Chapter 11: Tempest High

Streaks of light ripped through the blackened skies with rolling thunder bellowing in its wake. Ferocious winds battled aggressively with a struggling flying Appa. Harsh rains pelted his riders while the black ocean crashed and curled beneath them. Sokka sat on Appa's head, gripping the reigns for dear life while his friend desperately clutched the saddle, trying to hang on.

"Sokka this is madness! We need to land!" Aang yelled, his voice desperately fighting the wind's howling scream.

"No! If we land, then Zuko's ship will be twice as far from us tomorrow!"

Sokka was determined to rescue his sister, damn the odds! It had been over a week since he had last seen his younger sibling and at this point Sokka was hell bent on reuniting with his captured family member. Sokka would make Zuko pay dearly for taking his sister away from him. Only the stars knew what he was doing to her. The young warrior couldn't believe Aang's statement that the prince wouldn't harm Katara.

"His ship won't be going too far! Even he couldn't travel in this storm!"

"How do you know that?!" The warrior argued.

"I just know! Trust me Sokka we'll get Katara back, but what good is it flying a bison if he's too tired to move? After the storm Appa will need days to recover!"

The bison groaned in agreement while dodging a bolt of lightning. Sokka frowned at his friend's advice, partly because he knew the boy was right. Unfortunately his sister would have to wait. Hold on Katara… he thought wistfully. He then turned the reigns of the beast and headed for the neighboring Earth Kingdom continent.

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The Fire Nation prince sat beside his futon where a sleeping Katara resided. Zuko placed his cool hand on her flushed face. Her breathing was labored and she had a terrible fever. He had tried to get her to eat but her food never stayed down and without food, no medicine could be administered to the ailing girl. His uncle had given her herbal healing teas but they showed little signs of improving the girl's health. The best Zuko could do was place a cold compress on her scorching head.

Never in his life did he feel so helpless. He couldn't do anything to help her. The boy hadn't slept for days because his concern for Katara often left him awake. Something had gone wrong in the healing process of her arm. Zuko firmly believed that it was the source of her sickness. Zuko was almost positive that the arrow had indeed been poisonous. He gently stoked her hand as coughs began to heave her chest. The prince stood up and walked to his door. Outside, a servant patiently sat fiddling his thumbs.

"You there, make sure you constantly change her compress and if any change in her health appears call me immediately!" Zuko ordered brusquely

"Yes sir!"

Zuko watched the boy scurry into the room to take care of the sick girl. The prince observed the servant briefly before making his way through the corridors to the bridge. Iroh sat calmly on a pillow, studying the pai sho board before him, along with three other crewmen. The helmsmen struggled with the wheel, the storm outside had made traveling conditions dreadful. Zuko walked past his uncle and took an Earth Kingdom map from one of the cupboards.

"Uncle, would you take your stupid game somewhere else?!" The prince yelled.

"Hold on Prince Zuko, I am in a very compromising position." The old general answered his eyes studying the board with great scrutiny.

"Uncle we don't have time for this!"

"Why are you in such a hurry young prince?"

Zuko's eyes furiously flashed at his uncle. "Katara is ill and we need to get her to the doctor!"

"Zuko," his uncle began, looking up into the boy's eyes "If you haven't noticed we are in the middle of a storm! Our traveling efforts have been reduced to a minimum. The helmsman is already struggling to keep our ship above water! How can you expect him to steer towards land in such a tempest?" he reasoned

"I don't care!" the prince retorted.

"Why is this so urgent to you?"

"If she dies then it will be much harder for me to obtain the Avatar!" he shot back.

"Is that the only reason?" Iroh asked, giving his nephew a skeptical eye.

Zuko broke his uncle's gaze. He couldn't explain why, but for some reason he felt like he needed Katara to get better and not for the excuse he had just given his uncle. The young prince had somehow grown attached to Katara. He felt that it was his responsibility to make sure that she was happy and well. After all that his nation had put her through, it was the very least he could do. The fact that he could do little to help her in this situation frustrated him even the more. Zuko threw the map at his uncle and stormed out the room. Iroh lovingly smiled at his young nephew and chuckled, he knew exactly what the prince's other reason was. The witty general had only tried to talk his nephew into admitting it.

