A/N. It was a long wait, yet again… I'm sorry! I finish my work on Saturday, so will be back with my regular updates from there on out! This story still has around 10 chapters left, and then we can start The Ashes of Autumn.
I don't own Avatar the Last Airbender.
"Aang?" She knocked on the door leading to the balcony. Katara had found her bed empty when she woke up, so had supposed that the airbender had not come to bed, and that she had fallen asleep waiting for him. The waterbender tried to push down the disappointment she was feeling about that fact, because she had hoped to do things…
No answer…
Pushing the door open, Katara peered outside. No Aang… And no Momo. Normally, the lemur would be knocking against the table for his treats around this time… But nothing. His staff was propped up against the wall, so he wasn't flying… It was not surprising, because she knew that Aang was supposed to be at Sun Meditation around now… But he would have woken her up with a soft murmur or a gentle kiss against her forehead or cheek… As he always did.
"Aang?" She called out this time, louder than the first time. Still, silence…
In the corridor, she heard the soft sound of a door scraping over the hardwood floor, meaning that someone was coming out of their bedroom. Quickly turning around, she saw Zuko rubbing his hands against his eyes, yawning in a very unprincelike fashion. Katara had to hide the satisfaction at his startled expression when he saw her. Even if she trusted him somewhat now… It was still good to see him be on his best behaviour around her. Just in case.
"Have you seen Aang?" She asked him, even though she knew that couldn't be the case. The firebender had clearly just come out of his own bedroom, getting ready for the morning training. The only way he could have seen the airbender was if he had slept in the same room. And for some reason, Katara doubted that Aang would prefer Zuko's company to hers… After what she had suggested they could do.
"I was going to wake him… He isn't in the courtyard." Zuko waved dismissible towards his room. Katara frowned, remembering that the firebender had a view on said courtyard…
So if Aang wasn't on the balcony, or in the courtyard… He had to be downstairs, doing something. Perhaps he was putting Momo's treats away, in fear the lemur would indulge himself once more. Or he was with Appa! The bison had been slightly abandoned these last few days, because there were so many important things going on… But that had to be it. Where else could he be?
But for some reason, a disgusting and vile tasting feeling was coming up from her guts. Katara knew Aang… He would never hide away without a good reason, and even then, the airbender told her where he was going. But he hadn't been in her bed the whole night… His side of the big bed had been untouched…
And he was missing.
What did surprise her was that Momo wasn't there either. That made Katara hope that her worries were unfounded… Aang would never take the lemur into the danger if he could avoid it. Never. He wasn't like that. Certainly not after what happened the night before…
But, she knew, the things that had been said during the day had upset him. And she understood… How was he supposed to make his beliefs and principles meet his duty? The idea of speaking to past Avatars, who had been presented the same choice, had been sound… But had he actually managed to do it? And had the things they had said been so disturbing that he had needed to go and hide, figure out his feelings and his duty?
"Katara?" The voice made her jump, and, realizing it was just Zuko, she shook her head, trying to concentrate on what was being said.
"I said, maybe he is outside?" the firebender waved to the balcony door behind her.
"Oh… Oh, no, he wasn't there…" She answered, trying to figure out where the airbender could be. A noise sounded from the ground floor, and relief flooded through her. Of course Aang was not missing! He was just already up, or had not even slept at all, trying to contact the Avatars.
Walking past the firebender, Katara nearly slid down the stairs, and, seeing light coming from the kitchen, she knew it. Aang was just there. He had to be!
"Aang?" She called out, and the noise from the kitchen stopped. Feeling her heart calm down, the waterbender opened the kitchen door… Only to be met with her brother. Covered in flour and something else she didn't know how to describe.
"Oh… Sis." Sokka looked bashful, and that didn't make her feel reassured. Not at all to be honest. Looking past her brother, Katara saw that Suki didn't look much better, but her clothes were covered with floury hand prints… Suddenly realizing what had been happening, she shuddered.
"In the kitchen? Seriously?" She nearly screamed. Aang was not in the house, and all those two could think about was that?
"It isn't what it looks like! I was trying to make breakfast… And… ehm… Got sidetracked." Her brother tried to defend herself, but Katara didn't want to know what happened. She wanted to know where the airbender was.
