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Lo'ak aimed his crossbow towards the moving fish, he didn't notice that Ao'nung and the others left him alone. He fired and hit the fish right in the middle, a wave of pride washed over him and he turned around, grinning widely, only to be greeted with the clear-blue water. His smile instantly vanished as he looked around frantically for them but they were nowhere in sight.
His lungs began to burn so he headed up to the surface for air. When he finally got to the surface he saw that their Ilus weren't there anymore except for his own. "Guys?" H e yelled into the distance, he mentally slapped himself for not realising that Ao'nung was just leading him on and didn't care for his apology or to be friends. 'shit Lo'ak you skxawng, obviously he didn't care'
He sighed and looked down only to see a large creature stalking towards him. His breath hitched and quickly sat on his Ilu.
" Forward, fast!" He urgently ordered the animal. It quickly swam away from the thing that was below him. The Ilu circled around, trying to dodge the sharp coral. The beast let out a sort of screech from behind him which spooked his Ilu causing it to go faster. Lo'ak lost his grip and flew off it. 'fuck fuck FUCK shit where did it go?!'
He looked around the reef but couldn't spot the Ilu. His heart rate picked up when something growled a few feet behind him, he swivelled around only to see the large creature. His eyes widened and quickly swam away from the thing, he swerved in between the corals, accidentally cutting himself in the process. The thing followed him, biting the coral and pulling them apart, trying to get to the injured boy.
Blood oozed out of the wound, creating a stream of red in the process that seemed to irk the thing even more. Lo'ak dashed towards an opening in some coral and covered himself with the thick coral branches covering the entrance. The beast tried to chew through the coral but was unable to. It growled quietly before deciding that the boy was not worth it and swam away from where he was hiding.
Lo'ak felt his heart slow down but his lungs were burning more than ever. He snuck out of his hiding spot in case the thing was out there still. He tried to swim to the surface but was instead met with the beast.
'oh mother eywa' He swore in his head and prayed that we would be ok. He pulled his dagger out and faced it towards the beast.
He felt a deep burn in his chest, he knew if he survived this thing he would still die by drowning. The beast soon charged towards him at high speed, not letting him brace himself. Soon, pain enveloped him and the beast's mouth clamped shut over his arms. He attempted to let out a scream but it was muffled by the water. His lungs were filled with water as he opened his mouth. The beast snapped his arm and let out a guttural growl. he let go of his mangled body only to snap at him again but this time with more force than last time.
He could feel himself slipping out of consciousness as its teeth dug into his stomach. The last thing he saw before he passed out was the monster letting go of him and swimming away, and blood, a lot of blood.
------
Jake paced around the dock as some of the clan went out to look for his son. He was pissed at Ao'nung and rightly so, he had left his son abandoned in the ocean alone. He soon heard the horn indicating that they had finally arrived. He looked up to the clan members with the hope to see his son safe but when he saw them all that hope disappeared immediately. His vision was obscured by tears.
"Lo'ak..?" The clan members looked at him with solemn looks, sympathy showing on their faces as they brought his son to him. He rushed towards them and quickly held his face gently to not harm his son any more than he already is.
Suddenly Neytiri barged through the crowd with her children following close behind, trying to reach the scene. "Where is my son?!" She hissed at the people staring at her until she caught a glimpse of Lo'ak. She started crying and ran over to him. Her hands instantly went to her face. Gasps from the kids were heard. She fell to her knees and held him alongside jake.
"My son.. Lo'ak.. Whoever did this to you will pay" She sobbed into jakes shoulder, heartbreaking sobs were heard from the Sully family.
"Jake, Neytiri, I'm very sorry for the trouble my son has caused, I assure you his punishment will be done accordingly. Please accept our apology."
Tonowari held his son by the hair and pushed him to his knees. Neytiri gave a bloodcurdling scream and stood up abruptly
"We came here to get away from war and to keep our children safe, and this happens?! I will NEVER accept your apology, your son killed mine.." Tears poured down her cheeks as she spoke. Her gaze instantly fell on Ao'nung. "Even if I did accept the apology I don't want to hear it from you, I want to hear it from the boy that killed mine." The boy tensed up as she spoke about him. His father tugged his hair and urged him to apologise.
"Neytiri, sorry- I'm very sorry- I apologise for leaving Lo'ak out there when I knew it would be dangerous. Please accept my apology wi will do anything you ask m-me to" He stuttered and his voice trembled as he quietly spoke to her, he was intimidated. He saw what she could do to the people that defied her and he did not want to end up like one of them.
She pointed her head up and huffed, "Then you will leave me and my family in peace, if I find out you try to contact any of them then Eywa knows what's going to happen to you." He nodded the best he could with his head in his father's grasp.
-----1 month later-----
Neteyam was at his grave, crying his eyes out. "Mother Eywa, i miss you so much little bro.. Mom and Dad havent been the same without you, theyre constantly lashing out and Mom is becoming more distant from everyone. Even Kiri isnt talking as much anymore, and Tuk is more clingy and doesnt leave anyones side."
He hugged his knees and sobbed. He felt a cold hand on his back, he assumed it was his dad or Kiri but when he looked up he saw Lo'ak. Hs eyes widened and his mouth parted.
"Stop crying skxawng im right here." The boisterous teen had a warm smile on his face and hugged him.
"how.. i- we saw your body.. how are you here?" He couldnt find the right words to say.
"Eywa heared you and let me have a minute for everyone's closure." A small smile glossed over Neteyam's features. as he hugged his younger brother tightly as if hes going to dissapear in any minute. They kept hugging and making small talk until Lo'ak started to fade.
"No! no no no please stay i cant lose you again!" He cried and tried to hug him tighter but his arms fased right through him.
"Im sorry bro, i love you"
He let his arms drop to his sides.
that was when he passed out.
He awoke in his own bed
He put his arm covering his eyes,
"I love you too.."