Chapter 11
Why Is She In Your Clothes?
Toph and Iroh were awakened to all the fuss. Toph didn't know what was going on beyond the fact that someone had screamed. Iroh in great concern walked to the young girl they were fighting about. Aang had grabbed at the supplies and was trying to clean the wound. He had more concern for the girl then the Sokka vs. Zuko fight part two.
"What's going on?" Toph asked as she walked over to the little gathering.
"Zuko hurt Katara…badly." Sokka responded with a gruff in his voice as he watched the prince get up.
Zuko turned to Sokka. "I could have left her for dead you know, do you think if I harmed her I would have left her behind. Then come here no less"
"Is he lying Toph?" Aang asked from Katara's side. Iroh had sat down next to him and had propped the girl up to bandage her back. He checked her pulse. It was slow. He looked very wearily upon the girl. She needed to wake up.
Toph walked over to him and he stood perfectly still. "Did you harm her"
"No" he replied.
"Then who did?" She asked.
"The Dah Li found us." He said. Then immediately wished he used a different set of words.
"What were you doing with my sister at night…alone?" Sokka asked as he got up, now taking into consideration that she was wrapped in his clothes.
Zuko turned to him. "Nothing"
"Where are her clothes?" Sokka was finding it hard to stay put and not jump the prince again. He was waiting for confirmation that he was full of it from Toph to strike again.
"They washed down the stream in the fight." He replied looking at Sokka, preparing himself for another attack. Sokka looked to Toph who responded he was telling the truth.
Iroh turned to Aang. "Get her some water; I'm going to give her some tea that should wake her up." He turned to Toph. "Do you mind making a tea cup"
Toph shrugged and bended one quickly. Aang took the cup and went to the stream looking back at Zuko. He felt just as worried as Sokka about this situation. As he approached the stream he noticed something moving caught on some rocks. The blues and whites were darkened by the water that soaked them. He bended the water to lift the clothes to him. He put water in the cup and air blew the clothes dry.
"Why is she naked?" Sokka asked directly at Zuko.
"I didn't undress her if that's what you're asking." Unmoving from Sokka's Gaze.
"Then why is she covered in your clothes?" Sokka asked with a slight growl.
"She's in his clothes?" Toph asked.
"Yeah, explain yourself." Sokka squinted his eyes and crossed his arms over his chest at the exiled man.
Zuko didn't want to explain the moments before the fight and was purposefully trying to avoid that conversation.
"I'm waiting for an answer." Sokka was getting impatient as he watched Zuko thinking hard about events with his sister.
Aang walked back up the hill carrying the clothes and the tea cup. Zuko and Sokka turned to Aang who carried Katara's clothes. Aang gave the cup to Iroh who in return heated it with his hands. He placed some of the tea leaves he collected the day before and gently sat Katara up.
"I found them in the stream." He replied.
"Found what?" Toph asked.
"Katara's clothes" Aang replied as he held them out for the rest to see.
Katara began coughing as she awoke to the fumes from the tea. Iroh smiled that she was ok. She was still very weak. Aang dropped her clothes and ran to her side. "Katara are you ok?" He asked concerned.
Tears swelled in Katara's face. "It hurts." She let out softly.
Toph turned back to the camp to retrieve her water canister.
"Here drink this. It should help." Iroh put the tea in her hands. She sipped it very slowly.
Toph returned with the canister. "Here, Katara. You probably need this." Toph smiled.
Katara took the canister and put water on her hands. She then bent her hand around to try and place it on her wound. Which at first was difficult but she forced herself through the pain and concentrated. She slowly felt her strength
return and she sighed a big breath of relief.
Aang went hugged his friend with tears meeting the corners of his eyes. "I was so worried." He whispered.
She hugged him back. "Aang I'm ok." She said weakly.
Sokka went and sat by her side. The group now surrounded Katara except one exiled prince.
Sokka looked at Katara with intense concern. "Are you alright." He asked very seriously.
Katara let go of Aang who sat back. She turned to her brother.
"I'll be ok Sokka." She smiled.
"Did he do anything to you?" Sokka asked as he pointed to Zuko was half paying to attention to the group, standing by himself.
Katara's eyes got wide as she flashed through the happenings of the night. She looked at Zuko who met her eyes back. It seemed as if the world had paused and the circumstances at that moment exchanged through their eyes as their own little secret. But for how long?
WILD nights! Wild nights!
Were I with thee,
Wild nights should be
Our luxury!
Futile the winds
To a heart in port,—
Done with the compass,
Done with the chart.
Rowing in Eden!
Ah! the sea!
Might I but moor
To-night in thee!
--Emily Dickinson. Oh what wild nights indeed. Hint hint ;)
