The light of day was about to disappear as nature was just beginning to shine on its own.

Jake stared at the fish swimming in the water, which shone yellow and purple below him. He was sitting on the platform near the family hut next to his eldest daughter who was wiping some tears that had escaped from her eyes after her confession about her strange connection with Eywa. Kiri looked distressed and Jake gently kept a hand on her shoulder to comfort her.

Jake didn't know how to help his daughter but he wanted to do his best. He might not have the information she needed, or the right words to say to make her feel better, but he was there. He wanted her to know at least that. He knew that Kiri had always felt apart, she was forgetful and often preferred the company of animals to people of her own kind, but she was an extraordinary person, curious and more generous than many.

If only the other kids could see that, he thought with his chest tight as he looked up at his daughter who was gently playing with the fish surrounding her feet.

"It's okay baby girl. I believe you. We'll find out what it is, together. I promise", he said while running his hand over her cheek to wipe away a trail of tears before tucking a dark lock of hair behind her ear.

Kiri smiled softly at him before silently placing her head on his shoulder and Jake almost felt his heart break at how exhausted she looked. He wanted so much that all his children could still live carefree and continue to be happy without bearing the weight of war or fear. They should never have grown up in such conditions and thinking about it made him sick.

If only everything had remained as before.

Jake rested his head on top of his daughter's while closing his eyes and wrapped an arm around her to hug her. They stayed like that for a while, nestled in each other's relaxing warmth. The fish swirled around Kiri's feet like a comforting night light and the waves sang a sweet melody as they lapped steadily against the dock.

While still daydreaming in that peaceful moment, he was interrupted when he heard footsteps rushing towards them. Jake quickly opened his eyes and turned his head towards the new intruders to find Neteyam dragging Tonowari's son with a firm hand on the back of his neck. Kiri also seemed to notice the change in mood as her gaze fell on them as well with a frown.

"Tell him what you told me," Neteyam growled urgently at the boy and Jake stood up, startled by his eldest son's anger.

Aonung stared at him for a split second before immediately looking down as if he knew very well that things were going to go wrong for him and Jake felt a sense of unease growing between his ribs. When Neteyam was angry it was often for a good reason and this boy emanated some guilty vibes that made the muscles of his body tense unpleasantly.

"What are you supposed to tell me, boy ?" he asked, staring at the young metkayina as he took a few steps forward. He was intrigued by this sudden interruption but it also made him worried and anxious as he waited for an answer.

Neteyam gave him a tap on the shoulder to urge him to speak and Aonung finally dared to raise his blue pupils towards him. "We took your son, Lo'ak, over the reef to fish at Three Brothers Rock. We wanted to prank him and...we left without him"

Jake's heart skipped a beat. He could have expected anything but for some reason it wasn't something like that. The information took a moment to really sink into his brain and the realization of what it entailed nearly knocked him out of his mind.

Lo'ak had left the reef without his agreement, he had been somewhere in the ocean and, worst of all, he had been alone. Jake ran his hand over his face in disbelief. Why was it so hard for his son to stay safe ?

He didn't even have the words to react to the news as his heart was beating as fast as his thoughts were racing. He wanted to say something, anything, but nothing came out of his mouth. And, anyway, even if he could have spoken, he wouldn't have had time because a voice rang out immediately.

"What did you do ?!", Neytiri roared as she walked furiously towards them. She had stayed in the hut not far from here all this time and she must have listened to the conversation after Neteyam's sudden appearance.

He knew that his partner tended to be intense but at this moment her murderous aura could make more than one shiver. If a look could kill, it would be a long time since this boy was part of this world.

"It was supposed to be just a joke. I thought he was going to come back soon after. I swear", Aonung tried to defend himself in vain as Neytiri showed her fangs angrily while approaching him as Jake held out his hand to hold her back.

Fighting was pointless, not even with an unconscious kid like that. It wasn't going to change what had happened.

