Woot. Chapter eight.


Hama held Pamuya against her chest as her sobs became quieter. She sniffed and made a movement to stand up when she saw Yuki twitch. Hama gasped.

"Yuki!" Hama moved closer to Yuki. "Do.. Do you want me to take that knife out..?" Her voice cracked as she said this.

Yuki shook her head slowly. "No.. There's no reason to."

Tears began streaming down Hama's face again. Yuki turned her head to Hama and smiled. With great difficulty, she pushed herself up, and came in front of Hama's face. Placing her hand on the back of Hama's neck, she leaned in and kissed Hama on the cheek. Then she whispered into her ear.

"Promise me something.. Promise me that you'll never let the Fire Nation take away your heritage. Or Pamuya's," Yuki smiled again. She suddenly went limp, and fell against Hama. Hama bit her lip, and laid her on the floor.

She stood up, pushed Pamuya onto her shoulder, and picked up Yuki. Carefully, she took her outside, and placed her on the ground. She checked for any sign of life. There was none.

She spent the next few hours digging a grave for Yuki. By the time she was done, her was so physically exhausted she could barely move. She remembered it was not long since she had given birth. As carefully as she could, she laid Yuki into the hole. She stared at the face of the only woman to show her such compassion in years. She immediately thought of Kanna, and wondered how she was. Hama closed her eyes tightly as she tossed soil on top of the young woman. When she was finished, she picked up Pamuya and went inside. She didn't go to her room, instead she headed for Yuki's bedroom, and wrapped herself in her blankets; they smelled like Yuki.

Pamuya whined hungrily, making grabbing motions at Hama's breasts. Hama complied, opening up her shirt. The small infant suckled happily, and quickly, becoming full almost right away. Satiated, she fell asleep. Hama tucked her under her arm as she lied down on the bed. She closed her eyes, but did not sleep. She could still hear Yuki's voice. She could still hear the last thing she said, and Hama remembered that she made a similar promise to Chief Soan the last time she was in the Water Tribe.

Hama was woken up by Pamuya crying. She got up and checked to see what food they had; not much was left. She made a carrier for Pamuya, placed it on her front, and put the baby in it. She found a large cloak and threw it over herself, concealing Pamuya. She decided that she did not want people to know that she had her baby yet.

Hama could already tell that it was going to be a sunny day, but she was not feeling happy. She headed to the market, subconsciously hiding her face. Most of the merchant did not even seem to recognize her. As she was leaving, she hear something that made the hair on the back of her neck stand up.

"Did you hear about that medicine woman? She was killed!" One man whispered to another.

"Really? Good riddants! She was from the Earth Kingdom, ya know? Who killed her?"

"That Fire Navy soldier who's been wandering around."

"More proof of what an amazing job they're doing."

The two men left, laughing. Hama could feel her skin bristle with hate, but she gently touched Pamuya, and pulled the hood farther over the head. She quickly snuck back to Yuki's house, and got some things together.

"How about a little trip, Muya?" Hama said to the infant. Pamuya gurgled happily.

Hama left the house, not sure if she would ever come back, and gave it one last, sorrowful look. She headed south, doubtful of where she would end up. By late afternoon, a somewhat familiar smell hit her. She smelled the sea. Her pace quickened, making her way through a small forest. She came through a patch of bushes, and found herself at a harbor.

It was very busy, and filled with people. She tried her best to blend into the crowd as she looked for a place to rest. As rush hour came, more people filled the town, pushing Hama as she tried to slip through. Pamuya was beginning to become upset, and Hama was feeling tired. She saw a sign for an inn and made her way in. It wasn't too crowded, luckily. Hama went to the front desk, giving the clerk the nicest smile she could.

"Rooms are 20 gold pieces," the clerk told her boredly.

The smile dropped off Hama's face. "I only have 50 copper pieces."

"Then no room."

Hama opened her mouth to say something, but Pamuya was getting fussy, so she decided against it and left.

She sat on a crate outside, gently patting Pamuya on the back and bouncing her. Hama yawned and sighed.

"Maybe this was a bad idea, Muya.." Hama muttered. Pamuya sighed contently, and buried her face into Hama's chest. Hama continued rubbing the infants back as she closed her eyes. She enjoyed the smell of salty sea air, and she tried to block out the sound of the people. Time passed, and the people eventually dispersed. It was getting dark, and Hama did not know where she would stay. She hung her head.

"Hama?" A voice, somewhat familiar, said.

Hama looked up and saw two people, a man and woman, staring at her. She squinted as she tried to recall who they were; they were wearing Southern Water Tribe clothing.

"Tuwawi?" Hama stared at the man, and then at the woman, "Nukka?"

"Hama! It is you!" Nukka flung herself at Hama, hugging her tightly. "I thought you were.."

She pulled away, her eyes filled with tears, and her lip was quivering.

"Hama, what happened to you?" Tuwawi asked, holding onto Nukka, "You were taken away with the Fire Navy.."

"I didn't realize.." Hama said bitterly, but then she looked up. "I'm sorry.. It's been a rough couple of years. I escaped 6 or 7 months ago."

Tuwawi and Nukka both gasped. "That's amazing!" Tuwawi exclaimed.

Hama shrugged. Pamuya whined, and clutched Hama's shirt. Tuwawi and Nukka looked at the baby, and again, gasped.

"Is that a..?" Nukka asked pointing.

"Boy, you two really are on the ball today," Hama rolled her eyes, then bit her lip. "Yes, this is Pamuya."

"When did you..?" Nukka asked sheepishly.

"About 8 months ago," Hama said quietly.

Nukka was silent for a moment as she did the math, then she gasped. "Oh my.."

There was an awkward silence for a moment. Finally, Tuwawi cleared his throat.

"It's getting a little chilly out.. Hama, do you have anywhere to stay?" Hama shook her head. "Then, why don't you stay with us? We're staying in the inn over there."

Hama could not argue with that. "I would love to, Tuwawi."

Tuwawi and Nukka smiled. "Well, good! We can catch you up on what's been going on at the Water Tribe."

"I would like that. I would really like that.." Hama smiled slightly. She let Pamuya rest on her shoulder as she followed Tuwawi and Nukka.


End of eighth chapter, guyths. And of course congrats to Bryke and the crew for winning the KCAs!! Woot! I honestly did not think it would happen, and that ol' Spongey would get it. So, like many Avatards, I am very impatiently awaiting the rest of S3. Nick really seems to just want to be done with this show, even though it won the Kids Choice Awards! Nickelodeon logic, go figure. Seriously, Spongebob used to be good, but now they just reuse jokes, and plots. Let him die already! Jeez-a-lou! D:

Sorry.. I've been going to too many Avatar forums. And I apologize to any Spongebob fans. No intended offense.