Post by Teяa253 on Nov 11, 2008 11:19:51 GMT 1
the 7th installment of out little friend Katara Altina II.
this one may seem like it gives Katara everything, but trust me, her troubles aren't over yet.
SHELTERING THE FIRE
Poor Katara did end up waking up, but it turned out that there really was a comet coming. The only difference was that it was in 2 months as opposed to 1, so Katara was a little more relieved—she had that much more time to try and gain control of her energy. Nonetheless, she was still scared. She decided to divert her course to the west, and continued in a straight path until she reached the next town.
In the center of this town was a large fountain in the middle of the town square. Naturally, Katara was drawn to the center of the town, and she soon found herself sitting on the edge of the fountain, sighing and longing to see her family again. She wasn’t expecting anyone to come and sympathize with her; rather, she just wanted somewhere to sit down sort of away from the rest of the crowd.
Despite the fountain being in the middle of the square, the four streets that passed by it were a considerable distance away, so Katara was rather alone for the most part. She did draw attention, but only because of her dark red fire nation clothing in an earth kingdom city, which would naturally be full of green. Other than a quick glance though, she did not receive much attention for a while.
Katara just sat there, glancing around at the various people. She saw a pair of young siblings chasing each other around through the crowds, and her eyes began to water. It reminded her of how she and her brother used to play together all the time, sometimes doing the most childish things even though he was 18 and she was 15. It was one of those times where they just abandoned being mature and just acted like children again. Katara longed for those times again. She wanted to see her brother again, and she wanted to see him badly.
The final moment that broke her down though was when he saw the little boy pin the little girl down and started tickling her. They were out of the way of the crows, and were not very far from where Katara sat. The little girl’s giggle reminded her of her own, and how her brother used to do that very same thing to her. She just broke down weeping.
Incidentally, the boy got up off her sister and she too stood up. They both looked curiously over at Katara. They seemed to be twins, judging how by close they looked in age (around 11). They slowly tiptoed closer to Katara, as if they were going to find out what was wrong.
Since Katara’s face was buried in her hands, she didn’t notice them. However, an older woman of around 18 or so; did.
“Maric, Malak,” she said, walking over towards them and Katara, “leave that poor girl alone. She’s obviously distressed.”
“We didn’t do anything,” said the boy, who apparently was named Maric, “we just saw her like that.”
“Still,” the older young woman remarked, “she probably wants some privacy. You two go run along and play. I’ll be right back.”
“Okie,” said the girl (who must have been named Malak), and she elbowed her brother and ran, him on her heels. Their guardian (Katara assumed she was their sister, as she was too young to be their mother) stepped over and sat next to Katara.
“Are you alright, sweetie,” she asked, putting a gentle hand on Katara’s left arm after the short sleeves of Katara’s shirt ended, but before the bands of her braces began, Katara sniffled.
“I’m fine,” she replied, still sort of sobbing, “It’s just something I saw your siblings do... it just made me nostalgic is all.”
“Oh dear,” she said, “What did they do to you?”
“Oh no,” said Katara, her sniffling slowing down “they didn’t do anything to me—well, not personally, and I’m pretty sure they didn’t mean it. Just seeing them play together reminded me of my brother and my own family.”
“Is it a personal story,” the woman asked, “or do you mind telling me?”
“Let’s just say that the four of us are all in different places, and that my dad can’t come back,” said Katara, her eyes watering again,
“What do you...” she asked, but suddenly figured out what Katara meant, “oh. I... I’m sorry to hear that.”
Katara was silent for a while.
“I miss him so much,” she said, tears starting to flow down her face again, “I was a daddy’s girl.”
The woman moved her hand up to Katara’s head and began running her gentle fingers through Katara’s hair. This helped calm her down slightly, but she was still sniffling and sort of had that sobbing tone,
“So aye,” said Katara, “my father is gone, my brother went off to war a few days ago, and neither of us have any idea what happened to our mother after she succumbed to grief.”
“I...” the woman stammered, “you have my sympathies. I wish there was something I could do.”
“Eh, it’s alright,” said Katara, “I mean, aye, there’s nothing anyone can do at this point. Granted, I still miss them all to the point where it hurts, but still, I can’t change what I’ve been given.”
