Well, I still haven't been getting many reviews for this story. However, there ARE people who want me to continue this story, so I will. Not to mention, I really like this story. Thus, I shall continue, but I do hope for more reviews. Anyway, thanks to those who reviewed, favored, and chose to watch this story--thankies! Here is chapter six--segment seven. I hope you enjoy--despite how short this chapter is. Please, review!
Chapter: Six
Once Aang was able to stand on his own, he asked his friends if he could return to the sanctuary again. He just wanted to pay his respects to his past lives before they left. Sokka, Lian, and Katara saw nothing wrong with that, so they allowed such. Thus, they all stood in the sanctuary—Katara, Lian, and Sokka looking over the place some more while Aang silently stared up at Avatar Roku.
Suddenly, the lemur from before pounced into the room with an armful of fruits. Everyone blinked surprise seeing the creature—they had been sure he had been scared off. The lemur owlishly blinked back before scampering over to Sokka and dumping the food in front of him then, springing onto Aang's shoulder.
"Guess you made a new friend, huh, Sokka?" joked Lian, petting the lemur perched on Aang.
"Can't talk. Eating." Sokka said through a mouthful of fruits, which he kept shoveling into his mouth.
The others laughed. "I don't think he's the only one this little guy likes, Aang. I think he took to you, too." Katara giggled, scratching the lemur big ears.
Aang beamed. "Well, I like you, too!" he laughed. "And that means, you're coming with us to the North Pole." The lemur just chirped a little as if in agreement.
"Speaking of the North Pole," Sokka piped, wiping his mouth of any juice. "We should probably start heading out if we want to make it before Spring."
"Done stuffing your face, piggy?" Lian teased, picking a piece of apple off his cheek. Huffing, with flushed cheeks, he swatted her away.
"Sokka's right. We should stock up and leave." Katara announced.
Aang's smile faltered and he peered back at Roku. He sighed and nodded. "All right. Let's go."
After that, everyone was split up to get whatever food they could scavenge. When the sun started to set, the group met up again near Appa and packed everything up for their journey. They didn't leave right away though, Aang wanted to spend a few more minutes saying goodbye to his old home talking to Momo, the lemur's new name, and Appa. Katara, Sokka, and Lian watched from a distance, their hearts going out to the boy—they knew what it felt like to leave their home.
Then, they were off, heading northward.
XXX
No matter what she did, she couldn't fall asleep. She tried counting sheep, she tried moving into different positions, everything. Lian even tried eating—something that always put Sokka to sleep. Nevertheless, she just couldn't get to sleep and sleeping was one of her favorite past times!
The young Waterbender gave up. Sighing deeply, she sat up leaning against Appa's saddle and gazed up at the moon above. Her eyes then, peered around her at her peacefully slumbering friends. Lucky hog monkeys…, she thought with a huff and a crossing of her arms.
Lian cursed her friends for not having as much on their minds as she did. Yet, she took that back when she knew perfectly well that that statement wasn't true. She knew the death of their mother and the departure of their father weighed heavily on Sokka and Katara—it hurt Lian as well as those were the two people who took her in when they didn't have to. And well, Aang was the Avatar. Enough said. Being that would plague anyone's mind. Not to mention, Lian would never wish her troubles onto someone else, especially her friends—they were hers to deal with and hers alone.
Though, selfishly, she wished she didn't have such troubles so she could sleep. Just for a moment.
Scowling, the girl huffed. "It's all his fault…" she grumbled to herself, quietly so she didn't disturb the others.
"Whose fault?"
Jumping startled, Lian snapped her head to see Sokka staring up her. "You're awake!" she whispered.
"So are you." he pointed out with a yawn. "Why?"
"Um…" The dark-haired girl quickly came up with a lie. "I'm cold." Good one, Lian., she mentally hit herself.
Looking at her skeptically, Sokka sat up. "You're cold?" he questioned in disbelief as he rubbed his eyes of sleep.
"Yes?"
"Do you honestly expect me to believe that, Lian? We grew up on a block of ice. This is mild compare to how it is back home."
"…So?"
"So I want the truth. You're up 'cuz something is bothering you and I wanna know." Sokka claimed sternly as he shifted to sit beside her. Both teens tried to keep their voices down.
Lian rolled her eyes, which were just a shade dark than his. "You worry too much, Sokka. Katara doesn't worry this much about me and she's a huge worry-wart." she sighed deeply.
"Only because she isn't as close to you as I am. She can't read you as well as I can."
"Sokka, I'm fine. Honestly. I just can't sleep, no biggie. Don't let me stop you from doing so."
