Hello again. I know it seems like these chapters keep coming quickly but I've been having so much free time this summer but it won't be long until I start uni again. So I'm doing as much as I can. About the next story will be based on Avatar 3, I don't know how to answer any questions without giving away any spoilers from the future movie. Even though they've been launched online, I don't know if I am allowed to mention parts of it. I need to be certain first. In the meantime, enjoy this chapter. By the way, there's a song in this chapter which I do not own. Credit goes to Disney and its writers. I don't own it. I just thought it would be a great addition to the story.

Even Bigger Trouble

Tsireya had searched and searched but still no sign of Sylwa. She began to worry.

Sylwa had stopped crying but her depressed face remained intact. She looked down below and saw a group of sea otters, a family swimming together. The cubs were fighting but their dad stopped them, reminding them to be good and kind to one another. And they all shared a sweet cuddle. Seeing them together brought tears to their eyes, that love and understanding between them was exactly what she and her twin wanted but it seemed like it would never happen.

Skeera chirped and she hugged her face. It's okay. She comforted.

"Sylwa…"

She twisted her head and saw it was Tsireya. "I've been looking for you. Are you okay?"

She shook her head. She walked off the tree, Skeera behind her. "I'm so sorry for all the trouble I got you in,"

"The storm will soon pass," she assured, effortlessly. "Sylwa, I saw something today. I saw a forest girl chosen by Tulkun. I'm very proud of you,"

Sylwa sighed, wiping her eyes. "Payaka didn't kill anyone. I saw it all,". If the chief wasn't gonna listen, then she could at least tell Tsireya. "The Sky people killed her mother right in front of her. And the pod did not try to save her. She attacked the ship because she knew running wasn't gonna save them. The pod tried to stop her but they were all killed. But by the Sky People. Not by her. She did what she had to. She's not a killer,"

Tsireya finally understood her reasons for defying her father. "I'm sorry," she apologised. "But by the Tulkun Way, she is. She bears those deaths,"

Sylwa refused to give up. "Why does she have to pay for it for the rest of her life? When didn't she kill anyone? She knew running wasn't the answer, that it wouldn't save anyone. The Tulkun Way may work for Tulkuns but not with the Sky people. Sometimes you have to break the rules to protect the ones you care about. She had every right to fight back if it meant a chance of saving her pod. They took her mother away. It's not something you just walk, or swim away from,"

"We must tell my father," Tsireya took her hand and tried to lead her away but Sylwa stayed firm in her spot.

"No. He will not listen to reason. And I can't bear to put you into any more trouble than I have,"

"He has to understand. And your father will too,"

Sylwa instantly refused. "No, he won't. He doesn't understand anything! He never listens! The whole clan hates me!" she was now crying. All those repressed feelings she had been trying to get over, coming out now. "Daemon blood," she held up her hand. "Alien. That's all they see,". She let her hand drop. "You were right before. It's hopeless. It was all hopeless,". She walked away, Tsireya reaching helplessly out to her with pursed lips. Skeera roared softly, heartbroken for her person.

She walked to a lonely shore to be alone to ponder on her thoughts of loneliness. She stared down into the rock pools, seeing her reflection.

Look at me
I will never pass for a perfect girl
Or a perfect daughter

No matter how hard she tried she would never feel good enough for anyone. Her human heritage tainted how people viewed her. She stood and walked amongst the tall palm trees, brushing by leaves and passing tropical flowers.

Can it be
I'm not meant to play this part?
Now I see if I learned each rule
That could fool them all
I could never fool my heart

She hated to be forced to hide who she was and hold back like this. She couldn't stand back and be silent or do what everyone wanted. She couldn't let them call Payaka a killer when she didn't kill anyone. And she hated standing back and allowing bullies to torment her and her family, just for being different. She went for a walk.

Who is that girl I see
Staring straight
Back at me?
Why is my reflection someone I don't know?

She wished her reflection would show her true self.

Who is that perfect girl?
It's not me
Though I've tried.

She tried to do what her parents wanted but she couldn't hide who she was. Not really. She loved being like a human. A good human. Was it really that bad to be yourself?

When will my reflection show
Who I am inside?

How I pray
That a time will come
I can free myself
From their expectations
On that day
I'll discover someway to be myself
And to make my family proud

She desired anything to be seen for who she was whilst at the same time being herself.

