disclaimer: if i owned avatar the last airbender...well, all katang supporters would be screwed...and also, i don't own 'Evening Star', By Edgar Allen Poe
Midtime of Night
©SovereignxXxBrunette
'Twas noontide of summer,
and midtime of night,
And stars, in their orbits,
Shone pale, though the light
Of the brighter, cold moon
'Mid planets her slaves
Herself in Heavens,
Her beam on the waves
Edgar Allen Poe, Evening Star
Prologue:
A girl cloaked in shadow slipped through the night, her rust colored hair shimmering in the cold moon's radiance. The forest of Kyoshi providing her protection, she wove her way through the trees to her destination- the house of the Avatar, his water-bending companion, and her brother that temporarily dwelled there. Silently, she slid open the paper door and scaled the stair, lithe as a shadow. She paused at the door, her pale green eyes intense and watchful as she listened to their conversation.
'Looks like we have a choice to make, guys.' The avatar said softly.
'I'm staying with you, Aang.' His male companion, Sokka, said firmly. 'It's where I'm needed.'
'I'm staying with you too, Aang.' Katara insisted.
'Guys, all I have to do is learn fire bending! I'll have a better chance of-'
'No, Aang. We're staying with you and that's final.' Sokka said, his voice nearing the door. The girl, disappointed and hopeful, vanished into the night.
Katara woke with a start to the crash of Sokka running into something. 'Sokka, what'd you do this time?' She mumbled, rolling out of bed.
'Aang's gone, Katara! He's gone!' He cried frantically, darting into the hallway. Katara froze, horror blooming in her eyes. Scrambling to her feet, she sprinted outside, the sun barely peeking above the horizon. Appa was gone.
'He left without us…' She choked out.
'Miss Katara? May I be of service?' The village leader, Mashu, asked timidly. Katara whirled to face him.
'Did you know about Aang? Did you know he was going to leave?' She roared her fury and rejection mounting by each surpassing second.
The leader regarded her grimly, his hands folded in the sleeves of his robes. 'Come inside, ameonna.' He answered softly, gesturing to the house he lived in. Katara was livid.
'Answer me! He's too innocent, too oblivious to the ways of our world now! He's too trusting, and you just let him leave?' She screeched.
'Katara,' Sokka warned, joining the two outside. The village was waking up. Katara seethed silently, her heart aching as possibilities of what Aang was to come too flashed within her mind.
'Let the man talk.' He whispered, following the elderly man into his home. Katara stood out in the waking moments of the day for a few moments, the air around her quivering in freezing temperatures. She followed her brother inside.
After they were all situated in a circle around a pit with aromatic and soothing smoke winding from it, Mashu spoke, his eyes closed in regret.
'Avatar Aang came to me in the middle of the night, seeking guidance. He asked what he should do, for he didn't want to lead you into harm's path. What he said, also, was: Don't you think that if I'm to become a Fire Bending Master, I'd need to learn from one in the first place. And chances are, they won't be too… happy with the thought of helping me, much less having to smuggle two Water people. No, I'm not going to drag them into this.'
'But-' Katara was silenced by Sokka's glare.
'Thank you, Master Mashu.' He said tightly, standing up and bowing jerkily. 'We'll be in touch.'
'And I you. By the way, Sokka, Suki wrote a letter and she says hi. Oh, and Katara? One of my daughters would like a word with you.' He said mildly, flicking a hand to a door behind him. Her curiosity sparked, she peeked behind the door and saw a girl sitting with her back to her.
Long, gleaming rust colored hair spilled in straight-as-bone tresses down her straight-back. She was sitting cross-legged, her hands palm-up on her knees. Her breathing deep and even, she sent ripples through the earth beneath her- the Earth bending form of meditation. Slowly, the girl turned her head, the light from outside the room catching her pale green eyes.
'Is that you, Katara?' She asked quietly, her voice ringing out like silver bells. Katara nodded. The girl fluidly stood up and turned to greet her visitor.
