Lakai led them to a smaller clearing with several tents surrounding it. Snores were emitting from one tent, while smells of herbs came from two others. There were two more, one clearly a makeshift operating room, and one which uses were unknown.
"Here. Lay down on that bed so I can reach the wound" the healer said, opening a tent flap. Sokka stopped his sister.
"Hold it!" He studied Lakai as best he could in the semi dark. (Even with faltering light from a lantern, it was hard to see.) "If you're a healer, why didn't you heal Katara right there?"
Without batting an eyelid, as though she was used to these questions, Lakai replied, "I would have, but she said so herself that it was a shuriken wound. Those can be really deep and I'd like to check it before I heal it."
"We could have started a fire."
"No offense, but this is as close to clean as I can get," Lakai replied. "Here, I know the sheets are clean and the water hot. Plus, I've got lotions and such that will help her after I heal the wound. Her back's gonna be really sore after this."
That explanation sat well with Sokka, and he allowed Katara to lay down. "Um, I think it'd be best if you two," Lakai said, motioning to Aang and Zuko, "left while I heal. She's gonna have to remove her shirt so I can get to the wound better." Aang started to protest.
"She's my Waterbending teacher! I've seen her without her blouse on."
"I don't care. I have rules that must be adhered to when I'm healing. Only people of the same sex and relatives can be in the tent if some article of clothing must be removed," the healer replied, losing the casual air she had had before. "Or fiancées," she added, looking pointedly at Zuko. "Now, unless you fit that description, get out."
She said that last part with such venom that Aang and Zuko scrambled out. "I've never seen a Waterbender so angry before," Aang muttered to Zuko.
"Unless you count Katara trying to kill me before…all this," the Firebender replied, "neither have I. I thought only Firebenders had tempers or passions that big."
The two boys waited outside, listening to Katara gasp when Lakai first touched the wound. They both winced; Katara started muttering a lot of words no one (not even Sokka) knew she knew. In the flickering lantern light (which was growing progressively dimmer), they saw Katara turn her head and look at Lakai with what must have been a death glare.
"Hmm. Whoever cleaned this wound knew what they were doing," Lakai said, totally ignoring Katara's insults and threats. Zuko felt a surge of pride at her comment. It was nice to know that his work was appreciated. "Though the bandages are a little on the shabby side.
"We ran out," Sokka replied from inside the tent. "Can you hurry?"
"Yeah. I'm tired," Katara added in, yawning."
"Hold ya ostriches, I'm goin' as fast as I can," she said, sounding a little like the Swamp Hicks.
"I never heard a Waterbender that sounds like you. Just where are you from?" Toph asked.
"Me? My mom and dad where born in the Northern Water Tribe, but dumped the place after my grandparents tried to marry them off to someone else. They ran off and found a tribe of swampy Waterbenders that could legally marry them," Lakai began. As far as Aang and Zuko could tell from outside, she was healing the wound. "They then went on to Omashu, before the Fire Nation took it, and had me. We lived there for about three years before we moved again, this time to a port city. When you live in a place for fifteen years, you take on their speech mannerisms."
"Huh?
"Y'start talkin' like them. Geez. Is he this stupid naturally?"
"I think so, but Sugar Queen and Twinkle Toes say he's had his moments of genius," Toph replied.
"Really?" There was a moment's pause, and then Lakai spoke up a little louder. "Can the big, tall Firebender with the scar come in here? I need his help?"
"I'm right here!" Sokka pointed out.
"You don't look strong enough. He did." Zuko rolled his eyes and entered the tent.
"Could you lift her?" Lakai pointed to Katara, who now had her shirt back on. "I need to change the sheets."
"Why? There's not much, if any, blood on them," Ty Lee pointed out.
"I'm a neat freak," Lakai explained. Ty Lee nodded. Zuko shrugged and carefully hoisted Katara up. Lakai ripped off the sheets and put new ones on the small collapsible cot. "Okay."
Katara winced slightly as Zuko put her down. "If you healed it, why am I still wincing?"
"I closed the wound. The muscles might be sore for a few days. That's what my lotions and heated oils are for," the older Waterbender explained. "I've got room in my two herb tents for you guys, if you want. They hold two sleeping people apiece."
"Thanks, we'd love to stay. For the night, at least," Aang said, adding that last part in at Zuko's glare. (Even in semi-dark, the young Avatar knew when the Firebender was glaring.)
"Great. So, who's sleeping where?" Lakai asked.
"Well, I can share with Toph," Aang offered. "If she doesn't want to make an Earthbended tent."
"I'll make one and we can share. Whatsername needs to sleep somewhere." Toph paused. "I say we let Ty Lee and Snoozles share," she added innocently.
"Then big guy over here is in here with…what's your name again?"
"Katara." The said Waterbender reached for the water cup by the bed. Zuko handed it to her.
"Why do you keep making comments about my height?" Zuko asked. Lakai looked at him and snorted.
"I'm barely over five feet and probably weigh just over a hundred pounds. T'me, you're huge," she replied. Katara smiled.
"Hear that, Toph? Someone who's actually shorter than you. Or, at least, she will be, once you stop growing," she added as an afterthought. The young Earthbender hadn't quite bloomed yet.
"Shut it, Sugar Queen."
Sokka raised his hand. "Do I get a say in where I sleep? Cause, I'd really like to sleep on Appa."
"It's going to start raining soon; I wouldn't. And who's Appa?"
"My bison," Aang explained. "How do you kno-o-o-ow it's gonna rain?" His yawn interrupted his sentence.
"I've lived in costal areas most of my life. Trust me," Lakai said.
No sooner had she said that did rain start beating on the tent. "I don't want Katara sharing a tent with Z-" Zuko's hand covered Sokka's mouth.
"Hmm?"
"…With some hormonal teenager that's not her brother," Sokka finished, taking Zuko's glare to mean, "give her my name and I'll kill you".
Katara sighed. The night was catching up to her and she was sleepy. "I don't care who I share a tent with. I'm tired and stiff and you're being stubborn. Just agree to whatever they say and wake me up in the morning." She yawned and carefully rolled over, her back to the others.
Her yawn set off a whole chain, pushing the will to argue out of Sokka's mind. "Fine. He can sleep…" Sokka's words trailed off into soft snores.
Ty Lee giggled softly and poked Sokka awake. He looked around, then left, pink acrobat behind him.
"G'night," Aang muttered, leaving. Toph nodded her good nights and followed Aang, muttering when she felt the rain on her hair.
"See ya in the morning," Lakai said, and ducked out of the tent.
Zuko sighed and looked at Katara, who stirred.
"Who's there?" she asked groggily.
"It's me, Zuko."
"Zuko? Oh, good. I was hoping you'd stay." With that, Katara went back to sleep.
Good? She was happy he was sharing a tent with her? Or was that just the tiredness talking? Either way, Zuko was exhausted. He collapsed on the other cot and fell asleep shortly after.
I may have mentioned to a few that I was planning a sequel after I finish this. I might just combine both stories and make a companion instead, haven't decided. Anyway, don't forget to reveiw! (Please? I love reveiws!)