This is my first time writing a Kataang story. I hope you all like it! Please do comment and tell me how I can make it better!
I kinda base this a bit after The Promise, after Aang and Katara learn about how King Kuei tells them that he's going to war with the Fire Nation.
Hope you enjoy!
"Aang?" The young airbender looked up to see Katara staring at him with a look of concern on her face. The two were walking down an abandoned alleyway after being rudely sent out by King Kuei after he had revealed his plan to go to war with the Fire Nation. Aang had pleaded with the king, but he had no luck in changing his mind. "Are you okay?"
"No, I'm not okay!" Suddenly, Aang stopped and dropped to his knees, his face in his hands. "The Avatar is supposed to keep war from happening! I shouldn't of told King Kuei, I should have thought the whole Harmony Restoration Movement through. I should have-"
Katara dropped down to her knees, too, in front of Aang and took his hands in hers. "Aang, it wasn't your fault that King Kuei decided to declare war. If anything, it's his fault."
He looked up into her blue eyes, not daring to believe it. "How?" he whispered hoarsely. "How, when it's MY duty to reason with him. Instead, I was sent out like a little kid." He turned his face away as he said the last few words.
She laid her hand on his cheek softly and gently turned his face towards hers. "Because everybody has a choice, Aang. And King Kuei chose the wrong one. It wasn't your fault that he decided not to listen to you. But we can make him chose the right choice later. We'll make him see reason, Aang. I promise," she promised.
He sighed, laying his hand upon the one she had on his cheek, and leaned into it. For a few seconds, he just sat there, feeling Katara's touch, letting it sooth him. "I hope so," he murmured finally, and stood up, helping Katara up as well. Then, to her surprise, he began to smile.
"What's so funny?" she asked.
"I'm...just so glad I have you, Katara," he said. He slid his hands away from hers and captured her face in her hands, and brought her in for a kiss. For a second, she froze, but then as his lips met hers, warmth flooded into her, and she closed her eyes, leaning into the kiss. She lifted her arms and wrapped them around his neck, pulling him closer to her, loving the feel of him pressed against her, the way his fingers ran through her hair, while the other hand still cupped her face. She tried to figure out what made Aang's kisses so great, how they made her head spin and knees weak. But suddenly, she didn't care. All she wanted was Aang.
And all Aang wanted to do was make Katara happy. He pressed his lips on hers with just the right amount of force, loving how they tasted. Like sweet leechy nuts and wild panda lily berries. No, even better. Something more wonderful and delightful than anything else in the world; and he would fight Ozai ten more times if it meant he could have it. If he could have Katara.
Losing himself for a minute, he pressed harder against her, putting both of his hands on her shoulders and pushing her against one of the walls. Katara pulled her head away, surprised. "Aang!" she gasped.
Embarrassed, and turning red, he dropped his hands and took a step away from her. "Katara, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to-I wasn't-I mean, I-"
Katara grabbed his biceps and yanked him back to her and held his face so close to hers that they were nose to nose. "Don't you ever leave me again," she whispered.
"Never," he gasped, his cheeks still red. Smirking, she put her lips back on his, and he responded by pressed her up against the wall, his hands on her hips. Honestly, she had been a little surprised at how aggressive he had been, but Katara didn't mind. The wall she was being smushed against didn't hurt, though it should have, and all she was conscious of was Aang.
Finally, they pulled apart, both breathing heavily. "Let's try...and...find an...inn, shall we?" Katara panted, slipping away from Aang, and she began to dust off her dress and smooth out the wrinkles from their make out session, then she continued to stroll down the alleyway as if nothing had happened.
Aang stared after her, confused, then shook his head and smiled and jogged after her.
"Two rooms, please," Aang requested as they checked into the Slinky Serpent Inn.
An old woman with giant spectacles and long white hair behind the desk looked into the sign-in book, then croaked, "Sorry, sonny, but we only have one room left tonight."
Aang turned to Katara, who was busy admiring the furniture. "Do you think Sokka would kill me if we slept in the same bed, together?" he asked.
"He'd probably kill you if we were in the same room," she replied, setting down a plate with a painting of a handsome man and a beautiful woman on the top.
Aang sighed, then turned back to the old woman. "Then can we have the last one?"
