It was barely dark before the smoke began to settle.
Fires began to shrink; ash cascaded from the sky like dry, dry rain.
Peaking from behind the soot, the dust, the ashes and smoke was the moon. Glorious more now than she's ever been.

Bodies were scattered for miles.
Most dead.
Some not.

The Palace that was once so strong with power had started to crumble. Jagged rocks and stone lay broken, just as it needed to be.

It was a victory, yet it did not feel like one.

The waterbender stands still. She's tired and injured but she refuses to fall. Steady and straight she'll stay.
So many gone. So many lives. She'll have to start looking soon.

Toph was okay. Her jokes coming just as strong as before.

Aang was handling things. His heart is still beating but his headed was clouded with war.

Sokka was nursing a large arm injury and a shattered heart.

Suki hadn't made it. Her last breath was spent fighting. Fighting for freedom, for life, for everything that had to been taken.

Katara wasn't so sure about the rest.
The wind rises subtly. It plays with her hair and snatches the flap to her make shift tent. Katara stands still, staring at the moon as the end begins to set it.

Is this it? Is it all over?

She hears him groan in pain before she hears the squeak of the cot. "Don't get up." She says quietly, but sternly, towards her patient. She never moves. Never turns. She is standing still.
The squeak is louder and she can hear the weight of his feet hit the ground. He groans again, this time quieter.

Stubborn as always.

"You're injured." He says softer than he wants to. Katara is covered in slices and burn marks. She's lost feeling hours before, she thinks. "I'll fix them later. How is your chest?" She asks, still never moving. He inches closer slowly, almost standing behind her now.

"Still painful to breathe. But overall, much better." He answers.

She closes her eyes with relief. She can feel his shoulder resting against hers. He too is looking out at the land he had once called home. Ruins everywhere. Smoke drifting through the city. Blood so red you can see it from miles away. He feels no regret.

He glances at Katara's form. She looks like stone. Tattered, weathered, but sturdy. He slowly grabs her hand and gives it a light squeeze. She returns the gesture.

"You need some rest Kat." He sounds just like her brother.

"No Zuko. You do. I need to find the others. Need to find clean water and more bandages. Need to start healing them." The last bit comes out softer than the start. She can feel her weary eyes start to burn. She is exhausted and he can see it.

Zuko leans in close to her ear.

"Come. We'll rest together." He offers. It's almost a whisper.

She almost says no again. Almost. He is right. They need their rest. It's been a long, long stretch of days. 3? 5? She's not sure anymore. She can't fight him as he softly pulls her towards the tent, careful to not touch her wounds. They've been fighting for too long.

Too long.

Inside the tent is one single cot, a basin of water and small make shift supplies Katara could find to use as wraps and bandages. She watches Zuko lie down on the cot, scooting all the way to the edge.

She see's the new scar.

Pink, puffy, and still fresh but closed. She had worked tirelessly for hours to ensure his wound would seal. She had almost lost him.

She drops to her knees, light as air. Her eyes never leave the scar. It'll be there forever. A reminder of her foolishness. A reminder of what she's done, what she has caused. It leaves a burning taste in her mouth. She shakes her head from side to side. Closing her eyes before the water comes out.

Tears? I have tears left to shed?

Her hands fly to hide her face and she practically winces. She's accidentally grazed her head wound. His warm hands grab hers. Gently, he pulls them away from her face. She's looking at him with tears and guilt.

She'll never forgive herself.
He see's that. He knows the feeling all too well.

Before she utters a word, he gently pulls her chin towards his face. His lips touch hers. They're so soft. It's a gentle kiss and theres nothing sexual about it. Instead it tells her everything she needs to know.

I did it because I love you.

She pulls back for air but stays close to his lips.

"Saving you is something I will never ever have to twice about."

She's crying again. Crying because it's over, crying because she hasn't slept in days, crying because of Suki, crying because right now that is all she wanted to hear.

He urges her to come lay on the cot with him. She doesn't hesitate. He pulls her to his chest, his beautifully scarred chest, and she is asleep before she can feel the guilt creep up again.

In the words of Slim Shady,
"I'm back. [hehe]"

This small piece was inspired by a 3 am session listening to scores while Media Encoder took it's sweet, sweet time. ;]
But really it was Lily's Theme by Alexandre Desplat [From Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows score]
I had it on repeat and it's just so, so serene. It helped me paint this crystal clear image.

Well guys, it's been a long 3+ years since I've added anything to my drabbles/stories/etc.
Since then I've met my soon to be husband, moved across country, finished school and started working in my field.
Life has been insane BUT I've finally found a few days of down time to start adding more work to this.

My writing style has changed. I try not to use unnecessary adjectives but I promise I'm not blowing smoke up my bum.
I apologize for the format. I'm still getting into the swing of things.

Remember!
No reviews necessary.
Just for your enjoyment :]