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wrensharpbeak — Startled Awake
Published: 2008-05-08 01:37:31 +0000 UTC; Views: 5589; Favourites: 62; Downloads: 0
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Description
Illustrated for fuzzytomato [link] for displaying the most flattering act of dedication I think I've had from a reader yet. She actually had someone e-mail a new chapter to her at work so she could read it on her lunch break.
A scene from "The Shallows", the ninth story in my Avatar: The Last Airbender fan-fiction series found at [link]
Excerpt from "The Shallows"
(chapter 3 - Current)
At the sound of the prince's voice, Katara's eyes snapped open in the darkness. She slowly slid her gaze up from the dark tunic she was pressed against, desperately hoping that what she'd heard was merely a trick of the ears. But when her eyes fell on Zuko's face, his telltale scar nestled into the crook of his arm, she gasped and pushed herself upright.
"Zuko!"
The sudden pressure against his chest, combined with the panicked tone of Katara's yell, jolted Zuko out of his sleep and he sat up abruptly, eyes fetching about wildly for the source of the girl's distress.
"What! What's wrong?" he asked breathlessly, casting his glance around for some sign of danger.
But all he found was Katara, one hand clamped over her mouth and her wide eyes staring at him in disbelief.
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Comments: 19
Oh Agni damn it, now I feel the need to read this.
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I loved this part of the story. And your illustration of it does it justice. In fact, I think this was the picture that made me read the series. xD You write exquisitely, and your drawings are the icing on the cake and then some.
Great work!
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Thank you! I'm very glad you like it and that you are enjoying the stories as well.
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I have to say I really like Toph and Aang in the backgorund aswell as Iroh.
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Thanks!
The background figures were actually a pleasant surpise for me. It's not how i had originally imagined the scene when i wrote it because i wasn't thinking much further past what was going on with Zuko and Katara at the time. But as things came together during the drawing i really fell in love with their poses. I thought Aang and Toph turned out really cute.
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I've personally always loved the idea of Toph and Aang sleeping next to eachother, you know in a strictly platonic sense, I think it's sweet. In my story after dark they sort of sleep in the way you portrayed them here.
And you're most welcome.
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Awesomely Awesome. Zuko's expression is priceless and his hair is amazing. Also, Iroh, Toph and Aang in the background - hilarious. Especially with Iroh's and Aang's mouths wide open. I wonder if they're snoring or just drooling
Thanks for the drawing! Made my day.
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not to make fun but this is the first thing that popped into my head
Zuko: I swear it happens to every dude in the morning!
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Zuko's expression absolutely kills. Haven't read the story yet, but I'm about to ^^
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Heh. Awk-ward! Zuko looks so hunted. And, as usual, I love the way you've drawn his hair--very middle-of-the-night messy.
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Zuko's hair was definitely the crown jewel in this one for me. Surprisingly enough, it went down perfectly on the first try and even finished up nicely. This is probably my favorite attempt at Zuko yet...it came out exactly as i'd imagined it. *so proud of herself*
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I can't remember whether I've ever mentioned this to you or not, but around about the middle of Season 2, I noticed that you could track Zuko's character development through his hair.
When he was a child, he had a full head of hair worn in a ponytail. He was happy enough back then, but he didn't quite fit in with the self-assured and in some cases ruthless people around him, who all wore topknots.
After his banishment, he shaved off all of his hair except for one tightly bound lock. He also "cut off" all his activities except one: hunting the Avatar.
At the beginning of Season 2, he finds himself wanted by his own country, so he cuts off the ponytail. At this point, he has no hair, no direction, and not much in the way of an identity. He has lost what little he believed he had left.
Throughout Season 2, his hair grows back, and he starts to build a new life for himself. But he still doesn't have much of a direction, and this is mirrored in the way his hair grows wild, unstyled and probably largely uncombed.
We shall not speak of the monstrosity that was the hairstyle Iroh gave him for his date with Jin. That says a lot more about Iroh's character than about Zuko's.
In the first half of Season 3, Zuko's position in the Fire Nation has been restored. In his public appearances, he wears a folded topknot like other citizens. But a few stray pieces of hair stick out--he still doesn't really fit in with that atmosphere; it's a sham. In private, and when he's not identifying himself as the Prince (Ember Island), he lets his hair hang loose and free as he did through Season 2.
Now that he has confronted his father and given up his birthright of his own accord, he hasn't worn the topknot since. His hair is grown out enough not to be so shaggy and unruly, and it matches his new sense of purpose nicely.
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Iroh, Toph and Aang look great.
I'll read you fanfiction series
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I love the expression, this pulls the feeling of awkwardness off well
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Thanks. I had so much fun drawing Zuko in this and i'm very happy with how he turned out. Katara, on the other hand, was an absolute -p-a-i-n-!! I must have ripped about 4 pages from my sketchbook before i got a version i was satified enough with to splice into the final.
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is this alternat version of the Awakening?
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I think it looks awesome, and Katara turned out well in the end
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I loved this chapter! And this scene was just so awkward... it was great! (great illustration too!)
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