Calm Before The Storm, Jake Sully

065, Losing.

♯┆calm before the storm .ᐟ
━━━━━━━━━━

     Preparing for the war was horrific. Denahi stood with Malhua and Tuk. Their hands trembled, understanding what was about to happen to the clans once again. "You two will stay by Lo'ak and Kiri," Denahi warned her youngest daughters, holding onto their chests, "You will not disobey him."

Lo'ak was their protection now. Before, the children used to rely on Neteyam to protect them throughout terrifying times. Denahi turned to face Lo'ak, standing behind her before her hand reached his chest, "You have to be strong for them. Hold out and wait until I and your father return..." Denahi whispered, not wanting to scare her kids.

Malhua stood behind Lo'ak, hiding her face behind of his legs, "I want Neteyam." Her connection with her brother will forever live within her. "I know, little one," Denahi mentioned before smiling down at her, "You will meet him again. He is not lost."

"Mal... Go to Kiri," Jake ordered his daughter, she sighed before running to Kiri and Spider. Tuk followed behind before Jake landed a gun onto Spider's chest.

"I'm riding with you?" Lo'ak asked in complete shock. Denahi shook her head at her son. "No. I need you here. I can't do this unless I know you kids are safe. You keep post no matter what happens. You read me?" Jake asked him. After the last battle their family had gone through, neither Jake or Denahi could continue without knowing where their children would be at all times.

The two couldn't afford to lose another. "Lima Charlie, sir," Lo'ak replied as he held the gun within his small arms.

Jake turned to look at Denahi, a spare gun wrapped against his back, "You want one?" Denahi twisted her head at the sight. She had touched one before— used one to save him. What was the harm now?

Besides, it would make Jake feel more confident knowing she was using the metal the demons used against them. More dangerous. More tactical. "Give it to me..." Denahi whispered before Jake handed her the spare gun. Denahi sighed as she made a prey on the metal, one to ask for forgiveness.

But, her bow would still be her main weapon. "If we do not return, take Spider, Kiri and the girls and go as far and as fast as you can. Do not look back. Do not look for us," Denahi mentioned to Lo'ak, holding his shoulder.

Lo'ak looked up at his mom and for the first time in a while, Denahi saw the true fear across his expression.

She held onto his cheek and pressed down on his skin before running out the cave.

She called out to Riti, mounting on her back before the first attack could happen. Denahi waited for what felt like an eternity. It reminded her of their first war, waiting on the side of the cliffs to begin their attack.

Denahi looked out at the RDA, realising how much had come. How many people. "Hold! Hold, hold," Jake repeated in the comms.

Her heart could drop into her stomach. But, Denahi wouldn't allow it to. She had told Lo'ak to be strong, it was time to be true to her words also. And when she watched as the RDA stopped in their tracks, she grew confused. What had happened?

That was until the Matriarch and the council began their attack first. Fighting for their people and what the RDA had caused them. Crashing themselves into the large ship.

Denahi smiled as bright as she could, knowing the words of her son had helped the Tulkun choose to fight in this war.

"Now!" Jake shouted and the clans flung themselves down the cliffs. Denahi strung her arrow onto the end of her bow, striking it into multiple demons and aircraft. The people surrounding her had not held back, all of them fighting for what was right.

The sight was beautiful. One of winning. Her people had not concerned themselves. Throwing their spears and landing their arrows into aircrafts and RDA. Watching as Jake flung aircraft like Toruk couldn't feel the weight of them. Shooting her arrows into as much as she could without trouble.

But as the sun sunk, Denahi noticed one problematic issue. Smoke began to line down the mountains within the far as multiple Ikran flew down the back of the mountain. Her head tilted at the sight before Denahi decided it was the time to use her gun.

She swapped the weapon impossibly quick, making sure it was full of bullets. "Ma'Jake! The Mangkwan have come!" Denahi exclaimed into her comm.

Her heart beat fast. Varang terrified her. And Denahi wasn't so easily scared. But, she had to fight fire with fire. Use Varang's own weapon against her. Denahi watched as explosions of orange flung into soaring Ikran's, watching as their bodies hit the water beneath them all. People landing unconscious. This was the sight of losing.

She hissed before shooting behind her, attempting to kill as much as possible. Her breathing was loud and uncontrollable.

No. She had to focus. "Jake! There are many!" Denahi shouted back into the comm. Needing him to respond. Why wasn't he responding? "Jake?" She asked once again. Denahi screamed out before turning Riti around and into the line of fire.

The sun had set and darkness consumed them. But Mangkwan are not easily defeated. "Come on!" Denahi shouted out. Her hand held the gun out in front, shooting at the Mangkwan people— realising how wrong it felt to shoot someone the same colour. That was until Denahi turned a corner.

And Varang flew there. Denahi hissed out as multiple rounds of fire landed her way, Riti dodging them all in the air.

Denahi turned her head back, holding out to gun behind her and shooting out. "Is this going to be a common recurrence?" Varang asked out, referring to them meeting.

Denahi hissed at her before fire landed on them. Riti squawked out in pain as her delicate wings set alight. "No, no!" Denahi shouted out before flying downwards and into the water beneath them.

Riti continued to squirm in pain, the sensation of her wings being on fire too much. "You will be fine, Riti. We will be fine," Denahi reassured her Ikran.