DISC: I DO NOT own any of the characters from LOK. They belong to Brike. I only own the ones you don't recognize.
Enjoy!

"Senna's New Start"

Chapter 5

Senna jerked awake as someone rested a hand on her shoulder.

"No! Leave me alone!" she exclaimed.

"Honey, it's okay. You're okay," her mother's gentle voice met her ears.

Senna's breathing went back to normal at the familiar sound. Taking a deep breath, she forced herself to calm down.

"Sweetheart, I wanted to know if you're hungry," Her mother ran a hand through her hair as she spoke.

"No," Senna softly replied.

"Are you sure? Katara brought over your favorite."

"Uh-huh," the pre-teen replied. "Is it okay if I go back to sleep? I'm really tired."

Kamaria frowned. Putting the back of her hand to Senna's forehead, she sighed with relief.

"Are you feeling okay?" she asked.

"Yeah. I think I might be getting my period," her daughter replied.

Kamaria nodded.

"Do you want me to stay with you for a while?" she offered.

"Please?" Senna reached her hand out and grasped her mother's.

"Okay," with that, Kamaria got comfortable. She just prayed Senna wasn't coming down with something. She had been through enough already.

Just then, the phone rang.

Kissing Senna on the cheek, Kamaria stood to answer it.

"Hello?" she said.

"Hey, it's me. I just wanted to see how Senna liked the casserole."

"She didn't eat it yet. I just checked on her. She told me she wasn't hungry."

"Does she have a fever?" Katara grew concerned.

"No," Kamaria replied.

"Let her rest. See if you can get her to eat later tonight," Katara advised.

"I'll try," Kamaria and Katara talked for a few more minutes. She was just about to ask her something when Senna called out for her.

"Mom!"

"Katara, I have to go," Kamaria hung up the phone and went back to her daughter's room. Getting there, she found Senna doubled over.

"Senna, what happened?" she gently helped her to straighten out.

"Mom, it hurts!" she whimpered.

"What does?" her mother asked.

Senna pointed to her lower stomach.

"Maybe you are getting your period. Can I check?"

"Uh-huh," Senna said through gritted teeth.

Kamaria examined the area as gently as possible.

"Is it hurting you anywhere else, sweetheart?"

"No," Senna gasped out.

"Okay. I'm gonna give you some braizine. If that doesn't work, we'll have to go see Katara."

"No!" Senna locked identical cyan eyes with her mother.

"Sweetie, you might not have a choice. Katara's never hurt you. I'll be right back," with that, she went to get the medicine. Returning, she helped Senna take it. Once that was done, she stayed with her until she fell back to sleep. Lifting her eyes to Senna's bedroom window, Kamaria prayed, "Please help us."

Opening her eyes a few hours later, Senna discovered it was dark outside. Sitting up, she was relieved when the pain seemed to have subsided for the most part. Feeling wetness on her leg, she sighed. It was then that a weird smell hit her nose. Not fully awake yet, she couldn't place it. Figuring she had gotten her period, she retrieved the necessary supplies and headed for the bathroom. Entering, Senna closed the door. Flipping on the light, she set the things on the sink. Sitting on the toilet, she prepared to clean herself up. But as she did so, she noticed there was only a little blood. Touching the spot, she realized it wasn't fresh. Realizing what must have happened, she felt a blush creep up her neck and face. This was impossible! She was eleven. She hadn't wet the bed in seven years. Determined to fix this without her mother's help, Senna stripped out of her clothes and put them in the hamper. Being as quiet as possible, she took a shower. Scrubbing herself down, she let her mind wander. Why had this happened? She couldn't remember drinking any water before falling asleep except for the little sip to wash the pill down. That wasn't enough to cause her to wet the bed. After she was clean, she wrapped herself in a towel. Drying off, Senna changed into a new set of pj's. Once that was done, she took precaution just in case her period did come in the night. Going back to her room, she stripped her bed. Thanking the spirits when she found a clean set of sheets in her closet, she remade it. She was just getting situated when her bedroom door opened. Holding her breath, she prayed it was her mother.

"Senna? What are you doing awake?"

Senna's heartbeat slowed down at her mother's voice.

"I…I couldn't sleep. I thought I got my period, so I got in the shower just in case."

"Okay. Are you feeling better?" her mother came over and sat on the edge of the bed.

"A little," Senna replied.

"I'm glad. Do you want me to stay until you fall asleep?"

"That's okay. I'm all right," Senna returned her mother's hug.

"Are you sure?" her mother frowned.

"Yeah," the eleven-year-old insisted.

"I'll check on you later. I Love you," her mother bent down and kissed her forehead.

"Love you too," Senna said, closing her eyes. She just prayed she had sweet dreams this time. As she drifted off to sleep, Senna made a mental note to never tell her mother what had happened. She knew she wouldn't be angry. She was just too embarrassed to admit it.

