disclaimer: don't own shit..but I do own this packet of...Art Fundamentals Waiver Exam Information Packet for Eighth Grade Students and Their Parents 2005-2006...which I have no clue what it's talking about...
Katara lashed out her whip and lashed it out into the humid air, a resonating snap bounding through the forest. Yue flinched involuntarily at the sound, but Zuko remained still. In the distance was a roar, full of hunger and greed. Katara visibly paled, shoving the whip back into its band on her leg. She pulled out her bow, sinking into the familiar rhythm; pull, nock, and aim. The problem was that she couldn't see her target.
"There!" Zuko's voice hissed in her ear; he had scooted closer to her, his horse's ears flickering nervously as the roar sounded up again. Katara looked harder, her eyes squinting until they widened in horror. Barreling down the path towards them was a lion the size of a horse.
"What kind of beast is that?" Katara cried, loosing the arrow and she watched in pierce through the front flank. Arrows affected him as much as needles did to humans. Katara hissed, drawing her sword. Zuko drew his own swords and Yue her two daggers that were a foot long each.
Agitatedly, Katara sheathed her sword and summoned the moisture in the air, forming a rather large ball. Viciously, she shot it at the lion, freezing it into ferocious knifes of ice and propelled them forward at the beast. They stabbed its chest and flanks, hindering him. Katara snarled angrily as it continued to sprint towards them, its masters running after it, swords flashing in the sunlight.
As it rounded on them, a streak of black crossed Katara's vision, felling the beast. Katara looked harder at the black blur and picked out a few details; snow white claws turned red from the lion's blood, fangs flashed in the light, cold ice blue intelligent eyes glared at the huge beast. Katara gasped as she realized what it was: a giant panther.
"How many monstrosities are there in one forest?" Katara cried, but steadied her horse as Evadne tried to shy away from the fight. Sure, she was a fearless horse, but something struck as frightening as two gigantic predators fought no more than thirty yards away.
Zuko watched in astonishment as the lion stilled, blood seeping onto the dirt path. The panther looked over to them and then to the oncoming attackers. Snarling, the huge cat lunged lithely towards the attackers, who dropped their weapons and fled on spot. The cat walked fluidly toward them; head low, eyes glittering, shoulder blades protruding from the powerful back. Katara and Yue shrank back, but Zuko stood his ground, understanding the predator side of himself and the panther's.
Katara, emboldened by Zuko, dismounted her horse and walked confidently, if somewhat wearily, forward. When they were but two feet away from each other, each stopped. Katara bowed her head, keeping eye contact with the feline's eyes. Its mouth broke into what seemed like a grin, feral teeth soaked in blood. Katara hid her emotions, and reached her hand out tentatively.
Bowing its massive head, Katara gingerly touched the silky fur, still gazing into its intelligent eyes.
"I wonder what you are." Katara marveled, stroking the soft pelt. The head snapped up and licked her hand in greeting. Katara laughed and walked around the cat, checking to se if it was a boy or girl. "Well, boy, I do not know what you call yourself, but I shall call you Laborc." That settled, she studied him; trying to gauge his true intentions. Apparently he was innocent, for Katara turned her back on him, showing him she trusted him enough. As she was about to mount Evadne, Laborc called her attention again.
Without waiting for Katara's protest, he easily picked her up in his maw by her clothes and tossed her gently onto his back. Katara landed with an oof as her body came in contact with hard, rippling muscles. She scrambled in position to straddle his back as she would a horse as he bounded off, followed By Zuko and Yue.
"Well, that was the most interesting experience I've ever had." Katara said, hands on her lower back as she tried to stretch out the kinks of riding for a day straight. She sighed, despair weighing her down. Yue put a cool hand on her shoulder, easing her emotional pain for a moment and then moved to get the cooking pot above the flames Zuko had started.
Laborc and Zuko were deep in a staring contest, why Katara and Yue had no idea. He seemed in awe, staring at such a marvelous creature. Katara smiled slightly thinking that that marvelous creature had intentionally waded through muddy water just to get her annoyed and filthy.
Helping Yue, she set up the camp, brushing leaves, rocks and twigs from the ground with a makeshift broom. She laid out the sleeping bags and readied the weapons for use. Sighing as her lower back throbbed; she rubbed it to soothe the pain. Sweat trickled down her face, adding a glistening sheen in the fading light as the sun set.
"I'm going to change." Katara said, grabbing her chosen clothes and walking wearily into the forest.
Laborc followed close behind, his eyes seeming to glow in the shadows. Strangely, his presence put her more at ease. Slithering up a tree and onto a thick branch, he lounged and kept watch as Katara changed.
That done, she looked at her choice of apparel. She'd carefully picked her outfits to be green or brown to blend in with the foliage. The pants she chose for the night and the next day was actually a short skirt, more like a loin cloth with sturdy, long strips of brown cloth to cover up her front and behind. The strips fell between her legs and down to her knees, making easier access to the dagger on her left leg and whip on her right. Her top was simply a breast band but wider for more modesty.
"It's not as if Zuko hasn't seen a girl this exposed…and Yue is a girl." Katara muttered to Laborc.
Walking back to the campsite, she ignored Zuko when he choked on his water as he saw her chosen clothing. Making a face at him, Katara squatted next to the fire, poking it with a stick.
