Close Encounters [with the Angel of Death]

[didorothy]

[--FROM THE HORRORS HE HAS SEEN! THERE IS NOTHING THAT WILL LET SAM TYLER FORGET THIS NIGHT!]

[But Sam himself is much quieter, still carrying a shotgun, now bleeding in darkness and starlight from his left leg]

I think I found the cause. Part of it, anyway.

[a brief, cynical smile at Josef Mengele, Zombie Overlord]

I could do with one of the healers around here first.

Comments

[didorothy]

[glances down]

When the Twins bring someone back to life, their blood turns into this.

[sifud.livejournal.com]

[Excuse her while she sort of just.... stares at you, Sam.]

[didorothy]

[rubs the heel of his palm against his neck, not looking up]

[sifud.livejournal.com]

[Squeezing momma's necklace tight.] ...how?

[didorothy]

I never asked.

[sifud.livejournal.com]

Is it just--is it only people here? I'm sorry for asking, but I need to know.

[didorothy]

[looks up at her, a sort of understanding in his expression]

It is. I'm sorry.

[sifud.livejournal.com]

No... It--I figured. Besides, even if they could, she's been dead since I was little.

[didorothy]

Doesn't change that you want her back.

[sifud.livejournal.com]

No, it really doesn't. [Pulls the necklace out of her pouch and holds it out to him.] This was my mom's. Gran-gran gave it to her, and she gave it to me. It's a Water Tribe betrothal necklace.

[didorothy]

It's beautiful.

[half reaches out his hand]

Can I--?

[sifud.livejournal.com]

Sure. [She hands it over gently and shifts so she can rest her chin on her knees.] Gran-gran was betrothed to someone from the Northern Water Tribe, a Waterbending Master who refused to teach women how to fight. She left him for that.

[Little smile] And he's the one who taught me most of my 'bending. Not the healing, but he doesn't know how to.

[didorothy]

[smiles briefly, turning the necklace over in his hands]

Sounds like a great woman, your Gran.

[sifud.livejournal.com]

She is. She pretty much raised me and Sokka--my brother. We were the oldest kids left in the village after the raids and after dad and the men left to help fight in the war.

[didorothy]

[frowns]

What's this about raids and a war?

[sifud.livejournal.com]

It--right. I keep forgetting. [Sigh] It's just... the war. It's been going on for almost one hundred years. The Fire Nation against everyone else.

They pretty much wiped out the Southern Water Tribe when my Gran was a kid. The Air Nomads were all killed near the beginning. Except Aang. He escaped. And now they've taken Ba Sing Se, the last Earth Kingdom stronghold. We're... going to attack the Fire Nation capital in a few weeks, with Aang.

[didorothy]

I hope you don't mean just you and, what, your brother and Aang.

[sifud.livejournal.com]

Of course not. [There is an implied 'Do you think we're stupid?']

[didorothy]

And I'm sure you won't listen if I say you're too young to fight off what sounds to be a rather formidable army.

[sifud.livejournal.com]

Aang is twelve. Sokka is a year older than me, and he came up with the plan. Toph--she's here somewhere--is the most powerful Earthbender in the world and she's younger than me. I'm a Waterbending Master.

[She holds her hand out for the necklace] We've been traveling and fighting for almost a year. The allies we've made are going to help us, and my dad is going to lead the attack.

[didorothy]

[holds it back out to her]

Don't get hurt, then.

[sifud.livejournal.com]

[Takes it back, hesitates, and then slips it back into the pouch.] I can't promise that.

[didorothy]

Sure you can. Promise you'll head back here like I did, if anything happens. Time doesn't pass while you're here so it won't hurt anyone at home. You could even take a kip here, if you needed. And as long as you don't throw recklessly throw yourself into every sort of danger and keep a good head on your shoulders, whatever happens, the people here should be able to take care of you.

[sifud.livejournal.com]

And what about my brother and Toph? If just decide to come here in the middle of a fight, and they don't come with, what happens to them? It's their world, their home, too. I'm not going to leave them alone.

[didorothy]

That's never been a problem with the Guv or Annie and me. Do you think you'll be more help to them injuried and tired?