Sully family x Eldest daughter reader
Part 49 > Part 50 < Part 51
The Fight of the Two Eldest Sisters
(Y/n) stood near the back of the crowd. Around her, the village had transformed. Voices rose. War cries echoed. Calls for vengeance carried across the gathering.
In the middle of the crowd her father was trying to cool the flames of war.
Neteyam stood beside their father.
Trying. Trying so hard. But grief was a powerful thing. Fear was worse.
And right now the clan was feeling both.
(Y/n)'s eyes found her father. She watched him standing there. Watched him trying to stop a war before it started. Watched him trying to protect people who didn't even realize what they were asking for. Because she knew what he knew. He knew exactly what happened when people rushed into battle against the RDA. He knew exactly what those costs looked like.
And unfortunately— So did she.
A movement beside her pulled her from her thoughts.
Her little brother looked angry. Frustrated. Restless. Like he wanted to punch something.
Which honestly described Lo'ak on most days.
For a moment neither spoke.
"Shouldn't you be encouraging dad to fight back?"
(Y/n) didn't answer. Her eyes remained on the crowd. On the growing tension spreading through the village. “No,” she replied.
"Why not?" Lo'ak frowned.
Because normally his sister had an opinion on everything. Normally she argued. Normally she pushed back. Normally she'd already be halfway through preparing whatever their father asked of her
(Y/n) felt something tighten in her chest. Not anger. Not embarrassment. Something else. Something she hated. Because the answer was yes. Terrifyingly yes. And she couldn't bring herself to say it out loud.
Lo'ak took that silence as confirmation. "You are."
(Y/n) closed her eyes briefly. Not because he was right. Because he was too hot blooded to understand why. Too young to understand what fear actually looked like.
She remembered when she was like her brother. Fearless of the RDA, proud and prepared to go into battle with her father.
Looks like their heart to heart went out the door when his impulsiveness flared because he didn’t know. Didn’t know how deep her fear ran. A fear so gripping that she’d still prefer to die than end up in enemies hands. A fear that rose up at the mention of the RDA. A fear that made her heart pound… a fear that her siblings could share the same fate as her or worse.
A fear that luck may run out.
"The only person who could change dad's mind is you."
"You're not going to do anything."
"So you'll just let the Tulkun die?"
Her eyes snapped toward him. Because that wasn't fair. Not even remotely. "Can you not hear dad?" she asked quietly. Her voice wasn't angry. It was calm. Steady. "He's telling them to warn the Tulkun so they can evade the RDA."
Lo'ak scoffed. "(y/n) you know as well as I do that we should fight back. Since when were you scared of a fight?"
The words hit harder than he realised. Because once— Once she'd loved fighting. Loved the challenge. Loved the certainty that came with knowing exactly who the enemy was.
Then the war came. Then captivity. Then torture.
Then death. Or something close enough to it.
And suddenly fighting wasn't exciting anymore. It was just expensive. Measured in blood. Measured in loss. Measured in people. People she had watched die because she refused to break.
"Lo'ak." Her voice dropped lower. "If dad orders a strike on the RDA..." She looked toward the ocean. "Many lives will be lost."
Lo'ak shook his head. "You and dad ran plenty of raids back home."
That hurt too. Because he wasn't wrong. But he also didn't know. Didn't know what those raids looked like afterward. Didn't know how many nights she'd run through the lists of personnel who didn’t make it home. Didn't know how many names she'd memorized. Didn't know how many funerals she'd attended.
"Where we had an advantage," she answered quietly. "Where we had weaponry. we knew the terrain.”
And people still died anyway.
The last part stayed unspoken. Because why didn’t he understand. Why didn’t he realise that it takes a single stray bullet, one small mistake, one slip in judgement and everything goes wrong.
Why couldn’t he just drop it.
Lo'ak folded his arms. Frustrated.
Because he wanted her to agree with him. Wanted his sister to be the fearless warrior everybody thought she was.
Instead— She looked tired.
"So what you're saying..." His voice hardened. "...is you're a coward."
The word landed like a slap. (Y/n)'s head turned slowly. Very slowly. The same way Jake's did when someone pushed him too far. "Watch it."
Lo'ak held her gaze. For once refusing to back down. "The (Y/n) I know wouldn't let this slide." Then he turned. Walking away before she could answer.
Before she could explain. Before she could tell him that the (Y/n) he was talking about had nearly gotten herself killed.
More than once. Before she could tell him that courage and recklessness weren't the same thing. Before she could tell him she was terrified.
Not of dying. Of losing them. Of reliving a nightmare worse than death.
There was no suffering in death. No one was shot in front of her eyes in death.
He was gone before she found the words.
(Y/n) watched him disappear into the crowd. Something uneasy settled in her stomach.
A feeling she'd learned not to ignore.
