Chapter 12 - Thicker Than Water, pt. 2

When Katara and Zuko emerged downstairs after a good night's sleep, they found themselves alone with Kama, her other patrons either sleeping in or having already departed. The old woman quickly seated them at the kitchen table, bringing up a steaming pot of soup and filling Katara and Zuko's bowls. The familiar aroma of the five-flavor soup immediately reached Katara's nostrils, and her eyes widened in immediate understanding.

"This is delicious, Hama," Katara smiled, having savored a few spoonfuls of the thick dark broth. It tasted almost exactly like she remembered from when Gran-Gran had made it, which was a remarkable achievement, since she doubted Hama had all the right ingredients on hand. "Five-flavor soup, unless I'm mistaken?" she added innocently.

"Ah, so you do remember it," Hama gave her a knowing smile. "Yes, it all makes sense now. Your name, Katara, the accent, and recognizing the soup... you're a Southern Water Tribe girl, I'm sure of it."

"I am," Katara admitted. "But then again... so are you, Hama."

"But I am more than that," Hama replied mysteriously. At the wave of her hand, she bent the soup out of the pot, making it hover over the table. "Would you like some more?"

"I think we're good for now, thank you, Hama," Katara smiled, using her own bending to send the soup right back into the pot.

"And a waterbender, too," Hama gave Katara a fond stare. "I was the last waterbender of my generation among the Southern Tribes, before the Fire Nation raid captured me as well. I'm glad that someone else is continuing our traditions."

"That must be why I felt such instant kinship with you, Hama," Katara told the old woman.

"I agree, child," Hama smiled softly at her. "I never thought I'd meet another Southern waterbender. I'd like to teach you what I know, so that you can carry on the Southern tradition when I'm gone."

"It would be an honor," Katara bowed. She stole a quick glance at Zuko, and he gave her a reassuring nod, having carefully listened to their conversation. "When can we begin, Hama?" she asked eagerly.

"We can go right away," Hama replied. "There's a place further up the mountains, well away from the village. They must not see what I am truly capable of."

"Of course," Katara nodded in understanding. "Can Zuko accompany us?" she asked hopefully.

"I am... hesitant to reveal my secrets in the presence of your Fire Nation boyfriend, Katara," Hama frowned slightly. "No offense, young man."

"None taken," Zuko bowed his head lightly. "If you wish, I will stay behind, but you should know that I bear no loyalty to Fire Lord Ozai and his regime. In fact, Katara and I are looking for every opportunity to undermine him."

"Ah, to hear such words pleases my ears," Hama smiled. "Very well, you may come." She seemed to think of something. "Hmm, in fact... you may prove useful, after all..."

Half an hour later, they were walking along a rocky mountain path, Hama and Katara at the front, Zuko lingering a little behind them. "Growing up at the South Pole, waterbenders are at home, surrounded by snow, the ice and seas. But as you've probably noticed on your travels, that isn't the case wherever you go."

"I know what you mean," Katara nodded, instantly recalling that moment in the Crystal Catacombs beneath Ba Sing Se, when she hadn't been able to do anything in those dry caverns, there hadn't been a drop of moisture. If only she had access to some water... maybe Aang would still be with them today. "I feel so helpless on those occasions, like there's nothing I can do!"

"That's why you have to learn to control water wherever it exists," Hama lectured as they came to a halt. "Did you know that you could pull water out of thin air?" Hama focused on her surroundings, weaving her hands, and globules of water slowly began to form around her fingertips. She then froze the collected water, creating sharp needlelike projectiles which she released with a wave of her hand, sending all five ice needles to penetrate the bark of a nearby tree. "All you need to do is to keep an open mind, Katara," she turned towards her excited looking student. "There's water in places you've never thought about."

"May I try?" Katara asked hopefully. Hama nodded, observing her student with great interest. Katara closed her eyes and began to feel around for a source to use for her bending, trying to focus on the very air that surrounded them. She had never thought to search for water there, but now that she was making a concerted effort to locate it, she found it quite easy, feeling moisture starting to collect around her fingers as she worked through the familiar forms of bending. Soon enough, she had collected enough water to repeat Hama's trick, sending five ice needles to strike the nearby tree.

