【 CHAPTER THIRTEEN 】

TOXIC green gas billowed out from under the tree where the canisters had landed within the clan's dwellings, wind brought on by the long line of aircraft continuing to bombard the foliage along the river bank as the gunship and its smaller companions hovered. The clan still continually fired arrows in defense of their home, yet arrows wouldn't do a thing to the advanced aircraft the RDA had, even on a good day. They merely deflected off reinforced glass, leaving behind small scratches as the only indicators the arrowheads had met true.

People had to be fleeing from the tree after the non-lethals were fired, Ruth knew, but she didn't think it'd be quick enough before Miles' patience wore thin and he grew bored with waiting for them to flee for their lives. If they could manage to escape. She didn't want to think of the elders and children who would perish before the gunships and scorpions finally left the riverbank.

Ever a ruthless man who always ensured getting the job done, Miles was going to order the annihilation of these people without a second thought. With a wave of his hand before taking a sip of his Bailey 's-laced coffee. Ruth could see it now as if her yellow eyes would be able to strain enough to see in the cockpit of the Dragon that was only a few hundred meters away from where she and Jake were bound.

She wouldn't expect anything less of Miles, honestly. He was a man used to getting what he wanted when he wanted. He was a privileged Colonel, for fuck's sake. Waiting for a clan of alien people he didn't give two shits about to flee for their lives was simply something he didn't have time for. Only for the simple fact that he likely had better things to do than show an ounce of humanity.

A part of her wished she'd killed the man the night he'd gotten her alone, a farce act of kindness to walk her back to her room after a night of drinking and cards with other members at Hell's Gate. She could still remember his hands on her body, the way he used her drunken state to attempt to sleep with her, inching her towards her bed with his hands clasped on her waist. Making suggestions that she could be his wife, to raise her station on base. Until she'd managed to shove him off, threatening to alarm anyone passing in the hallway with her screaming.

She visibly scowled thinking of his lips on hers. On her neck. The way he'd been so sure he could have her, but Ruth shook off the memory. Her wrists twisted in their bindings, the biting pain grounding her more than her erratic thoughts.

A single aircraft, a Samson, pulling away from the formation caught her eye, darting away from the river's bank and back toward the direction of Hell's Gate as if it didn't want a thing to do with what was going on. She could barely see a gunner hanging out the door, shouting toward the cockpit with waving arms. Amidst her panic, Ruth wondered which pilot was ballsy enough to do such a thing.

Or even cared about what was going on. There was only one she knew of who may be piloting that aircraft.

By now, the remaining line of aircraft began to angle themselves, the weapons bays opening with a mechanical noise. She knew the incendiaries were coming. Larger ones from the massive gunships lowered from storage ports, primed and ready to take off.

And quicker than she had time to process it, they did.

A scream erupted from deep in Ruth's throat, straining her vocal cords as the missiles shot steadily for the tree. Her cry was mirrored by Jake's as they both craned to see the missiles strike true in the same places the gas canisters had landed.

The impact could be felt even from where they were bound. Her heart clenched as the wood of the tree splintered and whined under the explosions, plumes of fire beginning to rise up between the roots of Hometree, hungry for whatever it could consume for fuel.

Ruth felt responsible. Responsible for this all.

She bit the inside of her cheek, the taste of metallic blood seeping onto her taste buds as she fought the urge to howl in devastation. The tears had long begun to roll down her striped cheeks.

The people around them must have been stuck in shock, as they remained transfixed on their now burning home. The thought that they may turn on them immediately crossed her mind, yet she couldn't blame them.

The woman prayed with everything in her that Tsu'tey and his party had managed to take flight before the missiles struck. That her sweet mount Denver had the inclination to get far away, as she craned to see the swarms of ikran that had already begun fleeing from the foliage of the tree in the far away distance above. The flames would be forcing their way up the spiral of the tree, like a fire in a chimney. Her heart lurched with the thought of him fleeing from them, the flames licking at his tail.

What she would give to be back at the river bank last night, in his embrace. Away from all the hell that was coming down on them. Things had been so much more simple then, as simple as falling for the future Olo'eyktan could be. Having her ass chewed out by Grace for the obvious unsanctioned relationship she was pursuing was a million times better than this.

Her life on earth had comparatively become a distant focal point for her drive now. She wasn't worried about becoming the best she could be in the avatar program, prestigious in the science community. The trivialities of her human life were now null and void.

Craning her neck towards Jake, her cheek pressed against her biceps as her arms still remained held high. Their wrists remained bound tightly together, the rope abrasive against the skin. The two met gazes momentarily, his grief-clouded eyes mirroring her own. He was anguished, the responsibility for all that was and had happened resting on his shoulders.

The longer they were forced to watch the flames weaken the structure of the tree, the closer the tree was to falling. That part was inevitable, but the direction it fell would make the difference between their instantaneous death and the chance to fight another day.

"I'm sorry," Jake croaked to Ruth, his voice barely audible among the crying and sound of the hovering aircraft. "This is all me. This is my fault. I'm sorry."

They continued to hold gazes, Ruth's throat aching as she suppressed another wave of raw emotion. Wordlessly, her fingers reached to his, just enough reach between them that they interlaced. His touch wasn't much, but it was enough to endure what was to come.

