So I'm kind of unsure how to end this. Actually, I should have phrased that better. I'm not sure if I should split the story into two parts (I.e. Have a sequel) or continue it on as one story. Would you guys read a sequel story if I did decide to do one? Or should I keep going on one story (it would be longer)? Let me know!
I awoke to Etka pulling a dark cloak over my head, and lifting me off and to the ground. We were standing beside the temple, looming massive over us, protecting us. Several women clad in stark white robes stood by the temple entrance, watching over us.
"Who are they?" I asked wearily, as he carried me towards the gates of the Temple.
"They're the Sisters who guard the Temple's sacred grounds," Etka explained softly, and as we drew closer, I saw that each woman had her lower eyelid rimmed in a thick black paint and a dark shadow along the upper lid. Their faces were framed by long white headscarves with a gold trim that covered their hair and gave an ominous, ethereal look. They all carried long swords, although Etka assured me that most were Firebenders. "They're here to protect the refugees inside the Temple's walls. You and Naheel will be safe here."
"Anahi!" I heard my name called, and a bolt of pain went through my head at the loud noise and heavy footsteps that followed. Naheel came running up to us as Etka paused before the Temple's doors.
"Etka..." He paused, seeing my face. Etka passed me over to my brother, who held me as if I were made of glass. I was too tired to chide him over it. "What happened?"
"Anahi will tell you," Etka said morosely. "I have to go back to the palace for now. I'll return for you both as soon as I can, and then we'll leave the country."
Etka turned to leave, but I reached out quickly enough and grabbed his hand. "Stay here, with us," I told him. "Hide here until this blows over and we can leave safely."
He looked at me like he truly wanted too, but shook his head. "I can't risk that, not now," He said gently. "I'll come back as soon as I can. I promise." He squeezed my hand tightly and turned away, walking slowly and with his head bent back to his mount.
"Come on," Naheel said quietly, turning around with me in his arms before Etka rode away from the Temple. I rested my head against my brother's chest, as he carried me inside the Temple walls. "Let's get you cleaned up."
He brought me through the quiet, peaceful halls, and around us, I saw several other refugees watching us with tired, hollow gazes. "Are you alright?" I asked, looking up at my brother. Naheel looked like he hadn't slept at all.
"I should be asking you that," He told me with a grimace, before stopping at one of the rooms and laying me down on a soft, white-sheeted bed. "Anahi, you look terrible."
"You're not so bad yourself," I chuckled drily, noticing one of the Sisters enter the room.
"Is there anything you need?" She asked, her voice surprisingly airy and light. She looked so noble with her sword at her hilt and dark kohl around her eyes. I was in awe of her grace and regality.
"I think my sister has a concussion," Naheel said, as the Sister knelt down at my bedside, looking at me carefully.
"My name is Kateri," She told me, speaking softly as to not disturb the others in the room. "What happened to you?" Kateri looked over into my eyes. I struggled to focus on her face.
"I was knocked unconscious," I said slowly, carefully choosing my words.
"From a blow to the head?" She asked, her eyes falling to the large bruise across my mouth. She reached out and touched my purpled skin, her fingers so light that I barely felt them.
"Yeah," I replied, remembering how frightening Etka had looked then, how full of anger his eyes had been.
Kateri turned to Naheel, lowering her voice so she thought I couldn't hear her. "Her pupils are extremely dilated," She explained. "And she's slurring her words. Your sister needs to rest now, as much as she can."
"Is there anything that she should take?" Naheel asked. "Anything I can do?"
"Let her sleep, but wake her up every few hours," Kateri explained, standing up. My brother stood up alongside her. "Be sure that what she's saying is coherent, and check to make sure she doesn't have a fever. I'll be back to check in on you both and bring some medicine for her pain."
"Thank you," Naheel said, and I saw the way that he looked at her, the nervous, almost dreamy way he smiled at her. Etka had looked at me like that.
He watched her go before kneeling beside me again, taking my hand in his. "Anahi," He murmured, his voice full of sadness. "How did this happen? Who did this to you?"
"A Fire Nation soldier," I said quietly. I couldn't bring myself to tell Naheel that Etka had done this to me. If I did, there was nothing I could do to prevent my brother from killing Etka on the spot.
Naheel carefully took me up in his arms, holding my head like a small child against his chest. "Anahi," He murmured, his face crumpling. "Anahi, I never dreamed of seeing you like this."
"It's not your fault," I murmured.
"You're so hurt..." He protested, looking down at me almost paternally. "Anahi...whoever did this to you...I'll make them pay. They won't live to tell about it."
Naheel's face had grown dark, his voice low and frightening. His voice had stopped shaking with emotion and taken over an eerie, commanding tone I had never seen from him before. "Naheel," I said worriedly, looking up at my brother. "You're scaring me."
My brother laid me down back on the pillows and sheets. "Stay here and rest," He said quietly.
"Naheel, stop!" I called after him. I could see how angry he was, and I was afraid of what my brother might do. I was always the impulsive, emotional one, not he. My brother turned around, his face clouded in anger and hurt. I realized I had no words, nothing I could do to make him stay.
"Stay here and rest," He said again, before leaving out the door. "I'll be back with something to eat and drink."
