A/N: This chapter was really long so I had to cut it in half, which is why this won't seem too long. But that means the update will be faster. :D

This is how we'll dance when they try to take us down. This is how we'll sing it. This is how we'll stand when they burn our houses down.

This is what will be oh glory. Reaching as I sink down into light. - Let the Flames Begin, Paramore

Chapter 24 - Let the Flames Begin

I must have drifted off to sleep because I wake to pitch black skies, the only light the soft glow from the moon. I have no idea what time it is, but Azula and Ty Lee must be asleep because it's utterly silent apart from the familiar noises of night dwelling creatures.

Do you really think they're both sleeping? a voice says to me, oddly sounding like my brother's. No. Of course not. One will be keeping watch while the other sleeps. Well, there goes my wild, terribly thought out plan of shooting them in their sleep. I wouldn't make it past the entrance of the tent, most likely. I've spent plenty of time sneaking around Province 9 but I'm not nearly as stealthy and quiet as Suki or Zuko.

Suddenly and reluctantly guilt gnaws at me. Ever since I went after Sokka, I've tried not thinking about my last encounter with Zuko. I try replaying what happened in my head but it's too hazy. All I know is thinking about him for too long stirs a handful of emotions inside me. And I have no time or desire to figure them out. Sokka is my priority right now, and I force any thoughts that don't revolve around him out of my head.

I'm careful not to lose my footing as I scale down the tree, pausing every few branches to listen for any sign of detection. When I reach the bottom, I sift through the leaves to retrieve my arrows. The quiver's strap is still broken, but I may be able to fix it. Or, at least, fix it enough so it's still useable. But I don't want to fix it here, so close to Azula and Ty Lee. I'll need to put some distance between us to be safe.

Quietly, I stack my remaining arrows in the quiver and start moving away from their camp. Dark shadows loom around every corner, playing tricks with my eyes. It's startling how an imagination can somehow draw up what would normally be considered irrational images in the dark. Or how the mind registers the natural sound of a scurrying animal to an advancing tribute, ready to pounce and attack the first chance they get. I've never been so unnerved by the dark before. The moon has always brought me comfort, solace in the darkest of nights. But even now, as I move silently through the arena with the moon burning brightly above me, I feel nothing. No comfort, no reassurance. Maybe it's not the fact that it's dark that's so discomforting. Maybe it's because I have no one to walk with me through it.

I don't stop walking until dawn, and that's when I try to fix my quiver. Since the strap has snapped, I have to tie the torn end around one of the loops on the quiver. It's not a sturdy fixing, and will most likely snap again under tense situations, but it'll have to work for now because my satchel isn't big enough to hold all the arrows. Once I finish, I follow the sweet melody of bright red birds. I have to climb high in a tree but I find a nest with three eggs.

"Sorry birdies," I say, and place the eggs carefully in my satchel before moving back to the ground. I use the spark rock to start a fire, and cook the eggs on a smooth stone. I put out the fire and then I'm back on my feet, wading through the forest.

"You could really use a bath," a voice says, cutting through the silence. "I could smell you across the arena."

I whirl around, stringing an arrow in a blur of movement. My gaze lands on a pair of milky green eyes in the trees, the tip of the arrow aimed straight for her chest. She's barefoot, dirty and camouflaged perfectly with the natural greenery around her. Tiny pieces of bark stick out in all directions of her raven black hair.

"So could you," I say. "You shouldn't sneak up on people, you know. Could be the last thing you ever do."

Her lips twitch into a smile. "You're different from the last time I saw you."

"Thought you were blind," I say, before I can stop myself.

"Just because I'm blind doesn't mean that I can't see," Toph explains. "You see the world with your eyes—with your colors and pictures. I see in what you call the dark—I see everything you don't."

I lower the bow slightly and stare at her. She stares back at me, like she really does see me. "What do you want?" I bark, preparing to fire an arrow should she jump at me. I made the mistake of underestimating her once and I won't be doing that again.

Toph drops to the ground, but makes no move to come any closer to me. "I was wondering if you've thought about my proposition," she says. "The tunnels are more or less complete."

Immediately my gaze sweeps the trees, as though I'll be able to see the Elites holding the Watchers. Or maybe I'm searching for a beam of lightning, a ray of fire, to kill us where we stand.

"Be quiet," I hiss. "Do you want to get us killed? You can't say things like that."

