ANYTHING BUT; avatar the last airbender

chapter 4

[act one; chapter four     -     tears in the earth]

     When Lian finds herself ready enough, stable enough in the mind, she leaves her chambers, only to find that, after so long of debating, the group had split up, off to do the things that had been in the process for too long. Sokka has gone to meet with his father, Toph with her mother, Aang with the guru, which leaves Katara and Lian alone in a new hell.

    The two girls had found themselves gravitating towards one another, glued to one another's sides, which included the meeting with the Council of Five to oversee the planning of their invasion of the Fire Nation. They would be there, the two of them, speaking on behalf of themselves and the others, and, perhaps, even the rest of the world.

    "General Fong's base will serve as the launching point for the attack. In exactly two months, the Army and the Navy will invade the Fire Nation on the Day of the Black Sun."

    Katara laughs—even a small smile pulls at Lian's lips—when Momo tackles the war pieces, knocking them down as if they were dominos. "Or we could send Momo to do some damage. 'Cause the...sorry." She falls silent, looking over at Lian. The older girl shakes her head, hiding her laugh as she forces herself to remain neutral, her expression falling forcibly flat.

    With a flick of his hand, General How rights the pieces, standing them upright once more. "All we need is the Earth King's seal in order to execute the plan." He pushes it forward then, the scroll sliding on a slab of stone, until it stopped just before the Princess.

    She picks it up, holding it in her hand. She looks down at it, the missing seal, and back up at the General. She nods, only once. "I'll make sure he sees this right away, I swear it." She looks down at her friend as she stands, putting her free hand out. "Let's go, we've got places to be." And then, with one final glance, she looks around the large table, then at the man at the head, saying, "Thank you, General How."

    And then they were gone, beginning their walk back to the castle. While they linger in a comfortable silence, Lian knows that Katara mulls over two possibilities. Ask whatever question is plaguing her, or remain in silence. But, finally, she speaks, looking over at the older of the two.

    "Lian," she starts carefully. "We missed you last night. And this morning. I was just...not to pry, but, I was just wondering if you were okay?"

    Was she okay? No one had asked Lian that question before. Not really. Not in years, at least. She pondered it. Pondered if she really was okay, or if she wasn't. In some ways, she figured she was both. She tiptoed that line between okay and not okay. While knowing the truth, now, was painful, she also felt relieved. She felt as though one of her shackles had become undone, as if the shadows had begun to flee from within her. She looked over at her new friend, at Katara, and nodded slowly, hoping she would understand the uncertainty. The pondering of it all.