Chapter 3

I could hear them before I could see them. Whenever Jet and the other Freedom Fighters find a camp to raid, they get rowdy and excited. I knew that they would be excited tonight and I sighed. Rowdy Freedom Fighters are very frustrating to deal with.

"Sounds like we're going to have our hands full tonight," Jun said, sighing.

I nodded. "Why they must get so excited over these things, I will never know."

"Yeah, I agree. I understand getting excited after the raid, but before? I don't get it," she laughed.

Jet walked into the kitchen, smiling to himself. "We found a camp," he informed us.

"Oh, we know," I replied. He raised his eyebrow in response. "You guys are so rowdy when you find a camp," I explained.

"Ah, I see," he replied. 'I'm going to need you two to look after the younger kids tomorrow, keep them out of the way."

"Sure," Jun said smiling.

"Can't I come with you guys?" I asked.

"No," Jet said without thinking.

"What? Why not!" I demanded.

"It's too dangerous, you're not coming."

I glared. "You let The Duke go, but not me?"

"He can hold his own," Jet replied.

"And I can't?" I yelled. "Ugh! You are such a hypocrite!" I stormed out the room and away from Jet.

As I left, I heard skin hitting skin and Jet said 'ow' so I'm assuming Jun hit him. I smirked to myself and walked into what felt like a solid wall.

"Katomi! Are you ok?" Tyro asked me, looking concerned. He leaned down and helped me up.

"Why is it that whenever I see you, I trip or fall?" I asked, laughing.

"No idea," he replied, laughing.

"You busy?" I asked.

"Not really, why?"

"Wanna go for a walk?"

"Sure," he replied, smiling.

An hour later, I found myself walking through the woods with Tyro. I found that we actually had a lot in common.

"My mom died giving birth to my baby sister," Tyro was telling me. "And then when I was 15, my village was attacked. My father was killed and my sister was taken. I haven't seen her since."

"Oh, Tyro," I said sympathetically. "I'm so sorry."

"It's not your fault," He replied. "But it did drive me to come join the Freedom Fighters."

I nodded. "We're glad to have you," I said, smiling. "We need all the people we can get if we're going against the Fire Nation."

"Now you sound like Jet," Tyro laughed.

"Well, I did grow up with him, and he's my best friend."

"How is that, exactly? You're so different than him."

"Our parents were best friends," I told him. "They raised us together."

"Jet, Katomi, time for dinner," Jet's mom, Ame, called out.

"Coming we shouted back and started running.

Ame and my mother were standing outside Jet's house. I always that that Ame was so pretty. She had dark brown hair that went down to her waist, and expressive brown eyes. Jet got his eyes from his mom and everything else from his father, Dai. His father was very friendly and kind. He was an amazing sword fighter. Jet inherited that skill from him.

"Go inside and wash up you two," My mom, Naomi, told us, smiling. Her green eyes were twinkling.

"Race ya!" a six year old Jet exclaimed.

"Be careful!" Ame shouted after us, laughing.

We ran into the house and to the bowl that was located in the kitchen-area. We both submerged our hands and used the crude soap next to the dish. The brown dirt came of our hands and floated in the now dirty water. We wiped our hands on a rag and raced outside where our fathers had set up a table.

My mom pulled me into a hug, her black hair tickling my face. I giggled and pulled away from her. She let go and went back to talking to Jets mom. They laughed about something, and looked happy.

My father came out of the house, and kissed my mom. They smiled lovingly at one another. My father was one of the five earthbenders in our village. The rest were non-benders.

What was it like then?" Tyro asked.

"We were all happy," I said, with the hint of a smile. I could still remember my mom's laugh, and how loving she was with my father. Tears burned at my eyes.

"Hey! I'm sorry," Tyro said. "I didn't want you to cry."

"I'm fine, it's ok," I said quickly. "It's good to talk about my parents."

"Well, I'm always there to talk," Tyro offered.

"Thanks," I smiled. "I'm there for you too."

"We should head back," Tyro said. "I think Jets holding a meeting about the raid tomorrow."

