Chapter Text
All Kya could feel was burning. Either the burning heat from the flames in the sky or the burning cold of the ice below her feet. The sky was black with ash and filled with the screams of her people. Kya had no idea how she’d gotten here or how any of this had happened, the last thing she remembered was having a peaceful dinner with her family.
Now, the Southern Water Tribe were running for their lives and firebenders were lighting up the night sky with their endless flames. Kya turned where she had stood frozen. Behind her, Hakoda lay still on the ground, no sign of movement or breath coming from her husband.
The brunette screamed and dove forwards, cupping his face and looking into his vacant, glassy eyes. There was a scorch across his midriff and more gruesome details that Kya couldn’t bring herself to look at. Tears dropped down onto Hakoda’s paling face and suddenly, Kya was jumping back as a stream of fire flew over her head.
Then, from within their home, more screaming.
Sokka and Katara.
With sickening panic truly setting in and grief already eating at her bones, Kya shot up from the floor and started running. She paid no mind to doors or the state of her home as she began to call out for her children.
“Katara!” She came charging into one of their living area, “Sokka, where are you? Answer me!”
There was a sob and a sneering laugh from the next room over and Kya lunged for that room. As she slammed the door open, Kya slid to a stop as she peered into the room.
Her precious, beautiful children were standing on the opposite side of the room. They were frozen still, their faces red and puffy with large tears rolling from their eyes. Firebenders were standing around them, hands filled with their raging flames and evil smirks on their faces.
“Please…” Kya’s voice was quiet, mute. She knew pleading didn’t work with these monsters but she was desperate.
With a dark, cruel chuckle and an answering scream from Kya, her world exploded into flame.
-
With a strangled scream and cold sweats, Kya awoke. She was in her warm, fur-lined bed, lying beside her completely alive husband. A husband who she had just woken up with the results of her nightmare.
Hakoda was half sitting up and halfway turned to her, worry and confusion obvious on his tired face.
“My love, what’s the matter?” Hakoda cupped a cheek to her face, “Kya, talk to me.”
It took a few moments, moments full of sniffles and choked back sobs, before looking at her husband's face. She held the hand that cupped her face, “What do we do if- what do we do when they come? When they come with a force and a number that we just can’t fight against?”
Hakoda was silent for a moment, unsure of how to answer when he honestly didn’t have an answer for his wife. There was no magic fix to the threat that loomed over them and no matter how much he trained his warriors, none of them could stand against an army of firebenders.
He pulled Kya into his arms and settled the pair of them down into the furs of their bed. Kya continued to sniffle but went willingly, sighing into her husband's embrace.
“I can’t tell you what I don’t know, moonlight. I can only advise that we pray to the Spirits for a kind and merciful future.”
Kya nodded and then shifted, pulling away from Hakoda. She pulled her nightclothes tighter around her and stood from their bed, her toes wiggling in the fur that lined their room. Her husband looked at her, a question clearly in his eyes.
She simply nodded to him, “So… let’s pray.”
Hakoda sighed deeply but followed his wife. Together, they kneeled by their window and looked out to the moon, to Tui. Silently, they prayed. Prayed for the safety of their children, of their tribe, of each other. There was serenity and strength in their worship, their dedication to their Spirits.
Neither knew how long they spent on their knees until light shone over their eyelids. Both assumed they had simply prayed until morning and now the sun had arose to take her place in the sky.
Kya was the first to open her eyes and gasped in shock. It had not been the light of the sun that glowed in front of them. Hakoda’s eyes flew open at the sound of his wife’s surprise.
Before them was a white, glowing figure. Her skin was dark, similar to the skin of their people, and her eyes a beautiful ice blue. Her brilliant white hair was half braided and the remaining half flowed freely in the midnight air.
Hakoda reached to pull Kya away from the floating specter but Kya resisted and grinned. Neither knew what to say, they simply stared up at the figure, their mouths opened wide.
The specter smiled sweetly and inclined her head to the side, “Cheiftan Hakoda, Lady Kya. I am Tui and I have heard your prayers.”
Kya gasped again and turned to hold her husband’s arm. They looked at each other, hope lighting a small flame inside their souls. Then, together, they looked back to Tui.
“Great Spirit Tui, have you come to aid us against the Fire Nation?”
The tribeswoman was unsure of the correct way to address a Spirit.
The spirit closed her eyes and shook her head with a sad smile, “I am afraid Spirit’s cannot take sides in wars, we cannot help in the way you wish.”
Her brilliant azure eyes opened then, “But there is another way that I can perhaps soothe your fears.”
Hakoda huffed and looked doubtful but Kya inched closer to the Spirit Tui, her hands clasped together, “We will gladly take any guidance you offer, Great Moon.”
Tui held both of her ethereal hands out to the married couple. Kya only hesitated for a second before grasping one glowing hand with both of her own. With a beseeching look at her husband, Hakoda hesitantly took the other hand.
“Great Spirit, could you at least explain how you plan to ‘soothe’ us?”
Kya tutted to her husband, casting an unamused glance his way but to both their surprise, Tui giggled lightly.
“Your greatest fear is the safety of children.” Tui closed her eyes, “And so, I will show you that you have little to fear for them.”