Left Behind

Chapter 5: Promises

“Run, Kato, run!” Rynn screamed at her little brother, rushing to his side and pulling him off the snow.

The little boy stumbled, losing his balance in their rush. Rynn panicked. She grabbed her brother under the armpits and towed him behind her as they raced across the ice.

They ran blindly. Rynn had no way of knowing how much time was passing. All she knew was that the little walls of the village weren't getting any closer in their hurry. She picked up her speed, not caring that her legs were on fire with pain, and that Kato was panting behind her, barely having time to breath. Rynn didn't even care that she had left her coat in the snow. In a matter of days it would be buried under in storm anyway.

Rynn stopped and took a few precious seconds to peel off her fur gloves and Kato's jacket. The young boy was panting heavily, covering in a thin layer of sweat, just as Rynn.

Rynn peered over his head and saw the approach of the ship. She could now see the outline of the boat, small and black against the blue horizon.

She had to make sure Sokka and Katara returned home.

She kneeled down in front of her brother and placed her hands on his shoulders.

“Kato –” she panted, her words coming out in slurs, “Go. Quick – run back to the tribe – and – tell them – what's coming –”

“What – about you?” Kato asked, his face a mask of despair. He was afraid. Somehow, that made her more scared that the approaching troops could ever make her.

“I'm gonna – slow them down –”

“No!” Kato screamed, and before Rynn could blink she was being squeezed in a tight hug. And it crushed her even more because she knew what she was about to do was selfish and more for herself than anything she'd ever done before.

“Go!” Rynn pulled away, watching tears streak down Kato's face. She stood too, and pushed him away from her, toward the village. “Go!”

“Come back!” Kato begged as he began to sprint. “Please!”

“I will!” Rynn promised.

She turned and began to run back the way she had come. Now the fierce wind was blowing against her face, whipping at her legs and tossing her skirt back. But she continued to run.

The ship got closer and closer – she could see the shape clearly now, it was the size of her fist and fast approaching.

The end of the ice sheets were approaching – the place their fathers had departed from all those years ago. The place she had told Sokka her secret. She still remembered that strong hug like it was yesterday.

Rynn stopped to catch her breath. In one movement, she peeled off her boots and dove into the water.

Goosebumps instantly errupted all over her skin. Rynn gasped into the water, shivering in the cold. She swam up, breaking the surface of the water. She gulped the air, struggling for breath as the waves tossed her under the water. The ends of her fingers and toes went red and her hair – slightly darker than Kato's – stuck to her face in knots.

Rynn tried to concentrate, but the waves broke her patience like it was nothing more than string. She rose her arms out of the water, attempting to use her Waterbending to propel herself forward, but her boyancy flipped and she found herself forced under the water again.

Calm. Stay calm! She thought to herself.

Sokka needs you.

And in that very moment, she was rushing forward, her arms making the instrictual twirling movement that sent her reeling away. Bubbles cascaded around her, marking her trail far behind.