Naheel paced the halls of the Temple, his anger stewing in the crucible of his heart. He had never seen Anahi as worse as she looked before. Spots of purple and black decorated her skin, war medals that attested to the battle she had endured. Seeing his bright, outgoing sister so beaten and weak broke his heart.
And whoever did this to her, Naheel would be certain that they paid dearly. He would destroy every Fire Nation soldier he saw.
He found himself out in a courtyard, surrounded by the high walls of the Temple. A statue of one of the Avatars had been built on one end. The Avatar was seated with her legs crossed, and dressed in the same white clothes that the Sisters wore - long white robes and a white veil that covered her hair. The Avatar seemed to be looking down directly at Naheel, and her expression alone stopped him in his tracks.
She seemed...different than anyone that Naheel had seen in the Fire Nation. She didn't look arrogant, or blood thirsty, or cruel, and she wasn't even wearing the customary red. That had been hard for Naheel, seeing his sister in the clothes of the enemy, but here, even in the heart of the Fire Nation, this Avatar seemed separate.
"That's Avatar Kosumi." Naheel jumped when he heard a female voice behind him, and to his surprise, Kateri stood there, watching him with a bemused expression. "She was the founder of this Temple, and of the Sisters here, hundreds of years ago."
"Why is she dressed in white?" Naheel asked, finding his anger quickly dissipating. "Everyone else in the Fire Nation wears red."
Kateri stepped forward, and to Naheel's surprise, took a seat before the Avatar's statue, folding her legs neatly before her. Awkwardly, Naheel scrambled to follow, and sat beside her. "Avatar Kosumi's life was marked by loss. In her time, the Fire Nation was engaged in frequent skirmishes with the Earth Kingdom, and during one of the attacks, Kosumi found herself at a crossroads. The Earth Kingdom army was advancing towards the city from three sides - the East, West, and South. The army was prepared to bomb out the harbor, thus destroying the Fire Nation's Navy and leaving the city greatly weakened. Kosumi's family and friends were all along the West side, but in order to save the city, she had to defend the harbor and wipe out the main fleet."
Kateri paused, bowing her head and looking down. "She had a duty to save the city, but she also had a duty to save her loved ones. Kosumi made a sacrifice, and saved the whole city - the whole country."
"But she lost everyone she loved," Naheel said quietly, and Kateri looked over at him, nodding solemnly.
"That's why Avatar Kosumi is always depicted wearing white - the color of mourning," Kateri said. "And that's why the Sisters were white and cover their hair - to show our sacrifice of our loved ones in order to protect the weak."
"You've given up your family to be here?" Naheel asked softly. "All your friends?"
"When we join, we aren't allowed contact with them anymore," Kateri said. "Our duty becomes to protect the sick, the weak, those who cannot protect themselves."
Naheel thought of his sister, and the strength that she had. Certainly, Anahi was capable of protecting herself, and Etka was as well. He was painfully reminded how hurt, how defenseless Anahi really was.
"I can see that I've upset you." Kateri laid her hand over Naheel's, and the latter felt his heart take a desperate leap from his chest. "I didn't mean to suggest that your sister couldn't protect herself. I can see the strength that she possesses. She will overcome this. She will be strong again."
Naheel stared at her in a melange of surprise and content. It was as if Kateri had looked right through him.
Etka felt like a criminal as he walked through the halls of the Palace, escorted by four soldiers on either side. And in their eyes, he was, but he kept trying to reassure himself that things would be fine. He had done the right thing by saving Anahi. Of that he was certain.
Etka closed his eyes and saw Anahi's fearful face, dazed and uncomprehending as he betrayed her. His hands shook at the memory, and part of Etka didn't believe that those same hands were the ones that hit and hurt her. He swore he would never be that man again. That necessary evil would never be repeated.
Etka was brought into the throne room, and to his surprise, he saw Azula standing beside her father, a smirk on her face. Immediately, Etka felt his heart sink, and he was ready to be sick. Why on Earth was the Princess here? He approached the throne and bowed as low as possible, wishing that he could sink into the floor.
"Captain Song," Ozai said, adopting his familiar cool, snake-like voice. Etka felt sweat prickle on the back of his neck. "Have you done as I have asked?"
Etka looked up, feeling as though all the air had been sucked from the room. "Yes, My Lord."
Azula head whipped to the side, and turned eagerly to her father, her eyes lighting up, but Ozai's eyes stayed locked on Etka. "You've killed Anahi?"
"Y - Yes, My Lord."
"Are you telling me the truth?"
Etka knew it was over then. Somehow, some way...Ozai knew that Etka had let her go. Oddly, he no longer felt afraid. Instead, a strange peace filled Etka, knowing that his life had just dissolved around him. Ozai would spare him no mercy for what he had done.
Etka stood up, facing Ozai head on. "No," He said firmly, staring down the Firelord. "I let her live. I saved her. And Anahi is safe, and far away, and no matter what you do to me, you will never get to her!"
Ozai's cool face disappeared into that of anger at Etka's open and blatant defiance of him. "Arrest him," He commanded, and Etka didn't resist as soldiers came to him from behind and wrenched his hands behind his back, forcing them into chains. "Throw him into prison, and do with him what you will."
Ozai stood up as Etka was forced to his knees again. "You will pay dearly for what you've done," He said icily. "And I will find Anahi, even if I have to burn down the whole kingdom. She will watch you die, and then I'll put her down myself."