An Unforgettable Summer

Chapter 5: Peace Again

Tayarinne, Liska, Maine and Taya II are still waiting at the same location Askaru left them.
“Why is he taking so long?” The adult lioness is impatient.
“Take it easy, Tayarinne. I'm sure your husband and daughter will show up soon.” Liska tries to calm his friend down.
"He's right, mom." The young flyoness also try to calm their mother. They believe that their father will return with their sister.
Askaru and Lilikiki appear with Chamti.
"Finally!" Tayarinne smiles when she sees her husband and daughter.
"Dad! Sis!" Maine and Taya II run to nuzzle Askaru and Lilikiki who nuzzle them back.
“Why did you... Chamti?” Tayarinne is surprised to see the bear with them.
"Wha... What is he doing here?" Liska asks, a little scared by the bear's presence.
Noticing the bear's presence, the cubs walk back a little in fear.
"Mom. Liska. Chamti won't hurt anyone anymore. He is sorry." Lili informs.
"What?!" Liska and Tayarinne are very surprised.
"It's true." Says the bear. “I realized I was being selfish and greedy. I want you to know that I am sorry and that I intend to give the food back to the animals that worked so hard to get it. I understand if you don't accept my apolgy and I'm ready to be punished if you want to.”
Askaru and Lilikiki smile at the bear, while Tayarinne and Liska remain surprised, kinda in shock.
"Are you... Are you really sorry?" Liska asks.
"Yes." Chamti answers. "I understand if you don't believe me, but... Like I said, I'll give your food back and I'll accept it if you want to punish me."
After thinking for a while, Liska and Tayarinne make a decision.
"Okay." Tayarinne smiles. "You really look different."
“I think everyone deserves a second chance.” Liska smiles too.
“Wow. Thanks." Chamti is happy to see that he's being accepted.
Suddenly, Maine and Taya II hug the bear Chamti. Everyone is admired of their attitude, especially the bear.
“We forgive you.” Says Tayarinne II in her cute voice.
Now Chamti smiles, caressing the cubs a little. "Thank you, girls."
“Chamti still has a long way to go, but I believe everyone will forgive him.” Askaru says.
"I believe that too." Liska agrees. “The animals of the Forest of Peace are very friendly and kind. It might take some time, but I'm sure everyone will forgive you, Chamti.”
“Thanks, Liska.” Chamti smiles.
"Well. We better get back.” Tayarinne suggests. “Soon it will be night.”
"Sure, my love." Askaru agrees.
"Good idea. My family must be worried.” Says Liska.
"If you don't mind, I'm going back to my cave." Says Chamti. “Tomorrow morning I will start returning food and apologizing to the animals I threatened.”
“Of course, Chamti. Don't worry." Says Tayarinne with a smile, now trusting the bear.
"I can go with you tomorrow, Chamti, if you want."
“Thank you, Askaru. It would be nice.”
After saying goodbye, Chamti returns to his cave and the others leave.
When they return to Liska's family, everyone reacts with great joy. The fox puppies run to lick their father as Lisky looks at them with pride. At the same time, CiAr's royal family looks at their friends with joy. Suddenly, Tayarinne hugs her three girls tightly. "My little girls..."
"Mom!" They complain, trying to escape their mother's tight embrace.
“I'm no longer a cub.” Lilikiki complains.
Askaru just laughs.
"I'm glad you found your daughter." Says Lisky, happy for her friends.
"Thanks, Lisky." Tayarinne thanks her.
“We found more than just Lili, my love.” Liska informs her mate.
“What do you mean by that, honey?” The female fox is confused.
“Chamti apologized to us. Looks like our friend Askaru has found a way to change the bear.”
"It was nothing. A serious and calm conversation can solve many problems.” Explains Askaru, knowing that he cannot reveal to anyone that he used magic.
Lili looks at her father proudly.
"It's hard to believe, but... If you say it, I believe it." Lisky smiles.
“Well, friends. We have to go. It's getting late.” Notifies Askaru.
“Thanks again.” Tayarinne thanks the foxes.
“That's what friends are for, right?” Liska smiles.
"See you tomorrow?" One of the puppies asks the little girls.
"Of course yes!" Maine responds excitedly.
Everyone says goodbye and each family walks home.
As they are walking, Tayarinne asks her beloved king: “I would very much like to know what you said to Chamti to make him change like that.”
“Well... At first it was complicated, but... Lili and I worked together and managed to convince him. Right, Lili?” Askaru looks at his eldest daughter with a smile.
"Right. Dad was amazing in convincing Chamti.” Lili smiles at her father.