Zuko returned to his room and dismissed the servant. He returned to his sitting pillow beside his bed. The prince gazed upon Katara's sleeping face, a mixture a peace and confusion blended haphazardly. What was his other reason that caused him to care for her? Frustration clouded his weary mind while dozens of questions bombarded his conscience. His eyes closed under the heavy strain. Why was a noble prince such as himself helping a worthless peasant? Why should he worry about her well being? What had she ever done for him? She was his enemy! She was the Avatars companion! She had ruined his plans of capturing the Avatar countless times! Why was he helping her?

His golden eyes opened to fall upon the girl in question and suddenly all the answers seemed to flood him. Her gentle face reminded him of all she was. Katara was one of the few who could properly challenge his authority without suffering dire consequences. She possessed both beauty and grace without being airy like many of the other noble women he was accustomed to. Her strength at times could even cause him to shrink in fear. And her looks…Zuko inhaled reflectively at the thought of her subtle curves, chocolate skin and piercing crystal eyes. She was truly beautiful in every way.

Zuko chuckled softly to himself. Even in her sickly condition, she was able to calm him. He replaced the warm rag on her forehead with a cooler one and lay down next to her so he could clearly see her face. Zuko lay on his side resting his head on his bent arm. He took her warm hand and lazily caressed it. Zuko was so tired, so very tired. The lack of sleep had caught up to him and slowly was dragging him to unconsciousness. He distantly cursed himself for lying down. The last thing he saw was her angelic face before drifting into a deep sleep.

Streams of sunlight shined brightly upon Fire Nation's prince, causing him to rouse from his troubled sleep. His eyes groggily opened to focus upon a pale Katara. His spirits immediately lowered as he assessed her health. The water bender's breathing was still heavy and her skin wore a thin sheen of sweat. Violent coughs rocked her body and Zuko immediately rushed closer to her, but sadly could find no way to ease the pained girl. It felt as if his heart were split in two to watch idly while she suffered while he could do nothing. Zuko wiped her head with a cloth, moving her plastered hair from her face. Zuko suddenly noticed the ship was not moving, the engines had been cut, but that only happened when they were on land! Zuko bolted from the room but not without ordering a sleeping servant to look after the girl. The prince rushed onto deck to be greeted with small town. Rays of light were peeking through the clouded sky. It seemed as if the worst of the storm was over. The sailors were still docking the ship meaning that they had stopped not to long ago. Zuko found his uncle standing by the exit ramp, observing the sailors progress. The prince quickly paced over to his humming uncle.

"Good morning Prince Zuko!" the man greeted. "Did you sleep well?"

"Uncle, when did you…"

"I asked the helmsman to change course the moment the storm broke." he cheerily replied.

It was times like this that made Zuko truly appreciate his uncle. "Thank you."

"You are most welcome! Now, I suspect this ramp will be down as soon as you come back with Katara!" he hinted with a wink.

Zuko nodded and turned on his heels returning below deck to his room. Zuko rummaged through Katara's clothing before deciding on a heavy coat to dress her in. With gentleness that would have surprised anyone, Zuko carefully raised Katara up so she leaning against the width of his chest. A few sickly moans of protest were voiced from her along with a cough or two.

"Hold on Katara, we're getting you to the doctors." He reassured, though more to himself than her.

Zuko quickly yet tenderly slipped Katara's limp arms through the thick sleeves of the coat before buttoning it up and placing the fur lined hood over her head. He then scooped her into his arms letting her head loll on to his chest. She shifted a bit in his grasp and her hand clutched his shirt similar to the way an infant would. He smiled softly at her movement before leaving the room and returning to his uncle. Just as Iroh had predicted, the ramp was down and secured.

"Let's go prince Zuko! We don't want your friend to get any sicker!" Iroh called. The man was on the dock waving for his nephew to follow with a servant behind him. While walking down the ramp, Zuko noticed a few village folks were leaving his Uncle.