They want an obedient teen
No one knows
Who I am
Must there be a secret me?
I'm forced to hide?

How could the chief and sharman expect her to shun Payaka like them? She wasn't like them. To her they were just too stubborn, too caught up in their own hierarchies to listen to anyone who disobeyed or tried to speak out against them.

Must I pretend that I'm
Someone else for all time?
When will my reflection show
Who I am inside?
When will my reflection show
Who I am inside?

She sat on a large mangrove root and stared out into the open air with tears, wondering what Payaka was doing right now. She wanted to be alone. Here forever. She wanted to be away from everyone who hated her for her scars, her four-fingered hands and her devotion to a Tulkun they called a killer. She had never felt more alone than ever. Footsteps approached her but she wouldn't turn. She was too ashamed of her tears to face who had come to comfort her. "Please leave me alone. I don't want you to see me like this,"

"I don't care if you're crying. I'm here with you," Tsireya tried to touch her shoulder but she tried to walk away.

"I'm a mess,"

"No, you're not,"

"I'm a screw-up. That's all people ever see. A freak. An outsider. There's nowhere I belong now,"

"That's not true Sylwa. You're just going through a hard time,"

"No," she spun around, showing her wet face. "It's me. And it's all because I'm different. I just don't understand things the way they do or do what everyone else expects me to do,". She looked away and crouched in front of a rock pool, unable for Tsireya to see her wet face. Her tears rained into the salt water. "I'm not good enough and I never will be," She wanted to be in her granny's arms more than anything right now. Her shawl around her shoulders was no longer enough; she wanted to be back in the forest more than anything. She wanted things to go back to the way they were. She wanted to be back in that moment when they were all happy together in their forest home before the sky people came.

"Look at me," Reya implored, gently touching her cheek, and raising her wet face to meet his. She gently grasped her pinkie and then pressed their hands together. "I See you,". Her words brought commendation to Sylwa's spirit. "You are a sister of the Tulkun. You're one of us now," As she spoke, Sylwa felt a new kind of consolation that she had not felt from everyone. Not even her twin. She was truly touched by the magnanimous generosity of the young Navi girl who had been unconditionally receiving her since the moment they met. She felt less alone than she realised. "I have something I want to show you,". Her comforter pulled her by the hands and they walked off together into the island's jungles.

Lo'ak had managed to wipe all of the blood off of Tsu'tey and tended to it with ointment to prevent any infections. "You're all clean now," he said. "Can you stand? Does it still sting?"

He allowed Tsu'tey to lean against him as his webbed-clawed feet pushed his body off the sand. The scratches would fade over time but the ointment was still in its working process. Thank you. He licked Lo'ak's face, covering him with slimy saliva.

"Thanks…for that," he was grossed out but still he stroked his snout. Tsu'tey stepped around him and looked at his three scratch lines; they would remain scars for life. He brawled apologetically. "It's all right," Lo'ak said. "It wasn't your fault. You still saved me, you saved both of us. You were very brave,"

They wanted me. And if you got killed that would have been my fault.

"No. That was not your fault. You couldn't have known,"

You must hide this. Tsu'tey purred his snout into his marked palm.

Lo'ak picked up a bandage and wrapped it around the crystal mark. He held his hand intently, thinking about so many things at once. How everything they had been through together had led to this.

Jake, Neytiri and Neteyam hadn't even found a trace of Lo'ak. Aonung and Roxto who had joined them to draw them away were met with red faces. "You've been leading us astray!" the father accused.

"What? No?!" they tried to deny.

"Our son is bleeding! He's wounded!" Neytiri screeched.

"Wait. What?" Aonung breathed.

"What is he talking about?" Neteyam asked.

"You both didn't know he was scratched?" she was surprised at their shaking heads.

Just then he saw Atuiko nearby and rushed to him. "Lo'ak! Where is Lo'ak?"

"I don't know," he lied.

Jake was too smart. "You know where he is. Tell us where he is"

"I don't know," The way he stood firm in front of the isolated beach made Jake try to move past him but he blocked him. "There's no one that way!"

"Nice try kid," Jake dashed past him.

"WAIT!" Before he or either of the boys could stop Jake, they were frozen by the presence of their families who frowned at them for hiding yet another forbidden secret.

