Author's Notes: Hi, readers. Here's chapter twenty-seven of 'Gone in the Dark.' It is likely some of the kids will head out to see Payakan and La in the next few chapters. Whether or not it will be peaceful remains to be seen. Stay tuned for chapter twenty-eight.
XXXXX
Chapter 27: Coming About
Max made adjustments to the IV bag in the marui Keye'txon was in ten minutes later. He looked at the heart monitor as he laid his hand on top of it. He listened to its steady beeps. He glanced down at him. Keye'txon's chest rose and fell with every breath he took. He looked over at Ronal and Mo'at as they changed Kuai's bandages on the second cot.
Max shifted his attention back to Keye'txon. He was very relieved that the patient did not suffer an adverse reaction to the penicillin last night. He recalled having to refill the bag after it was empty. He found that to be a little bit of a chore. He wondered how much would be needed before the infection was completely gone. He knew strong resistance to it could develop if way too much was used.
His thoughts shifted to his first day in Awa'atlu. He and the Avatar Team could never forget the number of patients with varying injuries they had to treat when they got there. They were scrambling all over the place to make sure no one was left untreated, especially the Green Spears. He remembered the hostility several of the Metkayina's rivals showed toward them. He could not blame them as they had never seen humans before.
Max snapped out of his thoughts when he heard Kuai groan. He looked toward her as Ronal tied a knot in the bandage on her shoulder. He could see Mo'at doing the same with the one on her leg. Kuai moved her arm forward slowly. She repeated her action backward at a slightly faster pace. She sighed in much relief before clearing her throat.
"Thank you two so much for changing my bandages," Kuai said gratefully.
"You are very welcome, Kuai," Ronal replied, warmth echoing from her voice. "You were the perfect patient as before."
"If only all patients can be like you," Mo'at mumbled, shaking her head in disbelief. "Several Green Spears I tended to were impatient with me. They berated me for joining the Metkayina and depriving the Omaticaya of an experienced tsahik."
Kuai huffed. "Who gives a shit what those dummies think? You wanted to join your family out here, even if it meant giving up your title."
"I would have done the same if I had been in your position, Mo'at. Family is very important. We need to stick together," Ronal added.
"It is true you cannot choose your family, but you can choose your friends. It is okay to cut off people who are draining you emotionally," Mo'at said, her ears moving back slightly.
"For the People, that is rather uncommon. When it comes to humans, it is rather common," Ronal commented.
"People think they can change someone," Max said, coming over to the trio. "They stay friends or lovers with others hoping the change will come. It rarely ever does."
Ronal touched the back of her neck. "You can't force someone to change. They have to want it from within."
Footsteps caught the group's attention. It looked up to see Jake and Neytiri coming into the marui. Max went over to them, slipping his hands into his pockets. They stopped next to Keye'txon.
"Well, well, if it isn't the duo who disappeared last night," Max commented and raised an eyebrow.
"Don't start, Max. How is Keye'txon?" Jake wondered.
"I have good news. His fever has broken. The penicillin is working very well," Max announced warmly.
"That is good," Neytiri said, smiling. "Do you have any idea when he might wake up?"
Max shook his head. "Unfortunately, I don't."
"We must be patient," Mo'at whispered gently while standing up. She went over to Jake's side. "Keye'txon will wake up at some point."
"I understand," Jake murmured and swung his tail from side to side. "There is a chance he could be a little loopy from the penicillin."
"Medicine can make people act weird, regardless of their species," Neytiri pointed out. "You and I have seen it many times."
Jake nodded in agreement. "That is true."
Kuai grabbed her staff and placed it into the floor. She pushed herself up at a slow pace. She limped over to Keye'txon. She tightened her grip on it while leaning her head against it.
"I can only imagine what was going through Keye'txon's mind as his wound became infected and made him feverish," Kuai whispered.
"I believe he was scared and wasn't sure if anyone would find him. Thank Eywa that Aonung, Riri, and Roxto happened to be in that area. Aonung said he sensed something was wrong and wanted to investigate," Ronal explained, standing up and going to the warrior's side.
"A boy is not immune from having bad feelings, especially if he happens to be the son of a tsahik," Kuai commented.
"Tsahiks do not have to be female. They can be male," Ronal pointed out with a small smile. She clasped her hands together. "Our clan's history has several male tsahiks."
"So does the Omaticaya," Neytiri added. "One man fulfilled the role of both olo'eytkan and tsahik. His name was Javi. He was betrothed to Tyva, who was to be tsahik. Unfortunately, she was attacked and killed by a palulukan. He chose to learn the ways of the tsahik from his mother, Ossi. He carried out both roles very well. He did become mates with Kiva and had fraternal twins. The boy was called Eko. The girl was named Trina."
"Leaders do not have to be the most knowledgeable. They are there to learn," Jake commented, looking down at her.
"That is true," Neytiri agreed and tickled his nose. "You are the perfect example of such a leader."
"Many people have a thirst for knowledge. They are always gathering information," Max said with a small smile.
"Sometimes, you learn things you never knew from when you were young," Mo'at said.
"Some people have said knowledge is a very bad thing and that they should look to charismatic leaders for everything in life," Jake said with a shake of his head. "Human history is littered with such people. They aren't even good people. They are monsters."
"Na'vi history does not have many examples of such people," Neytiri admitted, tail swinging up and down twice. "That did not make them any less dangerous."
Kuai pressed her lips together. She moved her head away from her staff and blinked three times. She slid her hand up it while swinging her tail from side to side.
"I will see you all later," Kuai said and yawned. "I need to go rest."
"Okay," Max replied.
Neytiri smiled softly. "Do not rest too hard."
Kuai nodded at her friend. She headed out of the marui while emitting a soft groan. The others watched her until she was gone. They turned to each other with perked up ears. That was except for Max.
