Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: the Last Airbender.

Chapter: The Singing Unagi

Setting off just after everyone had gone to sleep, Katara flew Appa over to the coast. She had supplies enough to cover her for a week and a few coins she had saved from Toph's scamming days. Climbing down from the bison's head, she embraced him. "Goodbye, Appa. I need to go alone from here. I'm really going to miss you." He lowed in response and rubbed his massive head against her almost knocking her over.

"Fly back to Aang and the others. Watch over him for me."

Katara turned to the ocean as the sky bison reluctantly flew away. To escape a Fire Nation prince, she would head back into the Fire Nation. She slipped off her Water Tribe clothing, exchanging it for the skirt, pantaloons, and wrap she had worn before the invasion. After retying her hair in a top knot, she was ready.

Taking a deep breath, she formed a boat of sorts out of ice. It was more of a streamlined miniature iceberg. Kneeling on her pack to protect her thinly clad legs from the cold, she propelled the craft forward with her bending. Not too fast now, I have a long way to go.

...

Three days later at midnight, she exhaustedly floated ashore an island not too far from a coastal town. She didn't want her arrival observed by the locals. With the last of her energy, she bent the water from her clothing and pack, deciding to just sleep on the beach. She was so tired.

At dawn, the next morning, a young man from the town found her on a bed of washed up kelp. He was so surprised, he dropped his fishing rod and gear. The clatter woke Katara with a start. The fisherman was struck by the intensity and color of her eyes. He had never seen such eyes.

"Hello," Katara warily greeted the boy still gaping at her. "Could you point me towards the port?"

When he continued to stand there staring at her, she thought he might be waiting for an explanation of her presence on the beach. "Forgive my rudeness, my name is… Kuma. I was traveling from the colonies but went overboard in a squall last night. I swam ashore. What is your name?"

Still, the young man did not speak. He bowed to her then scrambled to retrieve his gear. Nodding at her, he gestured for her to follow him back towards the town. A bit nonplused by this interaction, Katara gathered her belongs and walked along with him.

Her new acquaintance kept shooting her apprehensive glances out of the corner of his eye. He didn't seem antagonistic, just nervous. Katara judged him to be about her brother's age, maybe a year older, and of the same height and build. The boy seemed pleasant enough, not rushing her or demanding any further explanation from her. His silence was a little disconcerting, though.

"Do you live in the town?" she ventured.

He nodded.

"Is there an inn there?"

Nodding.

"Could you take me to it?"

Nodding.

"This is Oolong Island, right?" When she received another nod of his head in confirmation, she offered, "I have heard wonderful things about the tea and the fruit from this island. Is this the only town?"

He shook his head no.

As they continued along, she began contrasting this new young man with those she had just left behind. He seemed serious, helpful, and obviously disinclined to talk. Maybe all Fire Nation males were taciturn, Zuko certainly was. Mentally kicking herself for the comparison, Katara refocused her attention on the town they were now entering.

It was not as large as Fire Fountain City but certainly bigger than the village where they had had their unfortunate run-in with Hama. The silent fisherman led her through the winding streets where few were up and about, not having an overabundance of firebenders in the local population.

Finally, as they approached the wharves along the coast, the boy slowed indicating a large building with a sign swinging in front of it, reading 'The Singing Unagi'. He ushered her through the front door, knocking on the frame as he entered.

"Is that you, Ying? What have you caught for us this morning?" A woman's voice came around the corner before its owner entered the room. She was a short broad woman with a sea-weathered face and strong laugh lines around her eyes and mouth. Katara placed her somewhere between her father's and grandmother's age.

"Oh hello there! Well, aren't you the pretty little one? Welcome to the Singing Unagi. Are you looking for a place to stay or just a bite to eat? You certainly need something to eat, there is nothing to you. Sit there, dear, and I will fetch some porridge, buns, and tea. What is your name? You can call me Fei-Fei. Ying, where did you find her at this early hour? You sit yourself down too. Young growing things like yourselves are always hungry." The woman smiled at Katara warmly and pushed the silent boy towards the benches behind them.

