A/N: Hey all! I'm back, like I promised, with an all new chapter. First off, I wanna say thanks to all my kind and loyal readers and reviewers, you guys are so sweet :3 I love each and every last one of you. I'm so thankful that you guys were patient through the long stretch of time that I was gone Some things just happened to come up and my mind was totally distracted. I felt as if something had stolen my imagination away…As well as my heart, and love for Avatar… D: But now that it's summer, I have plenty of imagination to go around. As well as many changes of scenery, I've been doing a lot of traveling since school has been out, and it's only going to become more plentiful. But never fear! I'm bringing my laptop, (which my friends and I like to call Wesley :P) everywhere with me.
Anyways, sorry to blab about myself o.o On with the chapter! Lol…Just warning you now, this chapter made me cry…Probably because I'm the only one awake at the moment oO haha. AHG – READ. x)
Book Two – Water and Air
Chapter Thirteen - Vyntresser Aditya
Katara groggily opened her eyes along with a soft groan. The calm morning sun instantly lit up her surroundings. She blinked a couple of times, letting her eyes adjust to the gentle lighting that seemed to encompass her very being. She let out yet another soft moan before she quickly pushed herself o her feet. She winced slightly as she gingerly shifted her paws on the soft ground she was on. She felts as if her paws had wounds on its wounds.
She sighed impatiently and took a good hard look around, now being interested in finding her traveling companions. She noticed she was lying on the banks of the river she had jumped into the night before. The soft, almost sand like dirt she stood on seemed to ease her wounded paws. She looked a little further to find that she was standing before a large, bamboo forest; behind her lay the large, winding river. As well as the cliff she plummeted from earlier. Once the cliff came to Katara's mind, she instantly whirled around.
She peered up the face of the drop off to see a sight she thought she'd never see. The whole forest, or at least from what she saw, was still in tact, green and lush. Katara cocked her head slightly, now getting utterly confused.
I wasn't dreaming…was I?
Katara quickly shook her head, still wanting to stay focused on finding Aang and Sokka. She took a good look around the large, roaring river before her and even a little down the banks to see if she could spot Appa at all, but no one was around in her line of vision. Nothing but little sky birds happily singing their morning songs. Katara heaved a long sigh and slowly began to trudge towards the large, bamboo forest just behind her, in high hopes of finding her friends somewhere.
She wandered through the somewhat dense stalks of bamboo for quite some time, that is until she couldn't see the river anymore. She loved the way the soft dirt eased the pain on her paws. She lightly walked through the calm yellow and green foliage with a small smile on her face. She felt very proud of herself at the moment.
She slowly began to let her thoughts wander to last night. How stupid Sokka was for creating a forest fire, and how dangerous it was to get separated from her friends. But she felt good about later decisions. The decisions to go back and help someone in need. She felt as if going back to help that one gimpy zebra leopard in need was a big step in helping her become a better Vyntresser. She smiled with all the happiness in the world as she continued to walk through the calm, sweet smelling bamboo forest. That is until something behind her shattered her quiet.
Katara quickly stopped walking at glanced over her shoulder, having heard a few of the bamboo stalks rustled about in an abnormal way, as if someone had pushed past them. Katara instantly froze and watched the few bamboo stalks sway to a gentle stop. She frowned and quickly began to walk in the direction she was already headed, but at a faster pace.
After a few minutes, Katara shrugged off what had just happened, she figured it was just a stray bird or something. She smiled and continued to think and stroll, letting the ground sooth her paws. That is until more bamboo stalks a little to her left rustled around again. Katara instantly froze and stopped walking. Her heart began to beat quickly as she noticed something white slowly stalking its way through a small patch of the bamboo forest. A small twinge of happiness entered Katara's thought process; she immediately smiled, thinking the big white thing was Appa. But once she caught a glimpse of its face, her happy thoughts instantly reversed itself, causing a sudden twist of fear to form in the very depths of Katara's heart.
Katara, without thinking, instantly turned the other way and darted forward. She quickly became utterly confused as to what was chasing her. She knew it looked familiar and she felt as if running from it only happened recently. It instantly hit her. It was the white creature from when she was stuck underground. Katara's eyes widened further as she attempted to gain speed, knowing very well that white, winged creature from the under ground world, where she was earthbound, could easily out run her. Even in her fastest Vyntresser form.
Katara began to whimper loudly as she ran, fearing for her life as she heard the creature behind her begin to catch up, its loud snarls and growls getting louder by the second. Katara could instantly feel tears sting her eyes as she literally plowed past tall, hard bamboo stalks. She darted around, almost in a careless and clumsy manner, seeing as she couldn't keep a firm footing on the soft dirt underneath her. Katara could quickly see a small clearing, in the forest, approach. She smiled, hoping to gain more speed.
