Western air temple - Kaiya's room
Kaiya sat up in bed screaming; thrashing her arms around wildly. Aang and Katara rushed over to her trying to comfort her. They had been sat on some chairs they had bought in, waiting for their daughter to wake up.
"Kaiya, Kaiya, wake up, it's only a dream, you're safe," Aang soothed her, rocking her back and forth. Kaiya's eyes slowly opened as she calmed down and woke up.
"I remembered the pain, they gave me, and remembering that I couldn't do anything about it," Kaiya wept, pressing her face into her father's chest, wetting his robes with her tears, (but he hardly cared about that) as he stroked her head shushing her.
Whilst Kaiya had been sleeping, Katara had bandaged up Kaiya's wrists, ankles, and leg. She had also managed to change Kaiya's blue, silk night gown, (which had been fit for the bin), to some of her everyday clothes.
Kaiya finally managed to stop crying, and lifted her head from her father's chest, to look at her mother, who was knelt anxiously by her bed.
"Where are we?" She asked, looking around at her surroundings.
"Were at home sweetheart," Katara answered her softly. Kaiya couldn't recall how she had got there, and looked confusedly at her mother, who smiled at her.
"You've been asleep for two days, you obviously needed it. As soon as we got you back, we turned the ship around, and sailed back to the Fire nation, before flying back here on Appa. You travelled in Zuko's balloon, with the others, I'm surprised you didn't wake up, with all the noise," She added.
Kaiya gazed down at herself; she looked and felt a lot better.
"You're leg will take a few more days before I'll be able to heal it properly," Katara told her, when she saw her staring at her bandaged leg in disgust. Not towards her leg, but more to the woman that had done it in the first place.
"What about Tia?" Kaiya asked worriedly, remembering how Tia had been hurt as well,
"She's still sleeping I think, we haven't left your side since we got here, so you'd feel safe when you woke up,
"Wait, so everyone is here?" Kaiya asked confused again. Aang nodded his head, before answering,
"We thought it the safest place to be, until we figured out what to do next." Kaiya nodded her head once, as her stomach growled, and she realised she was starving, and completely parched. She hadn't eaten a proper meal in days, and the water she had rarely been given, whilst she had been imprisoned, she'd used to try and heal Tia's arm. Tia had then shared what little water she had with Kaiya. She looked to her mother who smiled warmly at her,
"Come on, I'll fix you up something to eat," She said, rising from the side of Kaiya's bed. Aang helped Kaiya up, she put her leg on the ground, before lifting it right back off, wincing in pain, holding onto her father's arm for support.
"URGH, this is so annoying!" Kaiya said, through clenched teeth, as she waited for the pain in her leg to settle.
"Here," Aang said, handing her his staff, for extra support. Kaiya took it and leant on it heavily, placing all of her weight on her right foot. Katara came and wrapped her arm around her waist, as Aang went to open her door. Slowly but surely, Katara helped Kaiya out of her room, before remembering something,
"I almost forgot," Katara said letting go of Kaiya's waist, as Aang lifted her up so he could carry her down the stairs.
"Someone's been waiting to see you," She added. Kaiya blushed, hiding her face behind Aang's arm embarrassed.
Courtyard
"KAIYA!" Tia shouted, running over to hug her, as Aang placed her on the floor, keeping hold of her waist,
"I thought you were asleep," She replied, hugging her back tightly, as best she could.
"I woke up about two hours ago," she replied as she walked back over to sit at the table, Haru had made from the earth. Kaiya and Aang followed Tia to the table, going at a slow enough pace that suited Kaiya, (since she had to hop most of the way), before Aang helped her sit down beside Rozin.
"What was all the screaming for?" Jade asked as Kaiya sat down,
"Oh there was a, erm huge spider, on my bedroom floor," Kaiya lied, as best she could. Jade scrutinized Kaiya's answer for a moment, before she shrugged, and turned back to talk to Zade. Kaiya sighed in relief, as Jade believed her answer, she didn't want to think about the past few days, she had spent locked up in a cell, chained to a wall. Tia of course knew differently since she had, had the same experience, but she kept it to herself and joined in the conversation Jade was having with Zade.
"How's your leg?" Rozin asked, breaking her from her reverie.
"Oh .... Err it's alright I guess, my mum said it'll take a few more days before she can fully heal it, and then I'll be able to walk on it properly," She sighed, looking down at her bandaged leg again.
Katara then came out of the kitchen, carrying a bowl full of food, and a cup of mango juice, for Kaiya,
"Aren't you guys having any?" Kaiya asked, as Katara set them down in front of Kaiya,
"We already ate whilst you were sleeping," Tia replied to her. Aang then walked over to them and stood at the table, after talking to Zuko and Sokka,
"Kaiya, when you are finished, would you and Tia please meet us in the dining room," Aang asked as he looked to his daughter. Kaiya swallowed her mouthful of food, before she answered him,
"Erm ... sure." Aang nodded his head, and then followed the others into the dining room.
