𝗠𝗜𝗥𝗥𝗢𝗥𝗦 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗦𝗢𝗨𝗟𝗦 - 𝗻𝗲𝘁𝗲𝘆𝗮𝗺

𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗣𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝗫𝗩𝗜𝗜𝗜 / 𝗙𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗟𝗘 ⸺ 𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱.

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AMRAË HIT THE water hard. She barely had the time to suck in a breath before the bullets followed her in, some passing inches away from her skin. A shape cut itself from the deep, followed by familiar clicks. Amraë grabbed onto Säsì as she sped away, mentally thanking her from getting her out. She made her understand she hadn't been far. They went around the ship, Amraë checking regularly behind her to make sure she wasn't being followed. Of course not. It wasn't her they wanted; she wasn't Jake's child, and the others were nothing but bait to get him to surrender.

Säsì emerged behind a large rock on the far end of the ship, which Amraë climbed smoothly, staying low not to draw attention. Shouts drew her gaze to the horizon. The wave of relief that washed over her at the sight of the dozens of tsurak and the ikran approaching was quickly dismissed: they couldn't attack without risking Lo'ak, Tuk and Tsireya getting hurt. Neither Tonowari nor Jake would risk it. They needed a distraction.

Amraë watched as the humans spread out on the ship, guns at the ready, and in the distance, the Metkayina slowly halted to a stop. From her hiding spot, she could barely see Quarrich and her friends, reduced to spots; she however clearly made out the gun Quarrich pointed on Lo'ak's head. Her stomach tightened. Negotiations, then.

Something moved behind Amraë; knives materialized in her hands as she spun around. She almost collapsed with relief when Neteyam emerged, jumping on the rock beside her.

"By the Great Mother, finally! Are you okay?" She wrapped him into a hug, then pushed herself away to inspect him for any signs of injuries.

"Yes. I was looking for another way onto the ship." He scanned the surroundings, the line of warriors still stopped and then the ship. His hand came absently stroking Amraë's back. "What happened? Where are the others?"

"Lo'ak, Tuk and Tsireya have been captured," she explained quickly. "I tried to help them, but I had to jump off the ship, they were going to shoot me — I am of no value to them. As for Kiri, Roxto and Ao'nung, they must still be in the water somewhere. We lost them in the algae forest." A lone figure etached itself from the rest of the warriors as she added: "It looks like Quarrich is negotiating for Jake's surrender."

"Okay. Okay," Neteyam repeated, eyes lost in the distance as he registered the information. "We have to free my siblings and Tsireya."

"No, we have to wait," Amraë countered. "There's no way we're getting on that ship without behind seen. We need the right window."

Below them, the rock seemed to shudder. Amraë tightened her grip. "What was that?"

"I don't know."

"Look!" Amraë pointed ahead as a tulkun dove out the water, crashing itself on the ship. There was only one tulkun who would voluntarily attack the Sky People that way. Payakan.