CHAPTER 20
A moment of silence passed as the situation sunk in. Neteyam was gone. Dead.
'Kanu could not believe she had witnessed his passing. She had never even seen anyone die - much less go out like this.
"Neteyam.." Neytiri whispered before all hell broke loose. She was crying and screaming as she mourned her son and Jake tried calming her. "Neteyam - Great mother," she wailed as she hugged her lifeless boy, "No, great mother," she sobbed.
Lo'ak let go of his brother, allowing his hands to drift away from the wound he had been adamant about keeping closed. He gazed down at his palms which were coated with his elder brother's blood.
'Kanu crouched back down after seeing Lo'ak's reaction, looking down as she felt her own tears fall down her face.
The human boy sat beside the family, disbelief on his face - as if he could not grasp this situation.
'Kanu's eyes landed on him and through her tears she looked at him with such hatred that if the boy had seen, he surely would blame himself for what had happened. He was the reason why the two brothers had remained on the ship. But still she could not entirely blame him for this.
Jake looked back at the ship, seeming to ponder something before he turned to Lo'ak, "Where are your sisters?" Lo'ak met his fathers gaze. "Your sisters. Where are they?" Jake asked with such authority that anyone would spit out all the knowledge they had.
"I don't know," Lo'ak responded.
"On the ship," 'Kanu spoke up, choking on her tears, "They are tied up on the ship."
"The - the moon pool," the human added, stuttering, "On the deck - there's a pool."
"What?"
The human stood up, pulling Jake's arm to get him to his feet, "Come on - I'll show you. Come, I'll show you!" He said, walking over to the edge of the water.
Jake stood up and tried pulling Neytiri away from Neteyam, "Come on. Let's go."
When Neytiri refused to leave her sons side, they had a short conversation within which Jake gave her the courage and strength she needed to save her daughters. After this, she got to her feet and walked over to her ikran, connecting their queues as she breathed deeply and steadily - preparing herself for what was to come. The fight for Neteyam was over now - he was in a a better place - but there were still her other children that needed her help. And she had to be strong for them.
Jake drew his eyes away from his wife, "Stay with your brother," he told Lo'ak.
"Dad - I want to go with you," Lo'ak said, standing up to face his father.
"You've done enough," Jake said gravely while turning his back to his son.
"Dad.." Lo'ak watched as his father walked away from him. He couldn't help but feel responsible for this all.
After witnessing this interaction, 'Kanu shakily got to her feet, but only to take a step closer to Lo'ak. When she placed a hand on his shoulder he seemed to break down.
Lo'ak turned around to wrap his arms around her in a tight hug. Slowly, 'Kanu lifted her arms to wrap them around him like a comforting blanket. Tightening her arms around him - she did not want to let go as they sat down, arms wrapped around one another.
As he felt her arms around him, Lo'ak felt safe. He felt as though he could cry and she would listen to all the unspoken words.
Even as 'Kanu saw the human, Jake and Neytiri leaving, they did not let go of each other.
Finally, he loosened his grip on her and pulled away to meet her eyes. 'Kanu sniffed and placed her hands on either side of his head, using the pad of her thumb to wipe away his tears. Lo'ak bent his head down and closed his eyes as she reached up to press a featherlight kiss on his forehead.
The kiss was short and sweet - yet it meant everything to Lo'ak in that moment.
After she pulled away, the two sat idly on the edge of the water, foreheads pressed against each other's. The next time Lo'ak opened his eyes, he did not look up. He kept his gaze locked on his hands which by now lay limp on 'Kanu's lap, "I have to go," he whispered.
"No," 'Kanu said, strong emotion seeping from behind the word.
Lo'ak reached his hands up to pull hers away from his face, "Stay with him," he said softly, getting back to his feet.
He dropped her hands but 'Kanu quickly grasped his again, standing up with desperation in her eyes. They had already lost Neteyam, she could not lose him too. She could not bear to see his parents go through the heartbreak of losing both of their sons.
"No," she said firmly, stepping in front of him.
Lo'ak pulled his hand away from hers with a heavy heart, "I will be back," he caressed her cheek as he stepped around her and dove into the water.
"Lo'ak!" 'Kanu yelled and ran to the edge of the water where he had disappeared. He had left her.
