A/N Edited 14 December, 2019

Chapter 6

While Katara and Zuko had made great time escaping the main island, only taking four days to reach the far eastern coast, their pace slowed significantly after that. For a start, their dragon moose had absolutely refused to board the ferry. So to avoid causing a scene and drawing unnecessary attention to themselves they had left it and the cart behind. This meant they had to continue on foot and Zuko was still too weak to push too hard. His continued incapacity however, did not stop him from indeed overtaxing himself and causing them three days delay in a village on the far side of the island from Fire Fountain city. They had reached Fire Fountain city after a full day of walking and ferry riding, but upon learning of her history in the town Zuko had insisted that he was ok to continue on to the next town. Getting herself recaptured by the local authorities who still had her wanted poster up after her daring escape with Toph several months before would risk their being turned over to Ozai. Unfortunately for Zuko, this decision had meant several hours walk at their pace and by the time they reached the small inn he could hardly stand. Since the small village was relatively isolated, Katara felt safe enough to mandate a period of convalescence. After three nights she deemed him wholly well enough to carry on; it had absolutely nothing to do with his increasing surliness over her constant mothering.

Zuko's testy demeanor did not improve the closer they got to his mother's hometown. There was only one small island separating them from Hira'a now and Katara could tell he was increasingly anxious. Nine days after Sozin's comet, the search for the traitor prince and his waterbending accomplice was in full effect. Thankfully the town they had stayed the three days in had no real military presence as it was a small fishing community not unlike the floating village she had saved from the pollution. This island however had a military outpost in its only town so they opted to camp in the woods to avoid any sightings. It was there, sitting next to a small fire while she redressed his chest wound, that Katara finally decided to ask Zuko what he meant to do about his mother. The longer they stayed in the fire nation the more dangerous it became, but she could not deny Zuko the chance to reunite with his mother. He was thoughtful for a few moments after she asked. When he finally spoke he caught her eye before quickly looking away as if ashamed to admit to this desire.

"I know that we need to get out of the Fire Nation as quickly as possible, but Hira'a is on our way. Maybe we could at least ask around?" He watched her hands as she inspected his chest and ran a hand through his hair in frustration. "I'm not even sure what I'd do if I found her. What would I even say? 'Hey mom, Zuko here. How have you been?' Besides, it's probably too dangerous to stick around long anyway."

She finished with her work and he lay back on the bedroll and stared at the sky as he thought about his mother more. Katara watched him, his brow furrowed and his eyes far away, and was suddenly filled with jealousy and irritation. If her own mother was alive and in the next town over there was no way she'd even have to think about it. Who cared if the Fire Lord was using nearly every man he could spare to track them down. This was his mother they were talking about. He had the chance to reunite with her after years of believing she was dead. She told him as much.

"You're being an idiot. Of course we will go to Hira'a and look for your mother. Did you think I, of all people, would want to deny you this? We don't need to stay long, maybe if we find her there she can come to Ba Sing Se with us. It'll be fine."

He looked at her oddly for a moment, as if he was carefully considering what to say before he sighed and tugged her down beside him. Katara made herself comfortable next to him as he spoke against her forehead.

"You're right. I just worry about what would happen if we're seen. I'm not going to be as useful in a fight right now as I normally would be, and you are an amazing warrior Katara but how many soldiers do you think you could hold off at once?" He kissed the side of her head before going on. "I don't want to lose you. Every night I dream about fighting Azula. Only in my dreams I'm not fast enough, and she kills you. I'm not afraid of my father anymore and I'm not afraid of Azula, but I am afraid of that." Katara held him tighter and kissed his shoulder at the admission. "All that aside, I do want to find my mother. I guess if you're ok taking the risk and there doesn't seem to be many soldiers around, we should stop."

Katara leaned up and kissed his cheek and bid him goodnight. Tomorrow they'd cross the ferry to the next island and be in Hira'a before dinner. As she fell asleep she wondered vaguely if Ursa would like her.

oOoOoOoOo

After a megear breakfast the next morning, the pair set off to board the ferry. They hadn't been in the town long when Zuko noticed they were being followed. A pair of soldiers having a poor go at stealth were tailing them down the main street towards the docks. Katara was inspecting the wares at one of the merchant stalls along the road when he took her hand and tugged her away.

"Hey what was that for? I was gonna buy…" Taking a look at his frown and noticing the tense set of his jaw she sped up and asked what had happened.

"We're being followed. No! Don't look, just keep walking like normal." He felt her grip his hand tighter as she frowned and looked straight ahead.

Zuko led them through the crowded streets, thanking Agni that it was apparently market day. Slipping between a pair of hippo cows and a rather large produce cart, he chanced a look behind him. Their would-be captors were looking around as though they'd lost them. Releasing a breath, they hurried to the docks. Luck seemed to be in their favor as the ferry was nearly ready to be off, Katara and Zuko making it on board just as they cast off.

