Chapter 62: Katara's Attempt At Downtime
The Misty Palms Oasis was not what Katara was expecting. She was expecting a luxurious resort, one filled with spas and smiling faces.
What it was, was a hive of unscrupulous characters; one big den of iniquity. On the mains street alone she counted at least twelve taverns, all with scantily-clad women lounging on balconies and besides the doors.
She noticed Aang looking at one such woman who was stood nearby. She grabbed his bald head and made him face forward.
Zuko cleared his throat awkwardly. "I did try to warn you."
She glared at him. Not willing to admit defeat she said, "Why don't we try going in there?"
She pointed at the cleanest looking bar she could see. Sokka said, "Uh, Katara? That's a bar. We're all, I don't know, kind of young to be going in. Except maybe Zuko. How old are you?"
Zuko ignored the question saying, "To be honest, I've been here before and they will serve anyone. Anyone. Regardless of age. Which is all the more reason for us to leave; you don't want to know what else you can find in these alleys."
Toph said, "Sparky, I've spent the last couple of years hanging around Earth Rumble fighters. You think I don't know what's happening in some of these places? Let's just say, my feet have really good hearing."
Zuko's face flushed. He said, "Regardless of what your feet can hear, none of us should be here. This place is renowned for muggers and cutthroats."
Toph waved him off. "We'll be fine. We," she gestured at herself, Katara, and Aang. "Are all Masters of our elements. You're pretty handy with those swords of yours and Sokka… Well, he's loud and can shout for help."
Sokka glared at the girl. "I can fight!"
She said flatly, "Yeah. Sure."
Zuko opened his mouth to argue further. Aang said, "Guys? Katara's just gone inside."
Zuko sighed. "Fine. We'll go in, look around, grab Katara, and then leave. Okay?"
Toph laughed. "Whatever, Sparky."
They followed after the Waterbender.
Logically, Katara knew that Zuko was right. They should have just left. However, she'd had a point to prove; though, as time passed, she was growing less and less about what point that was.
The interior of the bar was filthy. Both physically and morally. She wrinkled her nose at the smell of stale beer and body odour. She saw groups of men sitting around a card table, a pile of coins heaped in the middle.
Above her she could hear sounds that she didn't particularly want to dwell on. Repetitive thudding. The occasional grunt. A moan. One man swearing excessively.
She turned to leave immediately, only to find that the others had followed her in.
She said, "We should go. Shouldn't we?"
Zuko nodded. "Yep. Let's go, guys."
He turned to face them and found that only Aang was stood there. Sokka and Toph were over by the bar. Sokka appeared to be perusing a menu.
Zuko sighed and scrubbed a hand down his face. "Let's get them and get out."
He walked over, Aang and Katara following closely. He could feel far too many eyes on them in the bar; one man in particular, sat alone in the corner, was staring at them all intently. He appeared very old, with a thin, white moustache. He'd not stopped staring at them since they'd walked in.
Zuko hissed, "Sokka, what are you doing?"
"What? I'm thirsty. Besides, I've always been curious about alcohol."
Zuko said, "Now is not the time, or the place, to satisfy that curiosity. Let's go."
He put his hand on the boy's shoulder and steered him away from the bar.
Sokka shouted, "Hey!"
Zuko led them all outside. Aang looked towards where Appa was and gasped, "Those guys are trying to steal Appa!"
He hurried off towards his beloved bison. The others hurried after him