"Beautifully done, Katara," Hama looked greatly pleased and impressed. "I can immediately see that you are very talented. But we have more lessons to learn, so let's move on."

After another bit of climbing, the small group of three arrived at a tranquil mountain meadow, filled with tight clusters of blooming red flowers. "Oh, these flowers are so beautiful!" Katara gasped.

"Those are fire lilies," Zuko remarked with a conflicted look on his face. "They were... my mother's favorite flowers. They only bloom for a few weeks every year."

"That's right, young man," Hama nodded softly. "They're one of my favorite things about living in the Fire Nation. And like all plants, and all living things, they're filled with water."

"That reminds me of our meeting with a waterbender who lived in a swamp, and could control vines by bending the water inside them," Katara replied, remembering the strange inhabitants of the Foggy Swamp.

"Ah, but you can take it even further than that," Hama smiled enigmatically. She whirled around, draining the flowers surrounding them from all of their water, leaving behind only desiccated husks. Katara marveled at how much water Hama was able to extract from these simple plants, the old woman then launching several sharp shards of ice at a nearby boulder, taking off several solid slices with her attack.

"That was incredible!" Katara exclaimed, looking impressed.

"Indeed," Hama nodded. "Now, you try it."

"Very well," Katara spoke with determination, readying herself. She then glanced at the wide circle of wilted, dead flowers. "It's a shame about the lilies," she sighed, looking at Zuko, realizing that they were important to him.

"We can't afford any sentimentality, Katara," Zuko gave her an encouraging smile. "You know that better than anyone."

"Listen to your boyfriend, Katara," Hama smiled. "When you're a waterbender in a strange land, you do what you must to survive. Now go, give it a try."

Katara once again tried to feel for water in places she had never thought to search before, namely in the plants all around them. It was very easy to sense it, now that she knew what she was looking for. She repeated Hama's move without the slightest hitch, taking off a few more slices from the giant boulder nearby.

"You were born to do this, Katara, I can see that clearly," Hama said approvingly. "Let's move on, there is more climbing to be done, and then one final lesson. But to do so, we will need to wait for the nightfall."

"Is it something that can only be done in moonlight?" Katara wondered as they resumed climbing.

"Indeed, and tonight we will have not just any moonlight, Katara, but the moonlight of a full moon," Hama explained. "My power must be at its utmost, for I will attempt to teach you the ultimate technique of waterbending."

"I am so curious, Hama!" Katara exclaimed, even if she knew that it probably had something to do with the way Hama had been able to control those Fire Nation citizens whom she was keeping imprisoned in the mountain cave. "Can it only be used during full moon?" she asked.

"That's how it is for me, child," Hama looked at her. "Perhaps for someone more talented, they might be able to use this technique at will anytime they wished. And spirits know, you are the most talented waterbender I have ever laid my eyes on, Katara."

"That is very kind of you to say," Katara smiled at the old woman.

After a lengthy climb which lasted at least a couple of hours, Hama having to take the steeper bits slow, the old woman finally stopped. "This is where we'll stop and wait for the nightfall," she instructed them. "We have plenty of food with us, so you won't starve," she pointed at the basket Zuko had been forced to carry. "Now, I'll leave you on your own for a few hours, as I have some matters to attend to nearby. I trust that two young people in love will find ways to pass the time." Katara and Zuko both blushed deeply at the suggestion as Hama left them alone in the elevated forest clearing.

"Where do you think she went?" Katara wondered.

"To check on the prisoners in the cavern, I'm pretty sure," Zuko replied.

"Well," Katara let out a sigh. "Let's just hope Toph and Sokka are careful and Hama won't sense any foul play..."


When Hama returned several hours later, she appeared to act the same as before, allowing Zuko and Katara to breathe easily once again. Still, being stuck high up the mountainside with this dangerous old woman, was not exactly an experience either of them relished. The nightfall could not come fast enough, and as the full moon finally appeared in the sky, large and glowing, Hama rose from the log she had been sitting on, stretching her creaking old limbs as she readied herself.

