Just as Nya was going to take a look at the view outside from the window, the ship turned sideways, knocking everyone on the right wall.

* Ow!" Cole grumbled, rubbing his behind.

" What happened?" Jay asked, trying to stand up but failing. He was going to get knocked back into the wall and get a concussion if it wasn't for Kai.

" Thanks, Kai * Jay said grateful.

Kai smiled a little. * You're welcome."

Then he looked around the cabin. " Wait, there's only six of us. Where's.....*

Before he would finish the question the boat tilted to the other side, and they all went crashing to the left wall head first

" Ow!" Jay yelped, rubbing a bump that has formed on his face

" Let me see." Kai tilted Jay's head to him and took a look

" We're gonna need to buy some cream on that." He advised.

Jay nodded, still in pain. " Thanks Kai."

Then, he looked around. " Where's my sister?"

The boat then leveled out, and they were sent sprawled to the ground back first

" Owwwww!" Jay cried, clutching his arm.

Kai scrambled over to him and helped him up, then helped Cole up.

" What happened to your arm?" Kai asked, guiding Jay to a couch.

" I don't know!" Jay exclaimed. " It just hurts a lot!"

Kai knelt in front of Jay and felt his arm. He could hear Jay wince as he examined a particularly tender  area.

" Well, good news is it's not dislodged or broken. It's sprained."

Jay did not take this news well. " SPRAINED?!" he yelled. " I CAN'T BE SPRAINED!"

Nya quickly moved to Jay's side. " Jay, it's okay. You just need to let that arm rest."

Jay didn't look happy.

Suddenly, Mia came running in.

" I'm so sorry there were these birds and there was a big flock and they were and I had to turn the boat but then there were these trees and I found ou-" she realized she had interrupted. " Sorry."

Then she looked at Jay's wrapped arm. " What happened to you?"

Jay let out a nervous chuckle. " Uh.... Nothing!"

Mia raised a brow. " If it was 'nothing' you wouldn't be here with a bandage on your arm."

Jay gulped. But before he could answer, Nya did.

" Jay got a cast because of YOUR driving." She said.

Jay looked scared. " Nya, no! Take it back!" He hissed.

But the damage has been done. It hit Mia hard.

" Wh.... What?!"

Before Jay could say anything she ran out, crying.

Jay let out a frustrated growl and turned to his wife

" HOW DARE YOU SAY THAT TO MY SISTER?!" he yelled, towering over Nya. " IF I SAID THAT TO KAI YOU WOULD HAVE KILLED ME BY NOW."

Nya cowered back. " Ja-"

But Jay wasn't in a position to want to hear anything.

" DON'T YOU DARE DO THAT AGAIN."

With that, he bolted out of the room and into the direction Mia had gone.

Jay ran through the narrow halls of the ship, his heart pounding with a mix of pain and frustration. He knew Mia would be devastated by what Nya had said, and the last thing he wanted was for his sister to feel guilty over an accident.

"Mia! Mia, wait!" he called out, but there was no response.

Finally, he found her on the deck, leaning against the railing with her back to him, her shoulders shaking with sobs. Jay's anger melted away at the sight. All he wanted now was to comfort her.

"Mia..." he said softly as he approached her. "Hey, it's okay."

Mia turned to face him, her eyes red and filled with tears. "Jay, I'm so sorry! I didn’t mean for any of this to happen. I was just trying to avoid the birds, and then everything went wrong. I didn’t mean to hurt you."

Jay shook his head and stepped closer, gently pulling her into a hug. "It wasn’t your fault, Mia. It was just an accident. I’m okay, really. Just a sprain."

"But Nya said—" Mia started, but Jay quickly cut her off.

"Nya was just upset. She didn’t mean it, okay? You know how things get when people are stressed. She’s sorry too, I’m sure."

Mia sniffled and leaned into Jay's embrace, her tears gradually subsiding. "I just don’t want to mess things up. You and Nya are so important to me, and I don’t want to cause any problems."

Jay stroked her hair soothingly. "You’re not causing problems, Mia. You’re my sister, and I’ll always have your back, no matter what. And Nya will apologize, don’t worry. She knows she was out of line."

Mia nodded slowly, starting to feel a little better. "I just want to help, not make things worse."