Zuko had taken off his armor and shirt, and rolled his pants up to his knees. Yue had pulled on a 'skirt' similar to Katara's if a bit more modest, and a loose, thin shirt. Unsaddling Evadne, Katara lead her to a small water hole, letting her drink and graze on the foliage freely.
Laborc found another tree suitable for lying on, a tree that could actually hold his weight. Katara picked up her sword, slashing it at imaginary enemies.
"I'm going to take a bath." Yue said lightly, her eyes glinting mischievously. Katara and Zuko grunted in return, Katara too caught up in her mock joust and Zuko too engrossed in the flames to notice.
Standing up, Zuko unsheathed his own sword, unknowingly to Katara. Stepping in to a crouch, he parried a blow that was meant for her imagined opponent. Katara tensed her eyes wide with shock.
"Care to spar?" Zuko asked, one eyebrow raised cockily. Katara choked out an answer, their swords still locked together. Zuko flung her sword arm away and stabbed at her right shoulder. Deftly, Katara blocked it, raising her sword up to meet his in a clash of steel.
In the firelight, their swords gleamed evilly, as if in blood lust. Katara stepped agilely aside, bending back slightly as the sword came to close. Zuko swept at her again, only to be blocked again. Katara was grinning, the heat and exorcise causing more sweat to pour down her face. Zuko was in likewise situation.
This time, Katara swiped at Zuko, who locked their swords together. Taking advantage of the wrestling sword arms, Katara swiped out her dagger, only to be met by another. Zuko grinned as he saw the astonished look in her eye, the remains of his scar gleaming in the fire's blaze.
Over time, they soon grew slow and sloppy. Katara tripped on a protruding root, nearly toppling Zuko over. He caught her though, but was pushed forward by a tap on the back by Laborc. He fell forward, pushing Katara down with him. They landed in a puff of dirt, Zuko caught himself with his palms slapping the earth as he floored.
Panting heavily, Katara stared into his golden eyes, alight with battle fever. A foolish grin plastered his face. Rapidly, she saw it fall away to be replaced by his usual scowl. Katara didn't know what came over her, but she quickly and gently placed her mouth upon his, giving him a light kiss before she pulled back, realizing what she just did.
Zuko stood up, this time, him to be astonished as he helped a heavily blush Katara to her feet. She turned away and said something about going to take a bath. He didn't say anything, just stared after her in complete shock. Before Katara walked out of sight, he thought he saw her hand reach up and softly touch her lips.
Camping outside the outskirts of the Fire Nation capitol was difficult; Zuko had to find a place where the soldiers didn't patrol. Katara sighed and tossed in her sleeping bag. They had to act the next day. Zuko was currently on watch but she couldn't sleep. She got up and stretched, Zuko glanced over. Laborc yawned, showing cruel fangs.
In the humid night, everyone felt groggy and slow. Katara just felt sluggish and stumbled towards Zuko.
"I'll take second watch now." She mumbled, staring intensely at the ground. She felt his gaze on her and he moved to his sleeping bag. She took position and surveyed the thinned out forest. She picked a perch next to Laborc and poised herself, her eyes watchful in the night. Zuko paused.
"Why did you do it?" He asked, his voice a growl. Katara's eyes licked towards his and they met. She shrugged.
"I honestly don't know." She said quietly, staring out at the trees. Something about Zuko's demeanor made her think he wanted the opposite answer which made Katara shiver.
Zuko's breathing slowed down to a steady rate and she knew he was sleeping. She stiffened though as she felt an intense gaze fix on her. She whirled around on the branch and jumped nimbly to the limb of another tree. She heard Laborc hiss and tensed, dropping down next to Zuko's head. He woke with a start and she clamped her hand down on his mouth. Raising a finger to her lips, she warned him of the danger.
She crept hastily and silently to Yue and repeated her actions. Soon, they were armed and wary, their eyes darting through the sparse trees. Zuko and Katara had their backs together, Yue and Laborc standing side by side. Alert, Katara's keen ears heard the snap of a twig and blanched.
Her head shot up, the sound was coming from above. "Is there any way they can recognize you as the Blue Rider?" Zuko hissed. Katara tugged absently at her right sleeve.
"No." She whispered back, her gaze still intent on the trees above. "They're attacking from above." She whispered and felt Zuko stiffen in alarm. Just as he looked up, his vision swam, a searing pain in his head. His vision went black and he knew no more.
Katara snarled as Zuko fell, Yue not far behind. She spotted a Yuu Yan archer's arrow aimed at her. She blanched as it was loosed and deftly side stepped, catching the arrow withy her right hand. Her sleeve fell down and the Fire Nation soldiers eyes fixed on her wrist. A tattooed bracelet of entwined roses and thorns wove around her wrist, identifing her as the Blue Rider.
"The Blue Rider!" They shouted, all closing in on her. She yelled in despair for Laborc, but he was already in chains, roaring and trying to swipe out at the soldiers who held him.
"Sokka! Zuko!" She cried softly as she saw another well aimed arrow fly towards her. She had no time to react. The arrow pierced her left side, narrowly missing her heart by an inch. It was enough to do fatal damage. Katara crumpled to the ground as two more arrows embedded themselves in her stomach. With her last gasping breath, she saw Zuko's eyes flutter open and widen in horror as he saw the pool of blood surround Katara.
The archer said coldly, "Leave the girls here, they'll die sooner or later. Bring the beast and traitor."
yep...she's dead...barely any Zutara interactions, but bear with me and you'll figure out what's on my mind...