"Can you feel the power that the full moon brings, Katara?" she smiled at the other waterbender, Hama somehow looking younger and a good foot taller than before. "For generations, it has blessed waterbenders with its glow, allowing us to do incredible things." She took a deep breath, looking at the moon above. "Yes... I've never felt more alive..."

Katara knew the feeling very well. The empowering energies of the full moon buzzed in her veins, echoed in her temples and made her dizzy with the power crackling at her fingertips. She felt like she could move mountains with a flick of her wrist. The sensation was deeply intoxicating as she stood in the clearing, facing Hama.

"What I'm about to show you, I discovered in that wretched Fire Nation prison they brought me to after I had been captured in a raid," Hama began to speak. "The guards were always careful to keep any water away from us. They pumped in dry air and had us suspended away from the ground before giving us any water. They would bind our hands and feet so that we couldn't bend. Any sign of trouble was met with cruel retribution. And yet... each month I felt the full moon enriching me with its energies. There had to be something I could do to escape."

"And you were successful in escaping," Katara said when Hama took a small pause from her story. "Tell me what you did, Hama."

"I simply realized that where there is life, there is water," Hama replied simply. "The rats that scurried across the floor of my cage were nothing but skins filled with liquid. And so, I passed years, developing the skill that would lead to my escape. Controlling the water in another body, Katara... otherwise known as... bloodbending."

Katara's eyes widened as she took an involuntary step back. She couldn't remember where she had heard this technique mentioned, but it was done with such disgust and pure horror, that it had stuck with her for years. Even Zuko looked disturbed as he stood at the edge of the clearing, uncertain of what to do.

"This is a technique that allows you to enforce your own will over other living bodies," Hama continued to explain. "Once I had mastered the rats, I was ready for the men." A grim smile settled on her lips as she took obvious pleasure from her memories. "During the next full moon, I walked free for the first time in decades, my cell unlocked by the very guards assigned to keep me in. Once you perfect this technique, Katara, you can control anything... or anyone."

Katara's initial reaction was genuine disgust at the very idea of reaching inside someone and controlling them, as she took another step back. She knew that she had suggested the plan with the idea of learning everything that Hama could teach her, but now that she knew the exact details of what it was, Katara could not help feeling conflicted, even if she knew that bloodbending would give her immense power and potential edge against their enemies in the upcoming battles.

"I can sense you are conflicted, Katara, but remember that this is not a choice for you to make," Hama spoke, sensing her hesitation. "This power exists and will continue to exist whether you choose to embrace it or not. And it is your duty to use the gifts you've been given to win this war."

"Katara?" Zuko called out to her. "I know this might feel very questionable, but... this is what you wanted, isn't it? This will make you so much more powerful."

"Katara, they tried to wipe us out!" Hama exclaimed passionately. "Our entire culture!"

"I know! They took my mother!" Katara cried back, tears spilling out across her cheeks. "And they took the Avatar from us! All hope is lost, unless... unless I do something."

"Then you understand what I'm talking about," Hama nodded in satisfaction. "We're the last waterbenders of the Southern Tribe! We have to fight these people wherever we can, wherever they are, with any means necessary!"

"You are right, Hama," Katara let out a sigh, lowering her head in acceptance.

"Then you are ready to learn?" Hama asked, receiving a nod in response. "Good. Now watch carefully. It's a good thing that you brought your boyfriend with us, Katara, I knew he would prove useful. Don't worry, this won't hurt too much," she grinned, starting to move her hands. As if on cue, Zuko let out a pained grunt as his limbs began to move on their own accord, robbing him of control over his own body.

"What are you doing?" Katara called out, genuinely distressed. "Let him go!"

"Would you rather I demonstrated bloodbending on you, Katara?" Hama replied, sounding quite pleased. "The only way you will learn is by observing!"

"Katara... she... she's right..." Zuko grunted, clearly in terrible pain as Hama paraded him all around the clearing, sometimes stretching his limbs into opposite directions or lifting him off the ground and tossing him about like a rag doll.

