Katara heard other guards come after her. She pushed herself to run faster. Her whip lashings constricted her skin as she ran. Quickly finding an alley. Katara turned down it. She knew she had limited time to act. Katara dug through the bag, finding a surprise. A hat, veil, cloak, and paint lay near the bottom of the bag.
How long had he known? Katara thought. She quickly painted her skin, avoiding her open wounds. She dawned her cloak and hat and climbed onto the roof. As the guards entered the alley, Katara jumped onto the next roof. She knew they had seen her jump.
"The Painted Lady!" she heard someone call.
Katara ran across the roof and jumped into the air. She landed on the next roof painfully. Her wounds would slow her down if she didn't heal herself soon. Still she continued.
The sun had now risen over the horizon. Several shop people began preparing their shops for the day ahead. Children who had woken up early walked the streets. One looked up as Katara past.
"The Painted Lady! She's returned!" she cried. The children surrounding here looked where Katara had once stood. They were all in aw.
Katara soon found a well. She climbed off the roof and waited for no one to see. She took off her cloak and bended the water towards her. It covered her body and began glowing. Her wound and lashes healed quickly. Katara washed the paint off her body and put the cloak and hat back into the bag.
She emerged from the alley and walked calmly towards the Tea Shop. She entered the small shop. There were only two people inside at the moment. Katara took a seat near the wall and waited. She could hear the guards roaming the city, still looking for her.
"Welcome to the Jasmine Dragon, are you ready to order?" as the waiter.
Katara was surprise and then recovered, "Yes…um…I would like a Lotus."
The waiter's eyes widened. He looked at the other customers, who were not paying attention. "This way." He whispered.
Katara stood and followed him further into the shop. She saw a few men working in the back, not paying attention.
The waiter led Katara into the very back of the shop. He knocked on the door and opened it. "The Lotus order came in."
Katara entered the room. The waiter left and shut the door, locking it behind them. The room was dimly lit. At the end of the room, Katara could see a figure hunched over.
The figure stood up and turned to face Katara. She gasped when she realized who he was. His beard had grown much longer and wilder. His hair was matted on his head. But his eyes were still kind and whole hearted.
"Hello Katara." Iroh said. He smiled at the girl.
Katara smiled at him, "Hello Iroh."
"I see Zuko successfully broke into the dungeon. Where is he?" Iroh asked.
Katara turned her head and hoped her tears wouldn't fall.
"Your silence says it all. I hoped I wouldn't lose my nephew, but not everything works the way you plan." Iroh said.
"I'm sorry Iroh." Katara said. She felt her tears roll off her cheek.
"It is not your fault Katara. Zuko knew the risk, but sill left against our wishes. I can expect you tried to convince him not to stay." Iroh stated.
"He's so stubborn." Katara replied.
Iroh laughed, "He really is. But that's what made him strong." Iroh placed a hand on Katara's shoulder. "Come, we must leave."
Iroh led Katara out of the Tea Shop. She could hear the guards enter the shop. Iroh's pace quicken, as did her heart beat. He led her into a small shed. He opened a door and pushed Katara into the shed.
Inside the shed were two ostrich horses waiting. Iroh barricaded the larger door. He mounted the first and Katara mounted the second. The door thrust inwards as the guards tried to enter.
"Put your cloak on." Iroh said. He pulled the hood over his face and coved the bottom half with a scarf. He tossed a scarf to Katara. She wrapped her face in it and waited.
The door burst open. The guards charged in. Iroh quickly began bending. The guards bend against him. Katara found a barrel of water and began bending it around the guards. She quickly froze them, giving them time to get out.
Iroh led the way out of the city. Katara followed as fast as the Ostrich Horse would allow. People in the streets moved out of the way, as they rode past. Behind them guards tried to slow them down, but were unable to. They burst from the city walls and into the land.
"Your friends will be glad to see you walk through the passageway." Iroh called.
"Passageway?" Katara asked. The Ostrich Horses stopped. Suddenly the ground began sinking below them. They were engulfed into the darkness.