"Katara?!" Sokka yelled as he ran to her side, slightly fearing he imagined the whole thing.

But he didn't. He couldn't believe that his eyes were staring into Katara's ocean blue orbs. She tried to give him a small smile, but it was a weak attempt.

"Water," she demanded in a hoarse voice. Mai spotted a pitcher and some glasses on a table beside Katara. She quickly poured it and handed it to Sokka.

"Here," he said as he supported her neck and helped her drink from the glass.

When she was done, she laid her head back down on the pillow. Then, she spotted the other visitors in the room. She groaned and asked, "How long have I been out?"

Sokka hesitated. He internally debated telling her anything about the attack and the following days, but he knew that her stubbornness would win in the end. "Five days," he told her in a monotone voice.

Katara sighed loudly. The number of days made her angry. She had been asleep for five days. She had missed out on five days. How many people got hurt in that attack? They needed her to heal them, and she couldn't because she had gotten herself hurt… although, it was for a good stole a glance at her brother and thanked the spirits that he was alive.

She noticed that he looked tired and older. There was no doubt in her mind that the last five days had taken a toll on him and their father. She had so many questions she wanted to ask him, but the two unexpected visitors hiding behind Sokka made her lose all of them. "What are you guys doing here?"

Zuko looked at Sokka for permission to answer her. They hadn't discussed what they were going to tell Katara when she woke up… They didn't expect her to be awake at all. When Sokka gave him a small nod, Zuko answered, "Sokka told us you were hurt."

Katara narrowed her eyes at him and sensed that there was more to their visit. "I'm fine. See," she tried to push herself up, but Sokka quickly pushed her back down.

"Oh no, you don't. Miki needs to check you out before you should move."

It was Sokka's turn to receive a glare from his sister, but he didn't care. He couldn't care about anything other than the fact that she was awake. She was alive.

"Fine but later," Katara sighed. She needed to know more about what happened before she could even think about herself. "What happened after I blacked out?"

Sokka hesitated once again. He hadn't even told Zuko and Mai the full story. He planned to do that after they visited Katara. Instead, he simply said, "You made the spirit disappear."

"I did?" Her eyes grew wide. She didn't remember doing that.

"Yes, you hit it between the eyes with your waterbending. It scared it off. There's been no sighting of it since."

"But it's still out there," she finished for him as she closed her eyes in dismay. She was hoping he would tell her that they killed the spirit. It was gone, and they had nothing else to worry about.

"Yes," Sokka confirmed. "I invited Zuko and Mai here to help us hunt it. Toph said she wanted to sit this one out, but she would be here as soon as it was safe."

Katara smiled at the mention of their blind friend. She understood.

"Katara," it was Mai that spoke up this time. Mai had always been truthful to Katara. She didn't sugarcoat anything because she knew Katara was strong. Zuko and Sokka wanted to treat her like glass, but Mai wasn't afraid to break her. Katara always came back stronger. "There's something you should know."

Katara looked at her friend expectedly. There was a lot she didn't know. She had been asleep for five days, for Spirits sake!

"Mai," Zuko scolded her lightly. It wasn't her place to tell Katara anything.

"No, she deserves to know. Sokka, we have to tell her."

Sokka closed his own eyes. Should they tell her? Aang didn't even have the decency to reply to his letter. Should they break her heart or get her hopes up for nothing?

Katara watched her brother struggle internally. He always wanted what was best for her, but sometimes he took it too far. She wasn't a child. In fact, she was more mature than Sokka most of the time. "Sokka, what is it?"

Sokka looked at his sister. It was a miracle she was awake. He prayed for her to open her eyes and yell at him for something stupid again. Then, he made his decision. He couldn't lie to her. He couldn't keep something this big from her either. "Katara," he said softly. "I also invited Aang here."

Her breathe escaped her. Careful to not make a scene, Katara inhaled quickly and shut her eyes. She was afraid she was going to be sick.

Aang.

She hadn't thought about him in a while. It took her months to be able to think of anything else. One day, she realized that he wasn't constantly on her mind, and that's when she knew she was going to be okay. She could do this without him.

She didn't want to see him. There were numerous balls, festivals, and parties over the years. Some were even thrown in her honor… well, their honor for ending the Hundred Year War. Since their breakup, she hadn't attended a single one that wasn't hosted by the South Pole. She didn't want to see him.

She couldn't see him.