The two promised to keep everything that happened between them and Chamti a secret. No one should know that Askaru used magic and that Chamti is actually an iguanodon from the island of Dinostrov. Askaru and Lilikiki promised that this would be their little secret. Of course, Chamti also promised not to talk about it. The three decided to share the information that Askaru and Lilikiki convinced Chamti to change after a long peaceful conversation.
They continue walking and, practically at night, the family arrives at their cave, going inside.
"Seriously. Can't you use magic to build me a bed? This floor kills me.” Lilikiki complains about the conditions in the cave.
"Lili..." Askaru looks at her seriously.
“I know, dad. I was joking." She laughs. “Or maybe not, hehe.”
“Actually, I think I know what we could do.” Tayarinne has an idea.
“What are you suggesting, my love?” Askaru asks.
"I think it's time we taught our daughters how to build a nest."
“A nest?!” Their daughters are confused.
“Actually, we should have done it today, but it's okay. Working as a team, I'm sure we'll be able to build at least two nests tomorrow. One for the three of you, the other for me and your father.”
“Cool!” Maine and Taya II seem happy with their mother's idea.
"What?!" Lilikiki looks a little upset at the idea.
“Is there a problem, sweetheart?” Askaru asks, not understanding the eldest daughter's reaction.
“You must be kidding me! I have to sleep with them?” Lili screams annoyed.
“Where is the problem? You and your sisters were always very close.” Says their mother, also confused by her daughter's attitude.
Maine and Tayarinne II just look at their sister, confused, not realizing what's going on.
“And I love my sisters, but... Aarrgh! You don't understand!” Lili runs out of the cave, clearly annoyed.
"What the...?" Tayarinne is even more confused.
"Dear. Why don't you put our little girls to sleep while I go outside and talk to Lili?” Askaru suggests.
"Okay, honey. I hope you can calm her down. Again."
"You know me."
The couple smiles at each other, nuzzling each other  and purring a little, before the lioness goes to her youngest daughters. “Alright, girls. Let's go to sleep."
"Yes, mom." Maine and Taya II smile.
Askaru smiles at his queen and their younger daughters before walking out of the cave.
Outside, Lili is sitting at the edge, watching the beautiful nightscape of the Forest of Peace. Slowly, Askaru walks towards her and sits beside her, looking at the forest with her, not saying a word. For a moment, Lili looks at her father, curious, but then she looks back at the forest.
In fact, this isn't the first time Askaru has come to comfort his eldest daughter. They've always had a special bond and she knows he's always willing to help and support her.
The two continue observing the forest for some time. Finally, Askaru decides to start talking. “Are you okay, my daughter?”
“Why do you ask?”
“I'm your father. You know you can talk to me about anything that's bothering you."
"I... I don't want to sleep with my sisters in a nest."
“Can you explain to me why?”
"It's just... They're still cubs, okay?"
"I see." Askaru smiles, starting to realize what's going on.
“I'm already a grown-up flyoness. I don't want to sleep with them. It was hard enough to sleep with them last night. I need my personal space.”
"I understand."
“You... you do?” Lili looks at her father, surprised at what she just heard.
"Of course I do. You're growing up, Lili. You are practically an adult flyoness and it's normal for you to feel this need to express your personal opinions and seek your privacy.”
“You... You think so?”
“Of course, sweetheart. We all go through this phase in our lives. Your mother went through that when she was about your age. I went through it too.”
"Really?" Lili is really surprised. It's hard to imagine that her father ever acted with as much determination and firmness as she has.
“Once, I was playing hide and seek with some friends. I was so annoyed at losing that I pushed one of them into a lake.” Lili laughs as she hears her father tell this. “But of course I apologized to him later because I realized that it was just a game and we were just there to have fun.”
“Well... I didn't mean to yell at you. Sorry." Now Lili is ashamed.
"Hey. It's okay, sweetie. You don't have to apologize.”
"I don't?"
"No. You just have to promise me that you'll try to calm down and think carefully before you say or do something. Can you promise me that?”
Lili thinks for a while and then answers with a smile. "Yes. I promise, dad.”
"That's my girl." Askaru licks her cheek with a smile, making her blush.
"Dad! Please…” She tries to look away.
"So? Are you ready to go to sleep?”
"Yes. Thanks, dad. I love you."
“I love you too, Lili.”
The two smile at each other and stand up, walking side by side back into the cave.
Inside, Tayarinne sees her husband and daughter coming back and smiles. "Is everything okay?" She asks, not speaking too loud, not wanting to wake Maine and Taya II up, since they just fell asleep.
"Everything's great, mom." Lili smiles.
“Lili is already much calmer.” Askaru says.
“And I will keep like this.” Lili adds.
"Great. Now let's go to sleep?”