Once again crying, she walked back to the rocks where Neteyam laid, peacefully staring up at the sky which was filled with smoke from the fires that surrounded them. 'Kanu fought to keep her sobs silent as she fell to her knees beside the boy.
"Neteyam," she spoke softly, placing her hands on his shoulders. She was hoping he would suddenly spring up and let her know it was all a prank. But she knew Neteyam and she knew he would not do something like that. All the bad ideas were always Lo'ak's. Never Neteyam's.
"'Kanu!"
'Kanu turned her head to watch as her sister pulled herself up onto the rocks. She squeezed her eyes tight shut, letting her head fall back as she tried to stop herself from crying. Breathing in deeply, 'Kanu let go of the poor boy and stood up. "Reya," she said hoarsely.
Tsireya had been running to reach her but she slowed down and her steps became staggered when she caught sight of Neteyam, "'Kanu.. what is this?" She asked, slowly crouching down to take a look at Neteyam.
'Kanu could not bear to say it. This boy had once told her to consider him as her brother. And she did. She could not say that he was dead.
"They did this to him," she whispered instead of answering her sisters question, "Those - those demons did this," she pointed back at the ship.
'Kanu could see tears glistening in her sisters eyes as they met hers. Tsireya was better than her. She could stay calm and cool even in situations like this. Even when something was overbearingly painful - she could offer great comfort. "Let's close his eyes," Tsireya spoke softly and beckoned her sister over.
'Kanu spared one last hateful look at the ship before nodding slowly, walking back to Neteyam and sitting beside him. She breathed out slowly to clear her head before she lifted a shaky hand to close his eyes.
"There," Tsireya placed a hand on the back of 'Kanu's neck, "Now he could be sleeping."
Oh how she wished that were true.
Just then an explosion sounded from the ship. 'Kanu whipped her head in the direction and saw as flames engulfed one end of the ship.
As if she could tell what her sister was planning, Tsireya held onto her hands, "'Kanu - don't do this."
'Kanu could not hear her. In a heartbeat she had ripped herself loose from her sister's grasp and was racing to the water.
"'Kanu!" Tsireya stood and watched as 'Kanu disappeared beneath the waves. Tsireya was unable to do anything. She could not race to her sister and join her in her pursuit to save Lo'ak and the others. She could not leave Neteyam alone on these rocks.
₊˚.༄
'Kanu poked her head out of the ocean when she neared the boat. Silently, she walked out of the water and crouched behind a broken machine. She looked around, taking in her surroundings.
It was horrible. Flames and smoke billowed around her but the worst of all was the most prominent thing.
Death.
Anywhere she looked she could see murderers and bodies. Bodies of murderers. Every single human on this ship had played a part in Neteyam's death - played a part in the death of her fellow Metkayina warriors. And they all deserved to pay.
'Kanu had never had to use her brother's training like this before - she's never even had to use it. As she moved stealthily around the edge of the ship, she took in every sound there was to hear, every sight there was to see. She would remember this destruction for the rest of her life. She was sure everyone who had been present would. Everyone who would make it out alive, that was.
She gasped and hurried to hide behind an obstacle as she saw people coming. Only then did she realize how unprepared for this she was. Her eyes searched the ground around her for anything to use as defense. When her eyes landed on a body that lay motionless with a spear sticking out of its chest, she took in a deep breath.
Turning her head, she saw the people headed in her direction.
"Go, go, go!" They chanted, eager to get out of the sinking ship.
'Kanu snarled before running straight for the spear. Her movement caught the attention of the sky people and they immediately turned their eyes on her. She was shot at, but their aim was not as great as it could have been if it were daytime.
The darkness definitely worked for her advantage. Their human eyes could not see everything that she could, and she was able to trick their sight by standing behind flames.
The sky people had not even realized where she had gone. The moment she reached the spear was the moment that she had disappeared. The seven men formed a circle as they looked around at their surrounding, pointing their guns in all directions in their nervousness.
No one had detected her until she stood behind one of the men and hit him with the blunt edge of the spear.
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A/n:
I really do feel bad about letting Neteyam die (though I can't really understand why you'd think I'd save him) so I'll apologize now.
I'm sorry for letting him die and I do hope that you guys are still reading :) I love you so muchhh <33