Avatar: The Return of The Songbirds

Chapter Thirty-Nine - I Am Proud Of You

Meanwhile, deep within the forest Vialo and her family were back on the move, traveling in silence as they made their way through the new and unfamiliar territory. For the most part, their journey had been a light hearted one, however the undeniable unspoken tension that was festering between Vialo and her father was only growing stronger, and due to that energy Lìyìnuk had finally snapped. As they weaved through the tree, she began to make her way towards her husband's side at the front of the group, before gently slapped his arm, gaining his attention.

"What was that for?" Pxäkngam groaned, looking down at his wife.

"You need to speak with Vialo tonight." Lìyìnuk ordered, giving her husband a cold stare.

"I will speak to her, but not right now." Pxäkngam argued.

Lìyìnuk sighed as she took hold of Pxäkngam's hand. "What is this stance you are taking?" Lìyìnuk barked in irritation.

"What do you mean?" Pxäkngam replied in kind. "I am taking the stance I would in any other situation!" He continued.

"No you are not." Lìyìnuk confessed, gaining a look of uncertainty from her husband. "What is it my love? Are you afraid she will say she hates you?" Lìyìnuk questioned, this time in a softer tone.

"That." Pxäkngam paused, lowering his head in shame. "Yes, I am afraid of what she will say." He confesses looking back at his wife, caving into his worries. "I said things to my children that I did not mean due to my blind rage. She did not deserve that...none of them did." He continued, shaking his head in disgust. "How could I...what could I say to rectify the harsh words I said?" Pxäkngam stated, looking into his wife's eyes as tears rimmed his own.

"Pxäkngam she is your daughter." Lìyìnuk exclaimed sympathetically. "It will do more harm than good if you prolong this uncomfortable atmosphere with her. She wants to talk to you, but she feels like she cannot. She feels like you do not want to talk to her." Lìyìnuk added, gently squeezing his hand. "You have made amends with Tatal...and although Henilo is still a bit upset, he is beginning to come around but you have not even attempted to talk to Vialo and she sees that." Lìyìnuk barked. "You need to fix it before it is too late. She will understand, but only if you explain it to her and apologize for the things you said." She finished with a smile.

Pxäkngam let out a nervous sigh. "I will speak with her." He promised. "I just need to find the right words to say." He added, bringing his free hand to Lìyìnuk's face and softly brushing his thumb over her cheek. "If you do not mind, I will walk ahead and gather my thoughts." Pxäkngam requested with a soft smile.

"Of course my love." Lìyìnuk replied in kind, releasing her grip of Pxäkngam's hand and watched her husband make his way ahead of the group. She took in a sharp breath due the uneasy feeling that was weighing heavily on her chest.

"Mom, are you alright?" Sakire questioned, taking the spot her father had just been occupying beside her mother.

"Yes, I am alright." Lìyìnuk replied sweetly. "I was just lost in my thoughts." She giggled.

"You and father were just talking...he looked upset." Sakire continued in a nervous tone. "Is father alright?" Sakire whispered, visibly upset herself.

Lìyìnuk's brow folded together in worry as she looked down at her daughter. "Your father is struggling with his actions." Lìyìnuk confessed, bringing Sakire into a hug. "He feels an absorbent amount of guilt for the way he spoke to Vialo. He wants to apologize, but he feels like sorry is not good enough." Lìyìnuk added.

Sakire tightened her hold on her mother as she tried to understand. "He should apologize." Sakire hissed, catching Lìyìnuk off guard. "If he had not yelled at her, Vialo Tsovey and I would not have gotten captured." Sakire cried.