CHAPTER 1- Aftermath
"Where can we go?" Katara asked as they flew out of Ba Sing Se, trying to leave what happened behind them.
"I can't believe it. The Earth Kingdom, has, fallen," the Earth King said dismally.
"We need to find somewhere safe," Sokka stated obviously.
"I need somewhere I can help Aang with his wounds," Katara reminded Sokka.
"We need to go somewhere far enough away that the Fire Nation can't find us," Sokka thought out loud.
"We'll just have to keep flying until we find a place to make camp," Katara stated logically.
Everyone fell into disturbed, restless slumbers as Katara looked for somewhere to land. Aang, in pain from his lightning wound, slept fitfully in Katara's arms. Sokka slept somewhat peacefully, but like a rock, (him being Sokka after all.) The Earth King slept sadly against Bosco, his sleepy bear friend. Toph tried to rest, but had a hard time without a saddle and her fear of riding bareback while Momo nuzzled into her shoulder.
After about two hours, Katara spotted a secluded clearing that was completely perfect. It contained an enormous, glistening waterfall, dropping into a tranquil pond before flowing off in a river. Their new camp had lots of grass, but also had a place that seemed perfect for Earthbending when Aang got better and could train again. Katara was happy it was so perfect, knowing they'd be there a long time. She brought Appa down to land in the clearing.
"What's going on?" Toph cried out, alarmed by the sudden vibrations she felt as Appa landed.
"Calm down, Toph," Katara said. "We're only landing. I'm going to let the others rest, but I need your help making a campsite. After all, you're the Earthbender."
"Do I have to? Why can't Aang just-" she stopped. "Right, uh, never mind," Toph said, remembering Aang's critical condition.
"Luckily Sokka thought to grab all of our things before we left for good. I'm so happy you got my scrolls and my water skin!" Katara exclaimed.
Toph got busy Earthbending a group of domes on the far side of the campsite. She started with one for the Earth King and Bosco. Then Toph bended one for the group, Sokka, Katara, herself, and one for Aang for when he was healed. Lastly, she made Aang his own small dome for him to recover in.
"Thanks, Toph," Katara said gratefully. "You can go back to sleep if you want."
"Don't have to tell me twice," Toph said and collapsed onto the soft grass.
Katara went to work setting up. She put out sleeping bags for herself and Sokka, then one for Aang in his mini-dome, and then Toph's two blankets in their dome. Katara used their extra sleeping bag to make up a bed for the Earth King and used some leaves for Bosco. Once she did the basics, the made up her mind that she would do more later. Right now, they needed rest, and she knew it. She went onto Appa's back and started waking everybody up.
"Your Majesty, Sokka, wake up," Katara called out quietly. They stirred and tiredly sat up. "You can go to bed for real now," she said as she pointed to their domes.
"Uh, okay," Sokka mumbled as he headed for the comfort of his sleeping bag.
"Get some good rest guys, we'll need it later," she said as the Earth King led Bosco away. Toph had woken up and felt what was going on, and followed Sokka into their dome. "Aang, wake up," Katara pleaded.
He slowly opened his eyes. "Katara..."
"Shh. I'm going to help you get to bed so you can rest, okay?"
He nodded slowly and fell back asleep. Katara picked him up and gently laid him down inside his sleeping bag. She sat back against the wall of the dome to watch over him. Katara decided she wouldn't help Aang until he woke up and had a little more energy. More hours passed and Katara grew more and more tired. She heard footsteps approaching and looked up.
"Katara, I can tell you're exhausted. I'll look after Aang so you can get some sleep," Toph offered.
"Thanks. I need it. See you in a little while." Katara said tiredly and went to bed.
At about eleven in the morning Katara woke up again. She looked over to see Sokka still asleep. (Go figure, right?) She got up and went outside the dome. Katara went to check on everyone. The Earth King sat up and was cuddling with Bosco. Katara smiled and went to check on Aang. Toph sat where she had been with Momo on her shoulders sitting silently and "watching" over Aang.
"How's he doing?" Katara asked concerned.
"He seems alright," Toph replied.
"I'm going to wake him and try to heal his wounds."
"Okay, whatever you want."
Katara went to the river and filled her water skin. She came back into the dome and gently woke Aang.
"Aang, wake up," she said softly as he stirred.
"Katara... I-" he started.
"Be quiet now, Aang. I'm going to work on healing your body," she informed him. Aang nodded.
Katara turned him over onto his stomach. Covering both of her hands with water, she then placed them on his massive wound and inhaled. He cried out in pain as the damaged muscles and skin started to heal. The skin started stretching and coming closer together. Finally, the wound had closed completely.
She moved on to the wound on his foot where the lightning had exited his body, and healed it quickly. Katara healed cuts and bruises all over his body but worked around his underwear. Then she checked for any broken bones, and found several fractures in his arms and legs. She did what she could, and the fractures healed, but his bones were still weak from all the young Avatar had put them through. Katara decided that he wasn't bending anything until she said so. When she was done, Toph said she would continue to watch him and Katara left the dome to let him rest. She woke Sokka so he could go find food. He agreed and went hunting.
"Be careful," she urged as he left the campsite.
Katara unpacked the things they'd loaded onto Appa and started making a fire pit. She piled some wood and the arranged rocks and stones around it. The Earth King came from the woods with Bosco. Ordinarily she'd have been worried for his safety, but he'd been with Bosco, so she figured the pair was safe together.
"Morning, Katara. Did you know there are some natural hot springs right through that way? Yep, they're so relaxing, and private too. Bosco and I just took a bath and the water is just the right temperature!" The Earth King went on.
