Enjoy!
Much thanks to my awesome Beta reader, PurseMonger!
*Edited 3/16/2015*
ATLA belongs to Mike and Bryan…not me…
Chapter Ten
Surprising Findings
Katara gazed at the picturesque scenery below her as the gang flew over the mountains, countless trees, meadows, and rivers. She smiled as her half-pulled up hair whipped around her as the soft wind rushed by them. She noticed the changes that nature was bringing to indicate that summer had ended and fall had arrived. The trees' leaves were now gold, red, and brown instead of their usual green. The Earth Kingdom forest floor was now painted with patches of the changed, colorful leaves. Katara looked up as the sound of honking duck-geese flying to a warmer climate resonated around them.
Katara's smile widened. Soon it would be winter, her favorite time of the year. She looked at Sokka and Suki and wondered if they would be able to return to the Southern Water Tribe for the Winter Solstice Festival. She glanced at Suki's stomach and shook her head softly. Sokka needed to know they were going to have a child and soon. She grimaced. She hoped her grandmother would be joyous when she heard the news.
The waterbender turned to look toward the back of Appa's saddle where Zuko sat in a lotus position, breathing evenly with his eyes closed, his hands resting on his knees. According to the map, Zuko had informed them, they would be arriving at the Abandoned Fort around noon. Then he had proceeded in describing what his mother looked like. She wondered why he did not show the others the painting of his younger self with his mother, but she supposed it was something too personal for him.
Even though to everyone else Zuko seemed calm and collected, Katara knew he was far from it. She closed her eyes as she remembered her conversation with Zuko from the previous night...
She woke up in the middle of the night to drink some water from her water skin. When she turned to rest on her other side, she noticed someone sitting near the campfire. Even though the person was turned away from her, she knew it was Zuko by the way he sat, his back ramrod-straight, broad shoulders squared.
Katara stood up from her warm bedding and wrapped her blanket around herself to keep her warm from the fall chill. She quietly walked over to the campfire and sat down next to the silent firebender.
'Sokka's snores aren't that loud, you know,' she teased with a sleepy smile.
She saw Zuko's lips twitch into a small smile before it disappeared. Katara frowned and scooted closer to inspect his solemn face.
'Zuko, what's wrong? Don't tell me you have a stomachache from what I made for dinner,' she said in another attempt at a joke.
Zuko looked at her in alarm.
'No! Of course not! I always enjoy what you cook.'
Katara blushed at his words before she gave a soft giggle so as not to wake the others up.
'If you say so,' she replied with a tiny shrug. 'So, if it's not Sokka's snoring or my cooking, then what's keeping you up this time of night?'
She saw his face darken for a moment before he coolly replied.
'It's nothing.'
She rolled her eyes at his stubbornness before she noticed a small scroll by his crossed legs and recognized it as the painting of his mother and him. Her eyes softened in understanding. He was still having doubts.
'We'll find Lady Ursa tomorrow, Zuko. And she will be happy to see you,' she assured him. She placed her small hand in his warm, larger one. She felt him squeeze her hand as he gave her a nod.
'And then you will have to admit that I'm always right,' she added with a smirk, hoping to lighten his mood.
Zuko scoffed playfully and snorted.
'Alright, you don't have to admit it,' she grumbled before she smiled, 'But you will have to do something for me.'
Zuko seemed to think over what she said before he asked, 'Like what?'
Katara tapped her chin with a finger pensively.
'Not sure yet, but I'll think of something eventually,' she teased.
She was surprised when Zuko shrugged and said, 'Alright.'
She couldn't believe it! She was able to make the most powerful man in the world agree to do whatever she wanted! Even if just once.
'Eh…um…okay then,' Katara stammered. 'Well, tomorrow's a big day, so get some sleep.'
She smiled. She watched as he finally turned to fully look at her with a small smile.
'Thanks, Katara…'
Katara opened her eyes as she came out of her memories and smiled as she glanced at Zuko once again.
"We're almost there," Aang called out from where he sat on Appa's head.
Zuko opened his eyes and sat up straighter, anticipation and apprehension churning within him.
"Land low where Appa won't be spotted. Remember this place is dangerous and who knows what could happen if they knew the Avatar and the Fire Lord were coming," Zuko's baritone voice commanded.
Aang nodded in understanding and began to search for a place to land far away from curious eyes. Zuko leaned against the side of the saddle and closed his eyes again as he tried to meditate and control his sudden anxiety.
A few minutes later, Appa landed among some trees as quietly as a ten-ton beast was capable. The passengers quickly dismounted and looked around the thick forest, while dried fall leaves crunched beneath their feet. Sokka yawned and stretched his muscles theatrically, rotating his arms over his head. Suki shook her head at him and smiled when he gave her a goofy grin.
"Okay, Appa, take a break. We'll be back soon," Aang said as he hugged his huge friend's head.
Appa grunted and licked his young friend and master's face. Aang laughed.
"You stay here, okay, Momo?"
Momo chirped from his shoulder and landed on Appa's head.
"Let us go," Zuko said as he turned around and led the way.
The gang walked silently along a path through the forest for a few minutes before the trees began to thin out. Zuko stopped and let out a shaky breath. What if his mother was not there? He noticed Katara stand beside him with a reassuring smile. He remembered everything she had told him and he felt his confidence rise. He lifted his chin and squared his shoulders.
Zuko pulled up his dark, red hood to hide his identifiable scar before he gave a small nod. Aang placed a straw hat on his tattooed head and grinned. The gang emerged from the trees and stopped at the entrance of the almost hidden village.
"What a dump," Sokka remarked. His comment earned him two slaps on the back of his head by his girlfriend and his sister.
Zuko could not have agreed more. The village was spread in a large clearing. There were hundreds of houses and huts scattered randomly in every direction. They were old, dirty, and falling apart. Many looked like they were ready to collapse the second a butterfly landed on their roofs. They could hear shouts, curses, and screams coming from the place that caused unpleasant shivers to run through them. A foul stench permeated the air ahead of them, making them grimace and wrinkle their noses.
On top of a hill in the middle of the village stood the once glorious fort that now seemed to be just as ugly as the houses that surrounded it. The fort loomed ominously over the village while dark shadows engulfed it from every angle, even though the sun was high in the sky.
"I think it's best if we all split up and meet here before sunset," Sokka suggested after the gang had remained silent for a while, taking in the distasteful sight before them.
"Remember not to say Fire Lord Zuko is looking for her. If you do find out where my mother is, return to the edge of the forest near the entrance," Zuko spoke and nodded at the cluster of trees behind them, "and wait until the rest of us arrive. And then I will talk to her."
Everyone nodded that they understood.
"Sokka, stay with Suki," Katara spoke up as she turned to her older brother. "She…uh...feels a bit ill because of something she ate." She did not want a pregnant Suki to walk all by herself in this village in her condition.
Sokka wrapped his arm around Suki and grinned. Who was he to complain?
When the others discussed which way each was to go, Zuko turned to Katara and gently took her hand.
"This place is dangerous. Be careful, Katara," he said softly so only she could hear his concerned voice. He gently squeezed her hand.
Katara blushed at the touch of his hand and was grateful for his concern. She gave him a small squeeze in return.
"Don't worry Zuko. I'll be fine. Waterbending master, you know," she reminded him and smiled.
