Katara and Zuko ran into trouble two days later. The previous days since their encounter with the bandits had passed by smoothly. Zuko had asked her a few inquisitive questions about her healing abilities, and she ended up telling him about her time in the North Pole. She was surprised at his outrage when he learned about the North's view on women.

"How can they tell half of their population that they can't fight?" Zuko had demanded to know. "That's just stupid! Women are allowed to fight and become soldiers in the Fire Nation."

"It's a very backwards way of thinking," Katara had agreed wryly. "But I think I changed some minds when I kicked a waterbending master's ass."

Zuko had looked at her over the campfire, impressed. "Wow, really?"

"Well...maybe I didn't kick his ass," Katara had admitted. "But I held my own against him with no formal training, and convinced him to train me. I quickly surpassed all of his other students—including Aang—while we were there."

"Wow, that is impressive," Zuko had told her, seeming quite sincere. Then he'd dropped his gaze to the fire. "You're a prodigy."

Katara had shrugged, curious about his change in demeanor. "I guess so. Waterbending has always come pretty naturally to me, but I did struggle with it a little bit. But once I got the hang of it, I guess I picked it up pretty fast." She'd pursed her lips as she looked at him. "What about you? You seem like a pretty good firebender. Not that I've seen many, but still."

He had kept his eyes on the fire. "I'm no prodigy, or master. I've always had to work hard at my bending." Zuko had huffed out a breath then. "I've only barely mastered my basics, and having to hide my bending probably isn't helping."

Katara had frowned, feeling oddly sympathetic towards him. He was her sort-of enemy. It should have been a good thing that he wasn't a very powerful bender. But instead, she actually felt sort of bad for him. Damn her bleeding heart. And that was what led to what happened next.

"Maybe...since we're out in the middle of nowhere, we could spar," Katara had found herself offering.

Zuko had lifted his head, his good eye widening in surprise. "What? Really?"

She couldn't blame him for being shocked. She was shocked too. But since the offer was on the table, Katara couldn't very well rescind it.

"Yeah," she had said with a smile that disguised her uncertainty. "Why not? We're allies. We're traveling together. We're both strong benders, and it wouldn't do for us to get rusty."

Zuko had considered it for several long moments. Then he said, almost shyly, "Okay."

They hadn't gotten the chance to try it out though, as on the second night since they were first attacked, they were ambushed.

Katara awoke when hands grabbed her arms and forcefully pulled her from her bedroll. She let out a shriek of terror, her eyes flying over the campsite. She heard Zuko's shout, and saw that two others had grabbed him. The apparent leader, who wielded the sickle-shaped weapon, brought the hilt of his down on the back of Zuko's head.

"No!" Katara shouted, struggling against her captors.

She watched as Zuko's eyes rolled up into the back of his head. He sagged forward, and the men holding them let him fall face first into the dirt.

"Ransack their supplies," the leader ordered. His gaze landed on Katara. "Tie her up and make sure she has no water."

Strong arms pulled her hands behind her back. Soon they were bound with rope. Katara tried to struggle, but it was useless. She strained to feel any usable water, but found none. She was forced to watch as the men tore through their supplies, spilled their bags of rice into the sand and pocketing their coins.

"Stop! No!" Katara shouted uselessly.

She looked at Zuko, but he remained unconscious in the dirt. They'd tied his hands, and the leader picked up his dao swords.

"Nice set of blades," he mused. "These'll fetch a pretty penny."

"What do you want us to do with them, boss?" one of the men asked, jerking his chin towards Zuko.

The man curled his lip. "We'll leave him. With no food or water, he'll perish in a few days." His gaze landed on her. "But we'll take the girl. She's Water Tribe. Some rich politician will pay good money for her in Ba Sing Se."

Katara felt fear coil tightly in her belly, and she struggled against her binds with renewed fervor. "No, you can't do that! Let me go!"

"Consider it karma for leaving us frozen in ice, little lady," the man hissed at her darkly. His eyes gleamed wickedly. "Oh yes, someone'll pay good coin for you. Young, exotic. And we'll get to have some fun with you in the meantime."

"You better not touch me or I swear to La!" Katara shouted furiously.

Her gaze flickered to Zuko again. Come on, wake up! Don't let these jerks take me! But Zuko didn't even twitch.

"Get her on that ostrich horse, Chen," the leader said. "I want to be long gone by the time this jerk wakes up." He kicked Zuko's prone form for good measure.

Katara was hauled bodily to her feet. She kicked out with her legs, but her blows were easily dodged. She was dragged unceremoniously towards Dusty. One of the other men was trying to get the ostrich horse on her feet, but Dusty was resisting, squawking indignantly. He struck her angrily, and Dusty retaliated with a well-placed peck.

"Son of a bitch!" the man roared as he cupped his bleeding cheek.

"Damn beast," the one named Chen muttered. "She got you good, didn't she, Xiang?"

"Shut up!"

"Get the girl on the damn ostrich horse!" the leader roared impatiently.

Xiang and the other man finally got Dusty on her feet. She nickered and squawked, throwing her head, and the men made sure to stay away from her beak. She calmed slightly when Katara was dragged into her saddle. Chen climbed on behind her, and Dusty threatened to throw them.

"You better control this beast, little girl," Chen hissed at her.

Katara swallowed hard and leaned closer to Dusty's head. "It's gonna be okay, girl. Lee will save us."

"Don't hold your breath," Chen laughed. "He's as good as wasp-buzzard food."

Soon, they were setting off at a fast pace as dawn's first light tinged the skies pink. Katara glanced back at their destroyed camp, her gaze falling on Zuko's prone form. She hoped that he would rescue her.

Her future was looking very dark.