((AN: Woo, another chapter. x3 This one's nice and short, probably more fillery than anything, as we rejoin our friends on the way to the Temple. There's some nice itty-bitty fluff here at the beginning, though. Heh, if there was any doubt that Katara could be affected by the Florence Nightingale Effect...
Some trivia too: At first I thought of having the party Iroh mentions throwing a celebration of the Autumnal Equinox...then I thought it might be a slight time discrepancy in my mind. I always thought that the beginning of Autumn already passed by the time of the kiss at Ba Sing Se (and perhaps thus, Aang's 13th birthday somewhere in there). So since the Equinox might've passed already, I figured it'd just be a random party Iroh throws for the group.
...C'mon, it's perfectly within his character to throw surprise parties. Music night on a Fire Navy ship? Had to be his idea. x3 *shrug*
Also, the time between submitting chapters may lengthen a bit; I'm getting close to the end of my buffer (there's 32 chapters in all), and I'd like the time to add to it some more before I give you guys the quick updates that you so love. :3 But don't worry, I'll try not to end it at someplace too cliff-hangery. I can be evil, but not THAT evil. Seriously. *grin* Plus I can't wait to get into the serious fluff in this story, which starts next chapter. x3
So, enjoy! Also, Mike and Bryan own everything. EVEN THE WORLD. Or at least they should.))
Chapter 24
Aang shot up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat, a rather shrill cry escaping his throat for a split second.
He had woken up from a nightmare, which he had been prone to getting whenever something was going on with him. Even though the war was over and all fears forgotten, there were rare times he still dreamed about Ozai engulfing the world in flames…burning his friends alive before his eyes…and with him powerless and forced to watch.
The visions of that night were no exception; the final battle replayed in his head, but instead of the outcome, it had been the Avatar whose spirit was being bended to another's will. It was his power that was gone. Him left in a lifeless heap on that spirits-forsaken rock as Ozai escaped to wreak havoc.
But, slowly, Aang began to take in his surroundings as his real-world senses came back with a crawl. A few deep, labored breaths and he remembered where he was. In a cave…on the way to the Eastern Air Temple. It was dark, the fire having gone out a few hours ago with only a few illuminated cinders left in the pit. He was in a sleeping bag some feet away from the others…so that they wouldn't get sick.
Sick…right…the reminder came back to him with an uncomfortable sensation like prickle-snakes slithering in his skin. He felt his forehead, thick with sweat, but his face was still flushed and warm. "Thirsty…" he heard himself mutter with a painfully strained voice.
But, he couldn't find a close source of water, so the next best thing was bending some from the humid air. He tiredly raised his hand and waved it in front of his eyes. But he was tired…too tired to concentrate on the intricacies of Waterbending, and whatever droplets he gathered fell useless into the blue fabric he was encased in soon enough. Aang groaned in frustration and tried again, his throat burning.
He was surprised when, gently but urgently, someone else's hand grabbed his own. He felt the cool, soft fingers wrap around his feverish palm.
"That's not a very good idea," Katara said from somewhere behind him and to his left. She was whispering so as not to wake anyone else up. "Here, let me help."
"Katara…?" he started to say with a slight croak.
"Shh," she silenced as she bent a cool sphere of water from her pouch up to his face for his lips to reach. Her other hand was on his shoulder to steady him. "You shouldn't talk either, if I'm right in my suspicions and you have a sore throat. At least you have me giving you water and not Momo," she said with a light laugh.
Giving into his aching thirst, Aang leaned into the water sphere and tasted. The cool water hitting his throat caused him to greedily sip up the contents until little was left. Wiping his lips, he turned slightly to see the Waterbender on her knees behind him. Her ocean-blue eyes and smile were enough of a comfort for him to feel a little better.
"Thanks…" he smiled back, his eyes half-lidded. "But…were you there the whole time?"
