EIGHT | OUR GRIEVING LUNGS. ( the southern air temple, part two )
❝ and i should know by now it's better if i calm down,
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it's better if i lash out, instead of holding on. ❞
SOKKA SCREAMING WAS an oddly normal thing to hear in the dawn of early morning.
"AHH! GET IT OFF, GET IT OFF!"
Crystal snapped to attention from her place on Appa's saddle. Aang and Katara were snickering to each other. Peering down, she saw Sokka jumping around and screeching in his own sleeping bag. He fell forward, and the kids burst into laughter.
"Huh?" Crystal yawned. Sure, she'd woken up when Aang told them they were leaving for the Air Temple, but that didn't mean she was awake awake. She still had a good hour of discombobulation left. And because of that, she had sealed herself in a very grumpy mood for the rest of the day.
Sinking into the crook of Appa's saddle, she crossed her arms. "Oh, Appa," she murmured. Her hand dangled over the edge of his saddle, and she patted his thick fur. "Why must we leave so early all the time?"
Appa grumbled in response.
Sokka flopped onto the saddle next to her with a groan. "So. . . tired. . ." He mumbled. He reached for her so he could sleep in her lap, but Crystal pushed him away.
His eyes opened, and he flashed her a look of confusion. She wrapped her arms around her knees and swallowed. Yesterday she'd been eager to crawl into his arms to nap, but today she was back to bitterness. She still couldn't shake that fight they had earlier and felt horrible because of it. It felt like she was cheating him out of something because of what she promised him earlier—that she wasn't mad. But this morning, her gut was constantly writhing with the words he lashed the last time she'd been home.
Guess I didn't know any better.
Sokka furrowed his brows at her. She didn't usually push him away like that. "Get your own place, loser," she quipped to lighten the mood, forcing a smile.
He frowned. "You're my place."
"Not today," she drawled, curling in on herself and letting her head loll back. She caught a glimpse of his face as he scooted away. It was crestfallen—maybe a little longing.
"Aang, how long is it gonna take us to get there?" She asked the boy at the helm, trying to distract herself.
"Not long, if you're an airbender. Which I am!" He chirped, bright as ever. "I can't wait to see it again!"