She instantly darted into the clearing, but instead of gaining speed, she immediately tripped over a few small boulders in her way. She yelped loudly as she instantly hit the dirt, face first. She skid all the way to the other side of the clearing, only to end up lying on her back. Katara knew what was coming. More pain. Katara quickly scrunched into a little ball and tucked her head under her paws. She whimpered and grit her teeth as she felt the presence of the beast get closer and closer. After a few minutes of just hearing the sounds of herself panting, she opened a wary eye.
She nearly jumped clear out of her skin once she noticed the creature was standing straight on top of her, it's strong, powerful horse-like, fury white legs surrounding her, and its long snout was in hers. The creature looked so curious, so gentle in this moment, so happy, almost. Katara's ears perked slightly as she came face to face with the fury white creature that had basically murdered her the other day.
Katara couldn't help but hold her breath. She stared into the eyes of the killer; its big brown, loving eyes staring into hers, neither of them made a sound, or even moved in the slightest bit. Katara shook in her spot, not knowing if this creature was going to so suddenly lash out and attack Katara or just leave her alone. She expected the worst, though. Katara slowly opened her mouth, to speak, to do something, to attempt to move, but within that small gesture of her jaw, the creature instantly became excited. It's large, almost cat like ears perked up as it began to shift its legs in happiness and before Katara knew it, she was instantly being covered in slobber. The large creature quickly began to lick Katara's face, it's large, rough sandpaper-like tongue covering Katara's face and making her fur soggy and wet. Katara quickly began to scoot out from under the large creature that seemingly acted like a playful puppy. It's long, white, almost dragon like tail waged about slowly, yet happily and the white creature seemed to come to life with joy.
Katara stood and quickly shook her fur free of slobber before she stared at the magnificent creature before her. It stared at Katara with, what seemed to be a smile, as it began to buck its head up and down. It then began to cavort and gallop about the small clearing; long brown feathery wings glistened in the calm morning shade of the bamboo forest they were in.
"Uhm…Yeah," Katara said, almost in an awkward manner and she let her ears droop slightly. Katara raised her eyebrow and watched the creature gradually get closer to her slowly. Once near, it lovingly began to nuzzle its nose into Katara's furry chest. It nestled, slightly, in Katara's soft cheetah coat before Katara could've sworn the creature before her began to purr. It suddenly let out a small chirp, that related to a cheetah cubs' chirp.
Katara let her eyes widen at how totally ironic this whole situation was. She felt utterly relieved that this creature was now treating her like its mother. She smiled softly, as much as she loved to snuggle, she gently let her paw meet the creature's long face and nose before she slowly pushed it away.
"Um," Katara started, "Is this an apology or something? You know, from the other day?" Katara questioned. The creature stared at her with happiness in its eyes. Its long brown mane twitched slightly as its large brown ears flicked about. Katara cocked her head.
"Can you speak?" Katara questioned, knowing very well she could understand animals. This creature didn't seem phased. It slowly began to step closer to Katara, as if it didn't understand her. It then began to nuzzle its nose into Katara's soft face and chest again. Katara patiently let her ears droop with a small frown.
"Apparently not," Katara said softly. She then began to scoot away from the creature. It, in turn, began to follow her. Katara sighed softly and shook her head before she slowly turned around and wandered into a stray patch of bamboo stalks.
As time went on, she knew the large, horse like creature behind her was following her every footsteps. It even began to gallop around, chirping and neighing and whatnot as if it didn't have a care in the world. Katara smiled at the cute sight but in time, it grew annoying, and more time went by where she wished she could just be with her traveling companions, wherever they were.
Katara heaved a loud sigh as the white creature fell into step next to her. It lowered its horse-like head and gently began to nudge Katara's side. Katara stumbled slightly but patiently regained balance every time she was slightly knocked over. After about ten minutes of continuing to do this though, Katara was just about to shoot herself in the face.
Katara quickly smiled a devious little smile before instantly taking off, darting through a few stalks of bamboo, leaving the white creature at a steady pace in the soft dirt. The creature, after a few seconds, let out a loud neigh as it reared up and kicked its front legs out before itself. It then immediately took off after Katara.
Katara could hear the creature catch up quickly. She sighed an annoyed sigh as she darted through bamboo stalks. How she wanted this strange creature to just leave her alone. She had no clue as to why it was such a terrible creature the other day but have it be all cuddly and kind today. Katara didn't want to even think about the creature she now ran from, all she wanted was to find Aang and everyone.