"Yes, mom." Lili lies down next to her younger sisters, nuzzling them gently, not wanting to wake them up. "I love you." And she cuddles with them until she falls asleep.
Askaru and Tayarinne lie down side by side, talking a little before going to sleep.
“I'm glad to know that Chamti is no longer a threat.” Comments the lioness.
"Me too. Tomorrow I will help him make peace with the other animals. I'm sure everyone will forgive him.”
“I agree with you, my love. Especially since everyone here is so nice and kind.” She thinks for a while. “Maybe it's really good that none of them know about magic. That could cause some conflicts between some animals, don't you think?”
"Yeah..." Askaru remembers the story Chamti told about his past. "I think you're right, Taya."
Askaru knows he can't tell anyone about Chamti's past... about Unikátní. At least for now. Askaru remembers the deal he made with Chamti before they went to his family and Liska.
“You can't tell anyone about my past. At least until I'm sure everyone has forgiven me and I'm accepted in the forest.” The bear asked.
“You can count on us to keep your secret, Chamti.”
“Thank you, Askaru.”
"However, if you decide to tell about your past, you cannot tell anyone that I used magic to help you recover your memory."
"It's ok. I won't tell anyone.”
"Let's go to sleep?" Tayarinne wakes Askaru from his thoughts.
"What? Oh. Y-Yes. Let's go to sleep, my queen.”
The couple nuzzle each other a little and then Tayarinne leans her head against her king's until they both fall asleep calmly and in love.
The next morning, everyone wakes up in a good mood with a big smile. Askaru and Tayarinne share their usual morning nuzzle as they watch their daughters waking up. Lilikiki licks her little sisters' heads fondly and then the three of them nuzzle each other, purring. Their parents look proudly at their daughters.
When they're all awake and on their paws, they talk about what today is going to be like since they're all going to be busy.
“Please obey your mother. She may be a lioness, but she has learned a lot about flyons since we met."
“I still have a lot to learn, honey.” Tayarinne explains.
“We all continue to learn, no matter how old we are.”
“Don't worry, dad. I also know a few things about building nests. I remember reading something about it in a book in our library. I can help mom.”
“Thanks, Lili.” She and her father especially smile at each other, remembering the conversation they had last night.
“Dad. Are you not going to help us build the nests?” Maine asks hopefully.
"Well... I have to help Chamti make peace with the other animals, but I promise I'll get back as soon as I can."
"I'm sure it's going to be all right." Tayarinne nuzzles her king, who nuzzles her back, both of them purring.
After some family nuzzles, everyone leaves the cave. While Askaru goes to Chamti, the females leave for the center of the forest.
When they arrive at a place full of trees and bushes, Tayarinne looks around and then asks her daughters: “Okay, girls. Here's what we're going to do. Lili, you're going to gather as many branches as you can. Maine and Taya, you're going to gather as many leaves as you can. I'll get some grass. Did you all understand?”
"Yes, mom." They respond enthusiastically.
"Let's do it, girls."
Askaru and Chamti are walking and talking.
“Again, thanks for helping and supporting me, Askaru.”
“No problem, Chamti. After everything that's happened, you deserve a second chance. And I'm sure that, even without knowing the whole truth about your past, the animals of this forest will also forgive you and give you a new chance. After all, this is the Forest Of Peace.”
"You're right. But I still don't know what I should do if they accept me. I mean… Magic is not accepted here.”
“Calm down, Kátní. One thing at a time. Now, the most important thing is to apologize to the inhabitants of the forest.”
"Yeah. You're right, Askaru. Again."
Chamti has completely changed after he recovered his memory. It's as if his dinosaur personality overlaps with that of a bear, revealing his pure kindness.
After a while, the two find a couple of red squirrels.
“Hello, buddies.” It's Askaru who speaks first.
“Oh. Hello." The male squirrel speaks, but the couple quickly hug each other in fear at the sight of the bear. “What is he doing here?”
“Take it easy, please.” Askaru asks. “Chamti will not harm you.”
“That bear only knows to harm everyone.” Says the female squirrel, still scared.
“Listen. I... I'm very sorry for all the harm I did to you and all the other animals.” Chamti speaks in a calm tone, showing all his honesty.
“You're kidding, right?” The male squirrel doesn't believe it.
"It's true. I lost my memory and... only now did my memories come back. I realized I was being quite selfish, stubborn… evil.”
The squirrels are in shock with this new version of the bear.
"Are you... Are you really sorry?"
"Yes. I understand if you don't forgive me, but... I intend to help you get back the food I stole from you.”
“Chamti is telling you the truth.” Askaru speaks again. “I trust him and I think you should too.”
The squirrels look at each other with the same admiring gaze and the same thought. All animals deserve a second chance.
