The rain hit his skin like icy bullets.
Jake had a torch in hand as the heavy drops that fell from the sky obscured his vision. Though, the provided light didn't do any better he still pushed through.
He and a couple of others had been searching for a young girl for about an hour now since eclipse had passed. When Mäowieym came to him requesting for a search party, Jake couldn't help but think of the worst.
He explained that Ayatney had left their hut hours ago and was expected to return at least before night fall, like she always would. But when she didn't turn up for dinner, the helpless father couldn't help but began to worry for his daughters safety.
Understanding the feeling, Jake had granted it to him, deciding to join the party as well.
Neytiri was a bit skeptical at first, seeing as there was many others who would help look for her. But he persisted, saying that he was Olo'eyktan and was more than willing to help search for the girl. She reluctantly let him go, and it brung him to now.
He was a bit ways from their little village, that he and his people created seven years ago, as he followed a little creek.
Jake knew better than to call out her name, there were other predators that lived in this forest besides himself. The torch was already enough attention.
He focused all of his attention on his ears as they twitched at each sound the forest gave. Between the rain fall and the buzzing noise that came from the insects, Jake was able to catch the sound of nantangs.
He pulled out his knife, hunching himself over a bit as he followed their growls and snarls. Jake stopped his defensive stance as the yelp of a child echoed in the air. A big splash followed and he immediately darted in that direction.
Upon reaching a big pool, he watched as the nantangs scramble out of the water. The pack immediately dispersing back into the heavy foliage, abandoning the task of their hunt. With the bright moonlight, he was able to spot the roots of a tree barely peaking above the surface. Though the rain bounced against the exterior, Jake was able to make out the bubbles that appeared every few seconds.
It alerted him that the young girl was in the waters, but yet, why wasn't she surfacing?
Jake let the torch fall from his hands, which immediately extinguished, and threw himself into the water. What he wasn't expecting was to fall straight in, hoping for at least to be able to step onto some sort of ground. It seemed to be some sort of hole that had accumulated water over the years it had been present.
It was absolutely freezing, sending chills deep enough into his bones. Taking a deep breath, Jake stuck his head into the water, eyes searching for Ayatney. Though the creeks and rivers were lit up by bioluminescent plants and life, this well like hole was pitch black. As if, the hole was the mouth and whatever fell in was it's meal.
He was able to make out the glowing white dots that littered her skin. Ayatney was unmoving, sinking further and further into the darkness.
Pushing himself down, Jake used his limbs to swim towards her. The obscurity of the water frightened him slightly as he finally got a hold of Ayatney. Wrapping his arm around her torso, he pushed them up to the surface.
Jake's head broke through first, bringing the younger to do the same.
As soon as he reached the outer edge of the pool, he lifted Ayatney to lay on the grass first before pulling his own body out of the water.
"I've got her!" He alerted the others who were still out in the forest, hoping that they would hear him over the rainfall. Thankfully they did, and not even a couple minutes later did they all emerge.
Jake hovered the side of his head over her mouth, hoping to feel her breath tickle his ear. He pulled back when he sensed that she, was not in fact, breathing. He had never performed CPR on a child, but there was always a first for everything.
Using one hand, he placed it over her chest, the other gently holding her head. Jake moderately pressed down at a hard and fast pace, the years of military training coming back to him. The others hovered over them, blocking the rain as he performed this task, pausing every thirty compressions to blow air into her mouth.
The voice of Mäowieym could be heard as he pushed through the people, stopping in front of the group to see the leader of the Omatikaya doing a strange action.
"Keep him away!" Jake ordered, now using two hands to conduct CPR. If he was going to save this little girls life, he had to do so with no distractions.
"Ayatney!" The father weeped, trying to reach for his unconscious daughter. Arms encircled him, the people doing as they were told.
"C'mon..." Jake whispered, pleading to Eywa to not take such a young one away so soon.
He could feel her small ribs bend under the pressure, but Jake had to keep going if she were to ever open her eyes again. Inhaling a deep breath, he pinched Ayatney's nose and opened her mouth, tipping her head back as he blew air into her lungs.
Her frame stirred when he pulled back, water spurting out of her mouth as her body finally fought to survive. Turning her onto her side, Jake assisted the young girl in spewing out the water. He gently pat her cheek with his hand as she coughed.
"There you go— that's a good girl." He praised, rubbing her cold skin in hope of bringing back some warmth.
Ayatney's eyes fluttered open, letting them wander around a bit before shutting them again, exhaustion pulling her into a peaceful sleep.
Jake repositioned her body, tucking a hand between her face and her bent arm under her head, as well as bending one of her knees to sit out in order to prevent her from rolling over.
Mäowieym broke through the peoples hold, falling onto his knees at his daughters side.
"Do not move her yet." Jake instructed, "She has to stay like this for a while to recover." The father nodded his head, acknowledging Jake's words before running his hand over her wet skin.
"Thank you Olo'eyktan, I am forever in your debt." The man thanked him, more than grateful for finding and saving his child from the clutches of death.
Jake only nodded in acknowledgment standing to his feet, allowing the father and daughter to have a moment of peace.
"My sweet child..." Mäowieym whispered into his daughters hairline, brushing away the wet baby hair from her face.
Ayatney woke with a start, water pouring out of her mouth. Multiple hands were on her, holding her tightly as to not let her slip. Her hair was removed out of her vision and a pair of hands enveloped each cheek, pulling her up to stare deep into amber eyes.
Neytiri sighed in relief as their eyes made contact, tears welling in her own as she stared into Ayatney.
"Thank the Great Mother you're alright." She breathed out, a smile gracing her aged face.
Ayatney wrapped a hand around Neytiri's wrist, keeping her grounded as she took in deep breaths. The girl was thankful to be alive as well. The last she had remembered was falling into the waters after failing to grab onto Kiri's hand, who now floated alongside her.
A five fingered hand tightened around her other wrist, alerting her of the rest of their presence. Jake held onto her tightly, giving her a fatherly smile when she looked at him. They had made it out of alive, all of them.
Looking around for a familiar and loving face, Ayatney was met with saddened eyes from Lo'ak. They all knew who she was searching for and tears fell in denial as she realized who Quartrich had mentioned.
Ayatney suddenly felt as if she was drowning all over again.
Kuvlub's Thoughts...
Please comment your thoughts and questions as I will be writing a final note containing my thoughts and answering any questions you may have about Ayatney, the bonds she has w/ the Sully family, or anything general. Just nothing inappropriate please!
Thank you for reading!
YOU ARE READING
I WANNA BE SAVED, neteyam
Hayran Kurgu"I don't want you to feel offended Olo'eyktan... But I would rather have an ikran eat my insides than hear one of your sons say that they like me." Where had a child like her learn to speak like that? neteyam te suli tsyeyk'itan avatar: twow