Zuko nodded.
"I know," he replied quietly before he released her hand. But he could not stop feeling anxious over finding his mother and concerned for her.
He turned back to the entrance.
"Let's go then. Hopefully the spirits will be willing to aid us."
The gang walked confidently forward and entered the Abandoned Fort.
Aang walked swiftly along the dirty, crooked streets, enduring rude passersby shoving him aside, not bothering to listen to his questions. Aang looked at every woman he came across, but not one fit the description of Zuko's missing mother. He asked every person that passed him if they knew where a woman named Ursa lived, but they all gave him hard and confused glares. It seemed that nobody knew anyone with that name.
Aang watched as the corrupted city played before his gray eyes. There were fights at every turn, while drunks littered the streets even at the early time of day, and women with heavy makeup and extremely revealing clothes positioned themselves in very suggestive postures outside buildings with red lanterns hanging outside the doors.
The young Avatar frowned as he continued to walk down the streets. When he defeated Ozai, he thought everything would turn peaceful and nice. Cities and villages would be thriving and everybody would be happy and merry. But as he looked around himself he realized he was sadly mistaken and he felt guilty.
Sokka and Suki walked slowly through what seemed like the town marketplace. They could hear merchants shouting for customers while said customers argued for better bargains. There would be an occasional skirmish when a merchant would find a thief trying to weasel his way out of the crowds.
At first, Sokka went to see if he could buy something to eat at the food stalls for his girlfriend—and of course for himself—while he investigated on the whereabouts of his friend's mother. He was utterly disappointed to find that not only was the food disgusting and barely edible, but nobody knew who Ursa was.
Suki clung onto Sokka's arm as two men began to throw punches and curses at each other right in front of them. She instinctively shielded her body behind Sokka's, protecting her swollen stomach. Sokka glared at the men as he led his beloved away from the brutes. He was feeling manly protecting her, which caused him to miss the strangeness of Suki hiding behind him instead of pulling out her iron fans in a defensive stance.
The people were rude and foul and Sokka had to resist the urge to gather Suki in his arms and run back to their meeting place in order to get away from the unpleasant village. But they had promised to help Zuko, and so, they continued on their exploration, hoping that the others were luckier in their search than they were.
Toph landed a heavy blow right on the man's gut with a rock-covered fist. The man groaned painfully and fell into a heap on the floor. Toph turned her foggy eyes upon the other men who lay moaning in pain on the ground around her small frame.
"Next time I won't be merciful you bastards!" Toph growled and purposefully stomped upon the injured men as she walked away.
The crowd that had been watching the spectacle between half a dozen men and a small young woman quickly scattered away as the angry and obviously strong earthbender moved in their direction.
She just asked if they knew where Ursa was and those idiots acted as if she asked if they wanted to have a good time in an alley or something!
"Assholes," she muttered.
Toph stomped around the place, demanding to know where Ursa lived. Some were so frightened by her that they peed in their pants, causing Toph to wrinkle her delicate nose in disgust. But by the vibrations everyone gave off, they all told the truth when they said they knew no one with that name.
Strange, Toph thought as she rubbed her chin.
She wondered if the others had better luck. She shoved another group of leering men from her path with two boulders. Zuko owed her big time.
Katara glared straight ahead as she passed the disgusting men on the streets. Ever since she separated from the gang all she had heard were wolf-whistles and invitations to have 'fun' in some alley. Katara suppressed a shudder of revulsion. She ignored their vulgar comments and moved along, determined to find Lady Ursa for Zuko.
She stopped another woman heading her way carrying a large sack over her shoulders.
"Excuse me, can you tell me where a woman by the name of Ursa lives?" Katara asked politely.
"Ursa?" the messy-looking woman with rotten teeth asked. She looked Katara over and scowled at the beautiful young stranger.
"I've heard no such name, so quit wasting my time, girl!" she snapped and roughly brushed past the offended waterbender.
"Well!" Katara groused as she flipped her hair over her shoulder. "I should have expected such rudeness from such a place!" She spun on her heel and stomped angrily away.
She looked around herself to see if she could spot Lady Ursa, but instead, she took in the unpleasant sight of the village. The small houses were falling apart, garbage was scattered on the streets, and people rushed or strolled the streets aimlessly. Katara frowned, unable to help feeling the urge to help these people, but then she remembered that these people were not being mistreated by a cruel governor or king. They were outcasts because they had decided to lead a life of crime and dishonor.
Shaking her head and straightening herself up, Katara continued on her search for Princess Ursa. She would not let anything stop her from reaching her goal. She promised to help make Zuko happy and finding his mother was the only thing that was going to make that happen. And even though it seemed that no one had any idea who Ursa was, thus making it seem hopeless, she was not going to give up that easily.
"Hey there, girlie," a man's rough voice broke through her thoughts. "Wat's a purdy lil' thing like ye doin' walking all by 'er lonesome?"
Katara looked up to see two dirty and disheveled men before her. The one she assumed had spoken to her was short, buff, and broad. He was wearing a bright red sleeveless shirt that showed his over exaggerated muscles that were covered with tattoos of disturbing images. He had coarse, black hair that reached his shoulders and a messy, black beard that looked more like a rat's nest. The other one was tall and lanky with a bald spot reaching from his temples to the crown of his large head. When he snickered, Katara saw that he was missing his two front teeth.
Katara gave them an annoyed and disinterested look before she turned around and began to walk in a different direction.
"Hey now," the bearded one chuckled darkly. "We only want ta get ta know ya better." The other one laughed as both men followed after the young woman.
Katara clenched her hands and narrowed her blue eyes, but she continued on her way without giving them a second glance. She saw some of the people walking along the street scurry away, murmuring to each other while giving her sympathetic looks.
Suddenly, her path was blocked by the burly, tattooed man. Katara stopped herself from bumping into him and thus touching the rogue. She heard the other one snicker behind her. Katara stared at the man's filthy face before her and pinned him with a hard glare. She discreetly moved her hand to her hip to uncork her water skin. She suppressed a shudder of disgust as the man eyed her up slowly. She wanted nothing more than to hide her body from their leering looks.
"Move away and leave me alone or else I will have to hurt you," she threatened.
Both men barked out a laugh, amusement in their ugly, dark eyes.
"Will ya lookie here?" the gangly one said. "We got ourse'ves a fiery one. We don't git those 'round 'ere an'more."
Katara gasped and fear gripped her before she shook her head. No, she will not let these men touch her. Steeling her nerves, Katara growled lowly and seethed.
"I have more important things to do than to deal with you two. Get away from me. Now," she gritted out.
The men stopped laughing at the death tone in the petite woman's voice they were surrounding before the tattooed man began to chuckle again.
"Oh, we'll enjoy this," he laughed raucously towards his partner.
He reached out to grab Katara's arm, but he was immediately stopped by a smack on the side of his face.
"Ow! Shit! Wat da fuck?" the man cursed and turned to the side, rubbing his face as he glared at whoever had dared to throw something at him, but instead found nothing. When he returned his attention to the woman, he gaped.
Katara had assumed her fighting stance, a water whip coiling around her, her eyes blazing with anger and revulsion.
"Touch me and you'll regret it!" she threatened harshly. Now she understood why Zuko had been concerned.
