Avatar: The Return of The Songbirds

Chapter Forty-One - All The Good Things

The group wasted no time. They sprinted forward in the wrong direction for a few miles before strategically climbing the trees and continuing their journey in deafening silence for hours. Pxäkngam led the group through the dense branches while maintaining his sight on Solko. Before they knew it the star filled sky had become a soft blue. "The sun is already up?" Tatal whispered in shock. "Have we really been running for that long?" She added.

"We should stop." Pxäkngam pleaded, looking over to his wife who was visibly depleted of energy. "We are all tired, a rest will do us well." He persisted. "It does not have to be long, but I am worried we will burn out if we do not take a moment." Pxäkngam confessed.

"My father is right." Vialo agreed. "We need to rest." She ordered looking over to her father, giving him a soft smile. That was the first time they had shared a moment like that in what felt like a lifetime to Pxäkngam. No one put up a fight, and within minutes everyone was either lying down or propped up against the sturdy tree trunks surrounding them. It took no time for the air around them to echo with the soft sounds of exhaustion. Vialo waited patiently for everyone to fall into a deep sleep before making her way over to her father. "Are you alright dad?" Vialo whispered, taking a seat next to him.

"Yes." But Pxäkngam quickly paused, looking into Vialo's eyes. "Truthfully, no." He confessed, letting out a defeated chuckle. "I am supposed to keep this family safe. That is my job as your father." He began, as he leaned his head against the tree behind him. "And yet all I have done in the past ten years is leave the six of you alone to fend for yourselves while I chased a blind dream...and these past weeks." He paused, taking in a staggered breath. "I have been nothing but a burden to you all." He growled.

"That is not true." Vialo hissed, gaining her fathers full attention. "Was I hurt by what you said, yes." Vialo began. "But you were not wrong for saying it." She exclaimed, taking her fathers hand in her own. "I should have told you the moment I found that book, but I kept it to myself. When we first met those three I was selfish." Vialo paused for a moment. "I wanted to know more about them. They saved us and I wanted to know why." Vialo hissed, as she closed her eyes for a moment. "I do not regret getting to know them. I will never regret that. But I do regret not telling you and mom. I regret not telling my siblings. I regret keeping my own blind dream of wanting to understand a secret from the ones I love most. We are no different in that regard." Vialo proclaimed, looking back into her fathers eyes, that were hard for Vialo to read. "But I never want to hear that what you've done the past ten years was for nothing!" She growled. "Because it wasn't! We are going home right now!" Vialo stated, excitement filling every word. "I get to go home. Tsovey gets to see for herself what we have been telling her for ten years because you and mother never gave up." Vialo paused, giving her father a warm smile. "Everything you did, you did for us. So we could have a better life." Vialo whispered as tears began to flood into her eyes. "And we have always been and will forever be grateful for what you and mom have done for us." She finished as the tears began falling. The pair looked at each other for a moment before Pxäkngam pulled Vialo into a tight hug.

"I am so proud of you." Pxäkngam cried. "You are a gift that I do not deserve." He paused pulling Vialo's face back a bit so he could look at her. "You are healing a wound between the humans and the Na'vi. You are mending a relationship I never thought would survive. You are incredible and I am so proud of you." He praised, bringing Vialo back into an embrace. Vialo melted into her fathers arms and never wanted to leave. It brought her back to her childhood. She felt so secure. Eventually her eyes became heavy as she slowly drifted to sleep feeling the safest she had ever felt. Hours began to pass, but to Pxäkngam those hours felt like seconds as he slowly began to open his eyes. It took his eyes to regain focus, but when they did he couldn't help but let out a sigh of contentment. He was met with the new family he had gained sitting around him. All laughing and genuinely happy. Solko was looking much better with Sìlaru, Lerukì and Relon leaning against her. All he could do was smile because, for the first time in a long time, he felt an overwhelming amount of happiness. As he let out a low chuck he looked down and found Vialo still fast asleep in his arms.