Emrey- Survive || Avatar: The Way of Water

004 || Orders

She held his gaze, taking a deep breath before she spoke, "I, I was doing what I was trained to-to do," she said, her nerves building up in her chest, making her stumble over her words. She quickly looked away, no longer being able to bare Jakesully's stare as he pressed his mouth into a thin line. In the corner of her eye, she saw her mother swoop in on her ikran, quickly making her way over.

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Neytiri was quick to make her way over, her body still covered in war paint, lines of white and green and yellow standing out against her blue skin. She still wore her visors, though she had flicked them up. Her bow was strung across her back along with her quiver of arrows, almost empty. Her hair was windswept and wild, rushing behind her as she made her way towards her mate and children.

She grabbed Neteyam first since he was the closest. She spun him so he was facing her, her sharp yellow eyes taking in his injuries. Niri'te saw her mother's eyes linger on the cut on Neteyam's chest, the bruising on his sides. Then turned him around as she inspected his back.

She did the same for Lo'ak, taking him by the shoulders, turning him this way and that, though mindful of his injuries.

When it was Niri'te's turn, her mother's eyes immediately went to the dried blood collected on her hands and up her arms, almost covered by muck and filth.

Neytiri took her daughter's hands in her own, her thumb gently smoothing over her palms, feeling for cuts and scrapes, concern blooming over her features.

"It's not mine, mama," Niri'te mumbled, but Neytiri clicked her tongue, running her hands up her daughter's arm then coming back down to squeeze Niri'te's hands before she dropped them, whirling around to face her mate.

Niri'te couldn't see her mother's face, but she was sure it was furious.

"Why are you standing here and scolding them? They are clearly bleeding!"

Jakesully sighed and ran a hand down his face. "They disobeyed my orders—"

"Ach! What is it with you and your 'orders'? The children are hurt, and you are screaming at them."

Jakesully looked at his mate, eyes tired and frustrated. He opened his mouth to say something back, but Neytiri cut him off.

"If you say one more thing about orders, I will skin you alive."

Jakesully closed his mouth and pursed his lips. When he didn't say anything, Neytiri turned to her children. "Come 'evi, let me take you to your grandmother."

They didn't get very far before Jakesully spoke up. "Lo'ak, when you're done, come see me."

Lo'ak didn't say anything as he nodded, knowing that it wouldn't help.

Niri'te tried to ignore the stares her parents' argument had garnered, though she should have been used to this by now, since their arguments have become more frequent as the war persisted. And also, she grew up with people staring at her, so really, she isn't a stranger to the feeling of eyes following her every move, judging and pitying.

Their mother led them between maruis and crates, filled to the brim with raided Sky People weaponry and medical supplies, though some of them were due to be taken to the labs, something Niri'te was sure she was going to have to partake in.

They walked through the bustling crowd, Niri'te spotting some of the people that had partook in today's raid, the ones that hadn't sustained any major injuries, or any at all. She also caught sight of some of the Avatars, unloading crates and cataloguing what was inside.