Taken aback at the flood of words after almost an hour of Ying's silent company, Katara sat down beside the boy. As the woman returned with heaping bowls of porridge and a plate of steaming buns, Katara introduced herself and told her tale again leaving out the falling overboard detail. Ying glanced at her questioningly, then tucked into his porridge.

"Poor turtle duck, traveling alone! Well, you will need a room, of course. There is a lovely little one upstairs with a view of the seaside. It also has its own washroom, perfect for a young girl such as yourself."

As Fei-Fei poured them out some tea, Katara asked the essential question. "Please, ma'am, would you know of anyone in town who could use another pair of hands? I am willing to do anything. I am good at sewing, cooking, cleaning, fishing, and…" Katara broke off blushing, she had almost mentioned another skill that she had long ignored. Not even Aang knew of those talents.

"As you mention it, we could use some help behind the bar during the lunch rush. My husband is generally in the kitchen and I just don't have enough arms and legs about me to serve food and drinks. We have a regular bartender in the evenings so you won't have to worry about the evening crowds. A pretty thing like you, I am sure we will soon have a line out the door by noon." Ying had been looking at Katara again but at this, he blushed and looked back at his porridge.

"Wow! Really? I would love to! Thank you, Fei-Fei. Mmmmm, this tea is delicious."

"It is a local blend, best tea in the Fire Nation if I do say so myself."

After settling into her room, Katara skipped down the stairs. Everything was going smoothly. Fei-Fei introduced her husband a slightly stooped, tall, thin man who seemed to live to agree with his wife. Katara glanced around for Ying but he had taken himself off.

"Where did Ying go? I didn't properly thank him for his help this morning."

"Oh, he probably got shy and went fishing. Honestly, I was amazed to see him with a girl this morning. He doesn't spend much time around folks, on account of his voice and all."

"His voice?" Katara queried.

"He had a terrible sickness as a child that settled in his throat. He recovered but cannot speak now. Most people think he is a dimwit because of his not talking. Sweet lad. He keeps to himself and helps with his family's fishing business. The fish seem to like him just fine."

"Oh," was all Katara could think of in reply. That explained all the nodding and him not questioning her about her odd appearance on the beach. "I guess I will just have to catch him some other time."

Then, Fei-Fei had to leave her to tend to some other customers. Katara decided to stroll along the pier. It was a strange feeling to have no one around that she felt responsible for. She had almost four hours to herself before she needed to be back at the inn for training.

Walking along thinking about how everyone at the temple must be reacting to her departure, she missed the heads turning. With her tan skin and thick wavy brown hair, she stood out even when wearing red. Looking up from her introspection, Katara noticed that she had unconsciously wandered into the market. The stalls and shopfronts seemed to have just opened. She spotted a parchment filled cart behind a familiar looking cabbage stall. Hoping for some reading material, she walked over to inspect the wares.

She found a few promising scrolls, including one that claimed to be a biography of Avatar Roku. The merchant was pleased with her enthusiasm. He threw in some blank scrolls, brushes, and ink. "So as you can write yer own stories there, missy," he twinkled at her. She gratefully thanked him, putting her purchases in her bag.

Katara retraced her steps from the morning back out of town. As she reached the secluded beach where she had arrived, the sun broke through the morning mist. The twinkle of the sunlight on the water seemed to fit her mood perfectly. Skipping forward, she ran and danced with the waves as they washed over the sand. This was where she belonged, alone with her element and finally… free.

Splashing and playing, she suddenly realized that she was singing a song her mother used to sing to her about a tiger seal pup. She was stupefied. I haven't sung aloud since the day she died. Why am I singing now?

Katara stood in the waves, her frivolity forgotten. Still pondering this aberration, she walked back to the inn.

"Kuma, dear, did you have a good morning? Need anything to eat? Some tea, hmm… chrysanthemum I think," Fei-Fei called out as she cleared away dishes.

