hey! first, before starting off this chapter, i would like to thank each and every person who decided to take a peek at my fic. and i want to doubly thank those that reviewed...and those who added some criticism (it really helped!).
okay, so this chapter is a little bit shorter than the first chapter, but i hope you like it despite that fact.
Chapter Two
Katara opened her eyes with a groan, protecting the sun streaming down onto her skin. Throwing a slender arm across her eyes, she sat up. Dreams flickered along the edge of her thoughts, teasing her with visions of dancing smoke and fire. Shaking her head at the thought of Zuko dancing, she lowered her toes to the floor.
While summer bloomed outside, her room seemed a bit chill, as if nothing remained to warm her. As she stretched, Katara smiled in relief that Toph—and not Zuko—was teaching Aang. It gave Katara a little bit more time to sleep. Later, perhaps, she would practice waterbending with Aang. Though the young monk certainly did not need any more lessons.
Suddenly, Katara's door opened, revealing a frazzled Sokka. His face, normally quite comical, appeared even more so. "Katara, you've gotta make them stop!" he yelled, waving his hands in the air. "They're going to bring down the whole temple!"
"What do you mean, Sokka?" Katara asked. And then the floor shook. Shooting an alarmed glance towards her brother, she rushed from the room, determined to find out what was happening.
But, as Katara entered the courtyard, she came to a stop before rounding on Sokka. "They're bending,Sokka! You do remember what that is, right?"
Sokka shook his head and pointed over her shoulder. "Look!"
Katara turned with a sigh. "What..." Her eyes grew wide at the sight of a flying, heated rock hurtling through the air. Instinctively, she twisted her body, brining a flood of water to knock it down.
Furious, she rounded on the guilty part. Aang, Toph, and Zuko stood suddenly still, as if waiting for her anger. "What is going on here?" she demanded, sharp blue eyes glaring into pools of gold.
"Katara, we were just trying—"
"I don't want to hear it, Aang." She shook her head and tore her gaze from Zuko's repentant face. "I know you're trying to learn different ways to bend, Aang, but you know better than to practice such dangerous tricks around anyone."
Seeing Aang hang his head, Zuko stepped froward. "Listen, it was my idea to—"
Katara whirled, blue eyes flashing dangerously. "I know you don't care, Zuko, but we need to be careful. What if that had hit someone? Or even the temple? Someone could have been hurt." Without another word, Katara turned on her heel and stormed from the courtyard.
"What about breakfast?" Sokka called after her.
"Make it yourselves!" Katara ran, needing to cool down. She could not face anyone at that moment. She just needed a minute to calm herself.
Pausing, Katara heaved a sigh. "I shouldn't have been so harsh with Aang," she whispered. "He was probably just trying to figure out something new." Shaking her head, she smiled softly. "It was sort of clever, actually..."
Zuko watched as Katara disappeared into the temple, tousled dark hair swirling around her shoulders. A frown tugged at his lips and he shook his head. "I don't need her approval," he muttered.
"What was that, Firefly?" Toph asked.
Startled, Zuko turned, trying desperately to make something up on the spot. "Um...I said...'we don't need her to make breakfast.'"
"We don't?" asked Sokka, brightening. "You can cook?"
"No," Zuko answered. "But it can't be too hard, right?"
It was. An hour later and all any of them had to show for their efforts was a pot of burnt water.
"How do you burn water?" Toph asked incredulously. "All you do is heat it up. That's what we've got you for, Firefly."
"Yeah," Sokka voiced, moving suddenly closer to Zuko. "Just use your fire powers to heat up the water and we'll be able to cook some of this rice."
Zuko stiffened. "You want me to warm up the water?" he asked in disbelief. But, as Sokka and the others kept staring at him, he shrugged and acquiesced. The rice cooked after that, though they did not cook it as long as they should have.
"How does Katara do it?" Sokka wondered, shoveling the last helping of rice into his mouth. "I mean, it doesn't look hard, but it is."
Zuko nodded, his eyes traveling to the spot Katara disappeared from. He could almost see her in the shadows.
Shaking his head, he finished his rice and rose, determined to find a quiet spot to think. He slipped away from the others, wandering absently through the various courtyards and gardens of the temple. They represented a very ingenious design, really. The architect cleverly built terraces into the underside of the cliff, using the lower structures to support the jutting gardens. Small waterfalls fed pools of clear, cool water and riotous flowers bordered the pathways.
Spotting a willow tree, Zuko entered one of the gardens. As he parted the weeping branches, he found a low stone bench hidden in the shade. Grateful for the secluded spot, he lowered himself onto the bench and began to meditate.
Closing his eyes, Zuko stilled and drew in a deep, cleansing breath. In the few weeks working with the Avatar, Zuko had begun to realize how intrinsic air was to fire. Air fueled a flame as easily as heat, allowing its life and continuation. But water... Zuko expelled the stale air and took in another, allowing his senses to flare out slightly.
Firebending used the warmth around others. If he wished, Zuko could draw the very warmth from someone, leaving them as cold as ice. As the warmth slowly seeped from their veins, they grew tired and lethargic, unable to do anything. If he took too much, they would sink into an eternal sleep. But for such a thing, Zuko needed the full power of the sun, when the moon was dark and the sun rested high in the sky.
He expelled another breath and inhaled once more. This time, however, he paused. At the muffled sound of footsteps, Zuko opened his eyes and peered through the veil of leaves. There, standing among the blooming flowers and soft sunlight, Katara stood quiet and still.
She looked around her once and then raised her slender arms. Ribbons of glimmering water snaked from the pools to slide sinuously about her, greeting the waterbender in an intimate embrace. A small smile tugged impishly at her beckoning lips.
Zuko watched, mesmerized, as Katara began her fluid movements. She moved seemingly without effort, her hands passing gently through the air as the water danced around her. As her focus shifted entirely to her bending, Katara's face appeared more open, even joyous. Her blue eyes sparkled with a fetching light and Zuko felt an overwhelming need to join her. But he stayed, unwilling to break the spell, and watched.
A sudden breeze began to gently stir, twining around the trees and flowers, pulling delicate petals from their seats. They moved in equal tempo towards Katara before swirling playfully about her. The breeze and its companions lifted her hair and skirt, moving them bewitchingly and gracing them with silken splashes of color. Katara's unconscious smile brightened and her movements became wider, as if playing with the wind. Yet always she kept her face towards the sun—though her eyes remained closed—as if to feel its warming touch.
All too soon, Katara opened her eyes, her practice at an end. Slowly, she left the garden, leaving it empty of all but Zuko and the fallen petals. For a moment, Zuko could not move and then he stood, eyes still glued to the spot Katara had stood. The moment seemed to surreal, too ephemeral to be real. Shaking his head, Zuko left the garden behind, Katara's form still lingering in his mind.
all right. i would really appreciate any reviews (praise or criticism). they are very much wanted. i need your opinions! so, i hope you liked this chapter and will continue reading. i will try to get my chapters up in a reasonable time span. remember: review!
