Chapter 6, enjoy.
(Norm's POV)
"Do you see them anywhere?!" Grace asks.
Four sets of eyes were on the forest, we had been searching for Jake and Sophia for the last hour with no luck.
"No, Grace these forests are too dense, were not going to see anything." I sigh, using my binoculars to zoom in on some trees. I see a flash of black "Hang on." I state, unlooping my fist to zoom in more. I focus on the flash of black and blue "Hey guys I think-"
The chopper veered right sharply as a large creature bursts from the tree. A ferocious scream leaves its mouth, sharp teeth and claws aimed at us.
"Hang on!" Trudy shouts as the sounds of guns fire around me.
I gasp at another sharp turn and find myself tossed out of the helicopter.
"Norm!" Grace yells, shooting forwards for my hand.
I look back, seeing our fingers near each other and miss, my body falling through the air and I scream, seeing Grace's worried face hanging over the side of the helicopter as Trudy does a series of evasive maneuvers. I hear the pained scream of the creature and its body falling in the air and I turn. I gasp, sucking in as much as I could before my body is plunged into the freezing cold river. The current pulls me under, over a few rocks, my body hitting things left and right before spinning 360 degrees. I blink in the mercy water, trying to remember how to move and somehow force myself to the top.
I gasp, body being pulled along the current and after five failed attempts finally grab onto a hanging tree branch. My body ached, my heart pounded in my chest and I couldn't seem to suck in a full breathe of air no matter how hard I tried. I look up, trying to find any sign of the chopper.
I move, grabbing my radio "Grace! Grace can you here me?!"
Static answers.
(Sophia's POV)
My fingers curled tightly around Manova's tendrils. I could feel it, the bend of her body, every muscle tensing and releasing as she blasts through the forest. I couldn't help but smile, ducking my head as we go over a fallen tree. We had gone the long way down, trying to trace Jake's movements with the current but it was a slow process. The water has washed away a lot of Jake's scent and we had circled back twice with no luck.
Manova jumps down three rocks, swerving around a few trees when her entire body goes ridged. I find myself lurching forwards and she slides to a stop, every muscle in her body tensing.
"Manova-" I try.
'Quiet!' she snaps back, body circling again and she jumps, sliding close to the trees. She shrugs me off, my body hitting the dirt as she kneels over my. I place a hand over my mouth, trying to calm my breathing as she kneels down, black body blending in with her surroundings.
Her eyes glance around the area, body tensing again when the bushes rustle. I get a second smell, our bodies still connected but she doesn't move.
'what is it?'
'vat nami.' Manova thinks and I see a flicker of a large winged like creature. Large bat like wings sat on something resembling a cat but it was easily the size of a large dog. I take in the sharp talons and the three bladed ends of its tail 'A female with her babies.' she shakes out her tendrils in frustration 'I shouldn't have brought you so close! If she smells you she will attack. She will protect her children at all costs.'
I tilt my head to the side, seeing the small shape of something jump up before rolling out of sight, easily picking up the sounds of small creatures.
'Okay, so how to we get away?'
"I don't know. If we-'
Suddenly the air is filled with noise. I glance up, seeing the chopper flying above us, covering my face as a hailstorm of wind kicks leaves and dirt around us. I turn, hearing a loud screech and suddenly the mother is taking off in a blur of color.
"Shit!" I cry out but feel Manova shove me down.
I'm helpless to watch as the creature B-lines it for the chopper. Its loud screeching as it slashes at the glass. I hear more shouts, the sounds of guns going off as Trudy tries to fly out of its war path. The chopper veers to the right, trying to get away and Manova lets me on her back. We follow them, seeing the chopper go left, then right and drop quickly and my heart stops as a loud scream hits my ears. I gasp as Norm flies left, large body leaving the helicopter and the mother goes after it.
Its bitter sweet when she dives, finally staying on a straight path and Conner guns her down. I hear her scream of pain, her body colliding with Norms and both of them tumble to the forest below.
"NORM!" I scream as Manova takes off.
..
..
We move running through the forest and stop by the clearing and disconnect from Manova. I look up at the thick branches blocking the sky and look around. I see the dead body of the mother a few feet away, kneeling down by her body as Manova sniffs the ground.
I feel myself tear up slightly "I'm sorry..." I rub her head softly "I'm so sorry..."
Manova whines softly and I turn, watching her run through the clearing to the trees. I follow her, stepping over a few fallen branches, seeing more leaves scattered across the ground and see a waterfall ahead of us. I move, hoping that Norm had some how hit the water instead of the ground and follow her.
We burst through the trees, taking in the large river. I look around, the noise louder then I expected and search for any signs of life.
"NORM!" I shout, running down the stream "NORM!" I jump over a few rocks, following the stream "NORM!" I come to a stop, seeing a figure down the stream "Norm..." I try to step into the river when Manova jumps before me, a growl leaving her lips "What?"
She clocks her head to the left 'the current is too strong, you will not make it across.'
"Can you make it?"
'hop on and hold on.'