She veered to the side and whipped the other man's back who was trying to grab her by surprise. The man yelped as he crashed to the hard dirt floor, uttering a string of curses as he scrambled to his feet.
"I suggest you leave now before you're even more humiliated." She smirked. A small crowd had gathered and was cheering her on.
The short, bearded man growled and cursed. He pulled a knife from his pocket and charged at her. Katara sidestepped him, slashing the water whip across his back. The man stumbled before he turned to face her with angry eyes.
"Why ya little bitch! I was gonna try ta be gentle with ya, but now I'm gonna—"
"Let the girl be and depart immediately," a soft feminine voice broke through the tension.
Katara saw both men stiffen visibly, the thin one gulped loudly. She turned in the direction she had heard the voice come from. A tall woman was standing to the side, silently and gracefully. She was wearing a long black cloak, the dark hood covering her face. Under her left arm she carried a basket filled with fruits and vegetables and a bow and a quiver of arrows were strapped on her right shoulder. Katara furrowed her eyebrows. There was something about this strange woman, but she could not put her finger on what.
"Y-yes, Lady Xiu!" both men stuttered as they scrambled to their feet and ran as if tiger-armadillos were chasing at their heels.
Katara's tensed body relaxed.
"You are not from around here," the woman addressed Katara matter-of-factly. "Most women tremble in fear when they encounter those two. I suggest you leave this place," she said with a calm and gentle voice.
Katara just stared dumbly as the woman turned to leave, her black cloak swooshing behind her, before the waterbender snapped to her senses.
"Wait!" she called, but the woman was already out of sight.
"You're lucky Lady Xiu came before something bad happened. Those men are bad," a little girl with small pigtails on her head spoke beside Katara and peered worriedly at the older woman.
Katara looked down and smiled.
"Hello. And what's your name, sweetie?" she asked gently, squatting down so she could be on eye level with the child.
The little girl beamed at being referred to as 'sweetie'.
"My name is Li Ming," she giggled joyfully and poked the shiny, blue necklace on the pretty woman's neck.
"What a pretty name." Katara smiled, making the little girl blush before grinning at her. "Are you here by yourself?" she asked, frowning.
Just then a woman with a long nose and black teeth approached them along with a limping old woman with a cane.
"Li Ming! How many times do I have to tell you not to run away from me?" the long nosed woman chided.
"You know how your grandma gets worried," the stooped one scolded.
"I just wanted to see if the pretty lady was okay," the little girl pouted.
Katara stood up and looked at the women.
"Um…who is Lady Xiu? Why does she have such power that she almost had those two dangerous men crying?" Katara asked curiously. Something about the way the woman carried herself intrigued her.
Both women squinted at her and frowned.
"Lady Xiu has been here for years and has gained the respect of many people, but she lives by herself on the outskirts of the village. Before she came many people died of diseases, illnesses, or wounds since nobody cared about the lives of others but their own. Lady Xiu was different. She helped cure many people by using different kinds of plants and herbs," the one with the long nose said.
The older one with the cane nodded as she began to talk.
"Even though she is kind and gentle, she does not like cruelty shown before her and could be quite intimidating. She has threatened that her herbs can kill as well as heal, and nobody wants to get on the bad side of Lady Xiu or else find themselves poisoned with no one to help them."
"Oh," Katara simply said. It was hard imagining that woman as a killer.
A little boy holding his mother's hand walked passed them and Katara remembered what she was there for in the first place.
"Can you please tell me where I can find a woman named Ursa?" Katara asked politely. She hoped they knew.
Li Ming frowned and scratched her small, dirty head.
"Ursa…Ursa?" the oldest one muttered as she stomped her cane on the ground as she thought. "No, I haven't heard that name around here. You?" she asked the other one.
"No, sorry," the little girl's grandmother replied.
Katara's shoulders slumped and her brow creased into a disappointed frown. She looked up at the sun and realized she only had a few hours left before she had to meet with the gang. She couldn't go back empty handed. She wanted to be the one to bring news about Lady Ursa to Zuko.
"Thank you," she sighed.
She smiled down at Li Ming who gave her a toothy grin before she skipped away with the old women following behind her at a slower pace. Katara sighed again as she continued with her zealous search.
After finding nothing, Katara decided to go back to the meeting place and wait for the others. Perhaps somebody else found out something.
She suddenly stopped in her tracks, hid behind the dirty wall of a house, and peered around. She spotted the same woman from before. The woman was kneeling before a little boy who was crying. The lady patted the boy's head and Katara saw her smile beneath her hood. Katara watched as the young boy sniffled before he smiled back and took the apples the woman offered him. The woman stood up and the boy skipped back inside his home.
Katara watched as the boy's mother came out of the house and bowed gratefully to the taller woman. Looking at the disheveled way the mother and child looked, Katara guessed Lady Xiu had helped them with a meal.
The mysterious woman nodded and moved away silently, walking to the edge of the village and into the forest. Katara bit her lip and looked around herself. She slid from the shadows and followed silently after the hooded woman. Lady Xiu seemed to be a healer, perhaps she knew who Ursa was and where she was living.
Katara watched as the woman disappeared into the foliage, the leaves rustling as the wind blew by. Katara ran to catch up with the woman, but upon entering the forest, she found herself completely alone.
Zuko narrowed his eyes and grasped the hilts of his broadswords on his right hip as another of the village women tried to cling onto him. The woman was short with a tousled, dull black bun on her head. She had heavy green eye shadow, dark pink blush on her chunky cheeks, and her lips were painted bright red. She was wearing a short, tight green dress. The top of her dress was partially opened, showing off her cleavage. Zuko turned away in disgust.
"Hey there, handsome," the heavily perfumed woman cooed.
Zuko scrunched his nose as her cheap perfume assaulted his senses.
"How about we get out of here and go into my room?" she asked huskily as she pressed herself closer to the tall hooded man and smiled seductively.
Zuko frowned beneath his hood in revulsion. He had used brothels before during his search for the Avatar, but those brothels were prestigious, elegant, and for the wealthy. The women were respectful and clean—to a certain point.
But since he had stepped foot into the Abandoned Fort, the women that had been trying to get his attention, his money, and into his pants—just like the one rubbing herself on him was at the moment—were rude, vile, and they smelled too much of sweat and sex.
"I do not have time to waste on you," Zuko said emotionlessly. He grabbed her arm with his free hand and pulled her away from his person.
The woman gasped in indignation at his cold tone before she smiled again. All the working girls in the village were vying for this mysterious man's companionship and she was determined to be the one to seduce him and gloat about it afterwards, as well as enjoy the reward he would likely give her for her services.
"Playing hard to get, now are you?" She giggled and batted her long, fake eyelashes, causing Zuko to roll his eyes. "I'm sure I'll make it worth your while," she whispered throatily.
Zuko snorted and smirked.
"I highly doubt that," he replied without glancing her way and turned around to continue on his search for his mother.
As soon as he walked a few steps, he was once again detained by another of the loose women. Unlike the other one, this one was very tall and thin, with long black hair that reached to her calves. She was wearing a long red dress with the same revealing top as the other prostitute. Her heavy makeup was red and black.
"Lan is not good enough for a man such as you," the other woman crooned.
Zuko opened his mouth to snap at her when he felt his other arm being pulled.
"Oh, and I suppose you're good enough, Mei?" the previous woman with the messy bun hissed and tightened her hold on Zuko's arm.