"It sucks she has to use a staff in order to walk," Jake mumbled somberly.
"She is still a little bitter over Nekx injuring her in spite of him becoming less insufferable," Ronal added with a shake of her head.
"For some people, forgiveness does not come easily," Neytiri commented truthfully.
"That is—" Max started.
Suddenly, groaning came out of nowhere. Everyone looked down to see Keye'txon opening his eyes. He was greeted with blurry vision. He blinked them three times in which he cleared it.
"Keye'txon is coming around," Jake shouted in a breathless way.
"I can't believe it. I thought he would be out of it for a while longer," Max said, feeling his heart skip a beat.
Neytiri exhaled. "I guess Eywa decided he needed to wake up now."
"Where am I? What is going on?" Keye'txon whispered and swallowed hard. He focused on Max and gasped in confusion. "Who are you?"
"My name is Max Patel, Keye'txon. I am with the Avatar Team providing medical assistance to the war patients," Max explained gently.
"I am Mo'at, the former tsahik of the Omaticaya. I joined my family out here after missing them terribly," Mo'at said.
Ronal touched his shoulder as the patient turned to her. "You are in Awa'atlu. My son and his friends found you on an island in the area they were about to hunt in. They brought you here to be treated for your injury. It was infected."
"You were speaking weird due to a fever you had developed as Aonung told us," Jake added, perking up his ears as Keye'txon glanced at him.
"Penicillin was used to treat you. It is an antibiotic that humans use to fight bacterial infections. It managed to break your fever. We weren't sure when you would wake up," Neytiri explained. "You will be on it for several days. We need to get the infection out of your system completely."
Mo'at sighed. "Otherwise, it will flare up again."
Jake expressed sympathy. "Even after the infection is gone, you will likely be wobbly for a while."
Keye'txon took a deep breath. He felt grateful to Aonung, Riri, and Roxto for rescuing him. He was not sure how long he was stranded on that island or when the infection set in and made him sick. He snapped out of his thoughts when footsteps sounded. Jake, Neytiri, Ronal, Mo'at, and Max spotted Nekx coming into the marui.
"Hey, is everything okay with—Keye'txon's awake!" Nekx shouted as he came to Max's side.
"Nekx, I am so glad to see you," Keye'txon said as he grabbed his friend's hand. "I feel pretty weak."
"He just woke up a few minutes ago," Max commented while eyeing Nekx. "I was thinking he would be unconscious for a long while."
"Keye'txon has always been a fierce fighter. He has sustained serious injuries before, yet he has been known to recover from them faster than most Na'vi do," Nekx pointed out. "He has recovered from two infected wounds as well."
"A wound does not have to be serious in order to become infected," Jake murmured seriously. "Sometimes, even a tiny scratch can flare into a major infection."
Nekx nodded in agreement. Keye'txon groaned painfully and tightened his grip on the veteran's hand. It was as if he feared losing him. He blinked three times before shifting his leg slightly.
"If you all don't mind, I would like to speak to Nekx alone," Keye'txon whispered.
"Okay," Max said and glanced at his friends. "Come on."
Max, Jake, Neytiri, Mo'at, and Ronal walked out of the marui. Nekx watched until they were out of sight. He seated himself beside Keye'txon, who sighed in a soft way.
"How did you get here, Nekx?" Keye'txon wondered.
"I got into a fight with Jake and Neytiri without provocation. I ended up injured as a result," Nekx responded, motioning toward his bandage. "I was shocked to find out you had been brought in with an infected wound. I had to come to your side. You talked about killing the Metkayina and not letting them win the war to me."
"I honestly don't even remember that," Keye'txon murmured.
"It doesn't matter now," Nekx said. "You are safe."
Keye'txon suppressed a yawn and looked up at the monitor. He could hear its steady beeps. He glanced down at the needle in his arm. He turned to Nekx, who formed a small smile on his face.
"That thing is—" Keye'txon started.
"Yes, it is giving you the penicillin. I witnessed Norm putting a breathing tube down a Metkayina's throat and Maureen attaching an air pump to it. She pumped oxygen into her lungs. They treated your injury. Lo'ak inserted the needle into your arm," Nekx explained.
"Wow," Keye'txon muttered in amazement. "I never thought I'd find myself attached to human inventions."
"They were instrumental in saving your life along with Aonung's quick thinking," Nekx admitted. "If you are wondering, I have made myself useful around here. I held a Green Spear's hand as Jake stitched up his neck wound. I offered to change a Metkayina's bandages. I revealed my past to a human boy named Spider to help him understand his enemies have families. He sympathized with me over losing Reva and Rami."
"I can't believe a human did that. I have heard they are demons who just take and take," Keye'txon whispered.
"I am still no fan of them, but I have to admit they and their dreamwalker friends have done well in tending to my fellow Green Spears," Nekx pointed out matter-of-factly. "Unfortunately, Julay is here and running her big mouth."
Keye'txon rolled his eyes. He remembered all the times Julay spread his business around Kia. He hated it when she did that. He considered gossip to be harmful, especially when it came to mated pairs and children.
"Nekx, I need to tell you something," Keye'txon whispered with a heavy sigh.
"What is it?" Nekx wondered.
Keye'txon choked back a sob. "I am tired of this war. Many people are suffering on both sides, especially the children. They've seen so much bloodshed already. I can't fight anymore. It is just too much. This war needs to end. It's gone on for too long."
Nekx swallowed hard. He understood Keye'txon's feelings, but he was not sure how the war could come to and end when many Na'vi on both sides were determined to fight. He felt talking to his fellow Green Spears was out of the question for the time being. He was content to help with medical care wherever he could. He proceeded to tell Keye'txon about being baffled by human devices.