Chapter 80: Peaceful or Deadly?
"WATERBENDING BOMB!" Katara screamed before leaping off the edge of the waterfall and into the lake below.
The force of her landing soaked Sokka, Toph, and Zuko, who were all sat on the shore, and it sent Aang flying through the water.
Sokka scowled at his sister. He said sarcastically, "Oh, sure, five thousand year-old maps from the Spirit Library. Just splash some water on 'em."
Katara shrugged and said, "Sorry."
She used her Waterbending to pull the moisture from the paper, drying the maps instantly.
She glanced over to see that Zuko's clothes were already steaming themselves dry as he raised his body temperature. He seemed to be trying to direct some of the heat towards Toph in order to dry her off.
She called, "Hey, Zuko? I got it."
He looked over and watched as she again used her Waterbending to dry Toph off.
The Earthbender said dryly, "I'd thank you, Sugar Queen, but considering you drenched me in the first place, I'll pass."
Katara shook her head, laughing. She caught the same expression on Zuko's face.
While she and Aang had been splashing around in the lake, occasionally pretending to practice their Waterbending, the other three had elected to remain on dry land. Toph because she couldn't swim; Sokka so that he could go over his maps; and Zuko claimed that he was keeping Toph company.
While Katara was sure that was part of the reason, she was more sure that it had to do with not wanting to remove his shirt in front of them. They'd all seen his collection of scars when he was almost killed by Azula, however the Firebender seemed to like to pretend they weren't there. While it wasn't the healthiest approach, in the Waterbender's opinion, she'd yet to find a way to bring it up tactfully.
She shook her and pushed away from the shore, back out into the centre of the lake where Aang was trying to bend himself into a large ice-cube. She smiled at her friend, glad to see that he was enjoying himself despite the events in the desert.
Aang had dried himself off with Waterbending and was sat cross-legged besides Sokka.
"So, did you figure out what route we're going to take?" He asked.
The Water Tribesman nodded. "I think so, yeah."
The others moved closer so that they could see the map better.
Sokka continued, "Okay, so we just got out of the desert, so we must be somewhere around here."
He gestured at an area of the map. "And Ba Sing Se is over here."
He pointed at a different area. "It looks like the only passage connecting the south to the north is this sliver of land called the Serpent's Pass."
Zuko shook his head. "I've been in that area before and I wouldn't recommend it."
Aang frowned up at him. "Why not?"
Zuko shook his head again. "Let's just say that it's not called the Serpent's Pass because of how it looks on a map."
Toph's face also settled into a frown. She said to Sokka, "You sure that's the best way to go?"
Sokka shrugged. "It's the only way. I mean, it's not like we have Appa to fly us there."
Katara jabbed her elbow into his ribs and hissed, "Shush up about Appa. Can't you at least try to be sensitive?"
Sokka grunted and clutched his side, glaring at her.
Aang held his hand up and said, "Katara, it's okay. I know I was upset about losing Appa before, but I just want to focus on getting to Ba Sing Se and telling the Earth King about the solar eclipse."
Personally, Zuko thought, he wouldn't describe nearly slaughtering a tribe of Sandbenders as just 'upset', but then again, the kid was the Avatar. Everything was on a grander scale. A normal twelve-year-old would be learning an element; Aang's learning four. Normal twelve-year-old had to go to school, while Aang has to war councils. Normal kid throws a temper tantrum, and Aang almost commits mass murder. Grander scale, that's all.
Katara said in a surprised voice, "Oh… well, okay. I'm glad you're doing better."
Sokka nodded. "Then to Ba Sing Se we go. No more distractions."
It was weird, Katara thought, how easily Zuko could just fade into the background.
She realised that he'd had a while to practice it while he'd been travelling up and down the Earth Kingdom, but still. He was born and raised as a Prince; surely he should be a little more noticeable?
When Than, his wife Ying, and his sister Noli appeared, the Firebender had seemed to shift out of focus, moving towards the back of their group.
"Hello there, fellow refugees!" Than said with a smile.
Aang said, "Are you guys headed to Ba Sing Se too?"
"Sure are," Than said. "We're trying to get there before my wife, Ying, goes into labour."
Katara glanced at the heavily pregnant woman with a critical eye and thought that they'd be lucky to do so. She looked ready to burst.
Out loud she said, "Great! We can travel through the Serpent's Pass together."
The colour drained from the three refugees' faces.
Ying said, "The Serpent's Pass? Only the truly desperate take that deadly route."
Toph punched Sokka's arm. "Deadly route, huh? Great pick, Sokka."
"OW!" Sokka yelled, clutching his arm where the small Earthbender had hit him. He pointed at Zuko. "He never said anything about it being deadly."
Zuko just shrugged, looking a little uncomfortable. "I've walked through the Pass. I survived."
Sokka couldn't argue with that logic. He said, "We are desperate."
Than shook his head. "You should come with us to Full Moon Bay. Ferries take refugees across the lake. It's the fastest way to Ba Sing Se."
Ying added, "And it's hidden, so the Fire Nation can't find it."
Katara idly noticed that Zuko had faded again, drifting into the background.
Katara turned her gaze to her brother with a thoughtful face. "Hmm… peaceful ferry ride, or deadly pass?"
