Chapter 2: Trapped in the Swamp
Time crawled by as Kiri and Spider ventured deeper into the swamp's labyrinth, following a meandering stream that gradually descended downhill. The ground beneath their feet was squishy and crisscrossed with treacherous vines. Murky pools of considerable depth concealed mysterious creatures that thrived in the darkness and dampness. Tall trees with cascading curtains of moss obscured their view, and the dense fog limited visibility to a mere ten feet, heightening the excitement of their exploration.
The swamp teemed with life all around them. Enormous dragonfly-like creatures with six wings soared low over the river or perched on nearby trees, searching for easy prey. These remarkable creatures, adorned with blue circles resembling eyeballs on their backs, were uninterested in Kiri and Spider due to their size. Yeriks, gazelle-like animals with six legs and a dark blue hue, roamed in herds of about twelve throughout the marsh. With their large eyes, sloping snouts, and retractable light-colored fan structures, Yeriks possessed a cautious nature and would flee when disturbed. However, even a skilled hunter could get hurt if cornered. Revered by the Na'vi as a vital source of food and clothing, Yeriks held a special place in their culture, even after death.
The marsh boasted a variety of plant species, some familiar and others entirely unknown to Kiri and Spider. Towering grasses in shades of green and blue grew out of the water, while carnivorous plants resembling giant Venus flytraps lurked nearby, ready to ensnare unsuspecting prey that ventured too close.
Frog-like creatures with luminous white antennae swam throughout the swamp, their light piercing through the fog and casting an eerie glow. Kiri playfully dubbed them "Spider Frogs," a nod to Spider's unsuccessful attempts to catch one.
Amidst the swamp's enchanting landscape were towering magenta-glowing fungal formations that protruded from the water. These obelisk-like structures housed colonies of beetle-sized insects with wings and powerful pincers. Observing the workers of the insect colony diligently going about their tasks, delivering food and discarding waste, was a sight to behold.
Cat ears, named for their tube-like structures resembling feline ears, adorned many of the marsh's trees. The Omaticaya cherished these unique plants as they produced melodious sounds when the wind or breath passed through them, making them excellent musical instruments. Kiri, particularly skilled in playing the cat ears, often delighted Tuk with her enchanting melodies.
After hiking for two hours, the pair found respite on an ancient log overlooking a marshy clearing. Stagnant pools of water surrounded them, with towering white-colored fungal colonies emerging from the surface. Thick mist enveloped everything except for faint rays of sunlight that managed to penetrate the dense canopy above.
"Can you imagine living out here?" Spider remarked, his body relaxing against the log as he absorbed the tranquil surroundings. "It's quiet, with no one around to bother you. I suppose that's why your dad chose this spot. The RDA wouldn't dare venture into this place."
Kiri gazed into the murky water, observing a few fish swimming around. Their armored backs shimmered in various hues, possibly serving as camouflage or attracting prey. Their sharp teeth protruded menacingly, reminding her of the potential danger that lurked beneath the surface.
"I don't think I'd like to live here," Kiri mused, retrieving a handful of berries from her waist bag and savoring their flavor. The place unsettled her. "You remember all the stories we've heard about this kind of place? The malevolent spirits that haunt these swamps, like the Alta'maha..." Her voice carried a tinge of apprehension.
Legends spoke of the Alta'maha, a mythical creature dwelling within the swamps. Each tale described it differently, either as a towering, red-eyed beast standing thirty feet tall with an insatiable appetite, or a fifty-foot-long serpentine creature adorned with rows of menacing teeth.
"You still believe in all that mumbo jumbo?" Spider chuckled, tossing a pebble into the marsh, only to see it quickly disappear beneath the surface. "Aren't you all about science, like your mom?"
"Science, within reason..." Kiri replied, nibbling on berries while absentmindedly toying with the pendant on her necklace. "Besides, they've only documented about 1% of the species on this planet. Who knows what else is out there?" She glanced through the fog, catching sight of small critters scurrying in and out of tunnels, hardly bigger than weasels.
"Why don't you start documenting, then?" Spider suggested earnestly, leaning back against his taller blue companion.
