Melted Gold

And all I can taste is this moment
And all I can breathe is your life
Cause sooner or later it's over
I just don't want to miss you tonight - Iris, Goo Goo Dolls

Breathe in…Breathe out…Breathe in…Breathe out…

Her dark brown hair fell into her cold sapphire eyes and with a quick flick of her wrist, she had pushed the strands of hair back out of the way. Now, her eyes had been focused on the task at hand. In…Out…In…Out. A calming wave swept through her body as she pushed her arms out once again before bringing them back in. The small lake of water was gently following her movements, first pushing the water out, then pushing it back in. It was the soft sound of the waves that were calming Katara ever so slightly as she continued the hand movements. In…Out…In…Out…She kept this rhythm in her head as a way of remembering it and making the steady movement easy for herself to follow.

The longer she kept at the simple movement though, the bigger the waves grew. Finally, the sounds of the waves were no longer calming. Now, as the waves were brought in water could be heard splashing against the rock wall Katara had currently been standing on. In…Out…In…Out…One last time the waves came crashing into the rocks, this time vibrating the rocks under Katara's feet. She managed to keep her balance while all the while jerking her arms upward in a simple swift movement. The waves instantly ceases and instead formed two different funnels that stood several feet above Katara's own head.

Now there was no time for mistakes. The two funnels could prove deadly if given the chance. It was either now or never.

Another deep breath from Katara and with a quick and yet gentle hand movement, the two funnels started their slow rotation. Around. Around. Around. The speed of the rotations had gradually started to increase until it was spinning just fast enough that her hair had been blown into the wind. Still though, she continued her movements, though this time slow and steady, keeping the rhythms in her own head. Just a bit longer-

"Katara!"

Her concentration had slipped and with it came down the two tornados of water. She let her arms fall only a few inches - just enough for the funnels to come tumbling down - they slammed dangerously into the rock wall, this time causing Katara to lose her balance and slip on one of the rocks. Behind her, Aang had allowed a soft gust of wind to blow passed the waterbender, allowing her to regain her balance once again.

But it hadn't been the Avatar that had interrupted her training. No, of course it wasn't Aang, he knew better then to yell at her like that. In fact, standing right next to Aang had been her older brother Sokka. His face seemed etched in worry, a sign that he wouldn't have interrupted her unless they really needed something.

"It's Zuko."

He didn't need to explain any further then that. Katara knew what he had meant and almost instantly she ran along the rock wall and toward land again. Her she followed both Katara and Aang as they led the way back into the camp. It was here that it didn't take too long before Katara's sapphire eyes landed on the sleeping fire bender. He was laying only a bit away from Appa the flying Bison. And despite the heat of the day he was curled into a sleeping bag that Katara had supplied him with. On one side of Zuko had been Toph, and although she couldn't really see anything, it was evident that she seemed so worried about the Firebender as well.

Stepping forward, Katara took her place on the other side of Zuko. She rested a hand on his forehead and quickly withdrew it, rubbing the skin for a moment. "He's burning up…" she announced to the others as she looked back down at the Firebender. Sweat had beaded her forehead, his mop of black hair damp with the sweat. His usual pale cheeks were a light red color now.

The group around her could only look between the slumbering Firebender and Katara, awaiting whatever order it may be they would receive from her. "Aang," Katara's eyes turned toward the Avatar and almost instantly he met her gaze. "Get me a bucket full of water and a wash cloth. Hurry. Sokka, I need you to go gather up as many berries as possible. The blue ones. And the yellow flowers. We need as many as those as possible as well." the two boys nodded and Katara found herself turning back to Toph who was also looking up at Katara though she couldn't really see her.
"What do you want me to do?" Toph had asked.

"Um…" Katara trailed off, realizing there wasn't much Toph could do at the moment. "Exactly what you're doing right now. You can help me."

There was silence between the two of them following this statement. Katara found herself looking back at Zuko, running her fingers through his still damp black hair as she waited for the others to return. It seemed as though the simple task of getting things for her was taking the boys too long, and Katara could only hope they would get back soon. If they couldn't bring his fever down by the end of the night Zuko wouldn't make it through the next day. He needed medical attention now, but they were several miles away from any professional healer. They wouldn't make it to any town in time.

"Come on Zuko, you've got to pull through this…"

She hadn't been aware of it at the time but her eyes had filled with tears at the thought of losing Zuko. If he didn't pull through this fever it would mean they would have been too late. It hadn't been but a few days previously the group had discovered Zuko's body laying face down in the ground. That had been the day his fever started. And it had taken Katara's words of pleading with the others before she was allowed to keep Zuko and look after him. The others didn't think it was such a good idea. Sokka mostly. He didn't like the idea of Zuko being in their camp, especially anywhere near Katara. But she had pointed out he would die before the night was up unless they did something. And still, it took even Aang's words to Sokka before he finally agreed.

They had gone through such a long week - Zuko especially - but Katara wasn't about to give up on the Firebender. She felt obligated to help him in any way she could and she wasn't about to give up on him yet. Zuko was a fighter by heart. He would pull through this. He just had to.