"That's enough, Hama! I've got it, already!" Katara finally cried out, tears in her eyes from having watched Zuko suffering for what felt like minutes turning into hours. As the exiled prince collapsed on the grass, finally released from Hama's grasp, Katara raced towards him, kneeling next to Zuko and trying to heal him, but finding no injuries to mend.

"I'll be alright, Katara, I'm not hurt," Zuko tried to smile at her reassuringly as he gingerly rose from the ground. "It was a terrible feeling... it's like all my insides were twisted up and trying to escape... but once I was released from the hold, the pain was instantly gone."

"That's not much of a consolation," Katara glared darkly at Hama, as she also rose from the ground and returned to face the old woman. "You took too much delight in tormenting Zuko!" she exclaimed accusingly.

"Bah, he's Fire Nation anyway," Hama shrugged. "Traitor or not, you should do better than associate with one of them, Katara. Now repeat what you just watched me do!" she called out, pointing at Zuko.

Katara slowly turned to face the exiled prince. He was still breathing heavily from having been tortured by Hama's bloodbending, but even so he gave Katara an encouraging smile and a nod of the head. "Go for it, Katara... I can take it," he spoke bravely.

The young waterbender closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. She reached out with her senses, trying to feel sources of water nearby, focusing on the warmth emanating from the living bodies around her. It didn't take Katara long until she was able to reach out and feel the blood circulating inside of Zuko, and she was quite certain that she would not need the augmentation of the full moon to develop these senses, now that she knew what she was looking for. The more she searched within him, the clearer the sense of where to tug and pull to take control of his body became.

"What are you waiting for, Katara?" Hama cried at her. "Do it!"

"As you wish!" Katara shouted back, reaching out with her bending and seizing control of the living body near her.

"What... what are you... doing?" Hama gasped as the body that Katara had chosen to control was not Zuko's, but instead hers. "Unhand me... ungrateful... fool!"

"Why would I choose to hurt Zuko, when I have another target for practice, one who deserves it so much more," Katara spat angrily, sending Hama sprinting across the clearing and guiding her to crash into a tree trunk, then pulling her battered body back up to her feet, lifting the old crone off the ground and flying her around in circles. "You know... at one point, I actually thought that you might make a good ally to aid us in our invasion plan of the Fire Nation," Katara spoke while at the same effortlessly keeping the struggling Hama in a tight bloodbending grip. "But now I'm realizing that you are completely crazy and unstable. You possess such a gift, but you used it to abduct and imprison helpless villagers? You are vile and pathetic, Hama!"

"You will... regret this..." Hama was starting to foam at the mouth.

"And you will not live to regret your sins," Katara spoke firmly. "You are wicked and irredeemable. I thank you for giving me this gift, but... I must make sure that someone as wretched as you can't continue to abuse it." Katara intensified her grip on Hama, sending her body spinning one way, while turning her head in the opposite direction. There was a sharp sound of cracking bone as Hama's neck was snapped cleanly and she crumpled to the ground lifeless.

"You killed her," Zuko observed impassively as he came to stand next to Katara, the girl still breathing rapidly from the rush of the energy of full moon.

"You disapprove?" she turned to look at him.

"No, why?" Zuko shrugged. "She was horrible. I'm glad she's gone, and the villagers will rejoice as well. Still... the way you did it was... terrifying."

"Oh?" Katara gave him a worried look. "Do I... terrify you, Zuko?"

"No, Katara," Zuko smiled at her. "She told you to bloodbend me and you wouldn't. I trust you to use this technique responsibly."

"And I will, Zuko, I promise," Katara smiled back at him. "It is now reserved specifically for one target. The Fire Lord."

"My father is very powerful, but I don't know if he expects this from us," Zuko nodded in agreement. "If we can get you close to him, we might stand a chance, Katara. You could be our secret weapon to defeat the Fire Lord."

"Let's not get ahead of ourselves, Zuko," Katara smiled. "But if it does work against the Fire Lord, then all of this," she pointed at Hama's still corpse. "Would have been well worth it."