Attack
"Kaitlyn, they're still following us." A boy whispered. The brunette jerked her head around, looking back over her shoulder. She frowned, seeing the group of fire nation soldiers speed up.
"Right. Tell Cade to get ready." She whispered. He nodded, sliding off to another brunette. Cade looked up, grinning at Kaitlyn. She smiled in return, fixing the locks of hair that covered her left eye.
"Kaitlyn, you think you can take the heat?" He teased.
"Cade, I'm a far better fighter than you. I'm just out of my element." She drew her twin swords, spinning around. "Aiwyn, you got this?" She glanced over at the petite girl.
"Of course." Her boomerang was in hand, hair pulled back.
"Let's do this. Cade, you're up." Kaitlyn smirked, shifting her stance to lean forward on her toes. She tightened her braid, fixing the brown strands of hair that covered her left eye. Her uncovered brown eye focused on the fire benders that were slowing down, only twenty yards away.
"They'll get a kick out of this!" Cade thrust his hands forward and a dust storm kicked up. It hit the fire benders head on, but they quickly put a fire shield around themselves. Cade shifted to the side, wrist snapping up. A wall of sand rose, then rippled across to the fire benders. The majority fell, though others leaped into the air at the right moment.
"Aiwyn, you're roll." Kaitlyn said, loosening her grip on her swords.
"Right!" The petite girl leaned forward, boomerang flying into the air. It missed the benders completely and they laughed. But it quickly came back, cutting through their backs, rebounding off the fire benders. Fire was shot forward, but a wall of sand shot up to protect them.
"We just need to hold a little longer…" Kaitlyn said. Cade nodded, reinforcing the wall with two more layers. "Now!" The wall fell, and Aiwyn's boomerang cut through the air once more. Kaitlyn darted forward, sword connecting with a ribcage. She easily dodged a stream of fire, though she was tripped. A sword was kicked from her hand, then placed at her neck.
"Ready to die, princess?" The man smiled darkly down at her.
"Not today, Rai!" She kicked his legs from beneath him and swung up, putting her other sword at his neck. "How about you? " She sneered.
"Kaitlyn, you know you would be happy with me. Just leave those dirt bags and surrender. The Fire Lord will take it easy on you. Especially if I vouch for you." He murmured, fire dancing in his dark eyes.
"Sorry Rai, but you're not my type." Her sword cut, but it met no flesh, no resistance. She looked down, crying out as fire hit her in the back. She collapsed, tears in her eyes.
"That was foul play, wasn't it?" He chuckled from behind her.
"You know I'm blind in my left eye." Kaitlyn gasped, the pain in her back searing. She knew he was reopening old wounds.
""That's why I rolled to the left. You never saw it coming." Rai crouched, blowing a strand of black hair from his face.
"Kaitlyn!" She twisted her head around, tears filling her eyes as she saw Cade thrown to the ground.
"What's going to happen to my friends?" Kaitlyn whispered, watching her friends fall.
"They'll either live as slaves or be executed." Rai said while tying her wrists securely behind her back.
"Sir, one of them has escaped." A soldier reported.
"Which one?" Rai scowled.
"The youngest, sir. A little girl, eight years of age." The soldier replied.
"She poses a threat to us. Follow her into the desert and destroy her. I will not tolerate word getting to the avatar. We don't have enough to hold a fight." Rai pursed his lips.
"No!" Kaitlyn twisted around, rolling onto her back. She cried out in anguish, pain flaring up her spine. "She's eight! Rai, you can't do this! Please, I'll do anything!" Kaitlyn couldn't let her friend die, Kyra was her responsibility, Kaitlyn had to keep her safe. No matter the cost.
"Would you marry me?" He gently stroked her cheek, smiling cruelly. Kaitlyn knew she had lost. Whether it be her freedom or this battle, she could not say.
"I…" She hesitated, closing her eyes. Marriage would mean obedience. And having to live with Rai. She wasn't sure she could stand kissing him, let alone bearing his children. She felt sick to her stomach as his hand rested against her neck. There was no way for her to win. Refuse and her friends died. Accept and live a life of servitude at the hands of your enemy. She had no choice. "…yes…" There, the deal was sealed. Tears filled her eyes, spilling down her cheeks.
"Excellent." Rai chuckled, hand moving to her shoulder. He looked up at the soldier that was preparing to leave. "Change of plans. You will bring the girl back alive. She is not to be harmed, is that clear?"
