Before this chapter, I have some notices. Some of them will contain spoilers so please skip this chapter if you don't want to read them.

Dear Hikhefimm, to answer your question, the creature that Lo'ak will bond with is a special lizard/stallion creature who can walk on water, swim underwater and has a wide range of abilities. Its species are feared by the sea Navi because of its hypnotic eyes and because they believe them to be responsible for the deaths of a lot of chiefs and free divers.

Dear Duchaprov, I am firmly set on Lo'ak having an OC love interest because it's important for Avatar 3 because of his relationship with the creature he will bond with. What do you think of a fem slash? In all honesty, I really would like Tsireya to be a male because I want Sylwa to fall in love with this character. So I'm gonna see what everyone else thinks.

If all of you had read this, please can you send me reviews on these announcements? If you could that would be most helpful. Enjoy the chapter.

Leaving Home

Lo'ak had fallen asleep, his head by Sylwa's side. She was the first one to wake up. She stroked his head and he woke up too. "Feeling better?"

"Much," she said.

The door opened and they could see the doctors entering inside. Realising that they would need him to leave, Lo'ak stood up and held her hand again. "I'll come back in a bit,"

"I should be realised soon," she said. "And don't worry. I'll be all right,"

He nodded and he left the lab. To his surprise, their sisters and Neteyam were waiting outside for him. "How's she doing?" asked Kiri.

"Much better,"

"We would have come to get you but we thought Sylwa might need you with her," said Tuk.

"She did. She's a lot better now,"

"Let's go tell Mum and Dad," said Neteyam. They walked over to the tent but when they approached the shelter they could hear arguing from inside. It was loud and it was their mother who shouted.

"Our home is here! You cannot ask me for that. I cannot leave my people. I will not!"

Tuk peaked under the covers. Kiri and Lo'ak took a peep through a gap.

"He's chasing us," Jake argued. "He after our family,"

"You can't ask me for that," Neytiri was deeply distressed. "The children only know the forest! This is our home!"

"Quaritch had them under his knife," said Jake distressfully, drawing his hand under his chin to emphasise how awful it was for him to see their children helplessly held captive. "Sylwa could have died," if that bullet had killed her…

Neytiri picked up her prized possession. A special unique bow. "My father gave this bow as he lay dying," Jake's ears dropped remembering her late father. "He said, 'Protect the people' You're Toruk Makto!" she begged.

"This will protect the people. Quaritch has Spider and the kid knows everything. He knows our whole operation. He can lead them right here," As they heard their father rant, the kids turned their heads to each other, wondering what was happening to Spider right. Though they know he would never betray them intentionally, the Sky People had certain ways of getting whatever information they wanted out of their prisoners. Cruel methods. "If the people harbour they will die. Do you understand?". Neytiri was close to breaking out again. She couldn't bear to see any of their people die. Jake hated hurting her like that but his words were true no matter how painful. "I've got nothing," he confessed. "I've got no plan. But I can protect our family," he knew deep down that he had to remain strong. "One thing I know. Wherever we go, this family…is our fortress,"

He embraced his mate and Neytiri hugged him tightly, shedding tears.

The children were devasted. They walked away from the tent, heartbroken at the thought of having to leave the only home they had ever known. "This is all my fault," lamented Lo'ak. "I took us to the forest. We got captured. Spider got taken. And now…now we're screwed,"

"We all wanted to go to the forest," Kiri said, not wanting him to feel guilty too, Tuk clutched her hand.

"We have to tell Sylwa," said Neteyam.

"No, we can't do that," Lo'ak refused. "This will break her heart even more,"

"She'll find out soon enough. It's better if she hears it from us,"

Lo'ak wanted to disagree but his brother was right. They walked towards the hospital lab. He approached the door. He raised a hand to touch the handle but he paused. The siblings watched him a little tensely. "I can't do it," as the closest sibling to his twin, Lo'ak couldn't bear to hurt her in any way. He couldn't tell her the awful news.

Kiri touched his shoulder. She was the second closest to Sylwa. "I'll tell her," she went into the lab towards the room where Sylwa was just being released from her hospital bed. Norm and Max gave her one last check and she thanked them. Seeing Kiri enter, they left the room.