Because Lo'ak was many things. He had a complete inability to leave things alone.
Her eyes narrowed slightly. Following his retreating figure.
Why did she suddenly have the feeling—
The horrible feeling— That her little brother was about to do something incredibly stupid?
Because he was Lo'ak. And every instinct she possessed was suddenly screaming that whatever happened next—
She sighed deeply, trying to steady herself. Tried. But no matter how many times she inhaled, no matter how many times she straightened her shoulders, no matter how many times she repeated her father's words in her head—
The crowd around her blurred into noise. She could hear all of it. And none of it.
Because her mind was somewhere else. Back where everything had gone wrong. Her hands clenched. Hard enough her nails dug into her palms.
The crack of gunfire. Sharp. Violent. Impossible to forget. The sounds echoed inside her skull as vividly as if they were happening now.
Her stomach twisted. Suddenly the humid ocean air felt too thin. Too difficult to pull into her lungs.
Because once the memories started— They never came alone.
The smell followed. Blood. Rot. Death. The scent of the dead bodies left outside her cell.
Her breathing hitched. She squeezed her hands tighter. Her pulse hammered.
For a moment she genuinely thought she might be sick. Because the last time her brother had done something stupid— The memory hit hard enough she physically flinched.
One inch. That was all that had separated her from death. One inch higher. One inch to the left.
And she wouldn't be standing here. Wouldn't be watching Lo'ak disappear into another terrible decision.
Her hands trembled. She hated that. Hated how fear still did this to her. Hated how helpless it made her feel.
You said they wouldn't find us.
The words she'd thrown at Jake earlier echoed back. And now she hated those too.
Because he hadn't lied. He'd believed it.
They both had. For a little while. For one brief beautiful moment she'd believed the war was behind them. That the fear was behind them. That they could just exist.
The laugh she'd shared with Si'riya on the beach felt like it had happened years ago.
Another breath. Shallow. Not enough.
She dug her nails deeper into her palm. Focusing on the pain.They're not here.
The thought came quietly. Weakly. She grabbed onto it anyway.
They're not going to get me.
Her heart still raced. Still pounded against her ribs. But she repeated it anyway.
They're not going to get me.
Again. They're not going to get me.
The knot in her chest loosened slightly. Enough to stop herself from spiralling completely. They won't get them either.
That one was harder to believe. Much harder. Because she'd believed people were safe before.
But she forced herself to think it anyway. Forced herself to breathe. Forced herself to stand.
Because if she let the fear win now—
If she let the memories drag her under— Then the RDA would have succeeded in breaking her.
And she was tired. So incredibly tired. Of letting them take things.
And slowly— Very slowly— She managed to unclench her hands.
Neteyam spotted Lo'ak before he reached the ilu. Before he reached the saddle. Before he started sneaking away. Because Lo'ak had a look. A specific look.A look that immediately made Neteyam's stomach sink. The same expression he'd worn before every terrible idea he'd ever had.
Absolutely hated it. Because it usually meant Neteyam was about to spend the next hour trying to stop his brother from getting himself or others killed.
Neteyam pushed through the crowd. His eyes never leaving Lo'ak. Never leaving the saddle already being slipped over the ilu's head.
"No way you're rolling out of here little brother."
Lo'ak didn't even jump. Didn't even look guilty. Which somehow annoyed Neteyam more.
"I have to warn Payakan about the pingers."
Neteyam closed his eyes. Just for a second. Because there it was.
Lo'ak had already decided. Already committed. And once Lo'ak committed to something— Eywa herself struggled to change his mind.
Lo'ak afced him head on. "He's outcast."
"There's nobody to warn him but me."
Neteyam stared at him. He understood. That was the worst part. He understood. Because if somebody threatened (Y/n)... If somebody threatened Kiri... If somebody threatened Tuk... He'd do exactly the same thing.
Exactly. The same. Thing.
And maybe that was why this was so frustrating. Because Lo'ak wasn't wrong. He was just being stupid. Dangerously stupid.
Neteyam rested a hand on his head. "Why do you have to make things so hard?"
Lo'ak smacked his hand away immediately. The rejection stung more than it should have. "No."
Lo'ak finally looked at him. And there was anger there. Real anger. Not the usual irritation. Not the usual stubbornness. "You mean why can't I be the perfect son like you."
Neteyam froze. Because there it was again. If only Lo'ak knew. If only he knew how exhausting that sounded. Because lately it felt like Neteyam spent half his life disappointing people. The title felt more like a burden than a compliment.
Lo'ak kept going. "Well I'm not you." His voice rose.
Neteyam barely noticed. Because all he could think was— I don't want you to be me.
Didn't Lo'ak understand that?
He didn't want another Neteyam. Didn't want another kid carrying expectations around like chains. Didn't want another sibling trying so hard to keep everyone together that they forgot about themselves.
One was already struggling.
