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Chapter 16: Anxious Waiting

Sokka guided Appa toward the port near Waterfall Creek. There was an immediate problem that he noticed as Appa flew closer: a Fire Nation vessel was docked there. The situation could have been worse. There could have been Fire Nation flags raised all over the port. While that was not the case Sokka had Appa continue to fly.

Ziashi saw they were not stopping and called to Sokka, "Why aren't we stopping? Katara needs help!"

"Don't think that I don't know that!" Sokka barked back. His blood boiled at the idea that Ziashi would think that Sokka did not care about what happened to his sister, "We can't help her if we get captured."

Ziashi growled in anger. He knew Sokka was right, but Katara was getting worse. Colonel Mongke's fire whip was more potent than Ziashi had realized. Ziashi continued to pray to the gods and spirits. He tried to stay calm and hopeful, but it was a losing battle.

"How far to the next village?" Ziashi asked.

"If we keep moving at this speed, I'd say five minutes. Mualam village is not far from here," Sokka answered. He cracked Appa's reins to emphasize the situation to Appa. The bison acknowledged with a deep roar.

The sun had almost disappeared over the horizon. The hot day suddenly grew colder and darker, as did Katara. Ziashi pressed his ear to her chest and still heard a heartbeat. She still was breathing. Ziashi praised the gods for that at the least.

"We're almost there!" Sokka yelled back to Ziashi.

The young firebender looked down toward the surface and saw multiple buildings and torch lights. He situated Katara in his arms just right so he could run without dropping or injuring her.

The landing was rough, but it was an emergency.

"Go, Ziashi! Get my sister to a healer, we'll catch up!" Sokka commanded. Ziashi did not wait any longer. He leapt from Appa with Katara in his arms and ran through the village streets.

He looked at the various buildings for a sign that indicated a healer house or infirmary. He could not spot one. Ziashi looked at Katara, "Hang on, Katara. I'll get you help. Don't leave me!"

He continued to run through the streets and still found no sign of a healer house. In an act of desperation, Ziashi did what most people would do.

"Somebody help me!" Ziashi called out. A few seconds passed and the doors of the surrounding houses slid open, "I need a healer! Now!"

All the villagers who heard his call pointed at a house at the end of the street. Ziashi ran as fast as his legs would carry him. As soon as he reached the healer house, he knocked furiously on the door with his foot.

"Please someone!" Ziashi yelled. He kicked the door some more and finally someone answered. A middle-aged lady with her graying hair in a bun answered the door with a candle saw the urgency in Ziashi's eyes and the wound that Katara bore.

"Bring her inside. Quickly!" the lady urged. Ziashi stormed in and laid Katara down on a bed, "Adra! Amrita! Come quickly! Bring water and the herbs!"

Commotion in the healer's house had grown fast. Two younger women, twins, resembling the middle-aged woman began to tend to Katara. Ziashi dared not leave Katara's side. There was another knock on the door. The middle-aged woman answered it and led Sokka and Toph in, who were carrying Aang.

"Are you all part of the same party?" the middle-aged woman asked. Ziashi nodded. He left Katara's side only to help Sokka and Toph situate Aang on a bed, "We're going to be busy tonight. Song, we need you too! Get down here quick!"

Another young woman with short hair came hurdling downstairs and began her work immediately. These four women were definitely experienced. The performance of their duties was like a dance that they had perfected.

"Syeda, he'll be fine for now," the one called Song reported to the middle-aged woman. She had just finished tending to Aang.

"Good, Song. Take the men outside, they can't be here for this," Syeda ordered Song. Ziashi and Sokka glared at the middle-aged woman.

"No," they both said simultaneously.

Syeda rounded on Ziashi, "Listen and listen closely. I need to do important work so your friend doesn't die. Men can't be in here while I work on her. It's also a modesty thing. You catch my drift, young man?"

Ziashi sighed, and nodded. Syeda was right. Ziashi and Sokka left without another word, but neither of them was any less anxious. They were followed out by Song.

"Aren't you needed in there," Sokka asked. Song shook her head.

"They'll take care of your friend. Syeda wanted me to be here for you while you wait," Song answered, "She understands the feelings people in your position are going through. It's easier when you have someone here to comfort you.

Neither Sokka nor Ziashi could muster up any words. They both could only think about Katara.

"Take a seat. They won't be done for a couple hours. Might as well get comfortable," Song advised. Ziashi and Sokka sat on the balcony of the house and stared at the door.

Neither of them moved. This gave Song a chance to examine them from afar. She noticed immediately that they both had cuts and burns that they had not even bothered to nurse. They must have been in a skirmish of some sort. That would explain all the injuries that their friends had endured.

She approached Sokka first and retrieved some pads and ointments from her pockets. She dabbed the minor cuts and burns with a wet cloth and applied ointment. Sokka inhaled sharply as she did this. When Song finished with him he gave his thanks.

