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Chapter 12: Fight or Flight
─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───
Ayna released a sigh of relief, her hand clutching her racing heart. She turned to Reyn who'd been peeking from the basket opening since the man left, her eyes wide with concern. "That was close. We have to hurry."
Ayna carefully picked the basket up again and both girls readied themselves to leave the safety of the tent knowing that the risks ahead were extremely big. But despite Reyn's nerves, she was determined to find those documents that could possibly help not only her people, but the next few generations of Na'ri from now onwards.
Inside the cramped basket, she noticed her freckles beginning to glow, mirroring the way Na'vis own freckles glowed in the dark in the beautiful bioluminescent world that Pandora was. Albeit, her glow lacked the same aesthetic significance. In her human form, the glow could either be an early sign that her cycle was approaching or an indication that her tics were resurfacing.
Taking a deep breath, Reyn let out a sigh. Despite the terrors they could bring, the impulsivity that came from her tics was her only source of courage in the unforgiving world she was born in.
Adrenaline surged through her veins as Ayna carried the basket outside, and they were immediately greeted by the chaos of the search party. Na'vi warriors and even anxious civilians rushed through the area, their distressed voices filling the air as they ran around like mad people looking for the missing human. The tension was almost suffocating, but Ayna remained focused on her mission.
She moved swiftly, blending in with the crowd as she made her way toward the edge of the village which she knew was the secluded area of the human labs. Away from the Na'vi and far enough from Neytiri and her never-ending grudge about almost every human in existence. Ayna continued her way trying to look as unsuspicious as she possibly could, her knowledge of the terrain guiding her through hidden pathways that would prevent them to be seen.
The sounds of distant ikran screeches and alarming shouts echoed around them, a constant reminder of the danger the village believed they were in.
Finally, Reyn felt the girl slow down and her heart pounded in her chest as she prepared to enter the lion's den. She felt Ayna gently place the basket on the floor and take the cover off.
"We're here." She whispers as she extends a hand to pick the girl up from the box as if she was a Na'vi child and places her on the floor.
Reyn looked up at Ayna, gratitude and determination shining in her eyes.
"Thank you for bringing me this far. Please stay safe and find a way to keep warning the others about what's happening. I'm sure Luca was able to warn Teuila by now as well and someone is already on the way."