"Of course," Mei replied haughtily and tugged onto the young man's other arm.
Lan narrowed her eyes and began to throw insults at Mei who returned them with equal fervor.
Zuko gritted his teeth and breathed hard in order to control his temper. He was not going to be caught in a catfight between two whores.
"Release me this instant and remove yourselves from my presence," Zuko ordered harshly.
Both bickering women stopped arguing to look at the tall man whose hood hid his face in shadows. They looked at each other in surprise and confusion. Never had a man ever refused to spend their time and money on them, and almost all of them enjoyed being fought over. Narrowing their eyes at each other, both were determined to succeed in this…challenge.
"Why are you making this so difficult, handsome?" Mei teased and raked her sharp and long, black nails on his arm.
"Or will you prefer to spend your time with both of us?" Lan laughed and raised her very thin eyebrows suggestively.
"Did you not understand what I said? Both of your presences annoy me. Release me. Now," Zuko growled lowly as his temper began to slip from his control.
He was supposed to be looking for his mother and these whores were wasting his time. Zuko roughly pulled away from their grasp and lifted his head high enough so his angry face could be seen.
Both women gasped in horror when they noticed the large scar marring the left side of the man's face. Zuko watched as they backed away, their faces turning from shock to disgust in an instant. Unlike before where they were determined to get him to bed, both women now wanted nothing to do with the disfigured man. With one last look of revulsion, they turned around and quickly walked away.
Zuko understood their reaction since he had seen so many react the same way many times before, but that did not mean it did not hurt. The look of shock, horror, disgust, and worst of all, pity. He hated it.
'Zuko you are not a monster! I don't ever want to hear you refer to yourself as such!'
Katara did not see him like that, she treated him with friendship and kindness. She had even touched his scar gently, multiple times, more than anybody else had. Not that he would have allowed others to.
'Big Zuko is cute too!' Katara's laughing but truthful voice sounded in his head. Zuko flushed at the memory. He could not believe that she thought him as…well…cute.
Zuko squared his shoulders, lifted his head high, and set his jaw in determination. Katara and Iroh, as well as his other friends, accepted him as he was and that was more than enough for him. Pulling his hood closer to his face, Zuko continued on his lonely way. Perhaps the women will leave him alone once Lan and Mei spread the news about their 'shocking' discovery.
The young Fire Lord scanned his surroundings carefully, but there was no sign of his mother anywhere. He did not know whether to feel disappointed that he had not found her or relieved that his mother did not live in such a place.
He walked over to a merchant who was bellowing loudly in order to attract customers. Zuko looked at the merchandise and resisted the urge to gag. The fish and vegetables were spoiling and flies were everywhere, leaving no empty spots on the food. Taking shallow breaths so as not to inhale the stench too much, Zuko addressed the man firmly.
"Ursa?" the short, grimy man asked while poking his hairy ear. He pulled his finger out and flicked the earwax away.
Zuko grimaced and looked away in disgust.
"Oh, I know where she is!" the man exclaimed.
Zuko looked back and his heart raced in anticipation. Finally he was going to see her!
"Oh, no, wait. Her name is Urla and she's sixty-years-old." The merchant scratched his head.
Zuko balled his hands and felt his heart clench painfully at the disappointment. Nodding his head once at the man, Zuko moved away from the rotting food stall and made his way through the village. Judging by the energy of the sun, Zuko knew it was time to head back to the gang. Turning on his heels, Zuko made his return to the entrance of the village where the meeting place was to be held. Maybe the others had better news.
Two men, one tall and bald and the other short and covered in tattoos, were walking ahead of him. One had a nasty bruise on the side of his face and the other one was limping. He noticed that as the men passed the people quickly moved out of their way.
"Do ya think we would've gotten da gurl had Lady Xiu not interrupted us?" the lanky one asked and rubbed his back.
"I dunno," the burly one growled. "But da gurl was a beauty, wasn't she? Too bad we didn't git ta enjoy 'er." The man laughed lewdly.
Zuko narrowed his eyes and wished he could teach these men a thing or two about honor.
Vile, dishonorable bastards, Zuko growled mentally. However, the next words that came out of the man's filthy mouth caused Zuko to stop dead in his tracks.
"Did ya see those big, blue eyes? Oh, and dat long mass of brown hair! And what da ya say 'bout those nice lips on 'er pretty face?" Both men whistled and laughed.
Zuko felt his chest tightened as worry began to gnaw his stomach.
No. Please don't let it be Katara! Zuko prayed to Agni.
The tattooed man continued, unaware of the danger behind him.
"A rare beauty that's fer sure. Not like these ugly bitches," he said as he grabbed a woman's behind as she passed by, causing her to cry out in indignation. "Yup, a beautiful wa'erbender. Wish I could've—"
The burly man yelped as he was harshly yanked backwards. He faced a tall hooded man whose visible lips were curled in an angry snarl.
"What da fuck! What's da big idea ya fuckin—" He was cut off when two strong hands grabbed him by the front of his shirt, hauling him off the ground, his feet dangling over the ground. He came face-to-face with the stranger and he gulped when he saw the rage brewing in his golden eyes.
People stopped to gawk at the scene and murmured amongst themselves, wondering who the tall stranger was that faced the most dangerous men of the village without fear.
The man raised his fist to punch the taller man on the face, but Zuko let go and ducked. The tattooed man then flipped out his knife and slashed at him. Again, Zuko dodged out of the way and raised an eyebrow at the burly man's poor fighting stance. With a shout, the man charged forward, but Zuko flipped over his head, landing behind him. The man staggered forward before whirling around. Zuko kicked the man's hand, sending the knife flying to the ground. He grabbed the man by the neck and pinned him to the wall of a house.
"Where is she?" Zuko demanded between clenched teeth.
When the man looked at him dumbly, Zuko growled dangerously, making the man quiver in terror. When he did not answer, Zuko tightened his grip on the man's neck. The bearded man choked and tried to pull his hand away, but with no success.
The other man yelled for Zuko to let go of his friend and rushed to pull the taller stranger away. Zuko quickly pulled out one of his dual broadswords with his unoccupied hand and pointed it at the advancing man's neck, causing him to stop abruptly before the tip stabbed him. Zuko fixed his dangerous glare at the bald man who bailed out without a second thought. The crowd laughed as the gangly coward tripped over in his haste, falling flat on his face before scurrying back to his feet and out of sight.
"Where is the waterbending woman?" Zuko asked again. "What did you do to her?" he snarled. He was beginning to see red and he was fighting himself from slicing the man's neck with his sword.
"N-nothin'!" the bearded man squeaked as he clawed Zuko's hand. "Her wa'er whips didn't even let us come near 'er much less touch 'er! I swear it by da spirits!" the man whimpered pitifully. "Me and the other one left when Lady Xiu approach'd! I dunno where she is!"
Zuko narrowed his eyes into livid slits and roughly dropped the man to the hard ground. The burly man began to cough roughly as he grabbed his neck.
"I should kill you for such dishonor you cause in this place, but you're not worth my time," Zuko drawled. When the man began to sob, Zuko sneered disdainfully. "Pathetic."
Replacing his sword into its sheath, and without a second glance, Zuko strode away before he lost complete control of his anger and killed the man for daring to even look at Katara. Without even bothering to question why he felt so scared and angry, Zuko continued on his march.