"I'm not you." Lo'ak stepped forward. Defiant. Furious. "He's my brother."
Neteyam felt something twist painfully in his chest.
Because was he his brother too.
After everything he’s done for him
Neteyam grabbed his arm. Because suddenly he was angry too. Not at Payakan. Not even at Lo'ak. At the situation. At everything.
"He's your brother?" His voice came out harsher than intended. "No."
Lo'ak yanked against his grip.
Because suddenly he needed Lo'ak to understand. Needed him to hear this. His throat tightened. "I'm your brother."
Lo'ak ripped his arm free.
Hard enough to stagger him. And suddenly Neteyam knew. Knew he'd already lost this argument.
Then Lo'ak dove. Straight into the water.
The splash swallowed his name.
Neteyam stared after him. Then he let out a long breath. The kind that carried years of frustration. Years of worry. Years of being an older brother. "Skawng."
And despite everything— Neteyam dove after him.
Because that's what he always did. Followed. Worried.Protected. Because Lo'ak was an idiot. Because Lo'ak was his brother.
(Y/n) was walking along the shoreline when Si'riya found her. The ocean lapped quietly against the sand. The village behind her had become little more than distant noise. And still— Lo'ak's words lingered. Because she'd spent the last several minutes trying not to think about them. Trying not to replay them. Trying not to let them get under her skin.
The word sat ugly in her chest. Not because she believed it. Because part of her wondered if her little brother did. And that hurt more than she wanted to admit. Because she was the one who stood between Lo’ak and a bullet.
She had nearly died on multiple occasions in the name of protecting her family. And somehow—He still thought fear and cowardice were the same thing.
(Y/n) kicked a shell into the water.
The sound of somebody running pulled her from her thoughts. She turned. Si’riya was sprinting towards her as if a thanator was on her tail. The kind of urgency that instantly made (Y/n)'s stomach tighten. Si'riya skidded to a stop. "Our siblings were just spotted heading beyond the reef."
(Y/n) froze took a deep breath. The kind of breath somebody took before committing a crime. And her crime would be wringing Lo’ak’s neck. Because of course they were.
Why had she expected anything different?
Her jaw tightened. "Those idiots." Because did they not understand the danger. If a Tulkun was killed relatively nearby... then the rda weren't far behind either
Then she let out a sharp yip. The call echoed across the beach. Moments later— A familiar screech answered. Tiso'ha appeared overhead. Wings cutting through the air. The ikran banked sharply before descending toward the sand. The ikran landed beside her. Nudging her shoulder.
(Y/n) rested a hand briefly against her neck. Because she could already feel where this was heading. Already knew exactly who was involved.
Neteyam probably following after him.
And if Neteyam and Lo'ak was involved— The others wouldn't be far behind.
Her headache was growing by the second. "Guess we'd better go after the idiots."
Si'riya snorted. Because neither of them questioned it. Because they both knew. If the younger siblings had gone beyond the reef— Something had happened. And somebody needed to bring them home in one piece.
And as the eldest sisters... that was their job.
(Y/n) swung herself onto Tiso'ha's back. Her thoughts immediately finding Lo'ak again. Because beneath the irritation. Beneath the frustration. Beneath the lingering hurt from earlier— There was worry.
That was the problem with loving people. Especially younger siblings. They could make you furious. Absolutely furious. And you'd still chase after them the moment they disappeared.
She was going to wring his neck. The moment she found him. Absolutely wring it. Assuming he wasn't dead.
Which only made her more annoyed.
Tiso'ha launched into the air.
Below her, Si'riya ran into the ocean, her skimwing meeting her. She urged her skimwing forward.
(Y/n) rubbed her face. Already exhausted. Already irritated. Already worried.
And they hadn't even found them yet.
Neteyam's hands were starting to hurt. Not that he cared. Because every second that passed— The ship got closer. And every second that ship got closer— The knot in his stomach tightened.
The pinger lodged between the plates on Payakan’s back wouldn't move.
Wouldn't do anything except sit there lodged beneath Payakan's armour plating.
Neteyam planted his feet harder. Pulled. Nothing.
Beside him Aonung was doing the same.
Roxto grunted with effort.
Neteyam's chest heaved. He didn't stop pulling.
Nothing. His brother was staring at the horizon. At the approaching vessel. At the death coming straight for them.
This time his voice was sharper. "Call dad."
Lo'ak climbed higher onto Payakan's back.
Neteyam returned his attention to the pinger. Pulled again. Nothing.
The thing refused to move.
His jaw tightened. Pulled harder. Still nothing.
Then Lo'ak's voice drifted over the com.
"Dad, I mean Devil Dog, do you read me?"
"It's Eagle Eye, do you copy?"
Neteyam felt relief. Just a little.
"Dad." Lo'ak's voice cracked slightly.
