Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters portrayed and any similarities between living and already written....oh never mind, I know I don't own them. I just miss them, so I write stories about the pairing that should have been :)
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Under her recommendation, Urro sent a report to Fire Lord Zuko stating that the southern most island was clear of rebel forces and under the firm control of the Water Ravens.
To the Chief's delight, Zuko responded quickly thanking him for helping bring peace to the southern most islands.
Katara had simply smiled and said, "He is a just Fire Lord."
That had thrown the Clan into a frenzy of work and preparation, a second letter had followed stating that the Fire Navy would resume using the southern islands as ports and re-supplying stations with in the month. Bringing much needed income to the island and cementing the Water Ravens place as gubernatorial rulers of the islands.
It had been decided that the next island, the smallest, should also be under control of the Water Raven's before the Fire Navy landed on their shores.
The result of the second letter was, Katara and half a dozen warriors and benders landing on the beach of the next island, in the low light of the half moon. The warriors were dressed in the black of the Water Raven tribe, with a red raven identifying them. Katara moved quietly through the jungle as they sought out the small village on the island, following the other benders.
A moment after they'd moved into the deepest portion of the vegetation, the benders around her were encapsulated in traps of rope and wire and moving quickly to the tree line. Katara stood still and quiet as she waited for their opponents to arrive, she uncorked the skein and listened to the jungle around her.
She felt the attack before it came and raised an ice disk to protect her back as she snapped a single water whip at those who approached her from the front. Once she felt the ice behind her crack she pulled back to her and surrounded herself with the pentapus form once more. Making certain to not move her feet out of the small circle she knew to be safe from traps.
As the dark clad warriors and benders moved closer she snapped the long tentacles against their cheeks in warning, "I do not wish to harm you," Her soft voice carried over the surrounding opponents.
"Don't worry," came a proud smirk, "you're out numbered and if you don't surrender your soldiers will be cut to pieces.
Katara spared a glance up to find that the man was telling the truth, in a quick move she launched the upper most tips of the pentapus arms into ice discs and cut the bottoms out of the wire and rope traps.
She had been distracted enough by opening the traps that she didn't realize a fire bender jumped into her unprotected circle and held fire under her chin. She let the pentapus form drop to the ground as she raised her veiled eyes to encounter the blue ones of her opponent. Surprised she said, "You have Southern Water Tribe eyes."
The fire bender found own eyes entranced by the purple ones before him and his flame died. "How do you know they are Southern?"
Katara smiled, "My family is Southern Water Tribe."
"Kalyo!" cried a voice from behind him, "what are you doing?"
The young warrior smiled as he lifted the golden veil and smiled at the water bender, "I am Kalyo."
Katara blushed at the intensity of the mans stare and replied, "Katara."
"Why have you come to our island Katara?" he almost purred her name as he moved closer toward her.
"Chief Urro of the Water Ravens on the South Island, asked us to come and help our cousins of the small island." Katara leaned toward the man.
"Chief Urro? Isn't the south island controlled by Wei?" Kalyo asked bluntly.
Katara shook her head, "No longer."
Kalyo smiled just for her as he held out his hand and called out, "they are cousins, Water Raven's from South Island!"
The various warriors around them cheered and started to release those that were slowly making their way down from the elevated traps.
Kalyo never released Katara's hand as he led her to the village and directly to the village elders.
The oldest white haired woman said softly, "Lady Raven, you bless us with your presence."
Katara bowed, "thank you for your welcome."
"Take her to your mother young Kalyo, she is precious to the Water Ravens," the woman commanded the young warrior.
Kalyo grinned and escorted Katara to a large house a small walk from the center of the village. He opened the door for her, then followed her in quickly as he called out, "Mother, come meet my Katara!"
Halsa moved into the houses great room to find her blue-eyed son standing next to a woman clad in scarlet and shrouded by a golden veil. "Kalyo, who is this?"
Kalyo brought Katara to his mother and took her hand in his other, "This is Katara." He glanced at Katara, "Katara this is my mother, Halsa. Mother, Goya bid me bring her to you."
Halsa stared at the woman who her son had claimed, "Why would Goya have you bring a Fire Nation woman here?"
Kalyo grinned, "She's Lady Raven."
Halsa stopped whipping her hands on the dish cloth and tried to stare into the woman's eyes, her golden eyes retreated once she noted the deep purple of the other woman's. "I see," she smiled, "Come, you are welcome to a bath, dinner and a comfortable bed."
Katara bowed, "thank you Mistress Halsa."
Halsa stopped moving when the young woman spoke to her, then she returned to her duties and called out, "Show her where the tub is and leave her to her bathing Kalyo!"
Kalyo grinned, as Katara blushed under her make-up.
It took the combined forces of Katara and Kalyo three months to purge the next island, up the archipelago, of those loyal to the false ravens from the island. During that time, one was rarely with out the other and Kalyo only called her Katara when they were alone. After their first successful joint battle, they shared their first kiss. After the island was clear of enemies to the Water Raven Tribe, they shared their first night together. Five months later the next island was reclaimed by Tribe and they were to be wed by Urro on the southern island.
Katara watched as Yue floated across the sky, a year ago she'd left her home in the South Pole. She smiled as she felt the familiar heat of Kalyo wrap around her and the weight of his head rested atop hers. He stood with her in silence as her thoughts reflected on her life over the past year. She sighed and leaned back into her intendeds warm chest, he was tall and slender but, there was no doubting his strength.
"Lady Raven!" called out Qia as she approached, "Chief Urro has been summoned to the Palace!"
