Chapter 21:
memories
Katara has a lot of memories in her knapsack. She waits until dinnertime, when Aang and Sokka will be helping with the customers, and Toph and Zuko are playing Pai Sho in the sitting room.
The blue flag is the first thing she unfurls. She'd taken it from the ship, just in case. Then the little bottle of wine that Azula didn't quite finish at that wedding...
Azula and her, laughing under the jacaranda tree. Katara smiles. It's a bittersweet memory now.
And the star-charts, of course. The maps, the astrolabe. Star-taker. She remembers Zuko's stories of the stars. The Phoenix Formation. It must be nice, she remembers saying, looking into the sky and seeing your friends there forever. Ursa, the foot of the phoenix. Azulon — the head of the phoenix. Now she can imagine it's Azula there, in the sky, in her star.
Azulon.
Azulon — son of fire. Azu means 'fire', and lon means 'son'.
Katara holds perfectly still, her heart skipping a beat before suddenly racing. Lon means 'son'.
She pushes her sleeve back, staring at the bracelet. An anchor for travel. Azula had mentioned her mother talking about the sea — the water is so clear, you can see the sand beneath — only there's no ocean in the mountains of the Earth Kingdom, no sea in Sun.
Once around the son.
"You would not believe the crowd tonight! We've totally run out of snow-flower tea and...Katara?" Sokka stands in the doorway, frowning. "Everything okay?"
She turns to him.
"I think I know where Zuko's mother is."
Sokka studies the maps. Katara watches him carefully.
"Well," he says at last, casting the map aside, "it's a pretty crazy idea."
"Oh," she says with disappointment.
"But — but — it could work." Sokka chews his lip. "If I were you, I'd check it out first before telling Zuko. Last thing you want to do is have a repeat of Sun."
"I know, that's why I told you about it. Tell me honestly, do you think I'm just seeing what I want to see?"
"I don't know, Katara. Like I said — you could at least check it out first. Visit the place, ask some questions. It's pretty far from here — at least three or four days' travel on Appa."
Katara's heart sinks. "I don't know, Sokka. I'll have to tell Aang, and then Toph will need to know...it doesn't seem right that everyone will know except Zuko. We'll have to make up some excuse about why we're travelling there — and why he can't come."
Sokka rolls the map up. "Well, it's either that, or you tell him the real reason — and he goes to Lon and finds no trace of his mother."
"I know." Katara stares down at the bracelet clasped around her wrist.
"So...you're not going to tell Zuko until we've got this sussed out, right?"
"Well...no..."
"Come on, sis. I'm not blind. You and Zuko have been best buddies since you got back. You tell each other everything."
"Do not!" Katara says, wounded. "And I can keep secrets when I need to!"
"You'll need to come up with a good excuse about leaving for a few days."
"Fine."
"And lie convincingly to Zuko."
"Okay!"
Sokka gives her a look.
Despite Sokka's doubts, it's Aang who turns out to be the biggest problem. Katara waits until Zuko's gone for a walk — to the bell-tower, she knows — and then holds a meeting in the sitting room. Toph is agog and wants to know every detail; Sokka has to practically sit on Aang to keep him still.
"Wow! I can't believe it! You found his mother!" Aang keeps saying excitedly.
"I think I did. Let's not get our hopes up. Which is, incidentally, why we're not telling Zuko," Katara says.
"I can't believe it!" Aang says again. "When Zuko finds out, he's going to be amazed. It's like...five birthdays rolled into one!" He makes a run for the door; Toph grabs him by the collar.
"Where are you going?" she demands.
"I just — "
"Did you listen to a single world? We. Can't. Tell. Zuko."
"But — "
"This is serious, Aang."
"I know, but — "
"If you tell him, I will personally end you." Toph gives Aang a little shake for emphasis. He deflates.
"Okay, okay. I promise. I won't tell Zuko."
Toph lets go of him. He slinks back to the table.
"Okay. So, I've got it all sorted," Sokka says. "I've looked at the maps and here's the deal. There's a bay nearby, Half Moon Bay. It was used by smugglers during the war to sneak supplies to nearby villages, who in turn sold them on the Ba Sing Se black market. We tell him that Aang and King Bumi are working on — "
"Whoa, whoa, whoa," Toph interrupts. "That's way too complicated. Just say it's one of Aang's wacky holiday ideas."