He barely paid attention as the gathered crowd began to cheer for him. The only thought running through his worried head was Katara. Cursing himself, Zuko quickened his pace to the village entrance. He needed to see Katara's face and hear her laughter to make sure she was indeed safe. He knew this place was dangerous and yet he allowed Katara to go by herself. He would never forgive himself if something terrible befell her.
Katara wandered through the thick forest, trying to find a trace of Lady Xiu. Red and brown leaves crunched softly under her feet in the eerily quiet forest. A small cool breeze blew by and Katara shivered as the chilly wind reminded her that the sun was soon to set and she needed to return to her friends. She wanted to talk to the mysterious woman, but she had no clue where the lady had gone and she had been searching for hours.
Turning around, the waterbender decided to make her way back to the village. Maybe she could tell the others and they could all return to look for the woman. Katara looked up from staring at the leaves under her feet and stopped. Frowning, she turned her head in every direction, but all she saw were identical bushes and shedding trees. Turning to her left, Katara continued to walk, but everything looked unfamiliar.
She was lost.
Katara raised her head to look at the sky, but the treetops obscured her view of the sun, making it difficult to know which direction it was positioned in. Cursing herself for not being more careful, she made her way to a huge rock that was ahead of her. Why did she always get herself into these situations? Sitting down heavily, she pulled her legs to her chest and rested her chin on her knees.
"Great. Now they will have to look for two missing women," Katara grumbled and cursed herself a second time for causing Zuko more problems. How was she going to get out of here?
A grunting sound coming from behind her made her turn her head. Katara froze and closed her mouth before a frightened scream could escape. Right behind her, sniffing a berry bush, was a huge platypus-bear. It was quite large with dark russet fur covered in dirt and leaves, its bill-like maw crunching on berries.
Katara slowly and quietly got down from the rock and backed away. Feeling her heart pounding loudly, Katara sent a silent prayer to Yue to keep her safe. Platypus-bears were known to be extremely dangerous and vicious. When the animal began to walk away, she almost sighed in relief before her foot stepped on a twig, making a sharp snapping sound that echoed around them.
Holding her breath, Katara squeaked when the platypus-bear turned its head sharply in her direction. It sniffed the air before it growled. Katara gulped as the platypus-bear's sharp fangs and claws gleamed in the small rays of light that were able to breach the treetops. She backed away slowly as the beast advanced menacingly toward her with a low snarl.
Without warning, the animal charged toward her, its bulky body shaking as its huge feet crushed the cold ground, its massive head swinging to the sides, its fanged mouth dripping with saliva and berry juice that Katara could not help but imagine as blood.
Moving her left arm to uncork the water skin at her left hip, Katara barely had time to raise a water whip before a sharp pain went through her arm, causing her to instantly drop her hold on the water. Dodging to the side, Katara pressed her right hand on her slashed arm and winced as warm blood soaked her sleeve and her fingers.
The platypus-bear roared, and raising to its feet, it slashed toward Katara's face again with its sharp claws. Ducking the deadly paw, Katara summoned her element with her uninjured arm and slashed a sharp water whip across the animal's chest, barely doing any damage because of its thick fur. It snarled in fury and again slashed its lethal claws towards the woman.
Katara evaded the blow, and without thinking about it twice, threw the water at her attacker's face and froze it. The animal snarled angrily as the frozen water bit at its eyes and nose, but Katara did not wait to see if it freed itself as she tore through branches and bushes.
Cradling her bleeding arm, Katara ran frantically, her blood pounding hard in her head. Once a platypus-bear was angry, it did not stop from pursuing its prey until it was dead. Stumbling, she shoved branches and leaves to the side as she raced forward, occasionally flinching and crying out when her injured arm was hit. She wished one of her friends could help her, but she knew that somehow she had to get out of this alone. She dashed swiftly over the trodden path, twisting and twirling around the thick, large trees. Her only motive was to escape from the savage beast hot on her heels. Her sides hurt and her lungs screamed for more oxygen, her legs demanding she stop and rest.
Just when she thought she was safe, she heard the enraged platypus-bear thunder through the foliage, loud snapping and tearing sounds of trees could be heard resonating for miles. A flock of birds flew into the sky with loud squawks and screeches. When the beast broke through the trees, Katara sprinted straight ahead in order to escape, but she tripped on a rock and crashed down onto the hard forest floor, the wind knocked out of her.
Turning onto her back, Katara screamed in terror as the massive platypus-bear stood over her and roared. It opened its deadly jaws to crush the female, its white fangs glinting, when suddenly a whizzing sound ripped through the air.
The platypus-bear roared in pain and backed away a step as it pawed at its chest. Sitting up slowly, Katara noticed that an arrow protruded from the animal's thick brown fur. The beast turned it small dark eyes over Katara's head and growled. Katara turned her head over her shoulder and gasped.
Standing straight and magnificent amongst the trees was the mysterious hooded woman from the village. She was standing with a bow in her left hand, her right hand stretching the string taut with another arrow, aimed at its target.
Katara turned back around when the animal snarled and took a step forward. Katara gasped and backed away on her rear and elbows, but then a second arrow was shot and pierced through the beast's fur on its chest. Snarling, it took another step forward before another arrow imbedded itself in its shoulder. It roared angrily before it backed away immediately with a pained and defeated whine before turning on its paws and limping away to heal its wounds and pride.
"I told you that you should have left," the woman chided gently.
Replacing her bow over her right shoulder, she reinserted her arrow to the small quiver on her back. She quickly walked over to the young woman who was still sitting on the ground.
"It is dangerous to wander around the woods by yourself. Are you all right?" she asked softly as she helped Katara stand up.
"Uh…um…yes," Katara muttered in embarrassment.
She was a master waterbender that had defeated many firebending soldiers and she was unable to defend herself from a platypus-bear! She dusted her blue pants and stared at the woman standing before her. It only took almost being killed to find the woman. The hood over the lady's head was covering her face in shadows and Katara itched to know who was beneath the hood's protection.
"Oh, spirits! You're bleeding!" the woman exclaimed in alarm as she gently lifted Katara's bleeding left arm. "I have bandages and medicine in my cabin. We must hurry so we could stop the flow before you bleed to death!"
"It's okay. I can heal myself right now," Katara reassured her.
She summoned the last of the remaining water in her pouch and covered her right hand with it. The woman gasped as the water began to glow. Katara pressed the healing water over her wounds and sighed with relief when her flesh healed and the blood and pain stopped. Removing her hand, she smiled as new skin appeared.
"See. All better," she said with a small laugh.
"Amazing," the lady whispered in awe, parting the torn pieces of Katara's sleeve to look at the healed skin. "None of my herbs can heal that quickly. That is truly astonishing."
"Yeah, well…it's nothing remarkable," Katara muttered as she blushed bashfully at the woman's praise.
"Nonsense, don't be so modest. I wish I had such a gift," the woman replied. Lifting her hand to her head, she pulled back her dark hood and revealed a gentle smile.
Katara gasped and brought her hand to her mouth.
"Princess Ursa!" she exclaimed in surprise.