"Just rest," something in her voice made Sokka comply with that request. He hesitantly let his eye lids droop to a close. Song then turned her attention to Ziashi. The first thing she noticed about Ziashi specifically was the scar running down his right cheek. It reminded her of a boy named Lee who she met months before who had a burn scar on his left eye. She brushed that thought aside and went over to him to deal with his injuries.

He turned to face her and said, "I'm fine."

Song was taken back. She looked his body up and down; his right arm was bleeding at the forearm and there were minor burns that were exposed on his right shoulder. He was trying to be strong at a time like this; it was a sight that Song saw often. People would forsake care for themselves as if they believed it would help the one they waited on.

She knelt down beside Ziashi and turned his head back toward herself, "Listen. I know you're trying to put on your best, but it's not going help or hinder the condition of your friends inside."

"I'll worry about myself when I know they are okay," Ziashi muttered, he tried to turn away but Song would not let him.

"By they do you mean just her?" Song asked, Ziashi gave her a cold stare, the stare that he used a lot. It made Song shiver a bit, but she did not back down, "It gets annoying after awhile to see men ignore their own pain just so they can be strong. Swallow your pride and let me take care of those."

The force in Song's voice was unexpected. Ziashi sighed and let her take care of his cuts and burns. There was some stinging around his cuts and burns, but Ziashi did not flinch or shudder. He was used to pain.

As Song finished up her work she asked, "So, did you mean just her?"

Ziashi nodded, "Yes, because it's my fault that happened to her. I should have protected her better."

"You care for her a lot, don't you?" said Song. This man intrigued her more than the snoring one a few feet away.

"Not in the way that you think," Ziashi said hastily. His eyes returned to the door, "Still, I would not forgive myself if she dies."

"Are you so sure of that?" Song asked.

"Of what?" Ziashi peeled his eyes away from the door at that comment.

"Of the way you care for her," Song said, Ziashi stared blankly at her and then returned his gaze back to the door.

"It's complicated," Ziashi muttered. There was a continuous silence for awhile, "Can't you go in and see how Katara's doing?"

"No. My place is out here with you," Song answered. Ziashi sighed solemnly, his eyes turned downward, "She has a beautiful name, by the way."

Ziashi's mind flashed to the way he last saw her: so beautiful, so lifeless.

"I know," he stammered.

Song crawled back over to where Ziashi sat. She grabbed his hand (his scarred hand, she noticed by touch) and said, "For what it's worth, I've seen worse injuries come through here and come out just fine, even scar-free."

Ziashi nodded somberly. He appreciated Song's attempts to ease his mind, but he still could not calm it down. He could only anxiously wait. Song still held his hand. It was comforting, but still tense.

"I don't even know your name, or what's going on up there," she indicated tapping Ziashi's head, "But you could use this time to make whatever it is that's complicated, less so. Just a thought."

Ziashi nodded. He did need to think about his feelings for Katara. Were they simply friendly and caring? Or were they more?

No, you can't risk that pain again, Ziashi told himself

By bottling it up? That's just making it worse. You have to work through this turmoil in your heart, saida voice inside his head.

Why?

What does it take to lightning bend?

A calm, controlled mind.

Exactly, you have so much going on in here right now that you can't focus enough to do that, Ziashi let his mind argue with itself. He came to the realization that there was something going on inside himself that was hindering his bending. What happened at the waterfall creek was just the beginning. For all Ziashi knew, his ability to bend was dimming. He could not even begin to imagine why. Even more unsettling, how would he be able to train Aang if he was losing himself in all this turmoil? What was happening inside of him?

Ziashi toyed with his mother's Yin Yang talisman that still hung from his neck.

This is meant to keep your spirit in balance…

Ziashi heard his mother's words echo in his mind. He wished she was there to help him in right then.

Ziashi got up from where he sat and went out to the village outskirts. Song was right; he needed to do something useful with his time. Even if that time was used confirming he could no longer lightning bend. He concentrated on separating the positive and negative energies in his body to create lightning. He felt the energy surge through his body. The sensation felt like it usually did but the result was not a bolt of lightning. It was an explosion that blew Ziashi off of his feet. He landed on the ground with a thud. That was all the proof he needed.

He walked back to the healer house and collapsed outside the door, defeated by his own demons. His body was drained; between the battle, finding Aang and Katara a healer, and discovering his firebending had taken a turn for the worse Ziashi was surprised he was able to stay awake as long has he had. He slipped into a weary sleep, unable to calm his mind.

"Ziashi?" Sokka shook Ziashi's arm, "Wake up."

Ziashi woke up to see it was still dark out, but the rising light in the east told him that the sun would rise soon. He slowly shook off his exhaustion and his thoughts immediately turned to Katara's state.

"Sokka, how is she?" Ziashi asked as he pulled himself up. Sokka smiled, telling Ziashi immediately things were looking up.

"Katara is fine. She's going to pull through. She won't even scar," Sokka chirped. Ziashi silently thanked the gods for their mercy on Katara. He breathed a sigh of relief at long last, "She wants to see you.

Ziashi's heart skipped a beat at that those words. He began to walk towards the door but Sokka grabbed his arm before he could enter the house.

