I sheild my eyes with my hand from the bright setting sun as messenger hawk as it flies away into the clouds. I moosy back into the kitchen letters in hand. Fresh spring winds accompany me. I love spring everything comes alive again, grass is the longest and greenest it will be all year. The blossoms on the trees finally bloom sweet shades of lilac and white. I drag my forefinger across the seal on the first piece of mail, a letter from the southern watertribe. I open the rough piece of paper in my hand.

Dear Katara and Avatar Aang,

I am Reku, Bato's youngest son, I believe you remember me.

Deep breath, just another deep breath. I stared into the airbender's gray eyes. "What's wrong Katara?" He asks innocently. I can't believe it..no...NO.... He was just fine a few weeks ago when we went to see him... Tears run down my cheeks. I clench the letter tightly in my fingers.

I'm writing this due to the distraught emotions of everyone else. I'm sorry…..

"Katara," he yells shaking me by my shoulders," What's wrong?" I stare dumbfoundedly down at the letter. Then back at him, his sad upturned face. I feel like someone cut out my insides with dull scissors. I hand him the brown piece of parchment. My hands shake. His eyes glance back and forth across it. To inform you that…

His eyes grow wide with horror as he reaches the end. "Katara, I'm so sorry." Tears swell in his own eyes like rain drops falling from thunder clouds. I fall, literally, into his arms. Warm pieces of bread and coffee smelling fabric wrap around me. I inhale his scent as tears stain his shirt. "I can't believe I wasn't there for this…." I murmur. …Chief Hakoda died of a major stroke...

"You couldn't have been he was gone in 12 hours time even if we had gotten word right away we still wouldn't have been there in time for it." Sadly I know he's right, "I know." He kisses the top of my head smoothing down my hair. We sink down to the cold shiny limestone floor. …late last night. "Don't worry," he whispers in my ear," we'll get through this. The funeral will probably be soon so we should leave for it in the next couple of days."

"Okay," is all I murmur back. Tears fall like leaks in pipes out of my eyes.

"Its going to alright katara,"Aang coos warmly Then I cry in his arms until the moon is fully overhead and sleep steals me away.