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Yue was nowhere to be seen.
The dreadful stinging sensation clamored thoroughly amidst of her veins and adrenaline seeped its way when the soothing scent of her friend was no longer lingered throughout the atmosphere, using her remaining energy to sprinted forward the Oasis.
Swinging the circular door open, revealing her alarming speculations to be unfortunately true once only seeing the two siblings remained in front of the pond, Katara rubs the back of her brother in a comforting manner whilst Sokka glued his gaze upwards the sky in forlorn, watching the gleaming moon silently soaring the nightsky.
The Southern Tribe siblings were equally startled by the sounds of the harsh creaking from the swinging door at the entrance but their nervousness increased when it reveals to be [Name] looming at the door in a knackered demeanor along with the melancholic aura emitting from her when connecting the dots to what happened to her dear friend, it seems the teenagers exchanged the shared grief when Sokka slowly shook his head to the sides as his eyes began to exfoliated in woeful tears.
By this, [Name] deliberately lose all her remaining balance and fall to her knees, leaning to the edge of the crafted frame of the edge for support. Despite the blank look painted all over her face, her eyes spoke more emotions as tears commence to flood as well, lowered her gaze to the pond as she felt the unwelcoming defeat weighted above her shoulders. She didn't opted to effort to uttered a word when her slumping shoulders says it all.
Katara was the first to approach the sorrow female and enfulged her in an attempt comfort embrace- Katara knew the pain of losing someone you loved and aware that Yue's sacrifice have a heavy impact on [Name] considering that fact they have an unbreakable friendship for years but now it is fragmented.
Katara patted her head and whispered, "It's okay, it was her choice to gave her life back to the other spirit-"
"Because it was the only choice" [Name] muttered with a nonchalant tone, Katara slightly weirded out on how her blank tone barely matches the significance emotion she is dwelling at the moment but choose to reassure her.
"I- I know but it is still her choice, [Name]" Katara heaved a sigh before letting go from the embrace that [Name] didn't even bother to return the hug, "You know, she said that she's glad to be your friend"
Flickering her gaze between Katara and the moon, "I should say the same to her"
Before Katara could even uttered a word, [Name] abruptly stood up, patting away the dust particles covered her clothing knees and glance to Sokka whom maintaining his gaze above to the moon, "You should go to your brother. I need some rest"
Katara spared a concerned expression towards the dull female as she balanced herself, giving her an affirmed nod, "Right, you must be tired from using your Embodier State too much"
Sublty nodding her head, she turned her heels and walked her way out from the spiritual area, wanting to head back to her own respective bedroom where it is somewhere near Yue's room. [Name]'s heart shattered and drop by the thought of her close friend whom now deceased, it was only few moments ago that she had comfort the princess from her distress earlier.
[Name]'s every step descended as negative thoughts conquered every inches within her head.
Yue had help her throughout these years, aiding and helping whenever they have each other, even gave her a room in the capital when she found out that she had none once first arriving here- of course, by her father's permission, he presented her one, finding quite please that the princess managed to find a company to perharps entertain her.
And yet, [Name] couldn't even return the simple favor, to help Yue and maybe if she did, the princess would be here right now. Unfortunately, fate has to stumble a different path and let her give her life away to save others.
[Name] slumped and mentally winced by the idea of helping others. How come can she save others when she didn't even to save her close friend? She didn't help one person, let alone that future awaits for her to help millions out there. Though, she is grateful that Aang would be there for her side but regarding the fact they're only at an awfully young age frightens her.
Can a couple of kids finally put an end to this war?
Could Aang and her defeat the Fire Lord?
Tugging downward her lips to a despondent deeper frown, the Embodier before her couldn't manage to defeat Fire Lord Azulon, is that why people are now looking down at her because the previous one had failed? She heard rumors and unpleasant stories about people are now hoping for the Avatar himself to stop the war hence why they believe that the Avatar is stronger than the Embodier.
Her footsteps halted upon thinking this thought, 'Maybe they are right... I'm really that weak'
She didn't even save her friend, mentally blaming herself for Yue's death, she didn't protect her enough even she promised that she would.