Just seconds after she thought that, she instantly spotted Sokka walking around, along with a part of the winding river that seemed to never end in this area. Katara instantly smiled as she busted through the rest of the bamboo stalks, the calm, now almost noon sun lit up her entire surroundings in a gentle way. Katara instantly began to make noise, signaling to the boys, as well as the other animals she traveled with, that she was in their presence.
"Get this thing away from me!!!" Katara hollered as she all at once darted past Aang, who was tending to Appa's wounded leg. She then whizzed past Sokka, causing him to drop all the fire wood he was holding.
"Hey!" He screeched as Katara slightly tumbled over the small sticks Sokka had gathered. She scrambled to her feet and panted slightly as she headed for the river.
"Katara!" Aang said in a surprised tone before, all at once, the white creature busted its way through the bamboo stalks just a ways away. It instantly pranced over to Aang in a happy manner before basically plowing into him as it made happy chirping noises. Aang let out a loud laugh and doubled to the ground, on his back. The white creature then began to do the same thing it did to Katara. Drench Aang in its slobber. It licked Aang's face, almost as if it were utterly overjoyed to see him, let alone humans. Aang laughed and gently pushed on its snout with a big smile.
Katara quickly turned around to see what was going on. She noticed the large white creature standing over Aang repeating what it had done to Katara earlier. Katara cocked her head as Aang slowly scoot out from under the white beast. He then began to pet its long face and horse-like snout with a smile. Katara slowly began to wander over to the two.
"Where have I seen you before," Aang pondered in amazement as he held the creatures jaw in his palms. He stared into the loving animals big brown eyes before Katara came up next to him and sat on her haunches.
"UH, the other day, when in basically murdered me," Katara said in mono-tone. She sighed and shook her head in confusement as she stared up at the large creature.
"I swear, I've seen this creature elsewhere th-" Aang was interrupted.
"AANG!"Sokka screeched as he began to step backwards, tumbling over the firewood skewed everywhere, "Just back up slowly and maybe it won't attack us!" Sokka said in a loud whisper.
"Sokka, she won't attack you, she's my friend," Aang said plainly with a smile. Katara's eyes bugged.
"What? How do you know it's a girl?" Katara questioned loudly.
"You're friends with this beast?!" Sokka hollered as he gradually came closer. Aang then looked as if he grew confused.
"I uh…Yeah, she's my friend," Aang said, almost as if he didn't believe himself.
"How on earth do you know her? And how come you've never told us about your so called 'friend'" Sokka air quoted with his fingers.
"I-I…I don't know," Aang said softly as he stared at the creature before him, "Her name's Hinadi…"
Everyone fell silent for a few moments.
"So, you know her name, but you have no idea how you know her…Sheesh, what IS she anyways!?" Sokka said loudly as he threw his arm up in the air.
"It feels like I've known Hinadi forever," Aang said softly, "We grew up together, I remember it,"
"Well, surely it wasn't Hinadi who was with you when you were growing up I mean, that was over a hundred years ago…Surely she couldn't have lived for that long," Katara explained.
"Well, Shirlakoi's have a long life span," Aang said plainly.
"Who the what-y?" Sokka said loudly, getting frustrated with the topic, "What's a… shirlamobobber?"
"Shirlakoi," Aang said with a small laugh, "That's what Hindai is."
"Aang, seriously, how do you know this?" Katara said firmly, Aang slowly shook his head in confusement.
"I don't know…It's not coming back to me…" Aang said with a frown, "B-but I know who she is…I could never forget Hinadi,"
Hinadi seemed to perk up as she wagged her dragon like tail around, her ears stood up straight with excitement as Aang rubbed her long snout. Sokka slowly began to investigate and look about Hinadi's body strange body structure.
"…What is she anyways? I mean…she's not a flying bison, nor lemur...Tiger bear, zebra leopard, hog monkey…hopping llama, sheesh! She's like a mixture of animals," Sokka said more to himself than Aang and Katara.
"You're right," Katara said softly as she joined Sokka, "Look here, she has the structure of a horse, yet two wings of a bird…a-and instead of hooves, she has these strange...paws, but just on her front legs," Katara noted as she looked about. Hinadi shifted her feet slightly. She suddenly turned her head and chirped towards her back end. Katara looked up, only to see Sokka holding up her large, white dragon like tail.
"Sokka, put her tail down she doesn't like that!" Katara hissed, Sokka smiled sheepishly and put her large, heavy tail down.
"I'm just lookin," Sokka frowned, "She has a dragon tail," he added.
