Lo'ak had been so happy these last few weeks since the Tulkun arrived, but you worried so incessantly. The young teen was only happy, it seemed, when he was alone or away from the reef. He chose to abscond alone for hours at a time, not telling anyone where he was going or who he was leaving with. In fact, you only found out that he had been leaving alone was when Tonowari had brought him back after high tide had come, well into eclipse and getting closer to night. He had shrugged himself out of Tonowari's grip after being herded back to Awa'atlu, and his parents descended on him in an instant.

The chewing out he got was a little overkill in your opinion, Neytiri was vicious in her scolding. Tugging on loose braids and hissing right in his face about needing to be back in the village when told, but still her eyes softened at the forlorn teen and the same hand that would tug on hair also smoothed his hair to his head in an attempt for comfort. She whispered how she loved him and that dinner would be ready soon. Jake, on the other hand, was like a commanding officer, not quite yelling at Lo'ak but extremely short with the young boy. Demanding answers as to where he was and why he didn't try to reach out with his communicator to tell his family where he was and what he was doing. He didn't raise his voice or his hand but Jake's words hurt Lo'ak more than anything.

"You disappoint me son."

From the side, you could see how Lo'ak's shoulders trembled and he fought to stay still and not break down. He looked so young, and instead of being filled with youthful joy and mischief he was bitter and disheartened. Your heart ached to see him so unhappy.

When you went to comfort Lo'ak he shrugged off your touch much to your dismay. Tears welled up in your eyes and you curled into Tonowari's side as you watched your nephew stomp away. You were a bit inconsolable for the next hour after that happened, but you tried to chalk it up to hormones getting the best of you.

Lo'ak, despite all attempts, withdrew from the family.

He no longer followed Neteyam around like a little palulukan cub, nor did he really try to spend time with either of his sisters. Lo'ak's idolization of his father died down tremendously and he began to avoid Neytiri, for fear of getting into some sort of trouble. He had turned into a shadow of the little boy that had run along the forests of the old Kelutral or the floating mountains.

Whenever you reached out to him, you were also thoroughly rebuffed by him.

The worst being when you were walking through the village, a basket propped against your hip filled with food meant for your family's dinner that night. You had seen Lo'ak along the beaches and called out to him, hoping to entice him into spending time with you if you made some of his favorite foods. Although you were standing above him on the bouncy paths between maruis, you've never felt smaller than when he glared up at you.

His eyes had flicked to your growing stomach and the small headpiece that you wore religiously, and scoffed, "What? Did you finally remember you had a nephew?"

It would have hurt less to drive a dagger through your heart, watching him walk away from you tore at you. You never forgot your nephew, how could you ever forget someone as perfect as Lo'ak? You had been there for him all his life, and helped raise him alongside his parents. You got to experience every little 'first' of his, from his first steps to his first successful hunt.

How could he have thought you had forgotten him?

You visited them every week, almost daily at some points, for lunch, and sometimes even dinner. Whenever it was time to redo hair, you patiently twisted his hair in whatever style he wanted. And though your movements were now a bit restricted due to the added weight you carried from pregnancy, you joined in on small little rough housing between your nieces and nephews. Choosing to snap loincloths against skin and tickling sides that were left exposed.

None of the other children seemed to think that you had forgotten them, so how could Lo'ak believe it? It's not like you had abandoned the Sully family. They were still so important to you and your mates understood that you would be spending a good amount of time with the Sully's no matter what. Ronal and Tonowari were fine with it, and Jake and his family were always happy to have you.

It wasn't like you disappeared off the face of Pandora.

But, on the other hand, you were no longer there all the time.

For the first time in Lo'aks life, you didn't live with the Sully family, and logically you understood that he's been through some big life changes in such a small amount of time. Unfortunately, your emotions were all over the place and just the thought of that sweet boy hating you was not something you could really handle well and it showed. Your mates worried about your health and the baby as well, Ronal telling you to try and relax since stress wasn't good for the baby. Tonowari did his best to help soothe your pains, but there were some things that words couldn't help.

