Author's Notes: Hi, readers. Here's chapter eighteen of 'Gone in the Dark.' This chapter has some Lo'ak/Tsireya and Aonung/OC. I have confirmed several of the kids will visit Three Brothers. I won't tell you who they are. You will have to find out for yourselves. Stay tuned for chapter nineteen.
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Chapter 18: Moving Fast/Informing/Group Speak
Norm and Maureen were folding blankets as they stood next to two cots that had been occupied previously by injured Green Spears in a marui. They laid them down gently. They swiped their hands across them to rid them of wrinkles. They smiled at their work while rubbing their hands together. They came together in between the cots.
"That's another two beds ready for injured Na'vi to occupy," Maureen commented in much proudness.
"The wounded Na'vi who occupied these beds did not stay for long," Norm responded as he crossed his arms. "I hope the next two happen to be as lucky."
"Me too," Maureen agreed. "Damn. This has been a trying day."
"You're telling me. We had to stabilize two badly injured Na'vi. One was a Green Spear. The other was a Metkayina. After they were tended to, three injured Metkayina and two Green Spears were brought in. Luckily, their injuries were not so bad," Norm explained and let out an exhausted sigh.
"Nekx and Rishi nearly got into a fight when he pushed her away from his comrade," Maureen said, shuddering badly. "Thankfully, Ronal and Neytiri stopped the bickering quickly."
"The Metkayina woman with the punctured lung did not need surgery, but we inserted a tube into her chest to get the extra air out. She is in stable condition now," Norm murmured.
She bit her lip. "Let's hope it stays that way."
He clicked his tongue. "Yeah."
Norm and Maureen heard voices shouting and looked over their shoulders to see Tonowari and Ronal coming their way. Jake, Neytiri, Aonung, and Roxto were close behind them with Keye'txon. Riri, Lo'ak, and Tsireya brought up the rear.
"Norm, Maureen, we've got a new patient here," Tonowari said urgently as he came to a halt along with his mate.
"It's very bad," Ronal added.
Maureen rushed over to the first cot and removed the blanket. Tonowari and Ronal stepped aside, allowing Jake, Neytiri, Aonung, and Roxto to carry Keye'txon into the marui. They laid him on the cot once they reached it. They released their hold on the stretcher. Norm headed over to Keye'txon's injury and began to unwrap the bandage.
Aonung and Roxto moved over to the second cot as Riri, Lo'ak, and Tsireya joined them along with Tonowari and Ronal. Keye'txon coughed twice as Maureen gave Neytiri the blanket. He emitted a loud groan while moving his head from side to side. She went there and touched his forehead. She winced in much alarm.
"Shit. He is burning up," Maureen shouted fearfully.
"Damn," Norm added as he finished unwrapping the bandage. "That wound looks horrible."
"Let me see," Maureen said, coming over to his side. She winced at the sight of the wound. "I am going to have really clean that wound out. He will definitely need penicillin."
"Norm, I want Lo'ak helping you administer the penicillin," Jake commanded firmly.
"Okay," Norm responded with a nod. "Come on, Lo'ak."
Norm and Lo'ak headed over to a table containing medical supplies, as did Maureen. Norm picked up a large bottle of penicillin. Lo'ak pressed his lips together.
"How will we give Keye'txon the penicillin?" Lo'ak wondered in much curiosity.
"It will be by IV," Norm answered, picking up an IV bag and handing it to him. He grabbed a capped tube and a syringe. "We will insert a needle into his arm."
Maureen grabbed a rag, a bandage, an ointment, and a needle and thread. "That wound will need…"
As Maureen continued talking, Aonung swallowed hard and let out a shuddering breath. Riri touched his shoulder very lightly. She gave it a gentle squeeze.
"When I was getting ready to bandage Keye'txon's wound, he began talking about Nekx and winning the war. It freaked me out. It was obvious he was delirious from his fever," Aonung said honestly.
"I can't say I am surprised, Aonung," Jake commented.
"Infection can make a person so sick that it makes them talk weird," Neytiri admitted, cringing badly. "I've seen it a number of times myself."
"You're not the only one, Neytiri," Jake pointed out.
"Do you think he might have sepsis, Jake?" Roxto wondered.
"I don't know," Jake admitted, looking toward him. "A blood test would be needed to diagnose that. If he does have sepsis, he will need a lot of penicillin to beat it."
"I am worried about how Keye'txon might react to it," Tsireya commented, her body shaking.
