Dragon - a mythical monster like a giant reptile. In European tradition the dragon is typically fire-breathing and tends to symbolize chaos or evil, whereas in East Asia it is usually a beneficent symbol of fertility, associated with water and the heavens.
"C'mon Kasai, just a little bit further."
Zuko was not quite sure what they meant by a little bit further. They were miles and miles away from the temple, and his dragon obviously wasn't in a state to fly all the way back. So Zuko just urged Kasai on, to some unknown place where they would be safe from the hunters.
The dragon, however, had different ideas, and began to haphazardly head downwards at an alarmingly fast rate. Zuko could tell that Kasai was only only halfway in control of his body; this was better than Zuko though, who had no control over the dragon and was holding onto Kasai's scaly body for dear life as they plummeted into the unknown.
Zuko was first met with an awful smell that was almost as terrible as dragon waste. He opened his eyes and a world of muddy green met his eyes, trees and vines and murky water all melding into each other.
This place was nothing like he had ever seen before; it was so different from the smooth stone walls and blistering heat of the sun warrior temple, and it scared him. But at the same time, it interested him, excited him, made him want to see more.
Zuko looked over at Kasai, and he finally saw the injury in its fullness - the dragon's sleek scales were ripped jaggedly and velvety blood spilled out of the wound, staining the muddy water red.
Suddenly, a quiet gasp caught Zuko's ear, and he immediately looked at the direction of the sound.
A girl stood near a tree, staring at Kasai with bright blue eyes full of awe. She must have been about Zuko's age, maybe a bit younger, with skin the colour of cinnamon and dark, wavy hair that framed her face.
She caught Zuko's eye and moved slightly closer, cautious of the strangers.
"What's you're name?" She asked, her voice smooth and pretty.
"I'm Zuko, this is Kasai." Zuko replied and gestured to his dragon.
"That's a pretty name," The girl said, and he wasn't sure whether she was talking about him or his dragon, "I'm Katara. What kind of animal is that?"
Zuko furrowed his eyebrows; how could she not know what a dragon was? Where was he?
"He's a dragon."
"He's really cool! Like a big red alligator with wings like a bird."
Alligator? Zuko's mind spun.
"Sorry, but where am I? My dragon crashed here because he was injured."
"You're in the swamp." Katara replied.
"Do you live here?" Zuko inquired.
"Yeah." She nodded. How could she live here with all the water and the vines? "Can I see your dragon's injury?"
Zuko looked at her questioningly; she could hurt Kasai even more, but when Katara saw his expression, she simply laughed.
"I'm not going to hurt him. I'm a healer; I want to see how bad the wound is."
Zuko was still unsure, but something about Katara made him trust her.
"Okay," he gave her a nod and gestured to the injury. She studied the wound and frowned.
"How'd he get hurt?"
"Dragon hunters."
"Oh...you guys eat them?"
Zuko raised an eyebrow; eat dragons? "N-no. People hunt them for sport."
Katara could barely believe what she had just heard. "So you kill them for no reason? That wasting innocent lives! Why would you do that?"
"I don't know." Zuko sighed, "I guess some people don't see it that way."
"What other way is there to see it?" Katara exclaimed angrily.
"I don't know. Some people are weird." Zuko lied; he was embarrassed to say that some firebenders killed dragons just to increase their own abilities.
"Well, I'll try to heal him. It's a pretty big wound, but I think I can do it." Katara smiled determinedly, and then did something amazing; she lifted her arms and the murky water followed her movements. He watched in amazement as she separated the mud from the water and put it on Kasai's wound. The water began to glow cobalt and when she pulled it away, the injury was gone.
It took Zuko a few seconds to form words, still amazed at Katara's actions. "How did you do that?"
"Do what? Heal him?"
"No- well, that too, but how did you control the water?"
"What you've never seen waterbending?"
"Waterbending? Like firebending?"
"Firebending? You can control fire?"
"Yeah," Zuko nodded and firebent, holding a flame in his hand.
This time, Katara looked amazed. "Woah... how'd you get it to just come out of your hand? And how are you not getting burnt?"
"I don't know...its just natural, I guess."
"That's makes sense. Waterbending's natural too."
Zuko smiled, but realised that he needed to do; the sun Warriors were probably worrying about him.
"Well, I should get going."
Katara looked up, slight disappointment in her cerulean eyes.
"Oh...are you sure you don't want to stay? Give Kasai some time to recover his strength."
Zuko bit the inside of his cheek; he wanted to stay and learn more about Katara - her personality, her way of life, if there were any more people living in the swamp - but he knew he should go.
Still, Kasai did seem pretty tired, and the sun warriors wouldn't really start worrying until tomorrow.
Zuko smiled, "actually, I think I'll stay for a while."
Katara smiled back.
Thanks for reading day 1! Requested by ObeliskX :)