I nodded, "ok," I answered, even though I was still annoyed with Jet my anger had subsided. I just wish he had more faith in me.

We walked back in quiet to the hangout. We both went up and everybody was making their way to our main meeting/eating area. We saw Jet standing at the front of the platform, waiting for everybody to get there. When he saw us arrive together, his eyes narrowed slightly but he didn't say anything.

"Now that everyone's here, we can get started," Jet began. "Tomorrow, we'll be raiding yet another camp." People cheered and Jet raised is hand up to silence everybody. "Every successful raid means more soldiers come, but we have the upper hand! They have no idea where we are, but we know where they are. However, we need to remain vigilant in ridding the valley of those vile pigs!"

"Down with the Fire Nation!" Smellerbee shouted.

"Yeah!" Some of the others shouted.

"Tomorrow, the raid will include Smellerbee, Sneers, Longshot, Tyro, The Duke, and Pipsqueak. All of you stay after to go over the plan. On another note, we need ideas on how to fill the reservoir with water. If anybody has any ideas, come find me."

Everybody got up and started to walk away and go about their business; but not me. Jet called my name and asked me to stay with him for a few minutes, probably to apologize for earlier. Jet told the awaiting raid team to wait a few minutes while he talked to me.

I walked over to Jet and crossed my arms across my chest.

"Where'd you go earlier?" he asked.

"I went for a walk," I replied.

"Alone?"

"What does that matter for?"

"Stop avoiding the question!"

"I was with Tyro, if you must know," I rolled my eyes.

"Tyro, huh?" He asked, raising his eyebrow. "You've been spending a lot of time with him, lately. You like him or something?"

"What? No! I mean he's nice and I like him as a friend, but no, I don't like him."

"I have things to do, I'll see you later," he said suddenly.

"Yeah, ok, whatever," I called at his retreating back.

I walked into my room and lied on the bed. I suddenly remember this one time I was upset over something, and Jet and I lied in this bed together.

I was lying in bed crying. I was about 15 and Jet was 16. One of the older girls who had lived her briefly, Hiromi, had insulted me and called me ugly and useless. I had stood strong in front of her but I crumpled in my room. Within minutes, Jet had been beside me, comforting me.

Jet lied down on the bed beside me and pulled me into his strong arms. He rubbed my back and would whisper soothing things in my ear every once in a while. When I finally calmed down, I looked at Jet.

"Why is Hiromi so mean to me?" I asked.

"Because you're beautiful and she stuck looking like a hog monkey," Jet said. I immediately started laughing.

"She does look like a hog monkey," I giggled. Jet had a small smile on his face.

"She's jealous of you, but you need to be the stronger person, ok?"

"Yeah," I replied. I rested my head on his chest and I could feel how tense he was, even though he appeared so calm. 'Are you ok?"

"Me? I'm fine," He replied, looking down at me, amused. "You were just crying your eyes out and now you're asking me if I'm ok?" He laughed. "You amaze me, Katomi. You're so sweet and beautiful."

I blushed. "I'm not beautiful."

He stared at me like I was insane. "Of course you're beautiful!"

"Yeah, ok," I replied.

The next day, I slept later than usual. After I got dressed, I went into the kitchen and saw that Jun had gotten a majority of the cooking done. The fire pit was already blazing and the water was already boiling in the pot.

"What time is it?" I asked.

"A little after eight I think," she replied.

"Did Jet leave yet?" I asked.

Jun nodded. "Yeah a little while ago."

"Oh, ok," I replied.

"Is everything ok? You overslept and you never do that."

"Yeah, I think I just needed rest. I don't remember falling asleep, but it must have been fast."

Jun nodded. "You work too much, that's why you're so tired."

"Yeah," I answered.

The day went by slowly. It was excruciating, waiting for Jet and the others to come back. I did anything to keep myself occupied, like helping with laundry, telling stores to some of the younger children and gossiping wit the other girls. The later it got the more anxious I felt. I know that raids usually take this long, but I felt off. All of a sudden I just knew that something went wrong.

