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Description
~

His hunched form as he starred into the fire, every muscle tense, but unmoving, as if calm, but squirming. His amber eyes focused in the depths of his element as it danced before him. His voice unusually soft as he bore his soul to his newfound group of allies.

The scar on his face that was suddenly all the more obvious to her than ever, uneven shadows playing across the seared skin.

She didn't want to see any of it. But she did. It was right there in front of her, even as she starred into the dark depths of the canyon where the temple, their haven was situated.

It had happened nearly an hour before, this confession of her enemy, this fire-side revelation. But she could still see it burning into her vision. Into her soul.

Her arms crossed across her body, she starred down the misty depths, not wanting any of it. He was the enemy. He was only here for personal gain. It was only a matter of time until he betrayed them again, and she neeed to be ready and prepared for that moment.

Not caught up in his sob story. Not pitying him. If he was to have second thoughts, then she couldn't afford to have second thoughts of taking him out. The world couldn't afford it.

"You don't believe him, do you?"

Of course Toph had questioned her. She always did, she was always the rebellious one.

"And what if I don't? It's not like he ever gave me reason to do otherwise."

Katara had roughly responded, not even paying the blind girl behind her a look. Toph had merely scoffed.

"Yeah, and he burned my feet. I have my rights to hate him too. But I don't"

"He's chased us for almost a year. Because of him and what he did in Ba Sing Se, Aang died. I have MORE reason to hate him."

Katara replied haughtily. Toph sighed, shaking her head. For a few moments, silence had ruled.

"Well, as much as you don't want to admit it, Sugar Queen, everything he said back there, everything he's said since he's joined us, has been the truth."

Katara tried ignoring the young Earthbender.

"He isn't the heartless villian you're still convincing yourself he is. He's changed, Katara."

Toph had a bit of a smile on her face at that last remark, Katara was aggrevated to see as she finally paid the girl a brief glance. Her own face soured a little and she instantly turned back to sulking over the chasm.

Hearing the motion, Toph had scoffed again, setting a hand on her hip. She wasn't even facing the older girl, seeing no need to as she was blind, but the next words she said flew straight at Katara, almost as sharp as knives.

"You know Zuko, Katara. You know he's changed. You're just too afraid to care."

Katara gritted her teeth at the memory of that conversation. The worst wasn't even that Toph had said it; it was how it had effected her.

It wasn't supposed to be true. She convinced herself that Zuko hadn't changed at all. She convinced herself that he had to be watched. She convinced herself he'd slip up again...

But that face...That scarred face...It came back to her.

"You're just too afraid to care."

Katara nearly sank to her knees in her solitude.

"So what if I am?"

