She Who Fell From Heaven
Laying on the cold earth of an unknown island, Katara groaned lightly in pain. She was flying on the back of Appa before she fell, away from the fire nation. Aang had tried to fight the Fire Lord, but he was too powerful. Aang was killed as he had not completed his training. Before any of them could get hurt, he made them get back on Appa. His worried and angry expression was the last that Katara had seen of him, but she knew that he had lost, they all did. The young Avatar had hoped that the army would leave the three survivors alone but Katara, Sokka and Toph were chased down. Katara was using her bending to keep them at bay, but when Appa made a sudden turn, she tumbled into the dense fog below. The last thing she heard was Sokka screaming her name.
Unbeknown by the semi-conscious water bender, a hooded figure had seen her fall. Her face and most of her body was hidden by the grey cloak, but her sandled feet were visible from the bottom. The mysteries figure rush over to her and crept closer. She could see that the girl was of Water blood, and had been travelling. When she came into Katara's view, the young woman looked at her with pain-glazed eye and groaned in discomfort again. The figure hushed her, and picked her up like she was a small child. The unknown person was quiet strong. She then carried her beck towards the wood land area. Oblivion fully claimed over Katara as she did so.
The Air had a sweet smell. It was a heavy smell, but not a sickening one. A combination of scents that Katara both did and didn't know. As Katara began to open her azure eyes, she noticed that whatever room she was in was lit by candles. It must have been late outside. The room was quiet, so Katara decided to look around from where she lay. The room was small and round with bamboo walls. There was a couple of shelf's with bottles, scrolls and artefacts of unknown uses. She was laying on a bamboo bed with an extraordinarily comfortable mat, supporting pillow and warm blankets. Looking down at herself, she noticed that she wore no clothes. With a gasp, she shot up and wrapped the blankets tightly about herself.
At that moment, the figure walked through the door.
"Oh, I see you're awake." Pointed out the woman. Katara slightly scowled at her. She then undid the cape and hung it on the nearest cabinet to the door. Katara gasped at her. She wore a lemon wrap around her chest, showing more of her deep cleavage than she dared to think, and two measles strips of lemon and gold tied at her hips, dangling around her knees and showing most of her legs. Her sand covered sandals criss-crossed up her legs to her knees. Loops of gold hung from her ears and a tiny dot of gold was in her wide nose. She had green hair that partially was in a loose low pony tail and partially spiked up on her head in a Mohawk. Some kind of tribal tattoo was painted on her forehead between her ivory eyes and shone brilliantly against her sun kissed skin. Katara quickly shot questions at her.
"Who are you? Where am I? Where are my clothes? Why did you take them from me? Any man could have easily taken advantage of me, didn't you realise that?" The lady in very revealing clothes just shook her green head with a slight laugh.
"I see your voice isn't damaged. My name is Ai and I am the tribe Whych. Don't treat about your clothes or innocence, there are no men on the Aztec Island." No men? Katara thought, looking slightly confused at Ai. She then knelt down and pulled a pile of fabrics out from under the bed. "Here, some clothes for you. Might I ask you what your name is?"
"Katara" She told her, lifting up the clothes. It was similar to the clothes that Ai wore, but in blue and silver in place of yellow and gold. Katara began to tie the chest piece over her bust. It fit nicely.
"That's a pretty name." Katara nodded in thanks as she fumbled with the skirt piece. Ai gave her a helping hand, tying the not like it was on her hips. She then pulled a pair of sandals out from under the bed. " Put these on and follow me. We've got to get you to a better place to stay" Katara wondered why she couldn't just stay there, but Ai continued to speak. "This is one of our healing huts, others will need it, you know. Besides, its not the best place to stay overnight." She told her the last part with a lopsided smile. After fumbling on the comfortable sandals, she followed after the Whych half obediently.
The hut that the two of them arrived in at the dead of the night was of a nice size. The front room was sparsely furnished with plane wooden walls and a strangely warm floor. Katara was led towards one of the doors at the other end of the middle sized room.
"Here, I feel this room will suit you nicely." The walls were wooden like the rest of the house and a window let in the beautiful moonlight. Beside the widow was two jugs of water and the floor was covered in furs. A burning fireplace was imbedded in the wall, soaking the room in a gentle light.
"Its beautiful." Katara gasped almost mutely.
"I know. My sister was a water bender, so she had it fixed up like her fathers home." Ai said with a hint of pride and sadness in her wise voice.
"What happened to her?
"Her name was Aqua. She died of an illness that I could not cure last spring..." Her ivory eyes switched to the floor with a sad tear forming in them. "Good night, Katara." She then stepped out of the room and closed the door behind her.
Later that night still, Katara was still awake. In the distance Katara could hear a prayer-like singing in the distant. Somehow, she knew the song.
Tears in Heaven. Ai
Ai: Would you know my name
If I saw you in heaven?
Would it be the same
If I saw you in heaven?
I must be strong
And carry on,
'Cause I know I don't belong
Here in heaven.
Would you hold my hand
If I saw you in heaven?
Would you help me stand
If I saw you in heaven?
I'll find my way
Through night and day,
'Cause I know I just can't stay
Here in heaven.
Time can bring you down,
Time can bend your knees.
Time can break your heart,
Have you begging please, begging please.
Beyond the door,
There's peace I'm sure,
And I know there'll be no more
Tears in heaven.
Would you know my name
If I saw you in heaven?
Would it be the same
If I saw you in heaven?
I must be strong
And carry on,
'Cause I know I don't belong
Here in heaven.
A/N: Her name is pronouced Aye, by the way. Again, sorry it became a songfic. um, that song, Tears in Heaven, is by Eric Claption Next chapter: The Emporesses Quest
Edit: Sorry, her eyes were meant to be ivory. Ma bad ;