There was no mistaking it. The same eyebrows, the same pale skin, the same smile, and the same eyes just like the woman in Zuko's painting. The only difference was that this woman's long, black hair had a few streaks of gray near her temples and she had a few wrinkles near her eyes, nothing that time wouldn't do. But the former Fire Nation noblewoman was still beautiful, elegant, and graceful.
The woman narrowed her golden eyes warily.
"I'm sorry. My name is Xiu," she replied, her warm tone from a few moments ago now cold and terse. She replaced her hood over her head and turned to walk away.
"No. You are Lady Ursa from the Fire Nation, once wife of Ozai, and mother of Fire Lord Zuko and Princess Azula," Katara said confidently. "I know it's you. We've been searching for you."
The older woman paused and stood silently, her back turned toward the younger woman. Katara remained standing with a determined look on her face as she waited patiently for the woman to admit it. And once she did, Zuko would be happy.
Katara heard the woman sigh heavily before she turned around again, and pulling her hood down, she folded her delicate hands in front of her.
"How did you know?" she asked quietly.
Katara smiled and walked forward to stand before the older version of Ursa.
"I saw your picture once. And you have the same eyes as your son," she replied softly.
Lady Ursa gasped.
"My…s-son? You…know my son?" she asked softly.
Katara saw as Ursa's eyes shone with sadness and longing.
"Yes, we're good friends actually," Katara explained and smiled softly. She laughed. "Well, we were enemies when we first met, but now I can safely say that he's one of my best friends."
Ursa raised one dark eyebrow in curiosity, which reminded Katara so much of Zuko.
"Why are you looking for me?" the older woman asked suspiciously and backed away a few steps.
Katara thought about what to say for a moment. Zuko had told them he wanted to speak to Ursa first before she found out he was looking for her.
"It's a surprise," she replied.
When Ursa frowned, she added, "It's nothing bad, quite the opposite. I promise." She smiled reassuringly.
At that moment, her stomach growled loudly, reminding her that she had not eaten since breakfast. Katara blushed and clutched her stomach in embarrassment. Why did this always happen to her? First Zuko and now his mother!
Lady Ursa laughed softly, her uneasiness disappearing at the uncomfortable look on the young woman's face.
"Come. I have some soup and fish in my cabin," she beckoned softly as she walked away and motioned for Katara to follow. "So you are a waterbender, and a very advanced one for being able to fight off those brutes from the village and heal a wound."
Katara nodded as she tried to forget the leering looks she had received.
"So from which tribe to you hail from?" Ursa asked.
"Oh, please forgive me! How rude of me," Katara gasped and blushed. "I am Katara of the Southern Water Tribe," she said with a bow. "It is a pleasure to finally meet you, Princess Ursa."
Ursa shifted uneasily at her former title before her eyes widened.
"Katara, as in Master Waterbender Katara of the Southern Water Tribe? Daughter of Chief Hakoda of the Southern Water Tribe? The Avatar's waterbending teacher? The young lady who helped…my son claim the Fire Nation throne?" Ursa asked in surprise.
"Uh…yes," Katara replied simply as they continued on their walk among the tall trees.
"Then perhaps you are here looking for me because of the Avatar," Ursa guessed as she turned to her right.
Katara noticed that fear replaced her previous surprise in her golden eyes. Katara frowned and wondered what she feared.
"No," Katara replied carefully. "I'm sorry, but I can't tell you, at least not right now."
Ursa nodded.
"Well…at least you can tell me about my son," she asked quietly, hopefully.
Katara smiled. "I will tell you what I know."
They left the thick forest and approached a circular clearing where a small wooden cabin stood in the middle. It had two windows and a porch in the front. A small line of smoke was finding its way up into the sky from the small hole on the roof.
As they neared, Katara noticed there was a small garden on the left side of the house where a few flowers and plants grew. She wondered how Lady Ursa would react if she knew Zuko had maintained her rosebushes and kept the palace garden thriving.
"Come inside from the chill and get warm. After you have eaten, you can tell me about your adventures," Ursa said with a smile. She opened the wooden door and waited for the young Water Tribe woman.
Katara looked up to the setting sun briefly. A few minutes wouldn't hurt and then she would get Zuko. Smiling, Katara walked up the few wooden steps and stepped inside.
Removing his dark red hood, Zuko relaxed as he spotted the gang just outside the entrance of the Abandoned Fort. Sokka had his arm around Suki, who looked exhausted, and Aang was smiling and shaking his head at something Toph was recounting as she punched a fist in the air. Zuko frowned as he scanned amongst his friends. Where was Katara?
Zuko quickened his pace, his stomach clenching with concern.
"Where is Katara?" he asked as soon as he was close by for them to hear him.
"Oh, hey, Sparky," Toph said as she tipped her head in his direction. "She hasn't arrived yet, but she still has a couple of hours left. Don't worry." She grinned.
Zuko nodded and suppressed any emotion from showing on his face when he noticed Aang staring at him. Katara knew how to take care of herself. She was a strong waterbender. Besides, he was sure Katara would not want him to worry the others.
Especially Aang, he grumbled mentally.
Sokka raised his head to look at Zuko with a defeated look.
"None of us were able to find anything about your mom. Some glares and insults we found, but nothing about Princess Ursa."
Zuko's shoulders drooped and he raked his fingers through his loose hair.
How can this be? Nobody was able to find one lead? Did she perhaps leave the Abandoned Fort? Where could she be now?
Zuko narrowed his eyes and clenched his hands. Perhaps Ozai lied to him and he was just wasting his time, searching somewhere else while his mother was in another part of the world.
"I take it by your depressed silence that you didn't find anything either, huh?" Toph asked softly and crossed her arms over her small chest to ward off the chill.
"I'm sorry, Zuko," Aang said and placed a hand on the taller man's shoulder. "We can still search tomorrow," he added optimistically.
Zuko sighed and nodded.
"Perhaps Katara found something," Suki spoke up as she leaned on her boyfriend.
The young Fire Lord looked up into the evening sky. There were only a few more hours left before sunset.
"Hopefully," he finally replied.
"Well, while we wait for my sister, let's have something to eat," Sokka piped in with a grin.
"We left the food supplies with Momo and Appa." Aang frowned as he played with his straw hat, swooshing it around with some airbending as he wondered when Katara would return.
Sokka leaned forward with a grin and slid his hand into his shirt. Suki leaned away and shook her head.
"No worries. I got…this!" he exclaimed triumphantly. He pulled out a piece of moldy cheese from his pocket in front of him for everyone to see. Instantly a swarm of flies surrounded it.
Zuko blanched and Aang gagged.
"What the hell is that awful smell?!" Toph yelled and pinched her small nose.
"What? It's aged cheese. The merchant said it was a delicacy," Sokka defended himself and scowled.
"I don't think aged cheese is supposed to look like that," Zuko remarked with a frown.
"Or smell like garbage and sewage put together," Toph groused.
Aang wrinkled his nose. "Or have a swarm of—"
"Okay, okay, I get it!" Sokka yelled and threw the bug infested cheese over his shoulder. "I was duped."
"It's okay, honey," Suki patted her suddenly depressed boyfriend. "It happens to all of us."
"But not quite as regularly as Snoozles here," Toph whispered to Aang who only shook his head.
"We'll wait for Katara to return with news and then we can eat," Aang suggested.
The others nodded and sat down to wait for the waterbender.
