A/N Edited 15 December, 2019

Chapter 8

The trip from the Fire Nation to the colonies on Whaletail Island had taken three days. It had been cramped and uncomfortable on the small fishing barge, but no one had said anything if they'd recognized Zuko. Katara had grown increasingly agitated. This she thought odd as they had been at sea and completely surrounded by her element. She blamed it on the stress of their situation. That, and she had continued to feel the full moon like pull of the water all around her. The unbalanced feeling she'd had when they had fought in the woods hadn't abated. With there being next to no privacy on the crowded boat, she had not had an opportunity to even try to meditate and bending was out of the question. This strange surge in power was likely connected to the disruption she'd noticed in her chakra, not that she had any idea what that meant. Being so close to the water and with the extra power she felt, not being able to bend openly chaffed. When they had finally landed, she had practically dragged Zuko away from the small Fire Nation settlement to find some privacy in the woods.

They found a clearing next to a small river of clear, cold water and Katara wasted no time stripping down to her bindings and diving in. Zuko had balked at the temperature but it hadn't bothered her. Standing in the middle of the river, water up to her waste, she brought an impressive amount of it up and around herself. Zuko had had to rush back from the edge to avoid being soaked. Nearly the whole flow of water flew up from the river bed. Bending it this way and that, Katara basked in the feeling. It took her several tries to fully control the water around her, the power surge leaving her feeling a little green around the gills. She noticed Zuko watching her from the clearing with an awestruck look on his face. After tiring herself thoroughly, Katara left the water to join Zuko by the fire after bending her bindings and hair dry. Whaletail island was much farther south than the Fire Nation but she could hardly call it cold. Still, she pulled an extra blanket from their packs after she'd dressed again and sat down next to Zuko, leaning into his natural warmth as he wrapped his arm around her.

"I don't know how, but sometimes I forget how powerful a bender you are. You had that whole river bending to your will. I'm sure I have mentioned it before, but I am glad we are on the same side. Knowing what I do, I'd hate to face you in an honest fight again."

She laughed softly and pulled back, tracing a finger over his cheek. "Afraid of the water tribe peasant now Prince Zuko?"

He let out a breathy laugh before turning to kiss her hand. "I just have a healthy respect for your skill."

A comfortable quiet fell between them for several minutes as they stared into the fire. With her head on his chest and his hands running through her hair, her thoughts eventually turned to her home. Katara missed her family of course but she also missed the rest of her people. It had been two years since she'd left with Aang and her brother. She hoped the women and children they had left behind were well. Since the failed attack on the day of the eclipse she had no idea where their warriors were, and she hadn't seen her father since they had fled the western air temple. Her heart ached for her people and Katara hoped she'd be able to see them soon.

She wondered if Zuko felt homesick too. He didn't have a deep connection to his family and his people in the same way she did. Although her father was chief their tribe was small and close knit, everyone was family. The Fire nation was so different, never mind the isolation of the royal family. She looked up at him and for the second time wondered what it would be like to grow up that way. He missed his displaced mother she knew, and he wouldn't care so much about restoring his country's honor if he didn't love it.

Katara allowed herself to think about the future for a moment then. She loved Zuko… deeply. What would happen though if, when, they were successful in defeating Ozai once and for all? Would they still be able to be together when he took his rightful place as Fire Lord? They would have to talk about it someday but that victory seemed so far off she decided not to worry about it. There was enough to worry about just now.

oOoOoOoOo

Two days and another boat trip later, Zuko and Katara found themselves outside the city of Chin. Katara groaned at the sight of the city gates and Zuko wondered what bad memories she had of this place.

"We came here before on our way to find an earthbending master for Aang… The people here had a long standing hatred for Avatar Kyoshi due to a misunderstanding that translated into a hatred for the avatar in general." Zuko shot her an incredulous look and she shrugged. "We were able to change their minds eventually, but overall it was an unpleasant experience. I hope they won't recognize me. I know we're out of Fire Nation territory, but I still don't want word of our location circulating."

Zuko quietly agreed with her. His father was likely to send mercenaries after them no matter where they went. As he followed her towards an inn, he began to wonder if maybe she'd be better off without him. While Katara was certainly wanted by the Fire Nation too, Zuko was sure that she would be safer if she wasn't traveling with the easily recognized, disgraced prince. He had, in fact, been thinking this since their narrow escape five days ago but had yet to say anything to her. Then again, even though he thought it was the obvious right thing to do he wasn't sure he could actually bring himself to do it. Zuko loved Katara so much that sometimes it scared him. He'd never thought he would be allowed to be this happy; until now all of his attempts at a better future had blown up in his face. Looking back he thought maybe it had been the spirit's way of leading him to his true path. Thinking of leaving her now though, even if it wasn't forever, he was too selfish to part with her. He sighed and ran his hand through his hair and decided to shelve the problem for later.

