Threatened
Kxap soli
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The flames burned high and Keru struggled against König's hold. He had her in almost a hug, but he couldn't tear his eyes away from the na'vi. The horror and sorrow in their eyes. The fear in their voices. The misery in their faces, the distraught children clinging to their parents.

Simon was nearly shaking with anger when his brain simply shut off from the intensity. He slipped back into a deep space in his mind where he didn't have to do anything than look at the fire. Ghost got back in the boat, and waited for everyone else while staring at his shoes.

"Kempe soli?! Srung si ayfori!"(what are you doing?! Help them!) Keru shrieked and tried to pry her way out of König's eyes.

"Let's saddle up." Quaritch ordered.

"Nga píyalon! Aynga pìyalon!"(You will burn! You will all burn!) Keru's shrieking voice turned into rasping growls as König forced her into the boat.

As Quaritch boarded, he had a sick idea brewing in his twisted mind.

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The whole way, Keru cursed and spat at anyone close enough. That didn't exclude the 141. They weren't exempt the guilt from the burning. But as they boarded, Quaritch yanked her queue into his hand and threw her in the cell.

"Get in there!" He shouted.

Keru stumbled into the table's sharp side and braced herself on the flat surface. She hissed the pain out until Quaritch was on her. He held her face roughly in one hand and had a knife in the other. He ran the blade down the side of her cheekbone, drawing a little blood. That wicked idea returned to his mind.

"I'll show you what happens if we don't find Sully!" He grinned sickly and flipped her over the edge of the table, her tail curled tightly around her own leg with terror as he grabbed her queue and a fistful of her hair. He brought the cold blade to her queue.

"I'll cut the damn thing off! You hear me?!" Quaritch barked into her ear.

Simon's foggy mind became clear and sharp as day when he approached her cell. Ghost threw the door open with enough force to shatter the glass, and his hands found Quaritch's knife hand and the colonels queue. He twisted the knife in his hand until Quaritch was on his knees, the blade pointed at his neck, his arms flailing for control.

Keru scrambled out from beneath the colonel and she pressed her back to the wall with her queue in hand. Her eyes found Ghost's. His eyes were wide and frightening, he was going to do it. He was going to kill the colonel.

"That's enough, Simon!" Price snapped him out of it, "Colonel, I warned you well enough! We aren't here for them. We're here for Jake Sully and that's it!" Price stood the man up.

He got up in his face.

"Today was out of line. You keep your muppets on a short string, or I'll hang you from it." He said coldly. It wasn't a threat. It was a promise. (Got the idea from Jeffnice0. Great line, thanks dude)

"Yessir." Quaritch said quickly and dismissed himself.

"Sweet girl," Simon sighed with relief as he stepped forward to hold and comfort his mate.

"Kehe! Kekem tìng zekwä oeru! Nga kekem kole si tengkrr ayforu ayhelkuyä nolekx!"(No! Do not touch me! You did nothing while their homes burned!) she hissed furiously. Her tail flicked around while she paced angrily. She just wanted to go home. To feel safe. For things to go back to the way it was.

She sank to a squat/sit and ran her fingers over her queue, trying to self sooth her nerves. Her breathing didn't slow and mind couldn't focus.

"Oeru txoa livu, ma Keru." Simon got to his knees in front of her and slowly reached for her arms, "Oeti swiveylu tìftang soli foru."(I should've stopped them) he whispered.

Keru let Simon pull her in. She let herself relax against him, taking in deeper breaths until she was calmer.

Simon pushed his mask up a little to feel some sort of skin contact. She brought his heart rate down and soothed him.

"Ngati srung si oeru nìzawnong."(you make me feel safe) he whispered.

Her eyes fluttered closed. She wasn't done feeling the way she did. But now, she was exhausted.

"This burning of their homes is gonna keep happening until he lures Sully out." Price started, "we can't be safe if this is his restraint." He said.

Simon looked up at him.

"What are you suggesting?" Simon said in a hoarse voice.

"We sabotage. We escape. We kill him and blue. Make it all disappear. And then we rally whoever we can and take bridgehead." Price said.

It was an ambitious plan. But not one he could see Keru being okay with. She was passed out in his arms, leaning in on him.

"I don't think she'll survive it. She's desperate to get home. She'd take any chance to get out." Simon countered.

"It's all I've got." Price admitted.

Simon didn't respond. He picked up Keru and placed her on the mat they gave her as a bed. He fluffed the pillow for her head. He sighed as he stood up and he walked out.