"Have you seen Aang?" She choose to ignore the scene in front of her. As the Kyoshi Warrior was trying to remove the worst of the flour from her clothes, Katara felt the fear return that she had been feeling when she woke up. It was irrational, of course. No way Aang would hide away now. No… This was something else. He was just meditating somewhere else. Of course…
"Ehm… He isn't with you?" Her brother answered, also trying to tidy himself up.
"I wouldn't be asking if I knew where he was." Katara answered coldly, trying to put the fear away. They needed to go look for him. Now.
"I'll look in the stables, and if he isn't there, I'm going to the town. You,' she pointed to Zuko, who had followed her inside the kitchen, "are going to wake up Toph. And she is going to check everywhere."
"I'm coming with you." Suki spoke quickly, nodding at her. Katara was surprised, for she had supposed she would help Sokka look for Aang… But she welcomed her company. The Kyoshi Warrior had never been disgusted by her relationship with the airbender, had never teased her… But had only given helpful tips and had always been supportive.
Quickly grabbing a moonpeach from the table, Katara walked outside, towards the barn. Behind her, the waterbender could hear Suki following her into the courtyard. The sun just rose above the roofs encircling the yard, and she knew that normally, this was supposed to be an important moment of the Sun Meditation. No way that Aang would miss that without at least warning Zuko…
Throwing the doors of the stables open, she was surprised to see the bison already up. Appa would sleep around this time, except if they needed to fly somewhere… But the Sky Bison was wide awake, and looked at her with big, wide brown eyes. And Katara knew at that moment something was terribly wrong. Appa had sensed it, and now, she was too…
Aang was missing.
Not just missing… But in danger.
And before she could say anything to calm the bison, he stormed past her, a storm of fur and paws, to come to stand in the middle of the courtyard. Turning towards the bison, she saw how Appa lifted his head towards the sky, sniffing the air. The bison turned, sniffed once more, then let out a sigh and slumped down in the middle of the yard, right on the snout of the golden dragon mosaic. The sigh led to a whole whirlwind hitting the courtyard.
And Katara knew that.
Aang did exactly the same thing when he worried about something. If he was angry… If he didn't know what to do, his frustration would be translated in the wind picking up around them… And it seemed that Appa did the same bending when he felt like that. Quickly walking over to the great animal, the waterbender put a hand just underneath one of the big brown eyes.
"You don't know either boy?" She whispered in the bison's ear, feeling slightly comforted when a warm breeze flapped the skirts of her Fire Nation disguise, "I'm going to look for him… Please don't worry. Stay with Sokka. Don't go looking for him on your own… alright?"
The bison pushed his head against her body, letting out a groan that she took as acceptance. Letting her hand pass through the soft white fur, Katara stepped away from Appa and joined Suki, who had not moved from the spot next to the doors of the stables.
"He isn't in there." The girl pointed a thumb to the stables.
"I know, Appa was also searching for him." What Katara didn't say was that the bison had not found Aang… And that worried her. Normally, Appa would be able to find Aang in a heartbeat. He would know instantly where the airbender was, without a second-guess. She remembered that when Aang had fled her father's ship, that she had not needed to steer Appa, although Aang had been a hundred miles away…
And that idea gripped her with fear.
If Appa didn't know… How were they supposed to find the airbender… Appa always knew.
"Let's try the town." Sui waved towards the path leading to the houses, but Katara didn't feel quite certain he would be there. First, Appa would have sensed him… And secondly, he had told her that the town of Ember Island made him long bac to simpler times… When this kind of behaviour wasn't just for the rich and powerful… But for everyone.
Stepping on the path, she put her hands in her pockets, as to make sure she wouldn't wring them together as she always did when she was nervous. Normally, Aang would gently take one of her hands and make sure she had someone to hold on to… He had done that even before Ba Sing Se… Even before the North Pole! And during his coma, she had missed that…
But now, it was even worse. For she realized she still had the necklace in her pocket.
"We'll find him. No worry." The Kyoshi Warrior said gently, but the edge in her voice still made Katara think that she was actually worried. Gripping the silken band that was holding the smooth stone pendant, she nodded.
Where was he?
