Taquamares and Tulkuns

Jake and Neytiri were doing lunch in the tent with Kiri, who was rather moody. Neytiri had tried to comfort her but she had pushed her away. She tried again when they heard loud booming from outside the hut. They rushed outside and they could the storm brewing powerfully beyond the reef. And already many Skimwing riders and ilu riders were retreating to shallower waters for safety and many children were being told to go inside.

"Mum! Dad!" shouted a voice. They turned around and saw Neteyam and Atuiko, both pale-faced as ever, rushing towards them.

"What is wrong?" asked Neytiri.

Neteyam gasped for breath.

"Where is your brother and sister?" asked Jake.

"Please don't be mad…" he panted out.

"Aonung abandoned Sylwa out at sea!" Atuiko blabbered out, unable to be calm like Neteyam.

"What?" Neteyam said.

"Then where's Lo'ak?" Jake demanded.

Neteyam shut his eyes knowing he was going to get into big trouble for this. "He went to try and find her. I tried to stop him," he tried to defend himself.

Before he knew it, Jake was already dashing out of the hut, the frantic Neytiri behind him. He and Kiri exchanged worried glances with one another, afraid for their twin siblings.

"How could you?" snapped Tsireya to Aonung. After she had told her father what had happened, he dragged his son back to the hut by his ear. Ronal, who had been informed as well, was flabbergasted. Though she really disliked Sylwa, she was extremely mad at her firstborn for doing something so atrocious like that.

Aonung couldn't answer.

"You have shamed our family," hissed the highly disappointed chief. "You know better than to take newcomers to a territory of akulas. What were you thinking?"

"I wanted to get back at her," he retorted angrily. "For humiliating me,"

"Serves you right for being so unfriendly to her and her family," said Tsireya. "And for calling them freaks,"

Ronal was speechless a little. A part of her felt guilty for saying the twins and Kiri was not true Navi back when they first arrived. Perhaps it wouldn't have led to this. The storm brewed harder outside. Tsireya's heart jumped at the sound of lightning. Already many fishermen were coming in to take shelter. They were in for heavy rainfall any moment now. "Father, you have to send warriors out to find them," she feared for her friends, Sylwa especially.

Before Tonowari could say anything, Jake and Neytiri came bursting towards them. When Neytiri saw Aonung, she snarled at him but she was in no mood to punish him for abandoning her daughter and inadvertently swaying Lo'ak into leaving to try and find her.

"Our kids are out there!"

"There's nothing you can do!" argued Ronal. "It is too dangerous out there,"

"I don't care!" shouted Neytiri. "Send some of your clan to search for them now!"

Jake did not want to leave them to die out there. He sent a face of beseeching towards the chief. "Chief…"

Tonowari sympathetically placed a hand on Jake's shoulder. "We cannot send search parties out in a storm. The only thing you can do is pray to Eywa and hope,"

"If they're dead, it's on you," Tsireya spat spitefully to her brother. "I'll never forgive you for this,"

The way her voice of betrayal echoed in his ears made her brother shrink in self-guilt.

"Why would you do something like this?" Jake demanded. He had always known how horrible this boy was to his twin children but he never thought he would go so far and do something like this.

Aonung hung his head in shame. "I don't know,"

"Because you're a bully. A nobody! A screw-up! A freak!" Atuiko tried to kick him between the legs but Jake pulled him back, knowing it would do no good. Ronal escorted, more like shoved her son inside. "Please chief. You have to do something," he begged in tears; Lo'ak and Sylwa were the only friends he had ever had and if he died out there, he would feel more alone than ever.

"I'm sorry," Tonowari said gravely. "But I can't risk our people's lives out there?"

"Just because they're different?" Atuiko snapped. The chief felt offended. The kid had got the wrong idea. He did nothing next but run away, the princess rushing after her.