"You do help, Mia," Jay reassured her. "And hey, who else could’ve maneuvered the ship like you did? You saved us from a lot worse, I’m sure."

Mia managed a small smile at that, though her eyes were still sad. "Thanks, Jay. I just... I don’t want you to be mad at me."

"I’m not mad," Jay said firmly. "I could never be mad at you. Now, come on, let’s go back inside and talk to Nya. We’ll get everything sorted out, okay?"

Mia hesitated, but eventually nodded. "Okay."

As they made their way back into the ship, Jay kept a protective arm around Mia’s shoulders, determined to make things right between her and Nya. He knew it wouldn’t be easy, but as long as they stuck together, they could handle anything.

When they entered the cabin, Nya side eyed Mia and growled. Mia's eyes widened and said, " uh, Jay? I... Have to go somewhere. Spend some time with Nya."

Before Jay could say anything, she darted away, muttering how someone who loved Jay so much could hate her.

Jay watched in shock as Mia hurried out of the cabin, her words lingering in the air like a heavy weight. His heart sank, and he immediately turned to Nya, who was still glaring in the direction Mia had gone.

"Nya, what was that?" Jay asked, his voice a mix of confusion and frustration. "Why did you do that?"

Nya crossed her arms, still fuming. "Jay, she almost got us killed. You got hurt because of her, and now you're defending her?"

Jay took a deep breath, trying to keep his own emotions in check. "I’m not defending what happened, but Mia didn’t mean to hurt anyone. It was an accident. You know how much she looks up to you—how much she cares about us."

Nya shook her head, her anger not fully dissipating. "She’s reckless, Jay. This isn’t the first time something like this has happened. She needs to learn that her actions have consequences."

Jay clenched his fists, struggling to find the right words. He understood Nya’s frustration, but he couldn’t stand seeing his sister so hurt. "Nya, she’s just a kid. She’s trying her best, and she already feels terrible about what happened. Do you really want to push her away?"

Nya’s expression softened slightly as she looked at Jay, realizing the impact of her actions. "I... I didn’t mean to make her feel that way," she admitted, her tone more subdued. "But I can’t just ignore what happened."

"I’m not asking you to ignore it," Jay said gently. "I’m asking you to help her learn from it, without making her feel like she’s not wanted. She loves you, Nya. She just needs some guidance."

Nya sighed, rubbing her temples. "You’re right. I just... I need some time to cool off. I’ll talk to her later."

Jay nodded, though he still felt uneasy. "Okay. Just... don’t wait too long, please. She’s already upset enough."

Nya gave him a small nod before turning away, lost in her own thoughts. Jay lingered for a moment, unsure of what else to say, before finally leaving the cabin to find Mia.

He searched the ship, his heart aching as he thought about how hurt Mia must be feeling. After a few minutes, he found her sitting alone on the deck, hugging her knees to her chest and staring out at the ocean.

"Mia..." Jay approached her slowly, not wanting to startle her. "Can I sit with you?"

Mia glanced up at him, her eyes red from crying, but she didn’t say anything. She just nodded, and Jay took a seat beside her.

They sat in silence for a few moments, the sound of the waves crashing against the ship filling the air. Jay finally spoke, his voice soft and full of concern. "I’m sorry about what happened in there. Nya didn’t mean what she said."

Mia shook her head, her voice barely above a whisper. "Yes, she did. She hates me, Jay. I can see it in her eyes."

"No, she doesn’t," Jay insisted, though his heart broke at the sadness in her voice. "She’s just angry and stressed. She didn’t mean to take it out on you."

Mia didn’t respond, still staring out at the horizon. Jay sighed and wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her close.

"Hey," he said softly. "You’re my sister, and I love you. Nothing’s going to change that. And Nya doesn’t hate you. She just needs some time, okay?"

Poor Jay and Mia are gonna get a huge surprise in the future.

😭😭

Mia finally looked up at him, her eyes filled with uncertainty. "You really think so?"

Jay nodded, giving her a reassuring smile. "I know so. We’re all just a little on edge right now, but we’ll get through this. Together."

Mia leaned into his embrace, finding comfort in his words. "Okay," she whispered, though the hurt was still there.

