Author's Notes: Hi, readers. Here's chapter sixof "Gone in the Dark." This chapter has some Jake/Neytiri. Kuai is introduced in this chapter. Stay tuned for chapter seven.
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Chapter 6: The Search Continues
Jake and Neytiri found themselves in a slightly dense part of the rainforest four minutes later. They scanned their surroundings carefully. They came to a mud wallow, seeing tracks. They got on their knees to touch them. They narrowed their eyes at them, their tails swinging from side to side. They tilted their heads, their eyes showing much curiosity.
"These look like yerik tracks, except they are smaller than those seen on the mainland are," he said in awe. "Tonowari and Ronal mentioned islands have smaller versions of a number of the same species the mainland has."
"When herbivores do not have large carnivores to deal with, there is no need to evolve into larger versions," she pointed out. "That applies on Pandora just as much as it did on Earth."
"All island animals have been wiped out," Jake mumbled with a heavy sigh. "Even the nonnative animals that were introduced to them are gone. They were reason why island populations plummeted. The native animals did not know how to deal with them."
"We can be quite grateful humans have not introduced any foreign species here. It would result in an even worse disaster," Neytiri mumbled, fear lining her voice.
"I hear you," Jake agreed, rising to his full height along with her. He shot a glance over his shoulder. "Let's go."
Jake and Neytiri moved through the undergrowth at a slow pace. Their eyes scanned their surroundings, but they didn't see any hexapedes. However, they could hear faint bleating.
"Something tells me we are about to find a herd," Neytiri whispered, her ears twitching.
"I hear you," Jake agreed.
She smiled. "We need to be very careful. We cannot make any noise that could alert our enemies who could be hiding anywhere."
He rolled his eyes. "Of course."
Jake and Neytiri continued on their walk. The bleating got louder as they spotted a clearing coming into view. He waved his hand while going toward a tree. She followed suit, sitting behind it with him. She looked him in the eye. The bleating quieted down.
"Stay close to me," Jake instructed.
"All right," Neytiri whispered.
Jake peered out from behind the tree carefully. He moved toward a large boulder on the clearing's edge in a squatting position. Neytiri imitated his every move. Their breathing was soft and steady, and they took great care not to step on anything. They stopped at the boulder and ducked. He put a finger to his lips while looking at her.
Jake and Neytiri stood up to look over the top of the boulder. They saw a herd of eight hexapedes grazing together. The herd included two mothers with their calves. These hexapedes were two-thirds the size of their mainland counterparts. They were light green, and their fan structures were dark green. Blue and black stripes covered their backs and limbs. Their horns appeared to be small stubs sticking out of the backs of their skulls.
The calves raised their heads and let out a series of small bleats. They dug their front hooves through the soil before snorting to themselves. A juvenile wandered too close to an adult and got a ram in the side from it. The adult snorted warningly at it and grabbed a mouthful of grass to eat. The juvenile walked away, shaking its head.
"That guy showed him who was boss," Neytiri whispered and placed her hands on the boulder.
"Yes, he did," Jake commented. "Of course, it's unusual for yerik to react like that."
"Some individuals just get annoyed by others and want their space. If a yerik reacted the way that one did, I'd stay out of his way," Neytiri said.
"We never know what any creature might do. That's why we always respect its space. That includes the dolphins we play with at the village," Jake said seriously.
"So true, Jake," Neytiri agreed. "So true."
Jake and Neytiri turned back to the hexapedes. The calves wandered around together. The first one butted the second in the hindquarter gently. It repeated its action, getting a soft ram from its companion in retaliation. They faced each other and lowered their heads. They bumped them so lightly that it seemed they weren't even touching. They proceeded to run everywhere.
"That's so cute," Neytiri said and giggled slightly.
"I don't think I've ever seen a more playful pair of baby yerik," Jake murmured and rubbed his chin.
"Watching baby yerik play is a lot better than thinking about this war," Neytiri mumbled, huffing quietly. "I want it to end so badly."
He eyed her with a sympathetic sigh. "Who doesn't?"
"At least we can take comfort in seeing these sweet moments," Neytiri said honestly.
"Yes," Jake agreed, shifting his attention back to the hexapedes. He lowered his ears in sadness. "Unfortunately, we can't hang around. We have some friends to find."
She licked her lips. "Of course."
Jake and Neytiri walked away from the clearing. They listened to the hexapedes bleating. They pressed their lips together while swiveling their ears.
"Neytiri, did you ever have the feeling you were being watched back on the mainland?" Jake asked in curiosity.
"Sometimes. You?" Neytiri answered.
"Oh, yes," Jake admitted. "There is so much foliage that you can't see where you are going in some areas."
"They provide plenty of hiding places for those coming after us," Neytiri mumbled in fear. "You never know who you might run into."
"It can be a member of a hunting party, a rogue Na'vi, or someone else," Jake commented with a snort.
"The trick is to be very wary, even if you believe it is someone from your clan," Neytiri pointed out matter-of-factly. "Someone could be aiming at you without you knowing it."
"I know," Jake said, nodding slowly. "The ocean is different. You are an open target if there are no islands nearby or reefs to hide in."
"Lo'ak tried to hide in the reef when an akula attacked him. He nearly drowned when Payakan came to his rescue. Payakan may have been welcomed back into his pod and the Metkayina, but he still prefers his solitude. He enjoys it a lot as it allows him to gather his thoughts," Neytiri added.
