-I'm glad those of you reading this enjoy it. This is the first time that I've compelled to finish a story, without becoming either bored or annoyed with it. Thank you!

It had been two days since she ate, and Hama was not even sure how much longer it would actually be until she would. Her legs felt heavy as she walked through the barren forest. Normally two days would be nothing, but Hama figured her pregnancy was a factor in her fatigue. She clutched her stomach as it growled loudly.

Hama fell to her knees and was about to pass out when a aroma drifted under her nose. It was smoke. And by the smell of it, something was being cooked. She stood up and followed the smell. She came to a hill and walked up it. At the top, she could see a decent sized town down below, filled with people. She nearly fell down the hill as a wave of nausea hit her, but she caught herself, and slowly made her way down.

She walked through the town, looking at the various vendors, her mouth salivating excessively. One smell in particular; someone was grilling ocean cumquats. Hama walked over, drooling, and stood close to the counter.

"You gonna' buy something, or just stand there?" The cook asked impatiently.

Hama attempted to squeak out a reply, but for some reason, her voice would not work. She stared at her feet as her vision began to get blurry, and before she knew it, everything went black, and she fell to the ground. The last thing she heard was a group of frantic people gather around her, and then nothing.

When Hama woke up, it was dark and she was in someone's house. She tried to get up, but her body resisted, and fell back down.

"No, no, don't get up! You're very weak.." A man came into the room and handed her a tray of food.

Hama stared at it cautiously, but quickly gave in and began to eat it.

"What's your name, dear?" the man asked.

Hama painfully swallowed the large amount of food in her mouth, and looked at him.

"Ha.. Hama," she said softly.

"What a pretty name. I'm Din." Din smiled warmly at her, "You can stay here until you feel better, m'kay?"

Hama grimaced at the thought of staying in a Fire Nationer's home, but she just nodded, smiling. She quickly finished her food and handed the tray back to Din. Not long after Din left, Hama felt her meal rise up in her, and she expelled it all over the floor. She wiped her mouth, and growled quietly, but angrily.

"Damnit.. What am I going to do about this.. Thing?" She put her hand on her belly, squeezed it. "How do I get rid of it?"

Just when Din walked in the room, Hama thought of something. "Mr. Din?" She mentally slapped herself for calling him that. "Is there a, um.. Doctor around here?"

Din looked at her strangely. "Of course there is."

"Any special kinds?" Hama asked, hoping he would get the hint.

"Well, there's a dental doctor, a children's doctor, and there's a regular one, usually he's used for emergencies. Why? Do you need a doctor?" He asked nervously.

"Kinda'.. but is there any others?"

Din cocked his head as he thought. "Well.. There's a medicinal doctor, but not many go to her."

"Ok. I have to go.." Hama stood up, wobbled to the side for a moment, and then regained her composure.

"Are, are you sure? I mean.." He noticed the pool of vomit. "You're really sick!"

"Not as much as you think." She whispered, "But thank you, Din. I really appreciate your hospitality."

Hama was lying, but she was not in the mood for a confrontation. Just as she was leaving, Din grabbed her shoulder, Hama stiffened.

"You can't go now.. It's dark out."

Hama realized he was right, and sighed, going back to the bed. She did not feel like talking to Din, so she tried to go to sleep. She did surprisingly quickly, only to wake up when she had to go to the bathroom, and when Din was cleaning up the pool of sick.

As soon as the sun was up, Hama left. She searched around for the medicinal clinic, eventually finding it. It was closed, so Hama sat in front, leaning against the wall. She dozed until she heard someone walking on dirt road. She opened her eyes to find an older woman peering down at her.

"I'm sorry, did I wake you?" She asked, cocking her head.

"No, I was awake," Hama said, stretching and rubbing her eye. She stood up, and brushed herself off. "Are you the medicinal woman?"

The woman nodded. "My name is Yuki. Why don't we go inside?"

Hama followed Yuki into the clinic, and looked around at the shelves filled with various jars, and weird items.

"So? What brings you here?" Yuki asked, sitting down in a chair, crossing her legs formally.

"Well.. Um.. There's something I need to get rid of," Hama could not think of a word to describe what she wanted done.

"What? A growth, an odd hair, and appendage?" Yuki laughed at her joke, but then saw Hama's face. "Oh. How far are you along?"

Hama really had no idea, so she just shrugged. Yuki smiled, got up, and went over to her. Hama tensed up as Yuki placed her hand over Hama's stomach. She felt around, muttering some things under her breath, and saying some various "ahs" and "hms".

"I'd say around eight or nine weeks. Now, if you are completely sure about this, then I have an herb which will take care of this," Yuki looked up at her, eyebrows raised.

"Yes, I'm sure." Hama said this without thinking.

Yuki shrugged, and told Hama to lay on the table in the back.

"It will take a few minutes for me to prepare this, so that gives you some time to think about this. In case you change your mind."

Hama was beginning to get annoyed with this woman; why would she want to change her mind, she had already decided she was going to end this pregnancy. Hama rested her head back, and closed her eyes. In the black of her eyelids, she saw something; a baby? No, not quite a baby, but a developing one. She could see it very well, but she could see it move, it's heartbeat clear in her ears. Eyes still closed, she moved her hand down to her stomach, and felt it. She felt as the baby moved in the amniotic fluid, its tiny hands and feet flexed and unflexed.

A tear ran down Hama's cheek and she opened her eyes just as Yuki was coming over to her with the herbs. She sat up.

"I.. I don't want to get rid of the baby.." Hama said quietly. Yuki smiled.

"I had a feeling you would change your mind," she said, setting the herbs down. "Lucky for you, I also specialize in prenatal care and mid-wifery."

Hama laughed nervously. "I.. don't think I'll be here that long."

"Oh, that's too bad. I wish you, and your baby, all the best." Yuki picked up the herbs, and placed them back on the shelf.

About an hour later, Hama left the town, with some provisions Yuki had given her, hoping to strengthen her water bending. She walked for a while, finding a spot outside of a forest. It had pretty much all she needed; a stream filled with fish, a soft, grassy spot to sleep.

Hama spread out the blanket she received from Yuki, and walked over to the stream. She waved her arms, and lifted up a large blob of water. She did various tricks that she had not done for a while; water whip, waves, and anything else she could think of.

The sun was beginning to go down, and Hama was feeling hungry. She saw a lone fish swimming upstream, and with one little clasp of her hands, enclosed it in a bubble of water. She found a sharp stick, and speared it, watching as it breathed its last breath. She set it down on a rock and started a fire. After she finished cooking it, she happily ate.

"I hope you like this, kid," she muttered softly, rubbing her stomach. She laid herself down on the blanket, and let out a content sigh. It had been so long since she felt this good. She closed her eyes, and held her hand to her abdomen. She felt the tiny heartbeat vibrate through her, and she could not help but smile.

She heard the water from the stream running somewhere past her head, and she lifted up her arm, bringing a strand of water above her head. She let swirl around above her, using it to soothe her. As she did this, she remembered a lullaby her father used to sing to her.

"Gentle pool

The waves go by

Gently sigh.."

Hama struggled to remember the rest, but could not. Instead she just hummed the melody, as she carefully tossed the strand of water back in to the stream. The heartbeat of the tiny life inside her was enough of a lullaby.

Daw, fluff. There will be more action soon, I promise.