Aluek was scared.

She shouldn’t have been, she knows that. Her dad was her rock, her protecter.

So why was she shaking?

Deep down she knows why, she knows why she’s scared. She’s terrified of his reaction, terrified of what he’ll say, think, do when he find out she almost drowned, that those boys had left her to die and that she, for a moment, was ok with that.

She gave up.

Jake kneeled infront of his eldest and scooped Alue’k from Neteyams arms holding her tight to his chest. He could finally breathe, he didn’t feel like he was drowning anymore because his little girl was safe. She was ok.

All of Alue’ks fear and pent up anxiety of how her father would react washed away as she was held tight in his arms. She cuddled close to his chest as her arms slowly moved to wrap around his neck.

After a few moments of just embracing each other Jake pulled away, looking into his daughters eyes. She was safe, in his arms. Now, she was in so much trouble.

Alue’k winced slightly at the change in Jakes face, he looked pissed.

Jake -  Do you know how worried we were? We thought the worst has happened! Dam near the entire village searching for you, what the hell were you thinking?

Alue’k suddenly found her hands very interesting as she played with them. Wringing her wrists and twisting her fingers.

Jake had to grab them because he was scared she’s dislocate her fingers.

 His eyes never left her and while Alue’k normally found this comforting, at the moment it was the most daunting thing to have ever happened to her. (And that’s saying something).

Alue’k pulled her head up so they were eye level and her eyes began to water as she took in the look of her fathers face.

His mouth was agape as he scanned over his baby girls face. A new feeling arose within the man as he bared his fangs, hissing at the sight before him.

His baby was all busted and bruised with blood speckles dried into her lips.  

His eyes lingered on the bruise that mapped around the side of her face, noticing the scratches and dry blood on her neck.  What the hell happened?

He cupped her face tears still bared, in a moment of fear Alue’k flinched … she flinched.

Jake immediately drew back his hand as guilt rose up inside of him. He scared her.

Jake - Hey, hey baby, baby girl it’s ok. It’s just me, it’s dad yeah? Comm’er baby girl.

With that he pulled her in closer cupping her face again as fat tear rolled down the young girls face.

Alue’k - Da.. Daddy.

Jake felt his heart brake in that very moment. He cupped her face again making sure to be gentle around the bruising.

Jake - Yeah baby girl it’s daddy, I’m right here.

Jake held her tight, a comforting rumble coming from his chest as he gently rocked back and forth.

His eyes lingered on the bruise that mapped around the side of her face, he then noticed the scratches and dry blood on her neck.  What the hell happened?

After a few minutes Jake finally asked.

Jake - Baby girl, what happened?

Alue’k looked away, she wanted to tell her father everything … but she felt like it would disappoint him. He had told her to keep her head down and now she had half the village up in the middle of the night searching for her.

Alue’k - I … I … I don’t want to tell you, I think you’ll be mad.

I took everything in her to confess but now that it had been said she could almost see the part of the weight being lift off of her.

Jake paused. 

Jake - Baby girl, why would I be mad? 

Alue’k shuffled deeper into her fathers chest, cuddling close to him as his arms wrapped around her.

Alue’k - I … I didn’t make friends. 

Tears leaked from her eyes, at this point she wasn’t even sure If the had ever stoped.

Jake - Baby, fuck friends. I don’t give a dam about this village, we can  always leave.

They all knew he was lying but right now it was what Alue’k needed.

Jake - All I care about us this family, that means you too. Baby girl, please tell me what happened.

And the dam broke.

Tears gushed from her eyes like a salty waterfall as she cling to the older man.

Alue’k - I was (hic) playing with (hic) with Tonôwa and they (hic) they dragged me into the (hic) water.

Jake pulled the young girl close. Not fully able to understand what she was saying but trying his best calm her.

Jake - Hey, hey, you’re ok. Daddy’s here, you’re ok.

Alue’k sniffled

Alue’k - They tried to drown me.

In that moment it felt like the entirety of Pandora had gone silent.

—————————

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