Ch. 2 Learning
I found the subtle changes in the boy and girl's relationship intriguing. It changed when they began bending together. I had grown so accustomed to them running and climbing about, pouring out their excess energy beneath my branches. It took some time for me to become used to their more controlled interactions once they began to practice forms with each other. Their relationship grew and with it their bond.
Once they had both mastered not only their element's basic forms, but the other's element as well, they came almost daily to spar. But as I watched through the years their spars became more than just a simple action and reaction. It was a dance, and as the children grew so did it.
Katara was a fast learner and over the course of just one season cycle her bending became more elaborate and her attacks flowed like the water she bent. Zuko certainly knew the basics of his element and had control, what he lacked was confidence. Every move he made was hesitant. However, as he showed Katara what he had been learning and then began to spar with her, his confidence grew, and with it the brightness and power of his flame. By the time they had taken to sitting by each other beneath my branches and talking after their combat, both benders were near mastering their element. This was about two season cycles after they had first met and about the same time they spoke to each other of the war's start. At this point, their age difference became evident, Zuko became distracted, and Katara took notice.
"Zuko, what's wrong? You're off again today! Get your footing right or it's no fun to spar with you at all," Katara called to him after he tripped over my roots for the fifth time that day. Instead of standing and taking his root position again, he just lay there peering up into my branches. Katara huffed and put her hands on her hips, staring at him. Slowly her face softened and she sat next to him with her legs crossed. She leaned over his face attempting to make eye contact.
"What's wrong? You've been out of it for the last few times we've come out here to meet."
"You wouldn't understand, Katara. Not right now, you're only twelve. Maybe when you're older," he replied in a whisper.
"Zuko, you can't keep pulling the age thing on me! You know perfectly well that I can handle it! We've told each other more secrets than anyone else. I know all about how you like your Uncle more than your dad. You know all of the times I've spied on the council meetings. We've told each other about our mothers. You let your little sister play pranks on you that you know about because it makes her feel better which I still don't understand because your sister sounds mean and I think you really need to stand up to her. And"
"It's different this time, Katara," he cut her off. "This is something I don't even think I should know."
"What do you mean, Zuko? Is it scary?" she softly asked with concern flickering into her eyes.
"Maybe," he sighed. I could tell that his temper was beginning to wear thin. His brow began to furrow. While his temper had improved over the last few seasons, he still had a short fuse.
"Then you have to tell me. You can't face all of the scary things by yourself. Even the greatest warrior needs a blade and even then sometimes they need support. That's what Sokka tells me. I can be your support. I can help you"
"No, Katara!" Zuko snapped. "I can't tell you this, not right now. It's not because I don't want to. You wouldn't understand! It's clan politics!" His face wore a scowl of frustration as he added, "You just wouldn't get it."
Katara was taken aback at first, but then she crossed her arms and gave him an indignant look. "My father is chief of the water clan and my brother is your age! They talk about clan politics all of the time! I can understand talk about hunting rations and harvest and whose turn it is to take watch. Trust me, I hear it all the time!" she countered.
"No, this is not your clan's peaceful everyday tasks. What's happening in my clan is much different," he spoke to her, eyes leveled with hers and a serious gaze. "I can't talk to you about this yet. Maybe in a year."
At this, Katara pouted her lip some, but then splashed Zuko with water from her pouch. At first he just looked shocked. Then his face turned to scowl and he stood up and marched away leaving Katara by herself.
"Why can't he just tell me? I tell him almost everything," she whispered while watching his back.
She remained by me even after Zuko was out of view her face downturned. Frustration had brought tears to her eyes. It's times like this when it's hard being a tree. You want so much to comfort, but all you can do is be there. Which I guess sometimes is just what people need. Katara wiped away the tears quickly not wanting any signs lingering on her face. She looked up to my branches and climbed, just like old times. She stayed for a while watching the sun, and then descended and headed back to her village.
From the gossip I had heard in the forest lately though, I had to agree with Zuko. Katara was not ready to hear of the political play that was taking place in his clan. A power struggle had begun between his uncle and father, and Zuko was caught in the middle. Zuko's father had always been jealous of his brother's position and many times had challenged Iroh's decision for peace. What I had heard through the vines was that Zuko's father, Ozai, had publicly challenged Chief Iroh's decision. The clan was constantly scrutinizing both men as well as the boys, Zuko and Iroh's son Lu Ten, who would be their heirs. From what I could tell, Zuko had been under mounting pressure and Katara's persistent questioning had not helped.
Even with that burden, Zuko had somehow managed to make it out to my meadow undetected. I have always wondered how they had both succeeded for so long to come to me with no curious followers. Both of them must have been quite skilled at stealth.
Despite Zuko's abrupt departure they both came back as they always did the day after. Zuko arrived slightly earlier and sat like he used to against my trunk, eyes closed, mouth set, in deep thought. I noticed Katara coming from across the meadow with purpose in her step and had a feeling that today's spar was going to be interesting to say the least.
Zuko kept his eyes closed, but I felt him tense as he heard Katara's small feet crunch in the grass. As she drew up by him, she stood with her hands on her hips with a look of determination on her face.
