The Midnight Woods
Chapter 10: Flesh
The sound of running water was unmistakable, in the isolation of the forest the loud crashing noise was like a beacon. Both Zuko and Katara were dying to refresh themselves from the sticky cover of sweat they had worked up during the day. Although it would be a while before dark they decided to stop for the time being and regain their energy before continuing on the long hike once again.
The trees were so very big here, Katara noticed. If she had been going on a leisurely trek through the woods she might have been happy to relax and take in the beauty without the constant reminder that she was imprisoned in this green living penitentiary. The cerulean stones were scattered throughout their path and lush vegetation bloomed even under the low light. God how she wished that she with someone, anyone else besides Zuko.
That poor confused bastard of a prince made her want to pull her hair out.
"You can wash up first." Katara said dropping her bags against a tree and sitting down. Zuko barely acknowledged her and dropped his things walking toward the river and discarding his armor. The fire bender tossed his shirt and bathed his skin enjoying the cooling effect the water had on his muggy flesh. Once he was finished he picked up his things and walked back to the cover of the trees dropping to the ground and casting a quick glace to Katara. The water bended stood up and took her turn bathing.
At first it was the prickly sensation on the back of his neck. It was only a minute after Katara had left but Zuko knew that something was watching. He couldn't place his finger on it but it was there, on the tip of his tongue, the scratch on the back of his mind. Something was definitely there…
Katara washed her face, she dipped her hands into her element and enjoyed the revitalizing effect it had on her being. All this water… Right here for her… If only she could use it to her advantage, the water bender could probably use it to squeeze the exit out of Zuko but… There was that whole 'saving all of humanity' thing by rescuing Zuko from his tyrannical ways… Why couldn't life just be… Easy?
The teen took off her shirt and ran her damp palms over her arms. Abruptly, she heard a snap and her inquisitive eyes shot up to look across the river.
There, on the bank was the imposing figure of a ravenous monster. His large build rippled with the pulsing readiness of muscles; all of them taut with the knowledge of dinner frozen in fright before him. The creature looked like a wolf of some sort but large antlers protruded out from it's head in a menacing spread like the jaws of a lion. The only thing that separated the beast from his prey was the narrow band of water before her.
"Shit…" She breathed taking a few cautious steps up and backing into the camp. She raised a sphere of water and elongated it till it formed into a whip. She lashed at her enemy from the side hoping the distraction would be enough for her get help but the monster seemed to move ten times faster than she could ever hope. With one deft shift of it's weight it jumped up and grabbed Katara in his claws and braced her against the tree, reaching up with one hand to decapitate her. Katara wanted to scream, she wanted to do some many things but fear had gripped her body in a hold she could never hope to escape from.
It all happened so quickly that the water bender never had a chance.
Zuko had felt it, felt the presence of the beast and within several seconds he jumped into the trees and watched as it grabbed a nearly exposed Katara and pinned her to a tree. Zuko watched as the beast went for the kill but before it could finish it's deed, the prince jumped down and stabbed the animal between the neck and the shoulder blade. It bucked and threw him off, his body slammed into the tree with the impact of a falling boulder. Katara was flung off into the water and her head collided with a rock, streams of blood poured from the wound as she fell unconscious.
Zuko stood up and watched as the animal snarled with the plea of pain. He threw a well aimed fireball at the monster and watched as it looked toward him with hunger and animalistic fury displayed in the black pit of his eyes while it's fur burned with the orange flames of his attack. It jumped toward Zuko and the prince barely had time to evade the attack before it skidded to a halt and charged toward him with the end of his long antlers ready to spear the royal heir. Zuko grabbed his dagger and heated it up with his hand before throwing it at it's eye. Steam and liquid arced into the air and another blood curdling scream echoed through the woods.
"Come on… Just DIE already!" He yelled running to a tree and launching off it to reach the creatures back. The monster bucked wildly and tried to launch him off once again but Zuko grabbed his sword and expertly flipped off. He rolled under the beast and drove the blade into it's belly before jumping back and watching as it lurched with pain and ran off to die. Zuko slumped against a tree victorious, his back was killing him.
Wait… Where's Katara?
He searched the area but she was no where to be found. Suddenly he saw her body poke from down the river and he ran along the bank before jumping in and wading to her. The current wasn't strong but for her limp form it was enough to drag her a ways down under freezing temperatures for several minutes.
"Katara? Katara?" He shook her body but she didn't respond. Was she dead? He couldn't tell. The prince dragged her to the shore and laid her body on the ground. All she had was the flimsy undershirt which was now soaked, her pants and boots. Zuko went to his knees and felt for a pulse, there was one but it was slightly faint. The large gash on her head was probably the reason for her loss of consciousness but her breathing was barely existent. Was there water in her lungs? Probably, she WAS under the surface for the few minutes he was fighting. Pumping her abdomen he waited and then pressed his mouth to her frozen lips forcing air into her lungs. Frantically he repeated the process until the water escaped her lips and she sputtered.