There happened to be a small Fire Nation military ship docked next to the ferry that Zuko eyed nervously as they paid their fare and found a space to sit. Searching along the docks, he spotted the two soldiers that had been following them. Apparently they had guessed their intentions and were causing a commotion on the other ship. Zuko cursed and tugged his hood down further around his face.

"I thought we shook them but it looks like we may have to make a run for it when we get to the next island. If we can lose them, maybe we should take a boat directly to the Earth Kingdom." At her raised brow, he shrugged. " I know we've avoided it until now in case someone recognized us in such close quarters but we may have to risk it. Every soldier in the islands will be on high alert now that they've seen us. So much for island hopping." He cast another wary glance at the other vessel. "Damn."

Katara had been watching the soldiers run around the military ship as he spoke but she looked up at him when he swore.

"It will be dangerous being confined with the same people for so long, but you might be right. No matter what we do now there will be a risk." She looked down at her hands and sighed. "Now that we've been noticed, there's no way we can hang around in Hira'a. I'm so sorry Zuko."

He took her hand. "I have survived this long without her. I know she wouldn't want me to risk whatever my father undoubtedly has planned for me if we're caught just for her. I know where she might be, we'll come back."

"Yes, we will." she said and rested her head against his shoulder.

Zuko looked back to see the ship now following close behind and wondered when it would be safe to return to his country.

oOoOoOoOo

Unfortunately the ferry was not built for speed and the military ship kept up easily, docking at the same time. Looking at the few other boats docked beside them, Katara realized if they did want to travel that way they'd likely need to get right back on the ferry and head back to the larger port. They could slip off now and stay somewhere out of sight while the soldiers searched the ferry and re-board once they'd moved on to search the village. After explaining her plan to Zuko they decided to blend into the crowd, small though it was.

It hadn't been enough. They'd been easily spotted. Five soldiers had seen them and were attempting to box them in. Deciding it was too late to try to hide, Katara and Zuko ran for the woods. They were close by and looked dense. Once they and their pursuers were out of sight and were no longer at risk of drawing the attention of the rest of the search party, Katara drew the water from her pouch and spun in place.

Forming a water whip, she beat back the closest soldier before ripping the water from the plants around her to freeze the man to a tree. He hadn't even had a chance to use the sword he'd been wielding she had moved so quickly. The others were not so slow. Zuko blocked the first attacks, returning with his own fire and engaging another soldier. Even weakened Zuko was a master bender and thankfully not helpless. Not worried for Zuko, Katara fought off the three remaining soldiers at once. She felt oddly unbalanced by a rush of overwhelming power almost like a full moon. Not allowing her thoughts to linger on where the awesome maelstrom had come from, she focused it on her enemy.

The fight did not last long. Holding each man in water pulled from the trees and grass, Katara froze two of them in place. Only the third soldier was a bender and he broke free long enough to hit her. His strike to her ribs with a flaming kick knocked her to her knees. She clutched her side, wincing in pain but her distraction did not last. Meeting his wide eyed gaze, a fury of power blew him back against a tree knocking him unconscious.

Zuko finished his own fight as she inspected the injury. It was painful but the scarring would be minimal once she healed it. Wrapping her hands in water, she closed her eyes and concentrated her energy. She winced as the skin knit itself together. It was strange to heal herself. As Zuko came and knelt beside her, her eyes snapped open. Something was off. Her chakra felt… different somehow.

"Are you alright? You handled those three soldiers at once like they were untrained kids!" She let out a short, pained laugh that drew his attention to her side. "That looked like a bad burn." He wore a concerned look on his face even as his breathing came in ragged gasps from his own exertion. Katara realized that the face she was probably making just then wasn't helping. She blinked rapidly and pushed all thoughts of questionable chakra out of her head as she brought her hands away from her side. Even though the soldiers were frozen to trees or unconscious they couldn't linger, she could worry about whatever it was later. Zuko brought his hand to her side, brushing his fingers where the burn had been. Since she had healed it immediately there was hardly even a scar.

"I'll be alright Zuko, it wasn't bad." She brought her own hand up to his face, quickly inspecting him for injury before she stood. Dusting off her pants she smiled reassuringly at him before taking his hand and heading back the way they'd come.

When they crept out of the woods and saw that the search party had seemed to move on to the village. They boarded the ferry without notice. Once they were back on the other island, they found passage on a small passenger ship headed for Wailtail Island. As they stood on the deck of the small boat watching the sun set behind them, Katara wondered about the irregularity she'd noticed in her chakra and the immense power she had felt. That she still felt humming beneath her skin. She remembered how Aang would meditate, focusing on his chakra. He had tried to teach her but they hadn't had the time to dedicate to it. Thinking about Aang made her eyes well up and her chest ache. Leaning against the rail, she wiped at her eyes and reached out for Zuko. As he wrapped his arm around her shoulders, Katara prayed they'd find a way to finish what Aang had started.