Kiri blinked, contemplating his words. Her interest in botany originated from the extensive video logs her birth mother had left, describing plants with great detail before the war. While she lacked her mother's expertise, she still remembered the names of most local plant species and carried a notepad to record any new discoveries, attempting to give them unique names.
The Na'vi's written language, consisting of basic hieroglyphics, proved insufficient for her documentation, so she preferred writing in English. Jake had taught her the language, although it had been a challenging endeavor since he wasn't as adept a teacher as Neytiri.
"I would, but my sketchbook was lost months ago, along with everything else," Kiri murmured, a touch of melancholy in her voice as she reminisced about her old sketchbook, containing years' worth of work. "And lately, I've had too much on my mind to focus on art."
"So, what's been occupying your thoughts?" Spider inquired, diverting her attention from the past. He noticed more of the "Spider" frogs—name of which he took pride in—beginning to encircle the nearby body of water.
"A lot. Like..." Kiri took a deep breath, contemplating the extensive list of concerns. Fiddling with her fingers, she decided to voice the first thing that came to mind. "I asked my mom if I could join the scouting mission. Neteyam and Lo'ak get to go, but since I don't fight and there are other tasks to be done, I have to stay behind."
"That sucks," Spider sympathized. "Your healing skills could have been valuable. Gracie seems to be adapting well."
Kiri shrugged, her thoughts drifting to her father, who seemed perpetually occupied. "And my dad still hasn't spent time with me. Whenever I try to talk to him, he says he's busy and that we'll talk later. I worry about him, you know?"
"Your dad is a good man, but he's got a lot on his plate. Winning this war and keeping your brothers safe," Spider reassured her.
"Yeah..." Kiri sighed, her adoptive brothers a constant source of worry. They frequently disregarded their father's rules, engaging in reckless competitions to outdo each other or prove themselves. "I worry about them too."
Spotting vines hanging from a nearby tree, Spider stood up. "Is there anything else, Ms. Princess?" he teased, well aware of her position as the eldest daughter and the expectation that she would succeed Neytiri one day.
"Hey, don't call me that," Kiri pouted. "Besides, I'm pretty useless anyway. I'm not destined for anything important," she remarked, glancing down at the water where the Spider frogs playfully poked their heads out, flashing their white antennas in her direction.
"What a bunch of bull," Spider retorted, leaping to grasp onto the vine and swinging back and forth like a nimble creature. "You're just underappreciated, that's all."
"Underappreciated," Kiri repeated softly, not accustomed to considering herself in such terms. Despite her self-doubt, a smile tugged at the corners of her lips as she watched Spider leap from one vine to another, his carefree spirit evident. "What are you doing? Having fun being a monkey boy?"
Displaying an impish grin, Spider responded by sticking his middle finger up at her as he swung through the air.
Kiri raised an eyebrow and retaliated, flashing her own middle fingers. Laughter bubbled between them before she struggled to stand up, groaning as she did, her sore bottom reminding her of the hours spent sitting on the log. "So, what now?"
Spider momentarily ceased swinging, realizing his growing hunger. However, he knew that removing his mask for more than a few seconds could prove fatal. Back at camp, an old decommissioned avatar chamber served as his air-filtered bedroom, shared with some human staff members.
"We should probably head back," Spider suggested, climbing higher on the vine to gain a better view. The lifting fog allowed him to peer deeper into the marsh, where shadowy animal shapes roamed, yet nothing alarming. Descending back to the ground, he landed in the marshy water and spotted one of the Spider frogs right beside him. Seizing the opportunity, he sprang into the water and successfully caught one.
"You finally got one," Kiri said, a smile playing on her lips.
Emerging from the water with the creature wriggling in his arms, Spider pondered keeping it as a pet. "Can I take this one home with me?" he asked, marveling at its peculiar sideways-pointing horns and the bioluminescent blue and purple spots adorning its body. The creature's white antennae emitted a stronger light, almost as if it were attempting to intimidate him.
"Do I look like your mother?" Kiri quipped, smirking. "Besides, where would you keep it?"
