Not a Soldier Yet |Ao'nung x Neteyam|

36. Mother's Son

Ao'nung was terrified for his mate's life, who had been missing for two days now. The Olo'eyktan was terrified for his son's sanity, but he could not keep him back from searching for his mate, knowing he would the same if Ronal were to disappear.

Tonowari heard rushing footsteps; he stopped murmuring to his new-born son and lifted his head. Ronal stood from her seat, placing a hand on Tsireya's shoulder as her daughter put aside the basket she was stress-weaving.

Jake burst into their marui. "Lo'ak is missing too-"

Tsireya gasped, hurrying to her feet. "Where did he go?"

Toruk Makto's rage was apparent in his eyes; his sons were missing and nobody knew where they were, or if they were even still alive. "That knucklehead went to look for his brother last night and hasn't returned since."

Tonowari handed the baby to Ronal, who took him without a word, placing a hand on Tsireya's back and leading her out. "I will gather the warriors."

Tonowari's nod vent unnoticed by his mate. He grasped Jake's arm tightly, two father's staring each other in the eye.
"I don't know what I will do if anything happened to either of them, Tonowari. I won't be able forgive myself."

The Olo'eyktan closed his eyes in sympathy. "Your sons are brave and strong. Fear not for we will find them and bring them home."

Jake nodded, feeling his heart break along with his resolve. Tonowari patted his back with no judgement.

Someone pulled on his tail roughly, another on his queue, forcing Neteyam to cry out in agony at being yanked in two different directions. They had left him out at night, tied to the rails even as heavy rain poured from the sky. Nobody showed him mercy, getting bolder as the hours passed. Quaritch was not about to stop them.

Neteyam realized the other man probably enjoyed seeing him in pain because he looked so much like his mother, the woman who killed Quaritch with the same arrows Neteyam now knew how to shoot. He had no arrows. His wrists were bleeding and raw where they were bound tightly. Neteyam's lip was split from his legs being yanked out from underneath him, making his slam his mouth in the metal railings of the battleship. He was cold and starving. He saw his tsurak from time to time but sent him away, not wanting to risk getting the creature killed. Quaritch already noticed his calls. He did not know how much longer his patience lasted.

"Where is Jake Sully, boy?" The woman hissed I his hear, chewing her gum loudly, nearly making Neteyam gag, ears sensitive to the sound.
"I'll never tell you," Neteyam hissed back in na'vi.
She backhanded him before kicking him in the side, boots bruising his skin almost instantly. Neteyam slid to the side, hissing from the pain.

He felt so entirely helpless and broken down that he could not even bothered to get back on his knees, hanging limply from the railing. Suddenly there was silence. He heard footsteps; someone lifted his face by his hair.
"You're making things very difficult," Quaritch mumbled, eyeing him.

Neteyam stared back at him, eyes as void of feeling as his heart.
Quaritch grinned. "Now that's more like it. Untie him."

"But colonel, he might be a better fighter than we think," Lile, if Neteyam remembered correctly was his name, hissed out. "He might go feral and attack us."

"I already kill one of you," Neteyam hissed out in English, accent strong. "Back in the forest."

Stunned silence fell over them. A knife snapped the bindings on his wrists and ankles. Neteyam stood slowly, eyeing the na'vi standing around him with his jaw clenched so tightly it hurt. Quaritch threw his knife to him, surprising Neteyam. He had thought it got lost in the ocean.

"Let's see what your father taught you." The colonel cracked his neck and stepped closer to Neteyam, his own knife in hand. "Fight me, boy."

Neteyam lunged for him, letting out a loud yell and slammed his first into the Colonel's face; Quaritch did not think the na'vi would be so bold. He stumbled back, ignoring the surprised hisses of his squad. He grasped his knife tighter and swiped, drawing first blood.
Neteyam grasped his chest where Quaritch had cut him and hissed, baring his teeth. He realized he did not care if he was injured as long he could cause harm to the man threatening the safety of his family. Neteyam jumped into the air, giving a war cry louder than before; he knocked into Quaritch, making them both fall to the ground. He held down the hand the other was using to hold his weapon, straddling his hips to keep him on the floor of the battleship.

"Get him off, colonel!" He heard an anxious cry from one of the fake na'vi.

Neteyam slammed his fist into the recom's nose, feeling it shatter under his knuckles before he was pushed to the side and Quaritch twisted out of his grip, dropping his knife in the process. Neteyam kicked it off the side of the ship before he could grab it, not noticing that he cut the bottom of his foot on the sharp blade, a blade sharper than his own. Quaritch held his bleeding nose, glaring at Neteyam.

The woman made a move to attack Neteyam, but Quaritch held his hand up, stopping her. "This is my fight."

"A fight you lose," Neteyam growled, blinded by rage.

Quaritch faltered at the na'vi facial expression; Neteyam's eyes were wide and feral, his teeth bared. He did not care if the other thought his smaller fangs unintimidating. Neteyam was familiar with being hurt; he did not care if it happened again, maybe even longed for it, but this was different. This was not like the bullying he endured in Awa'atlu. This was life and death; he could lose his family if he did not kill this man.

"Neteyam!" A familiar voice yelled, dousing him in cold water.

"Spider?" Neteyam gaped, unaware of the smirk adorning Quaritch's face. "What are you doing here?"

Spider shrugged as two human men grabbed him; he fought against their grasp, breaking free and running towards Neteyam until Quaritch grabbed him swiftly, lifting him off the ground. He was captured.

Neteyam sneered in disgust. "Let him go, demon!"

"Make me, baby Sully."