Deep in the Violet | Neteyam X fem OC

Chapter ten

In an instant, Neteyam was on his feet, his senses sharpened by the acute call of the spotters. "I'm sorry, Naveah, but we need to return immediately," he said, urgency lacing his words as he summoned his ikran. He did so with a heavy heart, wishing he could linger a bit longer in this peaceful moment with her. Without any delay, they settled onto the ikran's back, hastening their flight back to camp. Time was of the essence, allowing no room for a cautious ride. Neteyam held onto Naveah by her waist, his grip both secure and gentle, steadying her during the turbulent flight. They soared straight through the thick foliage and up into the sky, choosing the shortest route to the mountains.

They had swiftly arrived at the now alerted High Camp, where all its residents were hastily gathering in the dining hall. Neteyam led the way, parting the crowd to make a clear path for Naveah. His body created a corridor through the crowd, ensuring she could move through easily.

The two spotters stood now beside Jake, their voices projecting loudly to reach everyone present. "A cargo ship, accompanied by seven aircraft, was spotted near the south border. We tracked them and discovered a small base in its early stages of construction."

Jake's tone conveyed the gravity of the situation. "That's not good. They shouldn't be getting this close. We need to intervene immediately." He issued orders for all the warriors to get ready and prepare for a counterattack mission. The crowd quickly dispersed, and Naveah observed as people hurried to their designated tasks. Some were preparing weapons, while the warriors were gearing up. Others were mixing pigments that would later be applied as warpaint, helping the warriors psych themselves up for the upcoming battle.

Norm and the other avatars were also busy preparing and loading things into the gunship. Neteyam looked around, a hint of worry in his eyes as he wondered if there would still be someone left to help Naveah. He turned to her hastily, urgency in his voice.

"I need to join them. Can you please look for Kiri and ask her to find someone to check your shoulder?"

"I can check it for her right away," Spider offered, having overheard Neteyam's request as he stood nearby.

"Thank you, Spider. I need to hurry and prepare," Neteyam said, giving Naveah a last lingering look before leaving.

Naveah followed Spider as they headed to the biolab. She felt a bit nervous around him. The brief time they had spent together the day before hadn't allowed her to truly get to know him. But she was determined to give him a chance, recalling the warmth with which Lo'ak and his sisters had received their human friend.

When they approached the lab, an unfamiliar unease settled in her stomach again. The room they were headed was the same one that had sent shivers down her spine before. She was now standing in front of the door to the dimly lit examination room, the contents within only visible as vague silhouettes. When Spider entered, the bulbs above flickered briefly before casting a strong, white light that revealed the room's details. "Come on in," he gestured, his fingers tapping at a small computer.

With cautious step, Naveah entered the room. First, she positioned one foot inside, her toes barely touching the floor just centimeters beyond the threshold. Every one of her senses seemed to be on high alert, as if ready to react to an imminent threat from any direction. Yet, despite her heightened vigilance, no danger presented itself. Slowly, she moved farther into the room, her gaze focused on the small table where Spider sat. "You can sit down here," he said, pointing to the seat beside him, and handing her a breathing inhalator.
"Okay, I will take an X-ray of your shoulder," Spider announced as he picked up a small scanning device.

Naveah couldn't help but feel a surge of apprehension at the sight of the unfamiliar device, and her panic was evident in her expression. Spider recognized her unease and quickly moved to reassure her, explaining the process in detail. "This little device will capture an image of the bones in your shoulder. Don't worry, you won't even feel a thing." His soothing words seemed to have a positive effect, helping Naveah to relax a bit. As Spider activated the scanner, a faint blue ray flickered from it. "There, that was it," he said, offering her a small smile.