"All of us are," Riri said and cleared her throat.
"We knew this would happen," Roxto said and bit his lip. "It was a matter of when, not if."
"There are too many whens these days," Aonung mumbled with a frustrated groan.
Norm, Lo'ak, and Maureen returned to Keye'txon with their medical supplies. They proceeded to work on him. Suddenly, a thought entered Neytiri's head. She looked at Jake, who turned to her.
"Jake, we need to tell Nekx about this," Neytiri whispered in much seriousness.
"You are right," Jake replied. "I will go get him right now."
Tonowari held up his hand. "I will go with you."
Jake nodded at his leader and ran out of the marui with him close behind. Lo'ak filled the IV bag with the penicillin as Norm wiped the syringe with an alcohol-laced rag.
00000
Nekx stood on the pier outside of a marui not far from the one Keye'txon was in. He had his eye on the sun that was nearly eclipsed by the moon. A gentle wind went through his hair. This moved it back some. He heard footsteps and turned to see Rishi coming toward him. She stopped close to him, her tail going up and down.
"Hi," he said.
"Hi," she responded. "I thought I'd come and—"
"No. Me first," Nekx said, holding up his hand.
"I think I should—" Rishi started.
"No. Let me," Nekx said, shaking his head. "I want to apologize for pushing you out of the way. I should not have done that."
"Thank you. I am sorry for smacking you," Rishi apologized in much guilt. "I should not have done that, but I was so angry at what you did."
"Thank you," Nekx said, nodding at her.
Rishi came to the veteran's side. They glanced at the sun, which was now completely eclipsed by the moon. The area became covered in darkness. Their bioluminescence spots glowed brightly. So did the markings in the water and on the plants.
"It's interesting how we have eclipses almost every day while Earth has them only once in a while," Rishi whispered in a gentle manner.
"Spider said eclipses can't even be seen on Earth. It is covered in a layer of pollution," Nekx responded.
"He mentioned to me you lost your mate and son in childbirth," Rishi said in sympathy. "I had no idea that happened."
"It's not something you blab to your enemies about. I just wanted to show Spider we have families. They can suffer losses," Nekx pointed out.
She pressed her lips together. "I can tell you that I am sorry for your loss."
He nodded at her. "Thank you."
Nekx and Rishi narrowed their eyes at the eclipse. They could see three banshees flying past it. They listened to their squawks and chirps. The banshees flapped their wings twice.
"I can't help but think about how forest Na'vi have to tame ikran as a right of passage into adulthood," Rishi commented in much curiosity. "It is so similar to how we have to tame tsuraks to become adults."
"Neither ritual is more dangerous than the other. Imagine some reef Na'vi going to the forest to learn how to live there," Nekx said, a chuckle leaving his mouth. "It'd be challenging because we are made for swimming in the water, not climbing trees."
"It would take a lot of training to learn how to climb trees. Our stockier upper bodies would give us some leverage," Rishi pointed out.
He placed his hand on his throat. "We have a forest on our island, but we never climb the trees."
She raised her eye ridges. "We never climb the trees in the forest on our island either."
Suddenly, running footsteps came out of nowhere. Nekx and Rishi spun around to see Jake and Tonowari coming into view. The men skidded to a halt and panted hard. They managed to catch their breath.
"Nekx, a Green Spear was brought in with an infected wound. He is being treated right now," Jake said, swallowing hard.
"Who is it?" Nekx asked.
"Keye'txon," Tonowari answered swiftly.
"That is my childhood friend!" Nekx shouted. "Come on!"
Jake, Tonowari, Nekx, and Rishi raced through the marui. They reached the one containing Keye'txon within two minutes. Lo'ak had just inserted the needle into the man's left arm at his elbow. A heart monitor was beeping steadily. Maureen was wrapping the bandage around his now stitched-up wound. Nekx came to Maureen's side. Jake, Tonowari, and Rishi went to Ronal, Neytiri, Aonung, Roxto, Riri, and Tsireya.
"How bad is it?" Nekx asked in concern.
"His wound was full of pus. I cleaned it out as much as I could," Maureen answered, sighing to herself. "He is running a fever. He may have the beginning stages of sepsis."
Nekx winced. "Oh, shit."
"I have already gotten a vial of his blood. We should get results very quickly," Norm added.
"Who found him?" Rishi wondered.
"Aonung, Roxto, and Riri found him. Aonung bandaged his arm," Jake responded.
