CHAPTER 26: Invitation

"The privilege of a lifetime is to become who you really are."

A day had passed since Nii and the others had come to help the villagers in the scarred jungle.

As the morning sun rose over the charred remains of the village, the air was still heavy with the scent of smoke and ash.

Despite the devastation, signs of life had begun to emerge amidst the wreckage.

Some villagers, their burn wounds tended to and bandaged, had gathered together to assess the damage, sifting through the debris in search of salvageable belongings. Others carried buckets of water to douse the lingering embers.

In the midst of the destruction, acts of compassion and solidarity abounded.

Friends and family lent each other a helping hand, offering support and comfort to those who had lost their homes and loved ones.

As the day wore on, the once desolate landscape had begun to transform.

The skilled waterbenders still alive had worked their magic bending the vines and plants of the jungle, and now, tentative shoots of green already emerged from the charred earth. It was a hopeful sign to everyone of renewal and rebirth.

Nii felt a weight being lifted from her shoulders, as she sat down to have a break for the first time since they had arrived back at the village.

She was exhausted.

She and Katara had worked tirelessly aiding the injured and tending to the needs of her devastated community.

Nii let her gaze travel to Katara who laid on the ground with her eyes closed.

Katara's waterbending abilities had been invaluable to them all.

With steady hands and unwavering focus, she had moved among the wounded, her movements fluid and precise as she had directed streams of healing water to cool and ease the agony of blistered skin.

Her water healing had proven very useful to the burn wounds.

Nii had never seen anything like it.

Together, they had formed a formidable team, their efforts complementing each other as they had worked in tandem to address the myriad of injuries, suffering and ailments around them.

Nii felt tears forming in the corners of her eyes as she felt a deep sense of gratitude for Katara.

When they had first met, Nii had gotten a sense that Katara did not like her. That she did not wish for her to be around Aang at all.

And even though she did not know whether that had been true or not, at this very moment, she did not care.

Nii felt appreciative of her expertise, her empathy and her unwavering commitment to the well-being of others. She knew that she could never have accomplished what they had done together alone, and she was filled with a profound sense of gratitude for her.

"Hey Nii," she heard a voice sound out from behind her.

Nii turned around to see Aang looking at her with a soft face.

"Can I sit down?" he asked, using his gaze to point to the spot next to her on the log on which she was sitting.

She nodded before turning her eyes back to Katara.

She felt a lump forming in her throat.

He settled beside her with a calm presence, as if offering a silent gesture of support.

There was a gentle empathy in his demeanor, an acknowledgment of the profound loss, exhaustion and devastation she was experiencing.

He reached over to take her hand, and even though she felt apprehensive, she turned her eyes to lock with his.

His eyes, while filled with compassion, also carried a weight of understanding born from his own experiences of loss and displacement. As he looked at her, she felt as if it was his soul that was looking at her, looking into her, with an unspoken recognition of the pain and upheaval that comes with losing everything.

Nii felt a wave of sorrow crash forth from her heart, like a cool spring bursting forth from deep within and washing over her entire being, and she could do nothing else but to break down.

With a shuddering sigh, she surrendered to the torrent of grief inside of her, tears cascading down her cheeks, and she leaned forward to seek comfort in his embrace.

Her shoulders shook with the weight of her sorrow and her heavy heart, and she felt Aang's gentle touch as he wrapped his arms around her, cradling her in her pain.

She felt her body tremble with each convulsive sob, her entire being consumed by the raw intensity of her despair.

"I know," Aang whispered over her, as his fingers gently stroked her hair in a soothing rhythm.

Another wave of pain and sorrow flowed over her, causing her to bury her face in his lap, seeking solace in the soft fabric of his clothes.

She thought about all of the villagers that had died.

He really did know.

He knew of the separation from loved ones, the destruction of his home, the ache of longing for what was once lost.

He knew of her pain.

Nii could feel her cascading tears dampen the clothes in his lap, but she found no judgment in the gentle touch of Aang's hand - only empathy and understanding.

And as she continued to cry into his lap, he stayed silent, only stroking her hair from time to time, offering his comfort, letting her know that he was there for her.

With each breath she took, she drew in the comforting scent of him, and it gave her a sense of peace in the intimacy of the moment.

And as her sobs gradually began to soften and give way to quiet sniffles and hiccups, she listened to his steady breathing, feeling the sensation of his stomach gently rising and falling in a gentle rhythm, like the ebb and flow of the tide against the shore.

