Nightfall

Nineteen

Katara glanced around her, listening intently to the forest. Strange noises rose up from her right, so she held her arms up. Her one hand gripped the sword Sokka managed to get at the cornucopia. With each step, she remained silent. She didn't want to scare the animals near her because they were about to become her dinner.

She crouched next to a tree and saw two deer chewing on some of the grass that grew from the dirt. That would definitely be enough for her and Sokka. It would probably be more than enough. She just hoped that they weren't infected with anything.

Katara launched herself at the closest deer, running the sword through its chest. She ripped the sword out of the deer as the other one scampered away. She sucked in a deep breath and watched as the blood dropped from it's gaping wound, and the tears burned her throat when it fell to the ground. She quickly dropped down and grabbed a leg, turning away from the poor creature. 

Katara wished she could have been quieter, but she couldn't help but allow the dead animal to crunch through the underbrush of the forest. She finally made it back to Sokka and she collapsed onto the ground, holding her one hand to her chest. "I will never be killing another animal again," she said, grimacing in pain. Her hand was throbbing slightly from using it, but she wasn't sure what to do with her wounded hand. 

"This is necessary," Sokka said, scooting forward. His one ankle was swollen and black and blue, looking terrible. "I can skin it if you want."

"Please." Katara turned away from her brother and the animal, grabbing her water pouch. Before they had left the cave, Katara had filled the pouch up with snow. It should be melted by now, but she didn't know what she could do with it. An idea struck her, though, but she wasn't sure if it would work.

She opened the pouch and lifted her hand up into the air, the water slowly rising up. It applied itself to her skin and she took a deep breath, closing her eyes. She concentrated on the aching pain in her knuckles, drawing the pain away and into the water. 

The water dropped away from her hand and Katara opened her eyes. She flexed her fingers, a smile growing across her face. There was no pain whatsoever! She stared at her hand in awe, laughter bubbling out of her lips. "What are you laughing at?" Sokka snapped. 

Katara scrambled up, running over to Sokka. She made sure not to look at the deer as she waved her hand in front of Sokka's face. "Do you see anything different?"

"You're acting like a lunatic."

Katara scowled, crossing her arms over her chest. "Are you serious?"

"Very."

She rolled her eyes, shaking her head. "I just healed my hand, you dummy." He stared up at her, a frown on his face. "You don't believe me."

"No, I don't believe you," Sokka agreed.

"Here, let me show you what I'm talking about."

She took the remaining water and brought it to his swollen ankle. He jerked away from her and cried out in pain when he slammed his ankle into a tree stump. "Be quiet," she snapped. "Do you want people to find us?"

"I'd rather have people find us then be here with the crazy person you are becoming."

"Just let me try," Katara said. "While you skin the deer, I'll try to heal your ankle. How's that sound?"

He grumbled something before focusing his stare back on the deer. Katara took that as a yes, so she gently placed her watery hands on his ankle. She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. As she breathed out, she thought about the water and it's healing properties. A gasp alerted her that she had succeeded for the second time that day.