"What was that about?" Jade asked,
"I dunno," Kuzon replied, spinning one of his daggers on its tip, to see how long it could last, before it lost balance and fell over.
Kaiya finished her food and drink, and asked Rozin if he wouldn't mind helping her to the dining room, where their parents were. Kuzon looked after them again sadly, and a little jealous, he hadn't had the chance to tell Tia, because she had been asleep, and then when she had woken up, she had spent most of her time with her parents or Zade. He sighed as he watched Tia walk away, and then went back to spinning his dagger, to pass the time.
Azula's Headquarters
Azula was pacing angrily up and down the length of her quarters, that was until a knock sounded at her door.
"Who's there?" she growled, halting her pacing, annoyed with the person who had interrupted her.
"It's Ran your majesty," he said from outside the door. Azula could hear him shuffle uncomfortably where he stood, knowing all to well that she didn't like to be disturbed, especially when she was in a bad mood.
"What!" She seethed, as she wrentched the door open with more force than she needed to. She looked like she was going to pull it off of it's hinges. Ran looked down at his feet immediately, avoiding the death glare Azula shot at him, as she stood hands on her hips in the doorway.
"T-the meeting that y-you asked f-for has b-been arranged. T-the Dai-Li are awaiting y-your commands, your highness," Ran stammered, scared witless, as he could feel the anger of the woman stood in front of him, rolling of her in waves.
Azula calmed herself down, and forced a smile on her face. During the years that Azula had spent in prison, Ran had collected more than 100 Earthbenders to join the Dai-Li, well more like forced, since the other option had been death.
"I'll be right there," She said trying to hold back her anger.
"Princess, what about the children?" Ran asked. Azula gritted her teeth, and clenched her fists, at being reminded of their escape. Ran gulped, he probably shouldn't have mentioned that.
"Send some Dai-Li to search for them, tell them when they find them, to send me a message, and wait for my orders," She said
"They slipped through my fingers once, but I assure you it will not happen again," She added confidently, rage burning behind her liquid gold eyes. At that moment, another one of her agents came into view, carrying a scroll tied with green ribbon. He bowed to the princess and handed her the scroll.
"You better hope for your sake, that this is good news," She said through clenched teeth, snatching the scroll out of his hands, enjoying the sound of fear the man made as he gulped. She tore the ribbon off, and proceeded to read what was in the letter.
"Ran, cancel the meeting, it appears that our plans have changed, we will leave immediately for the Fire Nation palace." She said. Ran couldn't tell if her mood had lifted or not, but didn't wait around to find out. He and the other agent bowed and left her, as an evil smile spread across her face, partially showing her teeth.
Western air temple – Dining Room
Kaiya sat in between her mother and father, as Tia sat in between hers.
"So lets get straight to the point," Sokka said, when everyone was seated,
"We need to know what's going on, and who's behind it all," Haru added. Kaiya and Tia fidgeted uncomfortably in their seats.
"I think you already know who's behind it," Kaiya replied quietly, but loud enough for everyone to hear. All of them except Tia stared at her confused.
"You know the stories you tell Akira and I, for example the ones where you ended the war," Kaiya said, looking to her mother, who nodded for her to carry on,
"Well, the day I got this burn, was the day the leader came to see us, she said that I looked like you mum, she called you a Water Tribe peasant, and I knew from your stories that she must be ..."
"AZULA!" Zuko bellowed through gritted teeth, interrupting her,
"How could I have been so blind, Azula escapes, then you got kidnapped, how could I not have suspected it!" He said furious at himself.
"But, why?" Suki asked, to no one in particular,
"I don't know," Zuko replied,
"But she always has a motive, a reason." He added. Tia cleared her throat, so she could get their attention. She made sure everyone was listening before she continued,
"Before Kaiya was kidnapped, and after I was burnt, I overheard the prison guards talking about Azula's plans," Tia paused for a moment, she didn't like thinking about being alone in that cell, being in agony, not daring to make any noise, just in case the guards heard her. She inhaled then exhaled deeply, her breath shuddering in some parts, as she tried to calm her nerves.
"They said that she has something special in mind for Katara and the Firelord, they also said that once she had got rid of her obstacles, then nothing would stand in her way for the prize," She added, as she recalled the guard's conversation.
Katara's and Zuko's faces paled as Tia mentioned their names, tears beginning to trickle silently down Katara's cheeks.
"Why would she just want Katara and Zuko though?" Toph asked. Kaiya suddenly froze in her seat, her mind flashing back to the not so polite conversation, that she had, had with Azula, as she replayed the scene in her head.
"Because she wants revenge," She finally managed to choke out,
"Because, you were the ones that defeated her, at the end of the war," she added, staring at a spot on the table in front of her.
Everyone looked to either Katara or Zuko, their expressions filled with fear, as they realised that Kaiya was right.