A/N: Eek! I haven't updated in forever. Well, now I am! And I hope you guys enjoy!
Ps. I'm SO sorry these chapters are getting shorter :( I've lost my touch…
Book Two – Water and Air
Chapter Nineteen – Last Breath
Aang heaved a soft, shakey breath and gazed down at his love with much worry. His heart basically shattered. Katara had been through so much within these past few months, he had often wondered when her body would give out… and he feared right now, he had been living out his worst nightmare. He had come close to losing Katara several times in the past, and he had just about had enough of it. She was the victim in everything they did, and he hated her getting hurt, or close to losing her life.
Aang softly narrowed his teary eyes a bit and gazed down at the waterbender underneath him. She had a large gash on her head as well as a few cuts and bruises on her shoulders and arms. The pack of wolves really did a number on her, not to mention him.
Aang gingerly arched his back before feeling the sharp, ripping pain of his stuff, cold skin, tearing even further, from the harsh gashes on his back. The cold winter wind licked his wounds, making them numb and subsiding the pain a little bit. Aang shook his thoughts out of his head, now more worried about Katara than anything.
The young airbender attempted to stand but the pain and weakness was almost too much for him to bear. He, within a few seconds, collapsed on top of Katara's seemingly lifeless body for a moment, before something ahead caught his eye. He glanced up before taking a double take, and basically glueing his eyes on what was a good few yards away. Aang could feel his stomach flip and churn with pain as his heart immediately sink with fear.
One of the snow wolves stood, his head slightly lowered, and his ears gently laid flat on his head. His long, sleek tail was drooped as well. His coat wasn't as dark as the other wolves of the pack; it was so white, it was almost the color of the snow he stood on. His eyes were that of a brilliant blue green, and he almost looked as if he had some sympathy towards the two.
Aang was somewhat surprised to see the wolf slowly begin to inch his way towards the two, his head lowered further to the snow, and he began sniffing the trail as he went. Aang froze. Not really knowing what to do, he sat up somewhat and began to flail his left arm about, his other hand and arm curled around Katara somewhat in a protective manner.
"Get out of here!" Aang hollered loudly, tears basically staining and freezing to his cheeks as the cold winter wind froze them there. He sobbed softly, feeling as if he had enough rage for all of his past lives and their Avatar state. His chest heaved gently as he panted against the cold, unforgiving winter winds; his hands shook gently as he continued to wave his hand about, hoping the wolf would leave and get scared from his actions, but the wolf wasn't phased. He kept moving forward, his head bowed and ears laid flat. Aang was furious.
"Go home!!" Aang cried; tears fell like rain down his slightly blistered cheeks, and his eyes were more red than before. He gazed down at his love for a moment before squeezing his eyes shut tight. He was suddenly taken aback.
"I have no home…"
Aang immediately shot his gaze from Katara to the wolf ahead of him. He was now stopped, his head raised somewhat but his ears still drooped. Aang's eyes widened before he gazed about, wondering where that voice came from.
"D-did you… just-" Aang was interrupted.
"If you think I'm here to hurt you, you're wrong," The wolf said softly before averting his gaze to Katara, "I can see the Vyntresser is hurt… badly…"
Aang could only nod and stare at the wolf in amazement. Never in his life has he heard an animal talk to him, and he wondered what this was all about. The wolf slowly began to step closer to the two, but Aang remained calm this time.
"My name's Lehlan… I'm, so sorry about my brothers… They can be so blood thirsty sometimes… If I would've known the Vyntresser was the victim, as well as you, the Avatar, I…. never, would've initiated the hunt in the first place…" Lehlan said softly, his eyes full of sorrow.
Aang continued to gaze upward at the wolf. He was a huge, amazing creature. Probably about half of the size of Hinadi. Aang shook his head and gazed down at Katara before glancing back up at Lehlan.
"How did you know Katara was the Vyntresser?" Aang asked meekly, swallowing hard and trying to keep his cool.
"I'm an animal," Lehlan smirked before gazing down at Katara, "It's in our blood, to know who our caretaker is…"
Aang gazed at Lehlan for a moment before heaving a long sigh and gazing down at Katara's body. He frowned, wondering how on earth he'd get her through this. His frown widened as he glanced up at Lehlan.
"What should we do?" Aang said, almost in a whisper. With this, Lehlan leaned his head down closer and sniffed Katara's somewhat bloodied head. He then softly licked his nose and flicked his ears slightly.
"She's still alive, but just barely…" Lehlan said softly before raising his head and gazing over his shoulder and continuing, "I saw the rest of your herd set up camp at the mountain just east of here… I know where there's a source of water inside the mountain, and it has special healing powers."
"We need to get there, now" Aang said, fully determined before he stood and winced, groaning aloud. The cuts on his back stretched and moved as Aang stood, and he could hardly bear the pain. But he did it for her. As well as the hope of getting her healed.
