Avatar: To Live Again

Into The Jungle

Morning came and we boarded Trudy's beloved baby. Jake held up a ten foot tall machine gun while I settled on for sharp knives. Grace looked at my weapons "Is that all your going to bring?" I nodded "I'm not fond with guns like Jake is" Grace nodded as Trudy lifted off and before we knew it, we were sailing through Pandora.

I was in awe at the sights, I guess Tom was right about that. Tom quickly took out his camera and flashed pictures as a memoir while Jake gave a cacophony of noises. Trudy gave a chuckle at our enthusiasm. She landed the chopper down safely and Jake was the first on to get out with his gun raised, his marine instincts kicking in.

"Shut it down we're gonna stay a while" Grace said through the radio as Trudy nodded and turned off the engine. I scanned the tall trees and looked at Waynefleet, he was as small as an ant in this jungle. Grace reminded Norm about his pack before speaking to Waynefleet "Stay with the ship, one idiot with a gun is enough" I chuckled and from the corner of my eye, Jake grinned.

"You're the man doc" Waynefleet said as he watched them leave. With Jake on the lead and Grace behind him followed by me, Tom and Norm, we scoured the forest. I was often amazed at the sounds I heard from far away, Avatar hearing were much sharper than a humans.

Suddenly, nearby sounds could be heard and my senses went alert, the assassin within me almost clawing its way to get out, Jake raised his gun to the sound and we saw swinging brightly colored blue animals with yellow markings. It had two arms on each sides and two feet. It's face almost reminded me of a lemur.

Grace immediately said it wasn't an aggressive animal "Relax marine. Breathe in your nose" Grace said lowering Jake's gun. Tom sighed in relief, glad that a shoot off wasn't going to happen soon.

We trekked a few more until we spotted an old, abandoned house that was quickly being covered with vines. Norm walked briskly towards Grace "So, how will they know we are here?" Grace shrugged.

"I'm sure they are watching us right now"

Tom quickly looked around as if by some miracle a Na'vi was going to come out and say hi.

Or slit someone's throat off.

We followed Grace to the house and we slowly entered. The walls looked like they were decaying and the roof looked like it was about to crumble to pieces.

"This was our school once, now it just...storage"

Grace explained as I spotted a few coloring books and stories lying around on the floor. Tom dusted off an old storybook with crayons inside.

"The kids were so bright, eager to learn. Picked up English faster than I could teach it"

Grace said, setting down a book on a rotten shelf. Grace grabbed a few PH monitors.

"We'll take a couple of these PH monitors and -"

While Norm and Grace were busy gathering things. Us triplets decided to explore the place. Tom picked up a storybook near a table and handed it to Grace. Her features soften as she spoke.

"Ah, I love this one. The stingbats must have knocked them down"

I grew confused "Stingbats?" As I stepped into the light where a hole pierced through the roof, a wild screech came from above me.

I tensed up as Jake raised his gun up to see dark blue winged creatures perching up on the roof, hissing at his warily. Tom took that time to take a photo and the stingbats hissed angrily while the others fluttered away.

I glared at Tom who grinned sheepishly for forgetting to shut off the flash.

"I keep hoping, someone will come back and read them"

Tom looked confused for a moment at Grace's statement "Why don't they come back?" Silence fell before Grace answered, her voice grave "The Omatikaya, learned as much about us as they needed too" While Grace spoke, my attention was diverted to a chalkboard and what was on them.

"Jake, take a look at this"

Jake turned and saw holes on the chalkboard. He touched it, feeling it "Bullets.." Jake muttered as he turned to Grace "What happened here?" My focus went to the bullet holes to the stains on the chalkboard.

Are those blood or paint?

I suddenly felt sick to even know what had happened here. Grace's voice brought me back "You two gonna help us with this gear we've got a lot to do" I blinked and nodded before proceeding to help.

My thoughts were plagued with the bullet holes and the stains behind it.

***

We headed North since Grace wanted to start lecturing Tom and Norm about Plant Transduction or whatnot.

"This is amazing!"

Norm gasped in amazement as the three watched the process in a fast pace. For a normal plant, it would take years but then this I Pandora, everything is different.

I watched with a curious look and I did not even bother to notice Jake wandering off until I heard a roar. My gaze searched for Jake's form but he was not here "Where did Jake go?" I asked.

"Shit!" Grace cursed as she followed the thundering sound with Tom, Norm and I behind her. Sure enough, we spotted Jake aiming his gun at a huge animal which had the structural form of a rhinoceros but instead of a horn, it had a hammerhead.

"Don't shoot! You'll piss him off!"

Grace warned. It looked already pissed at Jake with his gun aimed.

"It looks already pissed off"

Jake spoke "Jake, its armor is too thick, trust me" Grace said. Tom, Norm and I held our breaths as the Hammerhead Titanothere roared and banged his head from side to side.

All of a sudden, the animal shrieked and retreated back to its herd. Jake began taunting it, very unaware of the danger behind him.

It did not go unnoticed be me "Jake..." I slowly called but the creature roared and Jake's eyes went behind him and his ears flatten up in shock. The creature jumped in front of him and snarled at the Hammerheads.

They roared and went on defense mode, making sure the creature could not get near them or the little children the herd had. The creature snarled, knowing catching his prey there was useless so it turned to the second best prey.

Us.

"What do you want me to do? Run? Shoot? What?!" Jake hastily called as the predator began advancing towards us. Grace contemplated for a minute before screaming.

"Run definitely run!"

Jake immediately took off just as the predator pounced on him, the two disappeared within the trees.

"Jake!"

Tom and I screamed as we dashed after our brother but was stopped by Grace "Going after them isn't going to help the situation at hand. What we need to do is to head back to the Samson and find Jake by sky. Let's just hope he makes it out alive" Tom and I looked at each other with worry, we could still feel the adrenaline rush of Jake through the bond.

We both nodded as we hastily head back to Trudy. Jake, you better not die on us, you're too crazy to die anyway!

***

Dusk was beginning to fall and there was still no sign of Jake, Tom and I kept calm though, we knew Jake was alive ever since we felt his adrenaline diminish and pure calmness surrounded the bind couples with panic and a little bit of fear.

"We can't stay any longer, we have to head back to base. Let's just hope he'll make it till morning"

Trudy said gravely. Norm bit his lip as he scanned the treetops, hoping to see Jake. Grace spoke as grave as Trudy "He won't make it till morning" At this, Tom and I scowled. We knew Jake was a courageous man and both of us believed he will make it out there alive.

We expected him once we unlinked that he is somewhere in the jungle or he found his way back to the old school.

What we didn't expect was his very interesting tale.