"But I spent ages — "
"Toph's right," Katara cuts in. "Just say it's a holiday."
"What if he wants to come too?" Sokka demands.
"I know!" Aang says excitedly. "Me and Katara can go together. We'll say it's a romantic getaway."
"Hey, that's a pretty good idea," Toph says. "He won't ask any questions."
"Okay, so it's settled," Sokka begins, but Katara interrupts.
"Wait. I'm not — I don't think that's a really good idea."
Three faces turn to look at her expectantly. "What do you mean?" Toph says blankly. "What's the problem with it?"
"Well, it's just...it's not really...maybe just one of us should go, alone..."
"The whole point of a romantic getaway," Sokka explains slowly, "is that it traditionally involves a couple. You know, like you and Aang?"
"It's the perfect cover," Toph agrees. "Unless you have another plan in mind, Sugar Queen."
She's silent for a long moment. Then, at last, she speaks. "Okay. No, it's a good plan."
Aang smiles at her.
Aang is already excitedly packing things, whirling around the place in a frenzy of energy.
"This is going to be amazing," he tells Katara as she slowly packs her knapsack. "We're gonna have so much fun! I've heard stories of giant narwhal-seals along the south coast — do you think they'll let me ride them? That would be incredible!"
"Don't forget though, we're there on a mission." Katara stares into her empty knapsack. What to take? She slowly picks up her washbag.
"But surely we'll have time to explore, right? Just one little adventure?"
"What's going on?"
Katara turns. Zuko stands in the doorway, arms crossed.
"Hey, Zuko!" Aang jumps up to his feet. "Guess what? Katara and I are going on a romantic holiday! There's this amazing beach we're going to explore — maybe even see the giant narwhal-seals — isn't that cool?"
There's a long silence. Katara meets Zuko's gaze, then glances away.
"Yeah," Zuko says at last. "Cool."
"A beach all to ourselves, Katara," Aang says. "We can watch the sun set and go swimming..."
Katara nods and places her brush into the knapsack. She looks back up at the doorway.
Zuko's gone.
"That was close," Aang says with a grin. "I thought I was going to accidentally say something — I hate lying — but it's pretty easy when you just think about the two of us, going for a romantic beach trip, isn't it?"
Nothing's easy. Not anymore.
Katara stands up.
Hand over hand, she ascends the rungs until she's atop the bell-tower. As she thought, Zuko is there, standing on the edge of the tower, his back to her as he watches the city below. Katara studies him for a long moment.
"It's only a week," she says at last. Zuko turns his head ever-so-slightly, but doesn't reply. Katara makes her way to him and sits down, her legs hanging over the edge. "Truth be told," she says, "I'd rather stay here. A holiday would be nice, but I really like it here. Min wants to show me the city gardens, and Sokka says there's a dragon-boat festival coming up."
"Then don't go."
Katara stares at the streets below. Two children are chasing each other through the alleyways, laughing and calling out. A cat is sunbathing in the evening light. She wonders if it's a stray or if it has a home.
"It's not that easy," she says at last. "I have to go."
"Why?"
"There's a reason, but it's...I can't tell you right now, but I promise when I get back..." Katara can see him already turning to leave and she doesn't want it to be like this, an abrupt goodbye, a silent end. She stands up and holds out the little bundle of blue flag.
"Zuko...I'd like you to keep these safe for me. Until I get back."
He turns and frowns, looking apprehensively at the bundle of material.
"What's that?"
"Memories."
He takes the bundle and lets the flag fall open, staring at the objects within: the bottle of wine, star-charts, the wooden tarot tile.
"These..."
"...are memories. From our journey. I've been keeping them in my knapsack, but...I want to leave them here. With you. Just until I come back."
He looks up at her, then speaks quietly. "Until you come back."
They stand in the dying sunlight together, watching the sun set, casting long shadows across the city.
They leave at dawn. Aang, seemingly thrilled at the idea of an adventure, wakes Katara with much excitement.
"Come on, we've got to leave soon!"
"Aang, the others are trying to sleep," she whispers, sitting up.
"Oops. But — guess what! I made breakfast!"
A very disgruntled voice comes from the other side of the room. "Unless it's bacon and it's for me, I don't want to hear about it."
