Adventure Time!
To say she was nervous was an understatement. Jake and Norm could see it in the way her hands trembled at breakfast that morning, but they were nice enough not to mention it. If anyone else noticed it, well than they were kind enough to keep their mouths shut.
To think this was real.
The sound of the helicopter droned out most of the sounds of nature, but the water she felt falling on her face felt, was, real. She could not stop a goofy smile from appearing on her lips, when she saw both Jake and Norm looked just as excited to explore as her.
And the trees, don't get her started on those.
'Cut it down! We're going to stay for a while!' Grace shouted over the engines of the helicopter, Opal adjusting the straps of her backpack, some sort of tablet in her hands so she could take notes.
She was Grace's "assistant", after all.
'Stay close.' Grace said to her, Opal falling in line behind her and Norm. She zoned out on their conversation, too interested in their surroundings.
Her ears perked up when Norman mentioned the Na'vi. 'The natives? They know we are here?' Grace gave her a tight-lipped smile, but nodded.
'Believe me, they know we are here. They are probably already watching us.' Opal gulped at that, but figured since Grace had done several of these excursions before, she knew what she was doing and would make sure none of them made any mistakes that would insult the natives.
'You seem distracted, Opal.' Grace commented, said girl blushing and turning red at the mention. This was the fifth time she had stopped taking notes. 'I am sorry.' She groaned, shaking her head. 'This is just all so new to me.'
Grace took the tablet from her hands, motioning with her head to go. 'What?' Opal asked, confusion clouding her eyes. 'Go ahead and explore. You can take notes next time.' The girl blinked, trying to ignore her tail that was excitedly flicking, and trying not to start squealing out loud.
Exploring Pandora? Count me in!
'Thank you, auntie Grace!' The scientists eyes widened for a fraction; but Opal was already running after Jake to join him in his exploration. Norm wisely said nothing, as Grace blinked one more time and than focused back on her work.
But she had to admit, she had missed being called that.
'Those are some interesting plants...' Opal whispered as she looked at the weird plants, called Helicoradian if she remembered correctly. Jake was like in a trance and advancing, his teammate's shout of warning too late.
He jumped back as the plants coiled up and retracted into the ground, throwing a playful glare at Opal as she snickered. 'You should have seen your face!' She gasped, giggling as she shook her head.
Her laughter died when she saw what was staring at them several feet ahead. Jake cursed, grabbing Opal and pushing her behind him. 'Stay back!' He warned, eyes trained on the animals and finger ready at the trigger to shoot.
Grace's assistant stumbled back a step when the Hammerhead Titanothere gave another warning, the sound of running feet reaching them. 'Do not shoot! You'll piss him off.' The scientist warned, her eyes going to her niece.
Opal had gone pale, the earlier excitement that had been clear in her eyes, now round with fear.
'Hold you ground Opal. Do not move!' Her aunt harshly whispered, Opal biting her lip but standing still, though every one of her instincts was telling her to run.
Than the animal charged, a scream of fear leaving the 24 year old's throat as she sank to her knees, hands on her ears as she tried to make herself small. Jake was having none of it, screaming as loud as he could back at the Titanothere.
'OPAL!' Grace whisper-shouted, the girl blinking as she stood up on shaky legs, trying to calm her racing heart. 'Well, that was not something I want to repeat.' Opal chuckled, turning to go to Grace.
'Grace...' Norm gulped, taking a step back.
'No!' The disbelief was clear in Opal's voice, her ears going flat as she stood frozen in shock. 'It cannot be.'
'What about this one? Run? Not run? What?' Jake asked in the meantime, Grace's eyes going wide when she saw the thanator.
'Run! Definitely run!' Grace shouted, her voice sounding calm but the panic building in her eyes. Opal knew at that moment she would not be able to make it to Grace and Norm, lest the thanator take interest in them.
'Run! Opal! Run!' Jake shouted, as he turned and pushed the girl forward. She threw one last scared look at her aunt, Grace screaming at her to get the hell away from there.
'Jake!' Opal screeched, legs burning as she kept on running, blind as to where they were going. 'I am right behind you! Keep on running!' She felt someone push her in the back, making her even go faster.
'Crawl through those trees there!' Jake shouted, Opal diving into the trees roots as the snarling animal behind them still tried to get to them.
'You're backpack!' The girl before screeched at the ex-marine, stopping in her tracks as the thanator bit into the sack and refused to let go. 'Keep on going, Opal! I'm right behind you!'
Jake could see the doubt in her eyes, but when she saw he managed to free himself and fell to the ground, she took of running, the former marine not far behind her.
A waterfall?! Opal looked behind her, the thanator gaining ground as she hesitated what to do. 'Jump, Opal! Now!' Jake grabbed her with her hand and pretty much dragged her with him.
There was the sensation of falling, falling and than it seemed as if she had been flattened against a brick wall, the water engulfing her and entering her mouth in seconds.
She did not have much time to ponder that however, since Jake had grabbed her under her arms and held her up above the water, a coughing fit taking place for the gulps of air she had been trying to take, but at least she was still alive.
'There are some trees over there. Hold on to those.' Jake instructed, Opal gladly grabbing the branches, still gasping for air. Her ears flattened again when she turned her head and saw the thanator growling and snarling at them from above, but he did not follow.
They were safe, for now.
