Title: Blessing
Author: Red Hawk K'sani
Word Count: 276
Warnings: Angst
Challenge: None
Pairings: None… Although there may be a Sokkara hint if you're really looking for it. 0.o
I stand, waiting for Chief Arnook to put his blessing on me before the great battle. Receiving a blessing from the Chief is a time-honored tradition of the Water Tribe, and it ensures that Tui and La will look out for me during the chaos of warfare.
The battle that is to come will be a great one, one that will go down in all the history books. It is the end of the struggle, the end of the war, the end of the end. It will soon be over, and a victor will stand atop the rubble of the Fire Nation Capital. I can only hope it will be Aang who stands there, victorious, before the comet comes.
The comet is coming in a week. We must defeat the Fire Nation before the end of week, and I will be there with all the others to make sure that happens.
Chief Arnook dips his fingers into the small crude cup of red paint and reaches to touch my forehead. Something interrupts him, however, and I am not sure what, until I see my brother rushing at me in a mad frenzy.
"Katara!" he bellows, "You are not going into that battle!"
He is so like my father. But I must do what I must.
Smiling, tears forming in my eyes, I embrace him tightly. "Sokka, I love you," I say before knocking him back into the crowd of anxious, anticipating Water Tribesmen. The crowd swallows him up, and a tear slides down my face as I turn back to Chief Arnook and receive the blessing.
I am so sorry, Sokka. But this time, I fight.