Sylwa tried to swim but the waves became high and rocky. The rain pounded down over her hair and the sky boomed as if it was angry. She felt all her strength waning. She couldn't keep afloat much longer. "Great mother, help me," she implored. "Great mother please,"

Just then a huge wave of water swept over her and she felt herself sinking under the surface, her eyes closed.

Suddenly she felt a pair of hands pull her from the water. Lo'ak pulled her onto his ilu. "I've got you," he cradled her in his arms. She coughed out gallons of water, breathing oxygen again. "Let's get you home. Go,"

His Ilu squeaked and they went riding over the powerful waves, hoping to reach the island before it was too late. As they rode, Sylwa coughed and Lo'ak saw her brutal wounds from being attacked by the Akulas.

"I'm sorry," she coughed. "I'm sorry,"

"Don't say that" he said. "Everything's going to be all right. I've got you," he compelled his ilu to go faster and faster but the powerful waves and the swirling currents far beneath them were getting stronger and they were pushing them back further and further out as if trying to prevent them.

Lo'ak growled in fury, refusing to give up. Just then, a powerful wave, the highest one could ever see towered over them and…

"Holy…wave…"

The mass of water fell upon them and they pushed far below the surface spinning around in circles underwater, both riders slipping off the ilu who swam off in fear, Sylwa's wrap attached to its fin.

Lo'ak saw Sylwa sinking. He managed to grab her and pull her up to the surface and she slowly sucked in more oxygen. She couldn't swim anymore. But more waves kept coming and Lo'ak struggled to keep both himself and his twin afloat. He tried to swim but the waves kept crashing down on them pushing them underwater dozens of times. Another powerful wave came and it was just enough to pull the twins apart and send them shooting off in separate directions in an underwater current that flowed faster than the speed of ilus.

Lo'ak tried to swim but he was carried leagues further away underwater until he managed to swim out. But he was so far underwater. He tried to swim up but…deprived of energy, he started sinking into the darkness of the deep dark water. As his eyes blurred out, he saw a magnificent creature diving towards him. His arm reaching upwards felt a soft snout touch his fingers. He saw a pair of yellow eyes, they were mystical, mesmerising. Everything went dark around him. He felt the final bubble of air leaving his lips.

Sylwa was floating underwater too, unconscious. A giant creature with giant jaws swam over. Its' four eyes recognised her. It opened its mouth and consumed her before swimming upwards.

Tsireya looked out anxiously. Atuiko was deeply petrified. The worst of the storm had passed but it remained too dangerous to send out search parties. "It's gonna be okay kid," comforted the princess, giving him a hug. "They're gonna come back,". Atuiko was beginning to cry. Tsireya shed a tear too.

They heard footsteps and turned around to see her father. "We will send parties out to search for them," he promised. He looked down sorrowfully at the kid, guilty for making him feel more upset than ever.

"Father, can I stay with Atuiko for the night?" Tsireya beseeched.

He nodded, knowing that Atuiko would need her for the night. "Don't give up hope," he said. He turned and walked away. The princess continued to cradle Atuiko in his arms as they looked out to sea worried for their friends.

In a few hours time, night came and the sea was at peace again. Tonowari ordered his best warriors to find the twins. Soxato, reluctantly went. Neytiri and Jake stood with him. "We should be with them," Jake said.

"No. leave my warriors to do it,"

"I do not trust that general," snarled Neytiri, resentful towards Soxato for abusing her daughter.

"He knows better than to defy my orders," the chief assured. "Go and sleep now. Tomorrow they will hopefully return. You have my word,"

Jake nodded, facially thanking him.

Tsireya decided to escort Atuiko to rest. He had offered to take her to the nice hammock spot where he and the twins lay and she said 'yes' hoping it would ease the anxiety. As they walked, they encountered Roxto. Atuiko snarled at seeing him.

"How could you?" demanded Atuiko. Roxto and the other bullies were equally to blame for what had happened to the twins.

Roxto, guilt-ridden has ever couldn't find the strongest words. "I didn't want to do it," was all he could say.

