She awoke to the absence of heat that had been next to her. The second she'd opened her eyes she was aware that Zuko was no longer there. She shifted and snuggled back into the folds of the couch before she jumped up, realizing what would be happening in just a few hours. She began breathing slightly harder at Zuko's absence.
Where is he?! Where could he have possibly gone at this hour, it's not even-
Her train of thought slowed to a stop when she remembered exactly what had happened. She had been leaning back against him, running her fingers along a small scar she'd found while she watched the peacefulness that had covered his face, she'd even dared to kiss it. He apparently hadn't been sleeping, for at that moment he'd opened his eyes. She'd thought that she would die on the spot from the embarrassment of being caught, but he'd eased her fears when he'd kissed her. She buried her face in her hands and sank back to the edge of the couch.
He told me that he loves me.
Katara nearly sobbed, a mixture of uncontainable happiness, and the sudden thrill of the fact.
He loves me.
So many emotions swelled within her, fear, hope, joy, pain, and something almost new to her, a sort of completeness that filled every empty place. But, at the same time, it made her afraid.
That was the reason she hadn't said it back. Because she did love him, and it scared her to death. She'd learned over the course of her harsh life that if you loved something, that it was taken from you. That's why she wouldn't say it, at least not until this was all over.
She glanced upwards at the window, the sky was just barely beginning to lighten along to edge of the horizon. They had to leave soon, very soon. She stood and walked to the kitchen, then grabbing the two large backpacks out of their hidden place in the cupboard. After resting them on the counter, she opened the lid to view the contents one last time. They mostly only consisted of food and extra drinking water, but Katara had taken the extra measure to also place bandages and medicines in each bag. She didn't know how often they'd actually have to defend themselves before making it behind the borders of the Fire Nation, but she wasn't willing to risk unnecessary wounds before reaching their destination.
She flipped the top bag onto the bags, satisfied with her packing. After simply standing there for a few moments, she wandered into her room; drifting to her dresser, she pulled open the top drawer. Acting in robotic movements she pushed aside the articles of clothing and pressed a small, almost completely hidden, square; when she did, something clicked in the drawer and a lid popped up from the bottom. She reached into the small opening and wrapped her fingers around a small, cold object.
She didn't pull it out, not right away. She simply stared into the darkness that shrouded her hand and fought to steady her breathing. She'd sworn that she would never use it unless it was an emergency, but she knew that if she'd ever needed to use it, it would be now. They would never reach their destination in time if she didn't.
There it was again, the assumption that they had a time limit. Katara scrunched her eyebrows together in thought. It happened every year, around this time. She would begin to feel on edge, as if she should be preparing for doing something; but there was never any mission or assignment to cause her to be anxious, until now.
Maybe the spirits foresaw this.
Content with her reasoning, she pulled the item out of the secret compartment in a sudden burst of courage; instead of looking at it, she pulled it to her chest and held it in both hands as if it were a piece of treasure. Because, to her, it was. She moved to sit on the edge of her bed and poked the article to one of her hands, tracing its edges with her forefinger. It had been so long since she'd held it, this one little ornate object that held more value to her then gold.
She felt tears threaten to overtake her, but she swallowed them back. She couldn't afford to be weak, not today.
"Is that what I think it is?"
Katara jumped at the sudden intrusion but looked up to see it was only Toph, who was leaning sullenly against the doorframe.
"Yeah," she replied quietly.
Toph walked over and sat next to her on the bed, "Are you going to use it?"
Katara thought carefully before answering, "I have to; we won't make it in time if I don't."
She felt her friend stiffen next to her, "What do you mean 'in time'?"
Katara sighed, "I don't know, I just feel like there is a certain time that all this has to happen by or we'll fail," she said, turning to gauge her friend's reaction.
She saw Toph's eyebrows furrow, "So," the earth bender started hesitantly, "Like the comet?"
Then it all made sense to her, "Of course!" She exclaimed jumping up from the bed and pacing back and forth, "In a week and a half it will have been four years since the Ozai destroyed the Earth Kingdom by harnessing the comets power; that was when we should have defeated him and Aang restore balance! But because we didn't, it's like- I don't know it's like-"
"-Like the clock is still ticking." Toph finished for her, her face serious.
"Yeah! Like it's been rewinding and restarting around that critical point in time simply because it didn't happen and it's suppose to!" Katara said, getting excited.
"Katara," Toph said, halting her rampage, "You're talking, like, destiny mumbo jumbo."
Planting her hands on her hips, Katara glared at the smaller girl even though she knew that she couldn't see it, "Well, why not?! Zuko is a supposed superhero from legend. Why couldn't this be real?" It sounded logical enough to her.
