Didn't See That Coming
by Rebirth of the Phoenix
Hi, this is my first fanfic. I love Zutara so it seemed logical to write a fic about them. I know it's a cliched topic but I love these types of stories. Tell me what you think about the story after you've read it. I've posted two chapters at once just to get you going. I'd love any feedback you can give, reviews keep my imagination fresh! Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I own nothing. If I owned Avatar, then the likely hood would be that I would also own a Porsche. Do I own a Porsche? What do you think?
It had been an ordinary day for Aang, Sokka and Katara. They had travelled all day on Appa, flying high to try and disappear into the clouds. For Zuko and his crew were still searching for them from the water below. Now night had fallen and the three friends had set up camp in a small clearing in a forest. Katara was preparing dinner while Aang and Sokka colletected more firewood. She was relieved that they seemed to have lost Prince Zuko and his malicious firebenders, they could relax for a while and get a good night's sleep, instead of being on a flying bison, hundreds of feet in the air. Katara sighed and went back to stirring the stew she was cooking.
"Hey Katara! Is food done yet?" Sokka burst into the clearing carrying a pile of wood in his arms.
"Nearly Sokka, and we only ate a few hours ago. Plus you ate more than Aang and I did!"
Sokka pouted. "Yeah, well excuse me if I can't seem to enjoy food when we're travelling on the back of the world's biggest thow rug! I get hungry when I'm nervous."
Aang came into the clearing at these words carrying a substantially larger pile of wood than Sokka. "Well Sokka, if you think that travelling on Appa is that much of a problem, then I supose we could always walk. I mean, I'm sure Appa would be pleased of the break."
Sokka visably paled at the mention of walking. "Aang, come on, I was only joking, Appa knows that don't you boy?" With this Sokka ran over to Appa's side and began petting him. Appa gave a pleased groan and rolled onto his side.
Aang burst out laughing at how easily Sokka panicked at the mention of walking. "I know you were only joking Sokka, I was too! Don't worry I know how you get with food. Appa doesn't take ofense easily either."
Sokka's faced relaxed. "I knew you were only joking Aang, you have to get up earlier in the morning to fool me!" Sokka puffed out his chest whilke Katara rolled her eyes at her brother. Sokka looked at Aang. " What took you so long to get back anyways?"
Aang smirked at Sokka. "Well as soon as you'd gathered a few pieces of firewood you got tired and left me to collect the rest. I'm four years younger than you Sokka, don't you think that you should have carried more wood than me?"
Sokka deflated slightly then puffed himself back up in no time at all. "I'm putting you through training Aang. You're the Avatar, you need to get stronger, so making you carry the firewood seemed the smartest thing to do."
Katara scoffed at Sokka's words. "Yeah right Sokka, it was the easiest way for you to slack off you mean. If you put as much energy into working as you do into eating you could carry us through the Earth Kingdom instead of Appa."
Aang started laughing while Sokka stuck his tongue out at Katara. "Ha, ha, ha Katara. Look I'm hungry, so make all the fun of me you like but can it wait until we've eaten?"
"Hold on Sokka, let me just add some herbs to it and then it's done." Katara got up and went to her bag at the edge of the camp. She had a collection of herbs she kept to try and make their meals more favourable. She bent down to search in one of the pockets. As she bent her head down she noticed a shadow flit past in her periphial vison. Katara's head shot up, her eyes desperatly searching the gathering shadows. She couldn't see anything but was sure that there was something out there. She sat crouched, stock still, her blue eyes searching the darkness until Aang beckoned her from the campfire.
"Hey, Katara! You alright?"
Katara snapped out of her stupor. "Wha-? Oh, yeah fine." She grabbed the herbs from her bag and went back to the campfire, telling herself she was being paranoid.
Little did Katara know that she wasn't being paranoid, something was waiting on the edge of the camp, watching the three friends through the darkness.
Night fell and Aang and Sokka slept peacefully around the campfire. Katara was also in her sleeping bag, but she wasn't asleep. She still couldn't shake off the feeling that something wasn't right. She could hear Aang's steady breathing and Sokka's grunting snores. She breathed in a sigh of relief, she was just being silly. If there was anything watching them, surely they would have been attacked by now. Katara sighed again and closed her eyes. At the same moment she heard a twig snap at the outskirts of the camp. Katara's eyes snapped open but she didn't move. Her breathing became shallow but she didn't make a sound. Katara could hear footsteps approaching the camp. They were light and graceful but she could still hear them. She shut her eyes tight and felt something pass by where she slept and towards Aang. She squinted through the darkness and saw the unmistakable silhouette of Prince Zuko. The Fire Nation armour glinted in the dying firelight. His characteristic ponytail rested high on his head.
