Chapter 8: Awakening at Home
Voices...voices crying out her name...darkness...pain...a blinding light...coldness creeping up her aching legs...confusion as more voices spoke gibberish to her...stomach churning...more pain...more confusion...more voices...IKKI!
Wind chimes knocked gently off one another in the autumn breeze awakening the broken nine-teen year old. She couldn't open her eyes; they were too heavy so she lay in a bed resting. Then she felt it, the pain. Her face throbbed in pain with every heart beat but not as much as her left side with ached. It hurt to breathe, which wasn't a good sign. She could hear people walking around if not in the room where she was resting than in the hallway. She wasn't even sure where she was.
Slowly and gently she opened her eyes. She blinked adjusting to the brightness of the room. Looking around she recognised the room, she was on Air Temple Island but not in her room. Swallowing what seemed to be a scratchy lump she cleared her throat, "H-Hello?" She called out in a croaky voice. She barely moved her lips as to not split them further. To her left a door slid across and a woman wearing red and yellow robes stood at the door. They dropped the bowl and tea towel they were obviously drying and rushed towards Ikki.
"IKKI!" She shrieked. It was her mother. She knelt down beside Ikki and cried, "I thought...You were...I'm...My baby..."Her mother was so overcome by emotion she couldn't form a proper sentence. Her tears plodded onto the wooden floor as she tried her best to contain herself. Pema was just too relieved that her daughter was finally awake.
"Don't cry Mom..." Ikki whispered feeling a wave of tiredness crash over her. Pema clenched Ikki's hand kissing her on the forehead avoiding her gash that was being held together by three stitches.
"I'll get your father!" Pema got up and rushed out of the room by-passing over the bowl she dropped. When she returned she sat back down by her daughter on the other side of the bed. Tenzin walked slowly in. He looked down at her with a blank expression. Ikki's eyes began to produce tears as she tried to explain, "I'm so sorry...I was foolish and only thinking-"
Tenzin fell to his knees and hugged her.Ikki was frozen. Her eyes were wide not from pain but from her father's actions.
"I thought I lost you." Tenzin whispered in her ear. She hugged him back when she realised he was crying. Even though she was in a great deal of pain she hugged her father tighter and tighter. To their left Pema sobbed caught up the moment. Finally they let go of one another. Tenzin kissed her on the forehead, his grey beard tickling her face.
"You're safe now." Tenzin said gently rubbing the cuts on her face. She was pale with dark circles underneath her eyes and cracked lips, "I don't care what happened. You're safe now." He repeated closing his eyes and pulling her into his chest for another hug. A moment passed and the door opened again.
"IKKI!" Meelo burst through the door on his air scooter. He zipped around the room talking very fast, "Those guys really beat the crap out of you. Good thing your boyfriend was there of you would've been dead! D-E-A-D! DEAD!"
"MEELO!" Pema scolded wiping her tears away. Tenzin stuck out his hand popping Meelo's air scooter so he fell on the ground. Meelo sat up smiling sheepishly.
"My boyfriend?" Ikki asked looking at her father. Tenzin smiled looking out of the window at the blue skies.
"A very nice young man named Kiba. He's the one who saved you. He's from the Northern Water Tribe here for..." Ikki zoned out remembering the last thing she saw before she blacked out; ice blue eyes looking straight at her anxiously. They were so bright.
A tall, lanky boy slipped through the door and approached Ikki's bed awkwardly.
"Rohan." Ikki smiled taking his hand. He smiled his sweet smile and hugged her gently. It looked as though he was crying.
"I'm so glad you're okay Ikki." Rohan said kindly. Meelo got up and rubbing his bottom. He nodded to Ikki which meant,"I'm glad you're okay." Ikki knew this and nodded back. Meelo grabbed Rohan's shoulders; there wasn't much of a height difference between them, "You. Me. Air ball?" Meelo joked.
"You're on!" And the two boys ran outside to the air ball pitch as Jinora walked in gracefully. Her long, black hair swaying smoothly behind her. She looked down at her sister, salty tears lining her eyes.
"Where was your brain?!" Jinora barked, her voice shaking with anger. Ikki stared at her not expecting to be scolded, "You could have died! How many times have we told you to be careful? Seriously Ikki! What were you-?"
"Jinora..." Tenzin murmured looking at the floor. Jinora froze her mouth still open from her rant. She closed her eyes, relaxed her face while breathing out her anger. Opening her eyes she looked at Ikki, "I'm happy you're okay. I hope this has taught you something." And with that Jinora left.
"We should leave you to get some rest." Tenzin said getting up in unison with his wife. They both gave her one last kiss before leaving the room together. Ikki sat up slowly, taking deep breaths. She had defiantly broken at least two ribs judging by the sharp lasting pain in her side. She was dressed in airbending robes but not her own, these were baggier. Her hair was combed through, no longer sticky with blood. Ikki looked down her top to see her chest and stomach wrapped tightly in long bandages. She sat up more sipping the water her mother had put out for her. Ikki remained still listening to the chirping birds and the soft music off the wind chimes. She was safe. She was home.