"We're with a Tulkun that's under attack. Killer ship's inbound. It's about two clicks out."
Because he already knew what was coming. Their dad would ask who’s with them.
"Aonung and Tsireya too. We're at Three Brothers Rock."
Neteyam watch Lo’ak wince.
Jake Sully discovering all of the children had somehow found the most dangerous place possible.
Neteyam and the others kept removing the pingers.
"Yes sir." Lo'ak answered. “We won’t engage.”
Every single person standing here knew.
That if the ship arrived before Jake did—
The ocean suddenly felt very large.Very empty. Very far away from home.
"It's getting closer." Tsireya's voice called out.
The ship was larger now. Much larger. Close enough that he could make out details. Close enough that his stomach dropped.
He shook it away. Forced himself back to the present. Back to Payakan. Back to the pinger. Back to now.
Because right now— They needed to get it out.
Neteyam grabbed hold again.
All pulling. All straining. All desperate.
The pinger refused to move. And the ship kept coming.
That was the worst part. The ship kept coming.
Every glance toward the horizon made it bigger.
Neteyam's breathing quickened. Not from effort. From fear.
Because suddenly he understood something.
Something he hadn't wanted to.
The people who usually dealt with things weren't here.
And for the first time—It was just them.
Just the younger generation.
Just a handful of teenagers standing between Payakan and a ship built to kill Tulkun.
The thought settled heavily in his chest.
Because despite all his confidence.
Despite all his training.
Despite everything— Neteyam suddenly wished his big sister was here.
Wished his father was already arriving.
Wished somebody older would tell him what to do.
Because the ship kept getting closer. The pinger wasn't moving.
And they were running out of time.
Neteyam shook his head, his sister never hesitated, neither would he.
“See where (y/n) is,” Neteyam told Lo’ak
“Why should I?” Lo’ak snapped
Neteyam didn’t like his tone. He scowled. Why must he be so stubborn now?
His heart hammered. He shook his head. Get it together.
Every glance toward the horizon made the vessel seem bigger. Made the situation feel more hopeless.
Payakan shifted beneath them.
The Tulkun's distress rolling through the water in low mournful sounds that settled heavily in Neteyam's chest.
And suddenly that made Neteyam more determined than ever.
Because Lo'ak was right. The Tulkun had nobody. Nobody except them.
Neteyam's eyes darted around desperately.
Looking for anything. Anything at all.
The harness. The rope attached to his ilu.
An idea formed immediately.
Something was better than nothing.
He dove. The water swallowed him instantly.
His fingers found the rope.
Then he surfaced beside Aonung.
The Metkayina boy looked over. Neteyam threw him the rope. Aonung caught it.
Immediately understanding.
Neteyam secured one end around the harness, Aonung the pinger..
Aonung nodded. Tsireya was already moving. Roxto too.
Everybody suddenly had a job. Everybody suddenly had hope.
The ilu surged forward. The rope snapped tight.
For one terrible second— Nothing happened.
Neteyam's stomach dropped.
Everybody pulled. Harder.
The ilu strained. The rope creaked.
The pinger shifted again.
The ship was almost here.
Instantly wished he hadn't. The vessel was enormous now. Towering.
Close enough to see movement aboard. Subs diving into the water
Fear clawed at his chest.
Everybody threw their weight into it. Everything they had. Every ounce of strength. Every ounce of desperation.
The thing ripped free with a violent crack.
Everyone immediately lost balance.
Lo’ak. Aonung. Roxto. Tsireya.
All of them were thrown into the water.
The rope snapped loose. Bodies splashed. Water exploded everywhere.
Relief hit Neteyam so hard it almost made him laugh as he grabbed the pinger and rolled up the rope.
The ship needed a target. And Payakan couldn't be it.
The pinger clutched tightly in one hand.
Lo'ak's head appeared above the surface.
"Neteyam?" There was confusion there. Worry.
The same worry Neteyam always felt for everyone else. Funny. He'd never noticed what it looked like before.
The word came immediately.
Because now they understood.
And none of them liked it.
But somebody had to do it.
And right now— He was the only one with a target. The only one who could buy time.
The only one who could get the ship away from everybody.
Not because he wanted to do this.
Because he didn't. Not even a little. But because there wasn't another option.
And Neteyam had spent his entire life doing things he didn't want to do. For his family. For his siblings. For the people he loved.
The command breaking whatever argument Lo'ak had prepared.
Because there wasn't time. Not anymore.
The others exchanged glances.
Reluctantly— They obeyed.
Vanishing beneath the waves.
For one brief moment he watched the last glimpse of Lo'ak disappear beneath the water, his sisters on another
And something uncomfortable settled in his chest.
The feeling that this was a bad idea.
The kind of feeling (Y/n) always seemed to have whenever one of them did something stupid.
