Chapter 9 - 1 month later
It was a cold, winter day. Snow was falling heavily from the dark night sky. A young lady carrying a young, ill, child walked up the mountains, approaching Republic City. She sighed in relief when she saw the hospital. She knew she had a chance to save her infant daughter. She took a minute to gaze at the beauty of the city. The way it was lit up, was magnificent. She began waving with her one hand, like she was letting the city know that she was approaching. Suddenly, she felt something grab her, and pull her backwards. Whatever this was, it made her drop her own daughter in the freezing snow, without meaning to. She was being dragged back into somewhere she had never been, or seen. Her baby girl was left out in the snow to freeze to death. She tried to scream, she didn't know exactly what for, but just scream, to alarm someone. Anyone. But as she opened her mouth, she felt a sharp pain and grunted in pain. Seconds later, a thick red liquid was pouring out of her mouth. She could taste it. The taste of her own blood sickened her. As the pain returned once more, and more blood pouring out of her mouth, she knew these would be her last moments alive, and conscious. The jolting pain returned one last time, in her lower back. She fell onto her back, slowly. The sparkling white snow quickly turned dark red, and dull. Then she heard footsteps. They were running further and further away. And that's the last thing she ever heard.
Winters in Republic City were always dry. There was a light breeze of wind ever so often. The breeze blew the papers off of the bulletin board hung in the center of the city. The usual, updates, news, reports, etc. Copies of one particular piece of paper went flying into the air, and all over the city. Aang was on his way to work, when he found one laying on the ground. He picked the piece of paper up and read it to himself.
Quinn Lee MISSING last spotted three weeks ago.
The only other thing on the sheet of paper was a picture. A picture of a middle aged woman, holding a newborn baby in her arms.
Tears flooded in Aang's eyes. He wiped them away with the sleeves of his Air Nomad clothing, and continued his flight to work.
"Did you see the flyers outside?" Aang asked, pouring himself a cup of coffee.
"No..." Sokka said, pouring his own cup.
"Really?" Aang asked, "They were all over the city. I'm surprised you didn't see one on your way here."
"Oh, that's weird." Sokka said, "I didn't even see one single sheet of paper."
"They were all over the place." Aang said, "About some lady who has gone missing."
"Oh..." Sokka sighed.
He finished pouring his cup, added some milk, and went back to his desk. Aang did the same, except he didn't go back to his desk. It almost felt as if something was calling him.
What the hell? Aang thought to himself.
"Sokka?" Aang asked, rushing over to Sokka's desk.
"What?" Sokka asked, eyeing Aang strangely.
"Did you hear something?" Aang asked.
"Before you came over here, no." Sokka said.
"I swear, I hear someone calling me." Aang said.
"Aang, are you okay?" Sokka asked.
"I don't know..." Aang said slowly, "Something's not right."
"You don't look too good, Bud." Sokka said, eyeing him once more, "You should go home."
"Are you trying to say I'm crazy?" Aang asked.
"No, I'm just looking out for my brother-in-law." Sokka said, "You seriously look like you're coming down with something, man."
"But I feel fine." Aang said.
"I'd call out for the rest of the day just to be safe." Aang said.
"But-"
"Seriously, you should go home." Sokka said.
"If you say so..." Aang sighed.
"Aang?" Katara asked.
Aang sighed, "Yes?"
"Why are you home so early." Katara asked.
"I honestly don't know." Aang said, "Sokka said 'I didn't look well' and that 'I should call out for the rest of the day.'"
"He was right." Katara said, "You look like you're coming down with something."
"But I feel fine!" Aang exclaimed.
"You should go lay down..." Katara said, looking up at Aang with a worried expression.
"I'm fine, Katara." Aang protested.
"Aang, go lay down." Katara ordered, "I'm serious."
"Katara..." Aang said.
"Aang..." Katara said, nearly mocking his tone.
"I'm fine!" Aang argued.
"You don't look well." Katara said, "Go lay down."
"Will you come with me?" Aang asked, smirking.
"Aang..." Katara said, throwing him a glare, "I'm not going with you."
"C'mon, please?" Aang begged.
"Go lay down." Katara demanded, pointing down the hall.