"I'm not gonna let anything happen to you," Lo'ak promised, holding his snout. "We can keep each other safe," Tsu'tey crooned affectionately. "I promise you I will find a way to make the Navi see how wrong they are about you. Once they see you're not what they say you are, you can live here. You'll be safe from whatever it was that came after us. But right now, you need to go before someone finds you,"

"LO'AK!" it was the voice of Lo'ak's dad. They spun their heads and saw him, frozen at the sight of them together. He drew his knife. Tsu'tey snarled.

Quickly Lo'ak got between them. "Dad! Wait! It's not what you think!"

"Lo'ak! Get back!" Jake pushed him away and pulled out his knife. Tsu'tey snarled aggressively. Jake slashed at him but he dodged back. His claws grew out of his toes and fought the Avatar, swiping his tail as well.

"Dad! Don't hurt him!" Lo'ak tried to stop his dad but Jake kept attacking his spirit brother who wanted to fight over him for his youngest son. The teen tried effortlessly to stop the fight but neither would listen. Everyone else watched intently. Neytiri tried to run in to stop them but Ronal held her back. "Stop attacking him! He's not dangerous!" the boy shouted at his dad, tired of him for not listening. But Jake was too busy fighting Tsu'tey. The party arrived on the scene. Tonowari and Ronal were paralysed to see a Taquamare on their shores. Neytiri was shocked once again by what she was seeing. Neteyam cringed, knowing full well this wasn't gonna go well.

Jake raised his knife to try and strike the 'daemon creature' again but his son grabbed his wrist. "What are you doing?" he tried to break his arm free but as Lo'ak tried to wrestle the weapon from him, Tsu'tey who was still fighting to protect himself, slashed at them.

Lo'ak screamed in pain as he felt the sharp claws slash against his skin. "Lo'ak!" screamed his mother in horror.

Jake saw that Lo'ak was injured and growled, wanting to hurt that creature who had hurt his son. Accidently. Lo'ak was too busy, pressing his hand over his arm wound with so much blood spilling that his dad was able to focus back on fighting Tsu'tey. He jumped at the Taquamare but he was whipped to the sand by his tail. He was then grabbed by the ankle by the tail and slammed against some palm trees. Tsu'tey roared and attempted to make a move at him only for Lo'ak to stand between them.

"Stop!" he shouted. "This isn't you!"

Tsu'tey snarled but suddenly calmed down. He looked at the horrified faces of all the Navi watching nearby, then at Jake who was getting up. He saw Lo'ak's petrified face and then his bleeding arm. Lo'ak realised why he was scared and pressed his hands over his wound. "It's all right. It's just a scratch that's all," But the Taquamare was scared, self-ashamed of how he had hurt his spirit brother. The teen tried to reach out to touch him but he whined, stumbling away with guilt for his actions and galloped off across the water. "Tsu'tey! TSU'TEY! COME BACK!"

"After it!" Tonowari ordered. Instantly the Navi called for and mounted their ilus and skimwings.

"No!" Lo'ak shouted. "Stop!" he tried to rush forward but his mother held him back. "No! Don't hurt him! He's not dangerous!"

"Lo'ak! Let me look at you!" Neytiri looked at his wound. "It almost had you! Are you all right?"

"Mum! You've got to stop them!"

"You're talking nonsense!"

"You don't understand! He's my friend!"

The mother turned pale. "What?"

Tsu'tey galloped as fast as he could across the water but he heard the roars of the Navi's steeds behind them, spears ready to throw. He became scared. He had done exactly what they feared of him. But most importantly he had hurt Lo'ak. He could never face him again.

The entire village was alert to the presence of a Taquamare in their waters and instantly the warriors shot off to try and kill him. Their loud cries compelled him to run faster. Tonowari flying above on his Skimwing wielded his spear, Soxato beside him a crossbow.

Held back by his brother, Lo'ak watched helplessly as they pursued his soul brother. "Let go of me!"

"No! You'll only bring more shame!"

But Lo'ak stamped his feet and pushed him back before calling an ilu to try and save him. "Lo'ak!" shouted his parents. The warriors pursuing Tsu'tey couldn't get close to him. They threw their spears and shot their arrows, which he managed to dodge. But he didn't realise what was above. Soxato pointed his arrow. The silver tip caught Lo'ak's eyes. "Tsu'tey! Look out! Above you!"