Well… breathing was taken care of. Her wet lashes parted as she looked wearily to Zuko. Sleep threatened to take her back but the prince grabbed her head and forced her to look at him.
"Come on, stay awake." He pleaded. Katara wanted to say something but it was difficult for the weary bender to even pry her lips.
"Cold…"
"You're cold?"
She merely nodded and coughed a bit more trying to rid her lungs of the very element she was suppose to be in control of. Zuko picked up her body and took her back to the camp laying her gently by a pile of sticks and setting them aflame. He wondered if it would be enough to warm her icy flesh but he figured it was that or she would freeze to death. Grabbing her bed roll he placed it next to her and pushed her on hoping that it offered at least a little more comfort than the hard dirt. The prince searched for a blanket among their belongings but there was nothing but a thin throw in one of the bags.
Zuko walked over and pressed a hand to Katara's skin, she was still freezing. What ELSE could he do? He could make the fire bigger but it was already pretty decently sized and he didn't want to burn her.
There WAS one other option but he didn't want to even think about it. However, one sullen look to the water bender was another push into his only other alternative.
Zuko grabbed Katara's wet pants and peeled them off before working on her shirt. Surprisingly, she didn't protest and Zuko assumed she had passed out. He paused and gazed at her nearly naked body, but lust was far from his mind as he looked to her impassive face and confirmed his assumptions about her going unconscious once again. She was like a limp doll. Zuko hesitated before he grabbed his bed roll and rolled it out next to Katara. The prince discarded his shirt and pants and lay down next to her before pulling her arctic cold body against his.
Boy, if someone had told him he would be in THIS position with his enemy he would have laughed in their face before throwing them into the dungeon.
The prince wrapped his arms around her flaccid limbs and warmed his flesh in an attempt to bring her back into consciousness.
Katara didn't even stir.
Maybe she needed more time… Zuko wasn't sure, he was educated in some simple medical procedures but he was definitely no expert. He stared past her cheek and into the fire hoping that she would awaken from her comatose state but as minutes passed her body remained still.
How long had it been since he was this close to a woman? Several months, maybe even a year now. Zuko couldn't remember, his search for the avatar even superceded his lust for women lately. And yet here in his arms was one girl he NEVER expected to be practically naked with. The thin barrier of their underwear was the only obstruction that separated the two teens.
It seems the gods like to find even MORE ways to humiliate me. You'd think getting banned from your own country is enough but I guess not…
Zuko closed his eyes, he might as well get a light nap while he waited. However, deep sleep actually consumed him and before his knew it he drifted off.
Katara's eyes fluttered open, the last thing she could remember was that beast thing and then getting flung into the water… Wait… Where was she? Her arms and legs were suppressed under the weight of something warm… Something very warm. She felt the whisper of something balmy and wet brush her shoulder and then the shifting weight of someone behind her. Katara froze, this was… not good. Slowly turning her head she felt the harsh grip of terror holdfast to her mind and immediately her breathing stopped. Zuko's overwhelmingly large body was pressed dangerously close to her own and that wet touch had been his lips. His fingers were entangled in her hair and his other hand wrapped protectively around her waist.
Oh god oh god oh god… How did this happen? Where are my clothes? Did he rape me? No… No… This isn't happening…
The water bender pried herself away from his grasp and when Zuko snuggled into the now empty spot next to him he suddenly woke.
"I don't know what your problem is but you better start talking FAST" Katara demanded scrambling backwards into a tree and covering what she could with her arms. She started to tremble in the breeze and realized that night had fallen.
"It's not what it looks like."
"The hell it is! What happened? I get knocked out and you decide to indulge in your perverted fantasies and grope me?"
"Would you stop jumping to ridiculous conclusions and just LISTEN?"
"Fine.. PLEASE explain this." Katara said gesturing to the spot he was laying at.
"You hit your head and swallowed a lot of water when the creature threw you. I tried warming you up with a fire but you weren't getting any better so I saved your life and threw modesty into the wind. I can regulate my body temperature." Zuko finished. Katara looked at him skeptically because even though he looked sincere enough she was sure he was lying.
"I won't believe that for a second."
"Fine, don't. But if you aren't going to thank me for saving you from drowning, or freezing to death then at least thank me from saving your ass from being eaten."
"I…You…" Katara couldn't really argue, he DID save her life. There she was again, jumping to conclusions about the prince, wasn't she trying to get on his good side? Yeah… Of course…
"I'm sorry… I just didn't expect… That… From you… I guess. You aren't as selfish as I pegged you for."
"Just like always."
"I do NOT always peg you as a selfish prince."
"Oh really." Zuko smirked. "Lets see… When HAVEN'T you pegged me for something I'm not?" He asked standing up. Katara blushed and looked away, he was only in his underwear and by god she suddenly remembered the feeling of his body pressed to hers.