Combined with pregnancy, the troubles with Lo'ak, and insisting on helping out where you could, your body was beginning to overwork itself/

Many in your family worried about you, the stress was slowly but surely hurting you. Balancing two families and their unique dynamics, while still trying your best to help support the village in anyway you could was more wear and tear than your body was meant to handle in its current state. There were days in which one of your mates would find you struggling for breath or fatigued beyond belief as you went about your day.

Tonowari's breaking point was when you were diving with Ronal to collect materials for one of her salves, and not even the txampaysye could help you for a prolonged time under the water. He was besides himself in worry when some women helped bring you, stumbling, into the marui with the faint explanation that you were dangerously close to fainting.

There were very few times you felt intimidated by Tonowari. He was the epitome of a gentle giant, with how he hovered over you and Ronal as you two got closer and closer to birth. Not only did he find time to lead the Metkayina, he found time to tend to both your needs and Ronal's needs. Not once did he ever raise his voice, at least in your vicinity, and never in anger either.

He was slow to anger, and even slower to have an outburst, but Tonowari was only a person after all. There was only so much he could handle before he inevitably snapped.

He had put his foot down, and told you that until Ronal had decreed it you would be bed bound in their marui, only really moving around when absolutely necessary. When he saw how defeated and close to tears you were at being scolded by your mate, Tonowari had turned back into that loving man you knew so well. You had been gathered in his arms and held close to him as he tried to explain it was for your own good without completely backpedaling.

"Yawntutsyìp, do not cry, please" he begged you, "My heart cannot handle it. I am not saying you are to be kept prisoner in your own home, but please be mindful of your health and that of our child's."

You whimpered, "I know! I-I just want to help, and-"

Tonowari cut you off, "And you are most helpful, but all this stress is not good for you. So please, just until you get a little bit better."

It wasn't your fault that you were stressed! This was one of the hardest things that you have ever gone through, of course it would be stressful, and you weren't fucking stupid. You were a doctor for fuck's sake, you knew what pregnancy does to a body and how some women are affected by it. You tried to argue back that you could still do stuff like other pregnant Metkayina do, but Tonowari wasn't having it.

"You are not Seeing, ma'yawne! It is not about whether or not you can do the work, its the fact that you don't mind your own wellness!" he tried to get through to you.

You sniffled, "I'm not invalid Tonowari! If I can help I should be able to!"

Tonowari's ears flicked, one of the few signs of his annoyance or anger, "You almost fainted underwater! You push yourself too hard!" He took in a deep breath, palms pressed to together in front of his mouth, and exhaled while separating his hands, trying to push the anger out of his body. "I am sorry yawne, but I will not budge. You may not like it, but Ronal and I agree that you should stay in bed until safe to do otherwise."

A sharp sense of betrayal cut through you, but Tonowari offered his tswin to you and you gently made tsaheylu with him. You heard his thoughts and fears, how much he and Ronal worried that this pregnancy was too hard on your body. How they thought that your Dreamwalker body was not handling pregnancy as well as a Na'vi's would, and how much they loved you.

You could see how he had watched you work tirelessly around Awa'atlu and how he saw how tired you got but still kept going with a smile. He had been sure that you would be fine until the Metkayina started coming to them with their concerns, and how it all piled up until you almost passed out while diving. You almost drowned and that protective streak in him came to life.

If keeping you bedbound was the only way he could protect you then he would do so in a heartbeat, his love for you would not let him do any less. And when you saw this you had no choice but to agree with him and Ronal.

Agreeing with your mates was really the only choice you had, and it wasn't like they were completely wrong or that their worries were unfounded. Your mates saw how much the situation with Lo'ak was distressing you, making your already worrying health even more unstable. The stress from Lo'ak and your pregnancy had made it hard for you to keep food down, and you were always tired. Almost two weeks into your bed rest and you weren't really getting much better. You were now dangerously close to giving birth, something that worried both Tonowari and Ronal terribly.

Your pregnancy was definitely more in line with that of a human's gestational time, and before you knew it you were about to burst. Your stomach was heavy and much more rounded than Ronal's despite her being pregnant for longer than you. The Tsahik was certain that in as little as a few weeks time, or less, you would be ready to give birth.