"Sorry, Sokka. I didn't mean to wake you up," Aang says.
"What are you talking about? It's Toph."
Another voice joins in. "You mistook Toph for me?" Sokka wails. "A twelve-year-old girl sounds like me?"
"You got a problem with that?" Toph asks aggressively.
"What? No. Of course not," Sokka says meekly.
"Be quiet, Zuko's still asleep," Katara snaps, although she's certain he must be awake by now. Both Sokka and Toph quieten down and Aang, eager to help, picks up her knapsack.
"Wow! This is super light. Have you packed yet?" he jokes.
"You know me — I travel light," she says, following Aang into the hallway and gently easing the door shut behind her.
"I made tea for us," Aang says proudly, making his way into the kitchen. The hearth fire is already lit; Katara blinks, her eyes adjusting to the light. Aang serves breakfast — a new tea from the northern Earth Kingdom that Katara isn't too sure about, and fresh fruit. Aang bolts his breakfast down and Katara has to smile at his impatience.
"This is so cool," he says, catching her smile. "Just like the old days! Travelling together, I mean. It's going to be great."
Dawn is barely breaking when they step onto the porch. It's a long walk to the barn where a friend of Min's is keeping Appa, but Aang knows the way well. Katara steps onto the porch and puts her shoes on. Aang descends the steps onto the street below, then suddenly stops.
"Oh, man," he says, "I forgot the map. I left it next to my bed."
"That's okay, I'll get it." Katara turns and steps quickly into the teahouse before Aang can protest, making her way to the sleeping quarters and sliding the door open carefully. Everyone seems to be asleep again.
She makes her way to Aang's sleeping mat, walking slowly. Her eyes are still adjusting to the darkness and she can only imagine Sokka's outrage at being woken up with a foot to the head. She fumbles blindly around the sleeping mat for a moment before a tiny flame suddenly lights her surroundings. Zuko stands next to her.
"Need some light?"
"Got it." She grabs the map and holds it up. "Didn't mean to wake you."
"I was already awake."
"Oh." She stands up, frowning. It feels like she's leaving something behind, but she's already double-checked everything. An anorak would be handy — it can get cold at the high altitudes of Appa's flying — but she hasn't thought to buy a new cloak.
"Would you mind if I borrowed your cloak?" she asks Zuko. He shrugs and turns to his knapsack, handing her the cloak a moment later. "Thanks. Well...I'll see you in a week."
"See you then."
She stands a moment longer, then turns and leaves. When she turns to close the door behind her, the room is dark again; he's already extinguished his flame.
She listens to the quiet snick of the door as it closes.
Aang feels happy.
There's nothing better, he thinks, then flying through the sky, your girlfriend beside you, headed towards a tropical paradise.
And, truth be told, knowing that Zuko is far away.
He was a little jealous at first, he'll admit it. When they first arrived back, and Zuko and Katara were spending an awful lot of time together. Lots of little conversations, and whenever one disappeared the other would also conveniently vanish. But Toph had talked him out of it.
We're talking about Zuko and Katara, she had said. Are you crazy? They took ages just to become friends. Besides, the only thing they've got in common is you. Right, Sokka?
Sokka hadn't said anything, just raised an eyebrow, but Aang had felt a lot better after that little pep talk, even if Toph had called him a moron afterwards and punched him in the arm. It made him feel a little guilty now — how could he even think Katara would like Zuko in that way? He could almost laugh at the ridiculousness of it.
And she's next to him right now, saying something about how beautiful the sunrise is. It's a perfect moment, he thinks. He leans over and kisses her deeply; after a moment, Katara breaks the kiss.
"You should really watch where we're flying, Aang," she says.
"There's nothing but clouds up here, Katara," he points out.
"Yes, but...I have to check the map, I'll be back soon."
"The map can wait."
"Just in case. You don't want to end up having to change our course and tire Appa out, right?"
"I guess," Aang says, his happy mood fading a little. Didn't she realise he was trying to have a moment?
Well, that's alright.
They have a whole week to themselves anyway.
That night, Katara begins to truly realise that she has never travelled alone with Aang. There have always been others around, and perhaps that's why Aang fetches the firewood but forgets to collect cooking water; why he starts finding food for Appa and leaves Katara to cook the entire evening meal.
