Avatar: The Return of The Songbirds

Chapter Fifty-Eight - Home

There was a moment of pause, taking in the reality that they were home...home. A word that had slowly lost its meaning over the past ten years, but now it's right there. Lìyìnuk always said that home was wherever they were, but there was always an emptiness in it...a hole that they thought would never be filled. That was until now. The group took a few more steps forward until they came face to face with the largest tree stump they had seen throughout their travel. "Wow...this tree is huge!" Tsovey whispered.

"It really is!" Sakire agreed. A wide smile painted on her lips. "Our old home tree wasn't this tall!" She added, looking up to the sky.

Lìyìnuk let out a soft chuckle as she watched her children take in the sight of their new home tree. "Come over here everyone!" Lìyìnuk exclaimed, motioning towards the side of the tree, watching as they made their way over to her one by one. "This is how we get up." She added.

"There are stairs?" Tatal questioned, confusion present in her voice. "Isn't that dangerous?" She added looking up to meet her mother's gaze.

"Stairs?" Nick exclaimed. "What stairs?" He chuckled.

Tatal looked at Nick for a moment, before looking back at her mother. "Never mind." She chuckled.

"Don't worry Nick, you will learn quickly." Sakire joked.

"I guess...but I still don't understand where you see stairs!" Nick laughed.

Henilo made his way beside Nick and gently slapped his hand onto the man's shoulder. "See those bumps on the tree?" Henilo questioned, gaining a nod in response from Nick. "Those my friend, are stairs. You use your toes to grip onto them, and walk up." Henilo explained with a mischievous smirk.

"Toes!!" Nick shouted. His eyes seemingly ready to jump off of his face. "I don't have strong toes!" He cackled.

"Your toes will get very strong very quickly Nick do not worry." Sakire giggled.

While all of the children were goofing around and joking with the humans, who were visibly confused about how they were supposed to use their toe strength alone to get up the quote-on-quote stairs, Pxäkngam had already made his way up to announce their arrival and inform their Olo'eyktan of the human's accompanying him. And after a few long minutes, he made his way back down. Stopping beside Lìyìnuk. "Are you ready...to go home?" Pxäkngam asked with a smile his children hadn't seen in years. All they could do was nod. "Then let's go up." He proclaimed happily. 

"Careful Nick!" Solko scolded, grabbing onto Nick's bicep so he wouldn't fall.

"Solko...I love you and you know that...don't yell at me right now! I am already stressed." Nick groaned, his words causing the group to laugh.

"Awe, I love you too Nick. Now stop whining and hurry up." Solko playfully barked, before gently nudging Nick forward again. Those last few steps were the longest part of the entire journey. Their home was mere steps away, and finally, for the first time, Tsovey began to grow more and more nervous. Her siblings spoke about how beautiful their home used to be...but what if she didn't like it? What if she didn't get along with any of these people? What if they didn't like her? There were many uncertainties that accompanied this big change, and she would be lying if she said they didn't terrify her a little. She walked up the steps in silence, different scenarios flashing across the back of her mind like a silent film. A silence that her father noticed. As she sunk further and further into the unknowns, her father's voice brought her back from the downward spiral. "Tsovey." Pxäkngam exclaimed, gaining the young child's attention.

"Yes, dad?" Tsovey questioned looking up at him.

Pxäkngam smiled down at his daughter. He knew she was overwhelmed, but he knew those feelings would soon melt away. "Come here." He requested, holding his arms out to her. Tsovey quickly crawled into her father's embrace. The feeling of being close to him helping some of her nerves settle, as they made it to the tree top, a wall think hanging vines in front of them.