She circles back, tensing her back legs and I feel a shiver run through my body. She bolts forwards, the two of us closing the small distance and I feel her leap. I fight back the urge to scream, her long body clearing the large river. I hold on tighter when we land, her claws digging into the dirt in an effort to stay up. I feel her pull back, her feet finally sliding to a stop and I jump off on shaking legs.
(Norm's POV)
When it felt like I couldn't hold on any longer a shadow flies over my head. I blink, seeing the sleek form of the Thanator land, my heart in my chest and force my eyes shut. I felt like crying, honestly I had just spent six years in a coma to come here, spent less then twenty four hours on this planet and now I was going to die. God, my mother was right.
I really was pathetic...
Seeing that my life was coming to an end I made a choice, the brave choice to die my way and let go. The current sucking my body back quickly.
"NORM!" a voice yells and I feel a hand clasp mine. My eyes snap open, Sophia's avatar before me.
I gasp, trying to grab her hand and were both pulled forwards. She screams, grabbing the branch "Manova!"
I see the Thanator jump forwards, biting down into her backpack and suddenly I'm dragged onto the shore. Both of us tumbling into the dirt in a mess of limbs. When I open them I'm face to face with the deadly creature.
I scream, scooching back in fear.
"NORM!" Sophia grabs my hand before I fall into the water again "Stop!"
"Sophia do you have any idea what that is!" I shout, trying to pull her towards me.
She laughs softly "Norm calm down, Manova's not a threat!"
(Sophia's POV)
Well Norm had come to terms with Manova far quicker then Jake had. I attributed it to his years of avatar training as he stands, body shaking slightly in fear but he lowers himself, bowing.
"Thank you for saving me Manovarota." he tilts his head "I am forever in your debt."
He sighs, sitting down beside me, a hand on his chest.
"Are you okay?"
He winces softly "Well I now understand how my socks feel in the washer." he smiles softly and I smile "I'll be okay. I just took on a lot of water."
"If you need to puke, go a head. I won't judge."
He smiles softly, hand on his stomach "I'm trying to too honestly."
I put a hand on his shoulder, glad I found him. Norm looks around after a moment.
"Sophia, where's Jake?"
..
..
We had made our way back through the clearing when Manova pulled over. Norm and I slide off, standing before the body of the mother. I could see Norm's confusion when I move, scooping it up gently and walk towards the clearing. Norm follows, silent as always as I kneel, stabbing the ground with my knife. Somewhere in the two minutes Norm had wandered over, now standing before the small den of baby animals. When I look over he's looking at me, sadness smeared across his face.
Manova moves beside me, her large claws helping to dig the hole. I could feel a mix of emotions coming from Manova as she moves, finally standing before the animals. When the squeak of fear hits the air I turn, seeing her grabbing one of the babies in her teeth.
"Hey!" Norm tries, shoving Manova away from the babies.
I move as she growls, deep and territorial, forcing myself between the two of them.
'Tell him to move. I promise to make their deaths as quick as possible.'
"Deaths?" I whisper.
Norm kneels beside me, taking in the small den of baby animals.
'Sophia they are barely two weeks old. They will not survive without their mother.'
"But couldn't you-"
'Sophia, all things must happen for a reason. Is it better to let them starve to death or end their suffering now?'
"What is she saying?" Norm asks, not moving from his place.
"She says they won't survive without there mother. They are too young to hunt, they can not look after themselves. They will starve or be eaten by others." I look at the mother, her body lying so still
"But couldn't we..." Norm tries, watching the pups tumble over each other
"Norm we have no way to care for them..." I whisper.
Manova looks at the two of us, watching our reactions then moves, slowly walking around Norm. We watch her lift the first pup out of the den when my hand lifts.
"No. I will do it..."
Both Norm and Manova look at me.
"Sophia..." Norm tries.
I sigh, grabbing the blade from my back "This is our fault, we are responsible for them now."
"So she was just protecting her babies?" Norm whispers, head cast down "We had no idea."
"None of them do." I pick up the first one "They're just wandering around, trampling the forest with no regard for the life within it."
The small pup was the size of a cat, crawling around curiously between my legs. It wasn't old enough to realize that we were a threat.
I feel myself tear up, gripping my knife tighter "I'm sorry little one."
I move the blade by her gills, feeling the small breathes and sink the blade into the flesh. She jolts in my arms, my tears rolling down my cheeks, a small squeak of pain until her body stills.
I move, placing her beside me in the shallow grave Norm and I had dug before and grab another one.
..
..
We move, pushing the last of the dirt over the grave. My hands were bloody, my blade dripping purple. I turn away from them both, the tears freely running down my face. I take in the slowly setting sun, a tsunami of emotions running through me.
"Sophia...?" Norm tries, his words falling silent.
I swallow, my wrist moving to my mouth to stop the sobs as I push down all these feelings. I bite my cheek, wiping the blade on the grass below me and turn, using my sleeve to wipe away my tears.
"Let's find Jake."
"Sophia..."
I curl my fist, my eyes flicking back to the base and Quaritch in it "I want to go home..."
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