A/N Decided to make a fanfic out of a plotline from one of my drabbles! Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not and will not own Avatar!

"I don't need you to keep protecting me Sokka! I can and will take care of myself!" Katara yelled. "Fine! Stay out in the wilderness for a week! I don't care!" Sokka yelled also. "Is that a challenge?" Katara asked.

"Sure! I bet that you can't survive for a week in the woods!" Sokka said.

"Fine! I will!" Katara yelled and grabbed her water sack and a bamboo hat that Aang wore. She stormed off into the woods, cursing Sokka under her breath. Nightfall soon came and sent the woods into darkness. Katara shuddered at the sounds of the wild.

'Get yourself together Katara, it's only sounds, that I'm afraid of…'

Katara glanced up towards the road and saw a small town ahead. 'Finally!' She ran up to the town and walked around. She saw a man about the age of 40 walk up to her. "Hello, we usually don't get new comers here anymore, what can I do for you?" He kindly asked.

Katara smiled back and said, "I think I need a map of the Earth Kingdom and maybe a weapon?" The man smiled and led her into his shop. The shop was full of small trinkets to heavy furniture. She looked around and noticed him going into the back. She sat down on the chairs provided and looked around the charms and trinkets adorning the walls. The man came back out with a scroll and bow and arrows. "I think that this weapon will satisfy you, I don't think you want anything heavy or dangerous, and this map is a very detailed map of the Earth Kingdom." The man smiled kindly. Katara looked at the bow, the designs were complex. She asked how much it was. The man said free of charge. "Oh, no, I can't do that I need to at least give you something…" Katara said.

"No, no, I sense a great deal of adventure in the future for you, I believe that you will need to save your money." The man said. Katara glanced at him and said, "Thank you."

The man bade her farewell. Katara stopped at a nearby inn and rested for the night.

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"Sokka, I don't think that we should have sent Katara away like that, I mean the fire nation might recognize a waterbender clearly in the Earth Kingdom." Aang said softly. "Yeah, I promise Aang, she'll come back, I bet she's not even far from us." Sokka said, not paying attention to Aang at all.

Please be safe Katara….

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"Prince Zuko? We need to dock at the next port, I ran out of tea bags of see." Iroh said to his nephew. "Fine, Uncle, but if we don't find the Avatar, I'm blaming it on you." Zuko said, trying to keep his cool. Iroh smiled and went out. Zuko needs to find a partner sooner or later, he's inching towards his marrying age….

Iroh chuckled before turning in himself.

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Katara yawned as she was greeted to a brand new day. She smiled at the sunrise and got dressed and headed out of the inn. She stepped out and headed towards the coastline. As she got closer, she saw two fire navy ships. One was smaller than the other one however. She gasped as she saw the two figures emerging from the ship.

Zuko and Zhao….

She looked more, but was interrupted when someone came up behind her. She screamed and kicked the person in the leg hard. She came out of her hiding place right in front of the two firebenders. Oops….

"Well, well, well, if it isn't the waterbender that travels with the Avatar. Why are you alone?" Zhao said, eyeing her. Katara shuddered and stood up. "I'm not with him anymore, I don't think it's your time and place to ask that to me." Katara said, boring through Zhao's eyes. He laughed and grabbed her shirt collar. "HEY! Let go!" Katara struggled in his grasp. "You think that you're suppose to command on what I say? Think again!" Zhao threw her down. Katara surprisingly landed back on her feet. Zhao chortled and told his men to take her into his ship. "Wha? Let me go!" Katara struggled against being captured by that weird admiral who kept looking at her weirdly. "Take her to my room! I'll deal with her after I get supplies!" Zhao commanded his men. "LET GO!" Katara yelled. Zuko noticed the rage in her eyes, but he knew he wasn't suppose to stop the admiral from doing his job. The men noticed the waves crashing a little more violently against the ship while Katara was on her rampage. "Come Zuko, we must get supplies too." Iroh said. Zuko couldn't help look at the struggling girl being taken to the lower levels of the boat. I need to save her….but how?

Wait, why am I caring for a tiny water peasant?

Cause, you like her….

No, I don't!

Yes you do, you could've stopped Zhao, but no, you and your dignity!

Shut up….

Zuko shut out the voice in his head and followed his uncle to the town.

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'No! There has to be a way out of here!' Katara kicked the door repeatedly, but with no success. She groaned in frustration as she smelled sulfur in the room.

EW! Gross, the stupid retarded admiral smells like sulfur! I'd rather have Sokka's sweaty smell over this!

Katara gagged at the smell and wondered. Is this old gasbag trying o poison me?

That's when she noticed that she still had he bow and arrows. She smiled and looked out the window. She noticed Zhao coming back on his ship. She sighed and drew up courage. This is it! I need to do this right and quick!

She sat down on the chair with her arms crossed looking emotionless, like Zuko. It was hard, but she did it. Zhao came in, he grinned evilly. Katara returned it with a satisfaction grin. She already knew what he was thinking of doing with her.

He was going to torture her for life….

Katara glared at the Admiral. She then kicked him hard in the stomach and back off. He growled and said, "Why don't you be a good little girl and jump in the bed?"

Katara drew her bow and arrows and took aim. "HA! You're kidding right?" She took better aim and shot. The arrow caught Zhao by the shirt sleeve and pinned him to the wooden desk. "Good luck getting out of that sulfur breath!" Katara saluted and ran out the door. Zhao yelled and tore the arrow off and ran out trying to get her. He found her on deck, trying to jump off. "You'll never get away from me and my men! You have only the woods to hid in!" Zhao shouted. Katara sighed and said, "You know what, you're right! But it's a risk I'm willing to take!" Katara jumped down and landed on the soft white sand. She panted as she ran into the woods. She heard Zhao commanding his army to get her back. Katara hid behind the tree and waited until all the men have passed her. She backed away and almost screamed when she felt a warm hand on her mouth, preventing her from talking. "Come quietly, I won't hurt you…" Katara gasped at the realization of the cold voice.

Zuko.

She squirmed under his strong grasp, but she was no match for the trained 16-year-old. She gave up and he walked her over to the ship. That's when Zhao stopped them. "Well, it looks like the banished prince wants the girl for himself. Give it up! If you give me the girl, I'll let you off nice Zuko, but if you resist, then well, I'll just use my imagination." Zhao smirked. Zuko growled. Katara let out a battle cry and kicked Zuko in the shin. He gritted his teeth at the pain and looked up. He saw Katara between him and Zhao, taking aim with her bow and arrow. "Don't move, or I'll shoot…"