"Didn't I tell you not to talk so much?" she joked softly and waved her arms, gathering more cool water from the atmosphere. As it gathered on her hands, Aang noticed the glow of the Healing Touch. She pressed it to his too-warm face and the crown of his head, and she answered him properly while doing so. "Yeah…I said I'd be here if you needed anything, and I am. You woke me when you sat up. I guess you had a nightmare, huh?"
"Nothing I haven't seen already," he answered with a cough, closing his eyes. "Sorry I woke you."
Katara smiled and continued moving the water in slow, circular motions. The push, the pull, the warm and the cold…she made sure that he could feel it all trace into his system and ease his pain. "It's okay. It would be worse if I couldn't be here for you."
Aang breathed deeply. The cooling sensations were working already, and the lingering ethereal tone in his ears combined with her voice was slowly lulling him back to sleep. "It wouldn't…just be worse…" he struggled through his lethargy with each word. "It'd be…impossible…to live…without…you…"
"Shhh," she urged again, running her water-clad fingers over his throat to lessen the soreness there as well. "Don't talk…just try to sleep. I'm here."
When she removed her hands from that spot, he found his voice with less difficulty that time. He cast a weak smile in her direction. "Don't get…sick too…okay?"
She smiled back, continuing and never ceasing her merciful, calm movements. "I won't, Aang. Sleep."
Her voice and the sensations made him feel more like he was indeed in a waking dream. He laid himself back, and he could feel Katara drawing the covers back over him and moving his head to rest in her lap. The sensations continued and saw no sign of stopping. His turbulent, ill, nightmare-filled mind slowed to a stop and left him with a world of soothing colors…darkness…the water, that wondrous tone…and Katara's scent and the feel of her fabric all around him.
"Love you…so much…" he mumbled in half-sleep.
Katara smiled down at him, caressing his face with the water she conducted. "I love you too," she murmured right back.
"Definitely gonna…make a good mom…someday…"
The breath caught in her throat at hearing those words, and the warmth rose in her cheeks. The statement was surprising…but her heart fluttered at the thought. "Thanks," she simply replied, quiet and gentle.
He smiled widely, and nestled the back of his head in her lap. Finally, when she felt his breath go rhythmic and even, sleep present on his features, she ceased the Healing Touch and bent the extra water into her pouch.
She leaned back on the rocky cavern wall and just looked down at the young, powerful monk resting so tiredly on her, his flush cheek resting on one of her palms. Her other hand caressed over his jawline.
Katara couldn't help but wonder what he was dreaming about with that smile on his face. Her cheeks didn't relinquish the blush that she knew was there, but who cared right then?
Soon enough she was satisfied that he would sleep through the night, and closed her own eyes to surrender to the call of the dreaming world.
"How is he?" Suki asked the next day as the group started preparing breakfast.
Katara was pressing another cold cloth to Aang's head. The Avatar was still huddled under the blanket, sleeping soundly.
"He's better," she admitted with a relieved sigh. "His fever should break soon. Best if he sleeps it off today."
"It's pretty funny, but I didn't think Avatars got sick," Toph hummed as she helped herself to a spoonful of rice. "Aren't they supposed to be this all-powerful spirit?"
"That doesn't make him immortal…he's still a person like the rest of us, Toph," Katara pointed out. "Spirit powers and bending aside, he could still very easily die of some illness. I'm glad it's just a cold."
"And I'm glad it should be ending soon; we're behind schedule," Sokka said as he absently sipped his tea.
"Ooof course we are, we're behind a schedule that we don't have!" Toph shot.
Rolling her eyes, Katara returned to tending to Aang. He stirred only briefly as she removed the cold cloth before settling back into sleep.
The quiet went on for a few more moments before Toph sat up with a quizzical expression on her face. "Hey, guys? I think something just landed over there," she pointed.
On cue, a rather familiar bird let out a screech in greeting.
"Hawky!" Sokka exclaimed as he shot up and ran to gather the messenger hawk on his arm. "You're back! Man, that was quick."
"Hawky's here?" Katara inquired, still not moving from her watchful position. "Wow, he finds us easily."
