●All was calm in the expansive forest of Pandora. The air was almost completely still and the animals all seemed to be resting in the astounding amount of green surrounding them.

But if you looked close enough you would see flashes of blue and white leaping and flipping along the trees.

Light footsteps hit the ground rapidly yet silently. Each step leaving a small trace of eagerness and excitement. The forest's floor lit up with flashes of blue and purple every time her feet kissed the ground. She moved so fast she was just a blur to the untrained eye. Her periwinkle, feathered top was barely able to stay in place, leaving little to the imagination. It had golden strings that wrapped around her small waist and down to the matching loincloth she wore which only remained secured by the tight knot holding it together.

The only sound giving way of her presence was the chimes of her enchanting laughter flowing through the breeze and into her chaser's ears. It was inevitable that she'd be caught, still she ran as fast as her striped legs would carry her.

Unfortunately for her it wasn't fast enough as a hand reached out to tug her tail firmly to get her to stop. She whipped around with a playful hiss and crouched low to the ground, putting all weight on one knee. Her pursuer followed her movements and soon they were only inches away from each other.

She boldly leaned in until she could feel the other woman's breath against her own parted lips. The exchanges of pure smiles and longing looks was enough to pull their attention away from their small game.

"Ma Nixie, how long will you keep me waiting?" The smooth and raspy voice of Neytiri made her ears stand tall while her tail swayed high in the air behind her.

"How long will you keep chasing after me?" She watched Neytiri's eyes narrow dangerously at the idea of the challenge. They both knew their conversation had nothing to do with their game of cat and mouse.

Her diamond eyes seemed to glow as she rubbed her cheek along Neytiri's face lovingly, marking her with her flowery scent. The two enjoyed the gentle touches but were broken apart by a loud familiar horn ringing out in the air.

She let her fangs peek through her plump lips as she grinned. "Race you back?"

And the two were off again leaving nothing but unspoken words behind them.

♡

Nixie searched around anxiously while holding Neytiri's hand. Her heart raced as a multitude of hunters entered the village once more after days worth of hunting. The forest had given them the permission to harvest the desired animals.

She sweetly smiled at all of them but her rapidly swinging tail showed her eagerness. It wouldn't settle until her eyes locked onto him.

Neytiri bumped her tail against Nixie's to hopefully calm her nerves. "You know he is usually the last to return after making sure everyone has made their way back."

"I know, I know." Then after what seemed like forever, he finally made his appearance, standing tall above the rest of his squad with distant eyes and his usual scowl. There was a large animal thrown over his broad shoulder yet he walked as if it weighed nothing. He was clearly irritated by how long this hunt took and by the newcomers that still had a lot to learn.

"Tsu'tey!" The sound of his angel calling for him made his head go blank of everything but her.

Nixie's vibrant smile showcased the absolute joy she felt seeing him after so many days. She let go of Neytiri's hand and ran to him. Without thinking she collided with him and wrapped her arms around his lean waist.

The man stumbled but quickly caught his footing as he chuckled, "Careful, little one." He loosened his grip on the hunted prize he was proud to show off, especially in front of her, and let it drop to the ground.

"Sorry, I just missed you." She looked up at him from under her lashes, completely unapologetic for her childish actions. The two had been close since childhood due to her almost amazing ability of being glued to his side no matter how much he ignored her. Eventually he started to seek her out on his own and the rest all fell in line. "You were gone longer than usual."

His usually hardened gaze softened in a way that they only did for her, "I'm sorry my love, I'll make it up to you tonight."

He couldn't help the way his facade melted in her presence. She just had so much love that would break down all the barriers he built around himself. She was the softness that kept him from becoming completely cold to the world.

Nixie hummed in response and wasn't convinced by his promise, allowing her immense disappointment to show on her face.

He lightly hissed at her, "No pouting. I will be back later when I am done." With that he leaned down to kiss her forehead and resisted the urge to pull her in. His hands were stained with blood and dirt and he refused to allow any of it to touch her skin.

Neytiri picked up on his internal struggle and gently pulled Nixie away. "How about we go on that flight you wanted to do earlier while he goes to clean up?" She locked eyes with the man who nodded at her in appreciation. They shared a deep understanding and bond with each other when it came down to their sweet girl.

And they both knew there was no way Nixie would ever say no to flying.

♡

"Neytiri look,  Mayì and I learned a new one!" Nixie shouted over the wind while being mounted on her blue toned ikran. Its center was a dark black that slowly turned into a bright and mystical azure color along its wings, tail and head. The pair were always in sync and trying to learn new tricks and turns just for the thrill of it.