While bed bound you were visited frequently by your family. Jake would often visit you with or without Neytiri, and he would help you out whenever you needed to go somewhere like to relieve yourself or to get some sun. You were horribly embarrassed when he did this, but he would scoff at you. "Don't be stupid, you need the help, and besides remember that time when you were in high school and got a variant of SARs? You were laid up in bed for weeks, and I took care of you then," he would remind you when you protested his help.

Jake eyed you, worry in his features, "Besides you're a Sully, and Sullys stick together."

When your brother was not with you, the childen would stop by and offer their company. Neteyam would drop by at odd hours with some food that Neytiri made, hopeful that you would be able to stomach the food, and would talk to you about his day. Kiri and Tuk joined you for lunches regardless of who was there with you, often time it was your mates that would come back during lunch, and would stay until after eclipse. The girls doing their best to cheer you up while your were still stuck in your bed, and for the most part it worked.

Seeing your beloved nieces and nephew made you so happy, you visibly brightened whenever one of them came to spend some time with you.

During the times that none of the Sully family could be found you were crowded by your own family. Ronal and Tsireya tended to you the most, making sure that your symptoms weren't getting worse and that you were still getting decent rest throughout the day without putting anymore strain on your body. Tonowari would check in on you when he could, his duty as Olo'eyktan keeping him away for the majority of the day unfortunately. And Ao'nung would just sit with you while working on his own chores or projects, weaving rope into nets or sharpening his tools.

Sometimes, Ao'nung would lay a hand on your stomach to feel his newest little sibling move around or kick. His face lighting up in happiness as his little sibling kicked against his palm, and he would chatter to you. Asking all sorts of questions about his little sibling, like what you thought about naming them and what you thought they would look like.

"Hmm," you pondered with Ao'nung one day, while he was carving something next to you, "I would like them to look like you all, with beautiful blue eyes and more suited to swimming around the reef. I want them to have the same skin as your father, but no matter what I want them to look like I'm sure that when they are born they will be perfect. No matter what they look like, ten fingers and toes or not, they will be loved very much."

Ao'nung shrugged, "They would have an easier time if they took after father."

You chuckled, "Well of course they would, but I can't exactly control how they look."

The young boy looked at you, "What would you name them sa'nu? How about something like Araye, if they are a girl, or Sa'ho if they're a boy?" He paused in his carving and brushed the wood shavings off his lap while inspecting the wood, before continuing, "I would like very much if you were to have a boy, I can handle a little brother. I cannot handle another Tsireya."

"Be nice," you chided him, "Tsireya would have your tail if she heard you say that, and then I would not be able to save you."

"Sa'nuuuuu," Ao'nung drawled out, "Don't you love me enough to save me from that she-devil?"

You snapped the band of his loincloth against his skin, and he hissed at the stinging sensation. "Of course I love you, but Tsireya is not one to be trifled with." Ao'nung grumbled under his breath and reached out to you to pat your protruding stomach.

"Please, when you are born, be nice to your eldest brother," he begged the baby, "I will surely perish with another Tsireya."

The baby pressed a foot or hand against you, and you watched as the young boy smiled at your stomach before babbling to the baby that couldn't even hear the words he was saying. But the love that came from him was beautiful all the same.

When the rest of your family came home that night you could only wonder how Lo'ak was, not once had he come to visit you while on your sick bed. And you could only hope that he realized how loved he was as well.

The wet season had only just begun when Tonowari came to you with uneasy news. He had just come back from telling the same news to Jake and his family, his posture was rigid and you could see how stressed he was becoming.

"There have been talks among the other villages, of demon ships and false Na'vi looking for Toruk Makto and his family," Tonowari told you, his brows furrowed in worry as he watched the rain fall outside of your home. "They burn everything in sight, and hunt tulkun, but that is over the horizon, far from here," he said.

You grunted as you rose from your bedding, padding over to stand next to Tonowari, "How bad is it?"

The Olo'eyktan looked down at you and draped an arm across the back of your shoulders, bringing you into his side. "So far, no one has told the Sky People anything, as they cannot understand their language, but they say that there is a human boy among them that speak Na'vi and translate for the Sky People."

