Together in Eywa

Part 12

Together, Spider and Crescent hit the water, his hand still holding hers tightly. Their masks continued to allow them to breathe, so it was easy to start swimming towards the outside of the ship. Crescent turned her head, seeing Neteyam jump in after them, following closely behind them. When they were out from under the large vessel, they all kicked to the surface, emerging triumphantly.

Lo'ak and Spider grinned at each other, high-fiving as they whooped and hollered, "Bro! That was insane cuz!"

Crescent searched the water around them, waiting for Neteyam to finally pop his head up above the water. It was taking him an awfully long time, she could have sworn he was right behind them, "Guys," she smacked Spider's shoulder, "where is Neteyam?"

Lo'ak glanced at her, preparing to dive back into the water when his older brother finally emerged. Crescent breathed a sigh, but her relief was short lived. He seemed to be struggling to keep himself above the water as he grunted in pain. Immediately Crescent swam to his side, trying to find out what was wrong.

Lo'ak urged his brother to get on his ilu with him, but Neteyam just grunted, "You skxwang, I'm shot."

"Shit!" Crescent noticed the blood gathering in the water as it came from his wound. She immediately began searching for where he'd been hit as Lo'ak frantically swam over to where they were.

When she found the wound, Crescent waved Spider over, "It hit his shoulder," she said, trying her best to keep calm when really, the anxiety in her body threatened to send her over the edge, "it's not a fatal shot, but we need to get him help quick."

The boys didn't waste their time, they grabbed Neteyam and hoisted him onto Lo'ak's ilu. Crescent got up behind him, holding onto him so he didn't slide off. Her hands found both the entry and exit sides of the wound on his shoulder, "This is going to hurt." She told him and he just nodded. She put heavy pressure on the wound, doing her best to stop the bleeding with her hands. Neteyam grunted in pain.

Lo'ak mounted the ilu so that he was in front, and Spider grabbed onto the side of the ilu, glancing at Neteyam worriedly. Crescent had been serious when she had said it wasn't a fatal shot, since the bullet had gone through his shoulder and not his chest, but if he lost too much blood, it could be bad.

"Come on!" She urged, "Let's go, hurry!"

The ilu sped off, carrying them away from the wrecked ship. Tsireya, the Metkayina girl, showed up next to them, riding her ilu just as quickly. Her eyes were frantic as she glanced at Neteyam, Spider, Crescent, then back to Lo'ak. She was breathing quickly, a clear look of panic on her face.

"They have Kiri and Tuk!" she said to Lo'ak.

Crescent's heart dropped into her stomach, making her realize that she hadn't seen either of the girls yet. And if they were back on the ship, that meant Quaritch was there too. Spider and her shared a glance, worry setting into their features.

"I can't go back," Lo'ak said, glancing at Neteyam who was hanging over him, Crescent's hands still pressing against his shot wound.

Crescent felt awful, knowing that Kiri and Tuk were still on the ship, but she was just as worried for Neteyam as Lo'ak was, and she knew they'd go back at get them as soon as they were sure that Neteyam would be okay. She still felt slightly guilty though, but there wasn't much time to feel anything as eclipse shrouded the planet of Pandora in darkness.

As they reached an outcropping of rocks, Crescent could see Jake at the same time that he spotted them. His eyes widened when he saw Crescent and Spider, and then he saw the blood that was leaking through her fingers as she continued to put pressure on Neteyam's wound. Jake rushed over to them as they helped Neteyam onto the rocks. He was shaking from blood loss as he collapsed onto the ground.