“Where do you live,” the young woman asked, still running her fingers through Katara’s hair; it was amazing how easy it was to get Katara Altina II to talk when one stroked her hair.
“I don’t really live anywhere,” said Katara in reply, “I just kind of wander around, eating and sleeping wherever and whenever.”
“Oh,” the young woman exclaimed, “you did seem like a more rough-and-tough type. You look tired though. Why don’t you spend the night at our home? I’m sure none of us would mind—unless you had other plans?”
“I have all the time in the world,” Katara replied, “I’m never doing anything special, ‘coz I’m just not really a special person; just an overpowered freak who’s gonna die in two months.”
“What,” the woman exclaimed, “What do you mean by that?”
Katara explained about her powers, the comet, who she was, and what she was like.
“I have too much energy—too much power for my own good,” she sighed, “ultimately, it’s going to be my bane.”
The woman said nothing. She seemed to be dwelling on Katara’s “control” factor which she had mentioned during her explanation.
“Oh,” she exclaimed, “I never properly introduced myself. My name is Ayumi. What is yours?”
“Katara,” Katara replied bluntly, “Katara Altina II.”
“That’s a pretty name,” Ayumi replied, “was that your mother’s name?” She had only asked because of the ‘II’ suffix at the end of Katara’s name;
“Aye,” Katara replied, “it was; or; is, I guess”
“Well, Katara,” said Ayumi, “you seem like a nice young woman... you just seem really stressed. You should stay the night with me and my family for a while and rest.”
“So in other words mooch off of you all,” Katara asked, shrugging,
“It’s not mooching if the other person is the one who suggests it,” Ayumi replied, “come on, it’s not gonna hurt, is it?”
Katara shrugged. “I guess not,” she said, standing up, “I just don’t want to be like a parasite on your family.”
“You won’t be,” Ayumi assured her, and then turned around as Katara stood up. Ayumi was a tall woman, almost a heard taller than Katara. However, she looked more like the delicate type, and Katara figured if she wanted to she could punch her in the face and easily knock her out.
“You must have had fine parents,” she said, glancing at Katara, “you’re very well-built”
“Thanks I guess,” Katara shrugged, and she followed Ayumi as she collected her younger siblings and headed home. Her parents were easy-going fellows who did not mind Katara’s presence. They were a higher-class family, and so Katara had access to just about anything she wanted—or that’s what they told her.
All Katara really wanted was some good food to eat and a place to sleep, and she was content.
“She’s quite a low-maintenance young woman,” Ayumi’s father commented, “The man who marries her will be a lucky one.”
“She really doesn’t ask for much,” Ayumi replied, “I almost feel like we should do something for her.”
“What do you propose, Ayumi,” her father asked, but the answer came with Ayumi’s mother, who was carrying Katara’s clothes to a place where she intended to wash them.
“Where’s Katara,” Ayumi asked,
“She’s in the spa out back,” her mother replied as she passed through, “I’ve never seen anyone so relaxed.”
Ayumi decided to check in on her to see how she was doing. Katara was clad in some sort of bathing suit, but the steam rising from the water she was relaxing in almost concealed her completely.
“How are you doing,” Ayumi asked,
“I could live like this,” Katara chuckled, “and yet this bathing suit is more revealing than my under-things.”
Ayumi chuckled, and Katara actually smiled.
“So why were you so eager to invite me in,” Katara asked, “I mean, this is great and all, it’s just that I don’t feel like I belong here.”
“Well, said Ayumi, “because there was a young man who passed by here that was really nice, and he said he really wished that we could have met his sister. He was only here for a night before he had to move on, but he mentioned that he had a mother and sister named Katara.”
Katara turned and directly faced Ayumi
“Hold it,” she exclaimed, “you met my brother?”
“Sokka” she replied, “Was that his name”
“Aye that’s him!” Katara exclaimed, “I... I can’t believe you met him!”
“He was a really nice guy,” Ayumi replied, “I really liked him.”
Katara didn’t know what to say. On one hand, she was excited, on the other hand, she knew that he was long gone by now, as was expected. The water helped keep her power from building up, as right now she of course had also taken her arm braces off. Normally when she was frustrated it would show on her arms in the form of flames.