"Need any help?" he asks, returning to the clearing just as Katara is preparing the bowls.
"It's already done."
She doesn't mean to sound annoyed, but perhaps Aang hears something in her voice, because his smile fades.
"Sorry, Appa needs a lot of grass and this area seems pretty well-grazed already. It took a lot longer than I thought — "
"It's okay, I think it's sweet you spent so long making sure Appa found food. He'll need a lot of energy for the journey," Katara says, wanting to make Aang smile again. She hands him a bowl and he brightens up.
It's easy to make him smile.
By the second night, the grazed pastureland has given way to lush rainforest. Aang wants to spend the night in a copse of banana-mango trees, excited about the delicious fruit, but Katara manages to talk him into camping by a stream instead.
"I'm just going to practise some waterbending," she tells Aang after dinner. He jumps to his feet.
"I'll come with you. I could do with a little practice myself."
They find a small pool not far downstream, where the water is still but not stagnant. Katara strips to her underclothes, arranging her garments neatly upon a nearby rock. When she turns back around, Aang is staring at her.
"You look really good," he says, blushing.
"Oh. Well...thanks. So, I thought I'd start with some basic yoga, then run through some water-streaming together, maybe some water shields too?" Katara stretches her arms overhead, adapting the mountain form.
"Sounds great!"
This is nice, Katara thinks as they practise forms together. It's good to finally get some serious practice in. Aang is having a lot of fun creating massive ice-walls; Katara spends a lot of time on streaming water, as it seems to have suffered the most from the scar on her palm.
They finish just after sunset, when there's still a faint light across the water. Katara makes her way over to a rock, sitting down and wringing her hair. Aang sits next to her and after a moment, puts an arm around her waist and pulls her close. For a moment, Katara tenses slightly, then she tries to relax.
"Doesn't the moon look beautiful tonight?" he says. Katara reaches for a brush and begins to style her hair, gazing at her reflection in the stream. She watches the reflection of the moon shimmer beside her face.
"I wonder if Yue ever gets lonely," she says distantly. "Do you think she feels sad?"
"I'm sure Yue's happy." Aang pulls her close; startled by the movement, Katara drops her brush. It falls into the stream, her reflection broken by the ripples. She leans down to pick it up, breaking Aang's embrace.
"Hey," he says suddenly, "what's that?"
Katara looks. He's pointing at the arrow injury, between her elbow and shoulder. Unlike Azula's souvenir, she's managed to heal it very well. Only a thin white line is visible, one on each side of her arm, and it's hardly noticeable unless someone's looking closely.
"Just an old scar," she says.
"From what? I never noticed it before."
"It's just..." Katara shrugs. "It's nothing. Just an old scar."
Aang looks at her for a long moment. "You know," he says, "you never told me much about those three months you were away."
"I did, remember?" Katara starts playing with her necklace, feeling inexplicably anxious. "Zuko was poisoned, but I managed to heal him and we left for the Earth Kingdom, to find his mother."
"Katara..." Aang trails off. "You know, if you ever have to talk to anyone...I mean, I'm your boyfriend, you can tell me anything." He smiles, but Katara can see it takes effort. "You know that, right?"
"I know, I just..." But she still can't tell him, not yet. She can't bring herself to have that conversation, not tonight. She's tired, she wants to sleep. She doesn't want to relive it all. Azula...
Aang looks away, disappointment clear in his face. "It's okay. I understand."
Katara searches for something to say. Something reassuring, something to make him smile. Anything.
But she says nothing, and in the end Aang stands up and quietly leaves.
Katara sits by the stream for a long time, watching faint ripples break her reflection over and over.
Aang stares ahead, Appa's reins held loosely in his hands. It's the third day of flying now. Tomorrow, they should arrived at their destination. He thought this trip would be fun, he thought everything was fine... After last night, Katara seems more distant than ever and Aang can't think of how to fix it.
"Aang."
He turns. Katara — who had spent the day thus far at the back of the saddle, looking at the map — now stands up and walks to sit beside him.
"It was Azula," she says quietly.
"Azula?" he asks blankly. "What did she do?"
Katara holds up her hand.
"This."
Katara had felt wretched after Aang had left the stream. She had to tell him, she couldn't bear all this silence between them, but she couldn't...