The tree began groaning, the weight of itself too much on the compromised roots that had been blasted and were now burning. Splinters shot in the air amongst the smoke, the tree beginning its unceremonious descent to the ground. Due to its colossal size, it seemed as if it fell in slow motion. Ruth's grip on Jake's fingers tightened before they both clenched their eyes shut, the tree finally landing on its side with a thunderous crash that sent a shockwave into them.

Even as the tree began to settle into its new position where it would remain forever until it rotted into nothing, it groaned. Groaned as if grieving for itself, for the home that it once was for the Omaticaya. Leaves fluttered to the ground like a great swarm of insects, smoke billowing into the sky.

The clan had scattered around them, leaving them tied where they were. Wailing could be heard in the distance, cries of agony by those who had been injured. Ruth couldn't drown it out. I would haunt her.

"I did this," Jake was mumbling to himself, ears pinned back and eyes clenched shut. His jaw clenched as he said the words. "I did this. I did this."

Ruth sniffled, the residue of her tears now covered in a thin layer of ash that she could feel on her skin. "We're in this for real now, Jake," she murmured with a voice strained from screaming. Her eyes were so heavy now, begging for sleep. "There's no turning back. If you love your mate, love these people as you say you do, you will fight for the clan. Because this is the marker for war."

One battle, ten, a hundred, Ruth didn't know how many it would take. But the struggle was no longer on the far horizons, a distant possibility. It was here and now.

His eyes opened, looking at her. He pursed his dry lips, wetting them with his tongue despite the ash. "I'm going to fix this. Fix it all."

Ruth believed him. Despite all that had just happened, despite his deception over the months she'd thought had been blissful and would turn into something of longevity, they would fight back. Together, they could do what needed to be done.

"We will get through this," she promised him, while also trying to convince herself. She didn't know war like Jake did. She was barely a novice with a bow, same with any rifle that might be shoved in her hands. But her lifeblood was here, this moon, the people that had just been devastated with destruction. With the man she hoped was somewhere safe now.

The line of aircraft began to pull back from their job well done, retreating from the river bank in the direction of Hell's Gate. The two watched as the Dragon hovered away, Ruth making a promise to herself that she'd be the one to kill Quaritch. She would abandon her life as a scientist to take up the mantle of a warrior. The Omaticaya were her people now, no matter if her human body remained in a link chamber in the heart of the enemy.

The two waited for a long while where they remained restrained, no one in sight as remnants of the smoke had formed a steady haze in the clearing. They'd tried coming up with ways they might break free of their restraints, but they'd been bound too well. No manner of yanking against the ropes would get them free.

A figure became visible in the haze ahead, growing closer with each step. Ruth held some pit of hope somewhere in her chest that it was Tsu'tey, but the emergence of the Tsahik bearing her razor-sharp blade made her stomach lurch.

Mo'at bore all her grief on her features as she stumbled a walk, her cheeks sodden with her tears and dirty from the ash that had begun falling from the sky like a steady flow of snow Ruth had once seen falling in her home back on earth. Mo'at's face was contorted in rage and devastation as she came up to them, her blade resting near Jake's neck.

"No!" Ruth exclaimed as she began to fight the restraints.

"If you are one of us," the elder woman uttered, her voice raspy and tear filled eyes pleading. Her features contorted into desperation. "Help us."

Jake's restraints snapped loose by a simple slice of her blade and he quickly began to unravel himself. Mo'at moved to release Ruth and as she freed herself and got to the ground, the Tsahik pulled her into an embrace. Ruth welcomed the comfort.

"We will make this right," Ruth promised the woman as she held her, her eyes scanning the hazy expanse before her. The burning of the tree illuminated the smoke beyond. Mo'at wept quietly in her arms. "The Sky People will pay for what they have done. I will give my life if that is what it takes."

"I need to find Neytiri," Jake stated quickly, on the balls of his feet. With a simple nod from Ruth, as she still held the Tsahik, Jake took off into the haze.

As Mo'at and Ruth pulled apart, the older woman nodded in understanding. "You have always been good to the people," she croaked. "A warrior lives in you, Ruth Carson. You have not seen her yet, but she is there."

Touched, Ruth nodded. "Whatever it takes, I will fight. With both of my lives, I will fight."

They began making their trek into the haze in search of anyone in need of assistance. They passed many that were long dead, Ruth forcing herself to advert her gaze anytime it was a child. It only hardened her heart more the longer they searched, helping those they did find.

She would bring hell down upon the RDA.

Yet, despite the raging fury within her, Ruth wasn't capable of preventing herself from being disconnected from her avatar. Parker had only allotted them one hour to convince the clan, meaning all of the carnage that had taken place had happened in such a short time. A single press of a button would have her waking up in the link unit to be quickly bound in cuffs.

It appeared her time was in fact up. One moment she is reached to help a woman to her feet, the next she is crumbling to the ground. Darkness consumed Ruth without warning, sending her body tumbling into the ash.

Notes:

I'll be honest this chapter and the last one was hard for me to write. I was trying to give it the justice it deserved but writing 'action' scenes like this have always been somewhat difficult for me :/