'My name is Kaie, but my friends call me Kai. Do you care to sit?' She inquired graciously, arching one perfectly kempt eyebrow. Katara nodded shyly, aware of the older girl's scrutiny. 'You are really pretty.' Kai commented, sitting down beside Katara.
'You are wondering why I asked you here, am I correct?' Again, Katara nodded. 'I have a proposal. One that is dangerous and risky, but you are one of the few I can trust.'
'But you don't even know me.' Katara pointed out, her attention securely caught. The girl giggled, an odd sound coming out of such a demure, polite, and mature young woman.
She caught Katara's look of shock. 'Believe it or not, Katara, I'm only seventeen. Anyway, back to the topic.' She paused, gathering her thoughts. 'I don't know how to put this without sounding blunt or crude, so here goes. I think we should start a rebel group to free all the prisoners held captive by the Fire Nation.' Silence.
'Well… that's… suicidal.' Was all Katara could get out. 'Talk about headaches.' She muttered, rubbing her temples. Closing her eyes, she said carefully. 'I'll have to think about it. This isn't something you can just say and do, you know.'
'Oh, but the rock is already gathering moss!'
'Huh?' This character makes feel so… stupid! Katara thought.
'I've already pulled some strings, and all I need are some trustworthy people to help me…ah, for lack of better words… help me start it. I have all the supplies, so to say, now all I need is a handful of people for me to set it all together and run it!' She said excitedly. 'Think of all the people we can save!'
'Nng… as I said, I have to talk it over with my brother.' Katara said hastily, standing up abruptly. Kaie seemed put out. 'It's been a… pleasure, Kaie.' She muttered, opening the door and walking out.
'Kai, just… Kai.' She called back. Katara shook her head and ran back to their house, more important matters on her mind.
'Sokka, it's been more than a week- do you honestly think Aang would just play… hide and seek with us?' She paused at Sokka's pointed glance. 'For this long?'
He sighed, setting the rock he'd been looking under back down. 'You're right, Katara. I just didn't want to give up hope so easily.'
'Sokka, you're not giving up hope- Aang is our hope.' Katara commented, hopping off the rock she'd been sitting on.
'Wow, I've heard of mood-swings, but this… this is just unnatural.' Sokka teased lightly, ruffling Katara's hair.
'Hey!' Katara said, punching him gently on his arm. 'I guess I've just… come to terms with my fears.' She said airily.
'What's that?' Sokka asked suddenly, staring at the shore. 'That looks like…'
'Dad's fleet…' Katara whispered, a slow, wild grin blossoming on her face. 'Do you-'
'Think that could be him? Yeah! Come on!' Sokka finished, taking his younger sister by her hand and yanking her down the boulders and rocks that bordered the sand of the shoreline. Together, they stood with the water up to their thighs and waited for the ships to anchor.
'Five… but wasn't there eleven?' Katara whispered, dread donning on her. Five ships anchoring on the white shores of Kyoshi, but six lost to the sea.
'Katara? Sokka? Is that you?' A heart-stopping familiar voice called from the leading ship. They looked up just in time to see a blue blur dive into the water and then the next thing they knew-
'Dad!' Katara screamed, throwing her arms around his neck. He laughed that booming, hearty laugh and hugged her before opening his arms to Sokka.
'I've missed you, Dad.' Sokka whispered his voice cracking. Their father laughed again, this time a soft, soothing laugh and hugged them tighter to his soaking wet, toned body.
'Words can't describe how much I've missed you, son. Katara- look at how much you've grown! A true beauty! Ah, how good it feels to be with you!' Hakoda yelled, pulling Katara deeper into the water and lifting her into the air, twirling about in dizzying circles. Sokka laughed softly, enjoying the look of brimming happiness on his sister's face. The ships docked and all the men jumped overboard to greet the children of Hakoda.
'Botan!' Sokka cheered, pulling his longtime friend into a back-slapping hug. They pulled apart, grinning rowdily.