She had crept back to the campsite long after Aang had fallen asleep, and bundled up Zuko's cloak. It had proved to make a most comfortable pillow. Lying there, face buried in the scarlet material, she could smell the aftershave he used, and it made his presence seem almost real. Aang wants to know what happened, she imagines herself telling him.
So tell him, he'd reply.
It's not that easy.
So? Nothing's easy.
Strength, she realises. Just a little strength. Azula will cross the Three Rivers, Zuko had told her once. And she will be happy again.
All it will take is a little strength.
So the next day, Katara tells Aang everything. The white rose, the lullaby, the star-shaped memory Azula left on Katara's hand. The assassins — every last detail. And Azula's death.
She waits for something from Aang. A sign, a clue, she's not sure what. Something. But although he nods and looks suitably sad in all the right places, there's something terribly empty about the whole moment, and she feels the distance between them more keenly than ever, as if Azula's name has sent an echo bounding along some great divide.
That night, she sleeps with Zuko's cloak beneath her head again.
Aang doesn't know what to do.
Katara told him everything that had happened, and while he appreciates her truth and honesty, he doesn't know what she wants from him. She kept looking at him...almost...expectantly, throughout the story. But he didn't know what else to do except nod and look sad. It's certainly odd, the way she spoke about Azula — almost as if the girl was an old friend...but Katara would never be friends with Azula, Aang knows. The princess had been nothing but a thorn in their side. What else was there to say about her? But Katara seemed to be waiting for something, so Aang mentioned how sad it was that she had died — after all, every life was a valuable gift from the spirits — but at least those around Azula could now live their lives free of fear.
And Katara had just looked at him, and then said, very quietly, that she had never feared Azula.
Aang hadn't known what to say to that either, so he'd just changed the subject and started talking about the narwhal-seals.
Katara didn't say much for the rest of the day.
The fourth and last day of travel. Before they embark, Katara leaves to bathe by the stream. She spends a long and leisurely time combing out her hair and staring at her clothes, neatly folded on a rock, with the silver bracelet sitting atop the pile.
Azula always lies, Zuko's voice whispers. Katara frowns. One last lie, bequeathed to her by a manipulative princess? Or a truth told by a regretful daughter? She walks over to the rock, water eddying around her ankles, and reaches out to take the bracelet and look closely at it. An anchor, for travel. A flame, presumably for Firebending. And that strange flower...a fire-lily?
The star-maiden, pouring vases of stars into the river. Katara stares at the bracelet for a long moment. Fire-lilies in her hair...
A footstep. She looks up sharply, grabbing her tunic.
"Aang?" she calls out. There's a slight pause, then —
"Yep, it's me." He sounds a little sheepish, and alarmingly close by. "Just, uh, just washing the cooking pot."
"Can you do that a little farther along? I'm still bathing."
"I know." A short silence. "I mean — obviously you are, because you sound close to the stream still, that's all, and, uh...I'm just going now."
Katara quickly dresses, the bracelet tucked away and her reverie forgotten.
Aang's glad Katara can't see him; he can feel the heat radiating from his face.
He doesn't know what came over him, honestly. He just thought maybe they were at a certain stage of their relationship... After all, they've done a lot of hand-holding and kissing, especially after the war, back at the Fire Nation, and some of the kissing got very intense...
He squirms a little, feeling embarrassed all over again. Sokka had discovered some romance scrolls left in the teahouse, the sort of stories that involved a lot of boudoirs and fainting and declarations of love and so on, and even though Sokka and him had mockingly read passages aloud and had a good laugh over it, there had been a particularly...memorable scene involving moonlit bathing and...
"Finished washing the cooking pot yet?" Katara asks, walking into the clearing. Aang scrambles madly, realising the unwashed pot is still sitting in the ashes of the camp fire.
"No — would you believe Momo stole it?" Not technically a lie, it's a question. Momo looks at Aang with an indignant expression.
"Well, he's always liked shiny things." Katara picks up her water flask and slings it across her shoulders. Aang casts around for a subject change.
"You look — you look very Fire Nation today," he blurts out. She's wearing a scarlet cloak and her hair is done in the traditional Fire Nation style.
"Oh."
"Well...I guess we'll get going now," Aang says.
Katara smiles at him.
"There it is!" She can't contain her excitement. They could be this close to finding Ursa...
