"I thought you had changed!" shouted Katara as she swung her water whips against Zuko's fire.
"I have changed", Zuko replied darkly, attacking her with an outburst of searing flame.
The fight was fierce, flame on water, steam hissing from where they met. They seemed evenly matched.
Aang and Azula battled with an equal ferocity across the river. Aang was soon knocked into the air and slammed into the rocky wall of the cavern.
Katara tried to hold off both Azula and Zuko. But it was too much and she too was knocked hard into the jagged rock. Her tunic tore in places and blood began to seep through. She felt her ribs give a little as adrenaline coursed through her veins, masking the pain. Her hair unravelled and she lay on the ground, perfectly still .
Aang tore through the air in rage, propelling himself forward with earth bending towards zuko and azula.
Then he struck the ground again. They were surrounded by Dai Li agents. Katara lifted herself up, gathering a host of tentacles towards her, fighting on.
Aang knew, he knew it was hopeless. Inwardly apologising to Katara, to his first love, he bent a small earth cave around himself and entered the avatar state. Letting go of his last earthly attachment, he entered the void. Connecting with his avatar spirit at will.
Aang rose, a beam of power emanating around him.
And then he was twisting, writhing in pain, still airborne. And azula stood, fingers smoking, a triumphant smile on her face.
Tears poured from kataras crystal blue eyes. She gritted her teeth and gathered every bit of water around her, rising on a powerful wave, sweeping everyone underwater as she sped towards Aang, catching him.
He was still alive. But only just.
Then Iroh appeared. Shouting at her to get out of there he defended the wounded pair.
Katara dragged Aang towards the waterfall, gathering a spout around them she lifted them to the surface.
She pulled Aang towards Appa. Sokka started shouting incoherently, almost throwing the earth king into the saddle in his attempt to hurry. Katara laid aang to the ground, whipping out her amulet of spirit water and praying to the ocean and the moon that this would work.
The glow subsided as the healing water sunk into aangs wound. He gave a slight smile as his eyes opened before skipping away into unconsciousness. He would live.
"Come on Katara! Pass him to me", shouted Sokka. Katara carefully pushed aang up towards Sokka, Appa obligingly kneeling down towards them.
Katara attempted to spring up behind him, but a rock encased her foot, pinning her where she was.
Dai Li agents advanced. Multiplying with every second.
"Just go! It's too late! Go!" Katara yelled. The Dai Li began shooting piercing bullets of rock and earth at the bison, Toph desperately trying to deter them.
"No I won't leave you!" Sokka said, making as if to jump down
"Appa yip yip!" shouted Katara.
Appa leapt into the air, the Earth King and Toph grabbing Sokka to hold him back from jumping off. Sokka stared, arm outstretched, as he watched his little sister be taken by the enemy.