"Of course," she said, handing him a large brass key with the number 38 engraved on the front.
"You know, those are really pretty. Do you think we should one of those?" Katara asked as Aang strode back to her. He turned to look at the plate of the couple.
"Yeah, that would be really cool if we could get one of these," he agreed, then turned to the woman behind the counter. "Excuse, but do you know where you can find a painter who can do one of these?" He waved the plate.
"Oh, yes. Go down to the next village to the east, not to far from here, and ask for Painter Buddimashi."
"Thanks!" Aang called as he set down the plate, and they began to walked up the green carpeted, gold-railed stairs.
For a while, they didn't say anything. Katara was too busy thinking about their make out session in the alleyway. Aang was too busy worrying that Sokka would beat him up if he found out Aang and Katara were in the same bed together. But going up three floors, Katara started to ask a question that had been nagging at her ever since the Day of Black Sun. "Aang, where did you learn to kiss?"
He turned to look at her, surprised. "What?"
"Well, I mean, you're such a greater kisser, but you used to be a monk and you don't go around kissing any girls to practice on." She glanced at him. "Do you?"
Aang laughed. "Of course I have been, Katara! Haven't you seen them chasing me wherever I go?"
"Oh yeah? Like who?" she challenged, playing along.
"Well, Meng and Ty Lee, for starters," he said, counting on his fingers. "And On Ji wasn't bad either," he teased.
"Oh shut up!" she cried, jumping on him.
Hey!" he protested as she climbed on his back and clinched him in a headlock. "Let go!"
"Make me!"
As a reply, he bent his knees, inhaling deeply, then-smashing his fist into his palm-breathed out, airbending the area around him, making Katara fly off. He stood up straight and dusted his clothes out before holding his arms out and letting Katara fall back into them.
"Oof!" she gasped as he caught her in his arms.
"Have you learned your lesson?" he asked.
She pretended to consider it, then replied, "That I'm not supposed to jump you, but I do enjoy you carrying me."
Aang rolled his eyes, but laughed with her and carried her up to their floor. He continued to hold her until he reached the end of the hallway. "Sorry ma'am, but the ride ends here," he said in a deep and gravelly voice.
"Oh darn it," Katara sighed as she swung herself off of Aang. "And I was really starting to enjoy you holding me."
"Well, we have plenty of time for that," he reminded her, wrapping one arm around her waist while using the other to unlock the door. They walked inside, still connected, and Katara closed the door. "And I would never dream of letting you go," he said seriously, turning her around to look into her eyes. She stared into his eyes, marvelling at the way they changed colors. Right now, they were blue, which was when he was emotional.
Katara felt her heart swell up with indescribable feelings as she looked at the boy who had came far from wanting to ride penguins and elephant koi fish. Lines had creased into his face, making him seem older than fourteen. And he had grown a lot so that he was as tall as her, or maybe taller, she couldn't tell. He wasn't just someone she wanted to protect, now. He was hers. She smiled, caressing his face, as she realized it.
Now it was his turn to ask the question. "What's so funny?"
"Nothing. Come on, let's get to bed."
The room was very pleasant, with a large four-post bed big enough for at least three people with silk covers and sheets next to large window. There was a nightstand on either side, with a kerosene lamp on each one. There was a door that led to the bathroom, across the floor laid a rug of silk. There was also a table made of fine wood with two bottles of sweet buzzard-wasp nectar, along with two glasses.
Aang spotted the nectar, then asked, "Can we at least have some of the -"
She turned to look at the table, thne almost laughed, remembering Aang's weakness for nectar. "Sure, Aang. But just one glass," she said sternly, pointing at him. "We don't want you to sleep for another hundred years."
He went over to the nectar and poured some into one glass and handed it to Katara, then poured one for himself.
"To us, since nothing else seems to be going right around here!" he declared, holding up his glass.
Katara laughed, and clinked her own against his. Then they both began to drink it. Aang could almost feel the nectar soothing him, making him feel slightly drowsy. "Aahh," he sighed, after he downed the whole cup, and set it on the table. "That hit the spot." Katara giggled again before taking another sip. He grinned at her, then reached out one hand to cup one side of her face. She laid her head upon his palm, smiling back.
"You know, even if I did kiss every single one of those girls, it wouldn't matter," he said. "They've got nothing on you, Katara."