Spider, you thought, was still held hostage by the RDA, or worse he could be working with them, but the last time you saw the young human boy he fought against his capture in the forest. He had been desperate to stay with you all, and terrified of the recombinant of Miles Quaritch. "I know him, his name is Spider," you told Tonowari, "He was raised near Jake's children, born when we sent the humans packing the first time. He was too young to be sent to Earth, too young to endure cryostasis."

"They are persistent in their search yawntutsyìp, why are they chasing rumors of you?"

You shivered at the reminder of being little more than prey to the RDA and most of all Quaritch. "Because we have been declared traitors to the human, er to the Sky People," you amended, "Jake and I were never supposed to stay on Pandora. We were only meant to be here for six years before being shuttled back to our planet, and instead of doing what we had been sent here for, we betrayed them."

Tonowari said nothing as he listened to you speak.

"Jake rallied a resistance of Na'vi against the Sky People, to destroy their operations here on this planet. I helped him, I was complicit in the betrayal, and I would do it again."

You put your head down in shame as you remembered the fighting, "I was brought here to tend to the Sky People and be able to communicate with the Omaticaya because they were sitting on something that the Sky People wanted. If I had done what I was supposed to do, I would be a real demon. I would be just as bad as most Sky People."

"But you aren't like them, you fought back," he pointed out.

"I did," you confirmed, "This place is so beautiful and the Na'vi are aware of the blessing they have in being able to live in conjunction with nature. Humans don't have that ability to connect to the land, to Eywa, and so they destroy. When asked to fight, I knew that I would be fighting for this place and for these people that weren't my own, and yet it was the easiest thing I have ever done in my life."

Your mate smiled at you, "I am glad that you have done so, else you would not have come here and we would have never been able to mate with you."

"Me too Tonowari, me too."

For an hour you stayed there with Tonowari, watching the rain fall in silence, and eventually you were joined by Ronal when she returned for the day. The Tsahik saying nothing as she curled into Tonowari's other side, sandwiching the man between the two of you. It was obvious that she knew what was happening as well, and she was equally worried. Though she did not offer her thoughts on the subject at hand.

It was merely days later when shit hit the fan.

You were at home, idly cooking something for the family when you saw through the home's opening an entire procession of your family and Jake, Neytiri, and Neteyam. Each of them quiet as Tonowari lead them all, with Ronal behind Lo'ak, a hand on his back. Jake and Neytiri following them with worried and severe expressions on their faces, when you tried to say something he shook his head at.

Realizing you weren't gonna get an answer from Jake, you stood up as fast as you could and went to go greet Tonowari and Ronal. The Tsahik gave Lo'ak's back a quick pat before meeting you halfway. "Ma'yawne you are not yet well enough to be moving around so fast," she scolded you half-heartedly.

"Ma'Ronal, what's going on? What's happened? Are the kids alright? Did they-" you were cut off by Ronal as she turned to Tsireya, unexpectedly.

There was outrage in her voice as she addressed the young girl, "You allowed this? You allowed him to bond with the outcast?"

Tsireya looked downwards, ashamed, as Ronal paced away from her and Tonowari walked towards herr, "Tsireya." It wasn't said very loud but you watched Tsireya look up with tearful eyes and suck in a sharp breath, willing herself not to cry. Her father shook his head minutely, "You disappoint me daughter."

Your poor girl closed her eyes as her lips wobbled, but Tonowari was not done yet. He pointed at Lo'ak, and kept going, "And you? Son of a great warrior? Who has been taught better."

"Payakan saved my life sir, you don't know him," Lo'ak mumbled while looking up defiantly at Tonowari.

You looked so confused as to what was happening, what had Lo'ak done? Who was Payakan, and what exactly did Tsireya allow to happen? Ronal came to stand next to you, wrapping her arm around your extended middle and motioning you to sit with her. The two of you where positioned behind Tonowari and she gestured for the two of you to stay quiet.

"Sit."