“Very well, Chamti. We accept your apologies.” Says the female.
"Really? Wow. Thanks." The bear smiles, happy to know that they forgive him.
“Don't make us regret it.” Warns the male squirrel.
"Don't worry. As I said, I will help you get your food back.”
“We count on it. See you soon."
"Bye." Chamti continues to smile, watching the squirrels leave. Afterwards, he looks back at Askaru. “Looks like you were right. Maybe everyone can forgive me.”
“It was a good start, Kátní. But you still have many animals to visit.”
"Then maybe we'd better continue."
"Yeah. You're right."
Askaru accompanies the bear through the forest, and throughout the morning, the two talk with many animals. Chamti explains to them that he had lost his memory and that changed his personality. But, now that he has his memory back, he wants to make peace with all animals and help them recover the food he stole from them.
Meanwhile, Askaru's family is gathering many elements to build their nests. Since they cannot fly because they have to keep their flyoness form hidden, the females gather as many leaves, branches and dry grasses as they can. Then the females take them to their cave and come back for more.
Tayarinne helps her daughters, especially the youngest ones, gather what they need to build their nests. Although they will leave in a few days, this is a process of learning and teamwork. Lilikiki tries to get more material to build a nest big enough for her. Maine and Tayarinne II work together and even find it fun.
The animals of the forest have accepted Chamti's apology, even if some of them are suspicious at first. But everything becomes easier with Askaru's help, showing everyone that he trusts the bear.
At lunch, Kátní joins the flyons. He's happy to be able to share lunch with his new friends, the ones who helped him recover his memory.
“Glad everyone is accepting you back as a friend.” Says Tayarinne with a smile.
“I believe that no animal will reject you, Kátní.” Askaru adds.
"Thank you, friends." The bear thanks them.
“And I'm glad I decided to face the terrible Chamti.” Lilikiki jokes.
“You're a very brave flyoness.” The bear praises her.
"I know." She lifts her head, smiling proudly.
The group continues to eat and talk, before returning to their duties.
Throughout the afternoon, Askaru continues to help Chamti make peace with the rest of the animals. At the same time, the three flyonesses continue to gather what they need to build their nests. This time, and since they can't be in their flyon form, they'll just build simple nests in the big cave.
“When we get out of this forest, maybe we'll find a place where we can build better and more suitable nests for flyons. For now, let's just build something simple, but also comfortable.” Their mother explains, continuing to help them.
At dusk, Askaru accompanies Chamti to his cave.
"Are you sure you don't want me to accompany you tomorrow too?" The flyon asks.
“Don't worry, Askaru. We have spoken to almost all animals. The word spreads with the birds, as you know. I can talk to the rest of the animals tomorrow.”
“As you wish, my friend.”
"Thank you again for everything."
“You're welcome. See you around."
Askaru returns to his family. Upon entering the cave, he notices that the females have already started to build their nests. "Wow. You've been working a lot.”
"Dad!" Maine and Tayarinne II run to nuzzle their father, happy to see him again.
“Hehe. I missed you too.” Askaru nuzzles his younger daughters.
“Welcome back, dad.” Lilikiki speaks with her usual sweet smile.
“Thank you, sweetie.” Askaru smiles at his eldest daughter, before looking at his queen. “How did it go?”
“It's been a pretty busy day, honey. But things are going very well. Tomorrow, with your help, the nests may be ready.”
“Mom has already explained to us that these are basic nests.” Tells Lili.
“It's true, sweetherat. Since we cannot reveal our true form to other animals, we cannot fully act like flyons either. But I am sure that soon we'll find a place where we can act naturally. Then you can learn to build real flyon nests.”
“We can't wait.”
“How did things go with Chamti?” Tayarinne asks.
“Well… Some animals had a hard time forgiving him, but they ended up accepting Chamti again. Maybe tomorrow the whole forest will accept him. He's truly changed and I believe that peace will return to this forest, just as it was the last time we were here.”
The cubs start to yawn cutely.
“Looks like someone is tired.” Askaru smiles at the little ones.
“Maybe a little.” Taya II says.
“Come on, girls. Let's go to sleep." Lili calls her sisters. "The nests aren't ready yet, but we can sleep together."
"Okay." Maine and Taya II smile at their sister, heading with her to a comfortable spot in the cave. “Good night, mom and dad.”
"Good night, girls." The adults watch their daughters with a smile.
"Perhaps we should do the same, my king." Tayarinne gives her mate a cute lick.
“You're right, my queen. It was a long day.”
The couple cuddle and lie down in another comfortable spot in the cave. Askaru and Tayarinne lean their heads, watching their daughters cuddling together, before they all fall asleep calmly and slowly.