14 - Quaritch Strikes Again

                                    

                                          
Over the next few days, Aha'ri and Neteyam flew around the forest below high camp, hoping to pick up Quaritch's radio communications. But, fortunately, and unfortunately, they had no luck. They just assumed they weren't in the area and decided to train for the first time in a while down in the forest clearing next to a calm stream.
Aha'ri and Neteyam sparred like they never missed a day of training together. It felt good to spar with him again. After teaching Lurei for so long and having to go easy on her, it was getting boring. But with Neteyam, she could go hard and barely even hurt him. However, she was a little out of practice with her big kid moves.
Lurei had begged them to come along for a fly over and once Aha'ri felt like it was safe enough and the recoms weren't in the area, she let her come along.
They both let her join in on the fun and Neteyam taught her some new moves which Lurei was over the moon excited about.
Aha'ri smiled and watched as Neteyam played around with Lurei as he tried to teach her. Her giggles filled Aha'ri with happiness. Seeing her and Neteyam get along was endearing. She knew Neteyam was the oldest sibling so he knew how to handle kids but, there was just something about him treating her little sister like one of his siblings that made her stomach flutter.
Aha'ri and Neteyam grabbed a drink at the stream after training while Lurei ran around the clearing, chasing a shimmyfly.
Aha'ri tried not to let it worry her, despite her flashbacks. But, Lurei was still a child and was allowed to still act like one.
Aha'ri took in the scenery; the calm stream at her feet, the afternoon rays of sunlight poking their way through the holes in the canopy above, and Neteyam's sweaty form beside her as he leaned back against his hands, his ab muscles flexing with each breath.
"You really beat my ass today," Aha'ri said. "I don't train with you for a couple of weeks and suddenly it's like I'm back at square one."
Neteyam shrugged, "It takes a second to get back into the swing of things after you've taken a break. Don't worry, you'll be beating me in no time. Well," he corrected himself with a smirk, "I should say moderately matching with my skills."
Aha'ri elbowed him in his side and he laughed. "You say that but I could do round 4 right here and you'd never see me coming."
"Oh yeah? Wanna test that theory?" he asked with a smooth voice.
Before Aha'ri could challenge him, Lurei let out a scream that made both of them jump to their feet, knives immediately in their hands.
A recom held Lurei by the queue and an arm, pulling her back away from them. All Lurei could do was throw pitiful punches to the recoms legs and arms but it was of no use. The others recoms crept closer with their guns raised, prepared to take them as well.
They sure as hell weren't going down without a fight though.
"Let me go!" Lurei yelled, fighting against the recoms grip as hard as she could.
Aha'ri's heart pounded against her chest, pumping adrenaline through her veins.  The knife clutched in her fist itched to land itself into one of the recoms hearts.
Two of the recoms advanced on Aha'ri and Neteyam, trying to grab them as well but they met fire with fire, despite their muscles aching from training earlier.
She grabbed the recom's gun and twisted it out of their hands, quickly discarding it on the ground and thrusting her knife into their abdomen. The recom groaned and swung an arm around, landing a punch to her side. She hissed at the pain in her ribs but continued fighting. She wasn't going to beat the recom in strength but she could beat them at speed.