Zuko joined his uncle and Iroh led them through the town towards the village doctor. The town was bustling with life. The inhabitants were walking in and out of wooden buildings, while others walked the streets. Many people stopped and stared at Zuko and the girl he was holding. Katara coughed a couple of times and her body convulsed causing a look of deep concern to creep on to the prince's face.

"We're almost there." Iroh soothed in an effort to comfort his nephew.

They finally stopped in front of a clay house, smoke rose from its small chimney. Iroh knocked politely on the wooden door. Light shuffles were heard inside the house. A man opened the door and looked curiously at his visitors. He was clad in a tan robe that was tied tightly around his waist; brown trousers and a cream shirt were almost hidden underneath it. His green eyes looked upon the three with interest

"Are you the village doctor?" Iroh inquired

"Yes I am. How can I help you?" the doctor kindly asked

Zuko stepped forward so the doctor could see the pale Katara clearly. "She's sick"

The doctor studied the girl briefly, "Quickly bring her inside!" He motioned the group into his home

The interior smelled of medicinal herbs and was comfortably warm. A small cot sat in the side of the room with a nightstand next to it. Zuko carefully laid Katara on the cot before backing away. The doctor returned to the room with a small bag.

"What are her symptoms?" he urgently asked.

"Nausea, violent coughing, high fever, and cold sweat. She also has a deep gash on her right arm." Zuko immediately replied.

The doctor rubbed his chin and took a small vial from his bag. He sat Katara up and put it to her lips. She began to drink the cool liquid some of it drizzling down the side of her chin. The doctor then left her and began rummaging through his cabinets, selectively picking out leaves and herbs. Iroh put a hand on Zuko's shoulder.

"Come nephew, let us wait outside. We don't want to get in the doctors way!" he suggested

Zuko reluctantly let his uncle guide him out of the room. He sat on the steps tapping his foot nervously. Iroh leaned on the side of the home humming merrily while his servant stared absentmindedly into space. Hours passed by before the doctor came outside. The sun was setting and the remaining clouds began to glow orange. Zuko immediately stood up in his presence his golden eyes studying the man's face for any indication of good news.

"There is nothing I can do for her…" he wearily said. "But there is another healer in a small village nearby. She has much more experience than me, I am certain that she will be able to help your friend."

Zuko felt a heavy weight drop in his heart. They would have to travel now? What if they didn't make it to the village in time to heal Katara? What if she…no, failure was not an option. Zuko would have to get her to the village by any means necessary. Iroh whispered something to his servant who then ran speedily down the road. The old general saw the conflicting emotions behind Zuko's eyes and quickly continued the conversation before his hot-headed nephew got his chance.

"Where is the village?" he calmly asked

"It's north of here. If you follow the path from the end of the town you'll find it easily. It's a two day journey. You will have to hurry though, her condition is worsening by the minute."

Zuko violently punched the wall of the house, leaving a cracked dent. The doctor looked bewildered, never in his career did the victim's family or friends harm him or his things, and here the boy had just damaged his home!

"Here are five gold pieces for your services" Iroh interjected quickly "I believe that this will be more than enough."

The man wasn't sure if he should be more shocked at the dent in his wall or the amount of gold in his hands.

"Zuko, please go get your friend. You heard the doctor, time is of the essence!" his uncle calmly said.

The prince nodded and entered the man's home. Katara was lying on the cot, her cheeks flushed and she was sweating heavily. Zuko carefully cradled the girl in his arms, pulling the hood of her jacket over her head. She gave a sickly moan and moved a bit before lying still. Zuko didn't know how much more of this he could take. Seeing her so sickly was torturing his soul, especially since he could do little to ease her pain. Zuko quickly carried the girl out of the home and to his surprise two komodo rhino's waiting for them. His uncle had already mounted his beast and was patiently waiting for his nephew to do the same. Zuko quickly climbed into his saddle with Katara in his arms.

"Good luck you guys…" the doctor said, with a look of concern deeply set in his face

Zuko snapped the reigns of the beast below him eliciting a bellow from the animal and began a full gallop down the road towards the forest, with Iroh following in his path.


A/N: Sorry this took so long to update, college is BLEEP! I have so much flippen work to do that it's not even funny but I love it. Speaking of love, I hope you guys loved this chapter, please read n' review!