Aang and Katara - A Wedding Tale

Chapter 18: The Cave of Two Lovers Part 2

Authors Note:
Sorry it's been a while but I live! Kinda. So yeah, GCSE's are ✨fun✨ I've only got one exam left and it's tomorrow, but after I can rejoice knowing I can forget all about Science, An Inspector Calls and Romeo and Juliet quotes, and a bunch of other stuff I've already forgotten (it has not taken long), with a 2 month long summer. And you know what that means: more time to procassinate! I mean... Write... Yes... Write...

Katara's Point of View
It was around midday by the time we reached the entrance to the cave. The sun shyly pecking out behind a tuft of white clouds. The Kalo mountain range looming above us. As we dismounted Appa, and grabbed our stuff, Aang once again fumbled around his pockets and breathed a sigh of relief. I had notice him growing quieter as we drew closer to the cave but I shrugged it off as pre-mission jitters... Even though we have done this a thousand times before.

"Hey Aang, you alright?" I asked quietly throwing a bag of supplies down to him. He looked momentarily dazed as the question sunk in.
"Oh yeah. Yeah. I'm good. You?"
"I'm fine. Sorry you just seem a bit preoccupied and I just wanted to check your definitely okay." I added chucking down the bag of spare clothes. He chuckled.
"I promise you I'm okay. Just a little tired from running about trying to win bets." He replied giving that little crooked smile, he did look tired though. "Anyways we should probably get going, the others are waiting for us." I nodded and threw the last bag down and jumped off Appa. Aang sent a little air ball cushioning my landing.

We headed over to the others just outside the mouth of the cave, looking at the exposed rocks on the side of the mountain. Sokka then pointed to a little symbol in the wall, Zuko found another. As it turned out etched into the walls of the cave entrance, was the names of those that came before: some initials within little hearts; some elemental symbols - there was even an air symbol partly hidden behind some moss - that nearly made Aang cry; some chalk faces; and the odd scorch marks. Little remains of the past. Little remains of friendships. Little remains of relationships. Little remains of people who may not even be here anymore. Little remains proving to the world they existed once.

It nice to think these people can be remembered, even if its only by a little carving in a mountain.
"Hey guys why don't we do one?" Sokka asked, pointing to a small empty patch in the field of carvings.
"Yeah. I have a feeling we are going to want to remember today." Toph added with a sly grin, elbowing Aang in his side, before he blushed madly. What are they on about?
"Ha, yeah," he added nevously, "So do you wanna do it by hand or bending?"
"Both, both is good." Sokka nodded. So Toph and Aang set about bending in the intricate element symbols, Suki carved the small circle, whilst Sokka carved in the date, and Zuko and I started carving in our names. It was hard to try and carve solid rock with only a small drop of water, but once I got into a rhythm I even started to go quicker than Zuko with his swords.

In total it took us about 5 minutes, but it was worth it. It was nice to stand back and see our stamp on the mountain. All four nations symbols protected in their circle. All four nations connected. All four nations equal. Aang wrapped his arm around my shoulder, and pulled me in close. "I see you just wrote Aang, thanks." He whispered in my ear, his breath tickling the side of my face.
"Your more than welcome Mr Avatar." I replied sarcastically booping him on the nose. He just shrugged it off and continued the embrace, all the while looking at our mark on the world. I nuzzled deeper into his side, feeling a cool lump in his right pocket. I raised my eyebrow but he didn't see it.

We stood like that for a good few minutes, just enjoying the moment, untill Sokka started getting eaten by bat-mosquitos and we decided it was best to just move on. In order to cover the most ground to find the supply route, we split off in teams: me and Aang; Zuko and Toph; Suki and Sokka, who were given a map so they didn't get lost. After a sly remark from Toph that she was finally getting her life changing field trip with Zuko, we were off. We were taking the main middle path that led to the heart of the cave, based on the assumption that the criminals were dropping the goods off at one end, leaving them in the tomb, then another group was picking it up from the other side. The others were mainly just making sure nothing was missed.