Authors note: by now we don't need that silly reminder that some words aren't English, now do we? XD
Chapter 10 Numagishguk
The nighttime air was cool and breezy, yet to Katara it was heavy and was impossible to breathe. She stood nearly waist deep in the gentle ocean as all the villagers gathered along the beach crowding to the side of the mountain, holding torches and quietly waiting for Judgment. She turned her head around and saw her father next to Cun Xi, both clearly furious no matter what distance she were at. Then, she noticed Sokka with his arms around their crying mother. Katara badly wanted to run and beg for forgiveness for whatever it was she did but she could not move her body. The one who awaits Judgment waives their complete freedom to the Spirits.
The reflection of the moon against the water began to get brighter and she felt her scared heart race. There was an unnatural heat being emitted and she began to sweat. Angry voices and whispers rose from the water speaking in a language unheard by man. The language of the Ocean.
The sand underneath her feet was sinking her in. As she was brought closer to the water the voices were louder, almost screaming into her ears. Katara struggled to keep her mouth out of the water but she was overpowered. Then suddenly…
"Katara! Hey!"
Her eyes shot open as she gasped for air. The warm morning sun was beating hard on her face.
"Did you have a nightmare?"
She turned her head and sat up. Zuko was kneeling beside her. He could see the confusion in her eyes as she glanced around at her still sleeping friends.
"Are you ok?" He placed his hand on her shoulder.
She sighed heavily and nodded her head. "Yeah. Sorry, did I wake you?"
"No, I woke up a while ago. Sleeping on the sand isn't really as comfortable as you guys make it seem." He motioned at Haru who had his arm around Sokka's waist.
Katara covered her laugh with her hand. "They're just tired. I wish I had a camera though."
They sat for moment, unsure of what to say next. They listened to the roar of the ocean and there was a faint smell of smoke from small fire pits. The ferries had been running and while some teens jumped on the first ones out, many were passed out asleep.
"So, what was your nightmare about?" Zuko asked conversationally. When she didn't answer he added, "You seemed in pain. Like you were being strangled."
"Oh. It was nothing. I don't even remember what it was." She lied.
He didn't press on. The two decided to walk down by the water so that they could talk louder without waking up their friends.
"So should I buy a surfboard or something?" He asked randomly.
"For what?"
"For our lessons. Should I get one?"
"Oh!" She giggled. "No, not yet. I'll bring one for you to borrow and we'll leave it in your house."
He looked down without a response.
"So, you said your sister came, right? Is she still here?"
"I think so, unless she left early this morning."
"She wouldn't tell you?" She tilted her head.
"We aren't as close as you are to Sokka. Honestly, it was kinda weird seeing how you two hang out with each other and have the same friends."
She smiled. "When we were kids I tagged along with him a lot because of Haru and Jet. They're all older than me but I was more comfortable with them. Even now, I don't have that many friends my own age." she honestly explained.
"There's nothing wrong with that. Actually, my sister and one of her friends are your age. They're both kinda spoiled though. I'm not sure how well you'd get along with them."
"What's her name? Maybe I know her."
Right on cue Zuko's sister and her two best friends approached him with judgmental and curious eyes directed mostly at his companion.
"Zuko, we're tired and want to go home." His sister stated as an order to an escort. She, like almost everyone on the beach, had dark bags under her eyes and yet she still looked beautiful.
"Azula, isn't it?" Katara asked. She still didn't know her classmates well but for some reason Azula, even with few words, makes a strong and unforgettable presence. "I'm Katara. We have a few classes together."
Azula made eye contact but kept her gaze slightly above, as to look down on Katara. "Do we?"
"So how does a freshman know Zuko?" A gloomy looking girl behind Azula asked.
"Mutual friends." Zuko answered. "Katara I'll see you Monday. Tell Jet I left."
She raised an arm and gave a small wave. "Bye."
She watched them head over to the dock and step in the ferry. It wasn't until it was gone that she woke up her friends to leave.
At home, Suki fell asleep again on a small couch in Katara's bedroom while she laid watching the ceiling fighting her tiredness. She desperately wanted sleep but didn't want to risk having another nightmare. Nervously, she sat up at the edge of her bed with a hand on the side of her face. Then she noticed sitting on her dresser was her mothers pendant that Jet's father had blessed to keep her safe from evil spirits. It was when she remembered the horrible vision he had that sent him to her home in a hurry.
Her heart sank in fear. Without a second thought she grabbed the necklace and vowed this time to never remove it.
Saturday was spent sleeping off Friday's party. On Sunday Suki went home, still exhausted.
"Katara? I'm going to the Market, how about you come with me?" Her mother asked.
Katara, who was lounging on a hammock on their deck, stretched her arms.
"Sure mom. Let me just change." She said feeling underdressed with her blue halter top and cut white shorts.
"No its ok like that. Afterwards we can go eat some lunch." Her mother smiled.
"Sounds great."
The Sunday market was mostly filled with natives, but there were a handful curious locals that were enjoying shopping for handcrafted home items, decorations and produce. Katara and her mother walked closely, arm in arm, to the usual stands to buy vegetables. Like always, most of the shopping was done at one stop, a stand owned by Haru's gray-haired mother.