Lehlan nodded gently before turning on his paws and leaping out of the large alcove Aang had created. He stood on the snowy edge for a moment before turning back to Aang, who was now picking Katara up.
"I'll direct my pack away from the trail to the mountain, so we can get there safely… If they were to attack, there's no way I could stop them by myself… Not even for the Vyntresser," Lehlan said softly as Aang climbed his way out of the snowy ditch. Before Aang could move further, Lehlan raised his head up to the sky before emitting a loud, echoing howl to the winter night air. The breeze before him fogged somewhat before he sounded his howl to a small whimper as he gazed about and scanned his far surroundings. He then nodded and leaped forward a little bit, indicating for Aang to follow. And Aang did just that.
"How far, do you suppose…?" Aang questioned in a weary way as he gazed down at Lehlan, who walked close to him.
"I'd say about a twenty minute walk or so…" Lehlan heaved a soft sigh before gazing up at Aang, "A few minutes if we run fast."
Aang gazed down at Lehlan through tired eyes, but the idea of getting there faster sounded like heaven. Aang heaved a long sigh before averting his attention to the young waterbender curled in his arms.
He was worried for her safety. So worried, he didn't even care about the wounds on his back. He wanted Katara to be back to normal health, in his arms, that pretty smile on her
beautiful face. He shut his eyes tight before shaking his head slightly, tears immediately began to stream his cold cheek and face, down to the crevis of his frost bitten nose.
He heaved a soft breath, inhaling the cold winter air before mustering up whatever strength he had left. He shook away his thoughts and pains before immediately darting forward, with the help of some airbending. He ran through the snow, faster than before, determined to get to the mountain with the healing water for him and his love.
Lehlan's ears perked slightly before he too, puffed his chest, reared up slightly and darted after Aang. Trained paws gently gripping the icy tundra, as he caught up to Aang quickly. His long, sleek tail flicking up and down behind him as he ran, and his ears laid flat against his head. His brilliant eyes fixed on the prize before the two, as the mountain slowly began to come into view.
Aang heaved and panted hard as he held Katara closely clung to his body, he attempted to warm her up and share body heat with her, but her cold, lifeless body did not get the job done very well. He continued to run as fast as his feet and airbending tricks could take him.
After a few minutes, they slowly approached the mountain, and Aang slowed to a gentle halt. As well and Lehlan softly skid to a stop in the snow near Aang. Aang panted softly and gazed up the mountain, his eyes basically scaling the mountain itself as he inspected everything.
"Sokka and Kiari should be here," Aang panted as he gazed down at Lehlan. Lehlan nodded and motioned his head to the side gently. Aang quickly looked to where he was motioning, only to see Kiari and Sokka gently approaching the two, but they stopped once they noticed the large snow wolf with Aang.
"Aang!" Kiari hollered, "Get away, there's a snow wolf near you!"
Aang gently shook his head and gazed down at Lehlan for a moment before looking back at his two approaching friends.
"No, Lehlan's with m-" Aang was interrupted, only to see Sokka running full speed towards Lehlan, with his large machete in hand. He cried his battle cry and raised his deathly weapon high. Aang's eyes widened as he slowly stepped in front of Lehlan.
"No, don't hurt him!" Aang yelled loudly towards Sokka, over his battle yell he was so famous for. Sokka slowly came to a stop, shut his mouth and lowered his weapon before giving Aang and confused glance. Aang shook his head and glanced from Sokka to Kiari.
"Lehlan's friendly," Aang uttered. He wasn't too sure if he should tell Sokka and Kiari that Aang could hear Lehlan talk; they'd think Aang was delirious. So he kept that little detail out.
"Friendly?!" Sokka hollered before he caught a glimpse of some blood on Aang's parka. Sokka's eyes widened as he turned Aang around. Sokka gaped at the searing gapes and bloody wounds on Aang's slightly bare back.
"Yeah, this wolf is friendly, alright," Sokka said sarcastically before pushing Aang out of the way. He then raised his machete high above Lehlen, who had lowered himself to the ground.
Just as Sokka was inches away from basically murdering poor Lehlan, Aang kicked his leg in Sokka's direction, airbending him a few feet away from where he was standing, causing him to softly skid in the snow. Aang was outraged.
"His pack attacked Katara and I, and I'm pretty sure this wolf knows his way around this mountain," Aang yelled as Sokka. Sokka angrily stood and brushed some snow off of him before swinging his machete a little bit.
"And how do you know that?! Did he tell you? Do you talk to him all the time? Does he call you at home or something?" Sokka yelled sarcastically, yet angrily. Aang shook his head and shut his eyes tight before reopening them and fixing his gaze on Sokka.
