Chapter Two
Be careful not to tempt the wolf
Katara didn't trust the boy, yet she still wore the cloak he had given her the next day she went into the woods. But, to her surprise, when he found her on the path, he didn't try to touch her. And she didn't run.
She met him again and again, and every time she stuck to the path. Always she kept a pace between them.
His face haunted her dreams, his beauty unsettling more so than charming. Alarm bells went off in her head every time she saw him. But she chose to continue with this fragile relationship. After all, he answered most of her questions and never tried to hurt her. She grew to trust him, far more than she probably should have.
"So," she said to the boy whom had yet to reveal his name. "Will you tell me what you are now?"
"Maybe," he said. "But why should I tell my secrets to someone who doesn't trust me?"
"Would you tell them to someone who did?" she asked.
"Do you trust me?" he asked, a small smile forming on his lips.
He had never hurt her. All these days they had met alone in the woods, and he had never even tried. And although the nickname he had for her was annoying, it was the only one anyone had ever cared enough to give her.
"Yes," she said, as she looked into those fierce golden eyes. "I trust you."
"Then prove it," he said, his eyes lighting up like two torches in the night. "Step off the path. If you're right, you won't be needing its protection anymore."
The path was enchanted with a strong and ancient magic. She was never supposed to step off of it inside the woods, but she did not hesitate to do so. After all, she was brave. Today would be the day that she proved it.
His teeth gleamed as he smiled and stepped toward her. "Don't worry Little Wolf," he whispered, "I'll protect you from the spirits."
She felt so small and fragile standing next to him, but somehow she found her voice. "I think I can protect myself," she retorted, her flaring with anger.
He laughed. "I'm sure you can."
"Now," she began. "I've done my part. Will you tell me what you are?"
He moved even closer. "Yes."
Suddenly, it was hot and Katara felt like she was suffocating. His closeness, the intensity of his gaze, it was all too much. This was a mistake; she never should have crossed that line.
But she had gone this far; she owed it to herself to at least feign bravery. "So tell me," she responded. "Tell me what you are."
"What I am," he whispered, and his hands gently cupped her shoulders. He stared at her as if the fate of the world depended on him-on what he would do next.
And for a moment, his gaze was muddled, confused even. But as quickly as that look came, it was replaced by stony resolution and fortitude.
Then his lips came crashing down on hers.
And Katara was a whirlwind of emotions ranging from shock, to rage, to utter bliss. It was like his body called to her, every inch of him calling to her like a beacon. And she knew she should stop; she knew something was wrong. But she couldn't because she didn't want to.
Because this felt good.
It felt amazing, actually.
And she didn't want to let go.
He pulled her closer, encasing her entire body with his. His arms wrapped in an arc across her back, preventing her from moving.
She felt herself being guided backward, until her back was pressed flesh against a tree. But she hardly noticed, because all she noticed was him-the stranger she was kissing in the middle of the woods.
Her stomach fluttered over and over again. An electrifying heat raced through her body, and it felt incredible. It was nothing like she heard kisses were supposed to be. It wasn't delicate or sweet; it was intense. And it was wonderful…
Until it started to burn.
For a moment the pain dazed her. Then, the ache in her left arm deepened.
She wanted to stop this. She needed to stop this.
And it took all the willpower within her to stop. Slowly, her eyes fluttered open, and her lips stilled. It was like she was coming out of a trance.
Shock raced through her as she saw the source of her pain. It was exactly where his hand was now wrapped around her wrist.
When had he moved it there?
She looked around to see that the path was nowhere in sight.
How far away had he taken her?
How had she lost control so easily?
She started to tremble. As he kept his firm, searing grip on her left arm, she feared that he really was a spirit. She feared that she had been fool enough to fall right into his trap.
As she realized all of these things, the boy's eyes opened, almost as if some part of him deep within sensed her growing trepidation.
He stepped back, releasing her burning arm. But he would not meet her eyes.
The pain was blinding now. And Katara stared at the wrist she expected to be charred black, to see that her skin was perfectly normal. But it burned; it burned like nothing she had ever felt before.
And although she could not find the source of her pain, she knew that she was burning. She knew that she was burning because somehow this mesmerizing boy with the golden eyes had set her on fire. The guilt plastered across his face told her that she was right.
"Why?" She stammered. "Why did you do this?"
She knew there were other, more pressing, questions to ask but this was the only one that mattered.
He didn't' answer, and he continued to look away.
The world swam around her. She felt numb to anything and everything, everything but the fire that seemed to sear her to her very bones.
The trees lost their color. Black dots began to sprawl across her vision as she lost feeling in her legs and fell to the ground.
She couldn't move. But beneath all the pain, she felt something else: a deep sense of sadness and disappointment she could not comprehend.
Tears leaked from the edges of her eyes. And she didn't know whether it was from the pain or from his betrayal.
And the worst part, she realized, was that she would most likely die, on a forest floor littered with leaves and twigs. Next to a boy, or whatever he was, that would not even turn to face her-to face what he had done.
"I trusted you," she breathed in her delirium. "How c-could…you do this to me?"
She couldn't see anymore, but she felt him draw nearer. And her head was lifted up to rest against something, or someone. She knew exactly who it was, but chose not to acknowledge it.
Better to die in the arms of the boy who killed you, than to die all alone.
For what felt like days, she rested there, waiting for darkness to take her. With each moment, she grew number to the pain, even to her own sadness and remorse.
But she could feel the tears. Tears that felt like rain pouring down her cheeks, but something inside her told her that they were not all her own.
"It was the only way," she heard him whisper, before her mind stopped working completely.
And the pain was gone.
A/N: Hey! Sooo…what are you guys thinking? What is Zuko? What did he do to Katara? Is she even alive? *queue dramatic theme music* I'd love to hear your predictions.
Also, I'm sorry for the delayed update. But I hope you all had an amazing holiday season filled with Jesus and cookies!
And thanks to everyone who reviewed chapter one! :')
POLL: I'm thinking of changing the name of this story to The Woods. It would incorporate other fairytales, with other Avatar characters inside of them. But it would all come together with Katara and Zuko's story.
The questions is: Would you guys like this story to turn into the woods or do you want to keep it purely Zutara with the Path?
The choice is yours my magnificent readers! :)
A/N for Twisted Readers: Don't hate me guys! I'm uberrrr sorry! An update is coming soon. This story is kind of my practice for Twisted, if that makes any sense? I've got to get these writing juices flowing! :P