His grip tightened around the pinger. His stomach dropped. Then he urged his ilu forward.
Hoping that drawing them away would buy them some time until their dad arrived
The hunting vessel slowed, its massive shadow swallowing the water beneath it, engines rumbling like distant thunder through the sea.
Then the launch bays opened.
One after another the sleek attack subs dropped into the water, engines igniting immediately as they disappeared beneath the surface, cutting through the ocean like predators catching a scent.
Behind them came the crab suits.
Mechanical limbs unfolding as they descended into the depths, their metal claws flexing open and shut while spotlights flickered to life beneath the waves.
The kelp forest swayed gently ahead of them.
Spotlights pierced the darkness between the towering strands of kelp, propellers churning the water as the hunting party spread out through the forest, searching every shadow, every cave, every hiding place.
Lo'ak's heart raced. Every muscle in his body screamed.
The ocean around them had become chaos.
The ilu were racing as fast as they could through the kelp forest, Roxto and Tsireya close beside him, their ilus darting through the water.
Lo'ak glanced back. Immediately regretting it. Because one of the submersibles had broken away.
It wasn't following Neteyam. It wasn't following the false signal. It was following them.
The machine surged through the water.
Its lights cut through the blue depths.
Lo'ak felt his stomach drop.
Lo'ak could see the fear in her eyes.
Because there was nowhere to go. They needed to escape and try and hide.
Roxto pushed his ilu harder.
The sub accelerated. Its engines roaring through the water. The pilot had seen them.
And Lo'ak saw it. Saw the moment she realised they weren't going to outrun it. The moment she prepared herself to fight.
Something slammed into it from the side.
The impact shook the water.
The machine lurched violently. Its aim thrown off.
A skimwing. Cutting through the water like a spear.
Its rider on its back. Balanced perfectly. Hair streaming behind her. Spear already in motion.
Because she knew that skimwing, knew its rider
The spear punched into the crab suit's arm joint. The metal crumpled. As she jammed it into its second arm and then into the where the sky person in it lay.
The skimwing swept past by them in one fluid motion.
Tsireya felt relief hit her so hard she also swallowed water.
The skimwing rolled. Then came back around.
This time straight through the viewport. The glass exploded. Then began sinking.
Vanishing into the depths.
Tsireya's chest tightened.
Not from fear. Relief. Pure relief.
Because Si'riya was here.
Because he had the exact same thought.
The exact same realization.
A shape-streaked overhead. Fast. Far faster than any skimwing.
A shadow passed across the water. Massive wings. Powerful wings.
Lo'ak's heart practically stopped. Then surged. Hope. Actual hope.
Because there was only one creature on Pandora that flew like that.
And only one person insane enough to ride it into danger.
The same sister he'd called a coward. The same sister he'd walked away from.
The same sister who always—
Lo'ak felt guilt hit him like a punch. Because of course she came.She always came.
No matter how angry she was. No matter how scared she was. No matter what they'd said to each other.
She always came to get them.
The feeling spread. Roxto felt it. Tsireya felt it.
Because suddenly they weren't alone anymore.
Big sisters who had come to save their idiot younger siblings.
Si'riya cut across their path so suddenly that Tsireya nearly collided with her skimwing.
The elder Metkayina girl didn't look frightened.
If anything—She looked annoyed.
The kind of annoyed that usually meant somebody was about to regret existing.
Her eyes flicked toward the approaching machines.
Then back toward the younger group.
Toward Tsireya. Toward Roxto. Toward Lo'ak.
The message was immediate. Clear. Absolute.
Si'riya jabbed two fingers toward the kelp. Then pointed at herself. Then pointed upward. Where a shadow was already circling.
Lo'ak followed her gaze. Tiso'ha.
The sight of the great ikran moving above the water sent a rush of relief through him.
The kind he'd felt when he was younger and his eldest sister showed up after he'd gotten himself into trouble.
More aggressively this time.
Then she pointed toward the incoming submersibles.
Toward the growing swarm of crab suits.
Because suddenly he understood what they were about to do.
And a horrible feeling settled in his stomach.
Si'riya noticed his hesitation.
Toward the kelp forest. Toward safety. Then made a sharp shooing motion.
The kind an older sibling used when they were done arguing.
And Lo'ak hated how familiar it looked.
Because (Y/n) did the exact same thing.
The realization hit him harder than it should have.
Because suddenly all he could think about was calling her a coward.
All he could think about was the hurt he'd seen in her eyes.
And still—She came. She was here.
The guilt sat heavy in his chest.
A distant vibration rolled through the water. The submersibles were getting closer.
Tsireya saw it too. Roxto did too.
Then Si'riya pointed one final time.
And this time— They listened.
Because there wasn't time to argue. Because there wasn't time to be brave. Because there wasn't time to be stupid.
Lo'ak lingered. Just for a second. Watching.