And if this is Ursa's home, what a truly perfect place. Nestled in a small valley of lush rainforest and beautiful green rivers is a collection of thatched huts and paths lined with palm leaves. Villagers with wide eyes emerge to watch Appa land; the children gasp and immediately run towards them as the adults hang back, looking slightly wary.
"Hi!" Aang begins, landing gracefully before them, but Katara nudges him. She knows the small-village mentality and nobody is going to just start handing over information. She spots an elderly woman with beautiful clothes and an elaborately-carved cane, and makes a beeline for her. Village elder, definitely.
"Nice to meet you," she says, bowing low. "I'm Katara." She remembers, too late, that she's supposed to be keeping a low profile, but something tells her that the Wanted posters haven't reached this tiny tropical village.
"Aunt Yira," the elderly woman says in return. "Welcome to our village." She cracks a wide, toothless grin and Katara smiles in return.
Soon enough, she and Aunt Yira are chatting away while Aang amuses the children with airbending tricks. Yira has lived in the village since she was a little girl, Katara learns, and knows the coast like she knows her own children. And grand-children. And great grand-children."'But they don't visit enough," Aunt Yira complains. "Seven have already left our village to seek their fortune. I only have twelve left."
"My Gran-Gran would say exactly the same," Katara says. "It's been a long time since I've seen her, but I miss her so much."
Aunt Yira leans over and pats her hand. Now, Katara thinks.
"Actually, that's why we're here. We're looking for a relative of a friend's. Her name is Ursa."
She waits. No recognition. Aunt Yira looks at her blankly.
"I'm afraid I don't know that name, dear. Are you sure you've come to the right place?"
"She might have gone by another name," Katara presses. "Maybe..." What? What name would Ursa use? Katara uses 'Kanna' as her false name, would Ursa do the same? What was her mother's name? Katara could cry with frustration. They could be this close to finding Ursa, but because she never even bothered finding out any details about Ursa —
"Rina."
Katara turns. Aang stands beside her, smiling brightly.
"Rina," he repeats. "She could be going by that name. Or Ta Min."
There's a short pause. Katara's heart seems to hang for a moment. Then —
"Oh, Ta Min. Let me just get my grandson, Jiro."
Aang grins at Katara.
"Rina is her mother's name. Ta Min is her grandmother. When we were back at the Fire Nation, Zuko showed me their portraits. Ta Min had blue eyes, did you know? And she was married to Avatar Roku. I guess Avatars have a thing for blue-eyed girls." He nudges her.
Katara barely registers his words. This could be it...the end of the search.
The silver bracelet hangs heavy on her wrist.
Katara stands in the musty shop, trying to figure out the connection between the scruffy boy in front of her and Ursa. His name is Jiro, and he's about Katara's age, with a mop of unruly brown hair and a friendly smile.
"Welcome to the shop," he says grandly, setting down a handful of shells and sweeping an arm around. Wood shavings drift through the air; the strong smell of sawdust fills the room. Surfboards lean against the wall. Nearby, another boy is industriously sanding a long plank of cedar wood. "So, you want to go through the pit, huh?" Jiro asks. "No problem."
"The pit?" Aang asks, sounding half-concerned and half-curious.
"Yep. If you want to visit Ta Min, you'll have to go through it. She's a pretty cool lady, but man, she doesn't make things easy for visitors." Jiro laughs. "Come on, I'll show you." He reaches up and takes a hat from a peg, dusts the wood shavings from it and crams it onto his head.
Katara and Aang follow him outside.
"Be back soon," he calls to his grandmother. Aunt Yira waves at him.
They go along the village path but soon leave it, and Katara begins to understand what Jiro meant when he said Ursa made things difficult for visitors. They walk a narrow path through the rainforest, and without Jiro there as a guide Katara knows they would be hopelessly lost. A dead-end is revealed to simply be a fringe of ferns that require pushing aside; a wide and deep-looking river is revealed to be crossable — as long as the secret stepping stones are used. Katara nearly walks past the last obstacle — a very small cave opening.
"In here," Jiro calls out.
"Ursa — uh, Ta Min lives in a cave?" Aang says disbelievingly. Jiro laughs.
"Just follow me." He wiggles through the tiny entrance, followed by Aang and lastly Katara. Once inside, she realises the cave is quite spacious, but filled with water. They stand on a narrow ledge just above the tide.