Slowly and carefully Katara unscorked the top on the waterskin that lay at her side. She glanced back at Zuko and saw that he was still seemingly looking at Aang. Katara drew out the water from the pouch at the same that Zuko lit a ball of fire in his right hand. Katara drew her hand back, then thrust forward the water whip she had formed.
As the whip struck the back of Zuko's head, she screamed. "Firebenders RUN!"
Sokka and Aang both lept up momentarilly confused. It was lucky that Zuko was just asbewildered, because the moments hesitation by Sokka and Aang went unpunished. They both ran for the forest in different directions when they realised Zuko was in the camp. Zuko snarled and made towards the direction Aang took off in. Katara, already on her feet, threw herself at Zuko. She knocked him off balance and the pair tumbled across the camp. Zuko landed on top of Katara, pinning her to the ground. Katara drew up her knee and dug it into his stomach. Zuko reeled away winded as Katara pushed up to her feet, stumbling away. However, Zuko's military training brought him to recovery, and his feet, quickly and he lunged after Katara, grabbing the edge of her robe. Katara fell back into Zuko's arms, all movement restricted.
Zuko laughed softly into Katara's ear. "Lets see how much the Avatar cares for you shall we?"
"Come out, come out wherever you are Avatar. I'm sure you wouldn't want me to 'accidentaly' hurt your friend now would you?" Zuko shouted into the darkness.
They both stood in silence. Katara's breaths coming in short gasps. Part of her willed Aang and Sokka to burst into the clearing and rescue her. After all, Zuko didn't seem to have any back up with him. The more reasonable part of her however knew that Aang and Sokka should keep on running. They shouldn't put themselves in danger for her. She wished with all her might that they were both far enough away not to hear Zuko's threats.
They waited. Katara's eyes searched the camp. The fire was just a few dying coals, Aang and Sokka's sleeping bags lay empty, Appa was gone too, no doubt he had taken off in pursuit of Aang. She was alone. As she realised this her knees gave way, Zuko's grip on her arms tightened as he supported her weight.
Zuko looked down at Katara, startled. He had felt her collapse and had instinctively held her up. She had her head bowed towards the ground and was completely silent. He thought for a moment that she may have fainted. He turn her around to face him and saw that she was awake; her eyes were set furiously on his face and she looked at him with no sign of fear.
"It looks like he didn't hear you. Do you want to call again?" Katara smirked as Zuko's face contracted with fury. Her smile didn't last long though, as Zuko's face changed to mirror her own.
"I have a better idea. Why carry on chasing after the Avatar when I can lure him to me with live bait?"
Katara's insides froze when she realised what Zuko was implying. Zuko began to walk out of the encampment, dragging Katara with him. Katara struggled and dug her feet into the gound. Zuko growled at the waterbender and lifted her up over his shoulder and carried her out of the camp. Katara pounded at his back, achieving nothing due to Zuko's heavy amour.
"Put me down you filthy snake!" Katara's voice was quietly menacing.
Zuko gave a snort. "Put you down, are you stupid? Aren't you going to call for help or scream or something?"
"Are you stupid? I'm not going to call out and lure Aang to you. Get used to the fact that I am not going to make this any easier for you."
"You know you are annoyingly stubborn. You will help me, just by being my prisioner you are helping me to trap the Avatar." Zuko put Katara on her feet and she saw that they were stood on the seafront facing Zuko's ship. The mere sight of it scared Katara out of her wits, but she wasn't about to let Zuko know that. She stood still, her face impassive.
Zuko looked at her. "Are you going to walk in peacefully or do I have to drag you in?"
Katara sent him a withering glare. "Are you going to stop asking stupid questions or do I have bend that sea water straight down your slimy throat?" Her voice dripped with sarcasm.
Zuko made no reply. Instead he hoisted Katara back onto his shoulder and walked up the ramp and onto the ship. Katara hung over his shoulder, making no effort to fight; she wanted to save at least some of her dignity. The crew stared as Zuko carried Katara across the deck and down the stairs, heading below deck. Zuko walked through metal corridors until he arrived at a narrow and rusty looking corridor. He walked over to the nearest door, yanked it open and threw Katara in. She landed unceremoniously on the hard metal floor and glared up at Zuko. He looked strangely impressive standing there, framed by the door.
"I'll let you settle in then shall I?" He smirked down at her. "I'll be back for you when we set sail. We'll see how stubborn you are after a few hours in here." He gestured to the dark and dank cell. He gave Katara one last gloating stare before turning around and leaving the cell. Katara got to her feet and rushed to the door, as she reached it she heard the heavy click of the door being locked. She felt all hope escape her as she listened to Zuko's fading footsteps. She turned around and rested her back to the door. She slid down the metal and sat on the floor, resting her head on her knees. Sitting in the dark, damp cell Katara finally let her tears fall. The sounds of her sobs echoing around her; the only company she had in the strange new place.
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