Because Si'riya had already wheeled her skimwing around.
Already positioning herself between the hunters and her younger siblings.
The way older siblings did.
The same way (Y/n) always did.
And suddenly Lo'ak understood something he'd never wanted to.
How terrifying that must be. To constantly stand between danger and somebody you loved. To constantly be the one staying behind. The one buying time. The one taking the risk.
Then another shadow swept overhead. Fast. Powerful. Tiso'ha.
The ikran's silhouette crossed the water above them.
Lo'ak turned into the forest, getting off his ilu to hide in the green pods with air pockets. .
Couldn't thinking about the two sisters.
Alone against a growing swarm.
Si'riya's skimwing exploded forward. He skimwing lunging out the water, snatching the neck of an ikran rider that was chasing (y/n) out the air and dragged it into the water. Dragging it all the way down before turning back to the subs.
A streak of blue and silver cutting through the depths.
The submersibles adjusted immediately. Their lights swung. Their noses turned.
Their attention shifting away from the younger group and locking onto the lone warrior racing toward them.
The ocean erupted into chaos.
The skimwing twisted sharply. Rolling. Diving. Climbing.
The machines surged after her. Like predators scenting blood.
The second circled wide. Trying to trap her. Trying to box her in.
The skimwing folding its wings close against its body as it slipped through a narrow gap.
The first sub clipped the rock. Sparks exploded from its hull. But it kept coming.
The second emerged from the gloom.
The distance closed. Ten metres. Eight. Six.
Si'riya drove her mount harder.
The skimwing answered instantly. A beautiful creature giving everything it had.
Then— A flash. A sharp burst beneath the water.
The first projectile struck the skimwing's side.
The creature jerked violently.
Pain rippling through its body.
Si'riya nearly lost her grip.
The skimwing recovered. Kept moving. Kept fighting.
The skimwing's momentum died and the ballons ignited.
The creature began to float upwards.
Not dead. Not yet. But beaten.
Unable to outrun what was coming.
Si'riya released her bond. Letting the wounded animal drift away.
The machines closed in. No mount. No speed. No escape.
Still—She didn't retreat. She gripped her speear
The first submersible hit her. She drove her spear into the pilots cockpit and it reversed away.
Before she could recover—The second struck.
Then a third in her back.
The force drove the air from her lungs, bubbles rising to the air above.
It sent her spiralling downward.
The ocean floor rising to meet her.
The machines passed overhead.
And Si'riya sank. Slowly. Weightlessly.
Like a stone falling through still water.
Quaritch's ikran drifted over the ocean on broad, powerful wings, the great predator casting a moving shadow across the endless blue below as he searched the waters. The kelp forests stretched beneath him, vast underwater jungles swaying with the currents, their dark canopies creating hundreds of places for Sully's children to hide.
His eyes swept across the water again.
Nothing. Just waves. Just kelp. Just ocean.
Tiso'ha exploded into view from the side.
The impact was devastating.
Her jaws locked around his ikran's throat and with one tremendous flap of her wings she used her momentum to wrench the beast sideways through the air. Quaritch barely had time to register what had happened before the world vanished into a blur of sky and sea.
Then water rushed upward.
The crash threw both ikran and rider into the sea with enough force to send a wall of spray into the air.
Quaritch disappeared beneath the surface.
When he emerged moments later he wiped water from his eyes and looked upward. For a moment he thought he was seeing things.
Because Tiso'ha hovered above him.
And upon her back sat a girl who was supposed to be dead.
The one he’d personally seen executed and had somehow survived.
For a brief moment neither moved.
Then Tiso'ha turned.And launched away.
Quaritch's surprise vanished immediately.
His hand hit the radio. "Get after her."
Three ikran peeled away from the formation at once.
The sky became a battlefield.
Tiso'ha surged forward with enormous wingbeats, the wind howling around her as she accelerated over the water. Behind her came the pursuing riders, their mounts diving after her like hunting viperwolves closing on wounded prey.
The first burst of gunfire shattered the air.
(Y/n) felt the rounds before she heard them.
One screamed past her shoulder. Another missed Tiso'ha's wing by inches. A third struck the ocean below, sending a fountain of water erupting upward.
The black and gold ikran rolled.
Because Tiso'ha wasn't flying in a straight line.
She was dancing. Rolling. Twisting. Banking.
Changing direction so violently that the hunters struggled to predict where she'd be from one heartbeat to the next.
The wind tore through (Y/n)'s hair. Her eyes watered. Her hands tightened around the saddle.
Another burst. More bullets. More near misses.
A round clipped one of Tiso'ha's wings, she jolted but still kept them in flight.
The ikran hissed angrily. But she never slowed.
She simply flew harder. Faster.
The first hunter died so quickly he barely understood what happened. A shape erupted from the sea.
