Hello again, here is the next chapter. I hope you all enjoyed it. Once again, I have another song. And once again, credit goes to Disney who I hope don't mind me using it. It just suited this part of this story really well. Enjoy it.

Tulkun Hunters

For the past three days, the Trio had alienated themselves from everyone. All except Tsireya who would come back and check on them. To make matters worse, Tonowari had ensured many soldiers were stationed around the borders of the reef. He was not going to let either of them see their spirit siblings again which was so heart-breaking.

"This is so unfair," lamented Sylwa in tears. As if the argument with their dad was bad enough but being kept prisoners like this. "How are we ever gonna see them again?"

"How could a chief be so cruel?" Atu cursed.

"Even if Tsu'tey did get in, he wouldn't come," lamented Lo'ak, looking at his bandaged arm. "It's all because he's scared of hurting me again,"

"That wasn't his fault," said Atuiko. "It was your dad's fault for not listening,"

"Please don't mention him," begged Sylwa. She was in no mood to reflect on their dad. "Just don't,"

Atu touched her hand in comfort. Lo'ak however instead of lamenting stood tall, staring out into the distance. "We're gonna out there someday. And when that happens, we'll see them again. No matter what everyone thinks, we must be loyal to them regardless,". They nodded in agreement.

From the hut, Jake stared at the cliff where they had retreated. When he saw the twins, he could tell by their slouchy postures how upset they were from everything he had said to them. He hung his head down as he leaned against a pole. "I knew this would happen,"

"You started it," spoke a voice inside; Neytiri sharpening her knife, not making eye contact with him.

Jake knew how frustrated she was at him for how he talked to Sylwa and Lo'ak the other night, especially with how he had upset Lo'ak by telling him how much he had 'shamed' their family. He sighed. "My intentions…" he tried to speak.

"You are taking this too personally," she glanced up with her soft but stern eyes. "It's their choice who they love to spend time with,"

"We came here seeking Uturu," he reminded seriously. "And as such we are supposed to do what the chief and his mate demand. I mean do you just expect me to let them go against the chief's rules and just let them be friends with an outcast Tulkun and a creature that he hates?"

"They do. And they'll never forgive you if you don't," Neytiri's eyes widened. She looked desperately at her mate. "I don't want to lose our children like this,"

Jake hung his head and fell to his knees. "I don't know what to do," he confessed. "I spoke to Grace the other day,". It earned his mate's attention. "She says I need to try to understand them but how can I? When we're supposed to follow their ways of life and what they expect us to do?"

"You forget that we are forest people. We weren't born with the same instincts as they were. Just like you weren't born with Navi instincts,"

"They've felt alone their entire lives. Even with us. Because of their hands. But when I see them, I see myself back when I was becoming one of the People you taught me. With all our children, I wanted them all to not inherit my hands so they wouldn't suffer exclusion for being different. They've let it to them their entire lives. I always told our sons and daughters, they were all special in their own ways. Even them. And then suddenly...I realise them being different makes them more open-minded. And that's what you helped me too see before in myself all those years ago,"

"Say that to them…please?" begged the tearful mother.

He pursed his lips and inhaled deeply. "I don't know how,"

Lo'ak walked alone to the sea cliffs, staring out into the open sea, the song his spiritual brother had sung to him before, echoing in his head. He wondered what Tsu'tey was doing right now. He looked at the diamond etch on his palm scrunched his fist and looked forward again. He tried to imagine seeing Tsu'tey galloping across the sea, shining a spectrum of different colours.

All I ever wanted
Was the open sea and sky
Freedom from the life I always knew
Now all I am is haunted

As days and hours roll by
All I ever think about is you
There you are, over me
Taking me with your song to
Wild uncharted waters
Miles beyond the sea
I was darkness-bound, I had almost drowned
'Til you came around, and you found me

He could do nothing but reflect on how Tsu'tey had saved his life. And the beautiful song of the Taquamares which he had shared with him.

Now I am on the shoreline
But I'm still lost at sea
In these wild uncharted waters
Come find me again.

As he stared out into the distance, he imagined himself riding across the sea on his spirit brother's back. That feeling that he had experienced for the first time in years was still engulfed by his desire for freedom. He wanted more than anything to be on his back again, riding with the wind in his hair.

All I do is wonder
Where you are and where you'll bе
In my mind, your melody goes on
Stronger than thе undertowThe night you rescued me
Silhouetted by the rising dawn
Woah, over you
I cannot get over you

In wild uncharted waters
Beyond where man can see
When your eyes outshine the horizon line
And you're finally right here beside me

He wanted Tsu'tey to be with him more than anything. He wanted Payaka to be back with them too. The chief and his estranged dad had broken that family apart with their laws and their inability to heed their beliefs.