While holding his mate by the shoulder, Jake finally found his voice. "Wait. he hasn't come back since ?" he asked in thick breath filled with fear.

Aonung shook his head guiltily and Neytiri almost broke free from his grip to lunge at him as a torrent of icy water surged through his guts.

How long was Lo'ak there ? When did he even leave ? Why hadn't he realized his absence sooner ? Had he tried to come back ? Was he injured ?

There were so many questions swirling around in his head yet still unanswered. A deep sense of shame and panic took root in his stomach and it made it impossible to ignore. This feeling was even so powerful that his body seemed to be paralyzed, almost inoperative.

"But it's almost night already", Kiri whispered worriedly behind him and Jake turned to her completely speechless.

"We have to go get him," Neteyam added hastily, "we can't wait any longer. If he didn't come back, it's because something happened or he may have gotten lost.". His son declared fervently. He seemed ready to fight if he had to just like the brave young man he had become.

Jake took a deep breath trying to regain his composure. Being a parent had been the most wonderful thing that had ever happened to him. He loved every moment of it, no matter what hardships he encountered on the way, no matter how hard or how tiring it could be sometimes. He never thought he could ever be so happy until his family came into his life.

But despite this joy, there was a fear within him that was constant and able to take on so many different shapes at once. He had first been afraid of being a bad father, of not being able to raise children properly in a world he was still learning to know. Then he was afraid to see them sad or hurt because as a father his only wish was to see them happy and fulfilled. But since the return of the Sky people, the intensity of this fear had been multiplied to a suffocating point. Losing them was an indescribable thought, it was so unbearable, but it still became the greatest terror he had ever had before.

If something had happened to Lo'ak. He wouldn't even know how to feel. It was as if a part of him was about to be ripped from his being before being ground to dust. It hurt, it even hurt extremely.

He was deaf to the words exchanged between his children for a moment, his thoughts still too overwhelming, then he felt a soft hand intertwine with his. The soft and familiar gesture brought him back to reality and he wasn't surprised to see the beautiful and understanding eyes of the woman he loved.

"We'll find him," Neytiri said as she cupped her other hand tenderly on his cheek as he ducked unconsciously into the touch.

Jake could only nod as his mind finally became clear while it already starded to plan everything. He had to go warn Tonowari and Ronal as soon as possible to prepare search parties and explore the sea to find Lo'ak. He and Neytiri did not know the ocean like the metkayinas do so they necessarily needed them and the more they were, the more likely they were to find him.

It could do it.

"Okay. Go get your ikran ready and meet me at the beach. I'll go get Tonowari and Ronal," he told Neytiri who nodded before quickly leaving to get ready as Jake turned to the children. "You. You come with me young man," he commanded Aonung before addressing the others, "We'll get back as soon as we can. Meanwhile stay tuned, you never know if Lo'ak might come back on his own"

Kiri nodded like her mother but Neteyam grabbed his arm as he just started to walk away. "No. I'm coming with you"

"Neteyam-"

"I'm coming", he cut him off, "I want to find him. He's my brother", his son declared with such determination that Jake didn't even have the courage to protest.

He looked so much like his mother when he had that look.

Jake knew that fighting was already a losing streak. Anyway, even if he forbade him to come, Neteyam was going to find a way to infiltrate to help them and it was not his fault for trying so many times before to keep him on the bench and of course to fail miserably every time. His children had apparently for some reason had to keep this gene that he knew was his.

"Alright," he sighed in defeat, "Kiri watch over Tuk and tell her not to worry, we'll be right back," he said as they already started running with Neteyam and Aonung right behind him.

On the way, Jake was trying very hard to chase away any distracting thoughts that might keep him from concentrating on his goal. He had done it many times before like when he came to the battlefield on Earth and then on Pandora. There was a whole method to keep a cool head and he knew he couldn't allowed himself to do otherwise.

No time should be wasted. His son needed him.