Seeing Aang again would break down all of the walls she had built. She knew that, and he must have known that too because he never came to anything in the South Pole. He didn't come to Gran Gran's funeral, and he didn't write to her after she never replied to his initial break up letter.

Katara knew that Sokka and Suki had seen him. They went to the festivities up until they found out Suki was pregnant. Sokka had even spoken to her about the first time he saw Aang again. It was in the Fire Nation, and Sokka wanted to punch Aang for leaving his sister like he did, but Suki wouldn't let him. Hitting the Avatar would surely not be a good look for the future Chief of the Southern Water Tribe.

Instead, Sokka told Aang that he wanted to punch him as a greeting. Aang told him he was welcome to, and then he apologized for everything. Sokka said he felt so bad for Aang, and he said he looked miserable. By the end of the festival, they were okay again, but not like they used to be.

"Katara?" Sokka called to her. She snapped out of her thoughts and saw the concerned look on his face. "Katara, I'm so sorry. I only reached out to him because-"

She cut him off. "He's the bridge between the Physical and Spirit World. It's okay, Sokka."

"Really?" He asked her like a little kid that was surprised they didn't get in trouble. He was scared, and her blank reaction only made him worry more.

"When will he be here?" She asked. She needed to bathe and get out of this gown before she could see him! Was he already there?

Sokka looked away from her, unable to see her face when he said, "He hasn't responded yet."

Katara closed her eyes again. He wasn't even there yet or coming at all, and he had managed to let her down again. "Good. Maybe he won't come," she replied.

None of the others knew how to respond to her last statement. It was awkward being in the middle of them, but they loved them both regardless of what they knew… and what they didn't know.

Eventually, it was Sokka that spoke. "I'm going to go find Miki so she can see you."


"Wow, Katara. You're healing a lot better than we expected you would," Miki told her as she finished examining Katara's wounds. Miki had brought her up to speed about her prognosis.

"It helps that I'm a healer too," Katara answered her. It was true. Katara had always healed fast, and she assumed it was her body and bending's doing. "What are the chances of me being able to leave here today?"

Miki narrowed her eyes at Katara. Was she faking being well to get out of the hut? "If you promise to come back or send for a healer after lunch and dinner, then I suppose you can be released with supervision."

Katara squealed in delight. She liked being the healer, not the one being healed. "I promise."

Miki looked to Sokka knowing that he would be the one to keep Katara on track. "I'll make sure she does."

After signing some papers and thanking Miki a hundred times, Katara hobbled out of the healer's hut with Sokka's support. Once they were outside, she tried to walk on her own, but Zuko had to step in to help her too.

The palace was closer than Katara's house was, so they decided she could rest in her room there. Once they arrived, Sokka sent a servant to fetch Hakoda, Pakku, and Suki. While they waited for the others, Katara happily listened to Zuko and Mai talk about their lives. She hadn't seen them in over a year, and she longed to travel again. Maybe once the spirit was taken care of and she was fully healed, Katara could sneak away from the South Pole for somewhere warmer.


Pakku helped a heavily pregnant Suki tread through the snow. Meanwhile, Hakoda came as fast as he could. Katara laughed as her father tried to hug her as gently as he could. Sokka watched the pair with tears in his eyes.

Once Pakku and Suki arrived, Katara shared the news about her injuries and that she was released from the healer's hut. Once they were all caught up, Hakoda turned to Sokka. "Thank you for taking over the last few days. You'll make a great Chief one day."

"Thanks, dad."

Hakoda turned to the others and announced. "This calls for a celebration! Tonight, we will feast!"

The others agreed that this was a good idea, but Katara was a little uncomfortable being the center of attention. Mai sensed her hesitation, and told her, "There was always going to be a feast because the Firelord was in town."

Katara laughed at her friend's bluntness. "Thanks, Mai."

After a few more minutes of lighthearted conversations, the topic of the spirit was brought up. "I think we should convene the Council," Pakku suggested.

Zuko, Sokka, and Hakoda agreed with the older man. Zuko added, "Katara's awake now, and she might remember more details about the spirit."

Katara swallowed hard as she thought of those glowing green eyes.


"Thank you all for coming on such short notice," Hakoda said as he opened the meeting. Sitting at the tables before him were the member of the Council. "While we discuss today, we will also serve lunch." At his word, servants brought out trays of food and placed them before each member.

Katara inhaled with happiness, stewed sea prunes. Her empty stomach growled at the thought of eating the heavily dish.