'I'm sorry, Yue'
'I lost you'
'I always wish that I was a better friend to help you'
'...To save you'
"If only you could have save them, then they would be alive right now"
It was that voice again.
[Name] couldn't sleep that night.
❇️ --- ♦️ --- ❇️
During in the amidst of fine morning, Aang and his companions stared off the empty horizon and before taking an admire yet forlorn view upward the sky, they feel such sympathy for the girl who sacrificed her life for the spirit to live once again. The people of the Northern Tribe sweep away the falling remaining debris and such that the Fire Nation had caused and begun to fixate each of their building
"I've decided to go through the South Pole, some other benders and healers want to join me. It's time we helped rebuild our sister tribe" Pakku stated to Katara, gluing his gaze to the shimmering ocean before turning back to her
"What about Aang?" Katara inquired, sparing a pity glance to the young Avatar whom standing in silence to the side and shifted back to the teacher, "He still needs to learn waterbending"
"Well, then he better get used to calling you Sifu Katara" Pakku replied in the fits of small chuckles, his sentence earns a wide genuine grin from Katara.
Somewhere across them, Arnook and Sokka stood by one another, still kept their gaze to the azure sky filled with rolling clouds, though the moon was no longer present in this particular time, they maintained their vision upward. Both males feels utter sympathy and heavyhearted from the event of losing someone they dearly loved but Sokka knew her departure heavily affected the Chief.
"The spirits gave me a vision I saw a young beautiful, brave woman become the moon spirit" A weak smile twitched upon his lips after speaking the sentence but fall deeper to a woeful frown as he continued, "I knew this day would come"
The heartsore expression written above Sokka's features never altered and shifting his head to the Chief, "You must be proud"
"So proud" His voice lowered to a whispered, his gaze never dare to left the candescent sky "...and sad"
Minutes had swiftly faded hours as they assisted the people to fix their homeland as to which they were appreciative by the welcoming offer. Aang remained saddened by the occurrence and his concerns increased upon realizing that [Name] hasn't been seen by the few past hours, Katara- being motherly that she is- notice this type of behavior witnessing from him and quickly sent him delicate assurance filled with hope, along with the lines of [Name] being seen with the accompany of Yugoda, the healing teacher.
They managed to continued their session of helping the Tribe altogether, this took Aang and Katara's advantages of their waterbending skills by rebuilding the damaged architecture by using their techniques that involves with solid of ice whereas Sokka has a small communication with the Chief himself, dismissing Hanh whenever he comes after him after discovering the young boy's words about his daughter hence why now he understands [Name]'s necessary loathe towards Hanh.
Shortly after that, Aang and his friends placed their respective things into the wodden ship that is about to sail towards the Southern Tribe and help the young Avatar to continue his journey of mastering the four elements by letting them onboard, perharps giving the enormous flying bison a rest before they could soar off- Of course, Aang and his companions were grateful by the welcoming ride and now helping the Tribe men to pack up.
"Hey Aang..." A doleful yet apathetic voice captured his attention and pivoted his head towards the origin of the voice, unexpectedly revealing [Name] who is also carrying a small bagpack on her shoulder whilst her unoccupied hand resting on her pocket. As he was about to greet back in relief, Aang tugged his lips to a deep frown once noticing the subtle sorrowful yet exhausted expression marked above her eyes where there is still faint crimson at the side of it.
Though her face remains nonchalant, [Name]'s eyes speaks more volume.
Aang rotated his heels to fully turn at her direction, it seems the siblings also noticed the puff eyes as they exchanged a sympathy glance but let the young Air Nomad to speak, "[Name], are you okay?"
"Yes, I'm just crying all night because my friend turned into a moon" [Name] sarcastically stated but sealed her lips shut once realizing how unpleasantly rude she is becoming as she sighed for the umpteenth time, "Sorry, it's... I miss Yue"
"It's okay to be emotional and I'm sorry about Yue, I know how close the two of you are" Scratching the nape of his neck and morphing his gaze to a woeful one whilst [Name] almost shed a tear from hearing his sentence, "Her disappearance must have affected you that much, huh?"
She slumped her shoulders and slightest part of her voice cracked, "Very..."