"How are you feeling?" Kiri walked over to her younger sister.

"I'm good," she said, holding her hands. "Don't worry about me," she sighed, seeing Kiri's sad face not realise what she was about to say. "I'm so worried for Spider. I hope he'll be okay,"

"Me too," Kiri sniffled, wiping her tears away.

Sylwa hugged her and she hugged her back. "We'll find a way to get him out,"

As she said, Kiri's eyes opened slowly. She had to tell her now. "Sylwa…" she pulled back. "There's something I have to tell you,"

"Okay," Sylwa said.

"But not here," Kiri gently guided her out of the lab, past the brothers and Tuk. Sylwa noticed that Lo'ak looked quite tense but wasn't sure why.

They went over to a nearby spot outside the lab. "So, what is it?" the girl twin asked.

Kiri held her shoulders. "Sylwa…the others and I overheard Dad and Mum talking. And…" she paused. She realised now why Lo'ak couldn't do it earlier. When you care about someone, it's hard to hurt them even when what you're telling them is the truth. Already her heartbeat was accelerating and she was shaking a little.

"Kiri…whatever it is you can tell me," Sylwa hated her looking so tense like this.

Kiri sighed, knowing she had to tell her though it would break her heart to do so. "Dad has told Mum that…we have to leave home,"

Sylwa felt like she had been shot again. "What?" She saw the wetness behind Kiri's eyes.

"No," she refused. "No! No! No!" she couldn't believe it. She stumbled back. "This is our home!"

Kiri tried to say something but couldn't master the words. Neteyam appeared behind her. "Sylwa, it's gonna be okay. We're all gonna be together,"

"No. It isn't. How can Dad just expect us to leave the place we've grown up in all our lives? What about our people? What about granny? What about Spider?"

Her siblings hated seeing her sobbing like this. Neteyam tried to approach her but she suddenly turned and ran. Kiri tried to chase after her but the eldest child held her back. "She needs some time alone,"

They walked back over to Lo'ak and Tuk beside him. By the tearful expressions on her face, Lo'ak could see how much telling Sylwa had shattered her. "I understand now why you didn't want to tell her," Kiri sobbed. "When you love someone, it's so hard to hurt them,"

"At least she knows," said Lo'ak. "Where did she go?"

Before Kiri could answer, the children heard their parents approaching them. They prepared themselves for the heart-breaking announcement they were about to tell them. Seeing how her mate was too reluctant to do it, the tearful Neytiri stepped forward. "Children…there's…no easy way to tell you this. But your father has decided that we have to leave tomorrow,"

The children looked stricken but since they already knew it startled Neytiri that they hadn't reacted too shockingly to her words. Still, her mate could see how much it hurt them. "I'm sorry but we don't have a choice," said Jake remorsefully. "Quaritch is targeting us. We'll put everyone in danger if we stay. If we leave and find refuge elsewhere we'll be safe. And the People will be safe too," His heart broke seeing all their upset faces. Something told him that they already knew before. He didn't choose to dwell on that. "I know how hard it will be for all of you. But as long as Quaritch has Spider, he'll know everything about this place. He will come for us. And we need to leave before he does. If the people harbour us, they'll die. Leaving them is the only way to protect them. And all of you. You could have all been killed yesterday. And your sister nearly died at their hands. Again,"

Lo'ak pursed his lips, just thinking about the brutal wounds the Sky people had brought upon his sister.

"Where are we gonna go?" asked Tuk.

"Somewhere far away from here," Jake said. "Somewhere where Quaritch will never be able to reach us," he wasn't certain but he hoped.

The kids could clearly understand why he was making this decision in the hope of protecting both them and the people. Life was all about making difficult decisions. And right now, he was making a difficult decision in the hopes of keeping both them and their people safe.

"We need to tell your sister," said Neytiri, about to walk to the lab.

"She knows," spoke up Kiri quickly. Her mother turned to her. "She already knows. I told her,"

Neytiri realised instantly that they had eavesdropped on their conversation. "How did she take it?"

"Not well," Neteyam said. "She walked off,"

"Wait! Walked off where?" Jake asked quickly. He had a feeling she was gonna do something. "Oh no," he dashed off, rushing past crowds of Navi calling out for her. "Sylwa? Sylwa? Sylwa?!"

