Katara's cerulean eyes were wide in a swirling mixture of surprise and fear. The three firebending girls were standing in front of her, towering over her as she lay in the grass. The waterbender couldn't defeat one of them on her own, or fend off two for long. But all three stood right there. Add that and the fact that Ty Lee had taken away her bending spelled disaster. There was no way she could escape this one. Unless Zuko helped.
"You have no idea how much I want to do this." Mai said with a smirk. The ninja's voice sent shiver's down Katara's spine. She seemed so cold. Her eyes were void of all emotion but a small, sharp sliver of anger. Why was she so angry? The not-so-waterbender didn't know what she'd done to Mai to make her hate her so much, but it had to be something big. The Fire Nation girl held a gleaming red fork made of metal. It was supposed to only be used for the last attack to end someone's life and Katara had seen it almost used back in Omashu. That was her first encounter with the girls.
Mai pulled back her arm and threw her weapon.
Katara rolled to the side to avoid it, just in time. "Still going to fight?" Azula commented, hand on her hip. Her long dagger-like finger nails stood out. The water tribe girl couldn't help but wonder if she has those nails, why is she fighting with firebending? Katara jumped to avoid a sudden ball of blue fire. She sidestepped an attack from the acrobat and ducked beneath another sharp metal star. When she turned, she felt a sickening pressure on her throat. Her attacker pushed her backward until her back hit a tree, holding her above the ground. Katara squirmed trying to break free. Her airway was being blocked off…The grip tightened. The fourteen year old looked down to see two golden eyes staring up at her. It was Azula.
Zuko tried to heave himself up, breathing heavily. Katara needed his help. He struggled. He'd taken more damage than he had originally thought.
"Stop moving, wench." the princess commanded. The waterbender kicked at her stomach but it didn't help. Azula's free hand flared with a flame and in an instant, it gripped the younger girl's chin. Katara screamed in searing agony, tears making a river flow down her face. In an instant, the firebender pulled away. "I said stop moving!" The waterbender obeyed this time, whimpering slightly.
The exiled prince's eyes widened when he saw what his sister had done. He knew Azula was ruthless, but this was… His eyes narrowed as he pushed himself up on his knees, slowly and painfully rising to his feet.
"Who do you think you are?" Azula yelled, shaking the waterbender. "Even in exile, my brother has a higher social status than you! You're a lowly peasant!" Katara winced, closing her eyes. It wasn't like she could be any more than a peasant. There was no form of government in the Southern Water Tribe.
"Look at me, you little brat!" The waterbender's shoulders were shaken again. The waterbender did as told, meeting the piercing gold gaze of the fiery princess. "You get what you want. I'll turn you in to my father along with my traitor brother so you two can rot in a cell together for the rest of your miserable lives!" Katara's eyes narrowed. She was not going to let Zuko's little sister do this to her. She wasn't going to be insulted or pushed around or burned anymore. And there was no way she was getting captured. The water tribe girl kicked toward her captor's stomach. It pushed her back, but only slightly. "You have some nerve--"
But Katara never heard why she had some nerve. She brought her knees to her chest and kicked again, pushing Azula's shoulders. The princess fell back with closed eyes, clutching her shoulder and collarbone. The waterbender landed and jumped to avoid another star.
Zuko watched as he made his way over, limping. He smiled. Who said Katara couldn't fight without her bending? He saw her conspicuously grab every star Mai threw at her, tucking it in her sleeve. She might not be able to use them as well as the Fire Nation girl but it was something.
Katara dodged Ty Lee's cobra strike and stopped behind the girl. She struck in the same style toward both of her arms. Katara had seen the acrobat do this once before to Sokka. Hopefully it would have the same effect. "Hey!" the acrobat cried. It did. Her arms hung limp. Mai ignored her friend and stepped in, throwing another star. This time, the waterbender wasn't fast enough. The projectile hit her forearm and she cried out.
"That's what you--" Mai was cut off by a streak of orange flame. She flew back, hitting her head so she was unconscious. Katara turned to face Zuko who was leaning against a tree with a half grimace half smile on his face.
"Sorry it took me so long." he said.
"It's alright." Katara said with a small smile. The burn on her jaw still hurt, so she didn't smile too much. She watched Ty Lee try to stand without her arms. Azula had her eyes shut tight and she was still clutching her shoulder.
"Come on." Zuko said, motioning to Katara. She nodded, following.
"Hey!" Azula yelled. "Get back here! We're not finished yet!"
"I think you are." Katara replied, smiling. It was worth the pain.
"You better watch out! You'll be sorry, wench! I'll get you both!" Zuko and Katara didn't hear the rest of Azula's ranting. They were already on Chi with their belongings, riding away.
o0oOo0o
Toph woke up to the smell of pine and a soft fabric on her cheek. Her eyes widened. She was leaning against Aang! She tried to sit up, but she found she couldn't. The Avatar's arm was clamped around her waist. The scratchy fabric of her blanket rubbed against her skin and she felt another one on top of it. It was wrapped around both of the twelve year olds. Stupid Sokka. She thought. The sound of Aang snoring brought her back to reality.
