathing

Chapter 17. Sonne

"Regular" ~ Na'vi

"Bold" ~ English

"Italicized." ~ talking through an ear piece 

"And the world counts loud to ten." ~ Rammstein

Jake and Neytiri were frantic as they searched around the entire village for their children. They couldn't find even one of them, not even Tsireya and Aonung could be found by them. The two of them were walking around the village, asking if anyone had seen them until they finally found someone who had.

Neytiri was talking to them while Jake listened, trying to calm his drumming heart beat. "Dad- I mean, Devil Dog. Do you read me. It's Eagle Eye, do you copy?"

Jake's ears perked up at the sound of Lo'ak's voice coming through his ear piece. Not only did he know that one of his children were okay, but Lo'ak was finally talking to him again. However, there was something off about his tone.

Jake grabbed hold of Neytiri's arm, trying to get her attention as he pushed down on the two buttons on his throat, responding to his son. "Yeah, Lo'ak." 

Neytiri instantly grabbed her ear piece and placed it inside it's canal. "Dad!" Lo'ak's voice sounded panicked as the sounds of yelling and grunts could be heard in the background.

"We're with a Tulkun that's under attack. Killer ship's inbound. It's about two klicks out." Neytiri placed a hand on her husbands shoulder, feeling the panic beginning to set in.

"Who's with you?" Jake questioned, wanting to know who was shouting in the background.

"It's all of us!" Lo'ak shouted back in a panic, and Jake felt his heart race increase rapidly. "Aonung and Tsireya too."

Lo'ak told Jake where he was and Jake told him not to engage and to find cover. He told his son that he was coming and to stay safe as the two of them ran to find Tonowari and Ronal.

-

"It's getting closer!" Tsireya yelled as all of them tried desperately to pull the tracker out of Payakan's back.

"What did dad say?" Erica asked through grunts as she pulled with everything she had yet it still wasn't coming out.

"He's on his way." Lo'ak answered, dropping to his knees and helping to pull the pinger out. Despite there being six people pulling on it, the tracker didn't feel like it was even coming the slightest bit loose.

Eventually, Neteyam jumped off of Payakan's back and called for his Ilu. He had rope attached to the side and he came up with the brilliant idea to use the Ilu to help pull the pinger out by tying the rope around it.

"We got it! Go!" Erica shouted as she noticed the ship getting closer and closer to them. Kiri was trying to keep Payakan calm while the rest of them pulled with everything they had until the pinger finally came free, causing all of them to fall into the water.

"It's out!" Tuk shouted in excitement. 

Everyone began to call for their Ilu's as Tuk rode with Kiri. They knew they were in danger, and it was time for them to start swimming like their lives depended on it.