She blushed. "You're just saying that."
"No, I'm not!" he said earnestly, taking her glass and setting it on the table before grabbing both of her hands. "I think you're smart and beautiful and talented and the best waterbender in the world!"
"Besides you, of course," she laughed as they wrapped their arms around each other. "I might have been your teacher, but you're still the most powerful bender in the world."
"I try." She giggled again, then closed her eyes and gently kissed him on the lips.
Aang savored every second of their mouths touching, and was sorry when her lips left his, though he could still feel them on his. "Where do you think you're going?" he murmured before catching her mouth with his. She moaned softly, her tongue flicking at his entrance, asking to come in. He opened his mouth and their tongues danced, mating with each other, tasting their saliva and loving it.
Still kissing, Katara reached down and tugged at the bottom of his tunic. Startled, he jerked his head back, breaking the kiss. "Well, you're not gonna sleep in it, are you?" she demanded, putting her hands on her hips. He shrugged, though he was actually planning to. She sighed and grabbed the hem of it and pulled it off, showing off his muscular abs. Though she could see half of it most of the time, she always liked seeing how Aang had came out, feeling his hard muscles beneath her fingers.
Aang frowned. "And are you going to wear that dress to sleep?" he retorted. She opened her mouth to reply, but he had already grabbed the bottom of her dress and yanked it off.
She squealed and covered herself, though she had her chest and bottom bindings on. "Hey!"
"Well are you?"
"Then you should at least take off your pants!" she shot back, and before he could stop her, she had crouched down and ripped them down, leaving him in his underwear. "There!" she said with satisfaction as she stood back up.
For a moment, they glared at each other in their underwear, then, for no apparent reason at all, they both burst out laughing.
"Come on, we-we need t-to go to bed." Aang stepped towards the bed, when Katara grabbed his arm, a mischievous look on her face.
"No, I think YOU need to go to bed," she purred, laying both hands on his chest. Unaware of what she was planning, he placed his hands over hers. Smirking, she pushed him down on to the bed and climbed on to chest, straddling him. Surprised, he struggled against her until she gently kissed him on the lips. "Don't worry," she whispered. "Relax." He did as she asked, breathing heavily she led a trail of soft kisses around his face and down his throat, but not daring to move.
"You're being a very good boy," she whispered in his ear, tracing the outline of his muscles lightly with one finger. "And if you're being a good boy, what am I being?" He looked up into her seductive blue eyes, and wondered if there was a right answer, because it was clear she wanted one.
He swallowed. "You're being a very na-na-naughty girl," he stammered.
Katara chuckled before pecking his nose with her lips. "And? I thought you liked your girls to be naughty," she murmured, her finger now running up and down his throat.
"They can be naughty or nerdy or stuffy," he said breathlessly. "I don't care, as long as she's you."
For a second, Katara almost blushed, dropping out of her seductive state, Aang could be so sweet and flattering without even trying. As a reward, she lowered her head, closed her eyes, and kissed him sweetly on the lips. Aang rose his arms and cupped her face in both hands as they pressed their lips together. Katara groaned as Aang toyed with her hair, tugging on it, making the kissing feel more intense somehow. She pulled her head back. "That's not fair," she gasped.
He untangled his fingers from her hair and propped himself up on his elbows, confused. "What?"
"Don't tease me like that," she growled.
"Oh, I'm sorry, Katara. I didn't mean to."
Katara looked at him and almost laughed. His facial expression was completely honest, though she could see the wanting and desire beneath the surface. Smiling, she started kissing him again. Aang's head swum as he tried to wrap his head around the fact that Katara was kissing him, straddling him to the bed, that she wanted him. Dizzy, he closed his eyes and let himself melt into her. There was nothing better than this. And he doubted anything in the world could make him stop except-
Sokka burst through the door.
An over-protective, angry older brother.
"AAANNNGGG!" Sokka roared. He gulped.
Katara, trying to play it cool, said cheerfully, "Hey, Sokka!"
He glared at the two. "Get off of her, NOW!"
Technically, he was underneath her, but Aang airbended himself from under her and jumped away on to the other side of the room. She squealed as fell down on the bed.