Approaching her side of the room, Sokka instinctively took a step forward to her direction and remained to her side as she put ber bag down and Sokka uttered in guilt, "Listen, [Name] I'm sorry I didn't protected Yue-"
"You don't have to say, Sokka You did all the best you can" She interfered, averting her attention on him and softly yet idly patted his shoulder, "and... I thank you for that"
Sokka could've sworn to be flooded in his own tears upon the genuine appreciation he received, though he was about to object but didn't have the energy to do so and gave the apathetic female a small smile, uttering a 'your welcome' despite the simplicity of two words, it hides any various of meanings, knowing that she didn't hold any of somewhat grudges to him for not solely doing his job well enough but was appreciated for the best he could.
A man entered the facility of their room as they all snapped their heads to the person and saw Chief Arnook who is approaching the nonchalant female whilst Sokka stepped aside, giving the two comfortable space, Arnook nodded his head, "[Name]"
She returned the small gesture, turning to his figure, "Chief Arnook"
Many mixture of emotions discharged from the man from what [Name]'s keen nose had caught, it was similar emotions that she is discreetly expressing. She couldn't blame him, losing a young daughter is heartbreaking to muster and to be easily accepted of the event, Yue's death have been more impact to him compared to her.
"I'd like to say thank you for being there for my daughter no matter what and she'd be thankful for having a company like you" Arnook flashed the female a gentle smile that even citizens could rarely witnessed, "She couldn't ask for a better friend"
"Thank you, Arnook. You're.. uhh... not so bad for a father yourself" Hoping that sounds okay than it she thought, [Name] isn't exactly the best person to bestow any kind of compliments but it developed throughout the years, "She would been glad to be raised by a father like you
"Thank you, [Name]" The despondent scent never faltered from the Chief as to which [Name] felt condole for. Arnook's smile stretched further but the emotions swelling his eyes speaks more, "Yue's right, you are a real one. I really appreciate all the services you had done for my daughter"
After of thanking the Chief, he shortly left the area and giving the two peacemakers and their companions a safety regard for their upcoming journey. Three of them which excluding [Name] gently thank the Chief soon followed silence enfulged around the room, Aang diverted his head towards the monotonous female who is still skimming through her bagpack, he couldn't tell any significance emotion from her through his peripheral view.
Elevating her submissive hand to rub her eye where small itches can be feel, that's when Katara took knowledge the uncluttered carved bracelet loosely strapped on [Name]'s wrist that is swaying back and forth from small movements. Thinking a way of an idea to lessen the gloomy atmosphere and subsided it by an enlightened one, an intrigued graced the fragility of her features as something climbed onto her mind.
"That's a pretty bracelet, [Name]" She complimented, examining the detailed carved on the well polished wooden bracelet.
"Huh?" The slightly taller female sas caught off guard but registered the current sentence within her mind before glancing at the bracelet, "Oh right, thanks"
"Where did you get it?" She inquired, averted her sapphire hues to meet the dull ones.
"I don't know" [Name] bluntly said, shrugging her shoulders.
Katara was taken aback by the unexpected answer but another question rattled through her thoughts as she asked once again, "Um, who gave that to you?"
"I don't know, either"
"Then, where are you wearing that if you don't know the sources of that bracelet?" Sokka pointed the bracelet from his direction, soon followed by an elbow roughly nudged him onto his abdomen earning a small yelp emitting from his mouth as Katara continued to send glares at her brother, thinking that question might budge through [Name]'s respective boundaries.
"Don't know" She lowered her voice to a mumur, dismissing the squeaking yelps from Sokka but slightly raised her tone as she impassively answered, "It's just feel familiar and soothe me whenever I feel anxious"
"Familiar?" Aang arched an questionable eyebrow by that word, curiousity gotten the best of him as he questioned, hoping he isn't pushing the border of her boundaries, "What do you mean by that, [Name]?"
"It feels important to me..." [Name] practically confessed, lowered her tedious hues once more to the neatly carved wooden bracelet, though there slight splotches of dirt for unknown reason, it maintained its aesthetic detailed designs on the upper part and trailed her rough fingertips above it before answering that cause mixed reactions on her companions the reply that they didn't particularly predicted.
"Even when I lost my memory"
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[2551 words]