Jay held her close, silently vowing to do whatever it took to make things right between her and Nya. He knew it wouldn’t be easy, but he was determined to keep his family together, no matter what.

*******

Jay frowned as he watched Mia push her food around on her plate in the dimly lit sleeping cabin. The way she sat there, huddled in on herself, tugged at his heartstrings. He knew she was trying to avoid Nya, but he couldn’t stand seeing her like this.

Leaning against the doorway, Jay spoke softly, trying not to startle her. "Mia, you need to eat more. Much more than that. You’ve barely touched your food."

Mia glanced up at him, her eyes still clouded with worry and sadness. "I’m not really hungry," she mumbled, her voice so quiet it was almost a whisper.

Jay walked over and sat down beside her, gently nudging her plate closer. "Mia, it’s not good for you to eat so little. You need your strength, especially with everything that’s going on."

Mia sighed, looking down at her plate again. "But I don’t want Nya to think I’m greedy or that I’m trying to take more than I need."

Jay’s heart ached at her words. He reached out, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Mia, Nya doesn’t think that. She’s not upset with you because of how much you eat. She’s just... dealing with a lot right now, like all of us."

Mia shook her head, her shoulders slumping. "It doesn’t feel that way. It feels like I can’t do anything right around her. Every time I try, it just makes things worse."

Jay squeezed her shoulder gently. "Mia, listen to me. You’re not doing anything wrong. You’re trying your best, and that’s what matters. Nya knows that, too. She just needs some time to cool off and realize that we’re all on the same team."

Mia sniffed, her eyes welling up with tears she tried to blink away. "I don’t want her to hate me, Jay."

Jay pulled her into a side hug, his voice soft and reassuring. "She doesn’t hate you. I promise. Nya’s just upset, but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t care about you. You’re part of our family, Mia, and nothing’s going to change that."

Mia leaned into him, taking comfort in his words, though the worry in her heart was still there. "I just want things to be okay again."

Jay kissed the top of her head, trying to soothe her. "They will be. We’ll talk to Nya, and we’ll figure this out. But for now, you need to take care of yourself, okay? That means eating enough to stay healthy. Can you do that for me?"

Mia nodded slowly, still not fully convinced but willing to try for Jay’s sake. "Okay. I’ll try."

Jay smiled, relieved that she was at least willing to take that step. "That’s all I ask. We’ll get through this together, Mia. I promise."

*******

As night fell, the atmosphere aboard the ship grew tense. The sleeping arrangements were less than ideal, with only six beds available for the seven people onboard. The crew stood around awkwardly, trying to figure out how to make it work.

Jay looked around, knowing someone would have to sacrifice their bed. His gaze fell on Mia, who was standing quietly off to the side, looking unsure of what to do.

“Mia,” Jay said gently, walking over to her. “You can take my bed. I’ll find somewhere else to sleep.”

But before he could even finish his sentence, Mia quickly shook her head, a nervous smile plastered on her face. “No, no, it’s fine! I don’t need your bed. I’ll, uh… I’ll just go sleep on the dining table. Bye!” she blurted out, turning on her heel and making a quick exit.

Jay blinked in surprise, not expecting that response. “Mia, wait—” he called after her, but she was already gone, hurrying down the narrow hallway towards the dining area.

Nya, who had been silently observing the situation, sighed and rubbed her temples. “Jay, maybe you should let her be for now. She’s clearly uncomfortable.”

Jay frowned, torn between wanting to give Mia space and making sure she was okay. “But she’s my sister, Nya. I can’t just let her sleep on a hard table. She’s been through enough today.”

Nya softened a little, seeing the concern in Jay’s eyes. “I know, Jay. But sometimes, when people are feeling hurt, they need a little time alone to process things. She’ll come around.”

Jay sighed, feeling a mixture of frustration and helplessness. “I just don’t want her to feel like she has to keep running away.”

Nya walked over and placed a hand on Jay’s arm. “She knows you’re there for her, Jay. She just needs a bit of time. We’ll figure this out.”

Jay nodded reluctantly. “Yeah… I guess you’re right.”

But even as he said it, he couldn’t shake the worry gnawing at his chest. As the others began to settle into their makeshift beds, Jay quietly slipped out of the sleeping quarters and made his way to the dining area.

