Sea and Sky

Chapter 9: There It Is

Sea and Sky
Chapter 9: There It Is

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To say the dinner had passed both painfully and awkwardly was an understatement. Katara had wished to speak with Aang the second she had laid eyes on him, but between the distraction of explaining to her friends what had happened on the island and the dinner itself, the chance to speak with him privately never occurred.

And perhaps, she thought, he didn't want to talk to her. Through the evening he'd spoken barely a few words to her, nothing more than a simple greeting and to make sure she was okay. A strange mixture of dread and shame spread across her body as she watched him choose a seat opposite her, instead of next to her.

Even across the table he'd avoided her gaze and focused on the food and people around him. She noticed he'd even made a little conversation with the girl, the girl who'd she'd never before met. Katara had so many questions, two of them - where had this girl come from and why was she with Aang?

It has been told to Katara that the girl's name was Rana and she'd come to the island with her friends as she knew Kilic and his family. Perhaps the girl had come to act as an ambassador of sorts, to link the two groups together with awkward introductions and conversation.

As the dinner had drawn to an end, Aang stood from the table and excused himself. "Kilic, thank you for having us. The food was delicious. Is there a barn nearby that my bison might be able to use for the night?"

Kilic offered Aang a genuine smile as he spoke. "Of course. At the back of the villa there's a stable where the horses are kept. Please take him there."

Aang nodded his head and gave a small bow before taking hold of his gilder and leaving the dining hall. Panic registered on Katara's face as she watched him retreat from the room. Desperately, she looked from each one of her friends to the other, before her eyes locked with Kilic's.

Silently, Kilic craned his head towards the door Aang had just exited, motioning for her to follow him. Katara dipped her head in understanding as she wiped her mouth with a cloth. As she sat the cloth onto the table, she slowly stood from her seat.

Before she could speak, Toph cut her short. "Go talk to him Sugar Queen. Don't even tell us good night. Just. Go."

Tears pricked at Katara's eyes as she practically jumped from her chair. Sokka let out a long sigh as he watched his sister retreat from the room. "Those two have a lot of issues..."

Suki frowned as she flicked his ear. "They'll be fine. Don't be so negative."

Wincing in pain, Sokka patted at this ear before frowning. "Yeah, yeah..."

Night had fallen over the island, the heat of day unrelenting even in the early hours of evening. The gravel crunched under Katara's sandals as she slowly approached the stable, she could hear from a distance Appa's groans.

Wiping her hands against her robes, Katara rid her hands of the perspiration that formed with her nerves. Her stomach lurched and her heart thrummed with anxiety and dread as she grew closer to the large barn. She paused for a moment a the barn doors, listening to the activity inside.

Aang grumbled to himself as he unlatched the straps of Appa's saddle, and with all the strength his bending would allow, pushed the saddle off his bison. Appa let out an appreciative sound at being freed of the large dressing.

Still outside, Katara listened closer. Aang continued to huff unhappily as he tended to his animals. Waiting a few more seconds, she willed herself the strength and words she needed to face him.

Gently, she pulled at the door, giving herself just enough space to slip through. At hearing the large wooden doors creak, Aang's head shot up as he hefted a large bale of hay towards Appa. The bale fell from his hands as he watched Katara enter.