I heard the running of feet before I saw them. Smellerbee was at my door, looking panicked. Her hair was messier than usual and I could see blood on her hands and clothes. I immediately stood up.

"What happened? Are you ok?" I demanded.

"Not mine," She said, cryptically. "Jets."

With that word, everything seemed to freeze. In what felt like slow motion, she grabbed my hand and we were running. I felt like I was in a bubble, and everything was muffled. It was like I was watching myself run but I wasn't actually doing it.

When I saw Jet, being helped onto a bed, his skin paler than normal, and an arrow sticking out of his shoulder, I wanted to fall apart and cry. I saw Longshot looking horror-stricken and I realized what happened. Longshot never misses a target; Jet got In the way of the arrow.

I was beside Jet before I knew it. He was sickly pale, and his hands were sweaty when I grabbed it. His eyes were closed and he looked…dead. But then he moaned and opened his eyes.

"Katomi," he rasped out. "Don't…want…you too…" he winced and closed his eyes. "See this."

"I'm staying," I said stubbornly, holding onto his hand, tightly.

One of the older girls, Janya, came in. She is basically our healer. She knelt down next to him, and I closed my eye as she removed the arrow. Jet's screams were muffled by the cloth she had him bite on. I felt the tears coming, but blinked them away. Jets screams subsided and Janya was cleaning the wound. She had one of the girls light a small fire and she put a needle into the fire to sterilize it. I didn't realize how tightly Jet was gripping my hand until I looked down.

Janya had stitched the wound shut and wrapped it with bandages we've accrued over the years. We have a lot of medical supplies that we've bought or traded for as well as supplies we've stolen. Janya is 17, turning 18 soon. She is very knowledgeable with herbs and ways to heal people. She joined us when she was 16, and she's definitely been useful over the years.

A little while later, I was sitting next to Jet while he slept. He was still pale, but he was definitely regaining some of his color. He looked peaceful for the most part, but sometimes when he moved, his face would screw up in pain. I hated when that happened because I hate him being in pain. It causes me pain to see him in pain.

I must have fallen asleep next to him, because the next thing I remember is hearing Jet's raspy voice saying "wake up." I jolted up and stared at him. He was sitting up slightly, with his back propped up by a pillow. He still looked in pain, but he was good at hiding it.

"You're awake!" I exclaimed.

He laughed weakly. "Yeah, I am."

"I'm so relieved. I was so scared when I saw you," I said, my voice choking on tears as they started flowing down my cheeks.

"Oh, come here," He said, gently. I lied down on the bed next to him, gently and hugged him. He winced slightly but didn't say anything. "I'm fine, Katomi. I'm not going anywhere."

"But what if something does happen to you?" I cried. "I couldn't take it."

"You're strong, you would survive," He said.

"How do you know that?"

"I just do," He replied. "Just believe me."

Someone walked into the room, and I looked up and saw Longshot standing there. He looked terrible, his eyes red from possibly crying and he looked guilty. I could tell that he felt terrible for what he did. He walked over to the chair I had been sitting in and sat down. He and Jet shared a look, and he very quietly said "I'm sorry. This is my fault."

"Longshot, I don't blame you," Jet said. "It was not your fault. I should have been more careful, ok? Stop beating yourself up. I lived, I'm going to be fine, and we can all put this behind us."

Longshot nodded and sat with us in silence for a while. Then he got up and walked out of the room and into the hallway. Janya walked in and laughed when she saw me on the bed.

"You two are so funny. I tell Jet to be careful and take it easy and you're in his bed, lying all over him," She said, smiling to herself. "You two are never going to be able to handle being apart. Good thing you're meant for each other," She said so quietly that I didn't believe that I heard her right.

AN: Sorry for the long wait, but I had finals this week and I've been studying like crazy. They're over now and summers finally here so I should be updating more frequently. I hope you liked it! If you have any suggestions or things you want to see, please let me know and I'll try to fit it in! Read and review!