I'm right here on the shoreline
I'm right where you left me
And your voice is like
A siren that guides me to
Wild uncharted waters
Alone, just you and me
And I hope you're there in the open air
There's no map or compass to guide me, no
Time may change the shoreline
But time will not change me.

No matter how long time passed, he would never, ever forget his spirit brother. He loved him too much.

If it takes my life
I will finally find you again
In uncharted waters
Come find me again

He would never give up on their brotherhood and friendship. They had been destined to bond together since the day they met and nothing would change that. Not their dad. Not Tonowari. Not any Navi. He stayed where he was staring out at the sea. "Where are you, Tsu'tey?"

Tsu'tey was staring out at the sea on top of a sea stack, wondering what Lo'ak was doing right. He couldn't get the image of the strikes of blood on his arm, the wound he had given to him though it was unintentional. He lay down like a lion with one front paw over the other, staring down at a school of Tulkun passing the sea stacks. When he spotted a calf with its mother, he closed his eyes in sorrow, remembering his beloved mother.

Tsireya sat near her blankets, gently rubbing the little shell-headpiece that Sylwa had given her. Aonung came into the hut and saw the item. "Where did you get that?"

"Mmm?. Oh, this. Sylwa found it. It is our family's lost jewellery piece. She gave it to me the other day,"

"How is she?"

"She's alright. I've done all I could to try and make her feel but I can't completely take that feeling of loneliness away from her,"

"The only thing you can do is just give her time. I admire your friendship with her and maybe…"

Tsireya crossed her eyebrows seeing a goofy grin. "Don't even think about it. And don't even drag mum or dad into this,"

"Drag us into what?" spooked a voice. The two turned around to their mother had entered with a questionable expression.

"Nothing!" they denied together.

"What are you hiding?" Ronal demanded Tsireya to reveal her hands which she had hidden behind her back. She held up the shell headpiece and she was stunned. "How did you…"

"Sylwa gave it to me," she said in a blunt voice. "And she didn't find it alone,"

Ronal knew exactly who had helped her. "I'm still ashamed of how you allowed her to bond with that killer,"

"Mum if you would just listen to her…you'd realise,"

"Whether she accepts it or not, that outcast broke the Tulkun Way," Before her daughter could argue with her, her mate entered and the young teen restrained herself. Though Aonung looked like he was ready to have a say.

"Why are we talking about the outcast?" he demanded.

"Father, you have to listen to the twins,"

"We are not talking about them," interrupted Ronal. "Or that outcast. Or that daemon creature,"

"As soon as that family came to our shores, you judged them by their hands. And like you, I didn't respect them just for that. I did that because I trusted your judgement but when they rescued me even though I bullied them and put their lives in danger, they taught me the importance of familiarizing myself and not judging someone for being different. I realised that there was more to them than what I thought. And that's what they chose to do with those creatures who saved their lives because they understand something you both don't. We will not let prejudice and hatred twist our heads the same way it has to you two," he stormed out of the hut with Tsireya following him. The parents were appalled by his dramatic speech. Whatever kind of forbidden friendships the twins had with their saviours it had in some ways influenced their eldest son and heir.

Lo'ak had sat where he was for a long while, still thinking about Tsu'tey. He didn't know what to do. He knew that he had to make a stand no matter what but how? His thoughts were disturbed by the cry of his name and approaching him was Atu, accompanied by a group of twenty Metikyena kids, around his age and younger.

"Atu?"

"I brought you some new friends,"

When Lo'ak stood up, he was immediately surrounded by all the excited kids who flooded his head with questions. Too many.

"Is it true that creature saved your life and you can control magical spirits?"

"How big is he?"

"What can he do?"

"Can he change colour?"

"Can he fly?"

"Woah! Woah! Calm down," he ushered. He gently pulled Atu away for a private conversation. "Why did you bring them here?" he whispered.

"So, you can teach them to see," he answered. "How can you be the bridge when you don't have people to teach? If the chief will not listen, then they will. I know they will,".

"Please tell us!" begged one of the kids, hugging his leg. Lo'ak became overwhelmed with his stress. Was this the right thing to do? Would anyone find out? But then again he remembered his grandfather's spirit telling him that he had to do what was right and not let himself feel held back. And Atu's loving comfort through melodic words the other day had made him realise that his bond with Tsu'tey was the dawn of a new age, a new beginning between the Navi and the creatures that had existed long before them.