Sokka strode up to Aang, who had his hands up defensively, pointing an accusing finger. "I've been tolerant of you two and your little nicknames and your little kissing sessions, but if you even try and touch Katara-!"
"Sokka, leave him alone!" Katara shouted. "I made him do it!"
He turned to her, a look of rage plain on his face. "Yeah? Well, then who's bright idea was it for you two to share a room?"
"There was no more left!" she cried.
"So? You could of gone to another inn!" Sokka yelled.
"We were already-" Aang tried to say, but Sokka interrupted him.
"Don't you even TRY and make excuses for yourself!" Sokka growled. "You just stay away from my sister. Come on, Katara! We're leaving!
"No, I'm not!" she cried. "Aang is going to need as much help as he can get to stop King Kuei from attacking the Fire Nation!"
Sokka brought his rage up short. "What?"
"King Kuei is planning to go to war against the Fire Nation because Zuko's rethinking the whole Harmony Restoration Movement thing," she explained.
He glared at her, then Aang, then sighed and sat down on one of the chairs. "Start from the beginning," he ordered.
After putting back on their clothes, they filled Sokka in on what happened. "And King Kuei, he's just going to declare war?" Sokka asked.
"Yes, but we're going to stop him tomorrow before he can do any damage," Aang answered.
"Does Zuko know?"
Katara and Aang glanced at each other. "Wait, you haven't told Zuko yet?"
"No," Katara said slowly. "It's just that...we think he already knows. I think he put some spies in the Earth Kingdom, as if he was...expecting this."
"So you're telling me that Zuko knew that King Kuei was going to declare war when he found out that Zuko was backing out on his part in the Harmony Restoration Movement?" Sokka said, struggling to keep up.
"Yeah, I guess so."
He groaned. "This is bad. Really bad. The Hundred Year War ended only last year. Why would King Kuei throw the Earth Kingdom in another war just when it's beginning to heal?"
"Because he isn't thinking about the well-fare of his country," Aang growled. "He's only thinking about himself, how he doesn't want to look like a fool in front of the other nations."
Sokka sighed, standing up. "Alright. I'll go tell Toph. We're staying at the Hill House Inn down the road." He turned to the door, then glared at Aang from over his shoulder. "But you better not do anything to my sister. You got it?"
"Can you just go?" Katara snapped.
"Fine," he shrugged, opening the door. "But I'm watching you," he warned as he walked through the door. Aang pushed the door close with a burst of airbending from his palm. Then he turned to Katara and rolled his eyes.
"Really, it's like I'll try anything now. I mean, we all practically lived on Appa for a year, and I didn't do anything then," he pointed out as he pulled his tunic back off.
"Yeah, but we weren't together," she reminded him as she shed her dress and laid it on the nightstand, then yawned.
"Sounds like someone's a bit tired," he remarked, swooping her up into his arms. She didn't bother to protest; instead, she just snuggled up against his chest. He smiled and kissed her on the forehead before carrying her over to the bed. Readjusting his hold on her, he freed one arm and pulled the curtains open and laid her down on the bedspread. She quickly slipped under the covers and laid her head on the pillow.
"Hurry up and come to bed," she yawned.
"I am, I am." He got in the bed next to her and gently put his lips to her nose. "Good night, Katara."
"'Night, Aang," she murmured before falling asleep. He watched her for a few seconds. She laid her cheek on her hand, her hair fanning out behind her. Her face was relaxed, the lines Aang usually saw on her face erased in her sleep. A strand of hair that was in her face fluttered with every soft breath. He carefully put back in her mane of hair without waking her. She looked beautiful even asleep.
And she was his.
Feeling elated, he grabbed the kerosene lamp that was lit and gently blew it out before laying his head on the pillow facing Katara and falling asleep.
Aang stood in front of the Earth King's palace in, holding his staff upright. After yesterday, Aang was pretty sure that after King Kuei had kicked them out, they weren't allowed to come back in the palace for a while.
Katara peered at him. "You ready, Aang?"
He inhaled deeply, then nodded. He twirled his staff, bringing out his glider. "Hold on!" he warned as he positioned himself. She grabbed the top part of his glider with both hands and clutched the wood as Aang leaped up into the sky, then swerved and flew above the guards who were protecting the front, who didn't see them soaring above. He gently guided them down the hall, dipping slightly before each turn to make sure that there weren't any guards. Aang felt a slight feeling of déjà vu, at how empty the palace was.
