Chapter 31- No More Being The Runt

Waking up from a sudden interruption by some humans, Twig and Appa continued to travel through the lands, passing over oceans and basically crashing into near a hidden passage under a tree.

Twig fell off of Appa and laid against him as the bison ate some grass, wanting sleep again, but a loud deep screech was heard as a boar-q-pine came inning out of the passage and ram into Appa, causing the two beasts to tumble down a hill and Twig screeching to follow.

But he froze, as he noticed red color in the trees, moving and heard small chirps.

It sounds like his chirps.

Suddenly, Twig was surrounded by a colony of tiger monkeys, looking at him curiously and with caution. Twig watched in awe as he never saw any other tiger monkeys before, except the ones who threw him off the tree when he was born. He lets a whistle to ask to be left alone.

One tiger monkey, presumably the leader, walked in the circle. He was way bigger than Twig, with fangs longer than his paw and claws sharper than stone. Twig chirped and whined, trying to let them know that he didn't want trouble, and his friend needs help.

But the leader ignored his pleading, and snarled at him to leave, for he is not from the colony and that a runt can never survive with them. Twig took a step back, but had a stern look as she raised his back fur up, not wanting to back down.

He tried to tell them he needs help for Appa, but the leader then swiped at him, hissing that he'll be sorry for going against the leader.

What could a runt do?

Twig shook in fear, but heard Appa's cries, making the tiger monkey shake his head and hissed at the leader, challenging him. The leader let a low growl, and the other tiger monkeys chirp in awe, making the leader scowl at them, and they backed away in fear.

The leader then charged at Twig, immediately pinning him down and opened his mouth to bite him, but Twig wrapped his tail around the leader's paw and threw him off.

Twig and the leader tussled around, biting and scratching each other, though Twig was receiving more hits. The leader threw him against a tree and Twig let out a cry of pain, as the leader stood over him.

The leader was about to end him, but Twig used his arms to wrap it around the leader's waist and kept pushing him, ignoring any pain from the leader's claws. Then, he decided to end it and bite the leader's neck, hard enough to lift him off the ground, and smashing him against the ground.

The colony cheered and chirped, as the leader was pinned by Twig, struggled to get loose, but soon gave up. The colony got out of the trees and bowed their heads for Twig, declaring him as their new leader, which the former one bowed his head too.

Then, Appa managed to push himself up back the hill, scaring the colony and them clinging the trees, but Twig ran up to the bison and licked his face, making Appa whine and crawls into the passage.

Twig told the others that they need to help Appa, and they complied, rubbing his fur and carefully taking the quills off of the bison. Twig and the colony slept around Appa, making sure he gets enough rest and to protect him.

But During one day, Twig laid on Appa's head and watched the sky, the bison and the colony sleeping, until he has a familiar scent in the air. He perked up, listening in until he saw a head peering from downhill.

Twig was on guard now, and Appa woke up because of it, and growled at the sight of a human.
"Appa! Twig!" The smaller creature then realized who it was. It was your ex! He was grateful that you two ended in good terms.
"It's okay, I have to leave, but I'm gonna be back soon with help," She laid some berries out and slowly left.

Appa ate the berries and retreated back, and Twig told Appa to lay down and rest, and he'll watch guard. Eventually, Suki came back, with the other Kyoshi warriors. Twig made a noise, which made Appa and the colony wake up.

"Appa, Twig, it's me, Suki. I'm a friend," She said calmly, holding a hand out, but Appa was still scared and the colony hissed.
"I want to help you. You're hurt. We can help you feel better," Tiwg made the colony to quiet down, and Appa slowly crawled to Suki.

"And we can help you find Aang and (Y/N)," Appa then laid his nose against her hand, and laid down by the calmness of the situation. The Kyoshi Warriors helped clean up and free Appa from his chains.

"Look at you Twig, now you have extended your family," Suki smiled and petted Twig, who shyly cooed. But then, Appa roared as blue fire was shot and missed.