"Lehlan can talk, I-I, can hear him talk! Okay?!" Aang hollered, his blood basically boiling and the wound on his back throbbed and practically screamed bloody murder. Sokka fell silent and gazed at Lehlan for a moment before looking back at Aang. He was more in an understanding state then Aang thought he would be. Aang continued.
"H-he knows where there's some healing water in the mountain, so let's all do Lehlan a favor and be kind to him, cause he's going to save all of our hides!" Aang basically screamed, pissed and all of his fury taken out on Sokka. With this, Sokka slowly nodded, not one to mess with the almighty Avatar when he's raged.
"We just need to enter through that there cave," Lehlan said softly as he motioned his head to the right. Not too far off, through the calm mist around the cold mountain, lay a deep cave. It looked as if it went on forever, but no one knew until they looked. Aang was first to take the initiative and step forward, heading towards the cave. Lehlan followed close behind, as well as Sokka and Kiari, who was doing a good job of keeping her distance.
"I'm not entirely sure where the water is, but I know it's somewhere deeper into the cave… Shouldn't be too far," Lehlan said softly as he sniffed around. The four entered the cave slowly and cautiously.
Sokka gazed about, glancing at Lehlan every once in awhile before he heaved a long sigh. He figured the large wolf was on their side, but he could never be too sure with such a vicious animal… when it's brother had basically murdered his best friend and sister. He frowned, knowing he had to stick it through, and if anything were to happen, he had his trusty machete.
Sokka quickly began to gather firewood, and Kiari helped him, as they both went scavenging further deep into the cave to see if there was any sign of plant life.
Aang on the other hand, was more fixed on trying to get Katara comfortable and laying down, so he could love her back to health. He softly layed her on a long, soft slab of rock. He frowned down at her, noticing her hair was slightly ruffled, and that large gash on her head as now just a mash of frozen blood on her forehead. Aang winced at the sight and gently began to stroke her cold cheek. He whispered her name softly, hoping she'd wake… but there came nothing.
He heaved a soft sigh. His mind urged him to do some sort of strange Avatar voodoo to wake her up, anything… but nothing came to mind. Nothing within his power. Tears formed in his eyes yet again as he heaved a soft, shakey sigh. He let the tears quickly stream his face and dot Katara's face, whom of which laid directly under him, as he sat near her. Aang hung his head gently and closed his eyes, feeling as if he had lost all hope.
There suddenly came a soft, wet sensation added to the tears, on his left cheek. Aang perked up slightly and opened his eyes to see none other than Lehlan softly nuzzling his cheek and neck. Lehlan whimpered softly, his eyes closed, and his ears laid flat on his head.
Aang, taken aback, heaved a gentle sigh and gently stroked the side of Lehlan's face before the large, white wolf of the south gently stepped away, just barely. Aang gazed at him, his eyes full of tears and sorrow. Lehlan gently gazed back, through piercing blue green eyes. He gently shook his head.
"You give up too easily," Lehlan said softly, his ears softly perked. Aang gazed at Lehlan harder, his frown widening.
"wh-" Aang was interrupted.
"Katara's the Vyntresser, Aang," Lehlan said softly, in a raspy whisper as his eyes widened, and his ears laid flat on his furry white head, "you, wouldn't want her to give up, if it were your life in her hands… You both are too important to this world right now, for anything to happen…"
Aang stared at Lehlan, feeling somewhat sorry for himself. He felt as if he had lost his touch a little, as if he were letting these types of things slip from his hands too easily. He knew his duty, right now, was to save Katara from this horrible pain that has been brought upon her, but he had no idea where his head was.
Everything had baffled him so much. Katara's pains earlier in the day, how they were going to find Hinadi and Appa, not to mention Momo and Kaimah, but how this white snow beast was even talking to him. It all confused him, but he felt as if something to do with his Vyntresser side was kicking in.
"I know," Aang heaved, reffering to Lehlan's last statement. He frowned and gazed down at Katara before glancing up at Lehlan, "Did you find that healing water?"
"Yeah," Lehlan said softly, "It's just down in that small alcove, further into the cave."
With this, Aang nodded and gently scooped Katara up into his arms, bringing her close to his chest lovingly. He slowly began to follow Lehlan down a small hill of the cave, and came to the source of water that had been muchly needed.
"Kiari and I are going outside the cave to get some snow, to make water… we'll be right back," Sokka called down into the cave to Aang. Aang called a simple 'okay' over his shoulder before kneeling close to the water, Katara gently laid over his thighs and knees.
"Just dab some of the water on her wounds… And maybe later when she wakes up, she can drink some," Lehlan said calmly as Aang took his thick snow glove off of his hand. He then gently cupped his hand into the cold, cave water and began dribbling it all over Katara's wounds. He cleaned the dried blood off of her head and arms, and made her hair neat for her, brushing it back with his fingers tenderly and in a loving manner. He smiled down at her. No matter what state she was in, she was still beautiful in his eyes.