Surely, he wouldn't have gone too far. Appa was still here, and he didn't have his staff. So, flying was no option. He still had to be on the island, and the island wasn't that big… He wasn't in one of the private mansions, that would be suicide!
What… What if… What if he was just that? Dead…
A shiver went from her spine all the way up, making her head shudder. No. Aang wouldn't be dead! She would know! She had sensed every breath he had taken during those long three weeks! Ever beating of his heart, every small noise. It had all been there. So, she would know if he wasn't there.
And if her heart was lying to her, and he was indeed… gone… She wouldn't care. She would get to every spirit, every god and every Tui and La forsaken hellhole to get him back. She didn't care. The Avatar spirit wouldn't have kept him alive all those years just to have him die days before the moment he was supposed to end it!
"Katara?" Suki's voice made her nearly jump up from her thinking.
"Oh… Yes, yeah… We'll find him." The waterbender stuttered, trying to shake off the feeling and the idea of Aang… dead.
"He'll show up, I'm sure of it. Sokka told me about you two… He said that nothing would stop the two of you if you were separated… That you would always find a way back to each other." Katara felt a hand on her shoulder, and for some reason, that small gesture of kindness made her eyes water.
"Sokka said that?" She whispered. The waterbender knew perfectly well that her brother was a big fan of her and Aang, even if he denied it at every turn in public, making screeching noises and oogie sounds.
"Of course. He loves the two of you, and also worries now. Even if it didn't look like that." Suki reassured her, and Katara felt slightly better. Not much… But a bit. The town came into view, but it didn't look like they were celebrating something. The capture of the much hated Avatar would be a reason for celebrations. So that was a good sign… Right?
"Aang… Aang disappearing like that doesn't feel good." She admitted. When they had sat, knees together, in their room, he had sworn he would always be there… But where was he now, now that she needed to know he was alright? Now that he was needed?
"You don't know if he actually disappeared. Perhaps he just went into town to get food. To surprise us." Suki suggested. Katara had to admit that was plausible and was certainly something the airbender would do… But the vest of his Fire Nation disguise had hung over the chair where he had dropped it when they came back from the theatre… So, she doubted it.
"It doesn't feel right." The waterbender repeated, clenching her fingers around the stone necklace in her pocket. Casting a glance towards the Kyoshi Warrior, Katara saw that Suki had seen the gesture. And it was now frowning towards her hidden hands.
"What is that?" Her friend asked, gently. Biting her tongue, Katara didn't answer. Toph had figured it out by the fact she had caught her in a lie about it… But she didn't mean for anyone else to find out. Not without Aang there… Not without him safe and sound, next to her.
"Nothing." She answered, but Suki's eyes stayed fixed on her, so Katara held out her hands, empty, to show her that there was truly nothing in her hands. And the necklace rested inside her pocket.
They passed the town gated, which were once more guarded. It surprised her that there were soldiers on the island, but at the same time, it reassured her as it meant that no one suspected the Avatar was here, somewhere… If they knew Aang slept just ten minutes away from their station, the soldiers would be rushing towards him like vulture bees to flowers… But maybe they were just trying to give off the impression that nothing had happened, and they had Aang in their cells now…
As they walked through the main street, there was some commotion around one of the corners. Katara couldn't hear what was being said, but even from where they stood, she could see the massive form of the actor who had played Toph. So, they walked around it in a long wide arc.
"Has something happened… That could explain why he wasn't in the house this morning?" Suki suddenly asked as they emerged on the market place. Katara understood what she meant. No one had been there to hear about Aang's plan, and the last time the others had heard them talk was when Katara was shouting at him.
So Suki was asking if they had been fighting…
"No… He actually had a good plan, to help him… defeat him." She didn't say the name out loud, as a rather tired-looking group of people of their own age walked past them, reeking of alcohol. Even in their state, they would find it strange if two persons spoke about defeating Fire Lord Ozai.
"Really?"
"Yeah… He was going to contact the other Avatars… I don't know if he managed. He was still trying last night when I sugg… When I said he should come to bed." Hoping Suki hadn't heard the near slip up, Katara let her eyes rake over the square, but nothing suggested Aang was there. As she had feared.
"Eh… He can talk to his past lives?"