Sure enough, he found Mia curled up on the dining table, using her jacket as a makeshift pillow. She looked so small and vulnerable, and it broke Jay’s heart to see her like that.

Without a word, he pulled up a chair beside her and sat down, keeping watch over his little sister as she slept. He wasn’t going to let her face the night alone, even if all he could do was be there for her.

As the ship rocked gently with the waves, Jay rested his head on the table next to Mia, determined to stay by her side until the morning light.

*********

When Jay woke up, the first thing he heard was the sound of raised voices. He blinked groggily, realizing he must have dozed off at some point during the night. As his senses cleared, he recognized the voices—Mia and Nya—and they were arguing.

"You can't just keep doing this stuff and get away with it!" Nya’s voice rang out, filled with frustration.

Jay’s heart sank as he sat up, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. He could hear the anger in Nya’s tone, and he knew this wasn’t going to end well.

Mia’s voice, filled with defiance and hurt, echoed back. "WELL, MAYBE YOU SHOULDN'T MARRY MY BROTHER THEN! WE CAN ALL TELL YOU'RE GREEDY AND JUST WANT TO BE WITH A BOY!"

Jay’s eyes widened in shock as Mia’s words cut through the air like a knife. Before he could even react, Mia bolted out of the room, tears streaming down her face.

"Mia, wait!" Jay called after her, but she was already gone, her footsteps echoing down the hallway.

Nya stood there, stunned and hurt, the weight of Mia's words settling heavily on her shoulders. She turned to Jay, her eyes filled with pain. "Jay, I—"

But Jay didn’t let her finish. "What just happened?" he asked, his voice tight with concern as he moved closer to her.

Nya shook her head, still processing the argument. "I was trying to talk to her, Jay. She can’t keep lashing out at everyone. But then she just… snapped."

Jay’s expression softened, but there was also a hint of frustration. "I know you’re trying, Nya, but Mia’s been through a lot. She’s scared, and she feels like she’s losing me to you. It’s not fair, but that’s how she sees it."

Nya sighed, running a hand through her hair. "I didn’t mean to make things worse. I just want her to understand that I’m not trying to take you away from her."

"I know," Jay said softly, pulling Nya into a hug. "But right now, she’s not thinking clearly. She’s hurting, and she’s lashing out because she doesn’t know how else to cope."

Nya nodded against his chest, her voice small. "What do we do now?"

Jay pulled back, looking towards the hallway where Mia had run off. "I’ll go find her. Just… give her some space for now. She’ll come around, eventually."

Nya nodded, still looking worried. "Okay. Just… be careful, Jay."

Jay gave her a reassuring smile before heading off in the direction Mia had fled. He knew it was going to take time to mend the rift between Nya and Mia, but he was determined to make things right.

As he searched for Mia, he silently hoped she would understand that he loved them both and that there was enough room in his heart for both his sister and his wife.

Jay finally found Mia sitting on the deck of the ship, her back against the railing, with Blackie perched beside her. She was talking quietly, her voice carrying a mix of frustration and sadness. Jay slowed his steps, not wanting to interrupt just yet.

"...and they're always together," Mia was saying, her voice tinged with a hint of jealousy. "Sometimes I just wish I could have that same kind of quality time with him, like we used to."

Blackie, her sassy black cat, flicked his tail thoughtfully. "What about the thrusters? You need to fix them both—physically and emotionally."

Mia sighed, leaning her head against the railing. "But my brother's the mechanic, not me. And knowing him, he’s probably with Nya right now, telling her how much he loves her and blah blah blah."

Jay’s heart ached as he listened to Mia. He knew she was feeling left out and struggling with all the changes in their lives. He took a deep breath and finally stepped forward, making his presence known.

"Mia," he called gently, trying not to startle her.

Mia looked up, surprised to see him standing there. "Jay! I didn’t think you’d come looking for me."

"Of course I did," Jay said, walking over and sitting down beside her. "I’ll always come looking for you, Mia. You’re my sister, and nothing’s more important to me than you."

Mia glanced down, fidgeting with her fingers. "I know that, Jay, but it just feels like… like I’m losing you to Nya. You two are always together, and I barely get to spend time with you anymore."

