Author's Note: So much for promising. I'm sorry y'all. My mom got pissed at me being online so much and wouldn't let me on, then school started and I'm in AP and all that so yeah. Stress? You bet hahah. I'll try to update at least twice a week, I won't make any promises but I WILL try.
I've been trying to upload this since Friday night. .
Don't give up on me! I'll finish this story! Just keep the reviews coming so I'll have inspiration and reasons to write!!
Through the night the storm raged. The lightning flashes, ranging from pale yellow, to bright violet to angry red. Thunder rumbled, growled and boomed, making the ground shudder and shake, and Momo paced around chattering through the night, unable to sleep. No one slept. Katara gathered some firewood, by picking up the driest pieces of wood and bark that she could manage. None of it was dry, of course, but she did find some damp or just somewhat wet pieces. She brought them into the cave.
The cold was seeping in, the rocks even seemed to be spitting cold air at them. So the group moved further back into the cage, as far back as they could manage. Katara used Waterbending to remove the water from the wood and bark, and Zuko set it aflame.
"Anyone hungry?" Katara asked tentatively.
"No." Was the answer in unison.
"Well I'm cooking anyway. We do need to eat. I'll make extra for Aang and keep it warmed through the night. Alright?" She regained some of her bossy attitude. No one said anything- just nodded. Worry was fogging everyone's mind. Worry and cold.
Katara began to bustle around. They had some meat- she wasn't sure what kind of meat, but it was meat- and she mixed meat, vegetables, water and a few spices she had gathered in tiny pouches for when she did cook, to make a stew. It was warm and smelled delectable, as and it was heating up, the smell wafted through the entire cave. She heard stomachs start growling obnoxiously, and Zuko made the flame stronger. The stew cooked faster, and soon she was pouring it into stone bowls Toph had managed to Firebend and Katara had cleaned.
The Gaang stuffed their faces and laid back, sleepy, warm and full, but still distressed.
"What are you making for Aang?" Toph questioned, breaking the silence.
"We have some oats, apple and I have a teeny bit of cinnamon. I may make him some Oatmeal once it gets closer to morning." Katara answered. She didn't often cook using her spices, since they were always expensive and never very easy to come across.
"I think he'll like that." Toph said. Katara smiled and nodded. After everyone's bellies were full, Katara walked to the corner of the small cavern at the back of the cave, and huddled there, as far away from everyone else as she could get. She stared blankly at the black darkness, wondering how far up the ceiling was. She knew it wasn't very far, but she couldn't see it, and it was a way to busy her mind. She closed her eyes and started humming softly, opening them later- she was unsure of how much later- to see a figure standing over her.
"I thought you were sleeping." Zuko said, sitting next to her.
"Thinking." She murmured.
"Aang?" He asked. Katara nodded. Zuko sighed, and the silence returned. Katara looked past Zuko at the fire, Toph and Sokka were whispering softly to one another.
"Katara..." Zuko said. Katara rested her cerulean gaze on him. "You know where we are?" His voice dropped even lower, and Katara looked around, the realization hitting her hard.
"This was the place we-" She said, surprised. She hadn't even realized it.
"Mmhmm." Zuko hummed thoughtfully. "Are we ever going to...try again? When it's not so...awkward?"
Katara's heart rate sped up. She shrugged. "I don't know. That's not a concern right now, Zuko."
Zuko nodded. "I know. Sorry."
Katara stood, leaning backwards and stretching her arms out. Her back and shoulders popped, and she made her way to the front of the cave. It was still storming heavily, lightning flashing every few moments, but the sky was considerably lighter. It was dawn.
"Aang has to come back." Katara whispered.
As if on cue, in the distance, a small shape was coming closer. It was obviously, even from such a far distance...Appa.
"Look! It's Appa!" Katara squealed, pointing to the flying bison's tiny figure.
"What?!" Came the cry, in unison, and Toph, Sokka, Zuko and a squeaking, purring Momo all rushed to the cave entrance, squinting to see through the driving rain. The wind had shifted and the rain was now being thrown into the cave.
"Oh! I see him!" Toph cried.
"Where?!" Sokka asked, then paused. "Wait a minute...." He glared at Toph, who chuckled.
"You always fall for it, Snoozles."
"I really do see him." Zuko said, clearing his throat. He pointed, and they all watched urgently and worriedly as Appa drew closer, and closer.
It took almost 15 minutes for the flying bison to reach the cave, and the Gaang jumped out of the way as Appa flew inside and nearly slammed himself against the stone wall. His head was drooping, body tensed and eyes exhausted, and there was water dripping from his coat like a waterfall. Aang tumbled off of him, nearly falling, but bent air to keep himself from doing so. He was sopping wet and had bags under his eyes, and obviously hadn't slept a wink since he had left.
"Aang! Where were you!?" Katara yelled, rushing over to Aang. She hooked his arm over her shoulders to support him so he wouldn't fall.
Aang looked up, and focused on Sokka. "Suki's on Appa. So is Iroh. Get them down." He said, head falling forward and eyes sliding shut, before slowly opening again. Sokka looked horrified, and clambered up Appa's side. Suki was wet and trembling violently, but awake and seemed to be in alright health other than exhaustion. Sokka slid down and held his arms out, and Suki dropped. Sokka caught her, but his knees buckled and he almost fell. Suki laughed and kissed him of the cheek. Katara heard Toph make a disgusted noise in the back of her throat. Iroh, chuckling, slid down Appa without help, then used some Firebending and was, immediately, dry.