"But you did. And all because you cared about your friendship with Aonung more than you did about the well-being of others. You two deserve each other,"

Roxto tried to step forward but the kid bitterly said, "I'll never forgive you for this. I wish Lo'ak was my brother instead of you,"

His words crushed Roxto's spirit. The pair walked away leaving him to ponder with pain and rejection and disownment.

Tuk, Kiri and Neteyam all sat in their hut. Kiri had to hug Tuk as she cried. Great Mother, please protect them. She prayed. Their parents entered inside. Their ears flicked up, hoping they'd have good news.

"Tonowari has sent out soldiers to find them," Jake said. "They'll be back with us. There's nothing we can do now but hope,"

There was nothing left to be said after that. All became quiet as the others went to bed leaving the parents to stare out at the stairs, the husband embracing the wife as they prayed to Eywa that the twins were safe and they would be reunited with them.

Lo'ak's eyes flickered; he woke up. He raised his head weakly, holding his head so he wouldn't drift off again. He rubbed his eyes; all he could remember was everything going dark and he was underwater. Observing his new surroundings, he realised he was in a giant cave with bioluminescent algae lighting up the water and barnacles that glowed, plastered to the wet walls. He realised he was lying down on a nest of thick seaweed and large palm leaves had been laid over him like a blanket. He could see the large cave opening and through it, he could see clear blue water and a clear sky. The storm had passed. Was it daytime? Had he been unconscious all night? How did he get here? Who or what had saved him from drowning? Where was he? And where was Sylwa? "Sylwa?" his voice bounced off the wet cave walls. "Sylwa!"

Sylwa's eyes opened and she breathed in and out heavily. Her body was half in and half out of water. She suddenly noticed she was lying on something soft and spongy…like…a tongue? She raised her head and she realised the roof above her was spongy. And the odour smelt like dead krill. She was in a mouth. Was she being eaten?

Before she could freak out, she heard felt water rushing in, splashing against her. She turned her head and saw the mouth was partly open. The upper jaw was lifting. Whatever it was that was carrying her inside its mouth, knew she was awake. It didn't want to eat her. She swam out into the bright daylight and turned her head around to face the creature that had sheltered her behind its set of three jaws. It was a magnificent whale-like creature. She swam to the side and saw two yellow eyes. The creature offered her a fin. She gazed at it, a little frightened. Then she heard a loud whistle, like a whale. She hoisted herself up and sat on its fin, looking into its kind eye.

"You're a Tulkun," she clarified. The young Tulkun whistled at her again. "You saved my life. Thank you," she was deeply indebted to this creature. At first, she thought it was going to eat her but it had, in fact, kept her inside its mouth to shelter her from the storm that had nearly killed her. It clicked. Thank you. She communicated in sign language.

The Tulkun whistle clicked again. You're welcome.

As Sylwa gazed at the Tulkun (a female one), she realised that back at the Three Brother's Rocks where she had been nearly devoured by Akulas it was a giant creature who had saved her. It had to be here. You saved me from those Akulas didn't you?

I did.

You saved my life. Twice.

How can you understand me? You're not a forest Navi.

"Yes. It's a thing I have," Sylwa said awkwardly.

When I couldn't find you back at those, I went out to search for you to make sure you were okay. Thank goodness I found you just in time.

Thank you. As she sat on the lovely fin, she noticed there was a harpoon head stuck in its fin. Her heart dropped. "They hurt you, didn't they," she lamented. The creature purred, expressing deep pain. And hatred. "They hurt me too," she turned around and the Tulkun's bright eyes could see the burn mark on her back; it felt deeply sorry for her. "Let me help you with that," she slipped off the fin and swam to the harpoon head stuck in the fin, screwed it loose and it dropped down to the sea.

Thank you.

"You're welcome,"

"What's your name?"

Payaka.

"That's a lovely name,"

Thank you.

"I'm Sylwa,"

That's a beautiful name.