"Relax, Sugar Queen," says Toph, waving me off. She picks at something in her teeth and then spits on the ground. "No one is recording this and none of the Elites are even within hearing distance."

"Why?" I can't help but ask, even though I have no idea how she could possibly know this.

A pause. "They've found something more interesting to record than you walking alone through the arena."

Panic surges in me. "Like what?" I demand. "How do you know this?"

"Because I can feel it," she says. "I feel the vibrations in the earth; that's how I can Earthbend and see."

I'm already on the move, barely listening to her. When I hear vibrations and Earthbending and seeing, it immediately reminds me of the Badgermoles. How they are blind but can still Earthbend. Interesting, but irrelevant at the moment.

"If Sokka's in danger I have to find him." I brush Toph in the shoulder as I pass, hardly noticing. Even though I don't say it, Sokka isn't the only one I'm concerned about. "Tell me where they are."

"I don't know which one is him," she says, sounding frustrated, and suddenly the grounds shakes and I'm blocked by an enormous wall of rock and dirt; I whirl around to face Toph, eyes wide.

"What are you doing?" I demand angrily.

"Are you even listening to me?" Her voice is bossy and impatient. She points at me, shaking her hand. "I'm giving you a way out while the Elites are too busy trying to record the fighting that they won't even notice us!"

"I don't care!" I say, breathlessly. "I don't care if you've found a way out. If you want to go then go, but I'm not leaving my brother behind like you did Matsu!"

Toph's eyes flash. "I didn't leave him behind! That prince killed him while he was hunting for our food."

I should probably be surprised but I'm not. And I don't even care.

"Part of the game, isn't it?" I say, throwing back her earlier words. "Why do you even want me to go with you?"

"Because you and I are alike," she says. "Everyone underestimates people like you and me. And they shouldn't."

"You're willing to leave everything you know behind," I say, "and I'm not. How does that make us alike?"

She takes a step toward me and crosses her arms. "You might not be willing to but that doesn't mean you won't do it."

"I won't," I insist through gritted teeth.

"Well guess what? There are a lot of things you won't do, and winning these Games is one of them," she says. "If you go after your brother, one of you will die, if not both of you. Do you understand that? Your only chance is to run. You won't live if you don't."

"I will never turn my back on the people who need me," I say, low and quiet. "If you start running now, they'll never let you stop, Toph. That's no way to live."

"And playing the Capital's game is?" Her voice rises in anger. "I'd rather die trying to escape than live by their rules."

I almost smile at her, because her words sound like something I would say if I didn't know anything about the world we live in. It even sounds like something Sokka would say. But the both of us have seen a glimpse of the Capital's wrath. We know what they can and will do. Even if, by some miracle, I did escape the Games, then what? I might as well ask the Capital to kill my dad and attack Province 9, because surely that's what they will do. They will destroy everything that means anything to me. And even if it means I get to live past these Games, I could never bring that kind of destruction on anyone.

"I just can't afford to think like that," I say to Toph, and turn my back on her, wishing I can say more. I wish I can explain to her why I can't go, but I don't know if she will even understand. Does she realize what running away will do to her family? Does she even have a family? Does she realize that I can't be that selfish?

Toph is silent, and then suddenly the wall crumbles to the ground, no longer blocking my path. Thank you, I want to say, but instead I glance over my shoulder without looking over it. "I hope you escape, and I hope no one suffers because of it. Maybe we'll even see each other again someday."

It's a lie, and we both know it.

"Run about a mile east of here," she says. "That's where you want to go." I start to take off and she adds, almost a little reluctantly, "The prince needs to win. His life is worth more than yours, mine or your brothers. He could change everything—remember that."

I pause, slightly bewildered, but manage a detached sort of nod. Zuko could change everything. What does she mean by that? Of course his life is worth more than mine—he's the prince of the Fire Nation. But I still don't see how that means he could change everything, or anything, for the matter.

I force myself to shake off all thoughts around Zuko—because I can't stand feeling guilty, and that's all I feel when I think of him. I'm on the run again, an arrow already strung and ready to be fired. If things are as bad as Toph says, then I can't let my guard down even for a second. I leap over roots and sprint past the trees, careful not to trip. I run about a half mile before I start to tire, but I push past, ignoring the cramp in my side. I don't know the last time I've run this fast but I can't stop now.