Jay reached out and gently lifted her chin so she would look at him. "Mia, I know it feels that way, but I promise you, you’re not losing me. Nya and I are married now, so yeah, we spend a lot of time together, but that doesn’t mean I care about you any less."

Mia's eyes filled with tears, but she tried to blink them away. "I just miss the way things used to be. It feels like everything’s changing, and I don’t know how to deal with it."

Jay pulled her into a tight hug, holding her close. "I miss those times too, Mia. But just because things are changing doesn’t mean they’re getting worse. We’ll find new ways to spend time together, I promise. And we’ll still have those moments, just you and me."

Mia hugged him back, burying her face in his shoulder. "I’d like that, Jay."

After a moment, Jay pulled back slightly, wiping a tear from her cheek. "And as for those thrusters, how about we fix them together? You and me, just like old times."

Mia managed a small smile. "Okay. But only if you promise not to talk about Nya the whole time."

Jay chuckled, ruffling her hair affectionately. "Deal. No Nya talk, just you, me, and some quality brother-sister time."

Blackie watched them with a satisfied expression, his tail swishing contentedly. "Good. Now, can we get those thrusters fixed before we all end up swimming?"

Mia laughed, the tension easing from her shoulders. "Alright, let’s go fix them."

------

When Jay and Mia arrived at the thrusters, they immediately noticed something was wrong. The usual hum of the machinery was absent, and there was an eerie silence that filled the space.

Jay knelt down, inspecting the area. "Something's off," he muttered, his brow furrowing as he examined the thruster compartment.

Mia, already anxious from everything that had happened earlier, peered over his shoulder. She gasped as she spotted the problem. "Jay, look!"

Jay turned his gaze to where Mia was pointing, and his eyes widened in shock. The entire left thruster was missing.

"No wonder the ship was leaning to the left!" Mia exclaimed, her voice filled with a mix of frustration and disbelief. "The thruster is missing! And with all that weight on one side, it threw the whole ship off balance!"

Jay stared at the empty space where the thruster should have been. "How could this happen? Thrusters don’t just go missing on their own."

Mia bit her lip, trying to think. "It had to be during that last stop we made. Someone must have sabotaged us and taken the thruster while we were distracted."

Jay's mind raced, connecting the dots. "That would explain why the ship's been so unstable. We've been running on just one thruster this whole time."

Mia nodded, her fists clenched in frustration. "We need to get it back, Jay. Without it, we’re dead in the water."

Jay nodded, determination settling in. "We'll find out who did this and get that thruster back, Mia. I promise."

But as they stood there, staring at the empty compartment, they both knew it wouldn't be easy. Someone had gone to great lengths to sabotage them, and now they had to figure out who—and why—before it was too late.

As Jay and Mia were deep in thought, trying to piece together what had happened, Blackie sauntered over to the thruster compartment. The sassy cat sniffed around, then paused, narrowing his eyes at something on the edge of the missing thruster's housing.

"I don't think someone sabotaged you," Blackie said, his voice carrying a hint of suspicion.

Jay and Mia both turned to look at him. "What do you mean?" Mia asked, puzzled.

Blackie used a paw to point at the edge of the compartment. "Look closer. See those marks? Those aren’t from tools or human hands. They're teeth marks."

Jay leaned in, squinting at the indentations on the metal. Sure enough, there were jagged, irregular marks that looked like something had chewed on the thruster.

"An animal did this?" Jay said, his surprise evident.

Mia stared at the marks, her mind racing. "But what kind of animal could bite through metal like that and carry off an entire thruster?"

Blackie flicked his tail, looking thoughtful. "It would have to be something big and strong. Maybe a creature native to one of the places we stopped recently."

Mia’s eyes widened as she remembered something. "Wait, when we were near that forest, we heard strange noises, remember? I thought it was just some wild animals, but maybe it was something more."

Jay nodded, his expression serious. "We need to find out what kind of creature could do this and how to get that thruster back. If it’s still around, it could cause even more trouble."

Blackie purred, clearly pleased with himself. "Looks like this isn’t just a sabotage mission. We’ve got a beast to track down."

Mia nodded, her resolve strengthening. "Let’s figure out what we’re dealing with and get that thruster back. We can’t let some overgrown animal stop us."