"Where is everybody?" Katara asked, remembering how they had to fight their way through to see the Earth King the first time they went to see him.
"I don't know." He frowned as they glided towards the floor in front of the two huge shiny doors. Katara jumped off while Aang airbended his glider away.
She walked up to the door and pushed it. It swung open easily, revealing an empty throne room. Not even Basco was there.
Aang's staff cluttered as it hit the polished marble floor. "They left for the war already," he whispered.
"Oh no," Katara gasped.
He picked up his staff and turned to her, a look of despair clearly written on his face. "What are we gonna do?"
"I don't know. But we have to tell Sokka and Toph." She grabbed his hand and began to run out of the palace.
"Excuse us!" Aang yelled as they pushed past the guards.
"Hey, wait!" one of the guards called out.
"Sorry, no time!" Katara shouted over her shoulder. Suddenly, she slammed into another person. Rubbing her head, she said angrily, "Hey, can you watch where you're-"
"No," came a sour voice. Katara looked and saw Toph and Sokka.
"Toph!" she exclaimed.
"Nice to see you, too," she grumbled, gingerly poking at her arm.
"Sorry," she apologized.
"We just came back from the palace and the Earth King has already gone," Aang told them.
Sokka groaned. "Aww man! Just when we had world peace and harmony!"
"They can't have left too long ago," Toph put in. "We can still catch them if we get Appa."
To everybody's surprise, Aang shook his head. "We shouldn't go after him."
"Uh, did I just hear you correctly, Twinkletoes? Did you just say for us not to go after King Kuei?" Toph demanded.
"We can't just come after Kuei and Zuko's still preparing for battle," he explained. "Even if we send a message, it'll be too late and he'll come to the earth kingdom and start the war! We need them both present so that they can hear each other out."
"Where are we going to find a place like that?" Toph asked.
"I don't know," Aang admitted. "But we better find one quick."
"I still have my atlas," Sokka offered. "We can use it to find a rendezvous point for both. But it's on Kyoshi Island."
"Call Appa and we can discuss this on our way to Kyoshi," Katara said.
"Way ahead of you." He pulled out the bison whistle and blew it.
Appa appeared almost immediately, roaring as he smoothly landed on the ground next to them.
Aang airbended himself into the saddle, and helped Katara up. Toph and Sokka climbed onto Appa's back. "Appa, yip yip!" Aang called as he jumped on to Appa's head and snapped the reins.
"So we need someplace that's between the Earth Kingdom and the Fire Nations," Sokka said as they soared into the sky. "If I remember correctly, there's a series of islands in the middle of the ocean just between there."
"But we need the one where they can run into each other accidentally," Katara put in.
"But what are the chances of them running into each other at the same time on the same island?" Toph asked.
"That's why we're going to write to both Zuko and the earth king a letter saying for them to meet up with us at the same island as the other," Aang said.
Everybody stared at Aang. Even Momo, who was busy raiding the contents of Sokka's bag, poked his head out and stared at the Avatar.
"Aang," Sokka finally said, "you can't be serious."
"I am serious," Aang replied. "We'll write to the earth king, saying that we see what he's talking about and we'll join his army at one of the islands, and we'll write another letter to Zuko, saying that we're on his side and for him to meet us at the same island."
Toph shook her head. "Twinkletoes, I never thought I would see the day you crossed over to the dark side."
"Avatar Yangchen told me that the Avatar's soul duty is to the earth, and that I would have to do whatever it would take to save the world. And if it means lying, then I have to."
"But it's wrong!" Sokka protested.
Aang gritted his teeth. They didn't understand. They didn't understand that being the Avatar meant doing the previously unthinkable. Aang felt a little sick at the thought himself, but he knew he had to put aside his own squeamishness at lying to his best friend and a man who was supposed to trust him.
Katara, who hadn't said anything, looked at Aang. His jaw was clenched, as were his hands around Appa's reins. His eyes were closed, but she saw how tense and unhappy he was with the plan, as well. Why did he have to have so much pressure on his back? she wondered. He didn't like this anymore than they did, that was plain enough. And nobody seemed to get why he had to this.
