Finally alive (Book 1)

XX

I don't think I ever ran as quickly as I was now. As soon as Marek pointed the direction, I took off, disregarding Jake and Neytiri's shouts to stay.

My lungs were burning, legs became jelly as I stumbled, steadying myself against a tree. Marek skidded to a stop next to me, his eyes wide, barely out of sweat. I'm so out of shape.

'Srung si ma.' [Help me] I mewl, gripping the bark tightly. He looks lost, confusion written in his eyes. 'Rutxe.'

A few more natives emerge from the leaves, one of them on a horse. They all looked at me with their eyes wide. I huff, panic settling it.

Another native ran into the little meeting of ours. He rushed to one that wasn't from Omaticaya. The new man rushed his words, and I couldn't catch them. I prayed to Eywa that the situation wasn't too bad.

'Nga Se-na?' he asked, his eyes narrowed, looking at my small form. Part of my brain echoes that I was in my human body. Of course, they are looking skeptical.

'Srane! Tsu'tey peseng?' [Yes! Where is Tsu'tey?] I demand, stepping forward the broad-shouldered man, ignoring he was nearly twice taller than me.

'Rä'ä lopx. Nong tsmuke.' [Don't panic. Follow, sister.]

With these words, he helps me on his horse, and we took off. I gripped the man controlling the horse, fear making me dizzy. I want to get to Tsu'tey as fast as possible, but I don't want to see him in whatever condition he was in.

The rider finally stops his horse, and I hop off without thinking, and almost buckle under my weight, my ankles burning. I sway for a few seconds, my eyes falling on to a little crowd to my left. My heart skips a beat when I hear a boom of my mate's voice. It sounded strained.

I stumble to him, not seeing anyone else, now turning to me as I walked passed them.

Tsu'tey was reclined against a tree, little leaves covering his chest here and there. My hands start tingling, as I kneel down by him, tears finding their way down my face.

'Sena.' he hums weakly, closing his eyes for a second. I grab his hand, my both hands barely covering his.

'Tsu'tey. What happened?' a little sob escapes me, as I examined the damage. He was shot in multiple places, blood coming out of the bullet wounds steadily. His left leg was in an odd position. I close my eyes. This is not happening.

'I failed.' he coughed roughly. 'I am a failure. I fail..'

'No!' I clip his rant, heat spreading in my chest. 'You are not a failure, Tsu'tey. You are the bravest man I know. And I couldn't be more proud of you..' tear stream doubled, as I took in a shaky breath.

A sudden noise from the dense forest had our heads turning towards the source. Jake and Neytiri ran towards us, the marine kneeling opposite of me, and Neytiri next to me.

'Jake. He's dying.' I mumble, at the marine, not seeing him clearly through the tears, as his wide eyes assessed the damage too. I felt Neytiri's hands on my shoulders and back. 

'Are the people...safe?' Tsu'tey coughs again violently.

'Yes, brother, they are.' Jake says as the warrior moans in pain, making my gut freeze.

'I won't be able to lead the people.'

'Don't talk like this, Tsu'tey.' my voice broke at the end. 'You will pull through. Please.' I break down in a sob, raising his hand to my face, realizing how cold it was. I struggled to breathe, as my body shook to the cries.

He looked at me with his bloodshot eyes, and I knew what he thought.

So I did the only thing I thought to do.

Eywa, if you are listening, I want you to be merciful on my mate. I know he suffered a fatal wound.. But please.. I can't lose him. Not when I finally feel myself. Not when I'm pregnant...

Wait, what?

How? Where did that come from? Was that the deity that pushed the idea into my head during prayer?

Another sob escapes my lips as I try to sort my thoughts. An alarming noise started from my lap, making every head turn to the source. I look down and see the oxygen tank. In small red letters, it said.

Low oxygen.

My head shot up to my mate, who was heaving against the forest floor. Then I redirect my eyes to the marine, who was already on his feet talking to the natives.

I breathe in, trying to calm myself. 'Jake.' I direct the marine, my voice cracking at the end. 'I need to get to Devil's gate. I need my body.'

He nods, and a rider comes to view. I turn to my mate.

'I'll see you soon. I will be praying for you.'

***

I shoot up from my lying position, awaken yet by another nightmare. I look around, disoriented. A few more moments passes and I breathe easier. I was in my bed, safe.

I huff, falling down on the pillow, hands on my face. Nightmares still haunt me, even though it was a few weeks since the sky people were forced out of this planet.

There were a lot of casualties, but everyone contended that the time of great sorrow has ended. Jake was now the promoted chief, handling the business with the other tribes.

Jake said he won't be chief long. As soon as Tsu'tey gets back on his feet, he will give back the authority to him.

Meanwhile, Tsu'tey is on undisclosed bed rest, so to say. He is still in rough shape, but at least he started eating a few days ago. Those days after the incident were extremely hard and scary. I haven't left his side since until both Jake and Neytiri came and forced me to get some rest a few days ago.

It was hard to sleep because every time I closed my eyes I saw him dead.

So now, since I woke up, I won't be able to fall asleep again. I sit up again when I hear a soft knock to the door. I ponder whether to call out or go open the door myself. Before I decide, the door opens and Jake wheels in.

His entrance without an answer from me makes my heart climb to my throat. But his face had a smile stretched on it, so I relax.

'What's up marine? Why are you up so early?' I ask, glancing to the clock, 4 am.

'I just got back. I am pooped.' he stretches his hands upwards, yawning widely. 'I just wanted to say Tsu'tey is up.' I jump out of the bed stretching too.

'Get some sleep too, brother.' I squeeze his shoulder on the way out.