Osore (Complete)

Helpless

"Mom! I think she heard me!"

Su came running into the room, Kya and Jinora joining them not long after. They had started taking turns sitting with Lin. Opal had taken a shift and had taken Lin's hand when her Aunt had said her name. She immediately called to her but there was no further response and she had jumped violently a few moments later.

"She said my name."

Kya knelt down next to Lin and check her over. There was no change. In fact, her pulse seemed weaker than before. She had tried her best to keep her body going. Feeding her broth and water a couple times a day and keeping her clean and warm. But it was starting to take a physical toll on her.

"This isn't working. We need to try something else."

"What else should we-"

"I don't know! But we need to do something! Lin would give her own life to save any one of us, the least we can do is save her this one time."

Su didn't recoil at Kya's outburst. She understood the frustrations and she couldn't imagine how hard it must be to see the woman she loved in such distress. They all just felt so helpless. Kya looked to Su with guilt and noticed a look on the woman's face she hadn't seen before.

"What is it?"

"I was just thinking that I wished my mother was here."

She laughed dryly as she sat in the chair by Lin's bed.

"I haven't wished to see my mother in ages. She's not even someone you want around when you're looking for comfort but I can't shake the feeling that she might be able to help."

Kya had only seen Toph a handful of times since she retired to the swamp. Though, she knew she still kept tabs on her family through the spirit vines that connected the entirety of the world.

Spirit vines.

"Su! The spirit vines! You don't think they could help, do you?"

Su's eyes lit up with hope for the first time since arriving on the island, the suggestion sparking something in her. She stood suddenly, blinking at Kya as her mind worked in overdrive.

"Maybe... it can't hurt to try. Opal and I can fly to the swamp and see if my mother can help."

Kya nodded to her as she watched her quickly leave the room with Opal. She knelt down next to Lin, holding her hand against her lips.

"Just hold on, Lin."

____________________________

Lin didn't know how she wasn't dead. One minute she was falling through the air and the next she was waking up covered in mud. She sat up and looked around. She was in a... swamp.

Mom.

She got up, once again feeling a small glimmer of hope as she made her way to small cave opening. Her mother wasn't known for her warmth but that was okay with Lin. She would even take her sarcastic criticism right now, anything to feel normal again.

The cave was dimly lit as entered and she took care to not startle her mother, though she imagined she already knew she was here. It was impossible to sneak up on the woman and she was always three steps ahead.

"Lin?"

She was laying against the cave wall, propped up by a small pillow. Lin ran to her side, shifting her head so it was sitting in her lap.

"Mom, I'm here. I'm here."

She brushed the hair from Toph's face, her blank eyes looking to her.

"Lin, is that you?"

"Yes, mom. It's me."

She coughed and Lin was startled to see blood mixed with saliva spray out. She felt a new wave of fear as the daunting realization hit her, Toph was dying.

"Lin?"

She stifled a sob as she held her mother close to her. It was too much. She couldn't lose her too. For all their issues, her mother was an unending constant that had always been there. Lin even often wondering if she'd outlive them all. As if the universe itself wouldn't dare take Toph Beifong unless she herself willed it. And yet, reality was here.

"I'm so sorry mom. I should've forgiven you sooner, we could have had more time. Please..."

"What? Lin, did you say something? I can't hear you."

"I'm sorry. I love you. I love you so much."

Toph didn't respond, apparently unable to hear Lin. A moment passed and then she let out a long, rattling breath before her chest stopped moving all together.

Lin was crying openly now as she held her mother's limp body to her. Her sobs echoed throughout the cave and she felt as if she was out of her mind, like she was an outsider watching the time go by. She didn't know how much time had passed when she heard footsteps. Looking up she saw a figure approach, a figure with glowing eyes.

"Aang?"