Apologies

Oh--

Oh this was awkward.

Min Ya stood frozen, only a few yards from them. She had started to approach again when the healer came out, just to hear her report.

Should she turn around? What was the proper grieving time before asking the healer for help herself? The air bender supposed she could go find another healer, but she still had no idea where, and what if they were having an even worse situation?

"I'm.. I'm sorry for your loss..."

*---------*

Katsuo arrived at the dojo, looking out for his little brother.

"Katsuo!" the young boy called out, rushing over.

"Shiro, there you are. Enjoy yourself?"

He nodded vigorously. "I did! We learned about dragons today! They were the first firebenders! So I'm gonna be like a dragon!"

The older brother gave out a weak chuckle. "I suppose you will be." He then turned his attention up to the mentors, an older woman and her son. "He hasn't been causing trouble, has he?"

A Numbness Worse Than the Cold....

As Lifen was pulled out of the hut she struggled against the two women. "No! You don't understand! That's my mother in there!" she pleaded. When the young woman came back out with a grim expression, Lifen knew. Her face fell and any fighting stopped. Her entire body seemed to sag. There were no tears in Lifen's eyes. She just - felt numb. The freezing wind didn't even seem to bother her anymore. The two women slowly let go of her. They were obviously torn between comforting the young woman or just leaving her be. In the end they simply decided to walk away without a word. They came all this way for a cure.... For what? Her mother died in the end. She looked up to the young woman. "T-thank you... For trying." She was obviously having difficulty even summoning the strength to speak.

-----

Torrik was hurriedly helping everyone set up for the show tonight. He was preparing the animals, preparing the stalls, helping set up the tents, and other things here and there. His firebending was too unstable to actually be a part of the show, but Rennick still let him stay and travel with the circus, so Torrik didn't mind. The area was already bustling with people who were excited about tonight's show. It wasn't surprising. Rennick's rag-tag group of comrades were extremely popular pretty much everywhere. Torrik was helping unload trunks from a wagon when he accidentally ran into the ringleader himself. Costumes, wigs, and props flew from the trunk as it and Torrik fell to the ground. "S-s-sorry sir," stammered Torrik as he picked up the costumes.

Spirits Free In Death

Mei Li hurried in an knelt, ushering the servants to one side so she could examine the woman more closely. Blood spilled out the corners of her mouth and each gasp became more labored than the last. Her airways we blocked and with a sinking heart, Mei Li realized there was nothing in her power that could be done. Even if she could be made to breathe again, the disease had done its work. It would only be a day at most before the rest of her organs shut down and her body failed.

"Please. If you would, take the young lady outside. There is nothing anyone can do for this woman now, so I will ease her passing. But I would prefer to do it in privacy."

A younger lady devolved into tears on the spot, but two of the matron's swallowed their sadness for the sake of the others and took charge, gently leading Lifen from the tent as the healer requested.

Mei Li began humming under her breath a dirge for the dead as she took a stream of water from her pouch and joined it with a small black liquid from another. The water turned inky as she mixed it using her bending and sent it down Lien's throat and through her bloodstream. Paralysis began to take effect almost immediately, slowing Lien's gasps to shallow, slow breaths before they disappeared altogether, her body no longer rigid with pain. Tears clouded Mei Li's vision and cracked her voice as sat, staring at the life leaving Lien's eyes and still humming her song.

Another full minute passed before Mei Li could bring herself out of the sadness that threatened to suffocate her. She leaned forward to close Lien's eyelids before she worked up the courage to face the woman's daughter outside.

"I... am sorry. She has passed, but please take solace that her last moments were without pain and her spirit free in death at last...."