"Sometimes, it is better to be a loner than have fake friends who would turn on you on a dime," Jake said bluntly. He and his mate picked up their pace.
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Jake and Neytiri found themselves in a denser area of the rainforest six minutes later. They stopped in their tracks when three hexapedes and two ottises ran out in front of them. The animals disappeared into the undergrowth. Their squeaks and bleats filled the air. Jake and Neytiri looked at each other, annoyed expressions showing on their faces.
"Animals do not hesitate to run out in front of us on islands just as much as they do on the mainland," he grumbled.
"I wish that would not happen. It wastes our time," she hissed.
Jake snorted. "True. Come on."
Jake and Neytiri resumed walking. They narrowed their eyes while licking their lips twice. A loud groan caused them to come to a halt.
"What in the hell was that?" Jake asked, looking around.
"Maybe it is one of our clanmates. He or she may have been injured," Neytiri suggested in a low voice.
"It could be a Green Spear instead," Jake pointed out. "We need to check it out. Stay close. Do not make any sudden movements."
Jake began walking slowly. Neytiri was right behind him. They came upon two trees with a group of bushes under them. He went around the second tree, as did she. They took great care not to step on anything. They gasped shockingly at what they found.
"Kuai!" Neytiri shouted, her ears perking up.
Twenty-five-year-old Kuai winced in much pain and grabbed her right leg with both hands. She flattened her ears against her skull while breathing deeply. She was slightly taller than Neytiri was. Her strakes had what appeared to be tiny chunks taken out of them. Her chest contained tattoos, as did both of her arms. The right side of her face had a scar starting from her temple and stopping at the bottom of her cheek. Her outer right thigh had a wound in it, as did her left shoulder.
"Jake, Neytiri, thank Eywa it is you!" Kuai shouted in much relief. "I thought it was Green Spears coming to finish me off."
"Let me look at your leg wound," Jake said as he went to her right side and knelt down. He took his backpack off his back to lay it beside him along with his gun. He observed his mate mimicking his movements on her left side. He touched her leg. "It is obvious you were stabbed."
Neytiri touched the young woman's shoulder. "Indeed."
Jake unzipped his backpack. "Let's get these wounds bandaged."
Jake reached into his backpack to get out a bandage. Neytiri unzipped hers and got a similar one. They unwrapped strips of them. They placed them against Kuai's wounds. They proceeded to wrap them.
"What happened to you and the hunting party?" Jake asked.
"My hunting party and I were not far from these islands when we decided to split up in our hunt for fish. We agreed not to go further than a mile or two apart. I went hunting in the most interior part of the kelp bed. I was targeting a fish with my crossbow when Jona squealed alarmingly. I turned and saw Nekx aiming his crossbow at me on his skimwing," Kuai explained.
"The leader of the Green Spear warriors and hunters!" Neytiri blurted out with wide eyes.
"Yes," Kuai whispered, her body shaking. "Jona dove downward as he fired. The bolt missed my head by mere inches. Suddenly, she cried out in pain. I fell off and saw two crossbow bolts sticking out from her underside. Another bolt hit her in the side. She became motionless. I looked down to see a Green Spear on her skimwing coming toward me from below. I swam for an airbell. I surfaced in the air pocket and stayed very still. I watched Nekx and his comrade go past me. They went out of sight."
"How long were you there?" Jake wondered.
"I am not sure. I inhaled deeply and went back underwater. I headed for the surface. I tried to contact my clanmates on the mic, but all I got was static. I feared they had also been attacked. The islands were not far, so I swam for them. I came on this one. I went into the forest and hid in a tree trunk. I was there for a while. I ventured out because I was getting thirsty. I found a small stream and drank from it. I heard a sound. I wasn't sure what it was. I began looking around. Suddenly, Nekx grabbed me from behind. He wrapped his arm around my throat. I flipped him over my head and on his back using the move you taught me, Jake," Kuai continued.
"It is good to know that came in handy," Jake said, exhaling sharply.
"Mm-hmm. Nekx drew his dagger and swung it at me. I jumped back to avoid it. He stood up and rushed it downward. I caught his wrists in both hands. He pushed down, forcing me on my knees. He stabbed me in the shoulder. I shoved him away. I fought him, and he stabbed me in the leg. I limped away as fast as I could. I hid in these bushes. I watch him go past them. He disappeared from sight. I have been hiding here ever since," Kuai finished.
"Your poor thing," Neytiri said in much sympathy. She finished wrapping her bandage and tied it up. "We are here to take you home."
Jake was done with his bandage and made a tie with it. He and Neytiri zipped their backpacks shut. They put them over their shoulders. He picked up his gun. He touched Kuai's arm, his breathing soft and steady.
"We found your ilu washed up on the beach. We feared you were dead," Jake admitted, swallowing hard.
"I would've been dead if I hadn't hidden in these bushes," Kuai added, sniffling. "I fear for the lives of the others."
Neytiri sighed. "The rest of our search party is trying to find them. We need to get you to the beach."
Neytiri grabbed Kuai's arm and put it over her shoulder. She slipped hers around her waist. She helped her up at a slow pace. They started walking at a similar speed, as did Jake.