AN- Okay, here's the next chapter... The big ONE-O... It's not as short as chapter nine... how many think I should put in a little zutara or kazuko or whatever it's called...don't worry...my Imagination Bar just hasn't been up lately... Kidgonebananas? Potatokid? Friedawig? If you recall that play...
CH10
The next morning Katara was practicing her water bending when she heard something in the woods. It was a low rustle that she decided was just an animal in the trees. She was far from correct. After hearing the noise she ignored it and continued practicing. Prince Zuko burst from the bushes and grabbed her. He had his soldiers tie her up and they were taking her back to their campsite. Yroki came out of her tent because she thought she heard something. After looking around she found a necklace on the ground. From a distance, it looked like hers, so, at first, she had hope. After approaching it, however, she saw that it was not hers, but Katara's. Fearing the worst, she looked in Katara's tent to find her gone.
She sat at the edge of the river and thought about what she could do. She felt a hand on her shoulder and looked up. An old man in a saffron robe was standing there. Immediately, she recognized him.
"What are you doing here?" she asked. "How did you find me?"
"That doesn't matter," he said. "Where's your necklace? Giving it to you was a mistake."
"The necklace?" she asked uneasily. "It's gone."
"Gone?"
She nodded and hugged him. "I don't know how. Now one of my friends is gone."
"Do you know where to find her?"
She thought silently for a moment and then answered, "Yes. I know exactly where."
Yroki woke up Sokka and Aang and told them the news. She introduced her godfather and they prepared to retrieve Katara.
"Come on!" Aang said as he jumped on Appa. "Let's go!"
"We can't fly there," Yroki said. "Too noticeable. We need to surprise them."
"I think a huge bison with an arrow appearing out of nowhere is surprising," Sokka said.
"She is right," the old man said. "Before we set off, I would like to clarify how that necklace works. It is activated by one of the four elements. Water."
Yroki nodded and remembered the one time she had taken it off. The necklace had fallen in the water!
"The water must not be still. It is not just the water that releases its power, but the flow. Just as we live by earth's sustainment and fire's control. Our life cycle is much like air's path. The necklace must be away from water's flow. Which is why I gave it to you."
"But-"
"We must leave now if we are to find your friend."
AN-okay...I'll skip ahead to the part where they come to the camp...so I won't bore you...
They parted a bush and looked at the camp site. Katara was sitting in front of a fire with Fire Nation Soldiers. And Zuko. She looked upset as there was no water near her. No water meant no chance of escaping. Yroki crept into an empty tent and miraculously found her necklace in a small leather pouch. She fastened the clasp around her neck and quickly put on a soldier's uniform. She sat at the fire beside Katara and whispered into her ear.
"Katara, it's me. I'm getting you out of here. Just play along."
Katara recognized Yroki's voice and nodded.
"Come with me southern peasant. You don't deserve the warmth of a fire, you filthy wretch."
She grasped Katara's wrist and pulled.
"Wait a minute," Zuko said, grabbing Katara's other wrist. "What do you want with her?"
"What do you want with her?" Yroki asked. Zuko's nostrils flared.
"Give me the girl!" he shouted. "You know that the plan is to use her as bait!"
"Why keep her out in the open?" Yroki shouted back. "It's easier for others to take her unless she is concealed!"
"These soldiers are too stupid to be left alone with a prisoner!"
"Really? Why keep them?"
"I see your point," he said. "Take her away."
Yroki nodded and pulled Katara into the tent where she found the uniform. She handed Katara her necklace and brought her back to the others.
"My necklace!" she said. "I didn't even notice it was gone!"
"Come on," Aang said. "Let's go back."
"Your idea was truly genius," Yroki's godfather said.
"You just forgot one little thing," a voice behind them snarled. They looked up and saw Zuko.
AN-DUHN! DUHN! DUHN!