Family

Joey

I'm shaken down to my core. I'm riding with Neteyam on his Ikran. I can't ride mine with this stupid gash on my leg. I feel better, having him close, but I can't stop shaking. I had been so helpless. So useless. And the things those men wanted to do to me.... I shudder at the thoughts that race through my mind. 

Neteyam scoots closer to me. He had been incredibly brave. He saved his mother's life. I'm sure he's proud of himself too. He's always wanting to help. I just can't believe it was me who needed the help. 

When we land at High Camp, Neteyam carries me off the Ikran, and starts heading straight to Mo'at. I don't think I could walk if I tried. Now that adrenaline is wearing off, I'm really feeling the pain. It burns and stings at the same time. I'm gritting my teeth to keep from crying out with every step he takes. 

"It's okay," He mumbles under his breath. I don't know if he's speaking to me or himself. 

She takes one look at the wound and Immediately starts grabbing different salves and oils and wraps. Neteyam stays by my side dutifully, gripping my hand tight. 

"When did this happen?" He asks me as she starts to work. 

I scream in response as she cleans the wound. Somehow, that pain is even worse. 

"It doesn't matter." I reply. "I'm fine." It happened when I tackled him, to avoid the machine gun. 

"You're not. Look at you." He's huddled over me, my hand now wrapped in both of his tightly. 

"Neteyam." I suddenly remember. This is important. y7"The man, the one in charge of the group. That was Quaritch." 

"What?" I caught him off guard. 

"It had to be him. He knows my dad, and your mom. You heard what she said. And they were all calling him Colonel. And he knew Spider's real name. It's Quaritch." 

He sits back and absorbs the information thoughtfully. "He knows who we are now. Who you are. If what my dad told me about him is correct, he'll stop at nothing to get us."

Panic floods my chest again. No way I'm ever letting them get their hands on me again. The fear of what could've been, of losing my love and having to leave the clan, it was unbearable. Neteyam notices my fear, but he doesn't question me about it, he just grips my hand tighter again. 

~

Lo'ak comes to get us, and leads us to Jake's tent. He's having an argument with Neytiri. Kiri signals for us to be quiet as we approach. They're spying. 

"He can walk right under Eywa's nose." Jake is speaking. 

"This is our family. This is our home." Neytiri is arguing back. 

"This is about our family." Jake replies. "This is about our little ones."

"I cannot. You cannot ask this. I cannot leave my people." 

Jake wants to leave? Neteyam, Lo'ak, Kiri, and I all look at each other, a mixture of fear and confusion on all of our faces. Where would we even go? Tuk thankfully doesn't understand completely. She is blissfully unaware, peeking through the tent. 

"He's hunting us. He's targeting our family." Jake continues. 

"You cannot ask this!" Neytiri yells back. She's clearly angry. I'm angry for her. "The children, everything they've ever known, the forest. This is our home!" 

I agree with her. 

"He had our children. He had them under his knife!" 

She's quiet for a few moments. I wonder if she's going to keep arguing. 

"My father gave me this bow as he lay dying. And he said protect the people! You're Toruk Makto!"

"This will protect the people!" Jake yells now. "Quaritch has Spider. And that kid knows everything. He knows our whole operation, and he can lead them right in here." 

We all look at each other again. He has a point too. 

"If the people harbor us, they will die." Jake calms down. "Do you understand? Look, I've got nothing. I got no plan. But I can protect this family. That I can do."

Neytiri is silent. He has her convinced. But not me. Spider won't tell where we are if he can help it. Leaving here would mean leaving behind everything we've ever known. And it would mean leaving behind my father. He can't just pack up and leave on a whim, he has an avatar to drag along with him. 

 I shake my head. "We can't leave." I whisper. "We can't." 

"Joey, I think he's right." Neteyam whispers back. "I mean, we're all in danger here. If that man is going to keep coming after us, the best thing we can do is disappear." 

I shake my head again violently. 

"If he finds us here, he'll kill everyone. This way, the clan is safe, and we can be safe. Somewhere else." Neteyam grabs my hands. "Everyone wins. We could finally be at peace." The expression on his face is full of hope. He's thinking about the future we dreamed of. 

"My father can't leave, Neteyam." 

His expression drops. He knows I have a point. "Your father is safe where he is. You're not."