She urged Mayì to fly them up towards the sky as high as possible then the ikran pulled her wings in. They fell towards the ground twisting in exhilarating circles.

The wind roaring in her ears and the adrenaline pumping through her veins was her favorite part. Being weightless was the embodiment of freedom for her. She put both arms out and used her toned legs to stay attached to Mayì while they continued doing practiced flips in the air.

Neytiri grinned and whooped as she watched hovering in the air on her own banshee. Flying with Nixie was one of her favorite pastimes in life. Every flight strengthened their bond and pulled them closer together. Up in the sky, they had the freedom of doing what they wanted, feeling and loving as much as they wanted to. The weights and chains of tomorrow couldn't touch them when they soared above the storm.

But such freedom often comes with a price.

Like a demon escaping from hell, a heavy machine rose from the ground. Its engines sounding like hungry, insatiable growls. At its sides were smaller bodies of steel ready to spit hellfire on command.

"Did you see?" Nixie excitedly asked the other woman, both unaware of what laid ahead.

Neytiri nodded but her ears twitched from the faint sound of something getting closer. She couldn't tell what it was but it was getting louder every second. Subconsciously she reached for her bow and arrow but was reminded that she regretfully didn't bring either. Usually there wasn't a reason to.

"I think we need to go home. Traveling this far wasn't a good idea-" A barricade of bullets shot right between the two and out of reflex they split up. Nixie yelped while dodging and tried regrouping with Neytiri but it was almost impossible.

The older woman hissed in distress and in fear, "Follow!" She began to lead them back home even if she knew the dangers it would bring. Her brain was being forced to think too quickly and all she knew was home was safe. Safe for Nixie.

"We can't lead them home! Try losing them first!" Nixie wasn't willing to allow such destruction to enter the paradise of their home so easily.

Yet no matter how many twists and turns they tried pulling, these sky people were relentless in their pursuit of them. There was only one more option left, with one shared glance they both split apart, going around the gigantic land formations in confusing patterns.

Nixie was struggling more than her counterpart. They seemed to be targeting her and she knew Mayì couldn't keep this fast pace for long.

And she was right.

One second of tiredness was all they needed to put a few bullets in the small ikran's wing. A specific one hit Nixie's shoulder and she could feel a foreign substance enter her bloodstream.

Both Nixie and Mayì cried out in anguish as they fell towards the ground. The white stripped Na'vi couldn't hang on due to the heavy descent and her sudden drowsiness causing her to be thrown off by high winds.

Enough through all her pain, Mayì had all eyes trained onto its rider until she aligned herself just right to clutch Nixie with her talons then drop her closer to the ground. She let out one more cry before her large winged body crashed brutally into the dirt a few feet away.

♡

Nixie rose up wincing from the bruises she no doubt had. The beads in her hair clinked together when she craned her neck to look around. Fear seeped into her when she realized where she was. They weren't allowed to be in this part of the forest anymore. Not since the tragedy that occurred when she was younger.

There was a sharp pain pulsating from her back. She whined and went to touch the wound on her shoulder. Something had been planted into her flesh and she couldn't rip it out without immense flashes of pain.

"Neytiri? Mayì?" She was too afraid to yell and quietly called for either of the two. Her mind yelled at her body to try standing up but her body was too heavy. She forced her eyes to look around and they zeroed in on the weak animal.

"Mayì!" She scrambled to reach the hurt creature but her body wasn't listening to her commands. Why was she so tired? And what was that beeping noise coming from her shoulder?

The more time passed the more her vision blurred and she felt disconnected to the nerves running through her body. Her pupils dilated as she crumpled to the ground. The only noises filling the air were the alarm of the tracker that had been logged into her skin, Mayì's weak breathing and the sounds of rapidly descending ships.

♡

Neytiri yipped in victory to herself. She had officially lost the persistent demons and now she just had to wait for Nixie to regroup with her.

She waited...and waited...and waited.

But Nixie never came.

Her heart began to pound painfully in her chest as she started to backtrack, still hoping to somehow meet up with the girl who held every ounce of her being.

Her keen eyes searched the area below her vigorously and nonstop. The glowing waves of blue from Mayì caught her eye and she dived down. She hopped off Seze with such quickness she almost fell. She then crouched down next to Mayì and rubbed along her neck, "Shh it's okay. Seze stay close to her."

The larger and older ikran carefully wrapped a wing around the younger female who nestled into her.

