Chapter Three
Tayo had prepared some tea and they all sat hunched over their steaming mugs discussing somberly the night's events.
"And you say this is the second night in a row?" He asked the tired adolescents before him.
"Yeah." Aang said rubbing his forehead. "I don't know what's going on. Why would they target you?" He asked Katara, turning to peer at her.
She was warming her hands on the steaming porcelain of her mug. "I don't know. And there were two tonight. Last night there was only one." She explained for Tayo's sake.
"Didn't you say that you picked this village because it was far away from the last one you were attacked in?"
"It was supposed to be." Aang said, anger creeping into his voice. "It should be impossible for them to have traveled this far in that amount of time." He glared into the amber liquid of his cup.
"But you were able to do it." Tayo pointed out.
"We have a flying bison." Katara said wearily.
"Pretty sure whoever these guys are don't have one of those." Aang muttered dryly.
"But what if they were able to travel in similar style? I've heard of the war balloons the fire nation had."
Katara shook her head. "We would have seen those when we were traveling and there's no trace of one now. Aang checked."
"Not by air." Aang affirmed.
"Tunnels?" Tayo suggested.
"Are there tunnels?" He asked.
Tayo shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "No." Aang let out a frustrated sigh. "But they could have tunneled in."
"They weren't earth benders." Katara pointed out.
"How do you know?"
"Well, when they were trying to capture me, they didn't earth bend."
Tayo stroked his beard. "True, but it may have just been restraint."
"That still doesn't explain how they got here." Aang said, finally taking a sip from his mug.
"Maybe they're a new group."
"No."
"Aang's right. They had the same weapon, dressed the same, same target and everything." Katara agreed.
"Maybe they're just a fraction of a larger group." Tayo said rubbing his baggy eyes, tired in the flickering light of the candle.
"But who would be hunting Katara?" Aang asked.
"That's a good question. You seem the much more likely target. Perhaps you're too much to handle on your own though." Tayo mused. "Maybe they're trying to catch your girlfriend as bait; use her for leverage."
Katara looked at Aang reluctantly. "It makes sense."
"I can't imagine you have any enemies Katara?"
"None that I know of." She admitted.
Aang shoved his tea from him across the table. "I thought we were done with this kind of thing."
Katara put a comforting hand over his. "It's okay Aang."
He lifted his head and stared at her, his gray eyes beseeching her. "No, it's not. I don't want you to be in danger because of me."
"We've faced much worse than this before. We can do it again." Her smile was confident and reassuring.
Tayo suddenly snapped his fingers. "I just remembered. I was recently told of a prison break in the fire nation."
"What?" Aang and Katara shouted in unison.
"Why didn't you say something earlier?" Aang demanded.
"You think that has something to do with what we're dealing with now?" Katara asked.
"I don't know. It sounded like it was only minor criminals. Not that big of a deal. I only just happened to remember."
Aang fixed Katara with an intent look. "Think we should go visit Zuko?"
"If nothing else, it'll give us far more distance from this." She said gesturing back down the hall to her room which currently lay in shambles.
"Okay." Aang made to stand but Tayo motioned for him to stay.
"At least wait till morning. We can have supplies ready for you then. Might as well get some rest while you can."
"Katara, you sleep in my room."
"You should be there too Aang, just in case. I can help you bring in some of the blankets from Katara's room."
"Good idea." Katara agreed.
They left early the next morning, not looking forward to the long trip ahead of them. After double checking their map, their estimated travel to the fire nation palace would be about a week's flight. Tayo had provided them with a few provisions so they could avoid the possible threat towns had proven to be of late. They said their farewells and launched into the sky, Aang at the reins and Katara resting her head on her crossed arms at the front of the saddle.
"Are you okay?" Aang asked her worriedly, watching her.
She nodded. "Just tired I guess."
"Take a nap." He offered.
"I don't know if it's that kind of tired. It's frustrating not knowing."
Aang nodded. Finally he asked something he had been mulling over for a while. "Did you want to tell someone? Like send a letter to your dad or brother, even Zuko?"
She shook her head. "No. There's no point in worrying them if we're not even sure what's going on. And the letters could be intercepted by the enemy." She heaved a heavy sigh and buried her face in her arms for a minute. She met his worried stare. "I'm fine." She reassured him. He looked at her for one last minute before turning back to stare at the clouds. They sat in a comfortable silence for hours, each lost in their own thoughts. A low gurgle came from below the saddle and Appa gave a quiet groan.
"Okay buddy." Aang said patting his head. "We'll find you something to eat." With that he angled the flying bison back down. They landed near a stream and Appa and Momo drank from it while Aang and Katara foraged for everyone. Upon walking a few yards into the woods they spotted a few trees baring fruit in the upper branches. Momo glided up, plucked a fruit and dug into it hastily. Aang launched into the air to retrieve some for Appa. He landed on the branch and started scooting his way towards a small bunch of bananas when something shot out past his grasping hand. He pulled back with a startled cry. The water quickly returned to the canteen as Katara caught the bunch, flashing him a playful smirk.
"Hey…" He called down, playfully disheartened.
"Got to be faster than that." She taunted.
They started a small competition racing from tree to tree trying to beat one another in relieving the branches of their fruit. Several trees and a wide variety of produce later, Aang drifted down to where Katara stood catching her breath. "Who won?"
"I'm not sure, but I think I did." She replied with a grin.
"I don't know…" He said skeptically before sweeping her into his arms. They were the same height now. Aang had been growing a lot lately. "If you kiss me, we can call it a tie."
She pouted and looked at him, playing up the mellow drama. "How scandalous when I so clearly one."
"You said you weren't sure who won." He argued half heartedly.
"I'm still pretty sure it was me." She countered.
"All right." He let out a defeated sigh, still holding her close. "In that case…" He seized her lips with his own and she met him in sweet bliss for a few moments. "Congratulations on your victory." He murmured when they parted.
"Thank you." A light blush colored her cheeks. They parted and began to collect the food and pile it in front of Appa in a tall mound.
"There you go buddy." Aang said fondly rubbing Appa's face and he let out a low, happy sound as he began eating. Katara was digging through their own supplies.
"Aang? Are you hungry too?" She was sure she already knew the answer. Growing boys were like bottomless pits. Until recently, she was living with her brother, she should know.
"That sounds great sweetie."
She produced a container of sweet rice with mango slices for Aang and some dried boar-q-pine jerky for herself. Aang devoured his meal and stole an apple from Appa's pile while Katara leisurely ate a strip or two before stifling her appetite. Everyone was full, rested and ready to continue on.
As they were flying for fire nation territory once more, Katara commented on the unusual as of late peace they had encountered during their pit stop.
"Maybe we're out of their range finally." Aang suggested.
"Maybe." She agreed tentatively.
"What else could it be?" He asked sensing her hesitation.
"With all the worst possible scenarios, maybe they're recouping. You know, gathering their forces for another attack. Or they could have just not caught up yet. Or perhaps they've sent word ahead to the next group and we're flying into an ambush. Who knows?"
Aang shifted uncomfortably in his seat thinking of all the new possibilities. "That is possible." He relented. "But so far so good. Those things are probably just paranoia." He said trying not to belittle her fears, but reassure her at the same time.
"Hopefully you're right." She said giving him a wan smile.
Sarahplainntall here! Hope you enjoyed! Keep posting reviews and I'll keep posting chapters.