With a plan forming in their minds, the three of them prepared to track down whatever creature had made off with their thruster—and hopefully retrieve it before it was too late.

While Jay, Mia, and Blackie were focused on the mystery of the missing thruster, Nya sat in her small cabin, seething with frustration. She had tried to stay calm and understanding, but Mia's outbursts and accusations had pushed her to the edge.

Grabbing a notebook from her bedside table, Nya began to write furiously, venting her anger onto the page:

"Why does Mia hate me so much?
I've tried to be patient, to understand her feelings, but it's like nothing I do is good enough. She accuses me of taking Jay away from her, but that's not what I'm trying to do. Jay and I are partners—we're a team, and I thought she would be happy to see him happy. But instead, she’s treating me like I’m the enemy."

She paused, her pen hovering over the page as she thought about the fight they had earlier.

"That fight this morning was the worst yet.
Mia actually told me I shouldn’t marry Jay! She said I’m greedy, that I just want to be with a boy. That hurt more than I can describe. I don’t want to replace her in Jay’s life. I know how important she is to him. But every time I try to get closer to her, she pushes me away. What am I supposed to do? Just give up on being with Jay?"

Nya let out a frustrated sigh, her grip tightening on the pen as she continued writing.

"I wish she could see things from my perspective.
I love Jay, but I don’t want to come between him and his sister. But Mia seems determined to believe the worst about me. How do I fix this? I can't keep going on like this, with the tension getting worse every day. I need to talk to Jay, but I don't want to make things harder for him either."

She stared at the last sentence for a moment, feeling the weight of her emotions pressing down on her. The last thing she wanted was to drive a wedge between Jay and his sister, but she couldn’t keep letting Mia’s anger and resentment go unchecked.

Nya sighed, closing the notebook and setting it aside. She knew she needed to find a way to resolve things with Mia, but right now, all she could do was wait for the right moment. And in the meantime, she would try to hold onto her own sanity in the midst of all this chaos.

Jay entered the cabin, looking concerned as he held up the remains of the chewed thruster.

"Nya, we found out what happened," Jay said, his voice a mix of disbelief and worry. "Something chewed through the thruster. We think it might have been an animal."

Mia, who had been lingering near the doorway, muttered under her breath, "Probably a jaguar that she trained."

Jay gave his sister a look of exasperation. "Mia, come on..."

Before Jay could say anything else, Blackie, sitting near Mia, interjected sharply, "Mia!"

Mia looked down at her sassy cat, her expression softening just a bit. "What? It's not like it couldn't happen."

Blackie gave her a stern look and said, "I want my fish."

Mia blinked, the tension of the moment dissipating slightly. "Oh, right. I’ll get you your fish."

Jay shook his head with a small smile, grateful for Blackie’s way of cutting through the tension. He glanced at Nya, who was watching the exchange with a mix of frustration and amusement. Jay sighed, realizing how complicated things had gotten.

“Anyway,” Jay continued, “we need to figure out how to replace the thruster or find a way to repair it. We’re not going anywhere until we fix this.”

Nya nodded, setting aside her earlier frustrations as she focused on the problem at hand. “I’ll help with whatever we need to get this ship running again.”

Mia, feeling the tension still lingering, glanced at Jay, then at Nya. “I’ll help too. But first... fish.”

As Mia turned to leave, Jay called after her, “Mia, we’ll figure this out, together. Okay?”

Mia paused, giving her brother a small nod before heading off to get Blackie’s fish. She knew there was a lot to work through, but for now, focusing on the task at hand seemed like the best way forward.
-------

All the ninjas except Mia were gathered around, discussing the situation with the damaged thruster. Jay, looking around, noticed Blackie sitting nearby with a contemplative expression.

“Hey, Blackie,” Jay asked, “have you seen Mia?”

Blackie shrugged, his sassy demeanor unchanged. Jay’s concern grew, and he decided to check outside. As he stepped out, he spotted Mia swimming away from the ship, making her way toward a nearby island.

“Oh great,” Jay muttered to himself, rolling his eyes as he realized what Mia was up to. “I can’t believe she’s doing this now.”

He watched as Mia, determined and focused, swam energetically toward the small island in the distance. Her movements were swift and purposeful, her head held high as if she had a clear goal in mind. Jay sighed, knowing that he had to follow her to ensure she was safe and to try and resolve the situation.