"No, I didn't know. Well, we'll all have take baths up there later. For now though, you and Bosco can just do whatever you want," Katara thanked him and they went off.
Katara worked on finishing up the fire pit just as Sokka came back with lunch. She set it out for everyone and went to get Toph and Aang while Sokka went to find the Earth King.
"Toph, lunch is ready. I'll wake up Aang and ask him if he's hungry. Whatever he does, he's going to need help with. He had fractures that I healed, but his bones and muscles are strained, so he needs to rest until they have a little time to rejuvenate."
"Well, some things are going to have to be Sokka's job. I'm going to eat," Toph said, and then got up and left.
"Aang, Aang? Are you awake?" Katara asked. He slowly opened his eyes. "I wanted to give you lunch if you were hungry," she said.
Aang nodded and started to get up. Katara put her hand on his shoulder, preventing him from standing. She explained about his muscles and bones, how they needed time. He was incredibly distraught to learn he wasn't allowed to bend right now.
"You have to understand, it's for your own good," Katara said.
He nodded sadly. All of a sudden she put her arms around him and drew him into a hug, saying how happy she was that he was alive.
"How am I alive, Katara? Last thing I remember was me trying to go into the Avatar State, and being shot in the back by Azula. Then, nothing until I woke up on Appa in a lot of pain in your arms. What happened?"
"A lot happened, Aang. After Azula shot you, I rode on an enormous wave to catch you as you fell, washing everyone off balance in the process. I caught you, only to find you, to find you, dead. I couldn't believe it! I was rendered defenseless as Azula and Zuko approached. Then, out of nowhere came a blast of fire between me and them. Iroh jumped in between us and told me I had to get us out of there and that he'd hold them off as long as he could," Katara explained, crying softly as she spoke.
"Iroh's a great guy," Aang said. "But, then what happened?"
"Well, Iroh held them off as I bended us up the waterfall. Then, with you in my arms, I ran out of the palace to find Sokka, Toph, Momo, the Earth King and Bosco on Appa. I got us on and we flew to our apartment, where all of our stuff was, and grabbed it. Sokka had managed to find my water skin. So then, I took out my water from the Spirit Oasis and used it on your back. At first, nothing happened, and I started to cry, thinking we had lost you forever. Then your arrow glowed as you stirred in my arms. Then after that, you know the rest," Katara said, finishing her story.
"What happened to Iroh?" Aang asked.
"I don't know. I'm pretty sure the Dai Li arrested him," she answered, wiping away her tears. "Come on. We can finish talking later. Let's go eat."
Katara helped Aang get up and he leaned on her as they walked out to sit by the fire pit to eat. Everyone asked Aang if he was okay, and he replied that he was just tired. Everyone ate slowly and silently. Once everyone ate, Katara cleaned up and saved the other half of the meal for dinner.
"Sokka, you and Aang go to the hot springs to take a bath. He's going to need a lot of help, so be patient. Your Majesty, show Sokka where the springs are. Bosco can stay here with me, Toph, Appa and Momo. Toph, you and I'll go to the springs when the guys are done. But until then, you can do whatever," Katara directed.
The guys went off to the springs. Toph had decided to explore the area around the campsite, and Momo had decided to go with her. Bosco and Appa went into the pond to relax. Since everyone was occupied, Katara read over some of her Waterbending scrolls. Toph returned a little while later carrying some hunks of metal.
"What are those?" Katara questioned.
"These are just some scraps of metal I found lying in the woods. They were part of an Earth Kingdom machine that was old and broken apart. A ton more metal is just sitting there."
"But, what are we going to do with scraps of metal?" Katara asked.
"I'm going to practice my Metalbending abilities," Toph explained.
"Your what? There's no such thing!" Katara said.
"Check again," Toph said as she focused on the impurities in the metal and bended it into a cup to drink out of.
"How did you do that? When did you learn how!?" Katara questioned her.
"A few days ago, actually. When I was imprisoned in one of those metal boxes, I remembered that metal is just a more purified form of earth. So, I focused my chi and sent out vibrations against the walls. Once I located the impurities, I just, bended them."
"Wow, that's amazing!" Katara exclaimed. "I bet it's because you're blind that you could sense the impurities. Because, normally, even the best and most highly skilled Earthbenders can't even attempt that."
"As I told Xin Fu and Master Yu, I am the greatest Earthbender in the world!"
"I guess you really are, Toph. I'm amazed," Katara said in awe. She watched Toph bend the metal and make more cups to drink out of. When she had enough for everybody, she bended of the rest of the metal by her blanket in their dome.
By then, the Earth King, followed by Sokka and Aang, were entering the campsite. Aang was leaning on Sokka for support, and looked much better since his bath. Sokka helped sit Aang down. Katara asked Sokka to start a fire and warm up what was left of their lunch for dinner. Then, Toph and Katara went to the springs to take their baths. Choosing two pools a few feet from each other for some privacy, they began to enjoy the springs and bathe. Katara started to feel achy. She suddenly realized she'd had no time to heal her own wounds from the battle. Katara healed all that ailed her. When they were clean and dressed, they headed back to camp to eat.
After everyone ate, Katara cleaned up and told everyone to just relax and go to bed. Sokka and the king went off to bed, with Bosco right behind them. Appa crashed too. Katara asked Toph to help Aang into bed, and she said she'd sleep in his dome to watch over him tonight. Momo rested on Appa's head, and Katara decided to go for a walk. She followed the river and walked in the opposite direction from the springs and their campsite. A while away, Katara stopped and bended the river water around. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw something in the woods, glowing. It looked like fire. Someone was there. A Firebender!
How did they find us? Katara thought. Surely Azula thought Aang was dead?