"Thank you," Nekx said, glancing at Aonung, Roxto, and Riri.
Aonung nodded at him. "You are welcome."
Roxto emitted a soft exhale. "Oh, yes."
Keye'txon groaned painfully as Maureen tied the bandage in a knot. He looked toward Nekx, who shuddered a little bit. Nekx turned back to him. He felt his heart beat a little faster. He took his friend's hand into his.
"Nekx?" Keye'txon whispered.
"I am here, Keye'txon," Nekx responded gently. "I am not going to leave you. I promise."
Keye'txon moved his head from side to side. "Do not let the Metkayina win this war. Kill them all."
"Shh. It's okay," Nekx said, feeling his body shake.
"It sucks seeing someone in this condition," Tsireya commented, tears coming to her eyes.
Lo'ak wiped the area around the needle with an alcohol wipe. "Why wouldn't it? Let's just pray he does not have sepsis."
"Septic shock is the worst stage of sepsis. It is fatal nearly half the time," Neytiri mumbled in some fear.
"This is especially true when sepsis is left untreated for days," Norm added in much seriousness.
Ronal looked down at the floor. "Another worry is the possible bad reaction to the penicillin."
"If an Omaticaya or a Metkayina did not react badly to it, then I feel a Green Spear should be able to handle it," Riri said and cleared her throat.
Tonowari exhaled. "Pray to Eywa that Keye'txon does not have a bad reaction to it."
Nekx tightened his grip on Keye'txon's hand a tiny bit. He watched his chest rise and fall with every breath.
00000
Three banshees flew through the early evening sky. They passed Lo'ak, Tsireya, Kiri, Tuktiery, Aonung, Riri, Roxto, Rishi, and Spider at their sitting spot. Aonung was standing and leaning against the tree. Riri stood alongside him. Lo'ak, Tsireya, Kiri, and Tuktiery sat together. Roxto, Rishi, and Spider were across from them.
Aonung, Riri, Tuktiery, Kiri, Roxto, Rishi, and Spider laughed as Lo'ak told them how Payakan and La threw him and his girlfriend into the air. He moved his hand upward. He brought it downward in a rapid motion. He imitated the sound of a splash. Aonung slipped his hands behind his back before clearing his throat. He put his foot on the tree.
"Tsireya and I felt like SeaWorld trainers being thrown into the air by orcas," Lo'ak said joyfully.
"It's not every day a tulkun does that with a Na'vi," Aonung responded.
"Or a dolphin," Riri added.
"Or an orca," Rishi commented while folding her hands and laying them in her lap. "There is always a risk of injury, even if the animals are careful."
"What I find interesting is La left her pod. Most tulkuns wouldn't think twice of doing that," Riri pointed out matter-of-factly.
"Well, La felt Payakan was too lonely and decided to join him. I am not worried at all, especially since she reassured me her mother was fine with her leaving," Tsireya explained.
"That's not the only thing. La has actually done this before," Roxto added, a snicker coming from him.
"No way!" Tuktiery yelled shockingly.
"Yes way, Tuk," Tsireya admitted with a giggle. "La has always had an adventurous spirit. She will leave her pod for a few weeks at a time. She didn't dare go to Payakan at Three Brothers during his exile."
"Her pod would have skinned her alive if she did," Aonung added. "Interacting with outcasts was strictly forbidden. That does not apply anymore due to Payakan's heroism."
"Payakan joins in on the tulkun celebration every year now, yet he goes right back to Three Brothers. It is good to know he's got a friend there," Kiri commented, smiling.
"Totally," Spider agreed.
"Speaking of orcas, Norm told us the story of Nastelane when we were younger," Lo'ak said, gesturing toward himself, Kiri, Spider, and Tuktiery. "It's an old Haida tale. Would you like to hear it?"
Aonung, Riri, Roxto, Rishi, and Tsireya voiced their agreement. Lo'ak formed a big smile on his face and breathed deeply. He rubbed his hands together before laying them in his lap.
"The word skaana is Haida for orca," Lo'ak said and held out his hands. "A young Haida warrior named Nastelane was destined to become chief because of his skills, intelligence, and pleasant demeanor. His brothers showed a lot of jealousy toward this. They wanted to get rid of him. They took him out to sea for a little fishing. They took him further away from the shore than they have ever been before. He began to become concerned. The brothers threw him overboard and left him."
