Backdated to the 7th

[markofthebrave]

[It happened quickly. One moment she was fourteen, her back aching as the wings stretched across scars, the next she was seventeen and the relief of pain was almost dizzying. The memories sorting in and through her were easily as dizzying.

She fell down to her knees as her two lives collided and when she rose, both sets of memories were confused, but she knew who she was. And she wanted to see her family. She didn't walk. She ran all the way home.

Much later, she made a post to her journal, filtered to her friends.]

Hi, everyone. I know that I don't say this enough and... I know that this month is kind of stressful. But I just wanted to say how glad, how really glad I am to have met all of you. I don't say it enough. You're all people I've come to rely on, and I'm so glad you're in my life.

...and I remember you now, just in case you were wondering. I hope I'll see you all very soon.



((OOC: If you're wondering if you're on her friends filter, you probably are! If you want to run into her resuming her normal routine the 8th-9th, that's OK too!))

Comments

[herotypical]

"...Aang in particular," she hazarded. "He seemed to be having a hard time of it. I felt like a villain, explaining to him that a few weeks wasn't even the longest one of these things could persist."

[markofthebrave]

A shadow crossed her face, "...though he's been here the longest this time, he really hasn't been here very long. And Aang feels responsible."

[herotypical]

"I guess...I guess these are Luceti-specific learning curves we each gotta drift through on our own schedule."

[markofthebrave]

"That's probably the best way to look at it."

And Katara was all about looking at things the best way right now.

[herotypical]

"Do you mind if I ask a question? Y'know -- about the last few weeks?"

[markofthebrave]

"...no? Go right ahead."

[herotypical]

"Who were you? I mean -- you were you, obviously. A version of you. But...which version?"

[markofthebrave]

"I was... a version that was pretty close to who I am, actually."

[herotypical]

Cautiously: "Didn't really feel like that. But I'm listening."

[markofthebrave]

"There was... a time... when I was much younger that I had a choice of running or trying to fight. And I ran. And I - she - didn't. And she lost that fight terribly."

[herotypical]

A release of breath. No, having to make a choice like that and living with its consequences? Didn't sound like the two Kataras were all that close to each other. Or so Buffy believed.

But she wondered if Katara wanted for them to be.

"Brings new meaning to the phrase run to live to fight another day."

[markofthebrave]

Katara smiled faintly, "We were big fans of that course of action."

Get the job done and if you fail get out while you still can - that seemed like half of their adventures since leaving the North Pole.

[herotypical]

"It's a beyond-valid strategy." And one she's only learned the true value of in relatively recent years. "That girl, though. I'm sorry I couldn't do more for her."

[markofthebrave]

"I don't really know if you - or anyone - could have helped me. Especially here."

[herotypical]

"Helped? Maybe not. Probably not. But I could've made her feel more...welcome."

These were the after-pangs of a Shift. Knowing now that she had purposefully withdrawn under the assurance that Katara would soon enough be herself again. Almost like criminal negligence.