Savior
Aang let out a startled cry as emerald eyes bored into his own. Katara sent him a confused look before turning back to the woman and letting out her own cry of surprise. Her deep emerald eyes turned to Katara and captured her in them. Aang stepped back as Katara was held still by those gems. Everything in him screamed at him to destroy this woman. Every fiber of his being said to get Katara out of there. Every fiber of his being screamed danger. Red began to cloud his vision. He had to protect Katara from the woman.
". . ." The woman's lips moved slightly, making Katara narrow her eyes in concentration.
"What?" The lips moved again.
" . . . . re . . . . . me . . ." She croaked, making Katara look at her with sympathy. Katara uncorked her canteen and used her water bending skills to pull out water for the woman to drink. Holding the water in front of the woman, Katara watched patiently as the woman drank the water. Gulping down the water, the woman seemed to gain new life as she drank.
"Katara . . . this doesn't feel right." Katara sent Aang a surprised look. Confusion reflected clearly in her eyes.
"What are you talking about Aang? This woman needs our help." Argued the female waterbender. The woman finished drinking the water and looked up.
". . . re. . . release me . . ." She rasped, her voice almost gone from years of silence. Katara turned back to the woman and smiled reassuringly at her.
"Don't worry, we'll get you out." Katara turned back to Aang. "Come on, we'll need Sokka to help us." Katara moved to leave but the woman's voice stopped her. Now that she was using her voice again and with help from the water, slowly but surely her voice was reappearing. It was soft like silk and flowed gently on the wind.
". . . . d-don't . . . leave . . ." Katara looked back as pity filled her.
"Don't worry, I won't leave." Katara glanced over her shoulder at Aang. "Aang, go get Sokka. And give me your canteen and bag." Aang hesitated. "Now Aang!" The 112 year old boy nodded before tossing her his canteen and the small bag he had brought along and ran out of the cave to find her older brother, Sokka. Once he reached the entrance, Aang unfolded his glider in one swift move and took to the skies. Katara pulled off the cork and used her waterbendering skills once more to give the woman water.
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Aang landed softly and folded up his glider with ease before walking towards Appa on foot.
"Sokka? Katara and I need your help! Sokka?" Aang looked around, trying to find the teenager. Appa groaned and looked at Aang. "Appa? What is it boy?" The flying bison lifted its heavy body and shifted to the side, revealing Zuko's small ship. "Oh no . . ."
"Where is the girl!" A familiar voice chilled him to the bone as it demanded for Katara. Aang turned around and saw what he dreaded. Zuko stood next to his uncle as Sokka laid next to a tree, unconscious.
"Zuko!" Aang dropped down low into as he held out his staff.
"I don't have time for your games, where is the girl!" Zuko demanded once more. Aang narrowed his eyes in confusion.
"Why do you care? I'm the one you're after, so leave her out of this!" Zuko looked back at his uncle when the old man cleared his throat.
"Prince Zuko, perhaps we should explain to him more clearly the urgency of this matter." Zuko shook his head.
"We don't have time! We have to stop it!" With a nod, Iroh turned to Aang.
"We mean you no harm. Prince Zuko and I do not wish to capture right now. So perhaps you can take us to the young lady as we explain."
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Katara used the little water she had left to clean the woman.
"Here . . . your hair and skin are clean now." With the dirt gone, it was clear to see the woman had wavy hair.
". . . ." Her green eyes followed every one of Katara's movements. While it was somewhat unnerving to Katara, she said nothing. Katara could only guess that it was because the woman had spent so much time in solitude. ". . . . what has happened to the world . . . ?" Katara looked up, surprised. With a sadden smile, Katara told her.
"The Fire Nation has waged war against everyone. They are ruthless." Katara sighed as memories came floating to the surface. Memories of her father, of Gran-Gran . . . her mother. "They have killed so many people . . . my mother included . . . probably even my father . . ."
". . . . and the boy?" Katara felt some of her pain ease itself.
"Aang? He's the Avatar. He's the one that will stop this war along with the Fire Nation." Katara looked away, slightly worried over her next question. ". . . . if you don't mind my asking . . . why who would do such a thing?" The woman closed her eerie green eyes and sighed.
". . . . what else? A firebender. I do not know what his name was . . ." Katara did not look surprised by this revelation.