'Is it true you two were traveling with the Avatar? Can we meet him?' Botan asked his voice full of childish eagerness. Sokka's face darkened and Katara's clouded over, a crestfallen look raining on their moment of bliss.
'Well…'Katara began, but she bit off more than she could chew and looked pointedly into the distance, her jaw clenched as she fought off tears.
Hakoda sensed his daughter's struggle and changed the subject, 'So, how's my little snowflake been doing with her bending?' He asked, picking her up and carrying her out of the ocean bridal-style. Katara couldn't help but giggle, a small tear slipping down her cheek. Hakoda put her down immediately and cupped her face in his strong, big hands, wiping the rogue tear away.
'Sh…sh, Katara, it's okay.' He whispered, pulling her into his warm embrace. She buried her head in his chest and stifled her sobs.
'He left without us.' She moaned, clutching onto his tunic. Sokka was at their side immediately, rubbing Katara's back.
'Why is she so upset?' Hakoda mouthed, stroking Katara's hair.
'She and Aang liked each other.' Sokka mouthed back, pulling Katara into his own comforting hug. She composed herself and wiped her nose with her hand, having no handkerchief on her person.
'And Sokka, I liked him as a friend.' She denied softly, walking away from her brother and father to do what only the gods knew.
'The Fire Nation captured more than half our fleet, and we were just stopping her to restock before going to rescue them.' Hakoda explained, all one-hundred odd men sitting around a bonfire, pipes in the elder men's mouths and jugs of ale for the younger.
'So… when are you leaving?' Sokka asked quietly, dreading the answer.
'In about a fortnight, son.' He answered his own voice tender and low.
'I'm coming.' Sokka said suddenly, his voice full of resolve. His father sighed, running a hand down his face tiredly.
'What about your sister?' He asked.
'She… Katara will understand, dad! I have to do this!' Sokka murmured, not exactly pleading. Hakoda closed his eyes; all joy once in his eyes replaced with unsure.
'You better go tell her. You do know, Sokka, you'll be breaking her heart more so than it is.' He pointed out gruffly.
'She knows in her heart I'm meant to leave…' Sokka trailed off, standing up. He walked away from the bright light of the hearty flame and down the darkening streets in search for Katara. He found her sitting on a cliff over looking the ocean, staring up at the moon. Silently, so as not to disturb her, he sat down next to his sibling and dangled his feet over the edge.
'Katara…' He began, not at all certain what to say. She held up a hand, closing her eyes.
'Don't. I already know, just… give me some time to think.' She said, turning away. It wasn't the pained expression on her face that hurt him most; it was the unfathomable tone she spoke with.
He stood up, walking slowly, uncertainly away. Just within hearing range of her, he whispered the three words that caused Katara's tears to slip incessantly down her face. 'I love you.' With that, he walked down the path and back into the village to talk things over with their father.
Katara got up from her sleeping mat, her body sore beyond belief. Disoriented, she stumbled over to the wash-basin and splashed water onto her face to spark her coordination. She shook her head, flinging the cold liquid from her. Slowly, she got up, regaining some stability.
Standing in front of the lengthy mirror, she plaited her hair and slung it over her shoulder. Next, she moved to her wardrobe and decided on a simple outfit: dark blue leggings with a deep blue, form fitting tunic. She scrunched her nose when she realized the tunic's midriff was cinched, like a corset, but pulled on her soft, black boots and headed for the door in search for Kai.
It was easy to find the unnaturally beautiful young girl, who was calling all the male attention as she shopped for food. Katara caught up to her, whispering so low only Kaie could hear, 'When do we start?'
and that's that! they always say the first chapters the last, so now that I've got that finished with... also, the title may change, so be aware... I'd like to see your thoughts on this story, to see if I should continue on with it! also, it will vary from Sokka's side of the story, Katara's, and Aang's. Pairings undecided, though it most likely is not going to be Katang... and no zukoXoc or anything like that.
over n out!
♥erica♥