"Fair point," Spider conceded, releasing the creature back into the water, where it swiftly disappeared beneath the murky surface.
Stepping off the log, Kiri landed on the mushy ground, feeling the itchiness of the moss beneath her feet. "How's your oxygen?" she inquired, her concern evident, absentmindedly scratching her foot. It had been only two months since Spider had nearly run out of oxygen, with Kiri and Tuk rescuing him from hypoxia.
"You need a bath," Kiri remarked, swatting away a swarm of flying insects and noticing something glistening in the distance. Her eyes focused on a sparkling, reflective object caught in the rays of sunlight that pierced through the dissipating mist. It appeared to be situated high up in the trees, possibly a hundred yards away.
"You will too!" Spider grinned mischievously, flinging handfuls of muddy water in her direction.
"Ah!" Kiri twisted away, defending herself, and playfully whipped her tail before retreating a few feet. She pointed towards the object, her voice filled with urgency. "Do you see that?"
Spider paused his mischief, raising an eyebrow. "You do realize I'm immune to that trick, right?"
"No, I'm serious. Look!" Kiri insisted, pointing towards the object. As the fog lifted further, they could discern a large metallic shape with a silvery sheen nestled among the branches of a towering tree. The distance made it challenging to identify.
Spider turned to follow her gaze and eventually spotted it too. "Hmm," he murmured, climbing the vine for a better vantage point. "I see it too. Want to check it out?"
Kiri looked up at him, uncertainty evident in her eyes. "Are you sure it's a good idea?"
Descending to the ground, Spider landed with a splash and shrugged. "Everything is a good idea with me around."
Kiri facepalmed at his response, but before she knew it, he was already darting towards the tree where the object hung. Dodging vines and leaping over marshy parcels of land, he startled a group of spider frogs, causing them to swiftly submerge into the water. "Hey, wait up!" Kiri called out, racing after him.
After a brief trek, they arrived before an ancient tree, craning their necks to peer up into the dense canopy. The massive trunk reached towering heights, its sides adorned with lush vegetation and hanging vines.
Their vision sharpened as they got closer. High above, a crashed helicopter hung perilously from a branch, entangled in a web of vines. Metal fragments, including rotor blades, scattered the ground below. The lingering scent of aviation fuel blended with the swamp's natural odor.
"It looks like a Samson," Spider remarked, recognizing the craft's resemblance to those used by both sides during the conflict. However, this particular one lacked the distinctive Na'vi markings of the rebel forces. "It hasn't been here for long. No moss or signs of decay."
Kiri glanced higher, estimating the helicopter to be around a hundred feet up, precariously balanced on its perch. "We need to be cautious. It could come crashing down at any moment."
"I'm going to check it out," Spider declared, ignoring her warning as he began climbing a vine towards the helicopter. With his climbing skills, the ascent proved effortless, and within moments, he peered inside the cabin. "No bodies here. Do you see any around?"
Keeping a watchful eye on him, Kiri strained to spot any sign of life. Distant cries of animals further heightened her unease, and her nostrils tingled from the mingling scents of jet fuel and marsh. She surveyed the area but found no corpses. "I see nothing. Did you find anything?"
Spider retrieved something from the cabin, holding up a firearm—the same type used by both the RDA and Na'vi warriors. "But there's none for you," he teased, slinging it over his shoulder before moving to examine the cockpit.
"Be careful!" Kiri's voice carried a note of concern as she positioned herself for a better view of the helicopter. It was evident that the tail and rotor portions bore numerous gunshot holes.
"This helicopter has taken a beating!" Spider observed aloud. "Was this your dad's doing?"
"I'm not sure," Kiri pondered, realizing they had only arrived a week ago, and her father hadn't shared all his activities with her.
Spider shifted to the other side of the helicopter, while Kiri, her curiosity piqued, glanced around. Suddenly, her left foot sank deeper than expected, causing her to regain balance swiftly. As she turned, she noticed bipedal footprints imprinted in the mud. The tracks were larger than a Na'vi's foot and appeared to be no more than a week old. Kneeling down, she touched the dried muck, catching a whiff of oil.