He glimpsed at the kids and smiled. "Who's ready for a story?". For the next hours at their private spot, the children were taught everything Tsu'tey had taught and shown him. His selfless act of saving him. His abilities. The Taquamares' ways of life. Their bond with the magical crystals. To increase their delight, he told them of the beautiful fathoms far below the sea. They were amazed.

Tsu'tey and Aonung were walking together when past the nearby grove of trees, they saw Lo'ak swirling his hands and colourful bubbles rising from the salty waters surrounding him and his audience. They could tell well indeed by the group of amazed faces with parted lips that these were spirits surrounding them when they failed to pop them. Roxto joined them later too and like them, he couldn't believe what he was saying. Unfortunately, the state of bewilderment was interrupted by the presence of his father close by. He gave a signal to his friends to keep quiet whilst he made his way to his father.

"What happened to keeping an eye on your brother?"

"Atu is able to take care of himself,"

"If he's hanging out with that treacherous…"

"Lo'ak is not a traitor!" defended Roxto. "He didn't betray anyone!"

"He brought a daemon to our shores! He is not one of us! He will never be one of us!"

Roxto curled his fingers into a fist. "You know what I loved about our family?" he began, staring at him straight in his cold eyes. "That we were happy. That you had the biggest smile of anyone in the tribe. But ever since Mum went missing, you've changed. You're narrow-minded, pig-headed, and antagonising to everyone who tries to be nice to you. Even me and Atuiko. Our family is torn apart because of you. Not Lo'ak. All he wanted to honour Mother's memory by being there for Atuiko. And yet you treat him like he's the enemy when it's you. It was always you. Take another move against him or Sylwa, and you will lose my love and Atuiko's forever," he leaned closer. "Your call,". He wasn't afraid of the cold glare of his father. His cold glare was equally dominating.

Soxato said nothing back, nor did his cold glare recede. He walked back the way he came not looking back. Unknown to his eldest son, his face had broken apart. Roxto's anger evaporated and his friends came over to comfort him. He had been wanting to say that for a long time but now that those words had broken out of his frizzled lips, he didn't know what to feel anymore.

Back with the kids, Lo'ak had finished entreating the kids with lessons about Tsu'tey's abilities.

"So is it true you don't need to connect your queue to him all the time?"

"That's correct. Once you make the first bond with a Taquamare, he's yours for life. And you don't need to make the connection again. Cause they'll know it's you, and they'll know what you'll need it to do. It is all about acceptance and trust. Just because something isn't like anything you've heard of before; it doesn't make it dangerous. It makes it unique and special,". The children loved his words and when Lo'ak drew an etch of Tsu'tey as best as he could in the sand, they admired the intricate details. He smiled a little though he wished Tsu'tey was actually here so that the children could officially meet him. And if their parents saw how harmless he truly was, then they'd realise how wrong their prejudice towards things that are different had steered them.

Payaka was swimming across the sea and all she could think about was poor Sylwa who had stood up for her against the mean-minded general. She didn't want to imagine the awful amount of trouble she had gotten herself into. She worried about Tsu'tey and Lo'ak. She hadn't seen them since the other day. She hoped they were okay. Just then she heard something buzzing in the air. Her irises rolled to the top of her eyes and up above, she saw a giant steel bird that wasn't an animal. It was a Sky People chopper. She realised that Sky People were close by. And if they were close by. It meant there were daemon ships not too far away.

She began to swim faster but ahead of her, she saw a pod. A pod of Tulkun. She had to do something. She didn't care if they would reject, she couldn't just allow them to be killed for sport like their mother. Sylwa had told her she wasn't a killer and she was not longer going to deem herself one. She flipped her tail.

The Tulkuns were enjoying themselves, with Roa swimming about with her calf. But when the sight of a lonely Tulkun with a missing fin caught their eye, they knew exactly who she was. They frowned upon seeing her. Payaka took her approach very slowly. Easy. Please. I'm not here to hurt anyone.

You are not welcome among us killer. Sneered one. Leave now.

Call me what you want but you have to listen. There are daemon ships coming this way. I saw one of their airships. You need to….

Leave! The other Tulkun commanded, rearing their heads towards her, forcing her to move away from Roa and her baby.

Please. I'm trying to help you all.

Like you helped all those Tulkun you killed.

I didn't kill anyone. I was trying to save them and now I'm trying to save you guys.

We said 'swim off' Another one reared at her.

Just listen! She roared, rearing her head crest in self-defence. Those ships will slaughter you all for sport. That's what they did to my mother! My entire pod! And now they're coming this way and you're just drifting here waiting to be killed.

The baby took her words into consideration. Mum, maybe we should….

Leave us be! Commanded Roa.