“Don’t worry, Katara” said Ayumi, “this war shouldn’t last too much longer. Your brother is a fine warrior. I know he will return alive.”
“That’s the only thing that gives me the will to live,” Katara replied, “is me knowing that my mother and brother are still out there. If my brother dies, it’s over for me. He was and is my all.”
“He must have taken really good care of you,” said Ayumi
“He did,” Katara replied, plunging her head under the water to get her hair wet again, “he was the one to help me get a little control over my energy. He’d be the one to heal me when I hurt myself.”
“You hurt yourself,” Ayumi asked, “why?”
Katara climbed out of the spa and walked out into the courtyard, still clad in her green bathing suit. Ayumi followed her, for Katara was going to show her.
“Try this and tell me it doesn’t hurt,” she chuckled. She pointed her arms upward, leaned slightly backwards and then blew an enormous burst of flames out of her arms that literally blew up in her face, knocking her backwards, sending her sprawling into the grass.
“Oh my,” Ayumi exclaimed, running over to her, “Are you alright?”
“Aye,” Katara chuckled, “just a little dazed, and a bit tired—nothing out of the ordinary.”
“Why did you push yourself so hard?” she asked,
“I didn’t” Katara replied, “That’s about my average. When I said I was overpowered, I meant it. Those braces I usually have on my arms help control it a little better though”
“No wonder you’re so tired,” said Ayumi, “you poor thing. Why don’t you lie down and rest? I’ll ensure that you remain undisturbed.”
“Alright,” Katara shrugged, “you know, you really don’t have to pamper me like this. I’m just another normal person.”
“I know I don’t,” Ayumi replied, “but you’re different. You’re not a normal person. You’re friendly. I can see it in your eyes.”
Katara shrugged, smiling slightly as she curled up in one of the beds and covered herself up, “whatever you say.”
Ayumi chuckled, “you’ve got a good sense of humor too.”
Katara chuckled and then rolled over. The only thing she remembered doing was waking up a while late to see her clothes folded neatly on her nightstand, but other than a quick glance, Katara just remained asleep where she was for who knows how long.
~Katara~
this one may seem like it gives Katara everything, but trust me, her troubles aren't over yet.
SHELTERING THE FIRE
Poor Katara did end up waking up, but it turned out that there really was a comet coming. The only difference was that it was in 2 months as opposed to 1, so Katara was a little more relieved—she had that much more time to try and gain control of her energy. Nonetheless, she was still scared. She decided to divert her course to the west, and continued in a straight path until she reached the next town.
In the center of this town was a large fountain in the middle of the town square. Naturally, Katara was drawn to the center of the town, and she soon found herself sitting on the edge of the fountain, sighing and longing to see her family again. She wasn’t expecting anyone to come and sympathize with her; rather, she just wanted somewhere to sit down sort of away from the rest of the crowd.
Despite the fountain being in the middle of the square, the four streets that passed by it were a considerable distance away, so Katara was rather alone for the most part. She did draw attention, but only because of her dark red fire nation clothing in an earth kingdom city, which would naturally be full of green. Other than a quick glance though, she did not receive much attention for a while.
Katara just sat there, glancing around at the various people. She saw a pair of young siblings chasing each other around through the crowds, and her eyes began to water. It reminded her of how she and her brother used to play together all the time, sometimes doing the most childish things even though he was 18 and she was 15. It was one of those times where they just abandoned being mature and just acted like children again. Katara longed for those times again. She wanted to see her brother again, and she wanted to see him badly.
The final moment that broke her down though was when he saw the little boy pin the little girl down and started tickling her. They were out of the way of the crows, and were not very far from where Katara sat. The little girl’s giggle reminded her of her own, and how her brother used to do that very same thing to her. She just broke down weeping.
Incidentally, the boy got up off her sister and she too stood up. They both looked curiously over at Katara. They seemed to be twins, judging how by close they looked in age (around 11). They slowly tiptoed closer to Katara, as if they were going to find out what was wrong.
Since Katara’s face was buried in her hands, she didn’t notice them. However, an older woman of around 18 or so; did.