"Osda sunalei, Kya." Haru's mother, Gawasi, greeted cheerfully.
"Good morning. Nijena?"
"Fine thanks. What can I get you?"
As Kya went through Gawasi's inventory, Katara stood people watching as she held onto the shopping bag. She watched a child cry to his mother begging for a wooden cube jig-saw puzzle. There was a group of young girls giggling as they tried on clothes. At the stand two over was a couple holding hands as the wife was bent over getting a closer look at cooking utensils.
"How was the party on Friday? Haru said he had fun." Gawasi spoke to Katara with a wide smile. "He said you looked very pretty."
She pushed a strand of loose hair behind her ear. "Did he?"
Kya nodded. "I was surprised too when I saw her leave. It was the first time I've seen her so dressed up like normal girls her age."
"Mom…"
Gawasi laughed. "She's becoming more mature. Katara you'll make a beautiful bride. Speaking of which, have you had any formal meetings for an engagement yet?" Her face became very serious as she waited an answer.
"No, we haven't begun that yet. Hakoda and I want to wait until she's done with high school." Kya interjected.
"Oh. Well, that's fine. She's still very young. I had thought something was going on because of the betrothal necklace she's wearing." Gawasi explained, eyeing the choker Katara got from her mother to ward off bad spirits which Katara touched reflexively.
Kya put her arm around her daughter's shoulder. "No, Gawasi. This was mine. She still isn't formally engaged, but truthfully, Norma wanted to talk about it too."
"Jet's mom?" Katara asked very surprised. She didn't hear any news of engagement meetings.
"That boy isn't good enough for Katara. Haru is more suitable."
"Hakoda and I both think that Jet and Haru are nice boys. We enjoy their company at the house and they're always very respectful to us." Kya tried standing up for Jet, who she slightly preferred more, without angering Gawasi.
"But Katara can only marry one of them."
"I don't really want to think about getting married right now." Katara said feeling embarrassed.
"She still has time to think and in a few years we'll have the meetings. Let's wait until then?" Kya asked politely although she was getting annoyed by her pestering.
She quickly paid and the two left to another shop nearby for lunch. Katara placed the shopping bag against the leg of the table so that it wouldn't fall over. There wasn't much offered on the menu but the small restaurant was famous for the great food. They called a waiter once they were done deciding.
"Hello, ma'am. Hey Katara." Chan, their waiter and childhood friend of Katara's, greeted with a pad and pencil in hand. "What can I get you today?"
"Oh! Chan! You're working here now? How's your dad?" Kya asked conversationally.
He smiled to Kya but his gaze went on Katara most of the time. "I've been here for about four months now. And e'do'da is doing fine."
"I'll stop by to see them one of these days. Anyway, I'll order the fruit salad."
"I'll have the club sandwich." Katara said as she handed him the menu.
"I'll bring that right out."
Kya struggled to hold back a smile.
"What?" Katara asked fully knowing what her mother was going to say but she hoped it would be about something else.
"Chan was looking at you."
"Mom…"
"I can't believe after one party that everyone wants to marry my daughter!" She sounded very pleased and surprised.
"Mom?" Katara pressed.
"Those fools have been with you since you were in diapers but never looked twice at you! Now they can't get enough of you!"
"Mom! Can you stop? Please? You're wrong." She looked down at the table.
"What do you mean?" Kya tilted her head.
"They don't like me just because I looked grown up or whatever at the party. They're just still in shock that I'm not the ten year old they still think of me as." Katara explained. "That's all. By tomorrow they're going to treat me like usual."
Kya's face dropped. "Well, I hope not. You're really a great catch. Beautiful like your mother, intelligent like your mother, sociable like your mother, and well…you have your father's eyes."
Katara laughed, returning to a better mood.
"All I'm saying is, the moment these boys find out that you're prefect, you'll be taken. Someone isn't going to wait for their parents to set up a silly engagement meeting. And that's the man who'll win."
"Mom I'm not some prize."
"You're not something to settle for either. I can't wait for the look on Norma's and Gawasi's face when neither one of their boys are the one you choose." Kya clapped excitedly.
The lunch ended nicely and the two spent the day at home resting. Katara laid on her bed thinking about the inevitable future of marriage. Many girls like her have several informal "fiancés" or basically "options" until the girl is formally given a fiancé. Many are usually engaged during high school as well. Katara flipped laying on her belly. Marriage was a scary concept to her and gave her many unwelcoming feelings. Instead, she shut her eyes and started thinking of a game plan of how she should approach teaching Zuko to surf, because that challenge was something that truly made her happier and excited.
Translations
Numagishguk: Sunday
Osda sunalei: good morning
Gawasi: Grace (proper name I believe)
Nijena: How are you
e'do'da: father
Author's note:
I love how after I upload a new chapter or two that I get new followers to the story. This really makes me very happy and keeps me going to write more. All I ask is to please review! I really really want to know exactly what you think of the story. Critiques are important! I really like feedback especially if it will help me improve.
Thanks