The two continued to note and point out Hinadi's strange body form, Aang just stared into her big brown eyes; questions instantly began to fill his mind, all of which could only be answered with the aid of memory from the past. Aang sighed and stared at his long lost friend, he knew deep in his heart this wasn't just some strange creature he was mistaking for an old friend. He had a huge feeling that she was here for a reason, and he was now more than eager to figure it out. He felt as if something began to tug on his heart a little. As if it was some pain that had slowly began to come back to him. Pain from his past. And even though he didn't know what it was, it still hurt him inside. He just hoped the pain wouldn't grow.
"Carnivore," Katara suddenly said, causing Aang to come back to reality.
"Herbivore," Sokka argued.
"Carnivore!"
"Herbivore!!"
"CARNIV-"
"Guys!" Aang stopped their little argument, knowing very well what they were talking about, "She's a carnivore, look," Aang gently pried Hinadi's mouth open, revealing a bunch of cat like razor sharp teeth. The two teens gazed in awe.
"Man, this is one confusing creature," Sokka said as his eyes bugged out.
"Well, that's Hinadi for you," Aang said with a small laugh, Katara smiled. She then suddenly remembered the night before. She instantly looked at Aang in a worried manner.
"Aang, the forest," Katara said softly in dismay as she grit her teeth.
"What about it?" Aang smiled, "Don't worry, we put the fire out," he said plainly, Katara's jaw dropped.
"How did you do that?" Katara asked as Sokka walked away, Hinadi followed.
"Just a little bit of the water bending you've taught me," Aang said softly with a gentle smile. Katara sighed softly with a small smile as well.
"Oh," She started, "So everything's alright? I mean, no animals were hurt do you think?" Katara worried.
"Not terribly, no," Aang smiled, "We had it under control."
"Oh," Katara instantly frowned, no feeling guilty that she wasn't there to help Aang out. She frowned, knowing that she saved one life last night but she felt as if it were always Aang who ended up saving whole towns and cities and villages if they were in danger. She wanted a turn in the spotlight, but she knew she'd never get it if Aang had to be so strong and smart. 'Mr. Almighty Avatar'.
Katara sighed and slowly began to walk away. Aang cocked his head with a frown.
"Hey, you alright?" He called after her.
"Yeah, I'm fine," Katara called over her shoulder before she looked ahead and heaved a small sigh. She slowly headed over to where Sokka, Hinadi and Appa stood. Appa, for an odd reason, seemed a bit overjoyed to see Hinadi also. He carefully pushed himself up into a sitting position and he seemed to be a lot happier than he has been lately. Katara smiled as she approached everyone.
"Looks like Appa recognized Hinadi also," Katara smiled, Sokka nodded.
"I think his leg is getting better. This morning, when we went to go look for you, he was limping about a little," Sokka smiled.
"Oh, so do you think it's not broken after all? His leg I mean," Katara asked eagerly.
"No, I'm pretty sure it's still broken…I think Appa's just trying to make the most of things, and at least try to get around while he's disabled like this," Sokka smiled, Katara nodded before her brother continued, "On the down side, he's not too keen on flying anymore. Aang can't even get him off the ground no matter how many times he yells 'yip yip'." Sokka frowned, Katara worried and stared at the bison who was now befriending Hinadi.
"…How are we going to get around, Sokka?" Katara worried softly.
"Well, seeing that Hinadi has wings, I'm sure one of us could fly over to a nearby market or something to get food and possibly some medicine for Appa's leg," Sokka shrugged.
"Do you really think Hinadi would let one of us ride her?" Katara questioned.
"Well, probably not me, most likely Aang," Sokka chuckled, "Aang seemed to really enjoy seeing her again, I still want to know how he knows her," Sokka said all at once, Katara shook her head slowly with a confused look on her face.
"I don't know either…I'm just as confused as you are," Katara frowned.
"Mm," Sokka hummed softly before he slowly strolled over to collect the firewood that he had dropped a little bit before. He then began to make a fire.
The day went by slowly; the calm noon lingered around, making the calm campsite the three teens were at so peaceful and quiet. Sokka 'carefully' sharpened his boomerang, Aang tended to Appa's wounds, Kaimah and Momo pranced about and Katara lounged around.
Katara noticed that within the short amount of time that Hinadi had been with the three teens, she was already starting to get on Katara's nerves. And for no good reasons, too.
Katara sunbathed in the noon sun, she layed, sprawled on her side in the soft dirt with a smile. She breathed the calm, river scented air until a sharp, pulling pain was present on her cheek. Katara's eyes shot open only to see Hinadi tugging on the few, long black whiskers which stuck from Katara's cheeks. Hinadi continued to tease her by tugging on them, using her razor sharp teeth. Katara's ears laid flat on her head as she could feel a large feeling of being annoyed form in the very depth of her stomach.