"Yes, sir!" The soldier saluted, making a hasty retreat.
"Can I trust you on a horse, or shall I ride with you?" Rai switched his attention back to Kaitlyn. She opened her eyes, shaking her head.
"I wish to be with my friends." She replied.
"They will be riding in the back of the wagon. How can I trust you alone with them?" He questioned, fingers lightly tracing her collarbone.
"I give you my word. I just want to be with my friends, one more time. Please." She whispered.
"Very well then. But Kaitlyn, don't even think about trying anything. If you do, your friends will pay the price." Rai slid his arms under her, lifting her up. He stood, cradling her to his chest. He walked slowly to the wagon, where Aiwyn was being dumped. He pulled back the flap and climbed in, setting her between Cade and Aiwyn. The two shot glares that were lethal, but he paid them no mind. He brushed her bangs away, fingers brushing her cheek. She offered a fake smile, the act vanishing the moment he disappeared. She hastily shook her bangs back over her eye, staring down at her lap.
"Kait, where's Kyra?" Aiwyn asked, blue eyes filled with tears.
"She escaped. They're going after her, they're bringing her back." Kaitlyn sighed, laying her head on Cade's shoulder.
"They'll kill her!" Aiwyn cried. She immediately began to struggle against her bonds, scowling.
"No, Rai made a point he wanted her alive. I made a deal with him, so he wouldn't have her killed." Kaitlyn closed her eyes.
"Kaitlyn, what did you promise him?" Cade's voice was dark, deadly. She knew he would kill Rai the moment he got free. If that happened.
"I…I agreed to marry him. I said I'd do anything, and he asked me to marry him. I had no choice, I couldn't let her die…" She whispered fearfully.
"Kaitlyn you can't!" A boy seated across from her cried. She looked up, smiling bitterly at the light-haired boy.
"Jeri, I have no other choice. Would you rather Kyra die?" She demanded.
"No, of course not! But you could have fought back!" He cried, blue eyes flashing angrily.
"There was nothing I could do." Kaitlyn ground her teeth together. "I saw you all taken down, there was nothing I could do. If I had tried to escape, you all could have been killed. I couldn't let that happen."
"You were just afraid to fight back! You're a horrible leader!" The thirteen year old bit back. Kaitlyn flinched, tears stinging her eyes.
"Jericho, that's enough!" Cade barked. He shot a glare, laying his head against Kaitlyn's. "Don't worry, Kyra will be fine. And we'll get out of here. Don't worry Kait, we'll get through this." He murmured soothingly.
"It's all my fault…" Kaitlyn let her resolve crumble, letting the tears flow freely.
"Kaitlyn, don't listen to Jeri. He's just worried about Kyra, we all are." Aiwyn laid against Kaitlyn, putting her head on her arm.
"I know sweetie, I know." Kaitlyn whispered.
"Kyra will find help, she'll make sure someone helps us." Cade assured, closing his eyes. "We just need to wait a little while. Don't worry Kait, we're all going to make it out alive. And you won't marry Rai. I'll protect you no matter what." There was an edge of steel to his voice.
"Always knew I could count on you." Kaitlyn sniffed. "Thanks Aiwyn, Cade. I love you guys. And no matter what, you'll always be my family."
"Of course. We'll stick together, through thick and thin." Cade grinned.
"I love you too, Kaitlyn. We'll all get through this." Aiwyn smiled.
"Yea, I guess we will." Kaitlyn nodded, nudging her face against Cade's shirt to dry her tears. He chuckled, shaking his head. A few minutes later the three were resting peacefully, not asleep, but not quite awake either. Jericho sulked across from them, plotting an escape.
A/N: Well, what do you guys think? Aang, Sokka, Toph, and Katara will all be in the next chapter. Just so you know, this will be a Kaitlyn x Sokka love story. There is a plot, and Aang is still on his mission to defeat the Fire Lord.
To clear up a few things, this is starting in the desert, rather than Ba Sing Se. I wanted to do things a little differently.
Kaitlyn being partially blind has nothing to do with Toph being blind. It's because of Kaitlyn's past, a major part of it for future reference.
For anyone that can help me think of a really good title, you'll get a cameo in the story if you like. Because my brain is dead, I can't think of a good title. So try and get me a title if you want a cameo!
Disclaimer: I own the made-ups and the plot. None of the bending or original characters. Just to clear things up.
Anyway, reviews are love. Any questions, feel free to ask. I hope you enjoy the story!