Something big must have happened last night after everybody went to bed, because next thing we knew in the morning, Katara was asking to borrow Appa to go on a trip with Zuko of all people, making Aang look to them as he was feeding Appa hay. "Why? Is it your turn to take a little fieldtrip with Zuko?" He was just joking, but when Katara didn't so much as smile, merely answered with a cold affirmation, Aang began to realise that something was up. "Oh. What's going on?"

"We're going to find the man who took my mother from me." Everybody froze, Sokka putting down the flower necklace he'd been working on in order to stand up severely as I stopped playing a game with Momo in order to look over.

"Sokka told me the story of what happened. I know who did it, and I know how to find him." Zuko informed everyone as we started to gather together in order understand what was happening.

"Umm...and what exactly do you think this would accomplish?" Aang was resistant, not liking the idea of going after someone for the sake of revenge and Katara could see it, making her sigh and shake her head, beginning to walk away.

"I knew you wouldn't understand."

"Wait, stop, I do understand." Calling after her, Aang started to try and reason with Katara as I carefully studied her face. I've never seen so much agony and hate in her expression before. It was deep set into her bones, years of inner scarring that refused to heal. "You're feeling unbelievable pain and rage. How do you think I felt about the sand benders when they stole Appa? How do you think I felt about the Fire Nation when I found out what happened to my people?" I flinched without even thinking.

"She needs this, Aang." Zuko argued, standing on Katara's side. "This is about getting closure and justice."

"I don't think so. I think it's about getting revenge."

"Fine!" Katara yelled, her anger breaking out in her frustration to make Aang unable to understand. "Maybe it is. Maybe that's what I need. Maybe that's what he deserves."

"Katara, you sound like Jet."

"It's not the same. Jet attacked the innocent. This man, he's a monster." Trying to calm his sister down and make her see that this wasn't what she should be doing, Sokka stepped up to her.

"Katara, she was my mother too, but I think Aang might be right."

"Then you didn't love her the way I did." I could see Katara beginning to break, tears starting to rise to her eyes as Aang continued trying to reason with her whilst I put Momo up on my shoulder, his tail curling around my neck for balance.

"The monks used to say that revenge is like a two headed rat-viper. While you watch your enemy go down, you're being poisoned yourself." Zuko drawled with a roll of his eyes.

"That's cute, but this isn't air temple pre-school. It's the real world."

"Now that I know he's out there, now that I know we could find him, I feel like I have no choice." Clenching against the feelings that were probably tormenting her, Aang tried to tell Katara that the best path was forgiveness, to which Zuko disagreed and said forgiveness was the same as doing nothing.

"No it's not. It's easy to do nothing, but it's hard to forgive." Although these were all very wise words and very suitable coming from the Avatar of all people, it wasn't enough for Katara whose face darkened considerably as she walked away.

"It's not just hard, it's impossible." I had stayed put all the while, distancing myself from the argument in order to think. I could see the logic behind both sides, but for me, I think I would do pretty much the same thing if I were in Katara's shoes. For a daughter, a mother means everything to her. Of course a child naturally loves both parents equally when there is balance, love and harmony in the family, but there's always a natural pull towards your mother, who carried and nursed you since young, the person who you turned to for comfort when things were hard. A father was a figure of strength, but a mother was an even deeper strength no one could compare with. Katara must miss her so much.

For the rest of the day there was a tense air around the campsite, no one really talking much as Katara walked around with a face of thunder and everybody tiptoed around her as not to set her off. I knew full well that nothing was going to stop her, so come nightfall I was already waiting for them to go get Appa whilst Sokka and Aang were hiding behind a rock, waiting until they appeared, all clad in black. "So you were just going to take Appa anyway?" Aang demanded as he and Sokka revealed themselves, Katara tying back her hair.

"Yes."

"It's okay, because I forgive you." Speaking seriously, Aang then looked up with a hopeful grin. "That give you any ideas?"

"Don't try to stop us." Getting frustrated with his sister, Sokka spotted me watching everything from where I was perched on a rock and turned to me desperately for help.

"Kayo! Talk some sense into her, Katara will listen to you." He begged but I shook my head.

"Actually, I agree with Katara and Zuko." Katara looked up at me with hope, smiling towards me as I slid down the rock and approached her. "You need to go face this man, because otherwise it's going to haunt you for the rest of your life, but there is something I'd like to say. Will you please hear me out?" I requested, knowing that lecturing Katara when she wasn't willing to listen would be hopeless, so I went for a different approach. She nodded her head, indicating she was willing so I placed my hands on her shoulders so that we were entirely focused on each other. "When you find this man, I want you to face him, and when you've got him pinned, I want you to stop."

"I'm not…"

"Just listen." I interrupted, giving her an imploring look so she scowled but stopped talking. "I want you to stop, take a deep breath, then think. Think about what kind of man he looks like, how it makes you feel to look at him, and whether you are really committed to taking the revenge you want." I said to her and her face softened as she listened to me. "I know how much you love your mother, so facing the person who took her away from you is the only way you're going to face your own demons, but please. Please stop and think before you decide to make the final blow. He may be a monster…but that doesn't mean you should give him the satisfaction of making you into one as well." Her eyes widened at that as I squeezed her shoulders, looking at her firmly. "Killing in cold blood does something to the soul Katara, it'll affect you for the rest of your life, and I don't want to see that happen to you. However, whatever your final decision may be, just know that I'm with you, and I'll be here for you when you get back." I promised her, brushing aside her hair before I then opened my arms.

She dove into them, hugging me tightly as I stroked back her hair and whilst her face was hidden, I looked at Zuko. I told him with a single look that he better look after her, that she better come back safely, and that no matter what happens, he would keep her from making a decision she would regret, whichever that decision may be. Drawing back Katara took a deep breath before turning to Aang. "You're not going to stop me Aang, I've made my mind up."

"I wasn't planning to. This is a journey you need to take." Aang finally relented, deciding that instead of trying to dissuade her from going altogether, a different approach was needed. My approach. "You need to face this man, but when you do, please don't choose revenge." He said to her as she and Zuko climbed up onto Appa who lifted his head, registering that he'd been flying off soon. "Let your anger out and then let it go. Forgive him."

"Okay, we'll be sure to do that, guru-goody-goody." I rolled my eyes at Zuko. That had been a little unnecessary.

"Thanks for understanding Aang. Yip-yip." Appa took off without hesitation, more than comfortable with all of us to fly away even without Aang, leaving the rest of us behind and we watched them disappear into the sky forlornly.

"You know, you're pretty wise for a kid." Sokka said after a while, making me glance his way.

"Thanks, Sokka."

"Usually it's annoying but right now, I'm just impressed." Where was he going with this? I'm suspicious.

"I appreciate that."

"So…can I borrow Momo for a week?" Both of us frowned at Sokka in confusion, having not even the slightest clue as to why he would need Momo for a week. Hearing his name, Momo looked up from the nut he was eating before scampering up and around my leg, climbing all the way to my head.

"Why do you need Momo?" Sokka shrugged, like even he didn't know the reason so I lifted Momo off my head and hugged him protectively, giving Sokka a look that dared him to try take Momo away before I sauntered off with him in my arms.