World War II Avatar-Part II

I nodded and tried to get some sleep as the boat pulled out from the docks. Another gunshot ran out, and then what sounded like a big explosion. We were going full speed now, out towards an island. I stood up quickly, looking back towards the docks. There were some men there, but no boats. They couldn't get us, and Zuko was now going behind the island. They wouldn't suspect that we went past it and to another island, a few minutes away. We pulled into a dock and climbed off the boat. We rode down a pathway, to a house in the middle of the forest. It was quite big and painted white. Zuko leaned my bike against the side of the house and helped me up the steps and inside. "Guys! I'm home!" Zuko shouted.

In came three other teenagers, around the same age as me. I smiled weakly at them, and then recognized the boy and the girl. They were in my dream! "Hey Zuko. Who's this?" the boy said.

"This is Aang. I found him passed out on the street. He looked like he needed a place to stay. Aang, this is Sokka, Katara, and Toph. Sokka and Katara are brother and sister, and Toph is a friend. I'm also a friend of theirs," he said. I waved, but then gasped in pain and clutched my side. I guess this was the aftermath of the beating I got. The girl named Katara rushed to my side and steadied me. "You need rest. And food," she told me while picking me up and bringing me to a bedroom.

"I'll be right back. Then I'll work on those wounds." She left the room and came back minutes later with some cut up fruit and some water.

I ate while she checked me over, seeing where I was wounded the most. "Lay on your back, Aang," she instructed.

I started doing so, but then she stopped me and slid my shirt off. "Ok, now you can lie down."

She had placed my shirt under my back because it was bleeding. She examined the worst wound first. It was a bloody gash where one of them had taken a knife to my chest. I groaned when she added pressure to stop the bleeding with a cloth. If this hurt, my back was going to be a lot worse. It was practically cut open! She wiped my wounds clean with a wet cloth. The cool water felt good compared to the salt that had gotten into them. "Sorry. This will sting a little, but it will help," she said and got out a brown bottle.

I knew what was coming next. She dabbed a little medicine on the wound with a cotton ball. It stung so much, but it was going to just be worse if I flailed around, so I stayed still the best I could. "Ok, I'm done with your chest and stomach. Can you flip over so I can do your back?" she asked.

I did so, but then hesitated on flopping down on the blood-soaked shirt. "Oh, right. Here."

She put down a fresh towel for me and I flopped down on my stomach. Katara did the same procedure, but this time it was more painful. My back was a lot worse, and it felt like someone was burning it. As she wiped away the blood and cleaned the cuts, I could feel where they actually were. "Ok, all done. I'll just wrap those wounds now," she told me.

I sat up and let her wrap cloth around my chest. Her slender fingers brushed my skin a few times, making me blush. I hoped she didn't see, but she didn't say anything, so I didn't know. "Are you cold?" she asked when she was done.

I shook my head, not wanting to worry her, but then I shivered. She took the bloody shirt and partly bloody towel and threw them right outside her bedroom door. Then, she handed me a blanket. I curled up in it, the warmth quickly coming to my body. "Thanks, Katara," I said, my voice still weak from underuse.

She smiled at me and said, "I'll be right back, Aang." I nodded and lay down against the pillows.

She came back with a fresh glass of water and placed it on the bedside table. Coming over to the bed, she sat down and handed me the water. I drank it down while she got under the covers next to me. "Goodnight, Aang. Sleep well," she told me.

"What time is it?"

"About ten. We should get some sleep. Who knows if anyone saw you and Zuko. They might catch us."

"Oh. Goodnight, Katara," I said and closed my eyes. I felt her warm skin touching mine, and blushed.