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 6

Senna followed Katara into the living room. Sitting down on the couch, she allowed Katara to heal her injuries. She winced a little as the cool water made contact with her cheek, but otherwise she didn't react.

"Thatta girl. There you go. Senna, what happened?" Katara gently asked.

Senna shook her head and blinked back tears. Feeling Katara lift her chin upwards, the pre-teen found her eyes locking with Katara's identical ones.

"I had to do something. And Now it might be too late," she whispered.

"Senna…sweetheart, don't think that way," Katara reached out her arms. Pulling the girl close, she started rubbing her back.

It wasn't long before they heard Appa land outside.

"Stay here," Katara gently instructed. Pulling away, she stood and went to meet her husband.

Left with only her thoughts for company, Senna began to pray hard. All she wanted was for her mother to be okay. And if she couldn't, she just wanted to have a little more time with her. Closing her eyes, Senna let the tears fall. Hearing the front door open, Senna almost jumped up to see what was going on. But something stopped her. Was it fear at what she might find? Or was it just her obedient nature? Whatever the case, she stayed where she was. She heard voices in the hallway, the sound of a door closing, then silence. She didn't know how long she had been sitting there. Feeling her eyelids growing heavy, she let them close. Feeling a blanket being tucked around her, she started to stir.

"Shh, Senna, it's just me," Katara's voice met her ears.

"Ha…how's my Mom?" Senna mumbled.

"She's hanging in there. Just rest for me. You can see her when you wake up," Katara bent down and kissed Senna's forehead. Closing her eyes again, Senna was asleep in minutes. The day had been long and her body needed the rest. A little while later, she felt something furry being set down next to her. Reaching out, she pulled her plush snow leopard close and returned to dreamland.

********

Senna's eyes opened to find it was dark out. Sitting up, she took in her surroundings. She was no longer on the couch. Glancing around, she discovered she was in her bedroom she used when she slept at Katara's. She had been sleeping there off and on since she was seven-years-old. Seeing Keiki beside her, she pulled the leopard close. Shivering, she pulled the covers tighter around her. Her head jerked up at the sound of the door opening.

"Hey, you're awake," Katara entered. She sat down on the bed.

"Can I see my Mom now?" Senna asked.

"Of course you can. After you spend some time with her, you need to eat something."

"Okay," Senna grudgingly agreed. She wasn't that hungry. A question came to her just then. "We're not going back home, are we?"

"No. You're both staying here," Katara assured her.

Senna sighed with relief. Standing, she followed Katara to a room across the hall. "What time is it?"

"Almost eight," Katara replied. She opened the door. Gently, she nudged Senna forward. "It's okay."

Senna nodded. Swallowing hard, she stepped inside. Going over to the bed, she climbed up. Reaching out, she gently took her mother's left hand in hers. She saw her right one had an IV in it. She didn't let that scare her. She knew Katara had only done it to help her get better. The question was, would she? Senna was pulled out of her thoughts by the sound of her mother's voice.

"Hey, my sweet girl," Kamaria managed a tiny smile for her little girl.

Senna blinked hard against the tears threatening to fall as she saw the remaining injuries Katara had yet to heal.

"It's my fault," Senna softly confessed.

"What did you say, sweetie?" her mother asked.

"It's my fault you're hurt," Senna reiterated.

"No, no, no, sweet girl, no…Senna, come here…" Kamaria held her free arm out to her daughter.

Senna shook her head. She backed up a little.

"I da-don't deserve a Hu. Not after what I did," Senna glanced down as the tears came.

"Senna…honey…that's not true," to prove it, Kamaria reached out and pulled her daughter close. Running a hand through her hair, she fought back her own tears. "Sweet girl, listen to me. You DID NOTHING wrong. DO you hear me? Nothing. You were the reason we escaped. I'm so proud of you," she kissed Senna's head as she spoke. "I love you so much."

"Ya-you shouldn't be proud of me," Senna tearfully countered.

"Sweet girl, talk to me," her mother gently coaxed.

"I'm scared," Senna admitted.

"That's okay. I am too, " her mother replied. "But I Know you'll be okay. Katara will take good care of you."

"Mom, what are you-"

"Senna, I need you to promise me something," her mother interrupted.

"Okay," Senna could tell whatever her mother had to say was important.

"Promise me…promise me you'll take over where I left off? You have a healer's spirit, sweet girl. You can do it. I know you can. As long as you listen to your heart and let Katara teach you, you'll be fine."

"I…I promise," Senna softly replied. "I'll do it," the pre-teen vowed.

"You can learn and memorize all the terms and perfect the procedures, but you already possess the one true skill you need," she gently tapped on Senna's chest. "Your compassion and a willingness to comfort goes a long way. You have both."

Senna nodded. She let the tears fall as her mother held her close.

"I love you," she whispered.

"I love you so much, Senna, so much my sweet girl. Never forget that," her mother told her.

"I won't," Senna assured her, "I promise," she rested her head against her mother's chest, taking comfort in the steady rhythm of her heartbeat. She thanked the spirits it was still beating.