Mia reached the island and climbed out of the water, shaking herself off before making her way up a well-trodden path. She moved with a sense of familiarity, clearly having visited this place before. Her feet crunched on the dry leaves and twigs as she ascended the path, heading straight for a large tree in the middle of the island.

Once she reached the base of the tree, Mia began to climb with practiced ease. Her small frame, though tough and determined, moved with surprising agility as she scaled the trunk. She reached a comfortable perch and settled in, pulling out a small bag she had brought along.

“Hello, Lily,” Mia called out as she reached the top.

In the canopy of the tree, a vibrant macaw perched on a branch, preening its feathers. The macaw squawked and flapped its wings before responding.

“Hey, Mia. How are you?” Lily’s voice was warm and cheerful, contrasting sharply with the tension of the situation back on the ship.

Mia sighed, looking down at the ship in the distance. “Okay, I guess. Things have been a bit chaotic.”

Lily tilted her head curiously. “Is it Nya again?”

Mia looked at Lily with a mix of frustration and sadness. “Yeah, it’s Nya. Everything’s been so tense lately. I just needed to get away and clear my head.”

The macaw fluffed its feathers and perched more comfortably. “You know, sometimes it helps to talk things out. Maybe you should try to work things through with them.”

Mia considered this for a moment, taking in the calm surroundings of the island. She knew Lily was right but wasn’t quite ready to head back just yet. “I’ll think about it. For now, I just need a little more time.”

Jay, having followed Mia’s path from the ship, finally reached the base of the tree. He looked up, seeing Mia perched high above. “Mia! Can we talk?”

Mia looked down at him, her expression softening. “Yeah, Jay. Come on up if you want.”

Jay began to climb the tree, moving cautiously but steadily. As he reached Mia, he took a seat next to her on the branch, both of them overlooking the tranquil island scene.

“So, what’s going on?” Jay asked, his tone gentle but concerned.

Mia sighed, staring out at the horizon. “Just needed some space. Things have been so complicated with Nya, and I didn’t know where else to go.”

Jay nodded, understanding. “I get it. But running away isn’t going to solve anything. We need to talk things out and try to work through it. Nya’s not going anywhere, and neither are we.”

Mia glanced at her brother and then at Lily, who was watching them with a curious eye. “Yeah, maybe you’re right. I just needed to clear my head a bit.”

Jay put a reassuring hand on Mia’s shoulder. “Let’s head back together. We can sort this out as a family.”

Mia nodded, feeling a bit more grounded. As they began their descent from the tree, she realized that while the situation was tough, she wasn’t alone. She had her family and friends, and together, they could face whatever challenges lay ahead.

"""**

Back on the ship, Nya was anxiously waiting by the cabin, her face a mix of frustration and concern. As Mia and Jay returned, Nya immediately confronted them.

“Where did you go?” Nya demanded, her voice tinged with irritation.

Mia, trying to avoid confrontation, responded tersely, “Nowhere.”

Blackie, who had followed closely behind, added, “How’s Lily?”

Mia replied, “She’s fine,” before heading downstairs to avoid further discussion.

Nya, still fuming, muttered to herself, but Mia’s sharp ears caught her words. “Your sister has some nerve,” Nya said, clearly upset.

Mia’s anger flared. She whirled around, her eyes blazing. “How dare you say that about me? You should be grateful for what you have and stop criticizing everyone else!”

Blackie meowed in surprise, startled by Mia’s outburst.

Mia continued, her voice rising with each word. “You have Jay and you’re always so perfect! And I will drive however I want! If you don’t like it, too bad!”

Nya, taken aback, tried to defend herself. “Mia, you injured your brother! He’s hurt because of your reckless behavior!”

Mia’s rage reached its peak. Without thinking, she stormed over to Nya and slapped her face. The sound of the slap echoed in the cabin, leaving everyone stunned.

Nya touched her cheek, her face a mix of shock and hurt. “Mia, you can’t just—”

Mia cut her off, her voice trembling with fury and emotion. “You have no idea what it’s like for me. You’re always so perfect, always getting what you want. I’m sick of it!”