"It just sounds weird, Kat. I mean "time rewinding and restarting"? Can time do that? I mean I get destiny and all that, but time? It doesn't seem realistic." Her friend stood and crossed her arms, being the typical Toph, stubborn as her element.
"No, I'm sure of this. It all makes sense now. Come on, Toph, don't tell me you've never felt that- that pull that something is off," she tried to convince her of the possibilities.
"No, I haven't. I think it's a nice theory, Sweetness, but there's no meat behind it. I need to go finish packing; I'll see you when we all meet up later ok?" The shorter girl brushed a layer of dirt off her clothes and started heading for the door but Katara reached out an arm and grasped her shoulder.
"He'll be ok you know, it won't be like last time," she knew that Toph was afraid for Sokka, maybe even more than the rest of them.
The shorter girl pushed her hand away and turned on her angrily, "You don't know that! It could be exactly like last time!"
Katara sighed. Ever since the crystal catacombs in Ba Sing Se, Toph had blamed herself for Aang's death. She said that she should have been there, that if she had been there she could have somehow protected him. That was how Toph was. Tough and inconsiderate on the outside, but underneath, she was determined to keep the ones she loved safe . That was the hard part about being one of the greatest masters in the world; not only did everyone else have great expectations for you, but if you failed, then it could haunt you forever if you let it.
"Toph, you know it has to be this way as well as I do. Trust me, I don't want to leave him behind either, but we have to if we want to have a chance and-"
"-Yeah, 'and he can take care of himself', I know," the girl snapped, "But so could Aang, and he's dead!" Katara flinched at her friend's harsh tone but stood firm, growing angry. "If we hadn't split up, if I'd stayed with him-"
"-Then what?!" Katara screeched, finally losing her cool, "You wanna know what would have happened differently? Nothing! Azula had hundreds of Dia Lee on her side, we were just four kids. You need to stop blaming yourself, Toph. I was there. I sawhim fall," Katara paused, choking up slightly before swallowing her tears, "There wasn't anything we could've done."
She saw a single tear escape her friend's blind eye and slide slowly down the side of her remorseful face, "You're right," she choked out.
Katara immediately felt guilty and pulled her friend into a hug, "I'm sorry," she whispered. She felt the smaller girl's arms cling to her.
"Kat?"
"Yeah?"
"I'm-I'm scared. What if one of us doesn't come back? What if- what if we fail?"
Katara's throat closed at Toph's admissions, to see the strongest person she knew crumbling before her doubled her fears.
"It'll be ok, we'll all be ok, we'll come back, and we'll win." She said with as much confidence as she could muster.
Toph let out a teary chuckle, "I can tell you're lying," the girl pulled back and wiped away her tears and though her eyes were still puffy she put on a brave smile, "I gotta finish packing."
"Ok, see ya when we meet up then." The girl walked to the door and Katara sat back down, turning over the object, that she still held in her hands, over and over again.
"Oh and Kat?" She heard Toph yell from the other room.
"Yeah?" She called back.
"Make sure to say 'hello' to the big guy for me!"
Katara sighed, "Will do!"
She wiped the layer of dust of the fragile object and felt a familiar pain wash over her. The thing she held, was Aang's bison whistle.
Guess who we're gonna see next chapter! Woo who I've missed those guys so much! Ok ok so ya haha!
Sorry for taking so long to update, my mom went out of town and took the laptop and then I just got over being sick (FINALLY) and then I've been studying for a bunch of tests and quizzes and stuff that I just took(got a 102 on muh math quiz and 100 on my history test! Stay in school kids) And then I've been working a bunch of one shots. So there are all my excuses hahahahaha!
Btw:
Sharp as Knives: Mai post war oneshot is up but I warn you, for this set of oneshots I'm staying true to the shows cannons so it's a Maiko *hangs head in shame* But it's not toooo bad so check it out and leave a review lwtting me know what you think!
Ying and Yang: Zutara oneshot is up takes place around the last seven episodes of season three or so. Let me know what you think!
Captured moments: A new drabble series I'm doing about a bunch of different characters and.. are you ready for this... *whispers* it's a request story. Yup that's right! Leave a request and it'll be written! So leave a review and a request!
So yes I've been doing allot of writing just not as much on this story, but don't worry! I'm getting back into the swing of things! :D
Review... review review review. Like for real. I've been getting like... NO reviews lately. I super duper appreciate the reviews I do get! But it's like two per chap... it hurts guys *pretends to cry*
SO ANYWAY! Hope you guys liked that, tried to make it a tiny bit longer and I'll be doing that more because there is gonna be so much going on!
IMPORTANT!: I'm almost wondering if i should do little snippets of Sokka and Suki and Toph since they won't be around once Zuko and Katara get on their way? Just a thought so let me know!
Love ya'll!
Kmsitterley