"Of course he does, he's my pet," Sokka pointed out, scratching the bird on his chest feathers and cooing. "Aren't you? Aren't you a pretty bird, yes…"
"Did he bring a message back from Iroh?" Suki asked upon spotting the commotion.
"Let's see," Sokka mused as the crimson-clad hawk lowered his head for easy access to the pack he was wearing. He looked over the message a bit longer before letting the others have a look.
Dear Avatar Aang and friends,
It is good to hear from all of you, though I was surprised when this hawk woke me up to deliver the message.
I am happy to say that everything is still going well here in Ba Sing Se. The Jasmine Dragon has had a boom in business lately. But more importantly, I am glad to know that the Earth King is to be returning. The city will be grateful that you have saved him and sent him back to oversee things.
The news about the rebellion in Gaoling was disturbing. But at least my faith is still reaffirmed in all of you and your skills. With your help yet, the world will find balance once again.
I look forward to your visit. As always, you are welcome to spend some well-needed time here…I had the idea of making preparations for a little celebration, so consider this your invitation. Your apartment has been fully repaired and renovated as well (so, please tell Toph to be easier on the place next time!)
There is also a matter I wish to discuss with you when we meet again. Take your time, though.
Yours,
Iroh
"Heh, so the Earth King hasn't made it there yet," Toph smirked. "We are on schedule."
"He could've gotten there in the time that Hawky took to fly back to us," Suki mused. "At any rate, I wonder what Iroh wants to talk about."
"We shouldn't worry about it," Sokka pointed out as he rolled the scroll back up. "He said take our time, and that's what we're doing. Taking our time."
It was then that they heard a soft groan from underneath Katara's bag. Aang sat up slowly, blinking the sleep out of his eyes. "Hey…what's going on?" he murmured.
"We're making breakfast…and Hawky's back with a message," Katara confirmed, taking his shoulders and laying him back. "But you should stay covered up. You've still got a bit of a fever."
Aang sighed and complied. "I'm feeling a little better. Throat is, at least." He smiled weakly up at his caregiver. "Can I have something to eat?"
She giggled and spooned him some soup. "Sure."
"Glad to see you're coming around, Twinkletoes," Toph grinned. "We were worried for a second there."
The Airbender chuckled and gratefully took the warm bowl. "So, what's the message?"
"Just a reply from Iroh," Sokka said as he handed the note over. "You oughta see it too."
Aang squinted to read the well-crafted characters on the page for a moment. He finished with a hum. "Good thing that nothing bad's going on in Ba Sing Se. I wonder what he wants to talk about though. Knowing Iroh, it has to be something important."
"But he said 'take our time'," Sokka repeated. "It can't be too important."
Suki laughed. "I can't wait to visit again, though; it's always nice to see Iroh. I wonder what he has in mind for his party."
"It oughta be good," Aang smirked before erupting in a yawn and taking a long drink out of his soup bowl. When he was finished, he felt Katara gently urging him back down into the bag to fall asleep again. He obeyed with only a small murmur and nestled into the covers.
"Y'know, looking at him like that, it's hard to imagine he's the most powerful person in the world," Suki joked lightly.
Katara only grinned back. "Even the Avatar needs help sometimes, I think."
As the day and night went on, Aang was indeed starting to feel better; it only took one long nap after breakfast for his fever to break. He was well enough that evening to join the others for dinner himself, and he practiced a few light Waterbending drills with Katara just to get his blood flowing quickly and his muscles used to activity again. A few Firebending drills on his own helped a little more to regain his agile mobility and his physical power. It was decided unanimously that the next morning, they'd set off across the water and to the island where the Eastern Air Temple was located.
They lifted from the beach at dawn astride Appa's saddle (after Aang confirmed several times to his friends that he was well), into a wind-strewn sky that contained a brisk coldness to it the higher that they went. But that meant fewer clouds, so they could watch as the land and several islands on the open sea rolled under the massive bison's belly.
