Alright, so, this is a Zutara. It starts off pretty dark, but it is necessary for the story. Trust me it gets a lot better and turns into the Zutara we all know and love.

The usual disclaimer applies.

And I really want reviews; I really don't mind constructive criticism, main word being constructive. But if you have something good to say, please say it! It gives me motivation to keep going. So REVIEW!

KPOV

"Aang, Sokka, I'm going to the beach for a little while. I need to practice my water bending," I said as I left camp. Sometimes, those two just got so overbearing and immature that a girl just needed to get a little time to herself once in a blue moon. Aang and Sokka barely grunted in acknowledgment. Ugh, boys- I could vanish into thin air right in front of them and I' m sure they'd never notice.

I sighed happily upon arriving at the beach; the shone brightly and there wasn't a cloud in that vast, purest blue sky. I ran to the wondrously warm water and skipped down the beach, getting the bottom of my skirts wet. The wind coursed through my hair and the sun warmed my face as water moved vivaciously around my feet. As I twirled and fell down onto the blissfully warm sand, I thought, "This is Heaven, pure Heaven."

Of course, it didn't last. It seemed that my eyes had only closed for a second when a distinct smell broke my reverie. Smoke. I smelled smoke. My eyes opened at this sudden intrusion and what I saw paralyzed me on the spot. I saw black soot coming from the darkest, most terrible of clouds. And then I saw the reasons for which I had to fear the black soot.

Fire Nation ships. Dozens of them within a fleet.

I broke from my paralysis and ran hard down the beach. I had to get to Aang and Sokka, warn them before it was too late. But it was already too late for me. The Fire Nation soldiers had already stormed the beach, and soon spotted me in my blue Water Tribe robes. They sprinted determinedly towards me, screaming things like, "Stop, Water Tribe wench!" and "Get her! That's the Avatar's girl!" I tried using my water bending against them, and succeeded well considering it was one against dozens. But that was the cold, hard fact. There were dozens of them, and soon they were upon me in a swarm, and I could no longer fight them off.

The men, after a good amount of time if I do say so myself, had me completely in their custody, and I was powerless to fight back.

Then they took me to their leader's ship.

"Well, well, if it isn't the Avatar's girl. What a lucky catch," Zhao said. His voice made me want to shrink back and cower, which I didn't. Chills did make their way up my spine. But, I didn't show him my fear; I stood proud and tall, and when he brought his face close to mine, trying to intimidate me, I spat into his eyes. At his disgusted and outraged expression, I smirked.

"What is it Zhao? Do I make you angry? Can't take a little disrespect from a water peasant?" I said with as much pride as I could scrape up.

Zhao turned away from me, only to very suddenly whip back around and slap me hard across the face. I was thrown back into the wall by his blow; this time I cowered, and he approached me. He kneeled down next to me, saying dangerous whisper, "Don't cross me, girl. And don't you dare disrespect me; I can do far worse than give you a little slap. Remember that peasant. Now, we have no time for pleasantries." As he said this I couldn't believe he called our little interaction 'pleasantries', but then he continued, "Where is the Avatar? And what do you know about him; his strengths, his weaknesses, tell me everything!" When I only glared to give him my answer, he slapped me again, grabbed my forearms, and shook me. Hard. "Tell me now, water peasant! I am not a patient man." Now the spittle flew in my face. And now I was truly afraid.

After three days, I think they had beaten or tortured me in any way that would not leave me so inept I couldn't speak. I would be of no use to them if I couldn't tell them about Aang.

I lay in my cell, bruised and broken. It seemed there was not one part of my body that wasn't covered in black and blue. A few of my ribs, surely, were broken. Pain racked my body whenever I tried to move, but I never failed to sit up whenever a guard came by my cell, to show that I was strong, that they couldn't break me. I even stood up for Zhao.

I was very proud of myself. I'd spoken not a word about Aang, nor any of us for that matter. I either stayed silent or spoke curses against my captors. And I never screamed, no matter what they did to me; I knew that as long as I didn't say anything, that meant I still had information that Zhao didn't have, and therefore I was still useful to him. The longer I remained useful to him, the longer he had reason to keep me alive. Eventually, I might find a way to escape, or someone might save me.

I hadn't heard his footsteps, but suddenly Zhao came into my cell and broke me away from my thoughts. He didn't wait for me to stand, as he had done so before to see if I actually could.

"What is it Zhao?" I said darkly.

He smiled. Evilly. The room suddenly got so cold I may have been swimming naked in the south pole waters. I pressed myself up against my cell wall; Zhao took one step closer to me, and said after a short pause, "It appears that you are strong. Too strong. I cannot break you." I gave a triumphant smile at this. He smiled back with that same so, so evil smile he'd just given me. I shrunk back. He continued, "I have tried everything, except one thing, to break you. And if this doesn't work, well, at least I get to have some fun."

I was very, very confused, but as Zhao took another step closer to me I got a sudden wave of pure, undiluted dread. Why was he getting so close? I found that I couldn't breathe, he was getting too close. I looked around frantically, trying to find a way to escape.

He smiled again. I hated him. "There is no way out Katara." His hand went to the hem of my shirt. This time, I screamed.

And I kept screaming. The event that followed will remained burned into my body, mind, and soul. The only emotions that I felt were terror, pain, and then nothing at all, as I tried to think of other things.

But the only words that were coherent in either my mind or coming out of my mouth were, "Someone save me."

That was horrible to write, but needed to be included. Can you tell I hate Zhao? I promise that around chapter 4 things get a lot better, so please keep reading even though that was horrible!

ANYWAY, PLEASE REVIEW. and thank you in advance to anyone that does :)