Stepping out of my brother and father's embrace we stared deeply into each other's eyes. I couldn't believe it. I was there. Right in front of him. He couldn't believe it either.

His hand reached out taking my own. A shaky breath left his lips as our hands moved to our forearms. His hand travels from my biceps to my neck his thumb brushing the bottom of my jaw. 

My hand moved to his chest moving up to the base of his neck. I could feel him, his skin under my hands. I could feel him. He was there in my arms. 

"I see you," I whispered. A shaky breath left his mouth his other hand reaching up to copy the other. He looked over me, the utter relief and joy he felt reflected in his eyes. 

"I see you, My kaltxi," he whispered. Tears gathered in my eyes as he pulled me in pressing our noses and faces together. Our hearts had longed for this moment. And at that moment the missing pieces in our soul's fell into place. 

"Wha? How?" he asked. A small chuckle left my lips.

"It's a long story," I whispered. 

"One I think you should tell," Norm spoke up with an apologetic look. I nodded whipping my tears away. Gently cupping Aonung cheek before turning to Ronal and Tonowari.

"We need to talk," I said Aonung's hand moved to grasp mine instantly missing the proximity. 

We all sat around the fire, all eyes on me as I took a deep breath. Aonung was sat next to me the fire lighting up his perfectly sculpted body. His tail wrapping around me pressing against my thigh. A comforting feeling.

"As you know I was unable to come back. The sky people have gotten bolder. They have set up defensive parameters. They know what goes in and out of a large radius around their base. Luckily the floating mountains are out of the borders but just barely," I said pulling out a set of maps pointing to the circumstance that I had marked out.

"They've set up an outpost here and here. All along here. They're trying to set up a wall of sorts. They're trying to control everything," I said.

"What does this have to do with us?" Ronal asked. 

"There was a total of three sky people bases. There main one. And there are two smaller ones," I said nodding to the Norm. He nodded setting up a small projector.

"Four years ago there was an attack on the smaller bases. All humans were massacred. Their burnt bodies were stung up on the walls. The base was burnt to nothing," I said solemnly. Norn flicked the projector on. Tsireya gasped at the horrid images that appeared. Burnt charred bodies piled into a large hill.

"They spared no one. Not even the children," I whispered. 

"Who attacked them?" father asked.

"Ashi. Ash Navi," I said. Ronals and Tonawaris eyes widened as they looked at each other.

"Great mother," Mother whispered in shock.

"Who are the ash people?" Tsireya asked.

"Navi who believe to hold the great balance requires fire to purge many things. Which includes the weakest among them," Ronal began to explain.

"That is not even the worse of it," I said taking a deep breath.

"They have made it their mission to destroy the sky people. All of them. And those that associate with them," I said my eyes settling on my father. 

"There were avatars at the other bases. But they were different. We recovered one of the bodies. A full conscience had been planted into them. Not a transference. It's similar to what Eywa did for you father," I explained.

"So they're going after anyone associated with the sky people?" he asked.

"Not just going after them. Hunting them. Tourtoring them," I whispered.

"Their queues had been cut. Their leader wears them on a belt," Hisses of outrage passed through the hut. The cutting of a queue. The most horendice thing you could do to a fellow navi. To cut off the connection to Eywa. It was worse than death. 

"Mother," I whispered swallowing the lump in my throat as I moved over to her. She frowned as i took her hands.

"There was an attack. Grandmother was hurt," I said mother moving a hand to cover her mouth. Aonung reached over placing a comforting hand on my lower back. 

"My mother?" she asked her eyes begging as they stared into mine.

"She fine now," I quickly assured her offering a comforting smile. 

"Everyone's fine," I added. Taking a deep breath I turned back to Ronal and Tonawari. 

"We found out why they killed the Tulkun," I said. The mood turned impossibly more serious. "There is something in there brian. A liquid. It stops humans aging. And before I left I saw a demon ship. Twice as large as the last," I said.

"So they will attack again?" Tonowari asked voicing the question we all feared.

"Most likely," I nodded answering with the only answer they didn't want to hear.

"Then if there is a parameter set up how did you get back?" Loak asked.

"That's the good news. There are humans fighting for us. Tell them Norm," I said with a bright smile. Aonung stared at me realizing how much he missed that upwards curve of my mouth.

"There's an organization. Lawyers, activist fighting for you guys. It's put a major blocker in the Rda's plans," Norm smiled excitedly. He went on to explain exactly what lawyers and activist were and when he did Ronal seemed surprised. 

"There are demons fighting for us?" she asked bewildered.

"Yes, there the reason we could get through," he nodded.

"And they want to speak with you Jake,", he added.

"An interview could really help them," he pushed. My father nodded processing the words his eyes landing on me.

"I'll think about it. But for now I want to spend some time with my family," he said. 

"Yes, go celebrate the return of your daughter. We will speak more sooI," Tonawari said offering me a kind smile.

"I will see you soon," I whispered gently squeezing Aonung's hand before moving back to my mother. 

That night i laughed and talked with my family. And I slept like I had when I was a child. In a pile with my family. Well, Loak wasn't here. He was with Tsireya. A wide smile decorated my face at that thought. Yet it fell shortly after as I realized I had truly missed so much. 

"Psst," my ears flickered at the sound. Sitting up I smiled seeing Aonung waiting by the entrance. Jerking his head he motioned me to come out. Working my way out of my family's embrace I walked over. As soon as I stepped out of the hut a small gasp left my lips as his arm took me by the waist pulling me into him. His head dipped down and smashed his lips to mine. His lips were ruff against mine. Yet the kiss was gentle. His hand snaked there up my neck into the braids pulling me impossibly closer. The kiss was hungry, making up for the four years spent apart. A pleasant shiver went down my back. My hand reached up grabbed his vest and pulled him into me.

We both needed to be closer, our bodies had been pulled flush against each other making it impossible to get any closer. But we managed our grips tightening as the kiss deepened. His thumb digging into my skin to get a better grip. It wasn't like any kiss we had shared before. 

It was amazing. Father had said the first time he kissed mother it felt like fireworks. He called them pretty explosions. I don't know what he meant. But when Aonung kissed me it felt just right. So perfect. I felt warm and happy inside. It felt like I was flying.

It was perfect.

I smiled into the kiss.

After a while, we both pulled back.

"I've waited four years to do that properly," he whispered his eyes darting all over my face. Taking in the familiar features that he had missed so much.

"Was it worth the wait?" I asked.

"Most definitely," he grinned his head dipping down to capture my lips again.

============================================================

============================================================