Twig and the colony got in stance as he noticed it was your brother and the other three girls he barely met.
"My, my, you're easy to find. It's really astounding my brother hasn't captured you yet," Azula said while holding up Appa's fur.

"What do you want with us?" Suki demanded while the warriors took their shields out.
"Who are you? The Avatar's fan girls?" Your brother raised an eyebrow.
"Oh, I get it. Good one, (B/N)," Ty Lee smiled.

"If you're looking for the Avatar, you're out of luck," The warrior glared.
"I knew this was a waste of time," Mai sighed.
"No Avatar, huh. Well, that's okay. Any friend of the Avatar is an enemy of mine!" Azula hopped off her mongoose lizard and attacked.

Twig charged to attack as the colony followed behind, dodging and scratching the girls.
"Now I see where my baby sister dropped you at," Your brother smirked and shot a wave of fire to prevent them from coming closer.

"Afraid of fire, I see. That's good. You should be," Azula said as she scared Appa with her blue flames.
"Go, Appa! Twig! Fly away from here!" Suki said as she brought her sword out to fight. Twig called the colony to retreat, and they ran to hop on Appa.

Twig noticed that Suki was in danger, and Appa wanted to save them, but Suki waved a branch that was on fire at them.
"Get out of here! You have to find Aang! We'll be okay!" Twig pulled on the bison's fur to go, and Appa hesitantly retreated.

Twig will tell you about Suki, he promised.

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Twig, the colony, and Appa flew through the skies for days, until Appa landed at a air temple. The colony hopped off and ran to explore as Twig and Appa walked around, the bison feeling homey and turned a corner to see a man.

App ran to tackle the man and licked him, believing it was a air nomad, but it wasn't.
"Hello. I am Guru Pathik," Appa drew back and growled, making Twig hiss too.
"I know I'm not the person you expected. And I didn't expect to be licked by a giant tongue just now. The world is full of surprises," Guru smiled, but Appa didn't budge.

Guru then laid down and waited for App to trust him, which lasted until they both fell asleep, and the colony cuddling on the great bison. Guru stood up and placed his hand against Appa's stomach.
"Oh, dear. You've been through so much recently. Hurt and betrayed. So twisted up inside. You're still full of love, but fear has moved in where trust should be," He mumbled, and petting Twig as well.

"I've been expecting you and the young Avatar for quite a long time. I had a vision many years ago of helping him," He smiled and looked at the sky.
"That's why I came to the Eastern Air Temple. Oh, your emotions are so turbulent. Like swirling storm clouds," Guru sighed.

"Let the clouds in your mind be gentle, peaceful ones,"

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Twig yawned as he felt Appa move, and it woke up the rest of the colony too. Appa was following a path of fruit, which led up to Guru with other animals.
"Someone looks very well rested, judging by your bed head," The colony raced to want some food as Twig soothed Appa's head.

Night falls again and Guru walked up to Appa with a scroll.
"I have prepared a message for Aang. May I attach it to your fellow partner?" Twig allowed Guru to have a scroll tired on his waist.

"You and the Avatar's energies are mixed. You have an unbreakable bond. By reading your energy, I can sense where Aang is," Twig watched in fascination as Guru spoke, feeing like that's what he was to you.

"Funny, what invisible strings connect us all. I'll see you again, great beast, and great leader," Guru's voice echoed as Twig, the colony, and Appa flew to Ba Sing Se at last, searching the Gaang.

Appa was tired of flying, but Twig heard a whistle from the bison whistle, which made Appa fly down to a clear path where the sound the the closest to.

Searching, Appa turn a corner to see Long Feng, holding a whistle that wasn't from Aang. Twig hissed as he realized it was a trap.

Long Feng then used bending to make a hole under Appa, and he, Twig and the colony fell, the hole covered up quickly, it but before Twig let out a loud screech.

All from the upper ring, your eyes snapped open and you sat up, looking outside as you felt a shock through your body.

"...Twig?"