It starts to thunder, and then heavy raindrops fall from the sky. I pause only a second to let it splash on my face, washing off all the dirt and mud I had caked on earlier. I take advantage of the rain to bend some of into my mouth for a quick drink. I wish I still had that pouch, because my quiver won't work—there are openings in the bottom that will stop the water from staying inside. The rain is coming down hard now, making it harder for me to see. I can bend some of it away as I run, but then I'd have to put my bow away, which I can't do. If I run into a tribute, I'll shoot my first arrow and then bend.

That's when I hear it, over the pounding rain and rumbling thunder. A scream rippling in agony, chilling me to the bone. A very horribly familiar scream. It's even more terrible because I've never expected my brother to make that kind of sound.

Now I fling my bow behind me and keep one hand curled around the arrow, using my spare hand to bend away the water so I can see better. Nothing can slow me down now—not the storm or the rain or the thunder. I run toward the scream blindly, not caring what's waiting for me when I find Sokka, not caring if it's a trap or who is hidden in the trees, poised for attack. Rational logic has left me. I push past the trees, shouting his name. I'm running so fast all I see is a haze of washed down colors.

I break through a clearing, out of breath and winded, and brush my wet hair from my face. The storm has tainted the colors of the arena to murky shades of green and brown. I raise a hand to bend away the water from my line of vision, and that's when I see him. Curled on the ground, across the clearing, his back pressed against the wide base of a tree.

My heart stops, and suddenly I can't move. As though sensing my presence, he looks up. Even through the blurry haze of the pounding rain, I can still make out his face: horror, pain, anguish, flashing across his features, leaving me terrified. But his face only holds my attention for so long. A sword has punctured through his stomach, spilling his blood and staining the ground crimson. I know that sword…

Rage fills me from the inside out, rippling in waves of fury off my skin until it consumes me entirely and I hardly remember anything before this moment and this anger.

Sokka's eyes go wide and his expression twists into agony. "No..."

I hear something from behind but before I can react, something sharp digs into the small of my back.

"I wouldn't make any sudden movements if I were you," a smooth voice says. "Unless you want to end up like your brother over there."

I close my eyes and have to bite my tongue to keep quiet. I can taste the salt and rusty taste of blood in my mouth, but I swallow it down, instead of spitting and showing any kind of weakness. My arms, stiff at my sides, shake with tension and fury.

"Drop the arrow," the voice instructs gently. When I don't so much as move, the tip of a sword digs deeper and I'm forced to drop it. "Good girl. I didn't want it to come down to this, you know. I didn't want to have to kill you or your brother. But you just had to be so stupid, Katara."

My lips twitch, but I remain very still, not daring to turn around yet. With the sword pressed against my back, he'll drive it right through me before I can summon up any of the rain to my aid. My arms take longer movement to bend than his do to thrust a sword forward. He knows it, too. Wait for an opening, my dad would say. Wait.

I look at Sokka across the clearing, and his silence is the only thing keeping me quiet. If he was in any condition to fight, he would be by my side. The fact that he isn't saying anything—not even trying to stand up or move—shows me just how injured he really is. I have to get to him as soon as possible. The look he gives me is loud and clear: Don't do anything stupid.

"I'm sorry you have to see your brother die," the voice from behind goes on. "That wasn't planned. We all know he was going to die one way or another, but I'm sure he'd rather you didn't see it. I would have finished him off if that wretched girl from Twelve didn't come along."

Suki, I think, bewildered. If she came between him and Sokka, there's no way he left that fight unscathed. He'll be weakend, somewhere, if only I could have a look at him to find out.

"The Capital needs to be stopped," he says vehemently. "Starting with their heirs. And here we have a chance to end them. I thought you were like me, and could see that." The sword presses deeper into my back and even though I flinch, I force myself not to cry out, even though I can feel my skin breaking. "But then I saw the way you looked at that filthy prince and I just knew."

What he knew, I'll never know, because that's when Sokka gives a terrible, raspy cough and I know that's my opening. I freeze the water dripping down my arms to my fingertips, making ice daggers, and then whirl around and fling the daggers at Jet. He stumbles back and slashes out; the blade barely brushes my arm—Suki must have damaged his good arm, altering his aim.

Before he can gather his balance, I spring—there's no other word for it, really—faster than I've ever moved in my life, snatch the arrow from the ground, and slam into his body, knocking him to the ground; Jet's sword flies out of reach. Then with one fluent, quick motion, I slit his throat with the side of the sharpened arrow. I roll away into a crouch, ready to strike again. Jet, still on his back, clutches his bleeding throat with a hand. The color stains my vision and all I see is an angry, dark red.