Oh yes… They had not quite explained Aang's powers…
"Yeah. The one before him has talked several times with him. Then, the earthbending one manifested herself once…" She didn't say the names, as people were standing around them. And Katara seriously doubted that the names Roku or Kyoshi had been taught in a positive light in the Fire Nation.
"Really?" The interest in Suki's voice was clear, but the waterbender ignored it for the moment. There would be more than enough time to tell the Kyoshi Warrior about the founder of her warrior order.
"Yes. And I could really use one of the bastards so they can tell me where Aang is!" Her anger flared up. Those Avatars had never helped Aang! Not once! Sure, Roku had saved them in the temple at the solstice, but that was not because he liked Aang as a person! He saw him as a weapon to stop the war! And Kyoshi had spoken through him at that trial but had done nothing to help him! Spirits, she had admitted to murder! And the airbender had nearly been boiled in oil because of it!
No. The past Avatars could not even lift a finger when Aang had been hurt! All those damned spirits ever did was talk and show things they had lived through and, of course, Roku's life story had been interesting… But had it served anything? Katara assumed that the old avatar had shown him his life so Aang wouldn't want to take revenge… But she knew Aang. He would never even think about raining fire and death down on even the smallest of creatures, let alone the nation he had loved the most after his own.
"Come on… We won't find him here…" Suki tugged at her sleeve, gently. Katara knew it was meant as a gesture of kindness, to make her calm down, but as she turned around, the anger still boiled.
"No one has ever done anything for him. Everyone, including us, have only asked him to do a thing he didn't want to. He needed to hide, because we said so. He has to do something terrible, that goes directly against his principles, only because we think like that. You know what he told me once? That he finds our way of thinking strange. Because most of us, we kill before asking question, because killing is easy! And he isn't wrong!" Her voice rose slightly.
"Katara…" Suki spoke warningly, nodding her head towards the guards, who had turned around to see who had spoken.
Grinding her teeth, the waterbender put her hands deep on her pockets, and walked past the guards who seemed to eye her suspiciously. Bending her head away, she knew she shouldn't cause a scene. It wouldn't help find Aang, and, most importantly, the second guards or soldiers took an interest in one of their group, they would realize who they were. And that, they couldn't risk just a few days away from the comet.
"Killing isn't easy for him." She spoke lowly, as the guards were out of earshot. She just needed one person to understand. One person, other than herself, who would understand.
"It isn't supposed to be… I never found it easy." Suki admitted.
"I did. It was too easy. Sokka surely told you about the time we took the ship when Aang was in a coma. The captain was easy to kill. And to torment. And it still doesn't make me think I'm a bad person. But I know why Aang isn't here. The thing we ask him to do… It eats away at him. Killing someone… It wouldn't make him Aang anymore." Katara gripped the necklace in the pocket. She knew what Aang would say if he heard her talk like that.
Never a bad person… My Tara… We'll find a way to end this war…
Had he found it? Was that the reason he had disappeared? Thinking about that, she saw the villa come into view, and knew that if Aang had been found, she would know soon enough. But for some reason, she doubted it. He was not on the island. Appa would have known… She would have known.
"He promised." She whispered, as they neared the arch leading into the courtyard.
"Sorry?" Suki spoke gently.
"He promised he wouldn't leave again without saying anything." Katara managed to say. That was also a reason for her fear. Aang didn't lie, or break promises. And she didn't want to feel the despair once more she had felt during those weeks on the ship, or the pure terror of him slipping away to go to the Fire Nation…
He knew how she had felt.
And had promised never to leave her again.
And he wasn't here.
"I'm sure that if he left by his own will, he had a good reason." The Kyoshi Warrior clearly tried to reassure her. But the real thought was hidden inside what wasn't being said. Yes, Aang would never leave her without saying anything… If he left by his own free will. So, that meant he had left by force.
And that could mean two things… Or he had managed to contact the Avatars, but in that case, his body would be somewhere while he was in the Spirit World. Or the last, horrible and terrible, option…
Azula had managed to find them and had threatened him… Or rather, her… And he had been taken prisoner.
They entered the courtyard, and she saw the others stand close to Appa. And even without asking, Katara knew the answer. Sighing, she shook her head. No one had found Aang. And that meant only one thing… He wasn't on Ember Island.