"Toruk Makto!" cried a voice. He turned his head and a mother rushed towards her. "I saw your daughter go to her Ikran!"

Sylwa had flown on Skeera towards the Great Spirit Tree in the valleys not too far from the mountains. She couldn't leave this place. She couldn't leave this forest. She couldn't leave her home. Her best friend landed her in front of the spirit tree. As a kid, she'd love to visit the tree as it glowed bright pink under the moonlight. She remembered Tuk's ceremony when she had her first communion with Eywa. She remembered that night when she had been taken there to be healed after her father rescued her from the forest.

She knelt before it, hoping that Eywa was somehow watching her now through that tree. She pulled her queue up and connected it to the tree. She felt a strange surge of energy flow through her, much like the energy that flowed through her when her grandmother, mother and the great mother were saving her life.

"Great mother if you can hear me, please we really, really need your help," she prayed. "Quaritch, my father's old enemy has returned. And he has our best friend Spider. And because of that, our father wants us to leave. But how can we do that? Look, you heard my father's prayer all those years ago. And you aided him in driving the Sky people off. So, if you can, please…help us. Help us so that this forest doesn't have to suffer, that we don't have to leave the only home we've ever known,"

She paused. She wondered if the great-mother would speak to her. But she didn't hear anything. She sighed, disconnecting her queue from the branch. She felt it was all hopeless. She had often wondered about the Great Mother. Whether anyone had ever actually seen her in the form of a being through their connection to her. How Kiri had been gifted with the endowment of connecting so easily to the flora and fauna of Pandora.

"It was worth a try," said a gentle voice behind her. She turned around and saw her remorseful dad standing nearby. He saw how disappointed she was that her prayer hadn't been answered. "You expect too much out of the Great Mother,"

"Why isn't she doing anything, Dad? Why isn't she helping us win this war as she helped you?"

Jake sighed. "Perhaps…she has already heard our prayers. But a sign is yet to be acknowledged," Sylwa still couldn't take his words to heart. "I'm sorry…but we have to leave the forest. I can't risk Quaritch hurting our family again,"

"What about Spider? You're saying we should just abandon him?" If anything happened to him, Sylwa would never forgive herself. "They'll torture him,"

"Quaritch won't allow that," Though he despised Quaritch to the core, Jake knew him well. And he knew very well that he wouldn't let anything happen to that kid.

"Doesn't matter if they're related or not. That man is a monster,"

"I like that kid. And I know especially how much he means to you, Lo'ak and Kiri. But we do not have the numbers nor the ammo to attack their fortress to get him back," He was right. His daughter knew that too but the thought of leaving Spider crushed her heart. "Do you think that's what Spider would have wanted?"

Sylwa knew he was right. But still, she refused to accept his words. "You leave here will solve anything? They'll find us no matter where we go,"

"Maybe," Jake was forced to admit. "But if we stay here, we'll put the People in danger. If we leave, they'll be safe. It's me that he's targeting. And he's going to do anything to harm you, your mother, and your siblings as well. I can't let that happen. You were all under his knife. And you were shot,"

"But I survived,"

"Only barely. Do you think I could live with myself if something happened to you again? Or to any of your brothers or sisters?" As a father, to him keeping them safe was the most important duty. Sylwa could see it but what she couldn't understand was how being a parent meant you had to make so many difficult decisions. No matter how heart-breaking they were. "Sometimes you have to do what's right. Even if your heart aches against it," he said solemnly, reaching up a hand to wipe her tears away. He didn't want to leave but he knew as long as they stayed here they would put everyone in danger. They had to disappear out of the blue.

Sylwa sniffled. "Will we ever come back?"

Jake wasn't sure. He didn't want to lie but he didn't want to hurt her even more. "Yes, dear one. One day," he hoped he could keep that promise. As his daughter cried, he pulled her into his arms and rubbed her back, letting him sob into his shoulders.

After a while of letting her cry, he solemnly escorted her back to her Ikran and together they flew on their mounts back to the camp. The others awaited them. Neytiri, relieved as ever, rushed forward to embrace. If she wasn't already upset, she would have said, 'I'm fine Mum' in an annoyed tone, but right now she needed her loved ones' comfort now more than ever.

