Chapter 16: Light in the darkness.

From their perch in the tree, Carla, Bia, and Tiago watched with wide, frightened eyes. They had never seen their uncle like this before. The stories from their aunt had painted a picture of a brave, strong, but haunted bird, a hero who had faced unimaginable horrors and survived against it all. But witnessing his internal struggle firsthand was something entirely different.

About 2 minutes after the last words of Big Bad Thom, Thomas finally saw his own reflection in the water and let out a small gasp. Instead of green eyes, he saw the red-eyed, sinister face of Big Bad Thom staring back at him. He recoiled in horror, falling back onto the ground.

"No… this isn't me," Thomas whispered, his voice trembling. "I won't let you control me."

The kids hesitated, exchanging worried glances. Finally, Bia took a deep breath and fluttered down to the ground, landing a few feet away from Thomas. Carla and Tiago followed, their expressions a mixture of fear and determination.

"Uncle Tommy," Bia began softly, her voice steady despite her nerves, "we're here for you."

Thomas turned his head, his eyes filled with pain and self-loathing. "You shouldn't be here. I… I'm a monster."

"No, you're not," Carla said firmly, stepping forward. "You're our uncle, and we love you. What happened wasn't your fault."

Thomas shook his head, tears streaming down his cheeks. "You don't understand. I've done terrible things. That night… I lost control. I killed… I killed a fellow Azul…"

Tiago took a step closer, his young face serious and earnest. "We know about that night, Uncle Thomas. But that wasn't you. It was Big Bad Thom. You're not a monster. You're a hero who saved countless lives."

Thomas's shoulders shook with silent sobs. "I couldn't save them all. I couldn't save Leifr, Áki… and Haraldr. His blood is stained on my wings."

Carla placed a gentle wing on Thomas's shoulder. "What happened was terrible, but those days are gone. The Emberwings and the Svaken are no longer a threat. You have to forgive yourself, Uncle Tommy. You have to let go of the past."

Bia nodded; her eyes filled with compassion. "We're your family. We'll always be here to support you, no matter what. You're not alone in this fight."

Thomas looked at his nieces and nephew, their faces a mixture of love and concern. He felt a flicker of hope, a small spark in the darkness. "I don't know if I can ever forgive myself," he admitted, his voice breaking.

Tiago smiled gently. "You don't have to do it alone. We'll help you, every step of the way."

Thomas let out a shuddering breath and nodded slowly. "Thank you," he whispered. "I don't deserve your kindness, but I promise I'll try to be better. For all of you."

The kids embraced him, their wings wrapped around him in a comforting hug. Thomas felt a warmth spread through his chest, a feeling of safety and belonging he hadn't felt in a long time, not since he had hugged his parents. The weight of his guilt and sorrow seemed a little lighter with their support.

After a while, Thomas pulled back, wiping his eyes. "I need to make things right. I need to apologize to your aunt, your dad and especially your mother, I should never have said those words in the Azul language."

Carla smiled. "They'll understand, Uncle Tommy. They love you too."

The journey back to the heart of the sanctuary was quiet, each of them lost in their thoughts. Thomas felt a renewed sense of purpose, a determination to face his past and make amends. When they arrived at the clearing where his family was gathered, Thomas took a deep breath and stepped forward.

Jewel, Blu, and Jasmine looked up as they approached, their expressions a mixture of worry and relief. Thomas felt a pang of guilt at the sight of them, but he squared his shoulders and walked up to them.

"Blu, Jewel, Jasmine." he began, his voice steady but filled with emotion, "I'm so sorry for everything. "I'm so sorry for what happened an hour and a half ago. In never should have said those awful words to you, Jewel. And I apologize for the fear and confusion I gave you, little brother. And Jasmine… I'm sorry for that argument we had. I promise you all to be a better, brother, brother-in-law and uncle."

Jewel's eyes filled with tears, and she stepped forward, wrapping her wings around him in a tight hug. "Thomas, we know you've been through so much. We just want you to be okay. We love you."

Blu nodded, joining the embrace. "We're a family, Thomas. We stick together, no matter what."

Jasmine hesitated for a moment before stepping forward, her expression softening. "I forgive you, Thomas. We all do. Just promise us you'll take care of yourself."

Thomas hugged them tightly, feeling a sense of peace wash over him. "I promise," he whispered. "Thank you. I don't know what I'd do without all of you."

The family stood together, united in their love and support for one another. Thomas knew the road ahead would be difficult, but for the first time in a long time, he felt hopeful. He had a family who believed in him, and with their help, he knew he could face whatever challenges lay ahead.

Three days passed by. Thomas spent time with each member of his family, mending broken bonds and sharing stories of the past. He found solace in their company, and slowly, the darkness that had plagued him began to lift.

One evening, as the sun set over the Amazon Jungle, Thomas sat with Blu and Jewel, watching the sky turn shades of orange and pink. The beauty of the moment was a stark contrast to the turmoil he had endured, and he felt a sense of gratitude for the simple pleasures of life.

"I never thought I'd find peace again," Thomas admitted, his voice soft. "But being here with all of you… it's like a second chance."

Jewel smiled; her eyes filled with warmth. "We're glad you're here, Thomas. You've been through so much, but you've come out stronger because of it."

Blu nodded in agreement. "And we're here for you, no matter what. You're not alone in this."

Thomas looked at his brother and sister-in-law, his heart swelling with affection. "Thank you. For everything. I couldn't have done this without you."

As the stars began to twinkle in the night sky, Thomas felt a sense of contentment he hadn't known in years. The future was uncertain, but he knew he had the strength and support to face whatever came his way. With his family by his side, he could finally begin to heal and move forward.

The dark days of the past were behind him, and as he looked up at the stars, Thomas felt a renewed sense of hope. He knew there would be challenges ahead, but he also knew that with love, determination, and the support of his family, anything was possible.

To be continued…