She could feel the expansion and contraction of his abdomen beneath the soft fabric of his clothes, and it served as a comforting reminder of the simple yet profound act of breathing.

It helped her steady her own breathing a little.

The rise and fall of his stomach mirrored the cadence of her emotions - rising with each intake of breath, as if reaching towards the heavens in search of solace, and falling with each exhale, grounding her in the present moment and offering a sense of stability amidst the turmoil inside of her.

It served as a tangible reminder of her own resilience, of the simple yet essential act of being alive and present in this very moment.

She was alive.

He was alive.

Both of them, survivors.

Breathing together.

Right now.

And in that moment, as they sat together amidst the ruins of what once was, she felt something between them that transcended words - a silent bond between them forged in the crucible of loss and resilience.

She felt a sense of release and catharsis washing over her.

Her breathing steadied even more and a sensation of calm settled over her as she allowed herself to be held by him, to be supported, loved.

And when her tears had finally subsided and the storm of emotions began to ebb, she was left with a profound sense of exhaustion, but also a glimmer of hope.

Nii gradually began to regain her composure.

With a deep breath, she lifted her head from Aang's lap, and she met his gaze.

She could see that his eyes were also glistening with tears.

With a trembling hand, she reached out to gently take hold of his hands.

"Thank you, Aang," she whispered, her voice hoarse and filled with emotions. "For everything that you are."

In those simple words, she conveyed a depth of gratitude that transcended language - a profound appreciation for the kindness and compassion that he had shown her in this moment of vulnerability.

She watched a faint quiver over his lips and a subtle tremor in his face, while a tear formed in the corner of his eye, tracing a shimmering path down his cheek - a silent testament to the rush of emotions welling up inside of him.

As the tear lingered on his cheek, Aang offered her a small, trembling smile - a gesture of reassurance and gratitude in return.

Nii's heart felt lighter and her spirit was lifted by the warmth of his presence.

In that moment of connection, she found strength.

With a grateful smile, she squeezed his hands gently, silently conveying her appreciation for his comfort and support. And as they sat there together, surrounded by the echoes of their shared emotions, Nii knew that she had found a friend.

"Nii," he breathed with a trembling voice. "There's so much I wanna say to you. I know now's not the time, but…"

He reached up one hand, the other still in hers, and his touch was feather-light as he brushed away the tears over one of her cheeks with the pad of his thumb.

When he shared what he had in mind, Nii started crying again.

Later that day, when evening came and the sun had started to fall in the sky above, all of the tribe members were gathered around a bonfire in the middle of the gathering place of the village.

Nii sat with Katara on one side of her and Aang on the other.

Nii and Aang were holding hands.

Rather than simply clasping hands, they had laced their fingers together, creating a snug and intimate connection between their palms.

His touch felt light and affectionate.

With a soft smile and a twinkle in his eye, Aang squeezed her hand gently, conveying an inviting warmth and comfort through his touch. His gesture was tender and reassuring of his presence and support.

She sent him a smile too, before he let go of her hand and rose to his feet.

As the Avatar made his way further into the middle of the gathering place, the villagers all quieted down and looked at him.

Aang gulped down before he took a glance around the people around him.

"Right," he began, his voice slightly shaky but still carrying a soothing tone that resonated with warmth and sincerity. "I know that the recent events here in your village have brought great hardship to your community. I'm so sorry for your loss. But I want you to know that you're not alone in this."

Aang paused for a moment, and Nii closed her eyes while reaching up a hand to her heart.

Her heartbeat was steady and deep.

Aang continued, his voice steadier now: "The Air Temples have always been places of refuge and sanctuary, and I would be honored if you would consider seeking shelter with us there."

Nii dared not open her eyes to see her tribe members' reactions to his words.

She felt a knot forming in her throat again, and she tried breathing in slowly.

She felt Katara's hand on her back, offering support.

"At the temple," Aang continued. "You'll find not just food and water and a temporary shelter, but I'm inviting you to stay there, to rebuild there, to live there, if you'd like."

Nii felt tears streaming down her cheek as he spoke.

She opened her eyes to look at him.

His eyes were filled with compassion and understanding as he continued: "I know that leaving your homes behind here in the jungle is not an easy decision to make, and it might not be what you want. But please know that you're welcome. Consider this an open invitation."

Aang let his gaze travel to Nii, earning her to exhale deeply in a mix between a sigh and a sob, as he clasped his hand together in front of his chest and.

His eyes were locked with hers as he said: "You're welcome with everything that you are."