Book II: Earth

Chapter II: The Swamp

Part II: Meeting the Swampbenders

The gang made their way through the swamp.

Sokka was leading the pack and cutting his way through the various vines in their way.

Kuzon groaned as he rubbed at his temples. "Sokka..you need to stop doing that." The spirits were all hissing around him in anger.

Sokka turned back with an irritated look. "Why? I'm just trying to find a way out of here. These vines are in the way."

Kuzon grumbled. "That is because I'm getting bad vibes. Like something is mad at us."

Sokka half-grinned. "Look who is paranoid. Ease up flamehead. We got this."

Aang and Lhasang grinned nervously. "He has a point. Lhasang and I are getting some bad vibes."

Sokka turned back to the two of them flabbergasted. "I thought Kuzon was the only one who could communicate with the spirits."

Lhasang huffed and glanced at him annoyed. "We may not be the Avatar but Aang and I have both had spiritual training. We can sense the mood of the spirits around us. They are kind of pissed off at you. You need to stop cutting those vines."

Sokka grunted. "Oh you spiritual types bore me. They are just stupid vines." Suddenly a loud growl interrupted the boy's words.

Kuzon clutched both sides of his head screaming in pain to his knees.

Katara ran over to him and put her hand on his shoulder. "Kuzu! What's wrong?"

Kuzon grit his teeth in pain. "No..the spirits...they are angry!"

Katara quickly turned and shouted to Sokka. "Sokka stop!" It was too late though. Soon the five of them found themselves surrounded by an army of dark spirits.

Kuzon hissed in frustration. "It's too late for that." He then drew his twin swords, preparing for a fight to the death.

Katara, forever at his side, suddenly sensed all the water around her. I've never sensed so much water before. She drew from all the vines, controlling two large tendrils in her hands. If we survive this…I will definitely kill my idiot brother later. She then turned to Kuzon with a sorrowful look in her eyes. "Sweetie..I just wanted to say…I love you."

Kuzon turned to her and gave her a nod. "I know."

Aang and Lhasang, both in attack mode, both gave one another a nod in acknowledgement.

Sokka pulled out his twin swords. "If it is a fight these creepy bastards want..it is a fight they are going to get." Suddenly a large swamp monster of some kind sprouted out from the ground. It was made of a bunch of large green vines with a mask of some kind. The vines then all collapsed to the ground in a heap. The mask fell to the ground as well. Four benders were in the middle of it all.

Kuzon realized that they were wearing nothing but clothing made out of leaves. What the?

The lead swampbender, named Duu then spoke. "Wait..wait. Do not attack them. Please. Let me speak with them."

One of dark spirits, formed in the shape of a large bear, merely hissed at the swampbender. He, however, bowed his head. He then let out his shrieking howl. It was so loud that the others had to cover their ears.

This caused the other spirits to retreat into their caves. Soon the bear walked off.

Kuzon and the others all let out a sigh of relief.

Katara then stormed over to her brother, thwacking him over the head. "Nice job genius. We were almost spirit lunch."

Sokka hissed back at her. "Hey. How was I supposed to know we were going to be attacked by a bunch of spirits?"

Kuzon grit his teeth. "Because I told you to be careful. The spirits were getting angry."

Sokka huffed and scoffed. "Whatever man." He then walked off.

Katara then grasped Kuzon's face, checking it over for bruises and cuts. "Are you okay? How's your head feeling?"

Kuzon sighed. "Now that we are no longer facing an army of spirits…the headache is going away."

Katara half-smiled. "I'm glad. You had me worried for a second." She then kissed him on the cheek. "Dying here in this swamp together isn't exactly my idea of a romantic moment. This place is so..unclean and filthy."

Kuzon smiled and caressed her cheek with a hand. "Aww…is someone afraid of getting a little dirty?"

Katara couldn't help but giggle at the firebender's quip. She playfully punched him in the shoulder. "You are such an ass."

Kuzon shrugged with crossed arms. "And you are so nauseatingly positive."

Katara chuckled with a half-grin. "Touche sweetie touche." She then turned to Duu smiling. "Appreciate the rescue. What's your name?"

Duu smiled. "A couple of teeth were missing from his mouth. "Name is Duu. I'm one of the few people 'round these parts."

Katara nodded. "Those..vines..you bended them somehow."

Duu nodded. "That I did. I'm a waterbender. The same as you. These vines are nothing more than plant life. They have water in them."

