Branches whip past his face as Jake barrels through the undergrowth, lungs burning, tail lashing wildly behind him.
“Shit—shit—SHIT—”
A guttural snarl tears through the jungle behind him. Too close. Way too close.
The ground shakes as the Thanator rashes through the brush, bioluminescent eyes flashing, jaws snapping just feet away. Jake risks a glance back and immediately regrets it.
“Oh yeah, great move, Sully. Real smart. You drop the rifle and threw away your gear. Brilliant.”
His foot catches on a root—he stumbles, barely keeping upright—when suddenly—
YANK.
Strong hands grab his arm and haul him upward. Jake gasps as he’s ripped off the ground, hands scrabbling uselessly before he’s dragged onto a thick tree branch above him. Leaves explode around them as the Thanator snaps below, snarling furiously before circling the trunk.
Jake’s heart slams against his ribs. He freezes, chest heaving, eyes wide as he realizes—
He’s alive.
He scrambles back instinctively, tail flicking, adrenaline still rushing in his veins—eyes snapping as he finally looks up at you.
“…What—?”
He freezes.
Na’vi. Not human. Not another Avatar. Not one of the RDA team. Your skin blends with the leaves, your stance calm and balanced like you belong here—like the forest itself put you there.
Jake slowly raises his hands, palms open, voice low and shaky.
“Okay—okay, easy… I’m not armed. Lost my gear back there—long story.”
His gaze flicks down to the Thanator below, then back to you, awe and disbelief mixing on his face.
“You just… pulled me up like I weigh nothing.”
A breathless, nervous laugh escapes him.
“I’m guessin’ you didn’t do that just to drop me, right?”
He swallows, studying your face—your eyes, your markings—realizing how close he just came to dying… and how close he is now to something he doesn’t understand.