The sun began to slowly move west as the hours passed, but there was no sign of the young Water Tribe woman anywhere. They began to get restless.
"Why's Katara taking so long?" Sokka asked worriedly for the twentieth time. He nervously played with Suki's short hair as her head rested on his shoulder.
"I don't know," Aang said softly as he paced back and forth, leaving a small dent on the ground as he continued to walk agitatedly.
The blind earthbender shifted on the small stump of rock she had erected to sit on.
"Maybe she found something," she commented.
Standing straight and silent like he had been for a few hours, Zuko faced the village entrance from the small grove they were waiting in, never taking his eyes away from the spot. The sun was almost over the horizon. There was only a small amount of daylight left before night settled in.
Worry began to gnaw Zuko's stomach as the despicable village men's words endlessly floated in his mind. He fought the urge to rip the heads off those two who dared to think of touching Katara. What if Katara ran into trouble again and this time she was not able to get away? The firebender clenched his hands and cursed himself.
Without turning to look at the others, he narrowed his eyes.
"We will return to the village and look for Katara," Zuko finally spoke in a firm voice, causing the others to jump. He heard Sokka and Aang sigh in relief.
"But what about Lady Ursa?" Suki asked as Sokka helped her to her feet. She discreetly made sure to hide her rounded belly.
Zuko closed his eyes and let out a long breath.
"First we find Katara and then we will continue with the search." He pulled his hood over his face and led the way back into the Abandoned Fort.
The gang separated to different parts of the still restless village, but this time in search for their missing friend. Without a second glance at his companions, Zuko strode swiftly to the place he had seen the two men he ran into last. Scrutinizing the streets and the people carefully, Zuko began to feel despair engulf his heart as time went by.
"I'm telling you, if Lady Xiu had not intervene that girl would have been in deep trouble," an old woman croaked and shook her cane.
"And I'm telling you that the waterbender would've skinned their hides clean if she had the chance. Those two would've been half-way dead by now. Did you see how her blue eyes burned? I'm telling you she was a strong woman," another elderly woman with a long, pointy nose squeaked out.
A little girl with pigtails smiled as she held the second woman's hand.
"The pretty lady was nice, too."
"Excuse me," Zuko addressed the elderly village women courteously as he approached them.
The women turned to look at the tall, muscular man and smiled.
"Would you be so kind as to tell me where the waterbender has gone?" Zuko asked politely.
Both women narrowed their eyes and eyed him up suspiciously.
"Why do you want to know?" the first one asked and gripped her cane tightly.
"Listen here, young man," the pointy-nosed one said in a high-pitched voice. "The poor girl already had to deal with two other perverted swine, so why don't you find yourself a willing female to sate your needs and leave her alone."
Zuko gaped and he felt his cheeks burn in embarrassment. The little girl looked up into the hooded man's face and smiled at the color that covered his right cheek.
"I-I'm…not looking for her for such d-dishonorable i-intentions," Zuko sputtered disconcertingly.
"Are you the pretty lady's boyfriend?" the little girl asked excitedly.
Zuko's eyes widened as his heart skipped a beat at the insinuation.
"Boyfriend?" the one with the cane asked. Squinting, she looked at the man again and nodded in approval. "In that case, she went that way." The old woman pointed a knobby finger to her left. "Make haste before some other dog tries anything."
Zuko narrowed his eyes.
"I will break the fingers of anyone who tries," he threatened darkly.
He blinked when he felt a small tug on the pants of his right leg. Zuko looked down to see the little girl give him a toothy grin.
"You have a very nice and pretty girlfriend," she said with a giggle.
Zuko's face flushed again, but he decided to let the child believe whatever she wanted.
"Uh…thank you." He smiled slightly and patted her head. The little girl flashed him a bright smile.
With a nod of his head to the older women, Zuko walked past them to follow the direction Katara was last seen to have taken.
A few minutes later, Zuko came upon a street that led into the forest. The people he had asked thus far had all pointed him into this direction. Zuko's brow furrowed as he looked around for any sign of Katara or any sign that she had used her waterbending to defend herself. However, all he saw were dirty houses and people wandering the streets, either aimlessly or drunkenly. His features creased into a worried frown as he continued to walk. Maybe she went in another direction and the others found her.
Zuko looked upon the last house on the street. There was a woman sitting on a very old wooden chair outside her door, sewing a pair of small trousers. A small boy sat at her feet, munching happily on an apple.
"Excuse me," Zuko said as he approached the small family.
The woman looked up and quickly grabbed her child into her arms.
"Please, don't be alarmed. I mean you no harm. I just want to ask you a question," Zuko said gently as he held his palms up pacifically.
The woman looked at him for a while before she gave a nod.
"Okay. What's your question?"
"I'm looking for a friend of mine. We just arrived here and I am afraid she has become lost. I want to know if you have seen her. She has tanned skin, brown hair half-pulled back into a bun, and large, blue eyes. She was wearing dark blue pants and a matching shirt with a gray sash around her waist and gray boots. She also has a Water Tribe necklace on her neck," Zuko described. He half wondered how he knew what Katara was wearing. Oh, yeah, he was staring at her this morning. Mentally shaking his head, he silently prayed that the woman knew something.
The woman frowned.
"I'm sorry, but I haven't seen anybody with such a description."
Zuko closed his eyes and sighed.
"I saw a lady like that, Mamma," the little boy piped in with a huge smile and disengaged himself from her protective embrace to stand before the mysterious man.
Zuko bent down on one knee and gave the boy an encouraging smile.
"Do you know which way she went?" he asked.
The little boy bobbed his head in reply.
"She went into the forest that way!" the boy informed proudly as he pointed straight ahead.
"Thank you," the firebender said. Zuko took a few coins from the small pouch hidden in his sash and placed them on the boy's little hands. "So you can help your mother, yes?" he encouraged.
"Yes, sir," the boy beamed as the older man stood up.
Zuko frowned as he rapidly marched to the edge of the forest in the Earth Kingdom continent. Why would Katara walk into a dangerous and uninhabited forest without telling them, without any supplies, and when night was about to set in?
Quickening his already fast pace, Zuko scanned the forest floor carefully for any signs that Katara had passed through. His keen eyes noticed that some leaves were crushed, meaning someone had walked by and stepped on them. Crouching, Zuko brushed some leaves with his hand to look at the footprints on the dirt floor. The prints were small and light and he was positive they belonged to Katara. Keeping an eye on the trail, Zuko followed it. He squinted as the sunlight began to fade, casting long shadows across the forest floor.
He continued walking until the trail stopped near a large rock. Examining his surrounding for more signs as best as he could in the semi-darkness, Zuko blanched as he noticed platypus-bear paw prints mixed in with those of small footprints. By the size of the animal's paw prints, Zuko knew it was large. He guessed that Katara tried to back away before the bear noticed and charged. Following the prints, Zuko's chest tightened painfully as he noticed blood staining the forest floor.
"No," Zuko breathed and clenched his jaw. "I swear I will kill that animal if I find it for hurting Katara," he vowed between gritted teeth.
Frantically, Zuko followed the faint trail of blood and the far spaced footprints of Katara that indicated she had run to escape.
"Please be okay. Please be okay," Zuko chanted loudly as he crashed into the foliage desperately.