"Thank you. Were you singing when I woke up in your mouth? It was lovely,"

You liked my singing?

"I did. What are you doing out here? Shouldn't you be with your pod?"

Payaka sounded sad. I don't want to talk about it.

She sounded so lonely. Sylwa felt deep sorrow for her. "I'll be your friend,"

Payaka was touched. Really?

Yes. We're friends. Sylwa used sign language and to her delight, her saviour could understand her.

Thank you. You're the first person to be so kind to me. How did you end up in that storm?

"I was tricked and left stranded near the Brothers Rocks. Then when I tried swimming back I was caught in a storm. And my brother saved me," she gasped. She remembered the feeling of Lo'ak's fingers slipping from hers. "Can you help me find my brother? He's lost out there. And it's all my fault," she blamed herself deeply for the mess they had gotten into.

Of course, I will. Payaka answered kindly. Hold on tight.

"Thank you. Thank you," Before she could even react, Sylwa was suddenly subducted underwater. As she floated underwater, she saw Payaka offering her fin and with a gleeful smile, she grabbed it and together the pair set off to find Lo'ak.

Lo'ak struggled to stay calm. He had to somehow swim out of this cave and try and find Sylwa. But he had no idea where he was or how far away he was from home or whether she was alive or not. Suddenly he heard loud snorting from the water and saw spits of foam erupting from it. Something was coming towards him. He shuffled back until his back pressed against the cave wall.

Emerging from the water was a stallion-like creature, whose body was covered in smooth scales that glittered like the ocean, emerging from the water with fin-like appendages poking from its face and along the sides of its body like a lizard. He saw gills lined under its fin-shaped ears and it had long thin whiskers like a catfish dangling under its chin. Its mane was made of long seaweed tendrils with a queue similar to his and its long thin green tail had locks growing out of it resembling long kelp leaves. As it emerged from the water on four long powerful legs, what confused Lo'ak was that it had reptilic feet with webbing in between them instead of hooves. It was the most unusual creature he had ever seen. And its eyes…they were yellow with black irises. Like him.

"You're a Taquamare," he realised. It was the creature that the Metikyena had feared for many years. He felt the urge to escape the cave and swim for it. But he couldn't. It stared into his eyes with deep consultancy. It was at that moment that he recognised its face before he blacked out underwater. "You saved me," The creature neighed, looking at Lo'ak with its soft eyes, confirming his words. "You're not like what they say," He lowered his dagger and sheathed it again. This creature was not the daemon the sea Navi deemed them as. "Thank you," it just stared at him, blinking eyes. "Thank you," he said again, using sign language. The response was a bray. "I'm sorry. I have no idea what you just said,"

The creature purred and nudged the island fruit towards him; it was food. He sat down like a dog on his rear ends and gave a soft bray. The boy didn't know what it wanted him to do. It flicked its head down with the chin. Trusting him, Lo'ak picked it up and took a bite; it was extremely delicious. It reminded him of the fruit he used to eat back home. "Thank you," he devoured half of it, then held it to the Taquamare who had saved him. "For you. I want you to have it,"It purred, touched by his generosity. It took the other half of the fruit and devoured it in one gulp, licking its chops with its thick forked-shaped tongue, a tongue like a lizard's. Lo'ak titled his head right. It copied him. It tilted it the other way and the creature copied him again. He slowly stood up, brushing the palm leaves off him. He stepped down onto the uplifted sand bed inside the cave. "Thanks for keeping me warm. It was quite cosy,"

I just found whatever I could. It snorted.

"I still don't understand what you just said," Lo'ak tried using sign language.

The creature simply picked up the palm leaves with its mouth and dumped them on the bed of thick seaweed. Lo'ak somewhat got the answer. "Do you have a name?" The creature neighed; it sounded rejected. He could understand by the tone of its grunts. "Don't you have a family?" he asked. The creature dejectedly shook his head. "I'm sorry," he apologised. "I can give you a name. If you'd like," It was touched by his words. "Tsu'tey. Do you like it?" The creature neighed approvingly jumped for joy and then pranced around Lo'ak who was awed by its personality. "I'm glad you like it," He hoped the creature was a boy. It seemed like it was.