Jay stepped between them, his expression serious. “Mia, this isn’t the way to handle things. We need to talk this out, not escalate it.”

Mia, breathing heavily, glared at Nya before turning away. “I don’t want to talk to you right now.” She stormed off, leaving Nya and Jay to deal with the fallout.

* Two hours later*

Jay found Mia in their shared room, furiously throwing every picture she had of Nya onto the floor, her face flushed with anger. She muttered harsh words under her breath, clearly overwhelmed by her emotions.

“Mia, stop!” Jay said, rushing in and grabbing her shoulders gently. “This isn’t going to help anything.”

Mia looked up at him, tears streaming down her face. “Why does she get everything? Why does she get to be perfect while I’m stuck being the bad guy?”

Jay’s expression softened. He carefully gathered the scattered pictures and looked at Mia with concern. “Nya isn’t perfect, Mia. None of us are. But hurting her won’t solve anything. You’re upset, and that’s okay, but you need to talk it out, not take it out on her or the pictures.”

Mia, still trembling, tried to calm down. “I just— I feel like I’m always on the outside. It’s like no matter what I do, I can’t make things right.”

Jay pulled her into a hug, rubbing her back soothingly. “I know it’s hard, but lashing out won’t make things better. Let’s go talk to Nya and try to sort this out. We can work through this together.”

Mia nodded reluctantly, wiping her tears away. “Okay. But I don’t know what to say.”

“We’ll figure it out,” Jay said encouragingly. “We’ll start with an apology and explain how you’re feeling. It’s a step towards making things right.”

Together, they made their way back to the common area, ready to face the consequences of their actions and attempt to mend the rift between Mia and Nya.

Jay guided Mia into the common area where Nya was sitting, her arms crossed and her expression a mix of frustration and concern. The room was quiet, the tension palpable. Jay glanced between the two, trying to find the right words to break the silence.

“Mia, Nya,” Jay started, his voice steady but gentle. “We need to talk this out.”

Mia stood still, her eyes fixed on Nya with a fierce intensity. Her fists were clenched at her sides, and she struggled to contain her anger. Nya looked up, her gaze meeting Mia’s, but Mia remained silent, lost in her thoughts.

Blackie, perched on Mia’s shoulder, sensed the rising hostility and whispered, “Mia. Don’t. It won’t solve anything.”

Mia’s jaw tightened. “Why not?” she snapped, her voice filled with frustration. “Does she even know how hard it is to steer a boat with birds flying everywhere? And the only reason I drive is so Jay can have some time with her! And what does she do? She just judges me.”

Blackie’s eyes softened with concern. “Mia, you could have just told us what was bothering you. We didn’t know how much this was affecting you.”

Mia’s gaze flickered towards Blackie, a mixture of anger and hurt in her eyes. “No one would care, Blackie. Not everyone is as mellow and gold-hearted as you and Jay.”

Nya’s face paled at the outburst. She opened her mouth to respond, but Jay cut in before she could speak. “Mia, please, just take a deep breath and talk to Nya. She’s not here to hurt you; she’s here because she wants to understand.”

Mia shook her head, her emotions bubbling over. “You don’t get it, Jay! It’s not just about steering the boat or taking the blame. It’s about feeling like I’m constantly pushed aside. I try to do what’s best, but it seems like no matter what I do, it’s never enough.”

Nya stood up, her voice shaking slightly. “Mia, I never meant to make you feel that way. I’m sorry if I’ve been too hard on you. I didn’t know you were struggling so much.”

Mia’s anger softened slightly, replaced by a raw vulnerability. “I just want things to be fair. I want to be included, to matter. I didn’t know how to say that, so I lashed out.”

Jay took a step closer to Mia, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “We all want to feel valued, Mia. It’s okay to be upset, but we need to communicate and support each other.”

Mia nodded, her eyes welling up with tears. “I’m sorry for what I said and did. I didn’t mean to hurt anyone. I just felt so overwhelmed.”

Nya approached Mia slowly, her expression softening. “I’m sorry too. I didn’t realize how my actions were affecting you. Can we try to work through this together?”

Mia looked at Nya, her anger dissipating as she saw the genuine regret in Nya’s eyes. She took a deep breath and nodded. “Yeah, let’s try. I just want things to be okay.”