******

A terrified scream broke the silence of the morning a few hours later. Senna bolted up in bed, shaking. With tears streaming down her face, she tried to calm down. Taking a shaky breath, she glanced around. When she realized nobody else was there, she lay back down.

"Senna? Honey, what happened?" her mother was at her side in seconds.

"Na-nothing. It was just a nightmare. I'm okay."

"You're shaking," Her mother frowned, "come here…" she reached out and hugged her daughter close. Running a hand through her hair, she assured her she was safe.

"I love you so much," she kissed the top of her head.

"I love you too," Senna rested her head against her mother's shoulder. Closing her eyes, she tried to fall back to sleep.

*****

The Friday before Senna returned to school, she was finally able to go out. She accompanied her mother to the market, followed by lunch with Katara. Senna enjoyed spending time with Katara. She always treated her like one of her own. At the end of lunch, Katara gave Senna a present.

"A get well gift," she explained.

"Thanks," Senna gave her a hug. "I love it!"

"You're welcome," Katara hugged back.

While her mother and Katara talked, Senna started reading her new book.

When they got home, Kamaria decided to start dinner a little early. She hoped it would help Kato be in a better mood when he came home from work.

"Senna, sweetie, would you mind watching dinner while I get the laundry done?"

Senna glanced up from her book and smiled at her mother.

"Sure! No problem."

Her mother planted a kiss on her head and hugged her close.

"Thanks, sweetheart. I Love you."

"I love you too," Senna sincerely replied. With that, she went back to her book. She started humming softly to herself as she got swept up in the story. She looked up every once in a while to make sure the soup was cooking right. Soon, she was totally entranced by the story…

The sudden hissing sound brought Senna out of her own world. She gasped when she saw the soup hitting the side of the stove! She could have sworn she had checked it a few minutes ago. Or maybe it had been ten minutes. Senna couldn't remember. She had been so caught up in her book. Jumping to her feet, she dropped her book on the floor and rushed over to the stove. Getting a towel, she did her best to clean up the mess. Turning off the stove, Senna waterbended the rest of the soup into a bowl and set it aside. Footsteps behind her caused the pre-teen to whirl around.

"Senna, honey, what happened?" Her mother's voice sounded concerned, not angry.

"There was a little accident with dinner," Senna softly confessed.

"Are you hurt?" Her mother started checking her over.

"I'm okay," Senna assured her.

"Thank goodness," her mother pulled her in for a hug. Kissing the top of her head, she tightened her grip on her daughter as they both heard the front door slam open.

"I'm home!" A man called out.

"Go to your room, sweetheart, I'll be there in a few minutes," her mother gently, but urgently told her.

"Okay," Senna was halfway down the hall when she heard him start yelling.

"What the spirits happened! I come home after a hard day's work to find the kitchen a wreck! Can't you do anything right!"

Senna tried to block the yelling out of her mind. She had just entered her room when she heard the first slap. Not being able to let her mother take the blame for this, Senna turned back. Standing in the kitchen doorway, the eleven-year-old made her presence known. She pulled some water from the sink and formed a whip. Waiting for the right moment, Senna threw it purposely.

"Stop it! It's not Mom's fault! It was mine! I did it! Leave her alone!" She was about to throw another water whip when she felt sudden pain go up her right arm. It took her a second to realize he was pulling it back. She twisted around, trying to fight back, but it was hard.

"Senna!" Her mother screamed. "Let her go!"

"It's time she learned a lesson," he proclaimed. With that, he backhanded the eleven-year-old across the face before roughly shoving her aside.

Senna hit the side of the kitchen table. She could feel blood trickling down her face from where her left cheek had made contact. Getting to her feet, she prepared to defend her mother again when she heard her voice call out to her.

"Senna, go! Get out of here and get help!"

"Mama, I'm scared!" Senna admitted.

"It's okay. You can do this. Go!"

Senna turned and ran. She didn't know where she was going, but she knew she had to try to find help. Stopping in front of a familiar igloo, she ran up and knocked on the door.

"Senna? Honey, what's wrong?" Katara gasped at the sight of the child's bruises and bleeding arm. "How did you get hurt? Come inside."

Senna obeyed, but wasted no more time.

"My Mom's in trouble! He's hurting her and he won't stop!"

"Who is?" Katara asked. "Where is she?"

"At home. Kato. You have to help her! Please!"

"I'll be right back," with that, Katara left. She returned a few minutes later. "Aang's going to get your mother and bring her back here. Will you let me heal you?"

"Uh-huh," Senna replied. She hardly felt the pain when Katara touched her right eye or left arm. She was so consumed with worry for her mother. She just prayed she wasn't too late…