Devoured By Flames

Chapter 20~ Goodbye

~Azula~

They spent most of the night running around that beautiful flower filled clearing. Everything else had faded away into the background it was just them, no responsibility, no prophecy, no secrets or ancient powers. It was her and her mate, it was Vulcan, her sun, warmth, and life. The walk home was quiet, no running no playing just a peaceful walk, brushing against each other every so often. Finally, they had reached the tree that had hidden clothes in the base of it, shifting as they got dressed.

Azula had just pulled on her shirt when she was swept into his arms, laughing quietly burying her face into his neck holding onto him the best she could. Honestly, she was exhausted that run had taken a lot out of her, so when she was lowered on the bed, she had already started drifting off to sleep, fighting to stay awake as his arms moved about her pulling her close. “Vulcan” she whispered tiredly.

“Hmm?” He murmured gentky.

“Thank you,” she cooed tiredly.

Though before she could hear him ask for what she drifted off into a peaceful sleep. Though it wasn’t peaceful.

Blue, so much blue, it surrounded her, consumed her. Feelings is despair hugged her tightly like an old friend. She couldn’t think, she couldn’t breathe, so many dead bodies; Faceless people she never knew, people she would never get to know. “AZULA!!!” A voice called out to her, she saw a flicker of red amongst the blue, she fell to her knees clutching her head a strangled pained scream escaped through cracked and bloody lips. She didn’t understand …. Why did it hurt so much, why did death cling to her body like a wet shirt? “Don’t come closer!” She screamed out in agony to the flicker of red, no

No no…. He couldn’t get closer, she was a lost cause, leave her, please go, just go. Let her carry her sims by herself dragging the load she was forced to carry like a burdened animal.. animal .. death … she was an animal. “AZULA!!!!”

Azula woke up with a gasp, tears streaming down her face, Vulcan gripping into her shoulders giving her a worried look. She choked on the air she was so desperately trying to inhale as he sat her up, she held him tightly burying her face into his chest as he ran his hand along her back. “I’m here” he whispered. She couldn’t speak, she didn’t know what she saw or what it meant. She just hoped… that it was a dream and nothing more.

“I'm sorry,” she said honestly kissing his cheek. She noticed he was dressed, it was already time to go.. and yet her dreams still haunted her, hanging over her shoulder like an unseen phantom. Pulling herself together she stood taking his warm hands into her colder ones. “It’s okay I promise I’m fine, I don’t want you to leave but The faster you go.. the sooner I will get to see you again” she added honestly. She didn’t want to make this goodbye harder than it needed to be. He kissed her feverishly causing them to topple back into the bed.

She kissed him back with just as much passion, her tongue slipping into his mouth as she drank him in like her favorite wine, determined to stain her lips with his. They parted after some time, “I have to go” he sorrowfully said. “I know” she whispered in response. “Goodbye, Azula,” no don’t say that not after the dream she had please don’t say goodbye. She reached out cupping his chin,

“Not goodbye” she firmly stated “just and extended I’ll see you later,” she said softly.

“Of course my little flame,”

And with that they shared one more passionate kiss, her eyes watering as she watched him leave. Dragging herself to her feet she moved to the shower turning it on as she stripped waking into the shower to stand under the heated water, beginning to bathe as she attempted to calm her racing mind. Her mind returned to the Phoenix’s story they told, the blue one Morana, death the Phenix stood for opposition she was death, and he was life…. So what did that mean for her? It had to mean nothing…

Azula stepped out of the shower drying off as she pulled on tights with pants over them to help her keep warm despite the fact she was going to shift, also putting on a simple sweater before moving to her door and locking it. He should be gone by now, tiptoeing to open the window shivering slightly at the cold air that hit her face, climbing out the window to balance herself carefully upon the roof. It was still dark outside so she used that to her advantage, clinging to ledges and balconies until she was able to drop to the ground.

Shifting on the spot, shaking out her dark midnight blue fur before taking off. Her heart raced in perfect timing with the thuds her paws made against the cold dampened earth, bolting down the familiar path she took just yesterday. Skidding to a stop when she reached the tree, taking out the duffel bag with her jaws gripping onto it tightly as she took off once more. She couldn’t allow herself to stop and think, she knew she needed to do this. He would be mad but she hoped, in the end, this would turn out okay.

There are many ways to say goodbye, which one is the best way? She knew this trip wasn’t a permanent one so why did her heart ache like she was committing the seven deadly sins, she felt filthy, she reached a small river throwing her head back and managing to toss it cleanly on the other side. She got ready to try and jump it before a dark brown wolf tackled her, snarling and she realized she had been followed it was Odette. Quickly shifting back as she looked at the woman who also shifted.

Fuckity f**k f**k.