Thank you. Tsu'tey snorted. He stood still and Lo'ak walked around him and he rotated around, following his eyes.

"You are not like any creature I've ever seen before," he observed. "You're…different,"

Hey. Tsu'tey blew seawater into his face from his nostrils.

"I didn't mean to sound rude," he apologised. "That's a good thing. See?" he lifted up his right hand to show Tsu'tey his five fingers. "I'm different too," he reached his hand forward. The Taquamare sniffed his tips. Then without hesitation, he purred his scaley snout into his hand. Lo'ak was surprised by the reaction. Tsireya had warned him and his family that Taquamares were dangerous but this one was kind and gentle. He had saved his life. He could have left him to drown but he didn't. He stepped forward a little bit so he could use his left hand to stroke Tsu'tey's snout and his face. "You're so soft,"

Thank you. Tsu'tey nuzzled his snout into his chest and licked his face making him giggle.

Lo'ak felt a deep connection with the creature; he had made a new friend. "Are we friends?" he asked, using sign language again.

Of course. Tsu'tey brayed again.

As he kept gazing at his new friend, Lo'ak for some reason felt a strange spark of remembrance thrumming in his head. "Why do I feel like I've seen you before?"

Tsu'tey blinked. He sniffed him like a dog. I feel like I know you too.

"Sorry I still don't understand what you're saying," apologised Lo'ak. He suddenly remembered someone. "Can you help me find my sister?" he requested. "She's out there. Lost at sea. We were separated in that storm,"

Of course. Tsu'tey neighed promisingly. He crouched down, cocking his head to his back. Climb on. He was going to let Lo'ak ride him. The twin was surprised. Approaching him gently, he touched his mane of seaweed tendrils and swinging his leg over his back, he felt like he was riding a direhorse like the ones back home as Tsu'tey stood up on his four legs. "You remind me of the direhorses back home," he patted his neck. "Thank you,"

His new steed neighed standing on its back legs forcing him to have to pull on his tendrils to keep from falling. Lo'ak almost screamed out of fear when he leapt off the sand bed. He braced himself for a splash in the water. There was a splash. But they weren't in the water. They were on the water. The rider watched wonderfully as Tsu'tey galloped across the water flowing through the cave tunnel, using the webbing between his feet to form air bubbles that would keep him above the surface before they popped, like a basilisk lizard. He carried him out of the sea cave and into the open sea air and Lo'ak felt the bright rays of sun touching his face. He looked around and saw they were completely in the middle of the open ocean. He looked back and saw a lonely rock island into which the cave had been carved by the waters. The sight of that simple mound in which his new friend lived sent a pang to his heart. He couldn't bear to imagine how lonely this creature had been all its life.

"This is amazing!" he cried out, holding his arms out. Suddenly his steed leapt into the air off the water. "Woah!" he screamed. As they splashed, Tsu'tey dived underwater taking Lo'ak with him. He slipped off his back and he was now flipping his hands underwater. To his delight, Tsu'tey came back to him but to his confusion, the Sea-mare sucked in a deep breath and blew out a giant bubble which drifted towards him. It engulfed him and then it morphed over his body to fit his physique so it was like he was wearing a bubble suit. As the bubble covered him, Lo'ak realised he could breathe easily and the deep underwater pressure wasn't killing his ears. It was as if the bubble was absorbing oxygen through its surface like a jellyfish and allowing him to breathe normally. He smiled at his friend who invited him to sit on his back again. He tied his hands around the green tendrils of his mane. Tsu'tey took him far underwater, using his powerful muscles and the webbing between his toes; he had the flexibility of an otter. The deeper they went, the stronger his rider felt the darkness engulfing them from the light of the surface world far above.