Aang heaved a gentle sigh and smiled as his stomach slowly began to settle from the stress put upon him. He knew Katara was going to be okay, considering she was breathing, and cleaned up a bit. All he had to worry about was the pain in her stomach she had been feeling earlier that day.
All of the sudden, Lehlan's ears perked, and his shoulders and tail seemed to tense as he puffed his chest somewhat. He began sniffing the air, his brilliant eyes fixed on the opening of the cave.
"Lehlan, what is it?" Aang whispered, feeling frightened all of the sudden.
"The pack," Lehlan whispered before basically leaping from his spot, past Aang and over the small hill the two had climbed down. Aang tensed and quickly cradled Katara in his arms, before quickly following the young wolf. Before Aang left the cave, he set Katara down on her gentle slab of rock to rest, not wanting her to be in any more trouble.
Aang instantly turned on his heel, once Katara was settled, and follows Lehlan out of the cave. His stomach instantly dropped at the sight before him in the snow, just outside the cave. Lehlan's pack had returned, and were now pestering Kiari and Sokka.
Kiari stayed close to Sokka, while Sokka swung his large machete about in a furious manner. He yelled and hollered for the wolves to back off, but nothing could drive a hungry pack of snow wolves away from dinner.
"Sokka, Kiari!" Aang hollered in fright as he quickly began to run over to the two. Lehlan was way ahead of him, running down the snow hill to the fight scene, and within a matter of seconds, he had barreled down and smack dab into one of the members of his pack. The two went tumbling, snarling and teeth showing and all.
Aang ran to the fight scene as well, airbending the wolves to a safe distance as Kiari and Sokka attempted to head back to the cave. But there were too many wolves surrounding them. They leaped and snarled, growled and pawed, bit and scratched the three, several times. Kiari seemed to be getting the brunt of everything.
Badly wounded, the poor water tribe girl attempted to run and flee for the cave, where Katara lay safe, but a few of the wolves knew she was the weakest in the group. They pin pointed her like a mouse in a mouse trap. Not able to get free, no hope of getting free… and no one to rescue her.
Sokka swung his machete around the few wolves that were pestering him, but only glanced over his shoulder to see Kiari basically pounced on and knocked to the ground. Sokka's eyes widened as he yelled with rage and headed over to his loves' aid.
Aang, on the other hand, was trying to keep his balance. The wounds on his back made it hard for him to do much, but he managed to keep a few wolves at a safe distance from him, with the help of his airbending. Aang heaved for air, yelling every once in awhile. He was somewhat disturbed to see Lehlan losing the fight between him and one of the older, more mature members of the pack. He was bloodied at all of his ankles and his neck and chest bled, making his snow white fur turn to a brilliant, brown red.
Just as Aang was about to make his way over to help Lehlan, something at the every orgin of the cave caught Aang's eyes. There stood, Katara. She stared angrily out over the fight mess and glared down where Lehlan was. Aang could only stare at Katara, wondering what was going through her mind.
Sokka, on the other hand, was losing all ability to keep the five or six snow wolves away from Kiari and himself. The herd was so strong, they kept leaping from every direction, pouncing from places that seemed to come from nowhere. It was only a matter of time before someone was severely injured. Or worse.
Kiari screamed loudly as the large wolves nipped at her ankles and parka. She seemed extremely worried for herself and saving her life. A large sensation of chills shot up her spine as a twinge of fear quickly formed in the very depths of her heart. She knew that if she didn't get out of there fast, she was done for. Not only did she not have a weapon on her, she was the weakest of the group.
Sokka thrashed his machete around, slicing some of the wolves that got too close and harshly poked his machete at their chests. He was ruthless in this time, he, wanting to make sure Kiari's life was safe, as well as his own. He felt as if he had everything under control, but in reality, he didn't… He let everything slip within one simple, life staking moment.
Within seconds, the leader of the pack quickly lunged at Kiari, pushing her down to the ground, giving her no room to move or squirm. Nothing. Kiari screamed in fear for her life and shut her eyes tight before there was no more sound from Kiari… None at all.
Sokka screamed with rage and quickly darted towards where Kiari had fallen, rage basically burning a hole through his heart. He lashed his machete towards the leader of the pack and harshly sliced his nose open, causing him to loosen his unforgiving grip on Kiari. The large wolf whimpered and stumbled away, before the whole entire herd vanished into the cold winter night. Just as fast as they came.
Everyone and everything fell silent. Nothing and no one made a sound. Not Even Lehlan, who lay badly injured in the snow. The thick, almost heart stopping feeling of death filled the air, and made the air thick and unbearable, in a sense.
No one thought it'd come to this…
A/N: :( … I've, never killed off a character before oO LOL
I hope you all enjoyed. Please stay tuned, and visit my art site please! :) www. VyntresserDrake1991 . deviantart . com
-Kya/Vyntresser