"Will you tell me what's been bothering you today?" Katara demanded.
Zuko opened one eye to look at her. "I told you. You're too young," and he closed his eye again.
"No I'm not, Zuko. I turn thirteen in two months. Just tell me," she demanded with a slight plead in her voice.
"No, Katara," Zuko insisted.
"Fine, then fight me. If I win you tell me now. If I lose you can tell me in two months," she stated.
This caught his attention and mine. Their spars thus far had all been friendly affairs used mainly for training. They had never fought to win any prize except pride.
Zuko sat up at this. "You want to what?" he asked.
"I know that Fire Clan people are slow, but can you not listen too? I said I want to spar," she threw his words from so long ago back at him and took her fighting stance.
Zuko stared back at her in surprise and then his eyes hardened in determination.
"Fine, Katara. Have it your way, but no crying when you lose," he purred out, taking his own stance.
Katara struck first with a water whip and the dance began. Zuko retaliated with a single blast turning the water to vapor. The then took the offensive, kicking fire toward the girl in an arc. She evaded it with ease. As their fight continued I could tell how much they had learned from each other. They knew all of the other's abilities, every attack having an effective block to match it.
Zuko held a calm, focused determination. I could tell he wasn't going to let Katara win this one, at least not easily. Katara fought harder than I had ever seen before. All energy focused on the task at hand. Back and forth, push and pull, in and out they battled across the meadow. After quite some time I noticed Katara beginning to tire. She had yet to build the same endurance as Zuko. He shot a strong blast straight at Katara advancing close behind it. Katara brought up a water wall to diminish the fire, but Zuko had moved to quickly behind the fire for her to react. He broke through the steam and caught her hands raised above her head, both of them panting for breath.
They stood still for a moment, catching their breaths. Zuko released her hands.
"Good fight, but I win. You're waiting," he growled out.
She glared back at him. "If you won't tell me till then I fully expect for you to train and spar more like how you just fought," she snapped. "You do know that I worry, right?" She asked still breathing heavily.
He looked at her and then away.
"Because I do. You've told me enough about your family. I want to help you, but you push me away every time," she said with a sadness hanging in her eyes.
He turned back toward her again looking into her eyes.
"There is only so much you can do. Just being here for now is enough," he assured her. "I promise to tell you more when the time comes, but there are some things that I can't say even to you. The world isn't always as simple as it may seem."
Katara nodded her head in resignation, but there was still a fire in her eyes that told of her disappointment. Zuko sunk to the ground and lay back staring up at my branches. Katara soon joined him and they stayed there in a companionable silence.
Katara was the first to stir. She sat up, pulling her knees up to her chest. She rested her cheek against her knee and looked at Zuko who once again had his eyes closed.
"I'm not coming until my birthday," she suddenly stated.
Zuko bolted up. "What? Just because you lost and didn't get your way, Katara?" he asked disbelievingly.
"No, it's not just that. I just started healing practice. I can't escape as easily without notice," she replied.
"Oh," he sighed.
"Don't worry. Just as you said, it's only two months," she retorted while rising.
As she began to leave I could see Zuko grasping at thin air as to what to say.
"Bye," he blurted out.
She turned back with a little wave, "Bye."
He watched her as she walked away. Once she was long out of sight and in the woods Zuko stood and made his way back toward his own village in the opposite direction.
True to her word, Katara didn't come for the next two months. Zuko, however, periodically came and practiced his forms alone. After he finished, he would sit against my bark like he did when he was younger, but he always faced towards the woods in the direction of the Water Clan village.
He echoed my own longing. I missed Katara's chatter and the banter. She made everything so much more lively. I found myself looking eagerly towards the day she would return.
When the months finally passed and I saw her form in the distance my leaves shook with excitement. Zuko was already sitting by my trunk when she approached. He had been fidgeting beneath my leaves since he arrived earlier that day. He would sometimes mumble to himself as if rehearsing what he would say when she got here. When he spotted her he stood and as she came to join him beneath the branches he bowed to her in the traditional Fire Clan form and she returned the gesture in the way of the Water Clan.
"How have you been?" he uttered hesitantly.
She smiled, "Good."
"Oh, yes happy birthday," he rushed to add.
"Thank you," she smiled at him again. "How have you been?"
"Can't complain," he looked back towards the path at the forests edge leading to his village. "You? How are healing lessons?" he added.
"Good. Healing is so much different from fighting. I will have to tell you about it. You use your chi flow differently. It's so smooth," she rushed out. "But enough of me, you have something to tell me do you not?" She said looking at him intently.
He cleared his throat. "I guess I do, but I'm going to have to start a little farther back than just two months ago."
"Then I guess I'd better get comfortable," she replied taking a seat.
Zuko followed suit and sat directly across from her. He took a deep breath, let it out, and began.
"As I told you before, it has to do with clan politics. You already know my Uncle is currently chief and that I'm very close to him and Lu Ten. One of the reasons I'm closer to them than my father is because of this." He pointed to his scar. That was one thing that had never been mentioned or brought up by either him or Katara. Even when they were young she seemed to know that it was not a topic to bring up. When he motioned to the angry, puckered flesh Katara's eyes widened.
