Aang awoke slowly, unsure where he was. He could feel the tight compress of bandages across his chest, and under them, the tenderness of fresh wounds. Rising up on trembling arms, he allowed his eyes to open slowly, knowing instantly that the light would blind and further the pounding in his aching head.
When his eyes were finally open all that way, he let out a low groan as the feeling of weakness raced through his young body. Never before had he felt so helpless and weak.
Rolling into a sitting position, Aang stared at the metal flooring under his bare feet for a long time before realizing just want he was looking at. With a slight gasp, he raised his head fully for the first time and took in his surroundings.
He felt the blood drain from his already pale face as he was greeted by a floor-to-ceiling banner with the Fire Nation insignia proudly displayed in a sickening blood-red.
He's worst fears were realized when he turned and meet the eyes of General Iroh, who was sitting on a low stool by a heavy iron door, watching the Air Bender coolly over a steaming cup of tea.
"So you've finally awaken. I must say, you've had us worried for quite some time," Iroh stated, taking a small sip from his cup.
Aang didn't hesitate, but used his hand to make a quick blast of air, which unsettled the General, causing him to spill his tea down the front of his robes. There wasn't much force behind the blast, but that didn't stop Anag from jumping up and running to the door, yanking his staff from the corner as he went. Crossing the threshold, he threw it open and stumbled out, before slamming it shut and locking the startled General in.
Aang leaned against the door for a moment, trying to catch his breath. Running a hand across his chest, he felt the heavy bandages and tried to remember what had happened. He knew that he and Katara had been fighting Azula and then Zuko had shown up. But that's as far as he could get... What had happened to Katara? Was she being held prisoner on board too? And what about Sokka and Toph?
Pushing off from the iron door, Aang shuffled forward quietly, wondering why there were no guards stationed in front of his door; shouldn't the Fire Nation take more precautions against the Avatar escaping them yet again?
Holding his bandaged chest, he slowly shuffled forward to peak around a corner, leaning heavily against his sturdy staff. Noticing no one, he slowly eased himself around the corner, his steps achingly slow and painful. He had made it half way along the long iron hall before two odd guards rounded the opposite corner. One was tall and bulky, filling the hall from top to bottom, and side to side. The other barely reached the first soldiers waist, even with the large helmet that dripped forwarded and shielded his eyes. The larger of the two noticed him first, yelling a startled, "Hey! You're awake!"
Aang used the last of his strength and sent a weak wave of air toward both guards, knocking them flat and allowing him to use his staff to propel his self over them and raced weakly down the hall.
As he ran for the open deck, something nagged at the back of his neck, like a puzzle piece that fought to place itself.
Breaking free from the depths of the ships, Aang found himself embraced by the open sea air. Inhaling deeply, his pale grey eyes roamed the open deck, but were yet again met with nothing – no guards, no workers, nothing. Confusion swam through his mind, lacing sweetly with the ache he'd had since waking, making it harder and harder to concentrate on the enigma that was presenting itself with every step he took.
Glancing from side to side, Aang realized that he was not the only one on the open deck, as he had originally thought. Back toward the aft of the ship was a small group of Fire Nation soldiers. Two tall, well built soldiers were facing off against a third, smaller and leaner, who they had forced against the high riling of the ship. Aang was about to turn away, hoping that their private fight would be enough to allow him to slip away unnoticed to find his friends, when he saw a flash of blue flutter between the larger soldiers and the one pinned in place.
Not trusting his eyes, Aang stood rooted to the spot as Katara shoved the two away from the third. The wind carried her words away, but Aang could tell that whatever she was saying was not making them happy. As one of the larger soldiers reached for her upper arm, Aang snapped to attention.
"Leave her alone!" he shouted, using his staff to once more send a powerful blast of air, this time directed toward the three soldiers, while at the same time bending the water up and over the decks to sweep them off the ship and into the cold dark waters below.
"Aang!" Katara yelled, surprise written in her started features. Before he realized what she was doing, Katara turned away from him and bent the water logged soldiers from the ocean which Aang had just cast them.
Aang rushed forward as fast as his injuries would allow him, placing himself between the dark skinned Water Tribe girl and the three soldiers who were coughing the salt water from their lungs at her feet. Aang dropped into his air bending stance, prepared to once more throw these men over board, if need be.
Katara threw herself into his arms, wrapping him into an embrace that she made sure avoided the worst of his wounds. "Why didn't Iroh tell anyone that you were awake?" This was said as she pulled herself from his arms, noticing for the first time his defensive stance and that his eyes had yet to leave the three at their feet.
"Because I locked him up," his answer was automatic, as was the step back he took and the arm that forced Katara once more behind him as the three soldiers stood. Shock stood out clearly on his young face as he noticed that the two larger ones had cobalt blue Water Tribe eyes; the third had solid gold eyes and a disfiguring scar that stained the whole right side of his face.
"Zuko," Aang muttered under his breath, forcing himself to stand painfully straighter and pushing Katara more firmly behind him.
"Aang, no," Katara said, placing a gentle hand on his should and moving to stand beside him once more. "Zuko helped us, don't you remember?"
It was clear from the disbelief that he did not. But before Katara could explain everything, a heavy hand and a harsh punch landed on his other shoulder, followed by "Aang, good to see ya buddy" and "Twingletoes, your awake!"
Turning, Aang first noticed Toph, who was still recognizable in her Earth Kingdom clothes, but with a dark red cloak thrown over it. But even though the person beside had spoken in Sokka's voice, it couldn't be him; he was dressed in full Fire Nation military regalia, including one of the white face plates that hide all features from sight.
Suddenly it was just too much for Aang's tired brain and body to take any more. A feeling a detachment swept through him; the last thing he was aware of was Toph's startled, "Someone catch him, he's gonna-!" Then darkness consumed him once more.
