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Aang giggled as one of the other kids chased him across the courtyard. They were playing air tag. Which in all honesty wasn’t that different from regular tag only you were allowed to use airbending to propel yourself forwards. Then, Aang felt a small droplet fall on his head. He glanced up at the once blue sky slowly turning gray and frowned.
The kid caught up and tagged him from behind.
“Wha-hey wait! No fair I got distracted!”
“You snoozles you loseles!” teased the younger boy.
By now some of the older kids had noticed the change in atmosphere as well. Abbot Saaul called for them to come inside. Everyone rushed to follow his orders except Aang who slowly walked forward his pouting as his eyes traced over the now gloomy abandoned courtyard.
Gyatso found him almost an hour later quietly nibbling on his fruit pie separate from the other kids.
“Aang, what’s wrong? Was Paldon in charge of cooking again?” The older master lightly ribbed.
Aang smiled wistfully, “No, it’s just….we were having a lot fun playing together outside, but then it started to rain.”
“And you don’t like the rain?”
“I didn’t think there was anything to like about the rain.”
Gyatso smiled, “There’s always something good to be found in the world. Even when it rains.”
“What do you mean?”
Gyatso smiled motioning for Aang to follow him. They stepped out onto the rain soaked balcony. The heavy downpour pelting their robes.
“See Aang. Loads of creatures appreciate the rain and all that brings. It waters the gardens, it provides the animals with water, and after every shower the earth smiles.
Aang thought for a moment admiring the flowers that brightened at refresh.
“And the rain also allows us to do one other thing.”
“Huh? Like what?”
Gyansto splashed in a puddle coasting Aang in rainwater.
“It allows to splash in rain puddles.”
Aang blinked before a wide smile spread across his face. He ran out under the awing chasing after the older man.
Maybe the rain wasn’t so bad afterall.
“Are you done yet?” Sokka groaned, already dressed in his parka and boots waiting impatiently by the door. “Girls take forever.” He muttered under his breath.
“Sokka dear, doing hair takes time and one day you might be the one doing your sister’s braids for her.” Kya scolded playfully as she finished tying up the ends. Katara swung her legs in anticipation sticking her tongue at her brother. She liked having her hair done by her mom. It was comforting.
….Although the prospects of playing in the snow did peak her interest. Finally her mom leaned down giving her a kiss on the cheek and she hopped off the small stool.
“Alright!” roared Hakoda tossing the two kids over his shoulders eliciting them to squeal in glee. “Let’s get these wiggly tiger seals outside!”
Kya smiled softly following behind her small family as they stepped out onto the snowy landscape. Both kids were gently set down in the snow. Suddenly Katatra’s eyes grew wide as saucers.
“Can we go penguin sledding?” she asked excitedly pulling on her mother’s parka.
Sokka pouted, “I’m too old for penguin sledding!”
Hakoda smirked, “Don’t suppose you’re too old to play warrior then as well?”
“N-No!” Sokka stammered, “Warrior is a cool older kid game.”
“Alright then! Off we warriors go!”
“And in the meantime,” Kya whispered to her daughter, “We can go sledding.”
Katatra nodded excitedly dragging her mother by hand. A series of otter penguins waddled about looking at the newcomers curiously. Katara ran up to one trying to hug it.
And promptly fell flat on her face. Huffing, she shook the snow out of her hair glancing back at her mother who giggled with amused look on her face. She handed her daughter a fish.
“Maybe try this instead?”
Katatra held out the fish a myriad of otter penguins quickly began to approach covering the little girl’s smaller frame. She got settled on one of the penguins then looked back at her mother.
“Somthing wrong, Katrara?”
“....Do you think I’m too old to penguin sledding?”
“Last I checked penguin sledding is for kids, and you and Sokka both are definitely still kids. Even if he thinks otherwise.”
Katara smiled, as her mom saddled on a otter penguin beside her. “Ready?”
“1….”
“2….”
“3!”
Katra obviously being lighter immediately whooshed down the slopes. The wind whisking her hood clean off. Her cheeks rosy red from laughter as she emerged from the ice tunnels.
She paused as of two of the penguins waddled next to each other in cute pair. One of them presented a stone at other which she happily chirped at in response.
“What a cute proposal.”
Katrara turned back to her mother.
“Huh?”
“Propsal. When otter penguins are searching for a partner they present each other with shiny rocks and if the girl accepts they get married.”
Katrara wrinkled her nose at the funny concept. Penguins getting married? She couldn’t help but think of the animals in formal dress attire. She pursed her lips.
“Why do they give each other rocks then?”
“So the female penguin can see if the male penguins is good provider or whatever else she wants in partner.”
“....Will I get married?”
Kya smiled softly, “Only if you want to.”
Katrara planted her hands on her hips triumphantly. “I want my future partner to be the best penguin sledder in the world!”
Kya couldn’t hold back mirthful laugh that escaped past her lips. “I think that’s a wonderful quality to have.”
Aang couldn’t believe it.
He really was the last airbender.
The last of his people.
