Months had passed, wounds had healed.
Still, mental scars were still there, wounds to the heart still present…
Lily was silent, less worked than before.
Apologies had been accepted, space given.
Still, worry and guilt flooded their hearts, and the violet-masked Waterbender wasn't allowed out of the lair.
Not that she wanted to.
She was perfectly happy to stay in her home forever.
It had been five months before Angie had finally convinced her Waterbending cousin that going out was safe.
They were going to visit Casey and April, who had come over often to see how Lily was doing.
Their own children couldn't come, thanks to school, so Lily hadn't seen them for quite a while.
The blue-eyed Waterbender agreed to go, and both headed out fully armed.
It was the only security her cousin had asked for, so Angie hadn't protested.
They got there rather quickly, and at least the sky-masked turtle managed to make the most of the short meeting.
Lily was on the roof, staring up at the sky and the waning moon…
Something crashed, and her head jerked up, ears instinctively tuning in…
It was in the alley right on the edge of the building, a mugging, if the begging was any indication…
Should she help?
She wasn't sure if she was up to any close combat just yet with any male…
The very thought frightened her to death…
'But I can just Waterbend from up here.' She reasoned, hearing the sounds escalate.
'I can't just let that poor person get hurt!'
Jumping to her feet, she moved to the ledge, pulling water out of the massive flask on her shell.
Sending it down, she washed two of the five muggers against a wall, freezing their hands to the bricks.
The strip of water raced for the others when one shot a grappling gun.
The hook caught in the concrete beneath her feet, and the thug tugged hard enough to make it shatter.
With a cry of surprise, she started free-falling, but a bubble of water caught her safely before she could splatter against the ground.
The water moved out like tentacles, slashing at the gangsters trying to jump her.
Fear was gripping her, and one managed to back-hand her to the ground.
Horrible memories, flashes of a nightmare, and she couldn't find the strength to get up…
Water came around her in a dome, freezing to ice that began to chip away from their blows.
Suddenly, a dark shadow came down, dealing easily with the five gangsters.
The ice melted, falling around her, as she looked up at her savior.
He was mainly shrouded in shadow, a mask covering most of his face and a cape billowing in the wind.
She wondered briefly who he was, but she was too frozen to get her mouth to work.
"Are you alright?"
Lily was thankful she was shrouded in shadows…
"I-I'm alright…" She managed.
"You should be more careful. Who knows what they would have done to you?"
She didn't WANT to know…
She nearly yelped when he helped lift her back up to her feet, and she stood shyly away.
She really wanted to reach out and touch him, make sure he was real, but…
She couldn't do that…
He turned to leave, but she jerked forward.
"W-Wait!"
He looked over his shoulder, and she blushed, looking down.
"W-Will I ever s-see you again?"
"…"
She almost thought he'd left…
"If you ever need me again, just call me..."
"Wh-What's you name?"
"…Shadow."
And he was gone, just like a ninja.
"Sh-Shadow…" She murmured to herself…
It seemed to fit so well…
Like the shadow of hope…