All was calm, until Hinadi quickly plucked one of Katara's whiskers straight from her cheek. Katara yelped and sat up quickly as Hinadi neighed, almost in a happy mocking sort of manner. She then trotted away and in a circle in a teasing way. Katara groaned and gently rubbed her cheek with her somewhat swollen paw. Katara then rolled her eyes and slowly wandered over to Aang, who was near Appa. She smiled as she approached him.
"Hey, Aang." Katara chimed softly as she sat down next to him. He was gently running his fingers through the fur of Appa's wounded leg.
"Hey there," Aang smiled as he continued to ease Appa's pain.
"No offense to Hinadi, but…she's kind of getting on my n-" Katara was ever so suddenly ripped away from Aang as she could feel a searing sharp pain at the base of her tail. She was quickly dragged backwards until she did a somersault and stopped on her side.
Katara, now utterly confused, scrambled to a somewhat sitting position as she looked for the source of her upheaval. She instantly noticed Hinadi with Katara's long, cheetah tail dangling from her mouth. Katara's ears laid flat on her head as she could literally feel her blood boil. She instantly leaped forward, batting her arm and paw around in Hinadi's face until the large Shirlakoi got the hint and dropped Katara's delicate tail with a cocky chirp. She then trotted away and over to Sokka and Appa.
Katara stared at her, feeling ever so annoyed at the new member of 'The Aang gang'. She shook her head with a loud, sharp sigh before she quickly stepped back over to Aang with a disgruntled look on her face. She could suddenly feel a sharp, throbbing pain at the base of her tail, where Hinadi had pulled. Katara now knew how Momo felt whenever he had gotten his tail pulled on.
"You okay?" Aang said with a small laugh without looking up, Katara instantly frowned.
"Y-yeah, I'll be fine," Katara muttered as her ears laid flat on her furry head. She then suddenly felt as if she didn't have the heart to tell Aang how she felt about Hinadi. Once she noticed him instantly become attached to his long lost animal friend, she knew he'd be more than upset once he learned that she wasn't exactly fitting in with Katara around.
Katara heaved a soft sigh and slowly wandered away from Aang and Appa. She strolled past Kaimah who was quickly picking up her sad and annoyed vibes. Kaimah quickly fell into step with Katara as she followed her to the banks of the river.
Once near the soft, clear babbling water, Katara heaved yet another sigh and sat down on her haunches. Kaimah followed. Katara gently pawed at her element, so wishing she could run through a water bending forum right now. How her bendings soothed her to the highest extent. She frowned, feeling ever so trapped inside an animal's body. She didn't like the way her fur itched sometimes, or the way she could hear even the slightest whisper from far away, or the way her soft and gentle paws got so easily torn and wounded.
Katara stared at herself in the reflection of the river below her, feeling gentle tears sting her eyes. She quickly began to think of ways to help the animals around her so she could get back to her human form. She looked through the eyes of her cheetah self before her in her crystal reflection. She watched her soft, gentle yellow fur wave in the cool river breeze, the way her now dark brown eyes glistened with the sparkle of the mountain water, the way her whiskers twitched even at the slightest scent of fresh fish. She gently let a smile play across her face, loving the new change, but in a way, she despised it with a passion. She missed water bending, waking up in the morning and making her hair look nice and pretty, but most of all, she missed Aang.
She knew he hadn't left her, seeing that he was only a little bit away tending to Appa's wound, but she felt as if he had gone away in spirit. He wasn't able to hug her the same way, kiss her, sweep her up into his arms and say 'I love you' when the moment was perfect into the starry night. How she missed it all. She even missed being teased by Sokka. She frowned into her reflection, wondering when she'd ever be able to hold Aang the same way, hug him, kiss him…how she missed his spirit so.
Katara let her ears flick with the wind as she slowly stole a glance at Kaimah. She was gently drinking from the clear river water, her head delicately bowed in order to drink. Katara cocked her head slightly, forgetting about her issues at the moment, as she figured she'd try out drinking, cheetah style. Katara slowly began to copy Kaimah, knowing that drinking was nothing new to the young cub. Katara slowly bowed her head and let the little hairs on her nose brisk against the cold, soothing mountain water.
Katara smiled at the sensation, and just as she was about to please herself with the cold river water, she was ever so suddenly hurled forward, causing herself to crash into the freezing, and now deeper, river water far before her. Katara instantly broke through the calm surface of the water, gasping for air, being ever so confused as to what had just happened. Katara thrashed her paws about with a terrified look on her face. She instantly began to scramble for more shallow waters. Once there, she stood in water that gently kissed her furry chest. She frowned and stared at the shore, where Kaimah was standing only to see none other than Hinadi.
