Shattered Pieces of Confusion…

"Katara…"

She jumped at the sound of her best friend's voice blasting deftly into her right ear. She didn't realize that he was that close to her.

"Aw, Aang, don't do that!"

The boy giggled in front of her before wrapping his arms around her. "I'm just kidding, you know that sweetie."

Katara rolled her eyes, trying her best to retain her giggles. "For the last time, I'm not your girlfriend, Aang. I can't have one, I'm only ten."

The boy only hugged her harder in response. "That's okay. We don't have to be together now. I'll protect you until we get old enough for us to marry. It least…that's what I saw in a movie once…"

"So that's it then? We're basing our wedding off of a movie?"

Aang smiled. "Peter Pan, to be precise."

"You're so silly. Wendy and Peter didn't get married!"

The boy furrowed his brow, his mouth opening up slightly. "Oh, well…I still think it's a good example. Besides, that's my favorite movie."

Katara hopped up and down in place, staring outside her window with glee. "I'd like to visit Neverland. It would be cool to fly around without worrying about my dad or older brother. Maybe my mom would be there to, as an angel watching over me."

Aang crossed his hands over his chest. "Angels don't go to Neverland."

"How do you know, can you fly?"

"No, but—"

"So, you have no proof!"

Aang sighed. Katara was the best friend he could ever ask for, but she sure was stubborn. "Whatever. Let's talk about something else."

"Like how we're going to get married? I want a big poofy dress with diamond earrings."

"You hate dresses!"

"So! Everybody knows you're supposed to have a dress at the wedding…and diamonds."

Aang sighed before giving Katara a big smile. "You're expensive, but I'll marry you anyway."

ooOOOOoooOOOOooo

Katara gasped, now wide awake, as she felt something hot searing the base of her neck. She couldn't help but shake as she felt tremors traveling down her sides.

Barely repressing a scream, she opened her eyes wide taking in her new surroundings.

The room looked unfamiliar to her. It was hard to see because of the dark colors plastered on the walls. There was a TV across from her and she could feel an older man pressing something into her neck.

Cringing from the pain the movement produced, Katara turned her head to the side shocked to see an all too familiar looking boy standing in front of her. His eyes were wide and black, a strange sense of urgency contained in his dark pupils. His clothes looked ragged and torn and his skin was very pale in the dark.

But what alarmed Katara was the most was the boy's expression. It was laced with a mixture of anxiety, fury, and desperation. She couldn't help but notice the red liquid that was running down from his mouth.

I…I know him, right? Is he the boy from my…dream?

Without warning, Katara's body shifted up into an unnatural ark causing her to produce an earsplitting scream. She moved her hands frantically towards her neck, as if it were on fire.

"You better leave, now!" The older man shouted as he pressed a plant against the top of her forehead.

Katara's teeth began to rattle as her body twisted beneath her. "What…who…ugh…mmmm—"

Her voice was cut off by the man's hand. "Stay quiet. Everything is going to be fine, but I need you to try to stay still."

Katara huffed in desperation as her arms twitched. Easy for you to say! My neck is killing me!

It wasn't long before another voice blasted into the room as Katara saw a young man approach her, his scar looking even darker than usual. Isn't that the kid I met at school today? What am I doing at his house?

"Zuko, get me some towels!"

"Wait, Uncle, shouldn't she be asleep for this?"

"There's no time, now hurry!"

The young man shot out of the living room in a heartbeat as Katara continued to squirm. She had no idea how these men had found her in the woods…than again she had also forgotten what trauma had started in the woods to begin with.

She struggled to recall the events that led to her black out, but all she could see was the young boy from her dream and the other boy's grayish dark eyes. What was his name again? Aang? Wait…Aang is…

"Dead…" This was all she could spout out before coughing roughly.

The older man, who she now perceived to be Zuko's uncle, placed his finger against her lips. "Shhh, don't talk. I'm almost finished. Zuko!"

The teen in question ran into his uncle, stumbling over the table. "Sorry, most of them were dirty…"

"That's alright, just hand me one."

Zuko placed a towel into Iroh's hand than stepped back to give his uncle a little space.

Iroh wiped Katara's neck quickly before spreading a strange substance over the girl's neck. After that, he wrapped up her neck tightly with three rings of bandages.

Iroh took a step back, sighing. "Zuko, could you please get the guest room ready?"

"Yeah, I'll be back in a second…" He said this before glancing at Katara solemnly. Then he walked slowly towards the kitchen before turning down a concealed hallway.

Katara frowned at her surroundings before slowly rising into a sitting position. "I…what happened?"

Iroh smiled. "We have much to talk about. Unfortunately, I'm afraid we'll have to hold that off for another time. You have a lot of recovering to do."

Katara glared at the older man in front of her. "Look, I don't mean to be rude. But my father and brother are probably worried sick. I think it's better if I go home…"

"I want nothing more that to explain everything to you, but as of this time you'll be safer here. Don't worry. We'll contact your family in the morning…"

Katara sighed as she tried to place herself in a standing position. I guess I have no choice. My brother is going to be so mad…

Her thoughts were interrupted as her body sank forward toward the ground, colliding painfully with the rough wooden surface of the living room floor. Iroh gasped before lifting her into his arms and carrying her effortlessly towards the guest room.

As she got closer and closer towards her new destination, Katara thought about the boy from her dreams.

We must have been really close if we were talking about marriage at such an early age. It's strange that I can't remember anything about him. All I know is that he died…awhile ago, and…that boy from before….he looks exactly like an older version of my best friend.

Katara gasped as she remembered the red substance that had been running down from his lips. Wait, was that my blood on his lips? Was he the one that attacked me?

Katara started recalling bits and pieces from her confrontation in the woods. She frowned as she remembered how her neck had been burning then too.

But…it doesn't make sense. I was with a different boy than. He had long brown hair and dark green eyes. He doesn't look anything like Aang…or, whoever that other boy is… Ugh, now I'm confused. Maybe I do need some rest…

Just as the thought left her system she felt a blanket being brought up to her neck. She gave Iroh a small smile, grateful for the gesture. The older man nodded before leaving the room leaving Katara to contemplate in the dark.

As she slowly drifted off to sleep, a pair of dark grey eyes surveyed her from outside the room's window.

Hah, Katara's finally awake!

Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Thanks for reading!