“Maric, Malak,” she said, walking over towards them and Katara, “leave that poor girl alone. She’s obviously distressed.”
“We didn’t do anything,” said the boy, who apparently was named Maric, “we just saw her like that.”
“Still,” the older young woman remarked, “she probably wants some privacy. You two go run along and play. I’ll be right back.”
“Okie,” said the girl (who must have been named Malak), and she elbowed her brother and ran, him on her heels. Their guardian (Katara assumed she was their sister, as she was too young to be their mother) stepped over and sat next to Katara.
“Are you alright, sweetie,” she asked, putting a gentle hand on Katara’s left arm after the short sleeves of Katara’s shirt ended, but before the bands of her braces began, Katara sniffled.
“I’m fine,” she replied, still sort of sobbing, “It’s just something I saw your siblings do... it just made me nostalgic is all.”
“Oh dear,” she said, “What did they do to you?”
“Oh no,” said Katara, her sniffling slowing down “they didn’t do anything to me—well, not personally, and I’m pretty sure they didn’t mean it. Just seeing them play together reminded me of my brother and my own family.”
“Is it a personal story,” the woman asked, “or do you mind telling me?”
“Let’s just say that the four of us are all in different places, and that my dad can’t come back,” said Katara, her eyes watering again,
“What do you...” she asked, but suddenly figured out what Katara meant, “oh. I... I’m sorry to hear that.”
Katara was silent for a while.
“I miss him so much,” she said, tears starting to flow down her face again, “I was a daddy’s girl.”
The woman moved her hand up to Katara’s head and began running her gentle fingers through Katara’s hair. This helped calm her down slightly, but she was still sniffling and sort of had that sobbing tone,
“So aye,” said Katara, “my father is gone, my brother went off to war a few days ago, and neither of us have any idea what happened to our mother after she succumbed to grief.”
“I...” the woman stammered, “you have my sympathies. I wish there was something I could do.”
“Eh, it’s alright,” said Katara, “I mean, aye, there’s nothing anyone can do at this point. Granted, I still miss them all to the point where it hurts, but still, I can’t change what I’ve been given.”
“Where do you live,” the young woman asked, still running her fingers through Katara’s hair; it was amazing how easy it was to get Katara Altina II to talk when one stroked her hair.
“I don’t really live anywhere,” said Katara in reply, “I just kind of wander around, eating and sleeping wherever and whenever.”
“Oh,” the young woman exclaimed, “you did seem like a more rough-and-tough type. You look tired though. Why don’t you spend the night at our home? I’m sure none of us would mind—unless you had other plans?”
“I have all the time in the world,” Katara replied, “I’m never doing anything special, ‘coz I’m just not really a special person; just an overpowered freak who’s gonna die in two months.”
“What,” the woman exclaimed, “What do you mean by that?”
Katara explained about her powers, the comet, who she was, and what she was like.
“I have too much energy—too much power for my own good,” she sighed, “ultimately, it’s going to be my bane.”
The woman said nothing. She seemed to be dwelling on Katara’s “control” factor which she had mentioned during her explanation.
“Oh,” she exclaimed, “I never properly introduced myself. My name is Ayumi. What is yours?”
“Katara,” Katara replied bluntly, “Katara Altina II.”
“That’s a pretty name,” Ayumi replied, “was that your mother’s name?” She had only asked because of the ‘II’ suffix at the end of Katara’s name;
“Aye,” Katara replied, “it was; or; is, I guess”
“Well, Katara,” said Ayumi, “you seem like a nice young woman... you just seem really stressed. You should stay the night with me and my family for a while and rest.”
“So in other words mooch off of you all,” Katara asked, shrugging,
“It’s not mooching if the other person is the one who suggests it,” Ayumi replied, “come on, it’s not gonna hurt, is it?”
Katara shrugged. “I guess not,” she said, standing up, “I just don’t want to be like a parasite on your family.”
“You won’t be,” Ayumi assured her, and then turned around as Katara stood up. Ayumi was a tall woman, almost a heard taller than Katara. However, she looked more like the delicate type, and Katara figured if she wanted to she could punch her in the face and easily knock her out.