The Metkayina girl launched from the water like a spear hurled by Eywa herself.
Her skimwing slammed into the pursuing ikran's neck.
Then the skimwing's jaws locked shut.
Momentum carried both beasts downward.
The rider vanished beneath the waves.
The ocean swallowed him completely.
The remaining hunters barely had time to react.
Their gunfire became far more aggressive. Far more desperate.
Tiso'ha climbed. Straight upward. Toward the sun.
The sun exploded across the horizon.
Lost sight of her. One second.
But one second was enough.
Twisted and then folded her wings. The great ikran dropped like a stone.
The remaining hunter never saw her coming.
One moment he was searching the sky.
The next Tiso'ha slammed into him.
Her jaws locked around his mount's throat.
The impact turned both creatures into a tangled mass of claws and wings.
Straight toward the ocean.
The other ikran panicked. Trying to recover. Trying to pull away.
At the last possible second Tiso'ha released.
The enemy could not. His ikran struck the water at full speed.
The impact shattered the surface.
(y/n) thought she was in the clear until two ikrans burst from the depths of the ocean.
The islands rose from the horizon.
Towering mountains of stone erupting from the ocean.
Jagged spires reaching into the sky.
Tiso'ha flew toward them.
Behind her Quaritch and Lyle remained glued to her tail.
She urged Tiso’ha faster towards the rising three brother’s rocks.
The distance between cliff and wingtip became terrifyingly small.
Gunfire echoed through the canyons.
Fragments exploded everywhere.
Tiso'ha banked around one cliff so closely that her wing nearly scraped the stone.
Hugging the side, the sharp turn, losing Quaritch and Lyle for a second.
(Y/n)'s stomach twisted as Tiso’ha hugged the curve of the rock, flying around it,
Completely. Like the world had disappeared beneath her.
A Kestrel hovered in front of her as she rounded the next turn,
The sight of it hit harder than any bullet.
The word escaped before she realized she'd spoken.
The Kestrel turned. Missile pods opening.
And suddenly she wasn't looking at an aircraft.
She was looking at every nightmare she'd spent months trying to bury.
The missiles launched. White trails streaked across the sky. Death made visible.
The first explosion erupted nearby.
The shockwave hit like a hammer.
The sky vanished. The world shook.
Tiso'ha rolled violently.
Then the second missile struck.
The explosion swallowed them whole.
Heat washed across (Y/n)'s face.
Tiso'ha screamed. A terrible sound. A heartbreaking sound.
Blood scattered through the air.
(Y/n) clung desperately to the saddle.
Tiso'ha was still fighting.
Still trying. Still beating ruined wings. Still refusing to surrender.
And somehow that made it worse.
Because she knew. Knew the ikran was trying to save her.
Trying to carry her home one last time.
"Tiso'ha!" he leaned forward and flung her arms around her Ikran’s neck.
The mountains spun around them.
The ocean consumed her vision.
The water struck like stone.
The impact ripped her from the saddle.
Darkness swallowed everything.
And somewhere beneath the waves— The great ikran sank.
As rider and mount disappeared into the depths below.
He watched as a familiar ikran slammed into Quaritch's mount with enough force to make Neteyam wince from where he floated in the water. Jaws locked around the other ikran's neck and both creatures tumbled through the air before separating at the last second.
The move was insane.Completely insane.
Neteyam felt his heart leap into his throat as Tiso'ha pulled away.
Because that was his sister.His eldest sister.
The one who was always somehow in the middle of the worst possible situation.
The one who had been shot. Captured. Tortured.
Nearly killed more times than he could count.
She always arrived at the perfect moment
Throwing herself between danger and everyone she loved.
A burst of gunfire ripped through the sky.
Neteyam's stomach tightened immediately.
The bullets looked so small from this distance.
But all he could think about was what would happen if one of those rounds struck her.
"Come on..." he whispered.
Tiso'ha twisted sharply. A bullet missed.
The great ikran rolled sideways.
Neteyam couldn't look away. Couldn't breathe.
Every burst of gunfire made his chest tighten.
Then Si'riya appeared. The skimwing launched from the water like a spear. The impact gragged one of the hunters tumbling into the sea.
Neteyam felt something else.
Because his sister was incredible.
There was no other word for it.
Watching her fly was like watching something born for the sky.
Every movement felt effortless. Every turn perfectly timed. Every decision instinctive.
For a moment he forgot she was his sister.
For a moment she looked like a legend. She had nothing except her ikran and a dream and she had sent two of her attackers packing.
He followed the chase as Tiso’ha threw another one into the water. He kept his distance but watched her evade her last two chasers
Then she turned around one of the stone pillars.
And Neteyam's stomach dropped.
He watched the missiles launch.
Watching the white trails streak across the sky.
Watching them race toward Tiso'ha.
His chest tightened so hard it hurt.
The first explosion rocked the air.