"Aang's right," she announced, to everyone's surprise.
"What?" Sokka exclaimed. Aang turned his head around, his grey eyes wide with surprise.
"Well, the Avatar's duty is to keep peace and harmony between the nations," she explained. "War is bloody and deadly, not to mention that this one is completely unnecessary. Aang's plan could save lives. Or would you rather we lose Zuko and the Earth King in another hundred years of war?" she added.
Sokka scowled. "Well, when you put it that way," Toph said thoughtfully.
Aang blinked. Then a small smile appeared on his face. "Thanks, Katara. For understanding," he said warmly.
She blushed, getting on her elbows at the edge of the saddle in front Aang so that they were nose-to-nose. "It really isn't the hard," she said honestly.
He leaned in closer. "But it means a lot from you," he whispered softly and gently kissed her. She closed her eyes, feeling her eyelashes brush against his.
"Hey! Hey!" Sokka yelled, making them break apart. "I don't want to see a replay of last night!" Katara rolled her eyes.
"That was the first time we went that far!" Aang protested. "And we would never do that on Appa!"
"Yet," Katara muttered under her breath.
"Do what?" Toph asked, all-too-interested.
"Nothing, Toph," Katara said quickly, blushing bright red.
She raised an eyebrow, then narrowed her sightless eyes. Katara prayed to the spirits that she couldn't feel her heart quicken. "Hmm," was all she said.
"Let's just get to Kyoshi," Aang put in hastily, snapping Appa's reins to make him go faster. Appa rumbled and beat his huge tail.
Toph snickered, and, for a split second, Katara had an urge to use the water whip on her.
"Finally!" Sokka exclaimed as Appa slid to the ground, and slid off of his back by his tail.
For once, no crowd greeted the avatar and his friends, but Aang didn't really care. They couldn't be slowed down by the Kyoshi fans.
Aang jumped off of Appa and turned to Sokka. "Where's the atlas?" he asked.
"This way. Follow me!" Sokka waved his arm and began to run off towards the woods.
"Shouldn't we be avoiding strange woods?" Toph called as she ran after him. Katara and Aang glanced at each other before following.
After they entered the woods, Aang asked, "So why are we going into the woods?"
"Suki and I moved into a cabin up here," he explained as he made a left turn. "And I decided to move all of my stuff into our place. It's got some couches and a table and a few paintings-" he started saying, counting off on his fingers.
"Focus, Sokka!" Katara called.
"Huh? Oh, right! This way!"
They followed Sokka through the maze of trees. Katara glanced up at them while running, and shuddered. She didn't know what it was, but there was something about the trees that seemed ominous somehow, almost like the swamp, but just...darker. It never had been like this before. The trees had always looked so friendly and open, but now it seemed like over a dozen had popped up, and the shade that the trees' foliage made and the gnarled wood just seemed...bad.
After making their way through the forest, and all four kids were exhausted, Sokka finally declared, "There it is!" Katara slid to a stop in the loose, shifty leaf liter and peered through the trees. Sure enough, there was a small cabin about the size of the hub of ice that Sokka and Katara used to live in back at the South Pole in a clearing directly in a patch of sunlight. It looked a lot cozier, though.
It was a straw house, with carefully flattened boards of wood- Katara could see the cut down trees nearby -to make up to the roof. There were two windows, one on each side of the door, with was also wooden.
Sokka ran up to the door and pushed it open. The rest followed him in warily. "Ah, home sweet home," Sokka sighed, collapsing on the couch.
"Sokka! The atlas!" Toph reminded.
"Oh yeah! Wait here!" He jumped up and disappeared behind a door, which Aang assumed to be his room. Aang could hear the sound of things clattering and falling as Sokka searched.
"Aang?" He turned around to look at Katara, who was staring at the ceiling, her arms crossed, and biting her lip.
Uh oh. Something was wrong.
He took a step towards her. "What's wrong, Katara?" He gently put his hands on her wrists.
She tore her gaze away from the ceiling and looked him in the eye, her sparkling blue irises almost making his breathe catch in his throat. "There's something wrong with these woods," she whispered so that Toph couldn't hear. "I don't know what it is, but whatever it is, it feels...dark. Unnatural."
