Healing Trust

Jurishe really was happy that her friend was having such a good time. She was starting to see Katara as... sort of a younger sister, almost. She may be stronger than she was, herself, but Jurishe wanted her to be safe and happy.

"You're welcome," She answered with a smile, "Where did you learn to dance?"

Along the market strip, several food stalls had been set up, but they were all still preparing - there were no sizzling sounds or cooked meat and vegetable smells. There was, however, a crushed ice stand, there at the end.

"There aren't any drinks," She explains, walking up to the last stand, "But there's crushed ice. Have you ever had it?" Her eyes skim the sign, reading the different flavors that were offered.

Up at the Northern Water Tribe, there was no need for crushed ice, of course. Most of their meals and even desserts were hot, to combat the chill in the very air. Still, the ice flakes - vaguely resembling snow - made her feel nostalgic for her home; not quite homesick.

"It's almost like snow," Jurishe admits, trying to explain it, "But instead of just crushed ice, they add a sort of flavor to it. It's almost like ice cream, that way." Looking back at the sign, she makes her choice, "I'm going to ask for cherry... Which would you like to try? They mostly have fruit flavors; cherry, strawberry, lime, lemon, grape," She reads them straight from the sign.

There were a few more people arriving, now that the festival had officially started. Jurishe kept an eye on Katara, as well, feeling the same reluctance at the thought of being separated in a crowd. She placed their order and waited for the machine to crack and shred the ice. The stall's owner then added the syrup and passed her both of the paper cones.

"Here you go; one lime crushed ice!" She proclaimed, holding it out for the younger girl.

"Yeah..." Jurishe answered, sounding as if she regretted it. After a moment - and a few bites of her shaved ice - she brightened. "Hey; how good are you at climbing trees?" This time, both her voice and her question betrays a plan forming in her mind.

There had been several trees, near the edges of the market, with low-hanging branches; almost like benches. If she could help Katara hop onto one, they could sit a little above the crowd and not have to worry!

Explaining the set-up of those particular trees to Katara, Jurishe begins to lead her in that direction. Sure enough, the trees were there, and not a soul had already occupied their branches.

"You can sit on my coat, so you don't get sap on your dress," She offers happily, already starting to take the garment off, revealing a light blue tanktop that she wore beneath it. "This way, we can stay a little while and listen, but not be in the throng... Sound good?"

After assisting her friend, Jurishe carefully climbed the branches herself. Truth be told, she had never climbed a tree before; there were none in the south pole for her to try climbing. Wobbling her way over, she took a seat next to Katara, breathing a sigh of relief. She hadn't fallen down.

"It's much nicer, up here," She mentioned, even though 'up here' left them at about their normal height. Then, with a girn, she asked, "How's that lime ice?"

"It's interesting," Jurishe allowed, surprisingly, "It just feels like I'm eating icy snow, from back home, with a little sweetness. I do like it, though." She had eaten about half of it, and the syrup was gradually running down into the bottom of the paper cone.

"After this," She ventures, still looking out at the people amassing, becoming a full-fledged crowd, "Maybe we should head back?"

"The sun only just went down," Jurishe answered, looking up at the currently starless sky, "That's usually when these things get really crowded... If there's something you wanted to do, we should probably do it soon."

She hated being the wet blanket, but maybe they could see how things turned out.

Looking out at the crowds, as if gauging the crowd and the atmosphere on the dance floor, Jurishe hummed. A small group of girls and their beaus were dancing all together, and a few other couples were having solo dances, but a good section of the stage was clear.

"Sure," She finally answered, giving a nod, "It's not too bad, right now. If we get separated, or anything, it won't be too hard for me to find you." Sliding down from her perch, she turns, taking both of Katara's hands, helping her down, as well.

Without even inspecting the coat, Jurishe folded it and tucked it under her arm to carry it. If she was going to dance, she didn't want to overheat, with the heavy clothing on. She made her way over to the stage, leading Katara by the hand until she would be able to feel the platform with her c --

"Your cane!" Jurishe exclaimed suddenly, noticing that her friend did not, in fact, have it in her hand, as she usually did, "We forgot it!" Looking around, she tried to spot the important accessory.

"Oh good," Jurishe relaxed slightly, hearing that the cane was back at the room, "We won't have to go looking for it..." Then, reaching back for Katara's hand, to help her up onto the platform, she adds, "No worries - for leading you around. I just worry that you think I'm being condescending, because of it. I know that you can do things by yourself, though; I don't think you're helpless."