Aang sighed, "Fine."
Katara smiled.
"But," Aang said, stepping closer to Katara and caressing her cheek, "I'd really appreciate it if you came with me."
Katara leaned forward, attempting to give him a kiss. Aang was ready to kiss her back, but instead she put her hand up to his lips and shook her head.
"No fair, that was a tease!" Aang said.
"Aang, stop stalling." Katara said.
"Okay, fine." Aang said walking down the hall.
Aang walked into their bedroom, took off his shirt and shoes, and climbed into their bed. He stared up at the ceiling, feeling guilty and foolish. HE regretted leaving work so soon, just because 'he didn't look well'. He felt fine, and he felt ready to return to work. Katara came in the room to grab Kya, and feed her, but Aang stopped her just as she was about to walk out.
"Katara wait." Aang said, sitting up.
"What?" Katara asked, turning around.
"Do I really look sick?" Aang asked.
"Yes." Katara replied honestly.
"But I feel fine." Aang said, "I don't understand."
"You look like you're about to get sick any second." Katara said.
"I'm telling you, I'm fine." Aang said.
"Just lie down." Katara said, "I'm going to get her something to eat."
Katara walked down the hall and into the kitchen to prepare something to eat for Kya. As she opened the door to the refrigerator, she heard a loud buzzing sound. The sound got closer and closer. Katara held Kya closer to her, shut the refrigerator door, and ran to the doorway of the kitchen, thinking it was an earthquake. As she heard something fly over, the house began to shake slightly.
What the hell was that? Aang thought to himself.
He jumped out of the bed, ran to the doorway for cover.
"Katara?" Aang called.
"Yeah?" She called back.
"Do you know what that was?" Aang asked.
"No..." Katara replied.
When the shaking stopped, Katara walked back over to the fridge to grab something to eat for Kya. Kya was squirming around in her arms, hungry and cranky.
"It's alright, Kya." Katara said, "We're getting something to eat."
Kya stopped squirming around, and continued to wait. She played with Katara's long brown hair while waiting for her food.
Aang walked into the kitchen, "I'll hold her."
"You should be in bed." Katara said.
"I told you a thousand times, Katara." Aang said, "I feel fine. Now, let me hold her. She's getting in your way."
Katara quickly but carefully handed Kya to Aang. Aang sat down at the table, while Katara finished making Kya's food. Kya stood up on Aang's lap, holding onto Aang's face for support. Aang put his hands around her tiny waist, so she didn't have to hang onto Aang's face to help her keep her own balance. Kya wrapped her arms around Aang neck, and moved in closer to snuggle up to him.
Then, there was a loud crashing sound that came from the city.
"What what that?" Katara asked.
"I don't know." Aang said, standing up, and rushing over to the window, still carrying Kya.
Katara ran over to window, standing next to Aang, "Do you see anything?"
Aang gasped, "Someone's attacking the city!"
Aang handed Kya to Katara, "I have to get over there!"
Katara sighed, "Okay. But promise me you'll be safe."
"I promise." Aang said, kissing both Katara and Kya on the cheek.
Aang rushed out the door, grabbed his glider, and took off.
"Where's daddy going?" Kya asked.
"He's going back to work." Katara said.
Kya rested her head on Katara's shoulder, staring out the window. She stared into the distance, watching the city. She saw a big black cloud of smoke pointed to it.
"Mommy, what's that?" Kya asked.
Katara looked out the window, and when she noticed that Kya was pointing to the big black cloud of smoke, she gasped, "Oh, don't worry about that. Let's go eat."
As Aang flew over the city, planning to reach City Hall, warn Toph and the others, he too noticed the giant cloud of black smoke.
Did they know the city was going to be attacked? Were they protecting me from getting killed? Are they dead by now? Did they protect me so I could save everyone else, and so I could live? These were all questions Aang asked himself.
Aang noticed how the big plume of smoke was coming straight out of the City Hall.
Wow. Sorry about the "graphic" beginning. See, this is my first time writing a big story like this and publishing it on a website so big like this one. Sorry if my wording and what not is really bad, I'm new to this. I hope you enjoy it anyway. Feel free to leave reviews!