A. N. : College is kicking my ass ! Sorry, just felt like making my current state clear, uh. Yeah, so I'm working towards completing my Masters' thesis next month or so. I guess what I'm saying is that my brain energy levels aren't super high currently. Which will probably affect the rate of updates. Like, I literally had to finish this one in bed. Hope you guys like it, in any case, and I hope to see y'all as soon as I manage to get enough braincells to write !

Katara walks.

Sokka insisted, along with Toph and Suki and Jet and – alright, everyone but Zuko and Lin, really – that she take a break from the camp and the cooking and organizing and fussing – and Katara was not fussing, for the record, but even if she was, it was only because Suki's shoulder needed checking, and Zuko's Uncle had to leave him after he told them what his father did to him, and Aang's back scar still hurts a little sometimes, and Sokka –

Okay, so maybe Katara was fussing, but she wasn't wrong.

Still, everyone insisted that she should go with Aang to the Sea Walkers village to pick up his mystery project and the last of the food the village will bless them with, and also, with some luck, so that she can unwind.

Aang is certainly doing his best to make things fun. He introduces Katara to everyone he can, leads her to the sweets shop where they taste samples at random and share their conclusions – the faces he makes when he likes something are only surpassed in hilarity by his over-the-top grimaces of distaste.

The shop keeper jokingly threatens to kick him out after he fakes crying when Katara innocently asks why he won't try the pickled lemon.

It's certainly an… acquired taste, Katara concludes after sampling one herself, the salt definitely making for a unique treat, not quite a sweet or a candied fruit, closer to a medicine in taste. It sort of reminds her of pine tea, the delicate lemony taste of the newer buds and the strong scent of resin and bitter aftertaste of bark.

Grangran might actually really like that one. Katara thinks about buying some for her, for when they go home, but – but –

It's not that Katara thought leaving for the North, and then following Aang to help save the world would be peaceful, she always knew it would be dangerous, always had Mom and the cruel eyes of her murderer somewhere in her mind, like a reminder of the risks. The weight of Aang's lifeless body in her lap joined these memories once they left Ba Sing Se.

She knew the risks, has known them for a while, and yet somehow she just… always felt like she would make it back home with Sokka, safe and sound, with Grangran welcoming the both of them with a hug and a warm meal.

But what if she doesn't ? What if someone doesn't manage to come home, what if Grangran isn't there to welcome them ?

There's a part of Katara that just wants to go home. That wants to buy the salted lemon and go South right now with Sokka, safe and sound, and embrace Grangran in a platypus-bear hug.

She won't. Of course she won't, not with the hope she's wanted her entire life so close she could touch it, safety and peace for her family and for the world.

She will keep on fighting by everyone's side. She wants to.

She wants to see Grangran again.

Aang touches her arm, looks at her questioningly when she doesn't react to his joke about the pickled lemon having sent her into shock.

She smiles at him. Apologizes for getting lost in thought, asks for his opinion on which flavors to pick for everyone – not just in the group, but for everyone who has been helping them out along the way, family and friends they'll get to see again once all of this is over.

Katara keeps her gaze on Aang as his eyes widen, then squint as he focuses and thinks about who to gift, and what. The pale yellow of his headscarf makes him look like the sun, she thinks idly.

Or maybe it's the way he's been these past weeks, somewhat more assured, like being here has helped his heart settle and his mind mature.

He is still the same Aang she knows, bright and warm and fun, free and childish, and yet loyal and wise at the same time. He is still the same, but… It's like, maybe, his roots are deeper in the earth than they were before. Same tree, but stronger, with branches capable of reaching even higher into the sky.

It's an odd feeling, and Katara isn't even sure she isn't imagining things, but it's… it's nice. Yeah.

They make their choice, joke about having to eat half of it themselves to spare poor Appa's back, talk to more people in the streets and in shops, and by the end Katara's arms hurt from carrying the numerous sweets and fruits and groceries, even with Aang's help, and her cheeks are sore from smiling so much.

The woodworker is the last stop. There's a sparkle in Aang's eyes, reflected in the Master's own as they pull a staff from their side and present it to Aang, who kneels to receive it.

When he stands back up, he passes his thumb across the length of the wood, traces the intricate carvings along its side with a slight, focused frown. Then, he extends his arm.

Presses a switch.

The glider's silk wings shine bright, in a patchwork of oranges and yellows.

They're almost as bright as Aang's smile.