Katara nodded as she pulled away and held out her hand, "Duty calls us."
Kalyo smiled and slipped his warm hand into her cool one as they walked toward the Chief's house.
The great doors were opened for them by two guards in black, with the red raven crested over their hearts and on their left arm.
Katara nodded as she passed.
Kalyo just smiled his regular smirking smile.
"Lady Raven!" Chief Urro smiled as he welcomed her, "Kalyo, come we have much to discuss."
Kalyo settled Katara on a seat, then assumed his place next to her as they waited for the other tribal leaders to sit.
"I have asked my fellow Chief's here on a matter most important, Fire Lord Zuko is pleased with the hospitable reception that the Fire Navy receives when they dock in our ports. He has asked each us to come to the palace to report upon our progress at subduing the rebel forces within the outlaying islands." Urro stated plainly. "We have much to decide?"
"How does he know?" Elder Goya asked of her fellow chief.
Urro smiled, "Upon Lady Raven's recommendation, I contacted him and informed him of the removal of rebels from the Southern Island."
The gathered Chief's stared at Katara.
"Why, would you do such a thing?" growled the grizzled voice of Orin the Chief of the last Island to be reclaimed.
"It has benefited our islands that I have done so," Urro replied matter-of-factly, "I will continue to relay progress of our unification to the Fire Lord, he is still the ruler of our Nation."
"He will demand taxes, shares of our production!" hissed Ulay of the third Island.
Urro smiled kindly, "We have negotiated to contribute supplies to the Navy as they come for refueling and resupplying, an accounting is given to the ship master and one is also sent to the palace counters. Any amount we are lacking will be presented to the palace counters at the beginning of the winter season. His features changed, "taxes mean rights, those who contribute to the benefit of the Nation and supply the information to the ruling body control the area." He paused, "The family of the usurpers does not respect the Fire Lord, and now he is offered communication with those who contribute to his lawful rule."
"Who should we send?" Goya asked as she glanced at Katara.
Urro shook his head, "Lady Raven is not for the halls of the Palace, she is here for our people."
Goya nodded pleased, "Then do we go, even if it is a trap?"
Urro grinned, "That is my vote, we must at least try to present our united Tribe to the Fire Lord."
Orin considered the other Chief's, "Let us announce our successors and travel to the Palace of the Fire Lord," he glared down any opposition, "Let Lady Raven find the lair of the vulture-wasps and await word of our safe return." He nodded to Katara, "If we are not returned, let her vengeance speak for us."
The warriors present cheered at the grizzled chief's recommendation.
Urro waited for the others to decide and once Goya cast her vote for the plan he spoke, "Now we must decide who should accompany us on this journey."
Ulay's eyes narrowed, "We can not risk our best leaders, we need strong warriors or benders."
Goya rested her eyes upon Kalyo, "I choose warrior Kalyo of the Small Island Water Ravens, consort of Lady Raven."
Katara squeezed Kalyo's hand as she steadied her breathing.
Kalyo squeezed his beloved Katara's hand and stood, "I am honored my Chief."
Urro smiled and said, "I would take Goshan."
The Lt. that Katara fought at the main communications tower stepped forward and bowed as he accepted.
Ulay considered his warriors and said, "Yua."
The tall firebending woman moved out of the shadows and bowed as she stood behind her chief.
Orin nodded, "Healer Ikko."
The short woman with light eyes smiled, "An honor my chief."
Urro nodded, "We will leave on the morning tide upon the swiftest courier, it will take three days to arrive at the Capital Island." The grey haired man smiled at his people and said, "May the Painted Lady watch over us and may her daughter, the Water Raven, protect our Tribe in our absence."
All the people bowed to Katara whose purple tinged eyes glowed with determination.
The next morning Katara watched as the courier left on the tide, she'd kissed Kalyo goodbye earlier. Now she stood sentinel and asked Tui and La to watch over him as he journeyed to the capital island.
Qia waited for the young water bender to end her vigil.
When Lee came running up the hill he skid to a stop next to Katara, "Lady Raven, Fire Navy ships are approaching the ports on the lower four islands."
Katara faced the archer, "Tell our Tribe to wait. If they are the Fire Lords soldiers they will do nothing but present a presence. If they are the usurpers, they will attack and attempt to wrest control from the chiefs. If they attack, they are to be captured not killed and they are to send word immediately. We will retrieve their prisoners and return them to their masters."
Lee relaxed for a moment, then burst into a full run down the cliff.
Qia shadowed Lady Raven as they descended.
"We'll take the eel-hounds to the North Island," Katara said to the firebender. "Just the two of us."
Qia smiled, "Is that wise Water Raven?"
Katara grinned, "No. But I haven't lost my temper in a year and should I need to," she paused, "I will feel less bad about decimating the usurpers."
Qia laughed, "I knew you had fire in you somewhere."
They saddled two of the eel hounds and began their distance journey to the far North Island. Qia expected it to take almost three days, if they pushed the animals to their limits.
They traveled for two solid days, the eel-hounds could travel from moon-up to mid-day before they required rest, water and food. It was a silent journey for the two women, they spoke for a moment before sleep overcame them when they stopped and once more before they mounted the beasts and continued on their journey.
Katara watched the Northern Island move closer as the eel-hounds moved quickly over the water. They arrived on land early morning of the third day. Qia pulled to the front, to lead Katara through the thick jungle and across the island to the Southern Islands capital city. Before they breached the city, they dismounted and let the eel-hounds rest. They'd penetrate the gubernatorial residence tonight after the sun set.