He will probably die from blood loss but that's not good enough for me. I leap forward and pin him down, pressing my knees into his arms so he can't move.

"I wouldn't make any sudden movements if I were you," I throw back at him. I reach down and clutch his throat tightly to get his attention; blood oozes and seeps from between my fingers, sticky and warm and wet. Jet lets out a terrible sound and tries to throw me off, but I only tighten my grip harder, my nails digging into the bloody, cut flesh.

"Who else is here?" I demand, thinking of the fight Toph was talking about. "Where are the others? Where is Suki?"

Jet makes a kind of gurgling sound, but nothing coherent comes out. Still holding the arrow with my spare hand, I rake it across his face; he jerks under me.

"I will rip you apart piece by piece until there is nothing left if I have to!" My voice rings through the clearing. "Now answer me! Where are the others?"

I can almost hear my dad shouting at me to stop, but right now all I can think about is pain. I want Jet to suffer the way Sokka is suffering. I want him to hurt. To bleed. To feel everything my brother is feeling, because I'm so angry at myself for trusting him even as little as I did. He deserves to die for this. He deserves to die painfully.

"No…one…else," Jet chokes out. "Far…further…away."

"And Suki?" When he says nothing, I twist my fingers in his throat, tearing apart more skin. "Answer me!"

Jet cries out, and tears leak from his eyes. "Ran...away," he slurs.

"Katara...stop. Please, stop."

This time the voice is louder and I realize it's my brother, not my dad, and I'm not imagining it. My knuckles are blazing white from holding the arrow so tightly, and Jet's eyes flutter to mine, large and terrified, like he's staring at a monster. Dark red blood drips from his mouth, and I can feel the pulsing of his heart hammering against my blood coated hand. I lean down, until our faces are inches apart.

"I said I'd make it interesting when I killed you," I say, in a voice that's far too cold to belong to me, "but I think I like it better this way. Has anyone ever told you that you talk too much?"

He tries to speak but I raise the arrow and ram it straight through his throat, letting him drown in his own blood.

A/N: Little violent ending..lol. This was kind of inspired by Katara's irrational and dark anger we saw in The Southern Raiders, that sort of blind rage AKA Crazy Mode. Katara's real fighting comes out when she's emotionally involved, I think. As Zuko called out. :P Jet's pure hatred of the Capital actually has more of a backstory, but you won't find that out till the sequel. ;) It does kind of alter his thinking, just like his hatred for the FN does in the actual series. I tried to show that here in a couple of occasions. :P

Review Responses:

Brijearin: "mastering of their bending, can not happen for all characters. At least not while in the games. In the future, if the live through the games, it might happen, but right now I can see why they don't have it. Or should I say not all of them have it. Azula surely seems like she is at least close to it, if she has not already reached master status." - Exactly. Yes, I'd say Azula is a master in this story and Zuko is close. It really depends on what province they're from. All Fire provinces are taught how to fight with their bending; all others aren't, so they rely on natural skill or any training they snuck around to learn.

"She wasn't the strongest of the characters on the show, and honestly she did let her emotions cloud most of her actions for most of it. Why would that major character trait be different here?" - I quite agree. Personally, I felt like she went from terrible at Waterbending to Master way too quickly in the show. That's why she's no Master here; because it didn't seem realistic to me, based on her raw talent and the fact that she has no prior training. Unlike the series, she relies on the fighting her dad taught her rather than Waterbending, which is still new to her. Hence why she went for the arrow to stab Jet with versus using more water. She's more familiar with weapons than water at this point. And yes, she definitely lets her emotions cloud her actions. I too thought that trait would carry over to this story from the show. :D

"But I do want to ask, just what Zuko was likely feeling/thinking when the group had all been stung and everyone was falling asleep." - I feel like Zuko would have a thousand conflicting emotions playing in his head, which is why it's so hard for me to pinpoint a single answer. What were you thinking? I'm curious. :D

WinterD: "I am a little curious as to how the people watching this (like Hakoda, Hama, and definitely Pakku) have been reacting to Katara's little 'alliance' with Zuko." - I think everyone reacts differently. Hakoda would not care that Zuko is the Capital's prince and her ally; he only wants her to live, no matter what she has to do, who she has to ally with, to get to come home. Same with Sokka. If Katara being an ally with Zuko means Zuko saves her life-which he has-than Hakoda is all for it. Hama believes enough in Katara to know she's a smart girl, and I'd think would be able to see the redeeming qualities in Zuko. Pakku is probably slamming his head on a table somewhere, lol. Because he knows the danger of caring for people in the games. Backstory to come on that. :P

Random Reader: "I wasn't expecting her to have a sanity slip in this one, but it could make sense." - I don't think I'd call it insanity quite..but more like a really twisted idea of perfection. She's very much a 'no excauses, only results' type of person. She's also a very cold person who has grown up without feeling loved. She doesn't think of other people as human beings exactly, more like pawns at her disposal. She has no emotional connection to anyone. Killing Mai was like getting rid of a clock that no longer works.

