Lin looked up from where she sat on the other side of the room from Tenzin. There was no chance their eyes would meet- Tenzin's were closed and his expression pained, though he was clearly attempting to hide that just now. He shifted the mala beads in his free hand as he prayed, voice barely above a whisper. His other hand rested gently along Aang's as he lay prostrate in bed.

Aang hadn't said a word since yesterday and even those had been hoarse and difficult to parse. Katara had shushed him, leaning down close to his ear to tell him to rest. He looked at her then and it was clear even this small action was a strain, but he opened his mouth once more, attempting to speak.

Katara silenced him with a knowing nod, "I love you too." He smiled, his sentiment understood.

And then he closed his eyes.

Probably for the last time, Lin thought grimly.

They had spent the past three days like this; waiting. Sometimes a wave of emotion came and carried one of their party off in a fit of tears, but mostly they waited for the inevitable end. Aang lay between them all, the center of their attention, looking as if he wanted nothing more than to cheer them up. That is, until yesterday. Today, in the early hours of the evening, Aang looked vacant- his expression slack. If it weren't for the rising and falling of his chest she would have thought he had already died.

Lin felt her eyes stinging at the thought, looking away from Aang's face in an effort to compose herself. It wasn't working. She stood suddenly, startling everyone in the room, including Tenzin who paused his recitation.

"I need some air," she explained, crossing the room.

"I'll join you," Toph agreed, shifting in her own seat to stand, but Lin cut her off.

"No. Thank you- I think I just want to be alone for a minute."

Toph took her at her word and leaned back in her seat, just as Kya leaned forward- ready to take her place. Lin shook her head once, letting Kya know she truly did not want to be followed. Finally, Lin paused beside Tenzin, placing her hand on his shoulder and bending down to softly ask, "Can I get you anything?"

Tenzin lifted his hand from his fathers', giving Lin's fingers a grateful squeeze at his shoulder, "No. Thank you." He turned his head and kissed her hand. Their eyes met for a moment then and Lin couldn't stop a few tears from slipping out at the fear and anxiety she saw staring up at her. She felt it too. Lin returned his squeeze then and broke away, mercifully exiting the room at last.

The hallway was dark and Lin made her way to the front room of the temple, stepping out into the warm evening air. The glow of the setting sun was below the horizon and the lights in the Republic City skyline were beginning to twinkle like evening stars in the distance. Lin tapped her trouser pocket once, making sure she had everything she needed before selecting a wooden pathway that wound its way to a small tiered gazebo overlooking the Mo Ce Sea.

A light breeze greeted her as she approached the railing, peeking over the edge to make out the waves crashing against the cliffside below. It was a lovely night, but Lin was sure this might be one of the worst of her entire life. She took a breath, trying to shake the memory of Tenzin's wet, panicked eyes from only moments ago. All that she read in his expression lent some urgency to her movements as she fumbled inside her pocket to withdraw a pack of cigarettes and a lighter. She pulled one from the pack, sparking the end, and felt a little moment of reprieve pass over her upon inhaling.

The moment passed though, and she was right back at the start- thinking about Tenzin and herself and the very real and imminent understanding that he was about to be the last living airbender in existence. Lin looked out at the great black expanse of ocean before her, silently and foolishly willing Aang to recover. It felt selfish to be thinking of herself at a time like this.

Suddenly, she heard a cough.

Lin's head snapped up, looking around in the dark for whichever family member decided to ignore her request for alone time. She heard the cough again, soft and feminine coming from one of the lower tiers of the gazebo. She squinted a little, finally making out the shape of an acolyte emerging from the shadowed steps. It was then realized that she was the source of this poor girl's coughing fit and she shifted the cigarette to her other hand, holding it over the railing so that it's smoke blew away from them.

"Sorry about that," Lin apologized, managing a small smile that was lost in the dark of the night.

"Smoking isn't allowed out here," the acolyte returned, stepping closer still. When they were near enough to see each other properly, the acolyte paled, swallowing, "Oh. I'm sorry."

Lin waved off her apology, looking pointedly at the cigarette in her hand, "No, you are right. That is one of Aang's rules."

A bitter sigh escaped her then and she drew the cigarette back to her lips. She exhaled, training her eyes back out over the ocean, expecting the acolyte to take the hint. But the girl stood there for a beat, watching Lin watch the ocean.

