Katara closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She knew what was coming, and while she was prepared for it, she would've preferred not face it. She stood up and offered her hand to Zuko. He smiled, and accepted it. Together they walked towards the flap of the tent.
As Katara stepped out into the early morning sun she felt strangely at ease, it was almost like stepping into a different world, or maybe it felt that way because now she was a different person. She had done something that had changed her life forever; she was no longer a child, she was a young maiden. Like the goddess of the moon, she now kept the secrets all women knew. (Even if she didn't know what they were quite yet.)
Katara looked up and smiled. Appa was landing, Aang, and Toph starring at her like lost children who had just found their mother. But Sokka, he was angry. He knew what her hair and make-up symbolized. He knew someone had changed his little sister and taken her a step ahead of him. Katara was younger, but she always managed to be first. His eyes shifted to the left of her and found the person he hated most. As soon as Appa landed, Sokka was on the ground, weapon raised, charging at Zuko.
"What did you do to my sister?!" Sokka accused
Worry crossed Katara's face. She knew Sokka was no match for Zuko, but more than her brother's welfare, she was afraid that Zuko might feign ignorance and act like either nothing had happened or that it worthless. Katara braced herself for either her brother's severe injuries or her own shame in the tribe. Neither happened. Zuko didn't fight back when Sokka punched and kicked and beat him with his club, and Zuko took every last blow. Sokka had Zuko on his knees, blood dripping down his face, a busted lip, a swollen eye, a broken nose, and he didn't so much as shield himself. Tears filled Katara's eyes, the sacrifice her was making for her was equal only to her mother's. Zuko's pride was really all he had and he was giving it up for her.
"Sokka, stop!" she cried,
He ignored her and continued to pummel Zuko while shouting incoherent accusations.
Katara drew water out from the barrel nearest to her and aimed it at her brother's solar plexus.
"STOP!"
The water threw Sokka a good ten feet away, providing enough time to put herself between the two young men. Aang and Toph stared, not sure what exactly was going on, but grasping enough to realize it was something big.
"What's going on out here!?" Hakoda called, as he stepped out of his tent. "What's all the commotion? Is the enemy near by?"
"Closer than you think!" Sokka yelled as he wiped water out of his eyes
Katara glared at her brother. Why did he have to interfere in affairs that were no concern of his? Hakoda looked at his son sprawled out in a puddle, blood dripping from Sokka's hands.
"Katara, what did you do to your bro-"
The words died in his throat when he saw his daughter, her blue- lined eyes, her loose hair, and her revealing dress. The Fire Nation Prince sat next to her, clutching her hand, his scarred face a bloody mess. Hakoda knew what had happened and every fiber of his being told him to kill the boy who dared take from his home without paying proper respects, but the look in Katara's eyes stopped him. It was a look he had seen in her mother's, a look that told him to stop and think before doing something he would later regret. Hakoda looked at his son, and knew what he had to do.
"Sokka, do you challenge your sister's right to choose?"
Sokka's mouth dropped open, he couldn't believe what his father was saying. None of this was making sense! How dare his father see Zuko as an equal to the tribes' warriors!
"Dad, are you crazy? He's the prince of the Fire Nation! He's been hunting us down for almost a year! He's –"
"Do you challenge your sister's right to choose?" Hakoda repeated
As Sokka opened his mouth to reply a hand clapped his shoulder.
"Careful," Bato whispered in his ear "A challenge means you against Katara, and when she wins, she'll be next in line."
Sokka went white, he had forgotten that part. Even with his weapons, Katara would destroy him. Angrier than he had ever been, Sokka got up and stomped away.
Bato lead Hakoda towards the ships, he knew his friend would deal with situation better after clearing his head on the ocean for a few hours.
Katara let out the breath she was holding and turned to heal Zuko, he put his hand up in protest. The look on his face told her everything, he wanted to bear the wounds as sign to her tribesmen that his intentions were honorable. And while it touched her, she knew the injuries were to sever to leave completely alone.
"Just what could risk your life." She insisted as her cerulean hands touched his chest.
He nodded and relaxed as well as he could.
From Appa's feet, Aang watched as Katara's hands ran tenderly over Zuko's body. It was so obvious, yet he refused to believe it. It couldn't be true; ever since he had first looked at her he knew he would always love her. How could she do this to him? Unable to watch Zuko receive what he never would, Aang jumped on Appa and took off.
"Aang!" Katara called
"Let Twinkle Toes go" Toph said "You just shattered his little world. He needs to put the pieces back together."
Katara nodded, understanding the situation, but angry that she could do nothing to remedy it. She and Aang would have to have a talk later; a talk that would change their relationship forever. She knelt down and continued to heal Zuko, hoping her waterbending would hide the tears.