As soon as they got set on the ground, going and sorting through the equipment that they would need later from the Maglev they shot down, I felt weird. I knew I was unsettled, skin prickling with nervousness. This could only be bad omen, after so many operations and missions, now is not the time to get nervous. I knew I had to get myself together, this is war and I have to lead the People, as their Oloyektan. I took a deep breath and said through the intercom to all the warriors

„Lets go, 2 minutes people, lets go!"

I looked around, everything was going smoothly so far and I could only hope to god that it stayed that way. Norm was sorting through the metal boxes, yelling orders on what to take and what to leave behind, Neytiri was up in the sky, watching out for any dangers from above. I once again scanned the area and just what did my eyes land on? Two familiar figures that should not have been on the ground. Right then and there, I knew exactly why I felt so nervous. Shit was going to go down. My two sons, those fucking geniouses dissobeyed my orders, once again. They were both on the ground. Lo'ak was holding and playing with a machine gun, while Neteyam was obviously trying to stop him.

I put my hand on the intercom, with the intention of telling them off and getting them back up, flying on their ikran. Just as I was about to scold them, there was a warning call from a fellow Omatikaya.

Enemy Samson in the air, about to fire at us. I had to be quick to alert everyone, so the only logical thing came to mind.

„We gotta go – MOVE BACK!" I just about yelled through the intercom, already making my way away from where the rockets and missiles were landing behind my back. I had to find Lo'ak and Neteyam. Still, there was smoke everywhere, my only option was to scream "Lo'ak! Neteyam!" while still running to them.

Up ahead, behind a curtain of smoke, I saw Lo'ak just standing, looking a little lost. Dazed.

"Lo'ak! Lo'ak, easy easy, are you okay?" I asked urgently, my son was clearly shaken. No shit, this was the first time that he had any kind of personal experience with things exploding near him, sending him flying. No wonder he was scared and confused, my children have never been on the battlefield. This wasn't supposed to happen, I did not want them to get anywhere as near to the danger zone as they were.

It was such a sad and frustrating thought, that all he wanted to do, his only purpose, was protect them and for them to live their life without war, without any unnecessary fights and without sadness and grief that comes after every battle. Jake's head was going a million miles per hour, thoughts just swirling in his head, but he had to focus now. For his son, that was right in front of him, scared for his life and maybe injured. Come on, marine. You are now supposed to be a protector, a father. That is your job, you cannot get lost in your own thoughts! Focus, NOW!

Pulling myself together, I looked Lo'ak over, though briefly, he seemed okay considering the circumstances. I put my hand up to him, on his shoulders and I asked gently, but urgently "Lo'ak, where is your brother?" He looked at me, but his eyes were still lost, so I had to repeat myself, so he could understand me better "Where is he?"

Lo'ak finally focused on me.

"There, he's over there" he said in an almost whisper, pointing in the direction where the missile hit.

"Okay, now get out of here, go on!" I said to my youngest son, and he fortunately seemed to get the message and he ran. Good, one son is safe and gonna be okay, now to find Neteyam.

Climbing up, going in the direction that Lo'ak has pointed in, I looked around. There it was, a huge smear of fresh blood. It was going down into the ground, where the body has slipped.

"Oh no" I thought out loud, scrambling down to look at the body that was laying there, motionless. They weren't breathing, but upon closer look, it was not my son. It was a fallen warrior, a brother of our clan, but we would go to retrieve him later.

Looking over the scene once more, my eyes landed on another figure and even from a distance, none other than my firstborn. Rushing as fast as I could, words were escaping me. He was laying on his stomach, face down into the ground. But, he was breathing. Okay, that was something at least. His back was somewhat cut up, but it wasn't anything life-threatening fortunately. Turning him over, placing my hand on his nape and lifting him up a bit to look once more at his back, he focused on me.

Voice a bit rough and clearly winded, he still managed a soft "Dad?" Glad he could speak and looked at me, it calmed me a tiny bit. Emotions running high, I had just had to say it.

"What are you doing here boy, what the hell were you thinking!?" My voice broke a bit, under the stress that left me a bit breathless.

"I am sorry, sir" Neteyam offered lightly.

I lifted my son military style, the best way to carry a not too badly wounded person, while still being able to run quite fast.

When I got out of the clearing, where Bob, my ikran was waiting patiently for me, I put Neteyam down. He took a breath and looked me straight in the eyes, but I just put my hand up. I didn't want him to speak right now, not when I knew exactly what he wanted to say.

He looked at me, with those beautiful golden eyes. Every time he looked at me, he reminded me so much of Neytiri. His whole being, he was more similar to Neytiri than me, while Lo'ak was mostly like me. Even his bad temper, Eywa help me with that one.

I helped him up onto Bob, Neytiri was in the sky, already waiting for us with our youngest son. I got on as well, tsahaylu was made, Neteyam sitting right in front of me. I got a good look at his back, it didn't look very pretty, but all of those scratches were just surface level and would heal without leaving any scars.