Lo'ak felt the bubble protection, protecting him from the strong pressure of the sea and freezing cold temperatures. But he also felt the urge to let go and swim up. He hesitated; he realised how much he trusted Tsu'tey, the creature who now helping him find his sister. They dived deeper and it was so dark that all Lo'ak could see was eternal black. And the only sense he could rely on was the feeling of Tsu'tey. He didn't let go.

"Uh Tsu'tey…" he said uncertainly. He was scared. He closed his eyes pretending to be asleep. He suddenly wanted this all to be a dream.

It's okay. Look. The taquamare brawled underwater. You can open your eyes.

Though he couldn't understand, Lo'ak could tell by the positive tone of his voice that everything was all right. He trusted him. Opening his yellow eyes, he looked ahead and saw an underwater landscape, more beautiful than anything he had ever seen. And it was glowing. Almost like the forest at night-time. They saw fish and all manner of undersea life glowing bright; many of which Lo'ak had never even seen before back at the village. Tsu'tey swam slower so that he could get a chance to look at them. He saw rays, giant fish of all sizes, and turtle creatures with four eyes….he saw a little one. He reached a hand up and it swam over to touch it. He giggled. It was so cute. It swam off to join its family.

Lo'ak wondered if any sea Na'vi had ever ventured down this deep before. Tsu'tey carried him up and over archways in coral reefs, through the kelp forests where he could see jellyfish creatures glowing underwater but nothing could prepare him more for the next excitement. They came to the edge of a cliff. Tsu'tey settled on his feet so that Lo'ak could sit down. He looked ahead and to his amazement saw giant clams of glowing colours and inside them were giant pearls of pure starlight.

They were the treasures of the sea. And surrounding them were giant sea gems sticking out of the sand, like crystals. They glowed so bright that Lo'ak wondered if it would blind him if he came closer. It was at that moment he realised they looked just like the one Atuiko showed him and Sylwa. "It's beautiful," he breathed. It was unlike anything he had ever seen. What he wouldn't give for his sister and friend to see this. "You really aren't what they say you are," he patted his neck, comforting him. Tsu'tey neighed, appreciating his words warmly. "I'd love to see more…but we must find my twin,"

Of course. Tsu'tey said, not wanting to delay their goal. As much as he loved sharing all this wonder with Lo'ak, the first Na'vi to ever venture this deep into the sea, he knew they needed to find his twin. Hold on tight.

Before Lo'ak could react, Tsu'tey started rocketing upwards, using his tail like a super-propeller, and pushing his webbed harder than ever. He clung on tight. In under two minutes thanks to his speed, they could see the sun shining through the surface. Tsu'tey tucked his feet and Lo'ak clung on tighter. And then…Splash.

Tsu'tey dived out of the water like a magnificent dolphin. Lo'ak's body-bubble protection popped. He nearly screamed. they had leapt over thirty feet in the air, much higher than an Ilu. As they plunged down, he braced himself for another Splash. But Tsu'tey held his four webbed feet out and the moment they touched the water, he leapt off the sea bubbles from beneath his webbed feets' fringes and he was galloping across the water again at a tremendous speed.

They were going so fast, much faster than a horse than Lo'ak assumed they were going at the speed of a cheetah. Managing to keep his grip on Tsu'tey's back but gently pressing his knees against his side, he held his arms out and cried out, "Wahoo!" as they speed across the sea on the surface of the shimmering waters of the ocean. It was a tremendous feeling that he never wanted to forget.

That's another chapter done. What did you all think? Hope you all enjoyed it. Dear Guest, for the story, I'm going to follow the film's plotline and then I'm going to do a story of an alternative universe where Lo'ak, Sylwa and Atuiko will run together and meet new friends which will lead to them going on an important quest and it will contain elements from what we know so far about Avatar 3. See you all soon. Thank you all so much for your reviews and please let me know what you all think so far of it. I hope you loved the Taquamare and Lo'ak's bond with it. Bye for now.