𝖲𝗍𝗋𝗈𝗇𝗀 𝖧𝖾𝖺𝗋𝗍

𝖿𝗈𝗎𝗋𝗍𝖾𝖾𝗇

𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐧

༄𓆉︎♫︎☀︎︎❦︎☀︎︎♫︎𓆉︎༄

     IT DIDN’T TAKE LONG FOR THEM TO REACH PAYAKAN. Lo’ak ignored Tsireya, Neteyam and Tu’ahu’s calls for him. It wasn’t until they got closer that they noticed the bright red tracker sticking out of Payakan. “Lo’ak!” Neteyam yelled, jumping onto the tulkun.

      “Bro, come on! Help me out!” said Lo’ak as Tu’ahu climbed onto Payakan. “Hurry, the ship’s coming!”

      Tu’ahu reached out to pull Aonung up onto Payakan, the two of them immediately helping Lo’ak and Neteyam pull the device out. “Call it in! Call Dad!” Neteyam shouted to Lo’ak, grabbing his arm.

      Lo’ak hesitated, but there was no time for hesitation. “Lo’ak, just call Dad! There’s no time!” she yelled, pulling Tuk and Kiri up. Lo’ak left to call Jake, and the rest of the kids tried to free Payakan.

      “It’s getting closer!” Tsireya said.

      “Three, two, pull!” Neteyam urged, the group collectively pulling as hard as they could.

      “This isn’t working, there has to be something else we can do!” Tu’ahu yelled, teeth gritted as they tried to pull out the red tracker.

      And then, as if Eywa heard her pleas, a large familiar ikran screeched, flying into view. It was Loran, holding a rope in her mouth. “Loran! What are you doing?” Tu’ahu yelled to her sister as she landed gently on Payakan’s back. Everyone laughed gleefully, feeling saved. They continued pulling.

       ‘I am to help you.’ Tu’ahu was unaware of Neteyam tying one end of the rope to the tracker. Lo'ak passed Aonung another rope, and he and Rotxo tied it to the tracker, while Neteyam moved to tie the other end to Lo’ak’s ilu.

      Tu’ahu shook her head.  “Loran, no, you have to leave. Meuia needs you. Your son needs you!” she pleaded.

      Loran screeched. ‘I am to protect you. Trust in me.’ she lifted the end of the rope with her beak, dropping it into Tu’ahu’s hands again. ‘We ride together.’

      “Tu’ahu, we don’t have time. We have to do this,” Aonung said, hand on Tu’ahu’s shoulder. “You and Loran can save Payakan.” he added, and Tu’ahu looked at Lo’ak’s face, seeing the despair and worry in his eyes.

      Quickly, she stood and attached the rope to Loran’s saddle, climbing onto her as smaller ships made their way towards them. Loran lifted into the air as Tu’ahu yipped, pulling on the tracker. Neteyam was on the ilu, urging it forwards as well.

      “Pull! Now!” Neteyam yelled as Loran flapped her wings furiously and the ilu swam as fast as she could.

      “Everybody! Together!” Tsireya shouted, she, Aonung, Rotxo and Lo’ak pulling on the tracker. Kiri and Tuk were calming Payakan

      The ships continued growing closer, and Tu’ahu whispered soothing things into Loran’s ears as she struggled. “Pull! She can’t do this much longer!” Tu’ahu shouted to her brothers, sisters and friends.

      With one final pull, the tracker came out, and Tu’ahu quickly cut the rope from Loran’s back, the two of them catching their breath in the air. They weren’t out of the woods yet. Tu’ahu looked over to the ships, seeing the gun being cocked.