And we're back! So soon too!

Also, just a warning, I wrote some of this while stuck in bed because of a stupid fever, so if some of this chapter seems a little off or I misspell a lot more than normal, please point it out so I can fix it! :D (just point it out gently)

It's getting closer and closer to the release of The Way Of Water, and I keep having to keep myself calm and try to not think about the new movie too much, knowing if I think about it too much the week will feel like it takes way longer XD

Anyways, I hope you all enjoy! I'm very much enjoying rewriting this :)

Waking up, back in the pod, I have to take a second to breath and refocus for a moment before opening the lid and sitting up.

I meet up with both Norm and Jake, then we head to get some food, I had to make sure I didn't burst with my excitement and energy the whole time, Norm could tell, as after we ate and were headed to bed, he elbows me in the side.

"Are you even going to be able to sleep tonight?" He teases.

I smile more and shake my head "probably not, but I'm still gonna try. Maybe I'll take some melatonin, see if that helps"

I part ways with the guys and head into my small room, putting my bag onto the bed, making it easier for me to pull out my pajamas.

But as I pull out the shirt, a small paper packet falls onto the bed beside the bag.

I pick it up, my eyes feeling suddenly wet as I read the writing on the cover 'rose bush starters. Love you - Mom'

I wipe my eyes quickly and pull my shoes back on, heading out with the small packet safely hidden in my pocket.

I knock gently on the door into Max's office area, making him look up.

"Hey, sorry I don't know who else I could ask. Is there some way to get some potting soil? And maybe fertilizer?" He gets up and we go off to find the things I need.

About an hour later, we found a small pot, some soil andI I was able to bargain away a candy bar that I had brought with me to the base, for a handful of fertilizer.

I thank Max before we part ways to get to our beds.

I carefully plant the small starter, pouring some water over it carefully before setting it onto my bedside table so I wouldn't forget it.

Then I change into my pajamas and fall asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow.

--

I'm back, running through the same bit of forest yet again, vaulting over a downed tree, bounding over stones that stuck out and roots from the trees around me.

But then I notice something, it felt off, as if someone was near, as if someone was watching me.

I try to focus on this presence, but I couldn't pinpoint where they were, though I could tell they were looking at me, the hair on the back of my neck and on my forearms standing on end.

I begin to move again, running faster toward the edge, not sure if I wanted who ever it was, to catch up to me.

As my foot hits the edge of the cliff, I push myself hard off of it, launching out over the beautiful crystalline water.

I let out a joyous whoop before hitting and sinking beneath the water.

Yet again, I find the beautiful life around me, but looking up, I again see a shadow falling down toward me, but just before they hit the water, before I can tell who or what it is, everything goes black.

--

Sighing in frustration, I rub at my sleep filled eyes, that dream would always slip away so fast, even after all these years of having it.

I get up and dressed, starting to perk up as I remember what we have planned for today.

I water the small plant pot on the bedside table before heading off quickly.

I meet up with Jake and Norm in the food hall to grab some breakfast before we go to join Grace in the link room.

As we get into the room I could barely keep myself from bouncing on the balls of my feet, Norm smiles and fist bumps me before he goes to his pod, I go to my own and smile at Jake as he passes, following grace to his own pod.

"Remember to keep your stupid guns safety on" I half joke, making him roll his eyes a little before he's out of sight.

Then I hear him say over his pod "only if you keep your attitudes safety on" making me laugh before I lay down, the pod turns on and the top folds down over me.

I close my eyes and relax, letting this wonderful technology to take my mind into another world.

Waking up, I have to take a breath for a moment as I stare at the ceiling of the bungalow, smiling before I sit up.

I can see the others all waking up so I stand slowly, not wanting to get dizzy then I stretch out a little, hearing my right shoulder pop, making me smile more.

'Just like in my real body' I think with some humor.

I collect everything I'd need for our outing, as well as remembering to pick up one of the things I had hidden in the yard before getting breakfast today.

I was fascinated with the plant life on this planet so I wanted to see what would happen if I planted a rose bush out in the forest.

I sneakily put the tiny paper packet into my shorts pocket before meeting with everyone on the landing field.

I do a quick check of my pack once more after putting on the necklace communicators, putting the ear piece in as well, before we all climb into the Samson.

Once inside I buckle up quickly, holding my bag on my lap as I try to keep calm.

Me and heights had never gotten along well, so I hold my breath as we take off, my heart racing slightly.