On the way back to our camp, I had some time to think. About how to approach this situation and how to get those two knuckleheads to listen to me. I get it, they are in a rebellious stage of life right now, I understand that. Hell, I wasn't much better myself, but we're at war. And this rebellion could cost them their life.

As I was deep in thought, I could feel Neteyam fidgeting under me. He was getting ready for a scolding, silly boy knew he had it coming. Of course, this is not a game, and I am not about to get him and his younger brother killed. I couldn't afford to lose another member of my family, my parents and Tommy were already enough.

As we flew into the mountains, the sky was already getting darker. Eclipse was coming. I looked over at everyone who flew behind me, not too many lives have been lost this time around. We could call it a success, if we were to be optimistic. Which, if you ask me, I definitely wasn't about to be today.

Horn was heard and everyone landed near their own homes, including me. I landed right next to our hut, getting right off Bob's back. Neytriri with our youngest were right behind me, landing next to each other. I made sure Neteyam was okay enough to get off on his own, which he was.

I turned my back for a bit, took a deep breath. I do not like scolding them, but I have to get my point across. "Fall in.'' I say, loud enough for both Neteyam and Lo'ak to flinch. Here it comes, marine, you have to tell them off for almost getting themselves killed in action.

"You are supposed to be spotters, you spot boogies and you call in - FROM A DISTANCE!" I knew my nerves were blown at this point, but I had to do this. Continuing with this tone I said "Does any of this sound familiar? Lo'ak, get here!" I shouted at him while pointing on the ground beside Neteyam, he was trying to stay away from me for as long as possible. No boy, we are not gonna be playing this game today. "Jesus, I let you two geniuses on a mission and you disobey direct orders." I noticed that Kiri and Tuk both have come to their brother's side, Kiri right behind Neteyam, holding him slightly by the injured arm. No, I do not want them here now, they do not have to know that their brother almost got killed today.

Looking to my left, I gestured to Kiri while saying " Kiri, can you go help your grandmother with the wounded, please?" I was definitely frustrated enough by now, and Kiri just had to say something that only added to my frustration. She said, with a biting tone that she got after her birth mother Grace "my brother is wounded" I cannot afford to get into an argument with her as well, so I just desperately said "Kiri, Tuk, go, please go." Neytiri also nudged Kiri to just go away and help those who need it. Just as Kiri was passing by me, Neteyam decided it was a good time to try and reason with me.

Making eye contact with me for the first time today, he just calmly said "sir, I take full responsibility-" I didn't let him speak anymore. I cut him right off "Yea, yea you do. That's right. Because you are the older brother and you gotta ACT like it"

The steam finally left me a little, when I looked at Lo'ak, his expression dark and ears back. Neytiri, who until now was just watching and listening to me, just calmly said "Ma Jake, your son is actually bleeding." all the while her face was drawn. The way it was drawn and her tone, she only used those when she was trying to calm me and stop me from proceeding with the thing that I was doing until then. I knew it all too well.

I looked at Neteyam, very briefly back at her and sure enough, her plan worked on me once again.

"Just go and get patched up, go on, dismissed." I bowed my head a bit, just to show that I was done with Neteyam and she could take him to his grandmother.

Now, Lo'aks lesson. Looking at him intensely, I pulled up my most serious tone

"You do understand that you almost got your brother killed." A second of silence and then a reply came.

"Yes, sir"

Now, that was an unexpected answer. Releasing a breath I did not notice I was holding I just softly said "You're grounded, no flying for a month. Now see to the ikran, all of them-" Lo'ak replied just a simple "sir" while nodding, and honestly, the way that he was about to roll his eyes on me, it made my blood boil "-and get that crap off of your face."

He did not understand why I was so angry with him, I could see it. His whole demeanor. He just thought I was angry at him, because I do scold him the most out of my kids. It is true, but now is not the time to have a heart to heart on why I have to do that.

Going back to the main hut, where meetings were held, I passed by our home, where Mo'at and Kiri were already beginning to tend to Neteyams' back. Come to think about it, I can always go to the meeting later. Norm and other warriors can manage without me for now. They were all there on the site of the ambush, and now I could spend a little time with my family. Plus, all the wounded need to rest for a bit.

I sat outside the entrance to our home, cleaning out my gun. It was something that I did as a routine, everytime I had some spare time after missions. It was my day-in-day-out back when I was a marine and this regime, I never quite got rid of it. Even after 15 years of being an Omatikaya. I never thought that war would be something I never would have to deal with again. But, sky people did return. And they came better equipped than last time. Of course, I know how to deal with most of their weapons, the Na'vi are fast learners and the next generation of warriors actually grew up learning from me and the other avatars that stayed here, on Pandora after the last big battle. So, considering everything, we were doing well. We are prepared for them, when they come back full force.