It was decided that they would leave the very next day. Every hour they spent with the tribe and all their Navi friends was very precious to each and every one of the children. Tuk played with her best friend Popiti. Kiri and Sylwa spent time with the younger kids. Lo'ak and Neteyam spent some time with some teens who seemed to be more interested in chatting with the older brother due to his more Navi-like appearance much to the envy of the younger one.

Seeing how left out he was feeling Sylwa decided they'd go to have their final moment of twin time in this campsite before leaving it with their loved ones. Lo'ak sat close to her, holding her tightly. "It's gonna be all right Sylwa. I wanted to tell you earlier…but I couldn't bear to hurt you anymore,"

"It's okay," she wiped her nose. She held up her hand and he held up his. They looked towards their older brother had some final moments with his buddies. They sighed. Compared to their older brother, they were viewed as more human than Navi. Which was true in a way. They had five fingers and eyebrows just like their dad and Kiri. They spent more time with Spider than any of the Navi children. And they loved listening to human music, looking at lab videos and Sylwa loved a lot of human objects and Lo'ak always supported her. Though they loved their habits, they felt quite ostracised from their community as a result.

"I'm scared Lo'ak. What if wherever we go, people will judge us?" if there was one thing, Sylwa genuinely hated, it was being judged for what you looked like and not for the kind of person you were.

"I know. I'm worried too. But at least we'll have each other" He held up a pinkie. "Twins forever?"

She shook it with her pinkie. "Twins forever," She pulled out her sketchbook and flipped to a picture of the two of them and Spider. "I hope he'll be okay,"

"Me too. He would want us to be safe,"

"That's what Dad said. Do you ever wonder about the nature of the Great Mother?"

"I do,"

"I prayed to her. For help. Sometimes I question her intentions. Don't tell Granny I said that,"

"I won't. I do too sometimes. One thing I wonder if what our purpose is. Neteyam will always be the golden child…"

"Don't think he has fewer expectations than us," she interrupted. "Dad's hard on him just as much as he is on us,"

"I know. But he'll always be more Navi in the eyes of anyone,"

"I feel the same way too,"

"I love all the things you do. I don't want you to change,"

It touched Sylwa that her twin always had her back. "That means a lot coming from you. Don't tell Dad but…I'm taking a whole bag of human things. I just can't be without them,"

"You know you'll need to keep them hidden from whomever we seek sanctuary from,"

"I know. I'm gonna miss this place. Even the cave. No matter how much I've hated us being cooped up in here,"

"No matter where you both go, this place will always be your home," they turned around to see their grandmother. She had come to join them. It had broken her heart when Neytiri had told her the dreaded news but all that mattered to her was that her grandchildren would all be safe. "Room for one more?"

They nodded and she sat between them, so they could both scoot up close to her.

"You sure you can't come with us?" Sylwa asked.

"Every clan needs its shaman. I must stay behind," she said with deep regret. "I understand why you both question your purpose," for months, she had known how deeply insecure her twin grandchildren felt about their appearance, about their human habits that made them feel excluded. "But know this. There are reasons Eywa blesses each of us when we are born," she said. "And we have to find those reasons,"

"How?" Lo'ak asked.

"Even I cannot find that answer. These answers you both must discover for yourselves. No matter what you both look like, it is not on the outside but on the inside that counts," She hoped her words were enough to comfort the twins. They snuggled up closer to her and she hugged them. As night came, the family had one final meal of forest food together before resting for the long hard day they would have to endure. Tomorrow would be the most difficult day they'd have to face. Sylwa was the last one to fall asleep. As she fell asleep, she dreamed one final dream about the beauty of the forest which she would never forget.

It was a sad sunny day at the Tree of Souls. Jake's successor would be a fine warrior named Tarsem. He was 'wise beyond his years' and would be a great leader. As Jake held a sad expression, Moat lifted off the chief garments and placed them over Tarsem's shoulders. Then drawing his knife out, he symbolically killed Jake by cutting him across the chest. The old chief would die. And Toruk Makto would disappear so that the people would live.