"I think I found something!" Kiri called out, rising to her feet and pointing towards the muddy footprints that led away from their original path. They had missed the tracks earlier as they were on the opposite side of the tree.
Busy smashing glass with the butt of his weapon in the cockpit, Spider failed to hear her. His forceful action jolted the stranded helicopter, causing it to shift slightly and emit a grating metallic groan. Metal fragments and empty shell casings tumbled out of the crew compartment, scattering across the ground.
"Get down, Spider!" Kiri exclaimed, alarmed by the sudden movement and falling debris. She swiftly moved away from the scene, seeking a safer distance. "I found something too!"
"Okay!" Spider yelled in response, carefully lowering himself to the ground using a tree vine, his newly acquired weapon still slung over his shoulder. "So, what did you discover?"
Kiri gestured towards the old, muddy footprints leading into the marsh, now dried and visible.
Spider knelt beside Kiri, inspecting the footprints with a keen eye. "These tracks are too large to belong to an avatar," he commented, his voice filled with certainty. "They're fresh, maybe a week old or less."
"Where do you think they were going?" Kiri's gaze followed the tracks, leading deeper into the swamp than they had ventured before.
"No idea." Spider sprang to his feet, expertly handling the firearm. He checked the magazine, ensuring it was fully loaded, drawing from the training he had observed Jake Sully provide to the Na'vi and human rebels. "Most likely dead meat by this point."
Kiri nodded in agreement, her eyes scanning the swamp. Survival in the wilderness for humans seemed unlikely, considering the treacherous maze-like nature of the place and the abundance of wild animals.
Spider cast another glance at the helicopter, contemplating its potential use for spare parts. "We should go back and inform your dad," he suggested. "Even if the helicopter can't fly again, it could still be valuable."
Kiri's panic surged at the thought. She rushed forward, gripping Spider's shoulders tightly. "We can't tell my father! He'll be furious! We shouldn't even be out here, remember?"
The memory of her parents' reprimands and subsequent grounding for her unauthorized adventures still lingered. Moreover, her stepmother's disapproval of Spider's presence heightened her apprehension.
Spider sighed, understanding her concerns. "Alright, but I'll hold on to this," he said, raising the weapon, which appeared pristine. "If anyone asks, your dad gave it to me."
"As long as you don't aim it at me," Kiri replied, recalling her own familiarity with handling such firearms. Her father had taught her to operate one just like it a couple of months earlier, commending her marksmanship and surpassing her brothers' skills. However, the concept of taking a life or engaging in hunting had always made her uncomfortable, leaving her puzzled by her lack of the same instinct as her brothers.
"Let's follow the trail to get an idea of where it's headed, and then we'll head back," Spider suggested, fiddling with the weapon as if it were a prized possession.
Nervously, Kiri bit her lip but ultimately agreed, realizing that caution was necessary in case they encountered any unexpected dangers while returning. "Alright, but let's proceed with caution."
Following the footprints, the two friends moved stealthily across the marsh, their steps cautious and quiet. The swamp seemed eerily silent, shrouded in darkness as the dense canopy blocked most of the light. The tracks led them deeper into the swamp, following a descending stream. However, they suddenly veered off, turning northward and uphill.
Kiri, filled with fear, constantly glanced over her shoulder, allowing Spider to take the lead as he wielded the firearm. As they ventured further away from the stream, something caught Spider's attention, causing him to halt abruptly. Before Kiri could utter a word, she noticed a giant dragonfly-like creature hurtling towards her. Panic surged through her, and she leaped to the side, narrowly avoiding a collision. However, her balance faltered, and she stumbled backward, plunging into a pool of thick, sticky mud. The world seemed to darken as she sank into the muddy pit, her body enveloped by the heavy plaster-like substance. After a few seconds, she resurfaced, gasping for breath.
Struggling to move in the thick mud, panic rising within her, Kiri desperately searched for a way to escape. To her relief, Spider had already fetched a nearby vine and tossed it into the mud pool, extending a lifeline of sorts.