Katara froze as her soaking wet self began to shiver in a chaotic manner. Her teeth began to chatter slightly as she could feel the water drip from her drenched fur. Katara's frown only grew as Hinadi reared up and neighed a playful, almost teasing neigh. She flapped her long, brown wings out before her before she quickly trotted away, neighing in a giddy, cocky sort of manner.
Katara instantly became angry and stomped out of the water. She pushed past Kaimah and walked onto dry land, as soaked and shivering as she could possibly be. She quickly began to storm over to the bamboo forest, just across the large clearing the seven were in. Hinadi continued to prance around her in a mocking manner.
"Katara, where're you going?" Sokka called. Katara turned her head, gentle tears now streaming her wet cheeks.
"Away from you guys," Katara snapped softly as she quickly pushed past a few bamboo stalks. She then quickly turned around, knowing very well a certain someone was getting ready to follow her. She fixed her eyes on him.
"And don't follow me," Katara snapped again, eyeing the young airbender she was now getting a little frustrated with. She wasn't necessarily frustrated -with- him, just the fact that the two couldn't be 'close' in a loving way while Katara was basically trapped, until she learned what was right.
Aang instantly let a frown play across his face as he stopped in his tracks. Hinadi perked up in a sad manner, she too could pick up the angry vibes Katara was giving off. Katara shook her wet, dripping furry head before quickly pushing past more bamboo stalks. She then delved her way further into the green forest.
Katara harshly pushed past bamboo stalks, until those bamboo stalks turned into small bushes and then into tall trees. Katara felt as if she had wandered a great deal away from camp, as well as her traveling companions. She kept a slow, steady pace on the soft, forest floor going literally nowhere. She hung her head and stared down at her paws, which continued to almost subconsciously move through the forest. Katara frowned, still feeling a bit cold and damp from her incident with Hinadi earlier.
She heaved a long sigh, wondering why Hinadi was picking on her all of the sudden. She frowned, wondering if maybe she was just a little too rambunctious and hyper. She pondered further into the topic, knowing very well that she was the only one Hinadi was picking on. She didn't once see her play with Sokka's wolf tail, or pull on Aang's red poncho, or even drag Momo's tail. She wondered why Hinadi only picked on Katara. There had to be a reason, or a certain strange attachment Hinadi had to Katara.
Katara frowned and shivered slightly as she stared at her paws. She wondered if maybe she should head back to her traveling companions. She knew Aang wasn't following her, but she knew she had walked a straight line from her starting point to where she was now. She sighed, yet again, and let her legs and paws continue to lead her nowhere. That is until she gently let her forehead meet something stone hard and cold. Katara jumped slightly and quickly looked up.
She instantly noticed that she was standing in front if a large statue of what looked to be a woman. Katara stared at the marbled masterpiece for a few minutes, the soft now setting sunshine shone down on it through the gentle fall trees surrounding her. She cocked her head slightly, knowing somewhere in the back of her mind, this tall woman looked all too familiar. Katara sighed and looked down after a few minutes of staring. She then pressed her damp forehead back to the cold stone.
"Aang," Katara mumbled softly, letting warm tears gently fill her dark brown cat-like eyes.
"Katara?" Came a sudden reply from behind. Katara jumped slightly, not expecting someone, or Aang for that matter, to answer. Katara turned around to see the young airbender she knew and loved most, step out from under a few trees. Evidently, he had followed her. Katara almost let a smile play across her face, but she quickly frowned and looked away, feeling a bit annoyed and frustrated with everything at the moment. She could feel Aang's presence get closer and closer.
He slowly got down on his knees, close to her, and embraced her in a warm, loving hug. Katara instantly leaned into the soothing warmth of his arms and chest. She let the calmness warm up her somewhat damp fur as she let tears stream her furry cheeks. She slowly began to bury her black, cat like nose into Aang's shoulder and chest, feeling a bit relieved that he had followed her, even though she told him not to. Katara slowly began to press herself closer to Aang, wanting the same type of closeness she had with him when she was in her human form; she slowly slid her paws up his chest and gently around his shoulders, she attempted to hug him the same way she would. It was different, but the closest thing she was going to get to at the moment.
Katara sighed a soft, shaky sigh before she slowly let go of her love, feeling a bit overwhelmed at her feelings at the moment. She frowned as Aang gently pressed his thumb to her furry cheek; he softly wiped away her tears.
"Katara," He started, "What's bothering you?" Aang questioned gently. Katara shook her head and stared down at her paws.