"Lian," he grabbed her hand, hers looking so tiny and pale in his big and tan one. His eyes were serious and stern. "Tell me." the boy urged.
Biting her lip, Lian tried prying her hand from his. Yet, he just held tighter and she was unable to do so. "Let it go, Sokka." she said, almost pleadingly. She was tired, frustrated, flustered, and annoyed—she did not want to deal with her best friend's persistent prying and concern.
"The memories of your past is really starting to bug you, aren't they?"
You mean lack of. "…Let go…"
"They are. I can tell. You haven't been like this since we were little, not since we first met." The pain in his voice and the way he hung her head made guilt and shame well in Lian's chest.
She knew Sokka cared about her deeply and worried about her, especially when it came to her past. That's why she tried keeping her feelings about such to herself to avoid hurting him. Nevertheless, he seemed so sensitive to her, he was always able to detect how she felt. In return, she could sense the same in him—no matter how rare it was that he got seriously depressed. That's probably why they were such good friends. Yes, Lian was close to Katara, close as sisters, but Katara could never have the same kind of relationship Lian had with Sokka—as strange and confusing as that was.
Inwardly, she sighed deeply.
The dark-haired girl was never afraid to tell Sokka how she felt—at least not after he gave her a guilt trip, like now. However, now was different. Confiding in him about what she had been contemplating about recently would upset, probably infuriate him. Then again, it was just a thought, nothing definite, so maybe he wouldn't get angry.
"I can't do this anymore, Sokka." she finally spoke, her voice hesitant and strained.
"Can't do what anymore, Lian?" He peered to her.
"Act like not knowing is okay. At first, it was because I was just a stupid kid; I thought if I didn't think about how little I knew, it would be just fine. I could enjoy my life with my new family. But as I grew older, I realized how empty and lost I felt a…pathetic as that sounds.
"I mean, all I know about my parents is that my mother died in childbirth and was a Waterbender from the North Pole and that my father is in the military of the Fire Nation and is a Firebender. Otherwise, I know nothing. Who were they? How did they fall in love when their elements and nations are so different? Why was my mother alone when she died? Where was my father? Did he know she died? Does he know about me? Does he care? And then, there's Zuko." admitted Lian, cursing herself for sounding so foolish and childish.
"Zuko? What does he have to do with this?" questioned Sokka, watching her face intently.
"We were once friends when I lived in the Fire Nation. He was the first person who discovered I was a Waterbender, instead of a Firebender. Zuko swore he tell wouldn't anyone, especially his father because if I was discovered, I'd be banished. Obviously, they found out," Lian gnawing on her lip, not knowing whether to be sad or angry. "Because Zuko betrayed me and ratted me out."
Sokka seemed to be angry for her. "How? How could he do that? Why would do that if you were friends? When he promised?" he seethed, trying to control himself from yelling.
"I don't know." She shook her head. "Those are just more questions I don't have the answers to. And I can't have that anymore. It's not acceptable. I want answers. I need them, Sokka."
Furrowing his brows, his icy-hued eyes narrowed. "What…What are you trying to say, Lian?" She bit her lip and looked away, afraid to meet his gaze. He took aback. "Y-You're not going to…leave, are you?"
"…I don't know." Lian replied hesitantly.
"Lian, you can't!" he whispered-shouted desperately.
"I said I don't know, Sokka!" Her voice was in the same volume. "I was just thinking about it! It's not definite! It's not like I know where to start anyway!" That was half-right. She had a feeling where she'd have to go and who she'd have to talk to, but saying such would just upset Sokka further—it kind of upset her.
For moment, with a deep frown, the young man's eyes searched hers.
He wasn't sure if she was lying or not. It really did seem that she didn't know what to do; all she knew is that she demanded answers. And knowing Lian, she'd tried anything to get them, no matter how reckless it was going to be. That scared the youthful warrior yet, he knew he couldn't just tell her that she couldn't do something. He did not have the right to do that. Lian did deserve answers, she deserved to be happy. He just did not want her to be alone or get hurt or worse.
The brown-haired male squeezed the hand he held. "Okay, okay. I hear you. Just promise me something."
"What?" she said, quizzically.
"That you won't do anything without talking to me first. I don't want you running off somewhere by yourself without telling me."
"I'm not a child, Sokka. I can take care of myself."
"Promise me, Lian."
She took aback at his tone. It did not sound like a request, more like a demand and Sokka rarely ordered Lian to do anything.
"I promise, Sokka."
A grin broke out on his face. "Thank you, Lian." He hugged her tightly.
She hugged him back, but there was no smile upon her face