Soxato shot the arrow. Tsu'tey heard the whoosh of wind and he dodged it. The general growled in anger. The Taquamare was close to the reef wall. Lo'ak tried to follow him, desperate to get to him but he was too fast. The warriors threw their spears but with a mighty leap, Tsu'tey leapt over the borders of their home and dived deep underwater. Lo'ak stopped his ilu, seeing nothing ahead but the dark open ocean. He was heartbroken. He didn't turn to the loud splashes of the two angry Skimwing riders.

Night had now fallen. Lo'ak, arm bandaged was shoved towards the chief's hut. He saw the glimpses of Aonung, and Roxto, both remorseful for him. Then he saw Atuiko, eyes stricken with guilt. But he didn't blame him one bit. "Move it!" Soxato shoved him and he came face to face with the face of the outraged chief and sharman. Jake was next to him, fuming red too. He turned away from him.

"I consider myself a reasonable chief," Tonowari turned over him "I set certain rules. And I expect those rules to be obeyed,"

"But sir…" Lo'ak tried to speak only to be interjected by the outraged Ronal.

"What were you thinking?! Bringing him here?! To our shores?!"

"He was injured! He needed help. I couldn't just let him die,"

"It's a Taquamare!" shouted up the outraged chief. "Killers of our people!"

"No! Tsu'tey would never hurt me or anyone!" Lo'ak defended.

"Then how do you explain that?" he pointed at his wound. "And this!" he gestured to behind his back.

"It wasn't his fault! Tsu'tey would never hurt me! Not on purpose!"

Ronal growled, silencing him. "Have you lost your senses completely?"

"He saved my life in that storm! And so many other times!" Lo'ak was not afraid to speak back against the heated chief and shaman. "He is nothing like what you both have said! Those creatures are not daemons! They're just different! That's all!" he showed his right five-fingered hand, bandaged. Big mistaken. "It doesn't make them dangerous!". Ronal saw a trace of red underneath. Suddenly she grabbed his hand. "Hey, Let go of me!" Lo'ak tried to pull his hand free but Ronal kept a firm grip on it and pulled the bindings off.

The sharman was outraged when she saw the mark, clear red in blood on his palm. "You bonded with that creature?!" she snapped.

Neytiri and Neteyam were paralysed. "Oh no," they cursed together.

Jake marched on his son. "Is this true?"

Lo'ak knew there was no taking it back. "He is my soul brother. It is done," Jake, red as ever turned away much to his dejection. Neytiri sighed outside, knowing full well that that had only just made things worse between them.

Tonowari towered over him. "Do you realise what you have done boy?" he seethed.

"Tsu'tey is not a threat," Lo'ak refused to back down and be silenced.

"Enough!" Tonowari raised his hand but Lo'ak, stubborn as ever would not stand down.

"Tsu'tey had never to do with your sister's death! Or anyone else's!"

"Taquamares are killers. You're a fool to trust one of them,"

"He's' not a fool!" shouted the voice of his son, who stepped in, much to the surprise of Lo'ak. "What he's telling you is true,"

"Just listen to him!" implored Atuiko, joining his other side. Their friendship and support touched Lo'ak. "All these years we've been believing rumours and accusing them of harming our people when we don't even though what happened to them!"

"Tsu'tey saved his life! And they saved our lives!" Roxto and the other two boys stood by as well.

"You were both part of this too?" Soxato was overcome with rage.

"No! It's not their fault!" Lo'ak tried to defend them but their firm stances expressed true loyalty and friendship. Though their support was noble, nothing they said would change the minds of the close-minded rulers of the Metkayina.

"As long as this place is your sanctuary you will never see that creature again," the chief degreed. "Swear to me you will never see him again,"

Lo'ak's heart clenched as if the chief's demands were suddenly strangling it. How could the chief ask such a request? "I can't," he shook his head.

"Swear it!" bellowed the chief.

"Father! Don't do this!" Aonung implored. "Aunt Tsireya wouldn't agree to this! Just listen to him!". His father completely ignored him unable to dwell on the subject any longer.

"Silence!" he hissed. "Swear it boy!"

Lo'ak felt his heart jump to his voice. Tsireya had warned him that angering the chief was the worst thing he could do. Did this mean banishment? Or something? But then again, he thought of his spirit brother, who had been alone ever since his mother was killed. "I'm sorry," he stood his ground but remained shivering from his father's cold gaze. "I won't swear such a selfish oath," he shook his head.