"I'll make Aang a bed, you help him change and get him to sleep. Then we must talk with Uncle." Zuko said softly, his mouth close to Katara's ear. Katara nodded, and slowly lead Aang to the back cavern. She helped Aang peel off all of his wet clothes- except his underwear. She then bent the water off his clothes and skin.
"I'll sleep in them." Aang said, his voice low and hard to understand. Katara nodded, and then lead Aang across the cavern, where Zuko had piled together a bunch of cloths and blankets to make Aang a comfy, warm bed. He had lit the fire again and it was blazing, and the whole cavern was slowly growing warmer. Almost the second Katara laid Aang down, he was out cold. Katara pulled the blankets up around him snugly, then she and Zuko walked back to the front, where Iroh was pouring, and everyone was drinking steaming hot cups of tea.
"Uncle, what happened?" Zuko said, walking swiftly to his uncle, who pulled Zuko into a powerful hug. Zuko stood there awkwardly, before placing his arms around Uncle, then pulling away quickly.
"Have some tea, Zuko. You too, Katara, and sit. I will tell the story."
After a few minutes, everyone had steaming hot cups of Jasmine Tea in their hands and were gathered around a deliciously warm fire in the front cavern of the cave, but far enough away from the fierce rain and wind that the fire wasn't being put out and everyone was warm and dry. Appa was as far out of it as they could get him, and everyone was cramped together in the front so Aang could rest and have his privacy in the back.
"The Avatar is a very strong young boy." Iroh began. "As I was traveling, I ran into the young Kyoshi Warrior, Suki. We spoke, I offered her tea, and we found out we were looking for the same group of people. I wanted to find my nephew and the group he left the Fire Nation with- to let him know he did the right thing. Suki wanted to find her friends. So we traveled together. The storm started in our area first. It was horrible. There was a tornado...
And we could not easily escape it. We ducked into a dip in the ground and flattened ourselves- which was harder for me." He laughed and patted his belly, then continued, "A tree was knocked down. Well, many trees were knocked down but this one fell over us. My back is horribly scratched up from it." Katara leapt up.
"Do you need me to-?" She started, but Iroh cut her off, shaking his head.
"Do not worry, young Waterbender. I will be fine. This old man has suffered many an injury worse than this. Anyway, we ended up pinned. We could not get out from under the tree. The branches were everywhere and though we remained unharmed- for the most part- the branches and brambles and such would not permit us to get out. A group of men walked by, inspecting the damage. I made sure they were not Fire Nation Soldiers. They were actually refugees. I asked them to let the Avatar know- if they see him- where we were and to come help. I told them I was Uncle and she was Suki. They said alright. Within a few hours, the storm still went on and on.
But we heard a crash, and then Aang's voice. He said he had gotten an odd feeling and left where you all were staying, and as he flew Appa over a small refugee camp, he was flagged down and they told him where we were. He found us. He used Airbending and Earthbending to get us out, and it took all of a few hours. He was exhausted from the constant bending. We all got on Appa, and went through the storm, which took even more effort. For it is a very strong, large storm, and Aang was constantly bending water out of the way to see his path or dodging lightning. I had to redirect it myself a few times.
Aang told us of the problems going on here and of everything that happened when you all were at the Palace. Now, we are here." Iroh finished his story and drained his tea.
"Wow." Toph said. She and Iroh were buddies, so she was very happy to have her buddy here to talk to, especially since Suki had to be here, too.
"Now, let's all go get some sleep, shall we?" Iroh suggested, standing up. Katara didn't miss him wincing.
"Let me bandage up your back, at least!" Katara offered. Iroh shrugged and agreed, and she and Zuko gathered the bandages and mixed the ointment. The rain was slowly calming as the sun raised higher behind the clouds and the light, though still dim, grew slightly brighter. So the three sat at the entrance to the cave. Iroh pulled his shirt off and Zuko spread the ointment over his back.
"Ouch! Zuko, careful, I am an old man. Do not be so rough." Iroh said, almost mockingly. Zuko rolled his eyes and spread the ointment a bit gentler.
"Aang tells me, young Waterbender, that you have taken a liking to my nephew." Iroh said, out of the blue. Katara felt her face grow hot.
"Well, yes, but, no one else really...knows...Toph knows and Aang does but Sokka hasn't caught on and he shouldn't catch on." Katara stammered.
"He will find out eventually, Katara." Iroh informed her.
"I know, but-"
"You have my blessing." Iroh said with a grin. "Zuko needs a strong woman to put him in his place. But. Don't let there be any children yet. You are much too young."
"I'm almost of marrying age, according to tribe laws!"
"If I wasn't exiled, Father would have already given me a wife!"
Zuko and Katara cried in unison.
"So you say you want a child already?" Iroh asked, eyebrows raised.
Katara's cheeks heated up and Zuko's face drained of color.
"No! Not yet. I-I mean, just, no!" Zuko cried. Iroh laughed.
"Good, keep it that way. Thank you, for caring for my wounds. Now, let us all go get much-needed rest."