Katara nodded. "That makes sense." Duu then called for the others. "Hey guys. It is okay. Our new friends here are friendly."

The other swampbenders then walked up to the gang. Duu, Tuu and Yuu then walked up to the gang.

Duu then spoke cautiously. "Who are you people? You guys don't seem hostile but we don't get much company around these parts."

Katara smiled and squeezed Kuzon's hand. "My name is Katara. I hail from the Southern Water Tribe." She then glanced at Kuzon with a smirk and playfully elbowed him in the side. "The handsome firebender next to me is the Avatar. Avatar Kuzon. You may have heard of him."

Kuzon just shrugged his shoulders with crossed arms. "Charmed."

Duu then eyed him curiously. "I thought the Avatar died when his bison was shot down by a Fire Navy ship."

Kuzon just shrugged. "Like I told the airbender remnants….Fire Navy ships have terrible aim."

Duu nodded. "You are not what I expected."

Kuzon raised an eyebrow. "What exactly did you expect Duu?"

Duu just shrugged. "You are a lot more quiet and reserved. I expected someone more arrogant, emotional and hot-tempered. Fire Nationals are well known for those traits."

Katara couldn't help but tease her boyfriend a little. "Oh he has a hot temper and he is very emotional. He just hides it behind that cute little stoic mask of his. You just have to know what buttons to push. Allow me to demonstrate." She then turned him to face her and and then kissed him gently on the mouth.

Kuzon hissed in embarrassment. "Hey. Come 'on. You've got to tell me when you are going to spring that on me."

Sokka snickered.

Aang laughed.

Lhasang gave the firebender a sly smirk.

Katara grinned evilly at him. "Now where would the fun be in that be?"

Kuzon sighed in frustration and blushed. "Fair enough."

Aang then took Lhasang's hand in his . "My name is Aang and this is Lhasang. We hail from the Air Temples."

Tuu just nodded. "Hmm. What are two Air Nomads doing so far from the Temples?"

Lhasang then leaned on Aang's shoulder. "We..are rebuilding our homeland. Aang is Kuzon's airbending teacher and best friend. I'm just here for the ride."

Duu then nodded in acknowledgement. "I see. A pleasure to meet you all."

Kuzon just nodded. "What is your story Duu? I suppose you have been living here in this swamp for a while."

Duu gave the firebender a toothy grin. "Sure have kid. We grew up here in the Swamp. Our great-grandfathers got stranded here a long time ago on a journey from the Northern Water Tribe. Tuu, Suu and I are all descended from different families."

Katara gasped. "Wow. It is amazing that there are waterbenders all the way out here."

Duu grinned. "Yeah the three of us never imagined that we'd find outsiders all the way here either."

A few moments later

Kuzon and the gang decided to have dinner with the group of swampbenders. It was nice for the gang to relax for a bit. The meat was a bit gamey but no one complained. Everyone ate to their hearts content. Everyone decided to take their own watch. It was Katara's turn at the moment. She was watching over the campfire when a giant woosh from the flames rose up. The girl had to cover her eyes in order to keep from blinding herself. "What was…" She then looked up at the flame and saw the spirit of her mother. Katara again found herself speechless. "Mom…"

Kya smiled at her daughter. "Katara. So good to see you again.

Kuzon, awoken by all the commotion, opened his eyes and groaned. "What is going…" He was stopped in his words when he saw the spirit of Katara's mother before them. "Oh."

Kya then changed her gaze from her daughter to her future son-in-law. "Ah Kuzon. I see you are awake as well fejjeken-soki."

Kuzon, again unable to find the words, just gasped. "I'm sorry…what?"

Katara let out a small giggle. She was glad that for Katara laughed at the boy's confusion. She then walked over to him and grabbed his hand giggling. "Fejjeken-soki means "future son in law" in Southern Aleutian. Aleutian is the native language of the people of the Water Tribes remember?"

Kuzon nodded. "Ah that makes sense. I remember Sokka mentioning that." He then turned to Kya and bowed. "An honor to meet you again Kya."

Kya smiled warmly at the firebender giggling. "You could have just said hello. No need to be so formal with the bowing."

Kuzon immediately turned red and cleared his throat. "Oh..yeah..I.."

Katara giggled and rushed to help her bashful boyfriend. "You have to understand Mom. Kuzon isn't of the Tribe. Well not born into it anyway. He is of the Fire Nation.. Bowing in respect is kind of ingrained in him when it comes to meeting new people.