"Grab on!" Spider shouted, urging her to seize the vine that appeared sturdy enough to support her weight.
Despite the slickness of the mud, Kiri managed to grip the vine with her hands, exerting all her strength to pull herself free. As she reached halfway out of the mud, a glint of silvery metal caught her eye, just a few feet away. Though the struggle was arduous, with Spider's assistance, she finally broke free from the muddy trap, breathing a sigh of relief.
Spider anxiously checked on his friend. "Are you okay?" he asked, concern etched on his face.
"I'm fine," Kiri replied, releasing a heavy sigh. She rose to her feet, examining her mud-covered body and attempting to scrape off the grime as best as she could. Despite her efforts, a proper wash would be necessary to fully cleanse herself.
Spider chuckled and teased her, seeing her mud-covered appearance. "Who needs a bath now?"
Rolling her eyes, Kiri playfully pressed her palm against Spider's face mask, leaving a Na'vi hand-shaped imprint.
"Ah, come on! I just cleaned it this morning!" Spider grunted, scraping the mud off his mask with his hand and playfully tossing it back towards Kiri.
With their mud removal efforts proving somewhat futile, Kiri turned her attention back to the metal object she had glimpsed earlier. To her surprise, a metal arm emerged from the mud, covered in crusty filth, unmoving and lifeless.
"Man, this mud just won't..." Spider began to complain but was swiftly interrupted.
"Shh..." Kiri raised a finger to her lips, directing Spider's attention to the mud pool. "There's something there," she whispered softly, crouching low in the surrounding tall grass, trying to conceal herself, although it provided only partial cover.
Spider followed suit, crouching beside her and peering in the same direction. "Looks like we found who we were looking for, and they drowned in the mud," he observed, a hint of irony in his voice. "Drowned in a pool of filth."
"Let's go take a closer look," Kiri murmured, her curiosity overcoming her nervousness. They began to crawl through the dense grass, carefully skirting the edge of the mud pit. Spider remained close behind, his rifle ready, until they reached a point where they had a better view of the metal arm.
"What do you think it is?" Kiri asked in a mixture of curiosity and unease. They were now just a few feet away, close enough to discern several dents and scratch marks on the metal arm protruding from the mud. From its position, they could tell it was trapped on its left side within the mud pool, with only its right arm visible above the surface.
"No clue. From the way the arm looks, it's too small to be an AMP suit. Too big to be a Skel Suit." Spider replied and shrugged, not knowing what type of human-machine it was. "Either way, the pilot's in hell now."
Kiri noticed Spider's gaze and picked up on his unease. Her attention returned to the metal arm, encrusted with dried mud. She squinted, trying to decipher the markings on its upper right arm. Through the dirt, she managed to make out the red letters "RD," likely representing RDA, with the letter "G" beneath it.
For some inexplicable reason, the letter "G" captivated Kiri's attention. Determined, she leaned forward and began to scrape away the hardened mud, unveiling the rest of the letters.
"What are you doing?" Spider asked, his brow furrowing in concern. He tightened his grip on his weapon, ready for any potential danger.
"I just want to see what it says," Kiri whispered, her heart pounding in her chest as the letters gradually revealed themselves. She felt compelled to uncover the truth.
"G... H... O... S... T..." Kiri pronounced each letter of the word, her voice trembling. As the realization of the word fully sank in, she was overcome with a profound terror, remembering the nightmares that haunted her.
In a sudden, violent motion, the metal arm sprang to life, swinging backward and seizing Kiri's right forearm. She let out a bloodcurdling scream, the sound echoing through the marsh. The grip tightened, threatening to crush her bones. Desperately, she fought against the overwhelming strength, but her efforts were in vain.
"Holy shit!" Spider yelled, leaping to his feet, his rifle aimed at the arm. He squeezed the trigger, but to his dismay, there was only a click. Panic surged through him as he realized the malfunction. He frantically attempted to fix the weapon, his mind racing.
Both Kiri and Spider froze as the arm's possessor began to emerge from the muck, gradually revealing a head-like object. The mud peeled away from its face, unveiling slanted, bright crimson optic eyes that stared directly at them.