"How is he?" She finally ventured.

Lin swallowed, glancing at this young and eager girl in her red and yellow and prepared to shatter her heart. Lin blinked, eyes stinging as she replied simply, "bad."

She flinched at this news, blunt as it was, before taking up residence at the railing beside Lin, looking out at the water, "then it's true, what everyone's been saying. Avatar Aang is dying."

Lin nodded, taking another drag with a sideways glance at this interloper. If there was one thing she could be grateful for it was that the boldness of this kid was startling enough to stop her from breaking down into tears.

"I apologize if I interrupted you…" Lin offered after a moment, mindful that she had commandeered this meditation space for her own purpose . Her apology was somewhat genuine, but it was also a second attempt to give this girl whatever she needed in order to walk away.

The girl remained rooted however, making a study of Lin's face to an almost awkward extent before suddenly supplying her name, "Pema."

"Excuse me?"

"Pema…my name is Pema- you seemed like you were searching for it."

"Oh," Lin replied, neglecting to correct her, "well, Pema I'm—"

"I know who you are," Pema interrupted abruptly.

Lin blinked, suppressing a sympathetic cringe; there was an overrepresentation of socially awkward people within the acolyte ranks and this girl was clearly no exception. Lin hadn't, in fact, been about to introduce herself. What she had planned to say was, I'm looking to be left alone, but seeing her now Lin felt a pang of guilt remembering Tenzin's pleading eyes from earlier. If there was one small thing she could do for him, it was to make an effort with these people. After all, it was only a matter of time before she was in the thick of it with them. The thought of it made her stomach tighten, like the walls of fate were closing in- she couldn't imagine herself in these clothes, living this life, chasing after a gaggle of kids who would probably turn out to be earthbenders anyway.

"Yes, well, I clearly stick out like a sore thumb around here," Lin excused with amusement, holding her cigarette up as proof.

"That's not why I know who you are," Pema corrected, "but yeah, that too."

Lin grimaced. This girl was really starting to grate on her nerves. Being socially awkward could excuse a lot, but anyone with manners would know better than to agree with a comment like that, even if it were true. She stopped trying to redirect her cigarette smoke.

Pema shifted awkwardly, brow knit in concern, "How is Master Tenzin doing?"

"His father is dying," Lin offered plainly, taking another puff.

"How are you doing?" Pema question was a surprise and Lin let it sit between them without comment for a beat too long for Pema's liking. "You and Avatar Aang seem pretty close."

Lin gave her a nod of silent affirmation, willing away the tears that began pooling on her lower lids. It was a risk to blink at this point and Lin reached up, sweeping her thumb and middle finger along her eyelids to collect the tears until her fingers met in the middle, pinching the bridge of her nose. When she was sure she had steeled herself again she pulled her hand away and sniffled, managing to hold onto some of her dignity, though not nearly as much as she'd hoped.

"Look," Lin began, finding her voice again, "you seem like a nice person, and I realize the culture around here is very open and touchy-feely, but I'm not comfortable discussing this with someone I just met five minutes ago."

Instead of looking offended, Lin was surprised to find Pema looking almost pleased by her rebuke, "I understand" she said happily, but Lin got the distinct impression they were having two different conversations.

"Good," Lin returned, going back to her cigarette.

"We've met before," Pema added cheerfully, "by the way."

Lin studied her for a moment, "I'm sorry. It might have something to do with the fact that you're all wearing the same outfit."

Pema shook her head, "multiple times, actually. We've met multiple times."

Lin stubbed out her cigarette on the railing, "Well, I apologize… for not remembering and for interrupting your meditation."

"No! It's okay, really," Pema insisted, "I've been struggling with a situation in my life, wondering what I need to do and I came out here to meditate about it and wouldn't you know- sometimes the answer you're looking for just walks up and presents itself."

Lin smiled stiffly, this kind of talk was beginning to veer into Kya territory, "Right."

Pema leaned in, eyes shining in the moonlight, "Please tell Master Tenzin I am praying for him."

Lin nodded, taking a step back, "I'm sure he would appreciate that. Thank you."

Pema leaned back against the railing as Lin departed, "Goodnight!"

Lin gave her a curt wave in response, turning to make her way back into the temple where her fate was still waiting, quietly shifting mala beads in his hand.