It was stagnant. Unbearable. Tight. Thick.
Call it what you will, but Cam couldn't stand it and finally left the vicinity to check on their monitors.
"Cam, what troubles you?"
"Dad, please, I don't want one of your lectures." Cam hit the keys in a flurry and watched the monitors popping up all over the place. He had to get his mind off of what he, himself, had done to Tori. They didn't want him near the water nin.
"If it comes to what has happened, do not fear." Sensei smiled at Cam. "I do believe in forgiveness. You must give these things time. They cannot be rushed. To forgive is harder than to forget."
Cam closed his eyes. "I'm frustrated." He opened his eyes and interrupted sensei. "And not just about Tori. While I was being controlled, I felt like I wasn't alone. The whole time, I felt like someone was keeping me near the surface. I felt like someone was keeping me close to the lights."
"How so?"
"Like..." Cam was trying to figure out the words when-
"Like there's someone's shoulders and they're lifting you to freedom."
Cam spun about and stared at Hunter. "How-?"
"Because, you forget, I was controlled without Blake once. I remember wishing I could just reach out and pull myself out. Without Blake there to be my brother, I would've just fallen, hard. For now, though, I'm glad he forgave me."
"And how would he forgive me now?"
Hunter shook his head. "They won't forgive you, but I'm ready to accept that you can't change that." Hunter sat on the low table behind Cam's chair. "I do forgive you for what you've done, since they weren't your actions. I forgive all that you said and did while you were waiting for that break for freedom." Hunter smiled at Cam.
Cam, for some reason, felt a spur of thoughts. "Wait, what about Empress? Or, whatever her name is?"
Hunter shook his head. "They won't let me get the chance to explain her. Why?"
Cam's memories buzzed about his head. "Well, I know that there was a time when I could hear a voice. It wasn't loud, it was subtle, and all it asked was that I find the spark. Maybe you're the spark the voice wanted. So, if I can find Empress, the two of us could get a hold of her and help her."
"Good, only, how do we sneak out without the others knowing?"
-Lothor-
He flung another paper ball at her. "You're so useless!"
Empress was ducking and dodging every paper ball he threw. She was collecting them and tossing them into the full trash bin.
"Why can't you do anything I ask without question?"
Kapri and Marah laughed at Empress when she dodged another paper ball.
"Oh, you're such a lame one!" Kapri said, laughing harder when Empress just narrowly avoided another.
Lothor finally left her alone. "Now, all we have to do is find a way to convince those Rangers to come out of hiding."
Not that she thought anybody would hear her, but Empress whispered; "Perhaps if we encountered them as humans, they might."