Ronal snarled. "I'll deal with this one," Jake grabbed Lo'ak's hand and pulled him out of the tent. Atuiko afraid for him, buzzed behind them.

Soxato tried to stop him but Roxto blocked him. "Enough Father. You've hurt him enough," As he spoke, the general saw disappointment in his eyes. He had shamed his sons.

Lo'ak was dragged into the hut. Neytiri, Neteyam and the girls were behind watching with apprehension. "Jake…" Neytiri was ignored much to her irritation. She told the other children to go somewhere for a while. Atuiko rushed past her, desperate to defend Lo'ak by any means.

The apprehensive boy raised his head to his fuming father. "Dad…"

"You've brought shame to this family," the father hissed furiously. Lo'ak shrunk back in discomfort. "You disappoint me,". His words made his son's eyes wet.

Atuiko burst in on them. "How dare you talk to him that" he shouted, sticking up for his friend against his dad. "You're the one who started the fight! You're the one who attacked Tsu'tey when you could clearly see that he wasn't harming him!"

"How could you drag him and the chief and general's children into this as well?" Jake continued.

"He didn't drag any of us into anything!" Atuiko defended. "It was our choice to support which is the opposite of what you're doing!"

Jake completely ignored him again much to his outrage. "From now on…both you and your sister are forbidden from ever swimming in the water. You will never see that creature again,". Lo'ak wanted to shout back but he couldn't find the words; he was too hurt already.

"He will never…be good enough for you," spoke up Atuiko again, standing between him and Jake, earning his attention. "Will he," Neytiri listened from outside. "No matter how hard he tries. No matter how hard either of them tries," He wasn't just speaking up for Lo'ak. He was speaking up for Sylwa too. "Sylwa will never be strong enough. Lo'ak will never be perfect enough. What have you ever done for them? Uh? Aside from scolding them all the time and making them feel more alone than they need to feel?"

"Don't speak to me about parenting," hissed Jake at the kid.

Lo'ak finally vented his fury, unable for his father to have a showdown like this with his best Navi friend. "There was a time when Sylwa and I would have done anything, gone to great lengths to keep from disappointing you," his voice broke. "The last thing either of us ever expected was for you, to be the one to disappoint us. I'm sorry I'm not perfect like your favourite son," he stormed off, deeply demoralised, his best Navi friend holding his hand. The kid turned his head and blew a raspberry at Toruk Makto who stayed where he was, conflicted, becoming struck with guilt all of a sudden from the second blow of hateful words.

Lo'ak marched past his concerned mother. "Lo'ak…" she tried to comfort him.

"You were wrong," he didn't turn to her. "He'll never see us,". He dived into the water, unable to stay a moment longer in the village. Atuiko joined him, desperate to get away from his father as well. They disappeared underwater, calling ilus to take them as far away as possible.

She turned to Jake who had stood out of the hut, hand outstretched as if trying to reach for him. "I expected more from you," she was disappointed in him for how he spoke to their son like that. She walked off leaving Jake to stare into his reflection in the seawater and sighed.

He had never felt so guilty in his life after having a dreadful argument. Sylwa had shouted at him wishing he wasn't her dad. Lo'ak had dejectedly told him how much he had disappointed both of them for not understanding their points of view or for shutting them up for challenging hierarchies and beliefs that they deemed wrong. Even worse he had inaccurately accused him of favouring Neteyam more than any of them. He was lost. He didn't know what to do. The return of the Sky People had changed him so much. He didn't know who he was anymore. He had failed the twins miserably. He wondered if he could reconcile and make things right. "What do I do Grace?" he prayed. "What do I do?"

And that's this chapter done. What did you all think? And oh my Tsu'tey has been found out too. And now Lo'ak feels more heartbroken than ever. What did you think of Sylwa's sorrowful singing and Tsireya comforting her? And now Jake's beginning to feel guilty for him and the twins falling more and more apart. Will things ever get better between them? We'll have to wait and see. There's something I've been a bit concerned about. There's a song I want Lo'ak to sing in the next chapter but it is from a movie that hasn't been realised yet. And I don't know if i'm allowed to use it eventhough the song is on YouTube. Could you someone help me with that please? If you could, it would be most helpful. See you later.