"It was lovely, thank you. May I help you with those?" Katara asked as she began clearing off the table nearest her.

"Well, aren't you the most helpful thing. With the three of us working together, I am sure we will have these all clean in no time. Then I will show you where all the things are behind the bar and teach you to mix some drinks."

Having friendly people to share the work made the task of cleaning dishes fly by and seem more like a pleasure. Katara just had to restrain herself from bending to move it along even more quickly.

After a brief but comprehensive training, Fei-Fei left Katara to take the lunch orders of some hungry patrons who had arrived early for the meal.

Soon the inn was bustling with townsfolk stopping in for a meal or just a drink while they caught up on the gossip. Of course, the biggest piece of gossip was serving drinks behind the bar. Katara worked efficiently and smoothly, making just enough small talk with each customer that they could go away with their own tale of the exotic new bartender.

After the last lingering patron rolled out the door having received more than his share of Katara's attention and libations, Katara went upstairs to read one of her scrolls. She sat down by the window in a comfortable chair and glanced out at her view of the bay. She was charmed by the sight. Unthinkingly, she fingered her mother's necklace inside her pocket. She once again began to sing to herself as she stared across the water.

Katara was unaware of the passage of time as she sat and sang. Finally, she was roused from her reverie by the presence of Fei-Fei in her room looking at her in wonder. Starting, Katara sprang to her feet, pulling her hand from her pocket.

Fei-Fei stood staring at her for a few moments then seemed to shake herself. "I'm sorry for intruding my dear but I knocked and came in to see how you're settling in. Then I heard your singing… Kuma, you didn't mention that you were a singer!"

"I'm not! Really! I mean I used to play and sing… but not for a long time now," Katara was flustered. What was going on with her?

"Well you are the best singer I've ever heard, and I perform myself. In the evenings after supper to keep the guests entertained. Say, you wouldn't think about performing here, would you? That would be a real treat! Your voice is like nothing I have ever heard. Do you write your own songs? They are so different. Or is that how they sing in the colonies now? We have instruments aplenty if you need accompaniment or would like to play yourself? Please, say you will! Your voice made me want to laugh and cry all at once. I felt like a girl again, playing on the beach."

Katara took a moment to process the requests being poured over her. Could she sing in public again? No! part of her mind screamed and Yes! Finally! cheered the rest. No, Katara could not sing, her voice had been stolen by the monster that took her mother from her. But could Kuma? Could she as Kuma find her music again? Maybe.

After a long pause to turn over the idea, Katara met Fei-Fei's pleading eyes and said, "Yes, I will sing for you but I don't want anyone to know it's me. I have dreadful stage fright, you see. Is there any way for me to hide behind a screen or something?"

"You will see my dear that the room is quite dimly lit in the evening. If you would like I can refrain from lighting the candles in that corner entirely. There is a door there you can enter and exit through. I can lend you some shawls and maybe a hat if that would help. Like a disguise or costume?"

So I am to be the Painted Lady again. "That would be great! Could I also have a day to practice and familiarize myself with your instruments? Are you sure the patrons will not object to the change in entertainment?"

"Once they hear you sing, there will be no problems. You take all the time you need. I will just go get everything set up. What instrument do you prefer? I will be right back with the hat and shawls. Ooooo! I can't wait for you to sing tomorrow night!"

"Anything will be fine," Katara called after the woman's retreating back. I am now a professional singer. How did this happen? Here, I come to this island to find some answers and instead find a musical career. Toph would laugh herself sick if she found out. But maybe this will help me… Maybe I can use this to find what I am looking for...

A/N:

I pulled the inspiration for the singing from Patrick Rothfuss's Name of the Wind, which I recently reread. I promise not to go all Mary Sue on you with Katara. She is still the temperamental teenager that we all know and love.

I decided each of the Nations has perfected some aspect of culture; the Water Tribes have music, the Fire Nation has art, the Earth Kingdom has architecture, and the Air Nomads have literature.

I will be alternating between Zuko and Katara's plots until they converge again. Next up Boiling Rock!