Payaka saw that it was helpless. They wouldn't listen to her. Still, she wouldn't leave without giving some final words. If you won't take yourselves to safety whilst you still can, know this The Tulkun Way will not save you all. If you don't fight back, then you're literally sentencing yourselves to death. She turned around and swam away. When she looked back, she saw a concerned calf looking towards her with sad eyes.

The calf was sad seeing the young Tulkun being treated like this. His mother and the others had called her a killer but she didn't look like one. She was a lonely being who was only trying to help them and yet they pushed away like she was their enemy. "Mum," he implored. "I really think we should listen to her,"

No. We do not heed the words of those who break our ways and get others killed.

But mum….she looked so heartbroken when she mentioned her pod. There's no way she'd actually…

That Tulkun is a killer. She broke the Tulkun Way and that will never change.

Payaka swam away, remorseful over her failed attempt to warn them. They were just like the Navi soldiers whom Sylwa had defended her from, stubborn and unable to listen. She squeaked calling out for Tsu'tey hoping she'd run into him but there was just no sign of him. She became worried. Her worries were disturbed by the echoes of boom! Boom!. Followed by loud cries. She paused. And thought. And made a decision.

Roa's calf whimpered. As his mother was the slowest swimming away as she wouldn't leave him behind, she had been killed, exploded from the inside with an exploding harpoon by the sky people. Speed boats surrounded him and her corpse. One was raised at him. Suddenly a Tulkun came out of nowhere and rammed its head into the boat causing it to crash into another one. The baby calf saw it was the same Tulkun who had tried to warn his mother and her pod of the danger. It had come to save him.

"Shoot it!" shouted a blue being who looked like a forest Navi. The arrogant Tulkun hunter aimed his harpoon at him but then the Tulkun came again and flipped them into the water with her tail before taking the rest of them.

Payaka came for air. Come. She implored the calf. The baby glimpsed again at his dead mother. Please. There's no time. She glimpsed at the large daemon ship many yards but still a short distance away from them.

I love you, Mum. The baby squeaked, nuzzling his mother one last time before he followed his rescuer out to the open sea. In mere minutes, the other ships arrived at the floating corpse of Ronal's spirit sister.

Once they were a safe distance away, Payaka looked back at the daemon ship loading up Roa's corpse. They came behind some rocks for safety. Her son moaned in grief. Payaka purred in sympathy for him. She too had lost her mother the same way and it had broken her heart to see such an innocent calf suffer the same pain. I'm so sorry. She offered a fin and the baby nuzzled against her.

Thank you for saving me. He said, still grieving. You came back. Even though my mother and the others pushed you away.

I couldn't just stand back and do nothing. I'm sorry I couldn't save your mother, kid.

Why didn't they listen to you? You were only trying to help them and they didn't listen to you.

Because I'm an outcast to them. Payaka lamented. Those daemons that killed your mother killed my mother too. And many of my pod as well when I defied the pacifist ways of our species and tried to fight back against those monsters. I thought I was saving them but many died as a result of my actions. They call me a killer and deem me an outcast. Even the Navi do. Including your mother's spirit sister.

You saved my life. That is not the work of a killer. They shouldn't have treated you like that.

I'm gonna keep you safe. Right now, we need to get as far away as possible. I must warn my spirit sister Sylwa. She's one of the very few only friends I have.

Do you think the rest of my pod made it out?

They did. I saw them swim away. It shames me that they just left you there and didn't try to fight back to save you. This is why I don't agree with the Tulkun Way. It protects us from one another but not from those sky people.

Roa's son completely agreed with her at once.

I'm sorry I couldn't save your mother. She offered a fin and he swam under, nuzzling her tightly. Now let's go. Before the daemon ship finds us. I only hope word reaches the Navi of this atrocity soon.

Under the sea at the island, Lo'ak was underwater in the deep-water section of the reef with the kids and Atu. They were attached to gill mantles so they could breathe underwater. He summoned the bubble spirits and the children gazed at how they glowed and the crystal flowers inside them. They were magnificent.

Their moment of fun was interrupted by a loud echo. They turned around and they saw a trio of Tulkuns swimming towards them. Lo'ak recognised one. He instantly swam towards her, signing: Aloa, it's wonderful to see you again. What brings you here?

Something awful has happened. We came here to the Metkayina to warn them.

Lo'ak beckoned Atu to swim over and they surfaced. "What is wrong?" he asked.

"Aloa brings tragic news. But I don't want us to be the one to tell the chief,"

"We'll tell Aonung and he can tell him,"

Lo'ak turned to Aloa and swam closer to her. "What has happened?"

And that's chapter 34 done. Please let me know what you all thought. Once again, credit for the song doesn't go to me. It goes to Disney. I just thought it would be good for this chapter. See you all soon