While the others ate, Hakoda continued with business, more formal than usual. "I'd like to thank my son and your future Chief, Sokka. He did an amazing job taking over for me the past few days. He will undoubtedly serve you will." Applause and cheers rang out and Sokka thanked them all.

"My daughter and your princess, Katara, has awaken from her slumber after defending our tribe from the awful spirit. You had us worried there, darling, but we are so happy you are awake." Katara blushed at the praise she received from the others. It was something she could never get used to.

"Today, we are honored to have the Firelord and Firelady in attendance with us. We wish them the best of luck as they help us hunt down and expel this evil spirit." Zuko and Mai graciously accepted the applause from the Council. "My son, the Firelord, and the Firelady with begin hunting the spirit tomorrow. Before they do this, we should fill them in on what we have learned about the spirit. Bato, will you do the honor?"

Bato nodded and stood at the table. He glanced at Katara before he began and offered her a nod."Thanks, Chief. According to the reports, the spirit was a black figure that was several yards tall and long. It ran on all fours and didn't attack anyone, except for Princess Katara, unless it was defending itself. It had glowing green eyes and talons on its hands."

Her heart dropped into her stomach, and she could feel her wounds throb. Her pulse pounded in her ears as she remembered exactly how sharp those talons were as they pierced her skin. The hand that held her in the air squeezed her with anger.

Bato continued, oblivious to Katara's internal panic. "Bending and weapons were useless because the spirit was able to regenerate its skin. It's only known weakness is between its eyes. Princess Katara, do you have anything else to add since you were the first one to see it?"

Katara swallowed hard again and slowly stood from her seat. Her wounds were making themselves known but only to her. In her most confident voice, Katara said, "The spirit was fast. It was approaching the tribe quickly when I began my attack. It had feelings too. Once I started attacking it, it grew angry with me and frequently singled me out," she paused for a moment, hesitant to add her next thought.

"Katara," Sokka called her out of her thoughts. "Is there something else?"

"Yes, there is. When my brother and I were traveling with the Avatar during the Hundred Year War, we arrived in a village in the Earth Kingdom that was being attacked by a spirit. It came every night and took villagers back to the Spirit World with it. In fact, Sokka was kidnapped by it."

"I remember that," Sokka added. "It's forest had been destroyed by the Fire Nation, so he was seeking revenge on the village."

"But we haven't destroyed anything," Hakoda said defensively.

"We don't know that," Sokka replied quickly.

Curious at the story, Bato asked, "How did you get rid of it?"

Sokka and Katara looked at each other. Aang did most of the work. Sensing his sister's hesitation, Sokka quickly answered, "Avatar Aang found an acorn in the burnt forest and presented it to the spirit to give it hope that the forest would be restored. Only the Avatar was able to communicate with the spirit, but he calmed it down, and the spirit returned to its calmer form. Its name was Hei Bai, and it protected the forest, that's why he acted out."

"So, we have to figure out what is out of balance and making the spirit angry?" Hakoda asked slowly understanding the problem.

Nuka scuffed and said, "And we'll need the Avatar's help?"

Sokka nodded. "I've sent a letter to Avatar Aang requesting his help, but he has not responded."

Crossing his arms, Nuka asked with narrow eyes, "So, he's not coming?"

It was Zuko who answered Nuka's question in an authoritative voice. "The Avatar is still very busy restoring the rest of the world. I'm sure the letter missed him by mere minutes. I will personally send him another letter after this meeting ends."

The rest of the meeting passed Katara in a blur as the members of the Council hypothesised about what was out of balance. Katara's stomach was full for the first time in days, and all this listening was making her tired. She knew she needed a healing session and a nap.

Eventually, Katara heard her father ask, "Does anyone have anything else they would like to add before this meeting adjourns?"

Unable to keep her eyes open any longer, Katara stood shakily again, her face was pale. All of the eyes turned to her. "Please excuse me, I am feeling unwell." All of the others nodded in understanding and agreeing that she had done an incredible job for only being awake a few hours.

Suki met her at her side and took one of Katara's arms in hers. "I'll help you to your room," she whispered quietly. Katara whispered a thank you to her in between painful gasps. Her face was scrunched in pain, and her shoulders were hunched a little.

As the pair began to walk away, a servant interrupted the meeting. He knocked his staff against the icy floor and announced in a loud voice, "Chief Hakoda, I present to you the Avatar."