I watch out the side of the vehicle, my eyes widening as we rise up above the level of the tree canopy, even as my brain said I should just close my eyes, I couldn't bring myself to do it, it was just far too beautiful to not see.

However, as we fly over a river, flying along side the many, many species, including some odd dinosaur bird like creatures, I can see the cliff edge, where the water dropped off, was drawing close so I grab the handle beside my chair tightly, my free hand holding onto my bag tightly, and then our pilot dives us over the edge, I let out a yelp of surprise and fear before she pulls up and we soar over the water.

The wildlife seemed to flourish around the water, there was so much life it was amazing, and I couldn't help my smile as I watched, not even fazed by the height at the moment.

After some time we pull away from the water and fly up above the trees before finding our stop and landing, Jake and the other soldier, I couldn't remember his name, jump out of either side of the chopper, pointing their guns all around as they wait for something to jump out.

I sigh and unbuckle, feeling a little better that we are now on solid ground.

I hop out carefully, pulling my backpack onto my back and keeping a little low, nervous about the choppers blades above me.

I move over to stand beside Jake, putting my hand over his gun and making him lower it a little, smiling gently as he looks at me a little confused and cautious.

"We aren't gonna get eaten by the trees. It's not as dangerous here as Quaritch says" I explain softly.

He raises his eyebrow a bit but keeps his gun pointed down for the time being.

I nod and follow after Grace deeper into the forest, we pause to watch the Prolemuris swinging above us, Jake again raising his gun, but Grace pushes it down and tells him to relax, before we carry on.

I couldn't help but look around in awe as we walked, this place was so beautiful, so lush and warm and the air smelled so good, even better than back at Hells Gate.

We stop as Grace finds a good spot for samples, so I let her and Norm work on that as my mind begins to wander, but I snap out of it as I see Jake himself wandering off.

I quietly follow after him, smiling when I see him messing around with the large orange plants, every one he touched, would suck itself back down into its stalk.

I sneak up behind him and jab him in his side "gotcha. So much for being a trained soldier" I joke, he had jumped and his tail swung around, hitting more of the plants, causing the entire wall of them to disappear into their stems.

We both look back behind him, and we both stiffen, though Jake moves only a second later, aiming at the massive rhino like creature that stomps forward, huffing and snorting loudly.

Grace hears us and both she and Norm come running to stand closer to us, though still hidden behind a few trees.

"Don't shoot. Don't shoot! You'll piss him off" she orders quickly.

I whimper as it lowers it's massive hammer like head, then it swings its head, bashing into two massive trees and doing some serious damage to them.

"It's already pissed off" Jake replies as I hide behind him, gently gripping the back of his shirt, my heart pounding so hard it felt like it would break through my ribs.

I can't stop my hands from shaking as the adrenaline shoots through me.

"Jake, that armor's too thick. Trust me" grace says seriously.

Jake gives in and raises the gun to point up, as it wouldn't be any help.

The Massive creature slams its head around some more, crashing into trees like they weren't even there, then it starts to scuff its front foot on the ground, as if it were a bull ready to charge.

"It's a territorial threat display. Do not run, or he'll charge"

"So what do I do? Dance with it?" He asks.

"Just...hold your ground" Grace finishes, then I watch in fear and shock as the behemoth of a creature charges at us, then after just a second, my grip on Jake disappears as he suddenly charges forward as well, yelling loudly and flailing his arms and the gun around as his own show of determination.

The beast lets out a loud bellow that sounds much like an elephant or maybe a moose, then the large feather like parts on its head flatten down against its head and it steps back a little.

Jake starts taunting the creature as it continues to back off, then it turns tail and runs back toward its heard, revealing that that was a young one, much smaller than the adults.

I stare open mouthed after it for a few seconds before the hairs on my arms and the back of my neck stands on end, forcing a shock of fear to course through me as I slowly turn toward the forest behind me.

I meet eyes with another very large creature, a black panther, lizard like creature, a Thanator, I knew of it from when I would read Graces books before traveling here.

The Thanator stands up on the ledge of the wood beneath it, its hackles raised, along with feelers and other odd bits of flesh around its face, also raising, focused on Jake as he was still jeering after the younger beast.

"Jake..." I call quietly, not wanting the predator's attention.

But Jake doesn't seem to hear me, he then hears the Thanator let out a gargling growl, then he turns, his ears pinning down as his eyes widen.