He forced down a lump in his throat that was becoming harder and harder to ignore. Sensing his discomfort, Momo nuzzled into his chest. Aang let out a dry chuckle petting the lemur softly. Then with a woosh of airbending he lowered himself off Appa’s back.
He landed on the ground walking his way over to bison stables. Also empty. The leftover hay singed at the edges or slightly damp from moisture. Leaning against one of the wooden doors he pulled his knees up to his chest allowing fresh tears to fall down his face.
“Aang?”
He peeked his head up. “Katrara? How’d you find me?”
“Momo came and got me.” She gestured the little lemur perched on her shoulder. He chittered before scrambling down her to have a go at some bugs creeping into a corner. Katrara lowered herself down next to Aang.
“....I’m sorry about your people. I know what it’s like to lose someone you care about.” She fiddled with her mother’s necklace.
Aang just numbly nodded. He didn’t want to think about it. He wanted someone to wake him up and tell him this was all just some bad dream.
“What was it like?” Aang turned to look at her confused. “Growing up in the temples, I mean.”
“Oh, well…the southern and northern temples were entirely for boys and the eastern and western temples were for girls. Everyone was raised communally but sometimes we’d see the others at airball games as such.”
“That’s the game you and Sokka were playing, right?”
“Yeah! It’s better if you have more players though our games could get surprisingly intense. And the winning team always got fruit pies that night for dessert! You and Sokka would have loved it!” Aang paused, “....I think they would have liked you.”
“The fruit pies?” She teased playfully.
“The other airbenders.”
He pushed himself off the ground dusting off his pants. “Besides we’re together now.”
“W-what?”
“Like you said me, you, and Sokka we’re together now. Right?” He held out a hand to help her up. She grabbed smiling “Right.”
And maybe it was just his mind playing tricks on him. Or a reflection on moonlight in the darkness but he sworn he saw her cheeks tinge a slight red at holding his hand.
Katrara glazed up at the full moon her palms resting on the damp grass. She thought of the earlier in the day. About that man. About her mother. About her choice to show mercy.
“Couldn’t sleep?”
She shook her head, but didn’t protest when Aang lowered himself on the ground next to her. It was silent for a moment then-
“Seeing him in person was different than I expected.”
“Yeah?”
“Even when I was a kid I knew I’d never be able to forgive that man and I still don’t.”
“....Was it hard?”
“Not in the way I was expecting. You were right in the end. I couldn’t do it.” She shifted all too aware of uncomfortable topic. She cenched a handful of grass feeling slide through her fingers. “....Were you angry? When you found out what the fire nation did to your people?”
Aang was silent before responding. “Yes, but….it was more grief than anything. I-I….” he choked up then took a deep exhale and murmured something so quiet Katrara had to lean in to listen. “....I still remember seeing the skelton of Gyasto.”
“....I saw my mother’s body that day. Right after he…..” Her hands curled into fists around the grass. “Dad came running but he was too late. Sokka never saw but that was the same day I got…” She reached up rubbing her hand against the smoothing carving of her necklace.
“What was she like? Your mom, I mean? You and Sokka never talk about her outside the raids.”
“To Sokka I’m not that sure there was that much outside the raids to begin with. He dosen’t remember her like I do. She used to make the best sea prunes. She taught me how to sew and how to do my hair. She gossiped with me and grandma when the weather was harsh and dad hadn't come back with the other men from hunting yet. She…took me penguin sledding and hated when I was upset.”
“She sounds amazing.” Aang said with a soft smile.
“She was. I think you would have liked her.” A pause. “I think she would have really liked you.”
By now the tears were running freely down Katrara’s face and she couldn’t be bothered to keep water bending them away. She laid her head down on Aang’s shoulder. (When had they gotten so close?) and gazed up at the moon. She shivered and Aang wrapped his arm around her.
Silently, in dark of night with no one to hear. Katrara quietly confirmed a conversation she’d had with her mom years prior.
The salty sea breeze of Yue Bay tickled her nostrils as she admired the moonlight’s glossy shine over the calm waters. In the distance she could see the bright city lights and bustling streets a stark contrast form the peaceful calm that was their home.
Behind her she felt a familiar rustle of wind before a hand looped around her waist drawing her closer. Her gaze drifted from the water to her husband’s soft gray eyes.
“Everything okay?” He asked, trying to gauge what she’d been looking at. She shrugged, “Just admiring the horizon. It’s one of my favorite thing you know.”
She watched as his brow crinkled in confusion ever so slightly. “Since when?”
“Since now. It’s where sky meets sea, y’know.”
“Sky meets sea?”
“Like this!” She stood up on her tip toes giving Aang a soft kiss on the lips. He kissed her back gentle but no less passionate.She griped the railing tighter only pulling away when she was out of breath.
She continued her cheeks slightly red from the chilling winds. “It’s the perfect mixing of our two cultures. Of well…us.”
“Uh, oh.”
“Huh? What’s wrong?”
“I think the horizon just became my favorite thing as well.” He teased pulling her in for another kiss.