Cranefish Town

Katara

"I have to go," Aang said. He clutched the paper in his hand, crumpling it tightly.

"But…" Katara looked down. "I was looking forward to us having some time together," she whispered. "I know we spent three months at the North Pole together, but I was off training my healing the whole time. Can't we go to the Fire Nation and see Mai and Zuko and spend some time together?" She could feel tears thickening her throat.

Aang stared down at the crumpled ball in his hands. "Katara, do you remember when you noticed I wasn't sleeping well?"

Katara nodded. He'd been coming in every morning for nearly a week with massive bags under his eyes, looking exhausted. He'd said he'd been having bad dreams, and after a week he started sleeping better again.

"I had the same dream every time," Aang said slowly. "It is raining in my dream, and light outside. I am flying on Appa. I can't see anything around me, just gray and rain. I have a horrible sense that something terrible has happened. And then ahead of me, I see smoke rising, and hear wailing and crying. And when I bring Appa down, the ground appears, and it is strewn with dead." He clutched himself as if cold, even though he never got cold. "The terrible dread would keep me up all night. I thought it was just a dream, but I can't help but think that it's connected with this somehow."

Katara did her best to quash the fear growing inside her own chest. "Aang, it was just a dream. It doesn't mean anything."

Aang shook his head. "I need to find the Kyoshi Warriors and help them," he said. "I don't like the sound of this pirate uprising, anyway. Not so close on the heels of the Bandit of a Thousand Stars."

"Then I'm coming too."

"No." Aang rose from the table he'd been sitting at, a full head and a half taller than Katara. "You should go on to the Fire Nation like we'd planned. Zuko and Mai are expecting us, and you can go, at least."

Katara shook her head. "Aang," she whispered, "I don't want to go without you."

Aang came around the table and gathered her in his arms. "I'm sorry, Katara," he whispered. "I wanted to spend some time together too. But Appa will fly faster with just one person, and someone should visit Zuko. I'll be back soon. I promise."

Katara leaned into him and cried. "What if you need me?" she asked, her tears darkening his orange robes. "I saved your life when Cheilong attacked."

Aang stroked her hair. "It's okay, Katara," he said softly. "I'll be fine. I'll be fine."