And suddenly Tiso'ha wasn't flying anymore.
The great ikran spiraled downward.
One wing hanging uselessly.
Smoke trailing behind her.
Neteyam's entire body went cold.
The ocean swallowed them.
And for a moment—They didn't come back up.
The longest moment of his life.
Neteyam didn't wait. His ilu surged forward.
By the time he reached the rocks Tiso'ha was dragging herself from the water.
Alive. Injured. But alive.
Relief hit him so hard his vision blurred.
The great ikran looked exhausted.
One wing hanging awkwardly.
The water closed over his head.
His fingers found her arm. Then her shoulder.
When they broke the surface she coughed.
He dragged her onto his ilu.
"(Y/n)..." His voice cracked.
She groaned. "Neteyam..."
He dragged her onto the rocks. She seemed dazed, a few burns from the explosion but it seemed that Tiso’ha took the brunt of the hit. She was okay. He grabbed her hand. She was okay
Nearby the ocean erupted.
Si'riya sprawled across the Tulkun's back.
His sister slowly sat up. Looking dazed. Confused.
The sound shaky with relief.
Then suddenly (Y/n)'s eyes widened. "Tiso'ha."
The way she said it made Neteyam's chest tighten.
She pushed herself upright. Stumbled. Nearly fell.
Then crossed the rocks toward her ikran.
Neteyam watched her kneel beside Tiso'ha.
Hands moving over scales and wings.
Checking. Searching. Making sure.
The relief that crossed her face moments later told him everything.
Not life threatening. Bad. But not fatal.
Neteyam finally allowed himself to breathe.
Then something caught his eye.
A net. Being hauled from the ocean by Quaritch and Lyly
And trapped inside— Tsireya. Tuk. Lo’ak clung on the outside of it likely trying to cut them freeze.
The fear hit immediately.
Because suddenly he understood.
The battle wasn't over. Not even close.
(Y/n) forced herself to her feet.
Despite barely being able to stand. Despite nearly dying mere moments ago.
Neteyam grabbed her wrist. "You can't go after them like this." The words came out harder than he intended.
Because he was scared. Terrified.
Because she'd just fallen out of the sky.
Because he'd thought she'd died.
And now she was looking at another fight.
Another impossible situation.
Like she was actually considering it.
(Y/n) looked at him. And suddenly her expression softened.
And pulled him into a hug.
Neteyam hugged her back immediately.
Like if he let go she'd disappear.
Like if he loosened his grip she'd get shot again.
"I have a plan," she whispered.
Neteyam buried his face against her shoulder for a second.
Because plans involving his sister rarely ended well.
Neteyam already hated this.
"We wait for our parents."
"And by then our siblings could be dead."
Because she wasn't wrong. That was the worst part.
"Definitely not that option," Si'riya said immediately.
Already developing a headache.
"There are other options."
Neteyam stared at his sister.
At the bruises. At the burns. At the water still dripping from her hair.
The words escaped before he could stop them.
The conversation finally quieting.
"You almost died and you're standing here talking about another fight."
(Y/n)'s expression changed. The stubbornness fading. Something gentler appearing.
Neteyam shook his head. "You don't."
His throat tightened. He threw his arms around her.
Because suddenly everything came spilling out.
The fear. The frustration. The memories of watching his sister laying unconscious and wondering she’d wake up. Holding her up as blood dripped from her wounds as she forced herself to keep going despite every single rib being shattered.
"You don't know what it's like watching you fall out of the sky."
"You don't know what it's like watching you get shot."
"You don't know what it's like wondering if you’re going to wake up or not."
Because somebody needed to say it. Somebody needed her to understand.
The words landed heavily.
And sometimes—That terrified everyone who loved her.
And for the first time all day she looked tired. Not physically. Emotionally.
She stepped back keeping a hand on his shoulder. She squeezed it. " But I'm coming out of this one."
Neteyam wasn't convinced. But he could see the look of her face and he felt something swell in his chest. There was something about her that just seemed mighty. A strength that carried her through the moments that should have killed her. A strength that’ll carry her through this one. He’d trust that strength.
She smiled faintly. "So are you." Quieter for only him to here, “I love you little brother but they have Lo’ak and Tuk… someone’s gotta go get em.”
His face scrunched up, knowing how right she was. “I love you (y/n). Please be careful.”
And he remembered everything she had ever said to him. How she’d protect them from suffering as she had and this was it. This was part of the deal. This is what it meant to be the eldest daughter of Toruk Makto.
To fight. Even when the odds are stacked against you.
All Neteyam could do is hate and accept it.
Then she turned toward Si'riya.
"Option two?" Si'riya grinned.
The exact grin that usually preceded disaster.
"We full send it and hope for the best." (y/n) answered.
Then Si’riya’s grin widened. "That's an idea I can get behind."
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