"And have you guys noticed that there's a bunch more trees around here?" Toph asked, breaking into the conversation. "Trees can't grow that fast, can they? And I haven't felt the vibration of a single villager."
Aang glanced at the two of them. To be honest, he didn't notice at all that there were no villagers to be found or the case about the trees. He had been too concentrated on getting the atlas. But as he looked at Toph, her sightless eyes staring back, and felt the goosebumps on Katara's arms that weren't from cold, he realized that there was indeed something wrong here.
"Found it!" Sokka hollered, making Aang jump away from Katara. She glared at him. He mouthed sorry. Sokka, oblivious to their moment, waved the scroll in his hand. "Now we just need to find the island!" Sokka exclaimed, opening it up and laying it out on the glass table. Aang leaned over and red the map while Sokka chatted on. "Now, there's ten islands between the Fire Nation and the Earth Kingdom. There's two directly in the middle, not too far apart. There's Curly-Tailed Blue-nose Island and then there's Forest Grump Shores. Both are less than a mile apart from each other."
"Then why don't we send one of the kings to each island?" Aang suggested. "Then when they see each other at the other island, they'll come in to attack, then can rise out of the water in the Avatar State and force them to see reason."
Toph shook her head. "You are just full of surprises today, Aang."
"I have to do whatever it takes to stop another war," he said firmly, rolling up the scroll and tucking it into his tunic. Suddenly, a hawk flew through the window.
"Hawky!" Sokka exclaimed as it landed on his shoulder. "Where have you been?"
"No time, Sokka, we need to write a letter to the Earth king and Zuko," Katara snapped as she slammed a calligraphy set she had found in the bookcase on the table. She pulled out her brush, prepared the paper, and began to use soft, gentle, yet quick strokes as she wrote out the letter. Aang noticed how her face was narrowed in concentration, in contradiction to her eyes, which were wide and big and pretty and such an oceanic blue-
"Ahem," Sokka fake-coughed. Aang blinked, freed from the depths of Katara's eyes. he looked up to see Sokka glaring at him. He ginned at back, but this only seemed to infuriate him more.
"Done!" Katara suddenly announced, rolling up the two separate pieces of parchment and dropping them in to Hawky's pouch on his back. "Make sure that King Keiu and Prince Zuko get the right one," she instructed firmly. It nodded and flew back outside.
"Aw, Katara! I was going to write a letter to Suki!" Sokka whined.
Katara whirled around to face him, about to retort, when Toph gasped. "Guys, there's something coming towards us!"
Sokka hurried over to window and peered through the trees. "No, nothing out there," he reported, and stuck his head back inside. "You might need to have your feet checked," he remarked.
"No, its coming! It's in the grass!" she insisted. "And-" She never got to finish her sentence. Suddenly, Aang heard her scream and there was a flash of green, and then she was gone, the door still swing open.
Katara shrieked, backing away from the door. "Something just grabbed her!"
"What? Katara what did you see?" Sokka demanded.
She opened her mouth to reply when she shriek again and fell to the ground. Aang saw a green vine curled around her legs and it began to drag her out at amazing speed. "Help!" she cried as she slid out of the hut.
"No!" Sokka screamed. the two ran after her. She desperately tried to cling to the leaves and roots, but they all came away at her fingertips.
"Aang! Sokka!" she screamed.
Aang looked up from Katara for a split second, then froze. The vine that was dragging her along came from the trunk of a humongous tree with a huge hole at the bottom. Big enough to swallow a fifteen-year-old girl. Suddenly, Aang felt a sudden rush of desperation and determination. "NO!" He dove over thirty yards at her hands, and locked his fingers with hers. Struggling to get back up from the pull of the vine, he managed to get back on his feet and began to pull Katara back. Without a warning, another vine shot out of the tree and grabbed Sokka around the waist. He yelled as it yanked him inside, flailing his legs and arms before disappearing into the darkness.
"Sokka!" Katara cried.
Aang gritted his teeth, trying to think of a way out of the situation. Then an idea popped into his head. he turned to Katara, who was struggling not to let her fingers slip from his. "Do you trust me?" he asked.
She opened her mouth, about to say that now wasn't the time for romantic good-byes when she saw the look in his eyes. So instead, she simply replied, "Yes."
"Then be ready!" he said, and let go.
