Losing Myself

Prologue

I remember my mother used to speak to me every night as she tucked me into bed. Sometimes, she'd lull me to sleep with songs custom to our tribe, but most nights, she'd recite exciting tales about the different bending nations and the Avatar. I would always stare up at her, my eyes twinkling in fascination, as she gestured enthusiastically to bring her stories to life.

I can still hear her voice, sweet and gentle; as if it were just yesterday she tucked me in…

At the end of each tale, she'd always make sure to remind me how beautiful I am and to never forget who I am on the inside because "that's what matters most." She made me promise that I'd follow my own path in life and that I'd never lose myself along the way.

I was still too young to understand what she meant then, but of course I made the promise without hesitation.

Now, I'm afraid I've broken that promise. I'm not sure who I am or what I stand for. I have no idea what to think anymore.

I am so lost.

The sun had begun its evening descent toward the horizon, leaving the sky above the Southern Water Tribe's village painted with an array of fiery colors. Another day was coming to an end, much to the village's inhabitants' relief as the Fire Nation hadn't returned to menace them during one of their infamous raids.

Fire Nation troops had intruded the tribe's territory so often the villagers began to dreadfully anticipate their next arrival each day. And every time they returned to the Southern Water Tribe, they stole more Waterbenders from their home to imprison them. However, only one Waterbender remained in the tribe – a young girl, not yet old enough to even practice her gift.

Her parents were almost certain the Fire Nation were oblivious to their daughter's bending ability, however they remained cautious for her safety. If the Firelord caught wind of another Waterbender residing in the Southern Water Tribe, there was no doubt he'd send for her capture, too.

"Katara!" The Waterbender's mother called out to her daughter from the entrance of their hut. "It's getting late, not much longer now!"

Katara often spent her mornings learning to sew and cook among other house chores with her mother, but her afternoons were spent freely and she enjoyed playing with her brother and the other children that lived in the village.

"Okay, Mom!" the young girl called back to her mother, her mouth falling into a slight pout. She turned back toward her brother, whom she had been having a snowball fight with, and ducked out of the way of a snowball he had hurled in her direction. She gathered snow into her own hands, shaping it into a ball, a mischievous glint in her blue eyes.

Katara tossed the snowball at her brother's face, landing a direct hit. She giggled as her brother scowled and reached for more snow to retaliate, when suddenly, what looked to be gray snow began falling from the sky.

The young Waterbender gazed up at the sky curiously, then down at her hands which were now covered in the gray substance. She rubbed her mittens together in an attempt to clean them, but only smudged the gray dots across the fabric. It was soot.

Not far from where the Water Tribe was established, large, metal ships had arrived on shore, emblazoned with the Fire Nation's symbol across each of their hulls. Thick, black smoke pumped from their engines and mixed with the snowfall, blanketing the village in soot.

Fire Nation soldiers could be seen making their way into the village as the people watched after them in fear.

"Get Mom!" Katara's brother commanded, the urgency in his voice not allowing her to hesitate for even a second.

Katara turned on her heel and ran toward the hut her mother had retreated into earlier, screeching to an absolute halt when she came to the sight of a tall man, dressed in a Fire Nation uniform standing before her mother. The black and red symbolic colors were enough to form a knot in her stomach.

"Mom…?" The girl's eyes averted to her mother, her features twisted in fear.

"It's alright, honey, I'll deal with this," the woman assured her frightened daughter, "Go find your father."

Katara remained in place, somewhat stunned.

"You heard your mother," came the man's gruff voice, sending shivers down Katara's spine. He turned his head slightly toward the girl, revealing his face beneath his helmet. Her blue eyes met his fiery irises for a split second. "Leave us."

With that icy command, Katara darted outside where storm clouds were beginning to form above the village. She continued running until she caught a glimpse of the familiar silhouettes of her father and brother, fighting more Fire Nation soldiers alongside each other.

"Dad!" she cried from afar, her hands balled into fists anxiously as she watched her father press the end of his spear threateningly against one of the soldier's throats. "It's Mom! There's a man in the hut with her!"

Her father and brother exchanged alarmed expressions before quickly disposing of the Fire Nation soldiers, leaving them unconscious in the snow and starting for their hut. The storm looming overhead had begun with sharp flurries and was worsening by the minute.

Katara shielded her face from the freezing winds and clung to her brother's arm as they trudged through the snow as fast as they could. They arrived just in time to catch the Fire Nation soldier exiting their hut. Katara's father raised his spear at the man immediately.

"What have you done with my wife!" he demanded with an angry bellow, his blue eyes ablaze with anger, "Answer me!" He advanced toward the soldier, still gripping his spear.

"I had orders to dispose of the last Waterbender in the South Pole and I did just that," the soldier sneered, maintaining his composure.

Katara and her brother stared in horror at the man's words.

"Now I suggest you lower your weapon and get out of my way before you meet a similar fate," the soldier continued in his low growl.

Katara's father, his eyes now glassy, could only let out an anguished cry as he charged at the soldier with his spear. The Fire Nation soldier responded with a grounded punch, releasing a stream of fire along with it.

Having never witnessed any bender's ability to control the elements or her father in life-threatening danger, Katara's first instinct was to screech in fear and run. And she did just that.

"Katara!" her brother called after his retreating sister, "Katara!" He glanced back at the soldier, who was now holding his father by the collar of his coat with one hand and raising a concentrated flame with his other hand.

The boy charged at the soldier, knocking him into the snow. "Just get out of here!" he barked at the man, standing his ground protectively in front of his father. "You've fulfilled your orders, now leave!" he choked out, fighting back tears.

The Fire Nation soldier spared their lives that night, but one life would be changed forever…

Katara continued to run, although she had slowed from her initial sprint as her adrenaline rush dwindled. Her feet grew heavier as she struggled to plow through the snow that was deepening with the storm's precipitation. The wind stung against her face that was too numb to feel the tears streaming down her cheeks. She had been running for what seemed like hours and could barely see through the snow whisking around her in every direction. She was alone, cold, and scared.

She stood still for a moment and glanced around, trying to make out something – anything – in the distance. All there was to see was snow. She began to walk in one direction in hopes of catching a glimpse of something familiar.

"Dad?" she muttered, more for comfort than anything else. After a few minutes of walking, she could make out a tall silhouette in the distance. It was a man!

"Dad!" Katara called out. The child's fatigue got the best of her and she began running toward the silhouette without a thought of its identity. "Daddy, it's me! Katara!"

As she drew closer, the shape of a pointed helmet was evident upon the man's head and she stopped dead in her tracks. The man approached her and she noticed the details of his Fire Nation uniform.

Gasping in realization, Katara began to step backwards away from the soldier.

"Hey, wait!" the man protested, hastening toward her.

"Get away!" squealed Katara and she turned away from her pursuer, her arms swinging with her. Behind her, the snow settling on a nearby ledge responded to her arms' movements and toppled on to the Fire Nation soldier. He gazed up at the girl's retreating figure, bewildered, but then began chasing her once more.

"Come back!" he called out, running after her.

Katara ran as fast as she could, but her exhaustion was beginning to take a toll on her. Before she knew what had happened, her legs gave way right beneath her and she fell headfirst toward the ground. Her forehead smacked hard against something seemingly invisible, and then everything went blank.