As the Sully family walked through the crowd, the people expressed their sad facial goodbyes. Neytiri cried, wrapped in her cloak. Lo'ak and Neteyam both walked beside Sylwa, comforting her as she was devasted. Kiri held Tuk's hand as they followed behind. Jake expressed a sad goodbye to the Omaticaya people that he had ruled over for over sixteen years. He had been a wonderful chief to them. But now he was regrettably leaving so that they would live and his family would be safe.

Moat walked with them to see them off. They approached their six Ikrans all loaded with supplies they would need for the long journey ahead and for the place of sanctuary where they would hope to stay safe from Quaritch and the Sky people. The Sharman shared a tearful goodbye to her daughter who cried deeply. She embraced her son-in-law and pressed her forehead against his, imploring him to take care of everyone, especially her daughter. He nodded. She hugged Neteyam, Kiri and Tuk whom she held in her arms one more time before they mounted their Ikran. Now it was time to say goodbye to the twins.

"Goodbye granny," Lo'ak embraced her dejectedly.

"Take care of yourself. Don't get into any trouble," she warned softly.

Lo'ak chuckled a little, sniffling. "I can't promise that," He mounted his Ikran.

Moat held Sylwa's hands. "Will we ever see you again?" her granddaughter sniffled.

"I hope so my darling," Moat pulled off a red wrap and wrapped it around her. "It was your aunt's. And now it's yours," Sylwa felt tempted to refuse it. Since her eldest daughter had died, Moat had carried it for many years. But now she was giving it to her so she could always remember her. "When you wear it, always remember that my love will be with you even when I am not,"

Sylwa couldn't mask the courage to say something. She just partly moved her lips when she heard the Ikran's gently screeching. Her loved ones already mounted were waiting for her; it was time to leave.

"Goodbye Sylwa," bid Moat.

The young Sully twin hugged her grandmother tightly before the shaman cradled her cheeks and wiped her tears away before kissing her on the head. "Goodbye granny," she wept. She sobbed as she climbed up onto Skeera, taking one last tearful look again at her heartbroken grandmother.

With a flap of wings, the Ikrans carried the Sullys high up into the air and they flew off, leaving behind the People who would deeply miss. They looked down and saw their heartbroken expressions along with the faces of the scientists who promised Jake they would protect them with every measure. Over the forests, they flew towards the great cliffs bordering the Great Ocean. As they came nearer and nearer to the endless stretch of blue water, they glanced back at the majestic biome that they were leaving. Perhaps forever. They would miss the green trees. The colourful flowers. The sounds of Ikran and other creatures. No matter where they would go, this place would always be their home.

Each of the children took a glance back sighing sadly. Jake did too. To him, this great forest had been more his home than Earth ever was. And leaving it was breaking his heart just as much as everyone else's. Neytiri was so heartbroken too. She felt a great cut forming in her heart. She felt like she was breaking her father's promise. But if this was the only way to protect their tribe, then she hoped it would be enough to keep that vow.

Just as they passed the sea stacks standing out at sea, the Sullys stopped when they noticed one of their Ikran hadn't caught up with them. Skeera was flapping silently in mid-air allowing Sylwa to take one final look back at the forest that they were leaving forever. Tears flooded her face again. She couldn't bear to fly out another mile. Though she carried her sketchbook with all the pictures she had drawn, looking at them would never make her feel at home.

Lo'ak flew his Ikran over to her. Only he could comfort her. "We're gonna get through this. Together," He consoled, sniffling a bit. Even if they were leaving home, they would all still be together. And that was what mattered.

Sylwa wiped her ears and looked at her twin who smiled a little at her. He was right. At least they would still be together. She took one final glance back and then with great reluctance asked Skeera to keep on going. The twins flew together side by side as they regrouped with the others before flying across the seas of Pandora to find a place of sanctuary. They only hoped that wherever they'd go, they would be welcomed and still be together.

And that's another chapter done. What did you all think? I hope you all enjoyed the dialogue and everything. See you all soon. Once again, please send reviews on your thoughts on the announcements. In all honesty, I really prefer for Tsireya to be a male so I could add in some new dialogue and write down a tense relationship between him and Aonung.

Until then, bye for now.