foggyfallacy: Hello everyone! I thought I would take a stab at writing an Avatar fic. I've written fan fiction before, but that was a few years ago. I'm trying to get back into the habit of writing more often. I do hope you enjoy reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it. Please review after you're done, there are more chapters coming!
Summary: A small village is taken under attack. Sweeping in and out, the bandits take only travellers. Among those travellers are Katara, Sokka, and Aang. But who else will join them? Many troubles await, dormat in the hollow of the mind. When thought disturbs those sleeping troubles, nothing good can become of it.
Disclaimer: I do not know Avatar: The Last Airbender and I'm notmaking any money for writing this story. Juuust felt like clearing that up for ya : )
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Chapter One: Sapphire Skies of Mine
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A clap of thunder shook the skies, sending vibrations rippling. The air hung heavy and thick like milk, and rain beat the world into submission. He looked over his shoulder as he ran for the shelter of another tree. The abandoned barn stood in the distance, looming in a haze of old damp wood. He could not help but worry.
The green canopy of leaves offered little protection from the shifting winds. Sokka shivered in the blanket wrapped around his shoulders.
"How much farther is the village?" he asked.
"Not very far," Katara replied, "The path is close." Turning to him she smiled softly. "He'll be fine, Aang," She said, "He can fend for himself." He nodded absently, looking once again at the fading structure. He would not be fine…
They ran out into the pouring rain. Bolting down a beaten path they fled, safety steps away. A grip around his neck, choking on his own breath. A scream. A thud of something metal. Nothing seemed real…
Aang sat up straight, eyes wide with fear. His throat burned and for a moment he wondered if he had been screaming in his sleep, until his memory graced him once again. He brought his hands up to rub his face but found them bound with rope. A sudden wave of nausea washed over his stomach as he became painfully aware of the see-sawing ground. Except it wasn't the ground, it was a wooden floor. And the sickening motion was what he assumed to be wagon wheels on a rocky path. Not. Good.
Every inch of him hurt. His eyes were blurry and the skin on his face felt as if it were peeling like sunburn. The taste of blood filled his mouth. He leaned forward and spit it out onto the floor, more puzzled then frightened. Curious, in fact. He had never really seen blood before. Small scrapes had been quickly bandaged and healed—war was always far away, almost mythical. Wow, he thought, examining the puddle through shaky vision.
There was a cough somewhere close, startling him. Spikes shot through his nerves and he sat perfectly still. His lungs deflated and his ears strained to hear inaudible noises. A soft whine, like a dog, and then, "Sokka?" He relaxed. It was Katara. Pushing himself onto his knees he felt his way in the direction of her voice. He could see her outline among the shadows, in the corner up against the wall.
"Katara?" he whispered, "That you?"
"Mmhum." Aang scooted a few more feet and sat beside her, resting his head on her shoulder. They sat there for quite some time. She closed her eyes and brought her knees up to her chest, rocking slightly from side to side. He almost fell asleep right there. "You okay?" she asked after a while. Taking count of his injuries he guessed his legs couldn't support his weight.
"Yeah, I'm fine," He lied optimistically. There was no need to say anything else.
She hummed in response, a little coo, and for the first time in his life he wondered what it would be like to have a mother. The monks that raised him had never spoken of such a thing as a mother for him. He had seen them, though, in the temples and walking around. They always comforted their children whenever anything happened, big or small. A hug turned loud tears into sniffles, a frown into a smile. A mother's powers seemed to be greater than anything in the world.
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The wheels of the cart came to a screeching halt, causing its occupants to be jostled unpleasantly. On the outside a lock was fumbled with. The hinges of the door screamed as it was opened. It was nearly as dark in the night as it was in the windowless pen. The prisoners were all unexplainably exhausted, and drooped like dolls as they were shoved along. Most of them couldn't find the strength to lift their heads and take in their surroundings, but the ones who did could not comprehend what they saw. The large men escorting them wore emotionless faces and gigantic muscles. Turning endless corners and down endless halls, one could never keep track. After what seems like hours of walking around, four or five were put into a single room, locked in, and left. Not even the strongest could utter a word. Every living soul was knocked out cold.
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When Zuko awoke, he imagined his quarters back on the ship. From the assortment of weapons on the walls down to the dragon carpet. But when he came to full consciousness this was far from what he saw. He was tied by his wrists to a metal pole, his ankles in shackles out before him. His mouth was dry as a desert and his limbs were too stiff to move. He was drained of all worldly things, and not even a puff of smoke was left in him.
He was so caught up in himself that he didn't notice he wasn't alone until there was movement across the room. A shiver ran down his spine and he glared around the heaps of bodies. His search stopped and the scowl on his face melted away in an instant. He had seen this one before. Her thin legs were folded underneath her small frame and she huddled against the pole as if for warmth. And then, to his surprise, her lids slid back and she blinked a few times. Her eyes were like stars in an sapphire sky. The stars hecould hold his in hands. The sky he could watch forever.
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foggyfallacy: (squee) That was fun. Please tell me what you think! And if you have any suggestions i would be greatful to receive them. There isn't apairing planned out yet, but I'm leaning more towards Zuko/Katara. Good? Bad? I know things may be a bit confusing, but everything will get better—I promise!
