It was remarkable, she thought, how quickly the night dawned

Not Goodbye

It was remarkable, she thought, how quickly the night dawned. It seemed like just a minute ago the sky was a bright blue and they were hurrying to finish their dinners so they could frolic in the pond.

Splashes and yells and shrieks disturbed the birds in the trees as they spat water at one another, showed off impressive dives, and tried to knock one another off of another persons shoulders. Katara only vaguely remembered the sky turning a faint lavender and before she knew it the sky was plunged into darkness, with specks of light piercing the sky.

They then had to get out dry off, and Toph, Zuko, Mai, Sokka, and Aang climbed onto Appa leaving Suki and Katara, still wet on the balcony. It was hard to say goodbye, she realized, but it was harder when you didn't know when you were going to see the person again.

She knew Sokka and Aang would fly back immediately after their venture, and Zuko and Mai she would probably see soon after, but as she squeezed Toph close to her chest one last time, she realized she didn't know. Would her parents demand that she stay and not leave them again? Would they allow her to visit? Katara didn't know.

Tears didn't come, but Katara could feel her throat closing up. "Bye Toph," she said weakly.

"Bye Katara," was her soft response as she climbed onto Appa.

Katara only half registered a "Yip Yip!" and Appa flying away, and she and Suki went to sit down by the fire.

Now Katara had time with her thoughts. Her hair hung lankly in her face, and she didn't bother to move it, or ring the water out of it. Every now and then a cold trickle down her spine would remind her that she was real. After a while Suki turned in, and Katara followed suit.

She sat down on the bed, and a scroll rolled down the slope she had created to meet her. She unrolled it, realizing it was from Toph, and in Zuko's writing.

Katara-

Well, we both know I'm not so good at this. Writing stuff first of all, so I got Zuko to do that, and just kind of telling you what I think. I don't know when I'll be able to see you again, so this is just kind of a goodbye for now. I'll miss you, even if it doesn't seem like it. You were fun to argue with, and like a sister to me. So, thanks.

-Toph

Now the tears came, rolling down her cheeks, blending softly with the paper, just skirting the ink so that it avoided her tears.

Time she realized as she pulled the blankets over herself, was a remarkable thing. At first you have so much, wondering what to do with it all. Then you use it, trying just to get rid of it. And when it has gone, you realize you wish you had more.

A/N: I wrote this for the other half of the account (TZ) who just moved to the east coast. It's weird being on different time zones and stuff and we wont be able to talk as much. Yeah this was just for her as a way to kind of show her what she meant to me so, based mainly on reality. (odd way to show affection isn't it?)