I'm Not Alone
Katara rose from the warm waters, retrieving her necklace that she had placed on the soft ground. She would hate to get it wet, so she found it necessary to take it off while she bathed. The cold air hit her wet skin, causing a chill to go all the way up her spine. Her towel was waiting for her next to the necklace. Katara quickly wrapped it around herself to hopefully warm herself up a bit. She then grasped the pendant in her hands. Although Katara had possessed this necklace for years, she would often observe its carvings, as if seeing it for the first time. Because it was the only part of her mother that remained, Katara guarded it with her life. She has cried many lonely tears over her lost mother, especially at night when Aang or Sokka wouldn't be able to notice her sadness. Katara thought she would just be a burden if they were to notice. Katara sighed, and put it around her neck, securing it tightly.
By the time she had returned to the tents, everyone was sound asleep. Even Zuko, who usually didn't turn in until unusually late, was surprisingly in a deep slumber. Katara grinned when she noticed Aang's loud snoring. She quietly sat around the small fire that was placed in the center of all the tents. That is when she noticed the fire being reflected off the glassy surface of the pendant that hung around her neck. Katara looked down and held it in her hands. There it was again, the image of her mother, but something else too. The memories of this necklace had slowly evolved into something more. It made her think of Aang, the first person that made her feel beautiful. She smiled at that thought. There was still something else; Zuko. Although he had been slightly involved with Katara's mother's demise, he had the strength and will to change. Zuko had the determination to be good. This fact gave him a special place of memories with the necklace. Katara yawned and felt the tiredness in her eyes. She put out the fire and retreated to her cozy tent.
Before going under the covers, she gave her last gaze into the stars; a beautiful image for peaceful dreams perhaps. With that, she snuggled in her tent and closed her eyes, giving thought about these previous events. It was nice to replace the old and gloomy memories with brighter ones. Katara had worried she would be stuck in this melancholy rut forever. In her dream, her mother's figure faded into the dreary darkness. This atmosphere didn't last long, as Aang and Zuko appeared out of the shadows. Although a bit apprehensive, Katara greeted them with open arms and heart. She would never forget her mother, but the two were there to help along the way for the rest of her days. With that, Katara realized something else. She was never alone.