Walking through the town, Zuko noted the townspeople seemed agitated. Surely they couldn't have recognized them already?

"Does anything seem off to you here?"

Katara looked around, taking in the suspicious looks and whispered conversations around market stalls and produce carts.

"I wonder what has the people here so tense. Do you think the Fire Lord has been spreading propaganda about Aang's death? I heard a few people mention a rumor back in the market we were spotted in. I didn't think much of it then because well, I was sufficiently distracted, but now?"

Zuko gave her a somber look and a slow nod. He knew his father would be spreading that news everywhere he could, counting on rumor to spread it beyond the Fire Nation borders. It could be a crippling blow to Earth Kingdom morale. They'd finally had hope again after so long only to have it ripped away just as suddenly. Though, that surely couldn't be the only thing in a town that had for so long hated the Avatar. As they stepped into the inn, they had their answer.

Two older men and a middle aged woman were sitting around a small table talking with their heads together. All chatter had ceased when they noticed Zuko and Katara. Three heads swiveling in their direction, glaring appraisingly before turning back to carry on in hushed voices.

"Anyway like I was saying, did you see the way those people looked? Such a strange group!" The oldest man gestured with his hands as if to emphasize his point.

"I know," said the woman. "There were at least two Earth Kingdom folks but the rest were definitely foreign. With their dark skin I would have thought them Water Tribe, but they were dressed in such a motley of colors and not the blues and furs you associate with the ice dwellers."

The younger of the two men spoke up. "I wonder if they are refugees. You remember what Lee from the colonies said. The Fire Lord claims he killed the Avatar on the day of the comet. It's all anyone is talking about."

Zuko was holding his breath as he strained to listen and he noticed that Katara had gone completely still. They needed to start moving again before they drew more attention to themselves. He gently nudged Katara in the direction of the inn-keep as they continued to listen.

"Why would a dead Avatar mean the Southern Water Tribe would suddenly need to become Earth Kingdom refugees?" This was the oldest man again.

With a disdainful look in his direction, the woman responded. "Because the next Avatar will be born from the water tribes you old dolt. The Fire Lord will eventually turn his attention to the poles, decimating them like his grandfather destroyed the air nomads."

Having reached the desk where the owner of the inn sat, Katara was tense; her hands fisted and her shoulders rigid, her face tight and pale. Zuko did the talking for her and pulled Katara along by the hand as they followed the short man down the hall. Once they were alone in their room Katara let out a soft sob. He made to gather her in his arms but stopped short at the expression of cold fury on her face. Her breath came out in chilled clouds and he noticed, glancing over her, that the condensation on the small window had turned to ice. Holding his hands out in front of her he tried again.

"Katara?"

Closing her eyes for a moment, she let out a breath before meeting his gaze and speaking through clenched teeth.

"Is what that woman said true? Do you think your father will really try to wipe my people out?"

Zuko knew he would. Had he not been stopped on the day of the comet he would have killed thousands as he made his way through the Earth Kingdom. Ozai was ruthless and he told her so.

"Do you think the strangers they were talking about were your people?"

Katara sat down on the bed and put her head in her hands, taking a moment to think.

"Maybe? I don't know how the women, children and elderly that were left could have already learned of what has happened. Or how they would have made it here. My father and his warriors took all the ships large enough to make it this far when they left five years ago and who knows what happened to those after the day of the Eclipse." She stood and started pacing. "Who else could it be though? By the description they must be Water Tribe, it just doesn't make sense."

Zuko crossed to her, bringing her wringing hands to his chest. "Whoever they are it's at least worth checking out. If you want, we could wander around the town and see what we can find out. Maybe they are still close by."

She looked up at him with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. Now on top of all of their other immediate problems, she had to worry about her people being wiped out.

"Alright. It's late now though. First thing tomorrow we'll head out and see what we can learn."

"Katara, if these people aren't from your home, maybe it would be a good idea to head there instead to warn them. I know my father, if he hasn't already sent a fleet there to destroy them he will soon."

Her eyes hardened with resolve and she nodded before reaching up to kiss him goodnight. As they lay in bed, wrapped around one another, Zuko hoped they'd be able to save her people from his father's wrath.