"I got this the winter before the summer I met you. In the Fire Clan, when a bender turns twelve he is supposed to have a complete mastery over a certain set of base skills. My powers hadn't originally appeared until later than normal. They did not manifest when I was seven, or eight, or nine. My father is a very powerful and respected warrior in our community. When he looked at me it was only with disappointment. My younger sister, Azula, had already gained her powers when she was only six and they were so natural to her," as he said this Zuko's eyes clouded with memory. He paused then continued.
"Mine didn't show until I was ten and even then they were weak. My father was too busy training Azula and he took no interest in me, so my uncle trained me along side Lu Ten, even though I was so far behind. Lu Ten encouraged me and tried to help as well, but I was never able to get my forms and sets quite down. So once I was twelve and presented my base skills, I didn't do as well as my father had wanted. He took me aside later and told me to take my starting stance. I did. And then he began to spar with me. He went easily at first, but soon his attacks were quicker and he was yelling at me. 'Stay rooted! How could you not know that basic?! Maintain your core balance! Breathe properly!" He kept coming harder, stronger, until I lost my footing and fell backwards.
"As he towered over me he said, 'No son of mine could ever be this weak,' and then he struck."
I could tell the memory pained Zuko, so much so that he turned his face away, trying unsuccessfully to keep his tears hidden from Katara.
"My uncle found me by the forest where my dad had taken me. I was still lying where he left me. I have no idea how I managed to not scream. I guess I was just shocked. But uncle took me back to the village and bandaged my wound. He has continued to train me and is more like a father than mine has ever been. Which brings me to what has been troubling me."
Katara had been silently digesting what she had heard. It must have been such a contrast to the how the Water Clan interacted. When he mentioned what had been troubling him she looked up. He was looking directly into her eyes.
"My father challenged my Uncle at one of the clan assemblies. It was about a very small policy detail, one that typically is just left to the discretion of the chief and not discussed clan wide. I've been worrying about what he might be planning on doing. Sometimes another powerful man can challenge the chief in the Fire Clan and displace him. I'm worried about my father fully challenging my Uncle for the position as chief," he whispered out.
"It's not only because I like my Uncle better though. My dad's always been against the peace that was instated with the Water clan. If he gained the position of chief, he would do whatever it took to start the war again. That's what made me lose my focus, Katara and it's something that I just didn't think you were ready to hear then. You may have not even have been ready to hear it now, but now you know." He looked to her, searching for a reaction.
She was staring at her hands. When she finally looked at him there was a melancholy on her face. There was so much that she didn't know. How could she? He hid his pain so well.
She inched toward Zuko rising to her knees. He stayed still, unmoving, watching her. She raised her hand hesitantly, her eyes silently asking. He closed his own in consent.
"How could your father have done this to you?" she muttered to herself, lightly touching the rough ridges that run along the edge of his scar.
Zuko raised his hand up to cover hers leaning into her soft caress. He opened his eyes.
"I missed you, Katara," he murmured.
"I missed you too, Zuko."
They spent the rest of the afternoon catching up. It was the longest they had been away from each other since they had met. It was also the longest I had not seen one of them since they both started coming to me. It seemed like the blink of an eye and centuries at the same time. And trust me, centuries take quite a long time, especially when spent alone.
Katara told Zuko about healing, the special property only water holds. She told him how she had to infuse her own chi with the water and how she could feel where there was a pain or ailment to be fixed. How she would guide the water there and help it mend the wound. He listened, asking a question now and then, but mostly listening and gazing at her. He looked at her as if she was something precious, something not of this world.
As time wore on once again, I realized that he almost never looked at her another way after that day. Yes they still had their disagreements and spats, but once they made up that look reemerged from his frustration or anger as if the other emotion were never there. After those two months, there was only one, maybe two more times I saw them individually come to me.
Zuko's opening up marked another soft shift in their relationship. Barely noticeable except for the way a strange gravity drew them closer over the years. I could tell some new feeling was growing between them, but I hadn't the word for it. It was a strange one that was a mixed jumble of feelings I already knew. I could feel joy so pure as if they were young and running through the grass again, a soft caring, like when Katara would talk about her family, and excitement. But there was also a tinge of fear. It wasn't like the fiery fear that overcomes men in battle, but more of a small uncertainty, as if treading into unknown territory. I soon learned the name of this feeling, but like the feeling itself, it brought both fear and joy.
A/N: Well there you have it, Ch. 2! And in week too! Thank you for reading! I am just going to put out there that I might not be able to get Ch. 3 out as quickly because I am taking the GRE next week (and am terrified), so I will be trying to study for that, but everyone needs study breaks, right?
Special thanks to wannabewonderbender, storyoftheunknownfangirl, peter pan's horcrux, SoapDuck, BountiesandShirshus, brokencake, adorkability, and a guest for the reviews! They absolutely made my day and are very much appreciated!
Review Question: If you could talk to a tree, what would you ask it? (Or if you could talk to our narrator Nairn, what would you ask him?)
I would love to hear your answers and what you think of the story so far! Thanks again for reading!