"Of course. Only the Fire Nation could be that cruel." Katara muttered to herself. The woman smiled softly at Katara as the girl looked away in anger.
"Tell me, what is your name?"
"Katara." She looked up at the woman and brushed some hair out of her face and tucked it behind her ear. Katara pulled her hand back and rested it in her lap. The woman was cold to the touch. She did not say anything though, trying not to offend the woman. However, the woman noticed Katara trying to warm her hand after touching her and smiled softly.
"Katara . . . . I know I am cold . . . . I take no offense." Blushing in embarrassment, Katara looked away.
"Sorry."
"Don't be." Looking back at the woman, Katara tried to change the subject.
"What's your name?" A frown worked its way onto the woman's face as she bit down on her lip. ". . . what's wrong?" The woman stared into her blue eyes with sorrow dancing in her emerald eyes.
". . . . perhaps you have heard it . . . but the Fire Nation has surely distorted the truth and turned my name into a sinful thing." She looked away from Katara. ". . . surely it is no longer worthy of such a beautiful girl's ears." Katara blushed slightly, forgetting her question.
"You . . . think I'm pretty?" The woman looked back up at Katara.
"Not pretty, beautiful. There is a difference." Katara felt her face redden even more.
". . . . I'm just a poor waterbender . . . . I'm not beautiful . . ." The woman shook her head.
"No, you are beautiful. Perfectly tanned skin, a petite and slender figure . . . . lovely blue eyes . . . . soft brown hair . . . you are beautiful." Katara's face was bright red from embarrassment. Coughing lightly, Katara tried to hid her embarrassment.
"Well . . . . I'm no where near as beautiful as you are . . ." Smiling bitterly, the woman shook her head.
"It does not matter how beautiful I may be . . . . my body is worn and weak from the firebender and imprisonment." She sighed. "I will not last long . . ."
"Is there anything I can do?" A sly smile crept onto the trapped woman's face.
"Humor me . . . . tell me all about yourself . . ." Katara nodded.
"Alright . . . . oh! I'm sorry, I still don't know your name." The woman frown and sighed heavily.
"Very well, my name is Ceres." Katara smiled softly at Ceres.
"That's a beautiful name."
"Forgive me . . . . but I am rather hungry . . . .do you mind feeding me?"
"No problem." Katara turned her back as she pulled searched Aang's bag for some food. "Aang doesn't eat meat so there might not be anything more than a few nuts." Katara didn't notice as the woman called Ceres grew fangs and her pupils narrowed into snake eyes. Ceres pulled her body forward, slowly causing the wall to crumble at her inhuman strength.
"Oh, that's not what I meant . . ." Katara felt confusion tug at her when she heard that along with the sound of rock crumbling. Slowly she turned to see the woman standing at her full height. Long slender legs were clad in torn black stockings. Black high heels adorn her feet along that had a strap around her ankle and had a sapphire on a small chain link connecting to her shoe. Black leather short shorts were revealed through a skirt that had the front torn off and the rest torn and tattered. Several belts rested on her hips. Dark red painted nails were long as she reached forward and grabbed hold of Katara, causing her silver bracelets to jingle. Katara screamed as a snake tongue slithered out of her mouth and flicked itself at her. Ceres's raspy voice filled the cave. "I meant that I wanted to eat your soul!" Katara kicked out and hit Ceres but the strange demon did not feel it.
"LET ME GO!" Katara yelled as she kicked and squirmed while Ceres lifted her up off of the ground.
"Normally I'd like to now more about the person I was going to become, but I guess this time I'll make an exception!" A shadow seemed to emerge from Ceres but before it had a chance to do anything a fireball smashed into Ceres's hand. The shadow retreated as Ceres threw Katara back and clutched her hand in pain. Katara barely had time to regain her senses as a hand snaked out and grabbed her wrist, puling her back. Katara soon found herself being pulled into a run as Ceres howled in pain behind her. Looking behind her, Katara saw another fireball whiz passed her and knock Ceres back onto the ground. When she turned her eyes ahead of her to see her savior, surprise jolted through her system as she watched Prince Zuko pull her along as he sprinted down the cave to the exit.
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Thanks for making it all the way here! ;) Well, anyway, I wanted to thank all the people who have reviewed so far. Like I've said, it's always nice to see a review. So please review, it makes me write faster. Ja ne!