“You must have had fine parents,” she said, glancing at Katara, “you’re very well-built”
“Thanks I guess,” Katara shrugged, and she followed Ayumi as she collected her younger siblings and headed home. Her parents were easy-going fellows who did not mind Katara’s presence. They were a higher-class family, and so Katara had access to just about anything she wanted—or that’s what they told her.
All Katara really wanted was some good food to eat and a place to sleep, and she was content.
“She’s quite a low-maintenance young woman,” Ayumi’s father commented, “The man who marries her will be a lucky one.”
“She really doesn’t ask for much,” Ayumi replied, “I almost feel like we should do something for her.”
“What do you propose, Ayumi,” her father asked, but the answer came with Ayumi’s mother, who was carrying Katara’s clothes to a place where she intended to wash them.
“Where’s Katara,” Ayumi asked,
“She’s in the spa out back,” her mother replied as she passed through, “I’ve never seen anyone so relaxed.”
Ayumi decided to check in on her to see how she was doing. Katara was clad in some sort of bathing suit, but the steam rising from the water she was relaxing in almost concealed her completely.
“How are you doing,” Ayumi asked,
“I could live like this,” Katara chuckled, “and yet this bathing suit is more revealing than my under-things.”
Ayumi chuckled, and Katara actually smiled.
“So why were you so eager to invite me in,” Katara asked, “I mean, this is great and all, it’s just that I don’t feel like I belong here.”
“Well, said Ayumi, “because there was a young man who passed by here that was really nice, and he said he really wished that we could have met his sister. He was only here for a night before he had to move on, but he mentioned that he had a mother and sister named Katara.”
Katara turned and directly faced Ayumi
“Hold it,” she exclaimed, “you met my brother?”
“Sokka” she replied, “Was that his name”
“Aye that’s him!” Katara exclaimed, “I... I can’t believe you met him!”
“He was a really nice guy,” Ayumi replied, “I really liked him.”
Katara didn’t know what to say. On one hand, she was excited, on the other hand, she knew that he was long gone by now, as was expected. The water helped keep her power from building up, as right now she of course had also taken her arm braces off. Normally when she was frustrated it would show on her arms in the form of flames.
“Don’t worry, Katara” said Ayumi, “this war shouldn’t last too much longer. Your brother is a fine warrior. I know he will return alive.”
“That’s the only thing that gives me the will to live,” Katara replied, “is me knowing that my mother and brother are still out there. If my brother dies, it’s over for me. He was and is my all.”
“He must have taken really good care of you,” said Ayumi
“He did,” Katara replied, plunging her head under the water to get her hair wet again, “he was the one to help me get a little control over my energy. He’d be the one to heal me when I hurt myself.”
“You hurt yourself,” Ayumi asked, “why?”
Katara climbed out of the spa and walked out into the courtyard, still clad in her green bathing suit. Ayumi followed her, for Katara was going to show her.
“Try this and tell me it doesn’t hurt,” she chuckled. She pointed her arms upward, leaned slightly backwards and then blew an enormous burst of flames out of her arms that literally blew up in her face, knocking her backwards, sending her sprawling into the grass.
“Oh my,” Ayumi exclaimed, running over to her, “Are you alright?”
“Aye,” Katara chuckled, “just a little dazed, and a bit tired—nothing out of the ordinary.”
“Why did you push yourself so hard?” she asked,
“I didn’t” Katara replied, “That’s about my average. When I said I was overpowered, I meant it. Those braces I usually have on my arms help control it a little better though”
“No wonder you’re so tired,” said Ayumi, “you poor thing. Why don’t you lie down and rest? I’ll ensure that you remain undisturbed.”
“Alright,” Katara shrugged, “you know, you really don’t have to pamper me like this. I’m just another normal person.”
“I know I don’t,” Ayumi replied, “but you’re different. You’re not a normal person. You’re friendly. I can see it in your eyes.”
Katara shrugged, smiling slightly as she curled up in one of the beds and covered herself up, “whatever you say.”
Ayumi chuckled, “you’ve got a good sense of humor too.”
Katara chuckled and then rolled over. The only thing she remembered doing was waking up a while late to see her clothes folded neatly on her nightstand, but other than a quick glance, Katara just remained asleep where she was for who knows how long.
~Katara~