"You looked everywhere?" She turned to Toph, and hated the pleading edge in her voice.
"I did Katara. No sign." The fact that the blind girl used her real name was enough proof for her that even though she found this situation grave. And that worried her. Nothing made Toph weary…
"I did find something, however." Her brother spoke, but it didn't sound too happy, "a set of footprints, leading from the path onto the beach. They disappear into the ocean."
"Aang went for a nighttime swim?" Zuko asked, confused.
"I doubt it. The only time he goes to the ocean in the evenings is to…" Sokka began, but Katara didn't miss the furtive look, and the fact he didn't finish his sentence. He had meant to say to waterbend with my sister.
They looked lost. Katara saw it in the eyes of each of them. No one knew what to do… And she didn't either. She wanted Aang, here and now. But she also wanted him to be able to escape the coming battle… And if those footprints were Aang's, which meant he had gone somewhere. And that he was alone, or with Momo. At least, that was good news. That meant he wasn't captured.
"Where were the footprints?" She asked, suddenly weary.
"There." Sokka waved his hand to the eastern beach. That was good news. If he planned to attack the Fire Lord alone, he would have gone to the western part of the island… But east, that meant the Outer Islands, or even the Earth Kingdom. East meant hope.
"I'm going to follow it. Towards the east." She decided. Screw the world. She would find Aang. Wherever he was. But find him, she would.
"Not so fast! We are not going to sit here, truing our thumbs around while you chase Aang around the world! The comet is in a few days. We need a way to track him, quickly." Sokka objected, but before Katara could say that Appa would fly quicker with just one person, Zuko gasped.
The sound was so ridiculous coming from the gloomy firebender that Katara didn't even say anything to her brother, just looked at the prince.
"I have an idea! Do any of you have something belonging to Aang? I mean, a personal thing, that he nearly always has on him?" Zuko asked. Nearly all the head turned to her, and Katara tried to look away.
"There is his staff. He uses it nearly every day." She suggested, but for some reason, Katara had a creeping feeling of what would be needed.
"When did he get this one?"
"The Invasion." She answered, the feeling sinking into her stomach.
"Too short… We need something he had for several months, with his scent really imbedded." The firebender said, and Katara sighed.
"I have something. Something he had in his pocket for nearly three months. Is that enough?" She knew Sokka was aware of what Aang had kept on him during all those months, and she saw the look her brother gave her. The one of puzzlement. He knew that she was suggesting the necklace in her pocket.
But her brother also knew Aang had tried to give it to her, and that she had given it back. And now, she was admitting of having it. Sure, it could just be that she knew where it was. But the airbender had kept it on him after her refusal that, Katara knew for certain.
And now she admitted of having it.
"Perfect! I know someone, in the port of Xi Deong, who can help us. How fast can Appa get us there?" Zuko nearly ran to the house but held himself back to hear her answer.
"Nightfall, if he pushes himself." Katara guessed.
"Alright, five minutes! Then we leave! We need to find Aang!" With that, the firebender disappeared into the villa.
And Katara followed. Her bags could stay her, but she was still taking Aang's staff. His chest. Those belongings couldn't be left behind, and certainly not in the house of the people who had destroyed his culture and people.
Aang… Wherever you are… I'm coming. I promise you that I will not rest until we have found you…. Where are you, my love?
Answers:
Jjsmith103: I really wanted to show that she tried to be the best her father wants her to be, but that the cracks are showing, and that in her mind, she knows that perhaps, this isn't the perfect situation. That she thinks being Fire Lord will fix it, but that her mind tells her it won't fill the void.
Rak: Yeah, I wanted to see where this would lead me. I'm not feeling comfortable with how I depicted Azula, so won't probably try again before being in a good space and having time to write her chapter accordingly.
Lenoravampire1 : Well… We will have to see. I thins she deserves the redemption arc of course, but it is a long road before it (I have written the first few chapters of the following story, you'll see!)
Thank you all for sticking to the story, my work has been very demanding these last few weeks, so that is why it isn't regularly updated. But in a few days I can do it once more! And I'll answer de messages when I'm back home! On Sunday!