Author's Note: Sorry for the long gap again. As I wrote to the readers of "to be his sun", I really hope I can keep the promise to update more regularly. Though I'm slightly proud of myself concerning the picture I drew for this story. Now, let's go on with it, I left you with this mean cliffhanger for too long. Please Review!
Toreth awoke in a small room. It wasn't her room in the abbey, the stone was far older and lighter in color. Also, her bed was not as high as the one she had in the abbey.
She carefully sat up and looked around. Where was she? Was she in a prison? Her back ached, the dryad looked down on her body, her belly had grown a little, but still it was too early for that ache to be labor. Toreth sunk back on her elbows, having a closer look at herself. Everything was where it had to be, nothing was lost. So far, so good.
Her muscles tensed when she heard steps outside. Slow, light steps, steps that almost lost all hope. This couldn't be a prison guard, could it?
The door opened and Katara stood in the doorway. Her tired eyes met Toreths' and jumping a little backwards she let go of the water bowl she had held. Toreth couldn't help but laugh at this reaction. It felt good, and for sure it was the first time since Hakoda left her with the nuns. Getting her composure back Katara hastily bended the water back into the bowl, came in and closed the door behind her. She sat down beside Toreth's bed and looked at her, her blue eyes filled with wonder.
Toreth decided to speak first, "Hello there, I just awaked, but I'm not feeling any pain. What have I missed?", that caused Katara to snap out of her trance-like stare. "We had to retrieve, the invasion failed and only us, Aang, Sokka, Toph and some others could escape on Appa. Now we hide here, in the western Air Temple. You were unconscious for almost ten days now. I almost thought you wouldn't make it…", she trailed off. Toreth's eyes had widened in fear as she listened to the girl, "You left the others? What happened to them? Where is your father?", "I don't know…", Toreth wanted to ask further but stopped herself when she saw the tears in Katara's eyes. It must be a torment for her too. Hesitantly she asked, "Can I stand, or is there something…" her gaze wandered to her unborn twins and Katara's eyes lit up as she understood. "Just a second, I'll check on them."
The young waterbender's hands took the water off the bowl and it formed around her fingers. She laid her hands on the other woman's belly and a soft blue light emerged them. "They are not hurt, not is anything around them. Have you thought of any names yet?", the question startled Toreth. She hadn't thought that far in the future, yet it seemed so close. "No… Can you see what gender they have?", with a smile Katara told her while putting the water back, "Yes, one of them is a girl with pinky ears, just like yours, the other one's a boy with normal ears."
Toreth watched as Katara left her with that information. How should she name her children? The thought made her feel old somehow. And which naming traditions should she follow? Hers or those of the southern water tribe? Would Hakoda be mad at her if she chose the names without him? All those questions circled around in her head, she thought she figured out answers to a few of them a while later and wanted to go out and tell Katara and Sokka, when she heard explosions from the outside.
Author's second note: What do you think of that? How should Toreth name her children? I think I have a solution, but maybe one of you has a better idea?