Funny, she didn't think about it before but it was the first time she had ever slept that close to someone she wasn't related to. Regardless of her internal alarms going off, Katara couldn't help but remember the feeling of his warm body pressed intimately to hers and shuddered. Although she KNEW he was a killer the idea of someone who was used to blood, war, and death suddenly being… So… caring was unbelievable. But the way he held her, so protective and affectionate… It was very unlike Zuko.
What the hell… Why are you thinking about it?
Ugh… I wasn't… Ok I was thinking about it. Leave me alone, it's not like I've never thought about a guy before.
Oh yeah… You thinking about sleeping with your enemy? That sounds like something you've done millions of times in the past…
I wasn't thinking about him like that. Far from that. I just thought it was strange that he… Was nice enough to save me.
He just wants his mother's necklace back.
Come on… Who wouldn't?
Oh my God… You think he's nice now!
No I don't… Come on… He's my enemy for crying out loud.
Katara, don't fool yourself, he showed you one little act of kindness and suddenly you're thinking about him like some love struck bimbo. He GROPED you.
I was going to freeze to death.
For all you know he probably just wanted to rape you in your sleep.
That's it, I'm not arguing with myself over something as stupid as… ZUKO!
Katara made herself angry and the prince raised an eyebrow while he watched the expressions on her face flash several times. Walking over to his belongings he picked up his pants and pulled them on before lifting up Katara's still soaking clothes.
"Are you still planning on wearing these?" He asked holding up her wet shirt. The water bender snapped out of her thoughts and looked up at Zuko. Raising her hand she sucked the water out of the clothing and let it drop to the ground. The prince threw her the clothes and turned away as she began to dress herself.
"Zuko?"
The prince turned around and mumbled something she couldn't quite make out. Probably just a simple "what?"
"Thank you." She said meekly. The prince merely nodded and returned to his bedroll. Katara stood, not really sure how she should address the current issue now, her bedroll was still lying next to Zuko's.
What the hell…
Katara slowly approached him and lied down on the mat with a very baffled Zuko beside her.
"What are you doing?"
"Sleeping." She replied grabbing the small throw and placing it on her body.
"Yes, I can see that but… There ARE other places to sleep." Zuko said agitatedly. Katara flipped around and sat up, bracing her body on her elbows.
"Do you… want me to move?" She asked assertively. The prince frowned, he didn't like this… He didn't like where she was going with this at all. How was he suppose to answer?
Idiot… Say 'YES!' She's just a prisoner, you're royalty, you shouldn't be sleeping so close to scum like her.
"No."
"Well alright then." She said before rolling back to her previous spot and closing her eyes. Zuko was still panic-stricken, was she trying to throw him off guard? "Goodnight."
"Yeah… Goodnight."
I just finished chapter 12 today because I'm going to be going to my friends for the weekend, it's going to be friggin awesome. We have a LOT to catch up on in six years! By the way, the next two chapters after this are a bit longer to satisfy some peoples want for longer chaps. So stop bothering me now.
By the way, I know people are pissed that I was a bitch but the truth is, I'm not a nice person! So either get use to it or go away. Seriously, I don't need people telling me I'm mean, I know it already. I was simply stating the fact that I can't stand people telling me to "update soon." Yeah… I'm going to update when I damn well feel like it… OK?
And now some shout outs to people because I feel like you guys deserve it for being so supportive and letting me hit 100 REVIEWS:
Katara n Zuko4eva- Yeah! I love the name!
Nova Viper- Katara is going to be a bit more preachy in the next two chapters but you'll still see the tension tear each other apart.
Raven: It's not that I hate that people say update soon but it's when… that's ALL they write. Like I put some work into what I throw in, don't you think the fans can take a minute and just say a little more? That's where the real satisfaction comes in! I also like making everything slow, it always makes the moments sweeter.
Just a Juvenile: Zuko is pretty hard to portray but you seem pretty smart and I'm sure you could tackle him. I think it's more or less personal opinion on the matter but yes, going to quickly in a romance between them doesn't seem realistic at all so I take it slow and think about what normal people would be like in that situation. And you are totally right, burn out is common when people just decide they have to constantly keep up their fan work.
Falke-ness: I'm horrible at guessing so I stopped doing it. But you're sort of close! Ok… maybe not…
kori hime: Don't worry about it, I'm just a bitch sometimes. But hey, I really like that you guys try to urge me on but really, I'm not stopping with the story.
Nikiou: Everybody is so paranoid that I'm just going to STOP writing, seriously, I have a lot of ideas left and I make sure that I have a couple reserve chapters incase I do get to the point where I have writers block. At least then I can still update regularly until I snap out of it. Most of the next chapters are already done by the time you guys review. And don't worry, I won't kill you!
Cat: Lemonade! I like lemonade… Yes… it's going to be pretty graphic at around chapter 13 or 14...
And you everyone else, thank you! If I missed you this time, sorry! It's 3 in the morning now and I'm pretty tired.