"You wouldn't understand," She said softly, knowing very well he'd have to walk in the paws of the cheetah form before knowing what it was like to feel slightly unloved by the ones around you. She shook her head after a few seconds before Aang's fingers met just under Katara's fury chin. He pushed her head up so that she was face to face with him. He stared at her with a small, almost understanding frown, his brilliant eyes staring into hers, as if pleading for her to open up to him. She felt as if silence had said everything; she quickly shook her head and moved away slightly, shutting her eyes tight.
"No," She said softly, "It's hard to explain, really," Feeling her cheeks heat up slightly.
"Well," Aang sighed as he stood, "If you really feel that way…You know where to find me when you want to talk about it," With this, Katara looked at him with a half smile. She nodded slowly and looked down.
"Thanks," She said softly.
"Anytime," Aang smiled before he took a deep breath to say something. He immediately stopped himself though. He stared at the statue Katara had run into a few minutes ago. He fixed his eyes on it, as if it were the answer to all of his questions earlier. Katara stared at Aang, getting a little confused.
"Aang, you okay?" Katara questioned softly with a frown, Aang didn't seem phased in the least bit. He only stepped closer to the woman with a small, almost dreadful frown on his face. Katara watched him eagerly as he grew closer and closer to the statue.
Aang seemed as if he were in a trance from staring at the woman statue before him. It shone in the soft sunshine of the evening, in the small clearing the two were in. After a few minutes of silence between the two, Aang ever so slowly reached his hand out and laid it gently on the woman's hand, which was held out slightly before her. His frown grew, as did his soft and gentle eyes. He gently held onto the statues hand for a moment as he continued to stare. Katara kept quiet, not knowing really what to do or say, she frowned, knowing this had to be important, whatever it was. All was calm, that is until Aang softly spoke.
"Aditya," He said ever so gently, he then looked down slightly and shut his eyes tight. Katara frowned and stepped closer to him. Evidently this was someone he knew. Or someone he had known.
Aang sat for a moment, not really wanting to dwell on the past, but he felt as if he couldn't help it. He shut his watering eyes tight and let his mind wander.
- - One Hundred and Five Years Ago - -
"Auntie Addy," little five year old Aang mumbled softly as he reached his arms up towards the older monk who wandered around the lobby a little. She seemed hurried as she quickly walked about in a nervous manner; still, little Aang continued to reach his wandering arms up at her in order for her to pick him up.
Within a few minutes, the woman bent over and swept small Aang up in her loving arms. She smiled at him and gave him a tender kiss on the side of his head. She then quickly began to move down the cold, stone and tile hallway before stepping into young Aang's room, just a little bit away from the courtyard, where the flying bison would play.
"Auntie Addy, I…" Aang was hushed by his aunt who gently set him down on the cold tile floor; she then knelt next to him, at his eye level.
"Listen, Aang," She started, she then stared into Aang's eyes for a second before gently pulling him into a loving hug. She could feel tears begin to sting her eyes, she then continued, "Our love has run out, hasn't it," She whispered softly over little Aang's shoulder.
"Auntie, I'm hungry," little Aang said ever so softly as he reached his small arms around her shoulders.
"Aang, listen to me," the woman said as she pulled away from Aang, she then gripped his little hands in hers, "Look at me, sweetie, I…I have to go now," she said softly as both air benders stared at each other.
"Hmm?" Aang mumbled softly with a frown.
"You may not understand now, but someday you will, honey," she said as she tenderly swept her hand over Aang's little bald head, in a motherly way, "The Avatar cycle has repeated itself, and…well…I'm getting old, sweetie."
"What do you mean?" Aang asked softly as he began to finger a delicate ring that was on the woman's finger.
"Someday, you're going to find someone so special to you…Someone you love so much, that…that you can't help but give them big kisses all over," she said in a teasing way as she began to tickle young Aang and kiss his warm cheeks. Aang giggled and squirmed a little at their giddy fit of love and affection, but she soon settled him down and continued, "And, I know I'm not the one for you anymore…You're not the Roku I used to know and love, huh Aang…"
"I love you, Addy," Aang said softly in a somewhat sad tone as Aditya tightened her grip on little Aang's hands.
"I love you too, Aang…" She said softly, feeling tears sting her eyes, "But I have to go now,"
"I wanna come," Aang said quickly as his whole face and eyes seemed to light up with all the joy in the world.
"No no no," the woman said as she gently picked Aang up and set him on his bed, "You can't come with me, only…only old people go to this place, you don't want to go there, now do you,"
"I wanna be with you, Auntie Addy," Aang frowned as he wiped his nose, using the back of his hand and forearm.
"I want to be with you too, Aang," Aditya sighed softly, somewhat feeling a little uneasy on what she had to do.
"…When will you be back? We still have to go to the courtyard next year to pick out my very own flying bison!" Aang said, overjoyed, before the woman slowly pulled Aang into a loving hug.