Meanwhile, Neytiri stayed in her crouched position and her heart stopped beating the longer she found no sign of Nixie. But then she suddenly looked up and knew. Oh Eywa she knew. The smell of their alien devices was all around her with small traces of her beautiful girl.

"No. No, no...Nixie!" The world around her crumpled and with it she fell to her knees. There was no possible way these invaders had managed to take her girl. How could she be so stupid to allow this to happen? This was something she couldn't or rather wouldn't forgive herself for. Not for a while.

♡

Neytiri choked on her own devastating cries as she stood in the center of her people. They whispered among each other wondering what had the girl so troubled. The only one who had an inkling of an idea of what could have happened was the next in line Olo'eyktan. The moment he didn't spot Nixie, his entire body tensed up. Seeing Neytiri only pushed him closer to the edge of panic. Still, he approached her calculatedly and with the type of calm that made others uncomfortable.

Every step he took towards her could shake the heavens with the sheer weight of his anger.

"Where is she?" His voice was brimming with rage and a tiny ounce of fear. Fear that something tragic had happened to his love.

"We were flying, we didn't know-" Neytiri was still wrapped in her own despair and shame due to the fact their most precious girl had been taken on her watch. She didn't want to believe that it was true but it was. Neither of the two girls had realized how far out they had flown away from the safety of their borders. It was their routine and it had always been safe so she couldn't fathom why or how the sky people had been prepared. Then she realized. 'It was their routine.' Maybe they had been being watched over time..

Tsu'tey snarled with such vigor it silenced the crowd instantly. "That's not what I asked. Where. Is. She." He asked her through a clenched jaw.

And the answer he got made him content with burning the world down for the angel who had captured his heart.

♡

There was an annoyingly bright light flashing over Nixie's head and she winced from the pain it caused her. Her eyelids snapped closed and she tried using her other senses. She could feel something soft underneath her but nothing she smelled or heard reminded her of home.

After another minute she opened her eyes slowly and was grateful to discover the light didn't cause her a headache.

What she was met with was white walls and something that showed her reflection but she looked so strange. A unfamiliar cloth covered her body down to her knees and all her jewelry and accessories had been stripped away. But what made her pause was the thick metal wrapping around her neck. There were lights that blinked red and green and she had no idea what it meant. Her instincts screamed at her that it was dangerous and so she began pulling at it as hard as she could.

"Stop." The voice was distorted and came from a weird looking box hanging in a corner.

She recognized the English word and tried to remember the lessons she had learned years ago. She mentally scolded herself for not paying attention more.

"Hello? Can you hear me? My name, Nixie and I want home." Her accent was thick through the broken English. Her ears slowly flattened against her head when she received no response.

She decided to get and let her feet touch the cold hard surface and growled at the unfamiliarity of it. Her fingertips briefly touched the floor as she moved lowly until she was right in front of her reflection. Her ears were high and alert from the feeling of someone watching her on the other side.

"I want home," she paused and hissed, "Now!" Did they not understand her? Her attention then turned to a structure inside the wall and racked her brain to remember what it was called.

Door. It was an odd looking door. Instead of being made with the usual materials she could recognize, it was smooth and unnatural.

She stood up and started trying to twist and pull the knob but it wouldn't budge.

"Step away from the door."

"No!" She shouted right back at the speaker, baring her teeth in distress.

"Final warning. Step away from the door."

She ignored it in hopes of going back to her loved ones as soon as possible.

But then something struck every nerve in her body all once and she was frozen as her muscles contracted so tightly all she could manage were short gasps. Her eyes glowed their usual sapphire color, lighting up the space around her as a response to the pure agony radiating from the device clinging to her neck.

Then it all suddenly stopped and she collapsed to the hard floor. Pained hisses and cries left her mouth but she remained in her position, too terrified to move in case the pain would return. She even held her tail down to stop it from flickering behind her.

Time passed by and eventually she kicked her way back into a corner like it would protect her from everything. She shakily pulled her knees to her chest, wrapping her tail around herself while unwanted tears dripped down her chin as she sniffled quietly.

She didn't understand why she was here or why they were treating her this way. She just wanted to go home where Neytiri would stroke her hair and tell her everything would be okay. Where Tsu'tey would hold her in his strong, capable arms and treat her like she was the most fragile thing in the world. Her heart ached for them and her soul cried out for the missing pieces it had been ripped away from.

But there was a piece that still had yet to make itself known. It belonged to a man who would either be her savior or her downfall. Only time will tell.●