"Yikes," Riri said honestly.
Lo'ak chuckled humorlessly. "Yeah. Anyway, Nastelane started drowning. He was found and rescued by a sea otter. The otter floated him to a large island. He said it was too far back to the mainland for him to help him back. He promised to look after him instead. He showed him the best hunting and fishing grounds. Once Nastelane was settled on his new island all alone, the otter conferred one last gift to him. It was a pouch of seeds. He instructed him to sow them. Nastelane did so. The seeds grew into a bewildering array of different types of tree over the years. They used to be native in the Pacific Northwest. They are no more. Nastelane used wood from the trees to carve tools and a boat."
"I can only imagine how long Nastelane was on that island," Aonung said curiously.
"Me too," Riri agreed while laying a hand on his shoulder.
"Trust me. It was a long time," Lo'ak said. "Nastelane tried to carve a new totem to show his appreciation of the otter. He tried all the trees before settling on using a large yellow cedar tree. He carved a huge fish from it. He left it on the shore for the otter to find. He said a prayer that he had never heard before."
"How did the prayer go?" Tsireya wondered.
"It went like this 'Salana-ayun-iaisis,'" Lo'ak responded in a soft voice.
"I've said that prayer a few times when I was struggling myself," Spider pointed out.
Tuktiery furrowed her brow. "Me too."
"When Nastelane went down to the shore the next morning, the fish carving was gone. In the bay was Blackfish. He was the first orca. Nastelane traveled back to his home with a boat and supplies. Blackfish guided him. When he arrived, he found his brothers out fishing again. They were squabbling as usual. He ordered Blackfish to destroy their boat and drown them. Blackfish did that immediately. Nastelane ordered from this day forward that he must never harm a human again after he returned. He must help a human if he found him in trouble at sea. He sent the whale off to sea. He returned to his village and became chief," Lo'ak finished.
Aonung, Roxto, Riri, and Rishi perked up their ears. They thought the story was the most amazing one they had ever heard. They wondered how many other Native American tribes revered the orca.
"This is a story we are sharing with our families," Rishi commented with much pride.
"Careful, Rishi. Showing too much pride is a no-no," Spider responded while shaking his finger at her.
"Oh, shut up, Spider," Rishi said in a playful voice.
"No, you shut up," Spider said and blew a raspberry.
"Heh, heh, heh, heh," Lo'ak murmured and became serious. "Anyway, the next twenty-four to forty-eight hours will be critical for Keye'txon. I mean, his wound was seriously infected."
Kiri cringed a bit. "Who knows how long he had been stranded on that island?"
Aonung touched the back of his neck. "I have to admit I've never seen an infected wound up close."
"I've seen infected wounds more times than I can count. I've seen sepsis set in a few times," Lo'ak commented, his body shaking a little bit. "Sepsis can happen so fast that a patient dies before it is diagnosed."
"Sepsis is very rare amongst the People, but it is no less dangerous," Rishi answered, her breathing coming out in shudders.
Roxto blew in a hard way. "Norm said the blood test revealed the patient had not developed sepsis. However, it could still happen, even with the penicillin going through his system."
"At least Nekx was grateful to Aonung, Riri, and Roxto for acting quickly to save him," Spider commented.
"Learning he lost his mate and son in childbirth from Mom and Dad made me have a great deal of sympathy for him. How do you go through not one but two losses at the same time?" Aonung wondered.
"Mom and Dad know what that is like," Lo'ak whispered solemnly.
"What do you mean, Lo'ak?" Tsireya wondered.
"Three years before my birth, Mom was pregnant with twins. They were born two months early. They died not long after birth. They were a boy and a girl. She and Dad named them Zeus and Roxanne after the titular dog and dolphin from Zeus and Roxanne," Tuktiery explained. "They do not talk much about them."
Rishi lowered her ears sadly. "Oh, we are so sorry, Tuk."
"I didn't know until I was five. Neteyam and Lo'ak told me about them. I was so sad I never got to meet them," Tuktiery pointed out.
"Grandma even said the chances of Mom getting pregnant again were small. Luckily, her pregnancy with Tuk suffered no complications whatsoever," Kiri commented.
"The loss of a child is one of life's greatest tragedies," Rishi said.
Tsireya sniffled. "What might have been is always on the minds of adults, especially parents."
Lo'ak touched Tsireya's arm and gave it a gentle squeeze. He began talking about how La hit him in the head with the ball the first time.