Hey all you people out there in the Avatar fandom. This was a challenge submitted to me by t-rex989. I liked the idea, so I was like 'eh, what the hey'. So, here ya go!

Disclaimer: I do not own A:TLA

~~~~Zutara~~~~

Katara's POV:

Aang can be so stupid sometimes.

We agree to make a quick stop in one of the Fire Nation colonies to resupply. I try to find a place to buy s new water pouch, and what do they do in my absence? Leave without me. Did they even notice I wasn't there? Could they even tell I wasn't with them? Honestly, sometimes I just don't know about those three. I hoped they would notice I'm gone and come back for me…but I looked for a place to stay for the time being.

There was a nice little cave near a waterfall. I thought it was perfect. I could have fresh water now, to bend with and to drink. I didn't have to worry about not hearing them over the roar of the falls; Appa's roar is louder than this one. The entrance to the cave was hidden by willow tree branches, and the area as a whole was surrounded with trees. It was a perfect hideaway. If I had to bend, no one would see me.

I spent a few nights in my little cave. Aang, Sokka, Toph, and Momo still hadn't returned on Appa. Maybe they forgot about me. The thought if this hurt. They needed me. I was their waterbender, their protector, their supervisor and supporter. But wait…Aang could waterbend fine now. Toph would be able to tell if someone was attacking him. And as for support…everyone who was against the Fire Nation supported them. I guess they don't need me. What use was I, anyway? Obviously not much.

A happier thought crossed my mind after I spent about two weeks in my little home. Maybe they just forgot we came here. They'll remember eventually…

I heard footsteps that night. My heart leaped with joy. I knew they didn't forget me. How could they? I raced out of my cave, not even bothering to check who my visitors were. Who else could it be?

Apparently, someone entirely different.

My arrivals were Fire Nation soldiers. Riding their rhino things, dressed in armor, helmets, and clad with spears, they looked formidable. I've never been that intimidated. I was by myself. I was wearing Fire Nation clothing, but maybe they'd seen me bending…

"Who are you?" the one in the middle asked me.

"Uh…Joo-Dee." I said, faintly remembering my brainwashed tour guide from Ba Sing Se.

The man in the middle - the leader, I supposed, of the group of about five men – cleared his throat. "Well, Joo-Dee, what are you doing out here, all by yourself? You look young. Shouldn't you be in school? Or, by now, at home?"

I did some fast thinking. "My parents abandoned me, sir, when I was very young…I've traveled all over the Fire Nation, making lean-to homes for myself…I prefer to be alone, to be with nature. And I'm much older than I look sir, I promise you that." I made my face look as innocent as possible when I said that last part. School? In the Fire Nation? No way. Aang might be able to do it, but I couldn't.

"Hmm…" The leader stroked his beard. He had lifted his helmet, so I could see his face. The veins in his head stuck out a bit, and my hands got a little twitchy. It was almost the full moon, only a few days left to go, but my hands wanted to bend early. They wanted to control the man, to control all fluid around me…I fought this feeling back. It wasn't like me. Hama had thrust the technique on me. It was so cruel…yet the way she had forced it on me made it bloodthirsty…literally and figuratively.

"How long have you been on your own?" the man asked. I jumped a little at his question. Let's see, I have to make myself older…

"About twelve years, sir." I said smoothly, adding on an extra two years from my actual age.

"All that time? By yourself? I don't know, I don't like it. That's not sanitary. Young lady, I think I have to send you to a doctor, and report you to security." The man said, without a hint of going back on his decision.

My heart stopped cold. A doctor? I can handle that. But security…they're bound to have my picture somewhere. I panicked, and did the only thing I could think to do.

With a wave of my hand, gallons of water rained down from the waterfall and onto the soldiers. Then I ran.

"She's a waterbender!" I heard one of them yell from behind me.

"Well?" yelled the leader, "Don't just stand there! FOLLOW HER!"

The rhinos thundering feet made the ground shake and my pace became uneasy. I had endurance, but no speed. I was tripping over my feet every few steps. Beside me, flames shot out from someone's hand. I screamed. The ground beneath my fete started to warm up, and I jumped for my life and a geyser came out of the ground. I went to get up and regain my escapade, but I couldn't move. I think I twisted my ankle. The soldiers caught up to me and threw chains around me. I was captured.

They took me to one of their ships not far from the waterfall. They led me onboard, paying no attention to the moans I gave with each step, thanks to my ankle. It hurt so much. I couldn't even bear to stand, let alone walk.

There were cells in the ship. I took a deep breath, and coughed. The air was dry. These were like the cells Hama described, suspended in the air and away from all sources of water. This apparently was not the ship that had taken Hama, because the men wore standard uniforms and made no precautions against bloodbending. If I was on this ship for a few days, I could break free. My hands twitched again as they led me into my cell.

I won't be here for years like Hama had been. In a few days' time, I'll be free.

Freed by the very guards assigned to keep me captured.

~~~~Zutara~~~~

That last line was something of a Hama quote. I loved her. She was a crazy old woman, but I loved her. *sigh*…at least she's not dead. Unlike my other favorite character *R.I.P. Jet*

Well, R&R and tell me what you think. Obviously Katara has just been captured by evil Fire Nation soldiers :O can she escape? Will she actually act like the insane old woman who was her mentor? Will Sokka realize his sister's missing? The answer to these questions, and more, next time you check back to this story:)

Byee! Oh, and Happy New year!