She sniffed the air. By her judgment, it was still quite a while before sunrise. When she listened carefully, she heard the slight crackle of a fire. It was really only coals. She felt the bit of heat it gave off, but otherwise, the night chilled her to the bone. Without thinking, she snuggled closer to her friend. She closed her eyes and willed herself to sleep.
She didn't notice, but the snoring had stopped. Aang watched the girl he was holding with gray eyes. He smiled. He bowed his head and kissed the top of her head.
And what he didn't realize was that she was still awake.
o0oOo0o
The exiled prince and water tribe peasant finally stopped after another long ride. They had gone across the grassy plains and partway around a nearby mountain. There was another forest bordering the side of the mountain, and, lucky for the pair, the entire mountainside was littered with caves. They chose one out. It was small; maybe eight by eight feet. But it was the perfect one. There was a small climb to the shelter which made it harder to get to not only for them, but for their three enemies as well.
The tired ostrich-horse curled up in the corner, nodding off almost immediately. Zuko and Katara unloaded their blankets and laid them out. The fire prince pulled out two pieces of fruit. The waterbender gladly caught it, sitting down on the cold stone with a thump. At least she wasn't sore anymore. Her water-healing had taken care of their injuries. After setting the bag of feed out for Chi, Zuko joined her.
"You did really well back there." Zuko complimented, taking a huge bite from his pear.
"Thanks." Katara's cheeks were stained with a blush. The firebender smiled to himself and he kept eating.
Just as he was finishing his companion was slipping under her blanket, yawning. Zuko did the same. He pulled her close, her blue eyes opening. She blushed again as she snuggled into his warm chest and he looped his arms around her slim waist. Katara closed her eyes again, feeling her sweetheart's breath on her cheek. Zuko followed suit. He adjusted himself one last time before the pair fell into a peaceful slumber.
And the newly awakened Chi just sat there staring at the pair. Was this normal?
o0oOo0o
Azula groaned as Ty Lee tied her sling. The acrobats arms were working just fine now, Mai was awake, but the princess wouldn't be able to do much for a while. She had nearly thrown her cheerful friend in the river when she had given the diagnosis. Azula's own words rang in her ears. "I can't have a broken collarbone! I need to capture my pansy of a brother and that water wench!" Mai had assured her they'd keep hot on their trail. This had soothed the firebender, but not by much.
"There you go." Ty Lee said cheerfully. Azula muttered an insult under her breath and Ty Lee got a pot of tea off of a small fire. The brooding Mai sat with her back against a tall tree, stroking the fork she had thrown at Katara. Her already narrow eyes narrowed even more.
"Angry, Mai?" Azula asked, sipping her cup of tea.
"About what?"
"The fight." the princess replied, paying no mind to Mai's more than bitter tone.
"Why would I be?"
"Because you like Zuko." Ty Lee chimed in. Her angry friend stood, throwing her weapon at the acrobat. The pink-clad girl did a summersault to avoid the projectile. It landed with a thwack behind her, plunging deep into the bark of a tree. Ty Lee just stared at her friend blinking once. Then twice. Azula shrugged with her good shoulder.
"It's true."
"We were children!" Mai shouted. "I don't anymore!" Ty Lee and Azula exchanged knowing glances. With a huff of frustration and a flail of the arms, Mai exited to the shadows to sit behind a different tree. But not before retrieving her beloved weapon.
o0oOo0o
Toph woke up surprisingly cheerful. Sokka was about to ask why she was acting so strangely when the Avatar showed up. His yellow shirt was hung over his arm and his feet left a dark trail behind him. "Found a stream to splash around in?" Toph asked with a wide grin. The water tribe boy backed away, making an excuse about finding some food. Not that they needed it. The sack was full. But Toph was freaking him out.
"Yeah. I figured I should practice a little." Aang turned to Sokka, equally cheerful smile on his face. Sokka groaned inwardly. This was too much happy too early. "Do you want to pack up camp? We can stop around noon for lunch and a little bit of earthbending."
"I didn't think you actually did any earthbending yesterday." Sokka commented, raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah, but I'll do it today. I can feel it." the multi-bender said. He turned to pack up his belongings. "Hard like a rock…" The water tribe warrior turned to Toph for an explanation but froze with his finger in the air, eyes wide. The little earthbending girl was humming a quiet tune, stroking Momo's ears. Showing no sign of hostility, anger, or sarcasm.
Sokka spazzed. He did what I like to call… The Sokka Dance (A/N: you know when he freaks out about the whole curse thing in the Cave of Two Lovers?).
Sokka Dance!
o0oOo0o
A/N: How was it? Sorry there wasn't a lot of Zutara. More in next chappie!