It lets out an ear ringing roar before leaping over us both, landing and looking after the young hammer head, Jake aims his gun at the beast quickly as I stare, my hands shaking again in terror as I stare past Jake.

The other hammerheads hear the beast and quickly close ranks to protect the younger ones, raising their head feather like points on their heads.

The predator then looks back toward us both as Jake asks "so what about this one? Run? Don't run? What?"

The beast lets out a hissing growl before Grace says "Run! Definitely run!"

I jump a step back and Jake spins around, sprinting toward then past me, grabbing my arm to make me keep up, and I manage to, both of us sprinting as fast as we can through the roots of one of the trees.

I keep a tight grip on Jake's hand as we go, my heart racing and my ears flicking every which way as I try to keep a location on the beast by sound.

We run through a grouping of some giant Pandora bamboo and the Thanator bites at us as we go, thankfully missing us both.

We jump a few fallen trees and logs, still keeping up as much momentum as we can muster.

The Thanator keeps bitting at us, only getting mouthfuls of the bamboo and other plants.

We run under a large root and I scream as the things claws reach out, swiping at my leg and making me trip and fall, I could feel the blood starting to drip from the scratches but Jake helps me up and we continue to run, the creature getting stuck for a moment under the root.

We cross a more open area, running for a large tree, then Jake basically flings me down and under the roots, I slide to a stop with my back against the thicker trunk roots, but I quickly scramble out of the way as Jake comes sliding under as well.

The Thanator roars as it flys to land against the roots, shoving its head and then its arm through the tightly packed roots, trying desperately to get at us.

I quickly crawl away as fast as I can, as the beast breaks away a few of the roots and Jake crawls after me.

The beast follows us from above the roots, trying to scramble it's way inside, then it bites into one of the roots, ripping it out of its way before Jake begins firing his gun, I cover my ears quickly.

Jake roars as he fires, the beast moving back and out of the way, dodging through the shots and trying to get closer again.

It jumps forward and grabs the gun from Jakes hands, tossing it away and I grab Jakes arm, wrenching him back toward me and we scramble to get out of there as fast as possible, the beast biting after Jakes feet.

We get to our feet and sprint away, Jake ahead of me as we dash through the forest floor, having to try and protect our faces a little from the plants hitting us as we go.

I hear the Thanator roar from behind, then to my horror I'm stopped in my tracks, the beast had swiped out my feet from under me, making me trip and hit the ground hard, knocking the wind out of me.

I try to crawl away as fast as I could, but it was too late, I see Jake look back in horror as I'm picked up by my backpack, it starts to thrash me around, swinging it's head like a dog trying to kill a toy.

"You're bag straps!" I hear Jake yell, and I realize what he means, so I reach up and unclip my backpack from around my middle, raising my arms and I fall out of the shoulder straps to the ground.

Jake in front of me had taken off his own bag and chucked it at the beast to keep it occupied as I had taken off my own bag.

He runs forward and grabs my arm, helping me up and we continue to run on.

The beast tears into both of our bags before realizing it wasn't us, then it jumps after us quickly, Jake trail blazes in front of me, pushing past branches and leaves and vines as we go.

Then just as the Thanator is about to get us, I see a cliff right in front of us, and before I have time to even register whats happeneing, me and Jake both leap off the ledge, hands still held tight as we plunge down into the deep heavily flowing water.

I let out a scream as we fall, hearing the beast behind us roar in dismay at a hunt lost, then I see the water rising to meet us quickly, both I and Jake let go of each other, he closes his arms across his chest and straightens his legs, I close my eyes and plug my nose with one hand on instinct, pressing my other arm to my chest and straightening my legs.

Then we hit the water, it felt like slamming into cold wet but hard concrete, punching the air out of me yet again, and everything goes black for just a second, then I'm awake again.

I open my eyes once under, trying to hold my breath as the weight of the water coming from the waterfall continues to shove me down into the rocky bottom.

I struggle to try and swim up, before realizing that was a futile pursuit, so I let the water shove me to the floor, before using the rocks under me to propel myself up and away from the base of the waterfall.

As I get toward the surface I begin to get swept back under again as the current was too strong, but then Jake grabs my arm, pulling me up and I gasp and cough as I reach the surface, we grab onto a root sticking out.

Climbing up a little higher out of the water we both just take a moment to catch our breaths, holding tightly to the root I look up behind us as the Thanator roars down after us, angry it lost it's dinner.

I hope you all enjoy this rewrite :)

~Ezra