It was commanded in a way you have never heard Tonowari talk, he was stern but never had you heard him so serious. He gestured for Lo'ak to sit on the floor with him, when in a squatted position Tonowari looked around and noticed Neteyam, Ao'nung, and Tsireya all standing still. "Sit down!" he barked, and Tsireya dropped to the floor quickly while the others all followed at their own pace. He breathed in and dispelled him anger in a single swoop of his hands.

"Hear my words boy," Tonowari cautioned Lo'ak, "In the days of the first songs, the Tulkun amongst themselves fought for territory and for revenge."

He looked out at everyone, meeting their eyes as he carefully explained, "But they came to believe that killing no matter how justified brings nothing but more killing. So all killing was forbidden, this is the Tulkun way. Payakan...is a killer, and so he is outcast."

Lo'ak glared up at Tonowari, "I'm sorry sir, but you're wrong."

You gasped, "Lo'ak!"

Neytiri scooted closer to him while hissing, "He is Olo'eyktan!"

That didn't deter your nephew, "I know what I know."

Then it hit you all at once, this is where Lo'ak had been going. Him bonding with a tulkun was the reason he was so happy when he was away from Awa'atlu, your dear nephew had found himself a spirit brother. He had someone that he could bring his thoughts to without fear of being judged, Lo'ak finally had a kindred spirit to relate to. Payakan had saved Lo'ak from himself, and you suspected that Lo'ak saved Payakan from loneliness.

"That's enough boy, that's enough" Jake said suddenly, stirring you from your thoughts before addressing your mates, "I'll take care of this one."

You looked at Tonowari and Ronal, but they didn't look back at you, so you spoke up, "Lo'ak." Jake paused from where he had grabbed Lo'ak by the arm, ready to haul him off to give him a verbal lashing no doubt. Lo'ak look at you warily, wondering if you were also going to lecture him, what he did not expect was for you to motion him to you. Your brother had let him go when Tonowari and Ronal nodded their permission for the young boy to approach you.

"Oh ma'tsamsiyutsyìp," you cooed at him, tugging him to you in a hug and cradling his face in your hands. You gave him the best smile you could as your heart broke for him, you kissed his forehead and whispered, "Are you happy? Are you safe?"

Lo'ak nodded slowly.

"Good, good," you murmured, "Oh Lo'ak, you have been so lonely and so upset recently, I'm happy you've found someone that you can be yourself with. I just wish we could have helped you as well."

"Y/N," Tonowari called, giving you a look as if to say 'He is still in trouble.' You nodded at your mate, understand his message and hoped that he knew that your nephew's wellbeing was always a priority of yours.

Lo'ak was so vulnerable as he gazed at you with teary eyes, "But Lo'ak, Tonowari does not tell you this to shame you, he says this in caution. Nothing can be done now that you've bonded with Payakan, but please exercise caution in the future. Can you do that for me?"

"Yes Auntie, I can," he promised, and you smiled.

"Good, now go," you released him, and watched as he was dragged away by his family.

Ronal huffed, "You let that boy get away with too much."

You sighed in defeat, "I know that Jake will not be lenient with him, but there is no need to pile onto his misery. He already feels like an outcast, we can only hope he has the sense to be careful from now on."

Your mates sighed, and while you could tell that they were unhappy about the situation at hand, with Ronal being downright angry, they would try their best to understand where you were coming from. It was a bit sad, but while you didn't like the children getting in trouble you could understand why your mates were so mad about everything that had happened.

Tsireya sniffed as Tonowari looked at her, "Tsireya, we will discuss your punishment in the morning. Ao'nung, you as well, and before you argue, you were also supposed to teach the Sully family better than this."

The acrid smell of burning food finally got your attention and you turned sharply, "Ai! Oh no!"

Something about the way you teared up over the sight of the burnt dinner you were preparing made Ronal chuckle and it broke the uneasy tension in your home. As Tonowari and Ronal helped you prepare something else to eat, you rested your hands on their thighs before squeezing it and giving them a grin which they returned.

All will be alright.

Palulukan - Thanator

Kelutral - Hometree

Yawntutsyìp - Darling, little loved one

Ma'tsamsiyutsyìp -My little warrior

Yrrap - Storm

I'm gonna finish this even if the last thing I do.