"One more thing," Sokka said he held Ziashi's gaze for a second, "Thanks for taking care of her. I'm glad you're with us now more than ever. I think things would have been worse if you weren't here."

Ziashi nodded. Sokka seemed to fully make his peace with Ziashi completely. The firebender had proven his loyalties by saving the two women Sokka cared for most in this world.

Ziashi entered the healer's house and approached Katara's cot. Syeda still was bandaging up Katara's chest causing Ziashi to stop dead in his tracks and turn away. Syeda gave him a humored look before telling him he could look.

"I'll leave you two alone," Syeda said.

Ziashi stopped her before she left, "How is Aang?"

"The tattooed boy?" Syeda asked, "He's still unconscious. I can't explain it. All that I could find wrong with him was some bad bruises and a burn that got burned again."

"Will he live?" Ziashi asked sternly. Syeda's expression faded from hopeful to impassive.

"He should. But it comes down to him if to wake up," Syeda answered. She left without another word. Ziashi accepted the answer for the time being and turned his attention to Katara. He sat down next to her cot and just watched her rest for the next hour. Toph approached him from behind.

"I got to give it to Sugar-queen. She's a fighter. I've seen few people with such a strong will to live," Toph said. Ziashi turned to Toph and gave her a smile, realizing that expression was pointless towards her.

"If you weren't blind you'd see me smiling at you," Ziashi interjected. Toph laughed briefly, and then slugged Ziashi in the shoulder, "Ouch! What in the name of Agni was that for?"

"Don't tell Sugar-queen I said that and you won't have to find out. Clear?" Toph's sensitive side faded quicker than it had appeared. Ziashi allowed himself a chuckle. Toph left to go check on Aang, leaving Ziashi alone with Katara again. She began to stir. Ziashi watched her carefully hoping she would open her eyes.

"Katara?" Ziashi grabbed her hand and gripped it warmly. She opened her eyes and met his smoky-grey eyes.

"Hey," Katara murmured, she smiled, "They said you carried me here. They said you looked so scared."

"Scared of losing you," Ziashi confirmed as-a-matter-of-factly. As he said this he moved his face closer to Katara's. As soon as he realized how close he was he quickly said, "Um, I guess that makes us even."

"What?" Katara did not understand immediately, but she thought back and remembered she had saved Ziashi in the South Pole, and then she remembered saving him when he had taken an arrow to the chest, "Actually you still owe me one. I count twice I saved your life."

Ziashi raised an eyebrow and pulled away nonchalantly, and then remembered. She was right, he was still down one, "Fair enough."

"Sorry to worry you," Katara joked, Ziashi allowed himself a smile. She cringed as she snickered. That area of her chest still hurt.



"You should rest," Ziashi said placing her hand on her belly. Her skin felt smooth. He quickly retracted his hand.

"I will. But where's Aang? How is he?" Katara asked. Even on her sickbed she still concerned herself with others.

"He's a little banged up, but not as bad as you. But he hasn't woken up yet," Ziashi answered, Katara shot up in her cot.

"What?" she belted in surprise. The quick motion agitated her injury, she cringed and moaned. Ziashi caught her as she fell back and lowered her to her bed slowly.

"See? You need to rest," Ziashi urged, Katara shook her head, "Katara, you're injury won't heal any faster if you don't rest."

"Tell me what's wrong with Aang. He should be awake if he wasn't as bad as me," Katara argued.

"Syeda told me he had a burn on top of one that was still healing. Sound familiar?" Ziashi explained. Katara knew recalled immediately what happened during Aang's fight with Mongke. Azula's mark was the cause of it all.

"I need to start healing sessions with him," Katara tried to get up again. Ziashi forced her back onto her cot.

"No! You need to rest. You can't help anybody if you don't take care of yourself first, Katara," Ziashi kept her down until he was sure she would not try to get up.

"You sound like Gran Gran," Katara muttered. Ziashi fixed her with a stern gaze, "Fine. I'll rest."

"Just for a day," Ziashi said, "Then you can start to work on Aang. Deal?"

"Deal."

As soon as Katara had slipped into a slumber, Ziashi went to go see Aang for himself. He was as Syeda had said: just a little banged up. But as far as his consciousness was concerned, no one was home at the moment. Ziashi knew nothing more about the Avatar than what his mother had taught him when he was younger. What kept Aang from the mortal world was a complete mystery.

The only comfort Ziashi could find in the state of things at that moment was that until Aang woke up he would not have to worry about teaching him firebending. That would give him time to figure out why his lighting bending was no longer working.

There was just one problem: where to start.

Ziashi thought back to the day before when his lightning bending began to fail. Something about what happened in that battle triggered a strong emotion in side his mind. Something that had happened during that fight was reminiscent of a terrible memory. An old pain that continued to torment Ziashi. A gaping wound.

Authors Note: Things will start to speed up, promise. What must Ziashi do?

I know I still have to finish this story up, but I already have a plot in the works for Book 2.