An Empty Cup | Avatar. Miles Quaritch

19. Fire

It was quiet in the forest. I made a slow walk back home. It took some time on foot. I just wanted to go home and sleep in my hammock again. It wasn't much to ask for.

-

The forest was a deadly silence. She had taken notice before. It was eerily quiet, no animals, no wind, no sounds. The treehouse had came into view. It was quiet and dark. She was suspisious, but didn't bother taking time to look around.

Her first mistake.

A large hand had slammed over her mouth and another hand wrapped around her waist like a snake. She screams muffled into its palm. Kicking out her legs as she was hoisted into the air. Her tail smacking the enemies body as her ears pinned against her head. She was seconds away from digging her fangs into its hands before;

"Shh."

Her whole body froze, and she relaxes. Feeling immidiately safe. She could hear Miles' breathing now, recognising it as she calms. "Be quiet." He whispers as he pulls her to crouch on the ground. "Miles? What are you doing?" She asks confused, the last she heard, he was going back to his home. But here he was, was she imagining him. But shakes her head, knowing that she was just physically pulled into the air and her tail definately had hit something.

Slowly, he pulls his hand back. "Humans. They are after you." She sighs, giving him a stern look. "Miles, they do not know where I live." She chuckles softly, moving to stand. Miles grabs her shoulders, pulling her back into a bush. Hiding them both. He opens his mouth to say something, but holds his tongue.

"I know. But listen." She rolls her eyes and sighs but plays along.

But she had noticed it too. She knew it was too quiet. And in the distance a twig snaps. Her ears immidiately react to it. Her head sharply turns to peer through the thick bush. She could see a Skyperson in a machine suit, like the one she had killed before, surrounded by multiple Skypeople holding guns.

She swallows silently. Her throat bobbing with the action. She didn't take her eyes from the scene infront of her. She could feel Miles' hand press against her shoulder.

There was a few quiet orders passed around. Before they figured that Ray'Ala would be asleep in her treehouse. The Skypeople swapped out their guns for the ones on their backs. Clicked something on the back. And fired.

Roaring embers sprouted from the guns. Fire licked and caught onto her treehouse where they had aimed.

Her eyes widen as she opens her mouth. Miles immidiately presses his large blue hand over lips, keeping them muffled. Tears run down her eyes. "My home!" She shouts into his palm. She was sobbing. Miles' free hand started rubbing against her bare back soothingly. She just kept jerking and crying. Not being able to tear her eyes from the scene.

A loud, ear piercing roar came from the forest. Ray'Ala sat up. Her ears pricking. "Oh, no." She whispers, moving to stand on her knees for a better view.

Payiway, her Pululukan, comes bounding from between the trees and bushes. Spreading all of its limbs out as it leaps towards the Skypeople in defense of her home. She had stunnned the People for a few seconds before they aimed their fire at her. She roared but continued to attack at them. She was fireproof, but she was slowly boiling.

"No!" Ray shouts. Moving to stand but Miles grips her torso, keeping her down. "They will kill you." He states. Watching Payiway fight her life for her home. Ray shoves Miles away. Crying out a loud screech.

The Predator's danger senses lowers as her head perks. And responds instantly. Bounding towards the direction of the call. Ray grips her Queue and puts her hand up just above the bushes. Payiway could smell her. And seeing her hand, she rushed too her. Stopping and ducking beneath the bush as the Skypeople collected themselves.

Ray quickly connected Tsaheylu. Holding her hand to Miles. "Quick!" She shouts, leaning down and pulling him on Payiways powerful shoulders. Miles grips Ray's waist tightly. Before the predator sprints across the forest floor, but takes a turn and heads back. Ray holds her neural whip harness tightly.

"Ray, please, we need to go!" Miles calls over the wind. His voice being caught in the air behind him. "We can't leave them!" She calls back, not turning to look at him.

After a few seconds Payiway stopped at her den. Ray slipped off, crouching down and approaching the pups. Gathering them quickly in her arms. There weren't many, but she collected them. They didn't fight against her, knowing she was on their side. Knowing she was a friend.

Miles held the pups infront of him as Ray lifted herself on Payiways shoulders again. Some of the pups had gathered infront of her and rested against her front. Ray cries out a call and the Pululukan bounds across the forest floor.

Away from the fire, away from home.

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Sorry for the short chapter, i need to post mooorrrreeee

BUT BUT BUT!!!!!

The story is calculated for the rest of the book

THE BOOK IS NEARLY DOONNNEEEEE!!!!!!