Through the corner of her eye Katara could see the lifeless body of the avatar lying only meters away from her. She wanted to run to him, to save him. But she couldn't. She was too focused on the stream of water energy moving through her hands. She never felt anything like it before, she couldn't tell which emotion it was, but she knew it had something to do with the boy that stood right in front of her. The sight of him just made her want to push harder. Something about him made he want to scream.
The memory of the way he had acted only several minutes before shot back to her mind. His voice had been so kind, his eyes so pained, his hand so soft…No, Katara he's not like that. It was all an act. How can I be so stupid?! Katara pushed even harder with strength she didn't know she had.
"Katara!" The voice of Sokka's voice came from the direction of Ang's lifeless body. "Katara, he's out dead. Barely breathing! We have to do something!"
Katara vaguely remembered the out line of the cave; if she could distract the two fire benders they could probably get way. It was a sacrifice she was willing to make for the life of the people she loved. A large crystal hung above Zuko's head if she could knock that down it would buy her sometime to tell Sokka the plan.
She closed her mind on everything that surrounded her and focused only on the water that was in front of her. She felt its energy, its power and pushed it from the inside of her mind to her hand and the stream that separated the golden eyed ermine and the water shot up to the very roof of the cave.
Katara ran over to the small body her brother was cradling in his arms. Ang's face looked peaceful. Somewhere deep inside see envied him so much. How she wished she could escape so easily from everything. "Sokka, take Ang and get out of here, I'll stay here and keep them distracted!"
"N...no. Katara I can't leave you here by yourself. I'll stay here and you go."
"Sokka. Stop being hardheaded. Ang is going to be out for a while. You have to keep him Safe. And besides you can't get them away with just your sword. I'll be okay. Just take this," Katara handed him the bottle of healing water. "And get Ang somewhere warm." Sokka looked as his sister. How could he just leave her? He had promised to protect her. How can he just leave? But inside he knew that Katara was able to fight anyone much bigger and stronger than some self absorbed and his wanna be fire lord sister.
"Okay. But you have to promise that you will come back. Otherwise I won't leave."
"Sokka just go." Katara really didn't want to make that promise.
"Katara. Promise me." Sokka needed to hear her say it in order to make himself actually leave.
"Fine, I promise. Now go!" Katara said pushing Ang up on Sokka's arms. Katara knew she had to lie in order to keep them safe.
"You better keep it, otherwise I'm going to be so pissed." Sokka hated goodbye and didn't want to seem weak in front of the enemy.
"Go Sokka. Get Toph." He pushed him away and turned around to face the now broken wall between her and the person he hated more then the fire lord himself, his arrogant and two faced son. In the corner of her eye she could see Sokka, with Ang in his arms, waiting for a few doubtful minutes, then turned around and ran for the door. Katara took a few even breaths, and shot a long stream of water, then prayed to god that she could keep her promise to Sokka.
Zuko's found that he had to push with all his strength to make the fire come out from him. He watched is shock as the small waterbender was left all alone to face to highly trained firebenders.
"Ha, stupid girl thinks she can hold us off. Come on lets finish her Zuzu" Azula laughed. Zuko didn't responded he could feel Azula fire get strong but the harder he pushed the weaker his hands got. "Come on Zuko, what are you waiting for?! Finish her!" Azula yelled at him. The pressure was getting too much for the prince. He fell to the ground, unable to withstand the regret he felt for his actions. What is wrong with me? I feel sorry for some girl, some worthless girl.
"I can't," he whispered. I sharp growl escaped Azula's lips.
"No wonder dad banished you. We are really going to have to work on your inner firebender. I guess I'll just finish her off myself then." Zuko's head snapped up to see his sister aim the fire at the ground making a bomb effect. The shock wave sent the waterbender fallen to the ground. Azula moved quickly toward the waterbender. Zuko felt something in the bottom of his stomach but ignored it. Stupid waterbender.
The ground under Katara felt hot, burning hot. She felt something hot and rich flow down the left cheek. She dabbed carefully at her face on to regret the pain that brought her. She realized that something on her body hurt even more then her forehead. He looked back to see her right leg being crushed by a large rock. She let out a soft pained sigh but was taken back when a sudden pull of her hair made her jump. Her head was pulled up to meet her villains golden eyes. "You know for a mere peasant you sure do think a lot of your self." Azula purred close to her face. "But it's kinda sweet a young girl scarfises her life for the one of the avatar in hope of saving the world. Isn't it sad that no one will every no how you died, how you suffered." A fire blade shot out of her arm and began to move forward for Katara. She closed he eyes as she began to see her life flash before her eyes. She saw herself at the age of three playing with Sokka and her parents in the snow. She saw herself sitting round a camp with Ang, Sokka, Toph, Apa and Momo. Laughing, living. She saw Zuko standing in front of her, her hand on his face.
"No!" It took Katara a while to realize that wasn't Azula's voice. Katara opened her eyes to see Azula's wrist being held by Zuko. "She might help us in capturing the Avatar. He is very attached to her." Zuko hadn't looked once at her.
"Wow Zuko, I'm impressed. And here I was think you've gone soft." Azula laughed. Zuko didn't reply. "Okay then you is in charge of her. We are going to the battle ground's on Cobramonkey Island. You need to get as much information out of her as possible." Azula looked down at her. "Be willing to do anything it takes." She laughed. She pushed Katara's head down but let go of her hair and walk away towards the direction of the throne room leaving Zuko and Katara alone.
"Get up." Zuko said sharply. She didn't look up at him but she could feel by the tone in his voice he was tense. Really tense. "Come on get up." The tone was a little loud and more aggressive. Katara still didn't move. "I can always make you." Zuko warned.
"I can't" Katara whispered. A long minute of silence passed and Zuko bent down to her level.
"Please just get up. I really don't want to hurt you." Zuko said looking way. "Please, just co-operate." Katara couldn't tell if the 'I don't want to hurt you' part was real or a really good lie.
"No it's not that." She whispered bitterly. "My leg, it's stuck, and hurts really badly," Zuko looked around her toward her leg, and sighed with frustration. Then he got up and moved towards it, and with one simple movement lifted the rock and dropped it behind him.
"Can you stand?" He asked not making eye contact. Katara moved her hands to the floor and pushed up slowly shifting her weight on to her leg. The pain shot from her foot, up her leg and through her spin.
"No," she winced. Another frustrated sigh came from Zuko. And Katara felt something hot touch her body. Zuko had lifted Katara up into his arms.
She was confused. She didn't know how to act. But something about his embrace made her forget about the pain. About everything. She leaned her head against his chest.
Katara felt Zuko stiffen. And chuckled quietly. She closed her eyes and listen to the sound of his heart beat. It reminded her of the sounds of fire nation ship bombing the wall in her village. It remained her of her mother death.
"I hate you," she whispered quietly almost unsure of weather Zuko could hear her. Another frustrated sigh but this one was very quiet. It reassured her he heard her words.