Carved In Rock || ATLA

Call Of Silence

Lake Laogai Continued

"You will know you're reborn tonight, must be ragged but I'll stay by your side. Even if my body is bleached to the bones, I don't want to go through that ever again." - Hiroyuki Sawano

Trigger Warning: Mentions of mental health and thoughts of death that may be upsetting to some.

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Like a scene right out of a nightmare, Jet emerged from the shadows of a back alleyway with two all too familiar swords strapped to his back. Katara would've almost rather come face to face with Zuko, at least he never bothered hiding his demons. As he inched slowly closer Mushu lunged across the girls' shoulders with his teeth bared. The sudden change in his normally peaceful demeanor snapped Katara back into reality long enough to go on the defensive.

She didn't trust him and it broke Jet's heart. He had done this to himself and damn if he didn't want to go back in time and change it all but the anger in his eyes made him relive his shame all over again. He wasn't sure when or what exactly had managed to show him the error of his fucked up ideology but he was thankful something or someone had managed to get through to him. Maybe it had been her brother, so similar to Jet and yet so very different at the same time. He couldn't believe there had been a time he had sunk so low. But now the spirits had presented him with the perfect chance to repent for his sins and he intended to take advantage of it.

"I think I can help you."

Katara wouldn't want his help if he were the last person alive. With an angry cry, she sent the waters of the canal into a raging wave and sent it crashing towards the former Freedom Fighter. The attack hit him square in the chest, pushing him a ways back from her.

"Katara, I've changed!" He pleaded.

"Tell it to some other girl, Jet!" She argued. The water at her feet turned to icy daggers to send hurtling toward his face.

Jet drew his swords and used them to block the shards that threatened to pierce his skin. "I don't want to fight you." He told her as he was slowly forced back against the alley wall. "I'm here to help!"

To show his intentions of peace Jet dropped his swords and let them clatter to the ground, much to Katara's confusion. When all seemed safe the boy reached behind his back. Before he could show his hand the fabric of his sleeve was pinned to the wall, daggers of ice holding him firmly in place as the waterbender before him glared on.

Having heard the commotion and the sound of rushing water the rest of the ragtag group of teens came running to their friends' aid. Sokka was relieved to see his sister seeming to be alright though the rage pouring out of her was nearly tangible.

"Katara, what is it?" He asked when he was finally at her side, too busy checking her over to notice not just two friends with them now but three.

"Jet's back."

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"Leaves from the vine, following so slow. Like tiny fragile shells, drifting in the foam. Little soldier boy, come marching home." Aelita sang softly through her tears as she moved to gently close the eyes of a dying mother. With no more fight left to give, Ikuku took her final breaths in Akira's arms.

The two women had already made as much of their piece as either could at the moment with one another. Aelita knew there was nothing she could do to save Ikuku; not that she hadn't tried. Tears were water and Aelita felt as if she had cried enough of them to fill an entire basin but she couldn't bend the liquid to her beck and call as it normally would. There may have been the smallest glint or shine beneath the surface but not nearly enough to heal that much damage. If it were her spirit waters then maybe, just maybe, but Long Feng had confiscated that and her blade both when his men subdued her. Aelita met the fourth person she couldn't save.