"Well, I can leave you here now. Don't worry, it's easy to find — just swim straight ahead and you'll be there in no time," Jiro says. Katara takes off her outer clothes and pauses, then hands them to Aang.
"You want me to carry them?" Aang asks, confused, and Katara bites her lip.
"Listen, Aang...something tells me that I should go alone."
He looks at her with a hurt expression. "But we came all this way together — "
"I know, and I'm sorry. But something tells me that it would be better this way." Katara can't help it; she's always trusted her instincts and this time, the feeling is too strong to ignore.
"Hey, Katara's right," Jiro says cheerfully. "Ta Min, she's not exactly keen on visitors — as you can probably tell. Might be a little overwhelmed to have so many guests at once, you know?"
Aang looks at Katara, then frowns. "I guess," he says. "Well...I'll see you soon?"
"Thanks for understanding, Aang. I promise I won't be gone long." She turns to Jiro and nods. "I'm ready."
"Okay. Dive right in and keep swimming in a straight line. Keep your eyes open, you'll see the exit."
Without further ado, Katara dives into the water. It's a long dive, even for an experienced swimmer like herself, and she considers waterbending the water away, but soon enough she can see sunlight cutting through the water above and she emerges, water streaming through her hair. She's sitting in a small rockpool, surrounded by rainforest, but she can see a narrow track nearby and, after waterbending her clothes and hair dry, she follows the path.
The smell of the ocean. Katara hurries as the forest begins to thin out and the soil becomes drier, sandier.
Then, suddenly, she's standing on the top of a cliff, overlooking a wide curve of beach. She stands for a moment, taking it all in. The white crescent of sand, the shallow aquamarine water. The trees bending slightly in the sea breeze. And then, at the far end of the beach, a little hut with bamboo walls and a thatched roof. A small garden, overgrown and wild. A woodpile, stacked neatly by the garden. Washed laundry billows out along the veranda. Wind chimes — made of shell and driftwood — send a melodic noise into the air. Katara takes in every detail.
She turns slowly. That's when she sees her.
A woman, standing with her back to Katara. A parasol over one shoulder. Hair flying out behind her. It's exactly like Katara's dream, except there's no little Azula holding Ursa's hand. Katara holds her breath as Ursa turns to look over her shoulder.
Their eyes meet.
Aang sighs and paces the clearing, a little bored. It's been a very long time since he last saw Katara, and Jiro isn't exactly the chatty type. He asks Aang if he surfs — a little, Aang says — and then he plucks three twigs from a casuarina tree and begins braiding them, settling down nearby and looking far too comfortable for someone perched on a jagged rock.
A splash. Aang nearly drops his glider, then races over to the mouth of the cave. Katara emerges, waterbending herself dry as she does so, and reaches for her clothes.
"Thanks, Aang."
"Did you see her?" Aang demands, too impatient to wait.
"Yes."
Aang's mouth falls open. It's true. Zuko's mother is right here. "Well — what did she say?" he asks, agog. "What happened?"
Katara just smiles and shakes her head.
"We'll come back in a week with Zuko," she tells Aang. He tries suggesting staying longer in Half-Moon Bay — he'd love to spend some time actually relaxing and looking for the giant narwhals — but Katara looks at him as he's sprouted six noses.
"He's been missing her for years, Aang."
"So what's another week to him, then?"
Katara seems a little cold towards him after that statement, and Aang hurriedly backpedals.
"We'll go back to Ba Sing Se as soon as possible, and get everyone ready."
"No. Only Zuko's going."
"What? But — "
"This isn't some holiday trip, or a group adventure. It's a personal family reunion."
"So? Zuko won't mind if we tag along — "
"No," Katara says firmly.
Aang is a little sullen after that. He can't help it. He was very much looking forward to witnessing Zuko's happy reunion with his mother.
They leave the village that afternoon, and by eventide, they are far away.
Katara feels a little guilty about being so abrupt, but Aang doesn't understand, she thinks. If she had the chance to see her mother again, the last thing she'd want would be a crowd of guests, taking up her mother's time and making her feel as if she couldn't really show her true emotions. No; this isn't about Aang, or the others, or anyone except Zuko.
She closes her eyes against the bright sunlight and gathers Zuko's cloak around herself.