Just then, Katara poked her head in.

"Senna, I made you something to eat."

"I'm not hungry," Senna said.

"Senna, you need to eat," her mother gently reminded her. "Please, do it for me. Eat as much as you can. You can come back after you're done."

"Okay," Senna sighed. She kissed her mother's cheek and reluctantly got off the bed. Leaving the room, she went in the direction of the kitchen, her mind buzzing with worry and questions.

"How's she doing?" Katara sat down on the chair near Kamaria's bed.

"She's scared," her friend answered. She closed her eyes as tears welled.

"That's understandable," Katara put a hand on her friend's shoulder. "Kamaria, look at me."

Kamaria did so.

"I promise you, I'll take care of Senna. You know I will. I've loved her and treated her like one of my own ever since she was born."

"I know," Kamaria whispered. She sighed shakily. "I know she'll be devastated. She and I Have been close ever since you first placed her in my arms."

Katara pulled her friend in for a hug.

"I'm so sorry," she apologized.

"It's not your fault. You've been an amazing friend to me, even before Senna was born. Your friendship has meant the world to me. Senna loves you too. She trusts you, Katara. She doesn't trust many people. You and Lena's mother are the only two adults she truly trusts besides me. Oh spirits, I'm going to leave her…she's just a…she's my little girl…she's my everything…" her words gave way to tears as she broke down. She let Katara comfort her. Unbeknowgist to them, Senna had just returned.

At the sound of the door bursting open, both Kamaria and Katara looked up. Their eyes met the identical ones of a tearful and angry Senna.

Senna glared at Katara.

"You lied to me," she accused. "You said my Mom would be okay! You said you could help her! Why didn't you tell me the truth?" With that, Senna turned and ran from the room.

"Senna! Senna, please, wait!" Kamaria pleaded. She longed to go after her, but her injuries prevented her from taking any action.

"I'll go talk to her," Katara stood and headed for the door.

******

Meanwhile, Senna had run into another bedroom. She wasn't sure where she was. Throwing herself down on a bed, she broke down. Heart wrenching sobs wracked her form, making it hard for her to breathe.

"Go away! Leave me alone!" she shouted when she heard a knock at the door.

"I can't do that," Katara stepped in the room. Sitting on the edge of the bed, she reached out to comfort Senna.

"Don't touch me," Senna tearfully ordered.

"Okay. I know what you're going through," she revealed.

"No you don't!" Senna tearfully countered.

"Yes, I do," Katara insisted. "I lost my mother too."

This got Senn'as attention. She locked eyes with Katara. She was about to turn away when she saw the raw pain in their depths. She moved closer to the woman. "It happened when I was eight. A firebender killed her," Katara softly revealed.

"I'm sorry," Senna mumbled. She truly felt for her mentor despite her own pain.

"It was a hard time for me. I made a promise to myself that night," Katara continued. "I promised myself if I came in contact with anyone going through the same thing, I would help them. And I intend to keep that promise," she tentatively reached out and rested her hand on Senna's shoulder.

"I don't wanna lose my Mom! It's not fair!" Senna sobbed.

"I know, sweetheart. I felt the same way," Katara assured her. "You need to know you're not alone. You're upset and that's okay. I'm here for you."

"My Mom's really going to die, isn't she?" Senna tearfully asked.

"Yes," Katara reluctantly answered. "I'm so sorry, Senna. If I could turn things around, I would. You need to know that."

Senna nodded as her body was overtaken by sobs.

All Katara could do was hold her close and assure her she wasn't alone. Her own tears fell as she witnessed the pre-teen's pain. Standing, Katara carried Senna to the room her mother was staying in. Lying her down beside Kamaria, she gently rested the other woman's free hand on her daughter's right arm.

"Thank you," Kamaria whispered. "How is she?"

"Scared, angry," Katara replied.

"Did you talk to her?" Kamaria asked.

"Yes," Katara replied," "Just get some rest," with that, she left mother and daughter alone.

Senna stirred, but relaxed the minute she heard her mother's gentle voice in her ear.

"Shh, sweet girl, it's okay. Just rest for me."

Senna didn't need much coaxing. She was asleep again in a matter of minutes.

*****

Senna's eyes opened to find sun streaming into her window. Looking to her right, she noticed theb end was empty. Refusing to believe what she knew in her heart was true, she laid back down. Closing her eyes, she tried to fall back to sleep. Unfortunately, sleep didn't come so easily. Hearing her bedroom door open, Senna glanced up. Seeing the look on Katara's face, tears welled even before the waterbending master spoke.

"She's gone, isn't she?" Senna asked. Katara had reached her side by now.

"Yes," Katara softly replied. "Senna, I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry…"

But Senna didn't hear the rest of Katara's words. She let out a heart wrenching sob, followed by another and another as her mind wrapped itself around her frightening new reality. Even though she knew Katara was going to take care of her, the pre-teen had never felt more alone in her life…