savedtheworld | Book 16: Drained [Voice/Action]

[Voice]

[It had been easy enough to assume that Sokka had still been kidnapped - that he'd be back any day. It was worrying, but there was still the assurance of his eventual return. Except that eventually, his room was checked. And found empty. There wasn't even a sign of Foo Foo Cuddlypoops. It was hard to believe - when Aang had first gotten to Luceti, he had gotten used to Sokka being the man with the answers. And also a beard. He was like a big figure of the town. And now he was gone. Katara wasn't in a state to announce it herself, so Aang eventually did it. Making it quick and to the point.]

Hi everyone. This is Aang. I'm sorry to tell you all this, but Sokka has gone back home. I know we're all gonna miss him. I already do. But at least at home... the last time I saw him there, he was happy.

[Action]

[Aang spends some time over by the statue of Sokka's head located House 56, studying the image of his best friend. He tries to meditate and tries to imagine the inspiring words that Sokka would usually say. Because he's still afraid of being around other people. And right now, the people dear to him may need him more than ever.]

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

Isn't there, though? A Fire Lord has to know how to handle important decisions without wasting his people's time.

Badgermoles are great, but they don't know what it's like to make a snowman or snow angels, and that's sad.

Yep, he's the windiest!

But you're not a fire lord yet! [He had insisted on not being called the fire lord yet in the past, so Aang's holding him to that.] And I think the real important part isn't whether or not you take time for something - it's about doing what's right for you and the people, even if it takes time to decide that.

In that case, I guess it's not any surprise you contacted him.

[ Because airbender. ]

Yep! Me and him, we really get along well. Like two cat owls of a feather we flock together!

Two...cat owls?

[ W h a t. ]

Yep!

[A quick pause.]

Oh! Are you from one of those worlds that has the Zoobooks versions of animals?

Um...I'm not sure. What are Zoobooks?

You have more people from your future? I don't think I've ever heard about anyone from the same world that far apart -- at least, not so far as to have descendants. But maybe I just haven't been talking to the right people.

You would say that, coming from a temple full of monks.

Oh! Well the Zoobooks are the books that are about all the different half-animals that Earth has... like cats, or owls!

I guess you haven't. There have been a lot around, and all of them who're still here live with us. There's Korra, and Bolin and Asami. A guy named Tahno was here too. And... Tenzin and Jinora and Lin were here too... for a little bit.

Y-you don't have to say it like it's a bad thing.

That's...a lot of people. I guess I haven't been paying attention. ...Are they all from different times?

They're all from the same time. Some of them were just separated by... either a few weeks or a few months. I mean - Korra's the next Avatar. And Jinora is Ikki's sister, and Tenzin - he's their dad. [He's not sure if it's for the better or worse that he didn't get to know him well yet.]

You should fix that.

[And talking is annoying, so he's just going to switch to writing things out now.]

No one expects smiles. It's too early for that. But you should definitely be there for each other.

[She doesn't entirely get the Avatar connection -- she knows that Aang is the Avatar, but she doesn't know anything about living in Korra's head. But the family one? That she can figure out.]

Oh. So...they weren't around for very long, were they?

[Sigh] My uncle would probably say the same thing too, though.

... You're really strong, Aang. I don't think I could be that strong. I get really, really hurt when I have to leave people I like.

Yeah? What's so great about a snow-anything?

No. It was less than a month. [He says very quietly. He's trying to remember what Jinora's smile looked like.]

How about... snow-everything? I don't see what's not fun about snow. It's like clouds you could play with in your hands! [At least thinking about the lighter topic is helpful.]

Arietta... I think that you can be that strong. Maybe you already are. It's natural to be hurt a lot... when you leave the people you like. But strength's about keeping on going with your life. It's not forgetting them, but being happy for them, because they're not there to be happy themselves. For me... I don't think I would've been this strong if it weren't for my friends. So the more good people you surrounded yourself with - the more strength you can get from their support.

[Aang doesn't write when he doesn't have to, but with how nervous his phobia has been making him, he follows the switch just so that his sentences aren't so broken.]

I understand.

Trust me, Shikmaru. I want to do what I can. But I don't know if I should do it right now. I want to really be there for them. And I'm worried that it might make things worse if I'm really afraid around them.

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Book 16: Drained [Voice/Action]

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