"I'm a little confused as to why Mai was nervous about the apple." - Hitting a target is easy for Mai, of course, but she was nervous because it was on someone's head and ultimately this life was put in her hands. Mai can control her throw, but she can't control what Ty Lee will do. If Ty Lee flinches or moves, the knife could hit her. Mai doesn't like that kind of pressure.

"Azula's actions were definitely fear-inducing, but not very honorable. Since the whole thing is being broadcast, I can't see a way that will reflect positively for her public relations. A quick "you failed me- you're dead" would have, in my opinion, been better than leading Mai to believe she had a way of saving their alliance." - This is, I believe, one of the biggest differences in Zuko and Azula. Zuko strives to be seen as honorable to the world, while Azula strives to be feared. Ozai controls the world because of that fear; everyone is too afraid to stand up to the Capital. Azula knows it, and strives to be the same. By leading Mai to believe she could save their alliance and then kill her anyway only shows the public how failure is not accepted by the princess; just like it's not accepted by Ozai, as Azula even says to Mai.

In a world where people did not live in fear, Zuko would easily be the favorite; however, the world can't go against their own fear. There will be some who are inspired by Zuko, those who do not let their fear control them. But others and most will side with Azula, disgusted that the prince wouldn't ally with fire province tributes and thus see him as a traitor for fighting against them. In the end, everyone reacts differently, but it results in the same thing: no one does anytthing about it.

ShoeNinja: "which leads me to wonder why she ever even bothered with allies in the first place." - I'd hardly call them allies, more like pawns at her disposal. She never needed them; she used them. You'll find out why in later chapters. ;)

BlueRoses12121: "And how'd your date go? Was it sweet and romantic :)" - Lol when you've been together 5 years..it's hardly sweet and romantic. Just kidding, lmao. But really, it was nice, thank you! We're one of those traditional couples so we go to the same place for dinner every year on our anniversary and then we see a movie. We saw Beauty and the Beast in 3D! Such a classic. Makes me want to write a Zutara take on Beauty and the Beast...:D

Gryffygirl: " Are they going to do family interviews because that's what they did in THG?" - As of now, I'm not planning on it. And I love Harry Potter, by the way! Haven't seen the musical though. :P Heard it was funny! On a random note, I hope you liked Jet's death, haha. Things are starting to get gory now.

BG-13: "Will Katara bloodbend anytime soon?" - Well, that would depend on if a full moon is coming up or not. Which I cannot say. :D

"Will Zuko protect her from lightning like he did in the series finale?" - Cannot answer this either! lol Maybe, maybe not. You'll have to wait and see.

DestinyCrusader: "And Azula is that horrible, and it must have been hard to get into such a cruel mind" - What's even harder is trying to analyze and understand her because she's so twisted in her thinking and trying to EXPLAIN it without sounding crazy myself, lmao. And even some of her thinking makes sense for her character, considering how she's been brought up. She's definitely a tough character, though.

"I've been re-reading the Hunger Games, and at some points in your story I do feel a more emotional impact. Although maybe that's just because its ATLA. But no, you're really good at that part of the story." - Aw, well thank you! I think it's mostly because we know and love the ATLA characters. And I've really tried to make them part of the story, rather than just other tributes. Katara gets to know Zuko, Aang, Toph, Jet, Smellerbee, Suki, etc. Katniss has no connection to anyone in the games except Rue and Peeta, so we don't really care as much about the other characters. (Katniss was really frustrating for me, actually, but that's another story)

HunterX321: "This story is really shaping up to be good; however, I beg you not to let the sequel be as disappointing as Mockingjay." - Well, I certainly hope it won't be! lol I haven't read all of MJ on purpose because I've heard how angry people have gotten over it. And I know the ending...which makes me mad. So I'm kind of basing the sequel a little off MJ, the idea at least, but also season 3 from the actual show will come into play.