A silence fell over them as the ex-marine grabbed two branches and started to make some sort of spear of them with a knife, giving her the first one he made.
'Thank you.' Opal murmured, Jake stopping in his ministrations and looking behind him. 'For saving my life.'
He grinned and shook his head, going back to filing the branch into a spear. 'Nah, don't worry. You'll save me next time, right?' Opal good-naturedly rolled her eyes, but nodded all the same, turning to look at their surroundings.
They wandered for hours, and as the sun began to set, Opal tried to curb her growing panic. They were truly and thoroughly lost. She still had her backpack, though it was still wet, and she was eager to share some of the snacks that had survived their brush with death with her friend.
'Stay close.' Grace's assistant nodded, following her friend closely, but from the anxious flicking of his tail, she knew Jake was not as confident as he made himself look to be. They were truly and utterly fucked.
The darkness had nothing comforting, in these unknown lands. Opal tried to regulate her breathing, but she was sore, exhausted and she had been sweating as well, the now colder weather making her shiver.
'Did you her that?' The girl eeped, eyes trying to focus in the darkness surrounding them.
The next few moments were blurry in her mind.
They had been attacked by god knows what, and even with the fire Jake made, the animals were trying to snap and bite at them any chance they got.
Than arrows flew and a beautiful, hello Na'vi woman!, came to their rescue. Opal kept quiet as Jake followed the woman, pretty much shouting at her that she could not leave them alone to die in the woods.
'Jake, wait!' Opal stumbled after him, eyes widening when she saw they were walking over a tall branch. She did not do well with heights.
Ever.
A wave of vertigo hit her, a screech leaving her as her booted foot slipped and she lost her balance. A blue arm quickly shot out to steady her, the Na'vi woman's searching gaze falling on her.
'You should not be here.' Opal quietly thanked her and nodded. 'We shouldn't. But we are lost. Can you hep us get home, back to the base?' The 24-year old implored, the woman's harsh expression becoming one of pity. She sighed and muttered something in Na'vi.
'I…' 'Opal, look!' Jake almost shouted, but Opal seemed to be like in a trance.
'Unbelievable.' The girl whispered, eyes wide in disbelief as Seeds of the Sacred Tree landed on her and Jake. She giggled, opening her hand for yet another one to touch her skin, the tickling sensation making her almost laugh out loud.
'What?' 'Seeds of the Sacred Tree.' Opal answered, her gaze following the spirits as they flew up and disappeared into the air. 'How do you know?' The Na'vi woman asked.
'How? Grace Augustine is her aunt. She read the book she wrote on this planet several times, did you not?' Opal nodded, clasping her hands together as she waited for the woman to decide.
'Come with me.' She ushered them forward, grabbing Opal by the hand. She had clearly understood Opal was not known for her grace as the girl once more stumbled over her own feet.
A surprised shout fell from the fair-haired, now black-haired avatar girl's lips, as something was thrown around Jake's feet and made him fall off the tree onto the ground. Opal slid after him, grabbing the rope-like thing that had bound his legs.
'Opal!' Jake hissed, grabbing her by the arm when she turned around, her eyes widening at the arrows aimed at her. She held up her hands in defeat, her eyes flitting around in fear.
Natives. They had come upon a native tribe. Lovely.
The Na'vi woman who had helped them ran to them, calming her people in her own language. One of the warriors, Tsu'tey something?, looked at her and Jake and than sneered.
Jake and her hands were bound, but the female warrior that dragged the rope with her was nice enough not to go too quickly, Jake on the contrary almost being dragged.
They were led into an enormous tree, other natives, young and old coming to look at them. They were stopped in the middle of a clearing of sorts, several fires burning nearby.
'Is this like in the book?' Jake asked, Opal letting out a grim laugh. Neytiri's gaze fell on her and a smirk tugged at her lips when Opal shook her head.
'Nope, nope. Not at all. There goes my great sense of adventure.'
She heard several snickers, so her assumption some of the people understood English had been correct.
The rest was, well….., she was still trying to wrap her head around it.
She and Jake would have to learn how to be Na'vi. Learn how to see.
Whatever the hell that meant.
'You have got to be kidding me?!' Opal sputtered, the female warrior who had introduced herself as Peyral giving her a sympathetic look.
She followed the woman, seeing everyone was gathered for the evening meal. 'Really?' Opal asked, her eyebrows rising.
A hush fell over the crowd, Opal not realizing how loud her voice had become.
'You want me to walk around half naked?! You are maybe all perfect creations of the Goddess of this planet, but my creator clearly did not. So excuse me if I am not comfortable running around in something that has barely enough fabric to make a bikini!'
Opal grew red when she saw everyone looking at her, but than Neytiri and Peyral started to laugh, the tension lightening at once. Jake threw her a grin, and she could see he did his best not burst out laughing as well.
She shook her head, sitting next to Peyral who patted the space next to her. The people around her looked at her, ranging from disbelief to good-natured mockery.
'How are you doing?' Opal asked the Na'vi sitting next to her, her lips brightening into an embarrassed smile.' My name is Opal Bryers, I am 24 years old and Grace Augustine's niece.'
Some people muttered at that. The Na'vi man next to her nodded in greeting. Opal gave him another reserved smile, but there was excitement and joy sparking in her eyes.
'Nice to meet you too.'