The only one there to hear her words was the swirling mist into which she stared.

~~~

Meant to have this up before Episode 313: Firebending Masters...And since it turns out it won't be airing until next week(hopefully), I guess I managed it

This is the piece I alluded to in my Journal last night. It came out really fast in the drawing stage. I colored it digitally, and for my level of experience with that, I'd say I'm pretty pleased with it. This is also how I'll be coloring "My Most Precious Gift" when I get to it.

---

As to the idea for this, It's basically another scenario that's been in my head since seeing The Western Air Temple.

This could be a prediction for Firebending Masters, actually.

I think that Zuko is going to be telling them soon about more of what has happened to him in the last three years. It has to be discussed, so the Gaang can have a better understanding, and bond, with their new member.

I see it as some sort of thing that you'd see them sitting around the campfire and discussing while eating dinner or something like that. That's kind of the effect I was going for on Zuko, with some of the lighting and the back ground up there.

Of course, if this happens during 313, Katara will be *very* reluctant to believe a word of it. But her nurturing and caring nature will clash with her current mantra of "Kill Zuko if he puts a toe out of line," and thus we have some angsty Katara confusion!

Then, there's Toph. Who, as has truthfully said, ALWAYS KNOWS. She'll pick up on Katara's little attitude sooner or later, and my guess is that she'll stick up for her new punching bag.

We've said that Toph would be the most grounded and sensible of the group back before WAT aired, and we were right. Well, it's not going to stop there. She'll be blunt and say what needs to be said, and it may just help out on the road to Zutara friendship.

I do so love Toph.

So, there you have it, one less idea buzzing around my brain. I love this thought, too^^

A:TLA, Toph, Katara and Zuko (c) Mike and Bryan
Art and little story (c) KyokoMari

Description
~

His hunched form as he starred into the fire, every muscle tense, but unmoving, as if calm, but squirming. His amber eyes focused in the depths of his element as it danced before him. His voice unusually soft as he bore his soul to his newfound group of allies.

The scar on his face that was suddenly all the more obvious to her than ever, uneven shadows playing across the seared skin.

She didn't want to see any of it. But she did. It was right there in front of her, even as she starred into the dark depths of the canyon where the temple, their haven was situated.

It had happened nearly an hour before, this confession of her enemy, this fire-side revelation. But she could still see it burning into her vision. Into her soul.

Her arms crossed across her body, she starred down the misty depths, not wanting any of it. He was the enemy. He was only here for personal gain. It was only a matter of time until he betrayed them again, and she neeed to be ready and prepared for that moment.

Not caught up in his sob story. Not pitying him. If he was to have second thoughts, then she couldn't afford to have second thoughts of taking him out. The world couldn't afford it.

"You don't believe him, do you?"

Of course Toph had questioned her. She always did, she was always the rebellious one.

"And what if I don't? It's not like he ever gave me reason to do otherwise."

Katara had roughly responded, not even paying the blind girl behind her a look. Toph had merely scoffed.

"Yeah, and he burned my feet. I have my rights to hate him too. But I don't"

"He's chased us for almost a year. Because of him and what he did in Ba Sing Se, Aang died. I have MORE reason to hate him."

Katara replied haughtily. Toph sighed, shaking her head. For a few moments, silence had ruled.

"Well, as much as you don't want to admit it, Sugar Queen, everything he said back there, everything he's said since he's joined us, has been the truth."

Katara tried ignoring the young Earthbender.

"He isn't the heartless villian you're still convincing yourself he is. He's changed, Katara."

Toph had a bit of a smile on her face at that last remark, Katara was aggrevated to see as she finally paid the girl a brief glance. Her own face soured a little and she instantly turned back to sulking over the chasm.

Hearing the motion, Toph had scoffed again, setting a hand on her hip. She wasn't even facing the older girl, seeing no need to as she was blind, but the next words she said flew straight at Katara, almost as sharp as knives.

"You know Zuko, Katara. You know he's changed. You're just too afraid to care."

Katara gritted her teeth at the memory of that conversation. The worst wasn't even that Toph had said it; it was how it had effected her.

It wasn't supposed to be true. She convinced herself that Zuko hadn't changed at all. She convinced herself that he had to be watched. She convinced herself he'd slip up again...

But that face...That scarred face...It came back to her.

"You're just too afraid to care."

Katara nearly sank to her knees in her solitude.

"So what if I am?"

The only one there to hear her words was the swirling mist into which she stared.

~~~

Meant to have this up before Episode 313: Firebending Masters...And since it turns out it won't be airing until next week(hopefully), I guess I managed it

This is the piece I alluded to in my Journal last night. It came out really fast in the drawing stage. I colored it digitally, and for my level of experience with that, I'd say I'm pretty pleased with it. This is also how I'll be coloring "My Most Precious Gift" when I get to it.

---

As to the idea for this, It's basically another scenario that's been in my head since seeing The Western Air Temple.

This could be a prediction for Firebending Masters, actually.

I think that Zuko is going to be telling them soon about more of what has happened to him in the last three years. It has to be discussed, so the Gaang can have a better understanding, and bond, with their new member.

I see it as some sort of thing that you'd see them sitting around the campfire and discussing while eating dinner or something like that. That's kind of the effect I was going for on Zuko, with some of the lighting and the back ground up there.

Of course, if this happens during 313, Katara will be *very* reluctant to believe a word of it. But her nurturing and caring nature will clash with her current mantra of "Kill Zuko if he puts a toe out of line," and thus we have some angsty Katara confusion!

Then, there's Toph. Who, as has truthfully said, ALWAYS KNOWS. She'll pick up on Katara's little attitude sooner or later, and my guess is that she'll stick up for her new punching bag.

We've said that Toph would be the most grounded and sensible of the group back before WAT aired, and we were right. Well, it's not going to stop there. She'll be blunt and say what needs to be said, and it may just help out on the road to Zutara friendship.

I do so love Toph.

So, there you have it, one less idea buzzing around my brain. I love this thought, too^^

A:TLA, Toph, Katara and Zuko (c) Mike and Bryan
Art and little story (c) KyokoMari