He noticed more blood staining the broken leaves and branches and cursed. Zuko suppressed the pain and fear that sprang in his heart as he realized that Katara had tripped and fell before the platypus-bear came upon her. Dropping to his knees, Zuko clenched his eyes shut for a few seconds for the strange feelings to subside. Upon opening them again, he frowned in confusion when he did not see any other signs of blood or scratches on the ground that would indicate the animal had finished its kill, but rather the beast's paw prints went away in another direction.
That was when he noticed a second pair of footprints near the other ones, and by the size of them, possibly another woman. He saw that both people had stood facing each other for a while before they both walked away in another direction together. Zuko narrowed his eyes. Did Katara follow the stranger willingly or was she forced to?
Standing upright once more, Zuko squared his shoulders.
"Just hang on. I'm coming, Katara," he promised into the setting sun.
Keeping his eyes and ears trained to his surroundings, Zuko followed both sets of footprints deeper into the forest.
The sun was already setting, casting golden light above the treetops, when Zuko came upon a small cabin in a small clearing. He stopped to inspect the small wooden structure. Scanning the footsteps ahead of him, he saw that they led into the house.
Pulling his hood down over his head, he narrowed his eyes as he glared at the door.
"Katara!" he called loudly, and grasping the hilt of his broadswords with his right hand, Zuko braced himself for whatever was to come.
The bright sun was setting as Katara continued on her narrative in helping the Avatar and the former banished prince end the war and the events that followed after during the postwar. She was kneeling in front of the low table as she finished her meal. She was unsure if she should tell Lady Ursa about Zuko's Agni Kai with Azula and decided it was best if Zuko was the one to tell her.
Lady Ursa listened with interest and occasionally asked questions about Zuko. Katara would give her a small amount of information that she knew about Zuko as Fire Lord, but she omitted the part where Zuko was at the village at that very moment looking for her.
Katara's head swirled with question after question. Why did Ursa leave the Fire Nation in the first place? Why did she leave her children behind? Did she not care about Zuko's tragic Agni Kai with his father and the banishment he suffered afterwards? And most importantly, why did she not seek her son after the war?
Katara itched to ask her all the questions she had had in her mind since Zuko began to open up to her about his mother, but she kept them in check and continued to relate her adventures. It was not her place to ask such things, it was Zuko's, and she would be lucky if he decided to tell her one day.
"It was in an ink painting where I first saw you," Katara said as she took a sip from the old teacup Lady Ursa had given her.
Katara grimaced slightly as the bitter tea slid down her throat. She wasn't surprised the dirty village did not have decent tea. She wished she had accepted the teabags Iroh had offered her before they had departed. At least the food was pleasant.
"It was one with you and Zuko as a small boy. When I said that tiny Zuko was so cute, he crossed his arms over his chest and scowled." Katara laughed as she remembered his annoyed face.
Ursa brought her elegant hand toward her small mouth and laughed daintily.
"He never liked it when he was fussed over and called 'cute'," she said, "He argued that being called cute was not manly."
They laughed softly.
Folding her hands over her lap, the older woman sighed sadly.
"Tell me, Katara. Is…Zuko happy?" she asked quietly.
Katara's eyes softened as Lady Ursa's own eyes gleamed with unshed tears.
"I…I'm not sure, Lady Ursa," she said truthfully.
But he will be after he sees you again, Katara thought hopefully.
Ursa sniffled as she nodded sadly.
"You still haven't told me why you are here in the first place. Did you come alone or with someone else? Why are you looking for me if we have never met?" Ursa asked quietly, her voice hinting on demanding.
"Well…I…um…we…er…" Katara stammered for an answer.
"Katara!" a deep masculine voice sounded from outside the cabin.
Katara stiffened in her seat. That sounded like Zuko! Looking toward the small window, Katara gasped as she realized the sun was already setting and darkness was creeping onto the forest.
"Oh, Tui! I forgot!" Katara jumped up from the small cushion and raced to the door.
"Katara, what is going on?" Ursa asked in alarm as she raced to gather her bow and quiver of arrows in order to run after the younger woman whom she had gotten to like as a friend.
Zuko's body tensed as the door of the cabin was swung open, the light from inside bathing the ground with a golden glow. He relaxed his grip on his hilt when Katara emerge from the house and ran down the few stairs. Zuko raced towards her as his heart gave a joyful leap.
"Zuko, I'm so sorry!" Katara exclaimed as she neared him. "I didn't notice the sun was—"
Suddenly she was being surrounded by warm, strong arms. Katara's eyes widened when she realized Zuko was embracing her— and tightly.
"Zu-Zuko?"
"Katara, please forgive me," Zuko said softly. "I never should have let you go by yourself."
He wrapped his arms around her back even tighter as if to make sure she was really there and all right. He could not explain it, but as soon as she appeared, he felt like gathering her in his protective arms so nothing else could harm her.
Katara blushed at the worried and guilty tone of the firebender that was still embracing her.
"It's okay, Zuko," she said softly as she gently patted his back to reassure him.
She felt him shake his head between her neck and shoulder as he continued to hold her. Katara sighed contently as his warmth surrounded her, making her feel safe. She shyly raised both her arms and hugged him as well. Zuko closed his eyes as his heart ignited at her innocent touch.
"Sorry, for not showing up, I lost track of time. But I'm fine," Katara said.
Lady Ursa had barely walked out from the house, ready with her arrows, when she stopped in her tracks as she noticed her young friend in a tight embrace with a tall, young man, whose face was hidden in Katara's hair. Ursa relaxed her grip on her bow and smiled at the protective way the man held the young woman. Was he Katara's boyfriend or husband? With the smile still on her face, she approached them slowly.
"Fine?" Zuko scoffed severely. "I came upon your footprints with those of a platypus-bear and signs of blood! And because of me you got attack by those despicable bastards! I should have killed them," he growled.
Zuko pulled Katara closer to his chest as he felt his anger and fear resurfacing. He buried his nose in her hair and breathed in her scent silently. Katara had a faint sweet scent, like fresh rain and gardenias. He felt himself immediately relax.
"I'm sorry I wasn't there to protect you," he whispered.
Katara blushed before she laughed lightly.
"As if those two idiots could have harmed me," she scoffed softly, "As for the platypus-bear…it's gone. Thanks anyway…for worrying about me."
Zuko smiled before he realized what he was doing. Flushing, he pulled away and cleared his throat, suppressing the urge to take her delicate body into his arms again. Katara frowned as the warmth and comfort left her.
Ursa froze as the young man's face finally appeared. She gasped softly as tears threatened to spill from her golden eyes.
Could it be?
Oblivious to anything but Katara, Zuko noticed the tattered and bloodied sleeve on her left arm.
"That must have hurt," he observed softly as he gently touched her arm, where the wound should have been.
"Yeah, but it's all better now." Katara smiled and shrugged. "I was able to heal it after I was saved by—" She gasped as she finally remembered Lady Ursa.
She felt so stupid! There she was babbling about herself instead of reuniting Zuko with his long lost mother and making him happy.
"Katara, what's wrong?" Zuko asked worriedly.
He saw Katara look over her shoulder and he followed her gaze. Zuko's eyes widened as they landed on the woman standing behind them with her own golden eyes wide in shock. The woman he had longed to see again. The one he had been searching for all this time.
"M-Mom?" he whispered.
A/N: Thanks for reading.
~alwaysZutarian