"We'll meet again Aang…I promise…" The woman said softly into Aang's ear.
"When?" Aang questioned as he buried his face into the soft materials of her cloak, of her shoulder and chest.
"Well…" she started as she pulled away, "The day you fall in love with someone, silly goose,"
"Eww…Girls have cooties though, Auntie Addy, you know that," Aang said as a matter of factly.
"Hmm, you think so now…" the woman smiled before she inched her face closer to Aang's, she let her nose meet his, "Don't let those other monks tell you that loving a girl is wrong, you listen to your heart," the woman smiled before Aang bit his bottom lip and nodded, "Good boy," the woman laughed softly as the two gently rubbed noses. Aang gently giggled and pulled away to rub his nose with his hand. The two then sat, staring at each other for a moment.
"Promise you won't forget me, my dear Aang," she said ever so softly.
"I promise," Aang said softly with a cheerful, innocent smile.
"- cause you haven't seen the last of me," she said softly.
"When will you come back?" Aang repeated himself softly, the woman in turn let out a soft laugh.
"I already told you, silly…You need to find true love," she said softly.
"True love?" Aang questioned, cocking his head slightly before the woman gently kissed his forehead, keeping her lips there for a moment before pulling away.
"You'll understand someday…" she smiled at him, "We'll meet again, little bear," she then slowly stood and gently threw a small sack over her shoulder. She then headed for Aang's door. Aang, in turn, followed her.
"Auntie," Aang whined softly as he stopped her before she left.
"Dear, Addy has to go now," she said softly, tears forming in her eyes. With this, Aang knew something was up.
"But…but – what if I need you?" Aang asked as he sniffled softly, tears now forming in the young child's eyes. The woman knelt close to him with a small smile; tears now trickled down her elderly cheeks.
"Don't worry, sweetie…I'm leaving you in good hands, you're going to be staying with monk Gyatso," she said softly, Aang nodded as tears now cascaded from his eyes. He gripped Aditya's orange and yellow airbender cloak in his little hands, she then continued, "I'm also leaving Hinadi with you, to keep you company through your years of practice and growing up, here at the temples…"
"I love Hinadi," small Aang mentioned randomly, yet ever so softly as he wiped tears and mucus from his cheeks and nose.
"I know you do, and she loves you too…" the woman said before she pulled Aang into one last hug, "She'll keep you safe, okay?"
"Mkay," Aang nodded with a soft sniffle, "Don't leave Addy, I love you," Aang whimpered, now to the point of crying aloud.
"Aang, sweetie, I have to go now…We will see each other again, I promise you…I promise, Aang, I promise…" the woman said shakily as she slowly stood and rubbed her hand on Aang's soft, bald little head. She then walked out of Aang's room and into the night air. Aang instantly let out a soft cry and stood outside his door.
"Auntie Addy," Aang called as he continued to sob softly. He let out a soft wail as he continued to watch his mother figure walk out of his life. Cry hiccups got the best of him after a few seconds. He shook his head as the tears fell like rain. His lover from a past life walked away, not turning back, and Aang was ever so confused as to why she wasn't coming back for him. He sobbed softly and hung his arms and hands by his side, feeling as if the one woman he had come to know and love like a mother was now walking away from him. And he hadn't the slightest idea why.
He, soon after she was out of sight, fell to his knees and cried, long and hard, feeling as if someone had taken his heart and threw it against cold, hard stone and watch it shatter to bits...Never to be fixed.
A/N: …Heh, sorry for that little, sad flashback there…I've been wanting to put it in for the past couple chapters now x) but you know, lol. It fit just fine here. I think o.o
So yeah! Tell me what you all thought of this chapter! The next one should be cool, and I'm going to add a little bit of Kataang for y'all wanting more of it lol...first it's 'more action!', then it's 'more Kataang!' lol! I guess I could do a mixture every now and then…hmm... methinks... oO
Sorry if this chapter had somewhat of a…'sour' mood to it, lol. I'm currently in a different city at the moment and right now, it's about 2 in the morning and I'm the only one awake o.o thank God for laptops… I got this done just for you guys! :D
Lol, anywhoodles, please R&R, and no flames. I haven't gotten one of those in awhile, so thanks to all of you :3 -gives cookies- You all are too nice, I swear, I have the best readers and reviewers, thank you so much you guys
I'm very eager to start the next chapter, and it should be put up sometime soon here Stay tuned!
-Katara-
"Sometimes the past hurts…but have hope to look to newer, better things that lay ahead. Never give up on love...Keep your arms, eyes, mind and heart -wide- open."
Mohalo ;)