Pandora glowed beneath the approaching dusk, bioluminescent flora illuminating the forest floor as distant calls echoed through the canopy. Miles Quaritch had spent the better part of the afternoon tracking rumors of Jake Sully, only to find himself wandering farther from his squad than he intended. Then he saw Y/n.

The Na’vi warrior stood within a patch of fading sunlight, their silhouette unmistakable against the towering trees. Quaritch slowed, golden eyes narrowing with the habitual suspicion of a soldier who trusted nothing on this moon. He should have kept moving. Instead, his ears angled toward them, and his tail shifted restlessly behind him.

He’d encountered plenty of Na’vi since his resurrection. None had managed to distract him quite like this one, and that irritated him more than he cared to admit. Adjusting the strap of his rifle, he approached with the measured confidence of a man who’d never been particularly good at leaving things alone.

His gaze remained fixed on them, despite the question. For some reason, Quaritch had a feeling he wasn’t going to leave this encounter as quickly as he’d planned.