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"Haaa..! Ugh—!" Desperate footsteps pounded against the dirt.

*THUD*

"Ouch.." The boy collapsed, cradling his bruised elbow as tears welled up in his eyes. Whimpers escaped his lips as his dirt-streaked fingers inadvertently pressed on the laceration, sending a fresh wave of pain coursing through him.

"Mama.." he whispered, staring in disbelief at his blood-soaked fingers, which trembled uncontrollably.

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"[Name]!" A gasp escaped the woman as she dropped the woven basket she carried, her eyes widening in horror at the sight behind the boy.

"D-don't turn around, baby..!" she yelled. Yet, driven by curiosity, he turned his head to face the source of her terror. His blood ran cold as he came eye-to-eye with a formidable palulukan, its massive form marred by wounds. The creature's eyes narrowed, and drool dripped menacingly from its maw, showing its ravenous hunger.

As the beast prepared to lunge, jaws agape, a well-aimed rock struck its eye. The palulukan recoiled, roaring in agony, its gaze darting around to identify the perpetrator. Its baleful eyes locked onto [Name]'s mother, who was already arming herself with more rocks.

"[Name], run!" she screamed, her voice a blend of urgency and despair.

"Run!" Her voice cut through the air, sharp and urgent, jolting [Name] into action and started hobbling away as fast as he could.

Behind him, the palulukan's roar echoed through the clearing, a terrifying sign of its rage. The beast, momentarily distracted by the rock that hit its eye, turned its attention back to [Name], its hungry eyes locked on him.

[Name]'s mother, ignoring the danger, kept throwing rocks at the creature, each one a desperate attempt to give her son more time. Her heart raced, but her voice remained steady. "Keep going, baby!" she shouted.

As [Name] limped away, everything around him seemed to blur. His vision was clouded by tears and the throbbing pain in his leg. He could barely breathe, each gasp a fight against the urge to collapse. But his mom's words echoed in his mind, giving him the strength to keep moving.

Meanwhile, the palulukan, furious and wounded, charged at his mom, its hunger making it more vicious. She dodged its attack, narrowly escaping its sharp claws. Determined to protect her son, she fought on, every action driven by desperation.

[Name] stumbled through the underbrush, his path a chaotic weave through the trees. The sounds of the struggle behind him faded, but the fear still loomed large in his mind. He knew he couldn't stop, couldn't give up—not if he wanted to live.

Suddenly, a root caught [Name]'s foot, and he fell to the ground with a cry of pain. He lay there, stunned and dizzy, the world spinning around him. But the thought of his mom fighting the beast alone gave him the strength to get up.

With gritted teeth, [Name] pushed himself up and kept moving, each step a testament to his determination. The forest seemed endless, a maze with no way out. But he pressed on, driven by a basic instinct to survive.

As he went deeper into the forest, the sounds of the fight grew distant, replaced by rustling leaves and the soft calls of nighttime creatures. His leg hurt with every step, but he knew he couldn't stop. Not yet.

Eventually, [Name] stumbled into a small clearing, his breath coming in shallow gasps. He collapsed against a tree, his body shaking with exhaustion and fear. For a moment, he let himself rest, trying to catch his breath. But his mind stayed alert, listening for any sign of danger.

Minutes felt like hours, the silence overwhelming. He strained his ears, hoping to hear something—anything—that would tell him his mom was safe. But the forest was eerily quiet, its secrets hidden in the shadows.

Finally, the pain and exhaustion were too much for [Name] to handle. His vision darkened, the edges of the world closing in. With a final, desperate thought of his mom, he gave in to the overwhelming fatigue and passed out, the forest around him fading to black.

Some time later, a Na'vi woman, her movements silent and graceful, found [Name] lying unconscious. Her eyes softened as she saw the injured boy. Kneeling beside him, she gently checked his wounds, her touch careful and gentle.

She whispered a prayer to Eywa for his safety, then lifted him into her arms, cradling him protectively. With urgency and grace, she started back to her village, where healing awaited.

[Name]'s fate was now in the hands of the Na'vi, his life intertwined with theirs in ways yet to be discovered.

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