"So, what's this Guru of yours like, Aang?" Sokka asked curiously while he leaned back against the saddle rail. "If he's still there."
Aang smiled. "He's a kind old man; very patient and very knowledgeable. He told me that he was a spiritual brother to my people and a personal friend of Gyatso."
Katara's eyes widened. "Wow…that makes two other people that survived a hundred years."
"Him and Bumi, yep," Aang mused with a sigh. "I still wish some of my other friends could have made it, but at least it was good to have someone to talk to that reminded me so much of my people. Even if he wasn't an Air Nomad."
"Can't wait to meet him then," Suki smiled. "And even if he's not there, it'll be neat to see the Eastern Air Temple."
"Oh, it's beautiful," Aang insisted as he turned to his friends. "It's among the largest of the temples, and like the Western Air Temple, it was run by nuns instead of monks; Sister Iio was the superior. And they bred sky bison there. When I was little, a bunch of us kids went to choose a sky bison out of a litter to have as companions. I took to Appa in an instant," he grinned.
The bison let out an affectionate rumble, and Aang leaned over to rub his head. "It'll be great to see it again, buddy. I think your old stable still has the mark you made on it."
"I wish I could've seen it back in its glory days," Katara mused, leaning her arms on the saddle edge to let her stare wander the horizon for a sign of the Temple. "Just think: all the bison, and the other animals and Air Nomads…"
"Maybe there'll be more cool places to explore," Toph smiled. "I can never get tired of exploring a temple."
"Certainly kills time," Sokka agreed, using his own way of acknowledging the beauty of the Air Temples.
Once the mountains came into view, the others perked up and eagerly watched for signs of ruins. As with the Southern Air Temple, they could feel a very spiritual connection in the aura surrounding the landscape. It felt not like a barrier, but like an inner knowledge that once you felt it, you were in Air Nomad territory.
But it took them all by surprise when it finally came into view by the light of midday.
Divided on three mountains and connected by long-destroyed bridges, the Eastern Air Temple was made up of green-laced roofs to perhaps signify their near proximity to the Earth Kingdom. The largest buildings, akin to a castle, adorned the peaks of the once-rolling green mountains and several more houses and living quarters sprawled out at their feet further down. Aang had recognized the highest spire of the middle mountain building as the spot he and Pathik had taken for his opening of the seventh Chakra. He also recognized the smaller spire near the entry gates, where he had first found the meditating guru. Even noticeably destroyed and the stone long tainted black by the inferno of the Fire Nation attacks, it was a truly noble and holy sight to behold. The five friends, even Aang, felt that they needed to truly have humbling respect in their hearts for this treasure of a long-dead race.
"It looks like a little mountain village," Katara breathed, awed beyond belief. "It's beautiful."
"Each of these temples is more beautiful than the last," Suki agreed, sharing the same tone. "Oh…if only I'd lived back then, I'd have...ugh…"
"I know how you feel," Sokka reassured as he put an arm around the warrior's shoulders. "It's still hard to forgive the Fire Nation for doing something like this sometimes."
"You sure just two days are needed to explore this place?" Katara inquired of Aang, glancing at him playfully.
"Well, we have all of today too," he grinned back and tilted Appa's reins. The bison groaned and lowered himself to an intact perch of stone carved into a plateau with an intricate brick walkway spiraling down from it.
From there, the friends dismounted and stood at the edge just to admire the vast beauty of the Eastern Air Temple in its sea of clouds and fog.
Toph gasped once her feet hit the ground, her cloudy eyes widening. "Oh…my…spirits," she awed. "I can't even see all of it; it's so big!"
"Shall we get to exploring, then?" Aang smiled, stepping out in front of his friends and beckoning them forth. "C'mon! Appa and Momo, you guys are free to fly around until I call you."
Simultaneously, the bison and lemur complied and took off into the clouds, a curious Hawky close on their tails. It seemed that the animals were just as eager to take in the sights of an old haunt as the humans were.
Together, the five friends jogged on with the excitement of a new place to explore warming their blood.