Kya beamed at her daughter. "I see. I see. Then I shall respond in kind." The ghost woman then bowed back.

Kuzon then nodded, grateful for the woman's understanding. She then met Kuzon's eyes. "We didn't get much time to speak in Hakoda's tent Kuzon. Tell me a little bit about yourself. I admit I'm a little curious. Katara usually isn't the type to attach herself to new people. I admit I was surprised to see her with a boyfriend." The ghost woman then sent her daughter a half-smirk.

Katara pouted and hissed. "Mom! Stop! You are embarrassing me!" The young waterbender then rushed into Kuzon's arms. Kuzon, unsure of what to do, just wrapped his arms around her and held her close. Katara silently thanked him for both his comfort and his support. She allowed herself to melt into his arms. It was as if she had a thick blanket wrapped around her.

Kuzon then began. "Well it started about a hundred years ago. I was born in the Fire Nation and almost assassinated by my countrymen for being the Avatar. My family died protecting me. I managed to survive in frozen stasis. My 'iceberg', if you want to call it that, washed up near your daughter's home village about a hundred years later. I later woke up almost dying of frostbite. She and her brother saved my life by bringing me into their village. It just so happened that the Fire Nation was still looking for me and later attacked said village. My friend Aang and I helped fend off their attack. I knew I couldn't stay and had to fulfill my destiny to defeat the Fire Lord and end the war. Katara wanted to come. I saw no reason to deny her request."

Kya nodded, taking all the information in, "I see. And when did it go from being just friends to something…more?"

Katara, now over her brief moment of embarrassment, then kissed her boyfriend and smiled. "May I?"

Kuzon nodded, blushing as red as a tomato. "You..may." He then took a step back.

Katara let out a giggle at the embarrassed look on his face. She then turned to her mother. "He was Fire Nation. I usually hate Fire Nationals since they were the ones who caused your death. However…I saw how his mother died in his arms in the winter cold. It..brought back some memories of your passing. I felt…sympathy for him. Then…he turned against his own prince just to save one of the people in my village. He led the war to save our Tribe even when my own father and many others fought him at every turn. Kuzon doesn't quit…no matter what he faces. I love that about him. When I asked to come along…he just shrugged and agreed. He also treats me as an equal. He doesn't dismiss me because of my gender and grants me an equal place to fight at his side without judgment. I've never gotten that from anyone else in my life." She then walked over to Kuzon and held his hand tightly in hers. "That is why I have grown to love him as I do. I desire a person who is willing to let me have my own independence. He does that for me."

Kya nodded. "And the fact that he is a Fire National doesn't bother you?"

Katara shook her head. "None of that matters to me. I care about what is in a boy's heart. Not where his roots are from." She then wrapped herself around Kuzon's arm and smiled. "Plus he is so handsome. I mean come on. How could I have not made my move?"

Kuzon just blushed. Katara…I don't know what to say.

Kya smiled at her. "I..see. I'm proud of you for following your own way Katara." She then turned to Kuzon with a curious look in her eyes. "And what say you young man? What drew you to my daughter?"

Katara turned over to look at Kuzon with a curious look in his eyes. "Now that you ask that…I don't think he has ever told me."

Kuzon shook his head grinning. "Ah I saw this coming a mile away." He then sighed and grabbed Katara by the shoulders. "Okay. The first thing is that you are courageous. You never ask anyone to go into a battle you can't fight yourself. It takes a lot of guts to face down two master firebenders by yourself."

Katara giggled. "Okay and number two?"

Kuzon continued with a bemused smile "Number two is that..despite my best attempts…I find you irrestiably charming and beautiful. You take my breath away like no other. It got annoying so I've just decided that is my life now."

Katara burst out laughing. "Aww. What can I say? I'm just that damn good."

Kuzon continued. "Number three is that you make me feel happiness…happiness that I haven't felt since Taira. I've been down a lot of dark paths in my life. I've lost a lot of people in my life because of my birthright. My parents. My grandfather. My first love. I was afraid to love again."

Katara nodded and leaned in with a wry smirk on her face. "And where do I fit in?"

Kuzon sighed and met her eyes. "You've given me hope. It's scary and frightening as hell to admit but it is the truth. You..give me hope I can be happy with someone. I don't know where the hell this is going or why but our shared affections for one another make me want to stay along for the ride." The boy then sighed as if to catch his breath. "What I am trying to say in my own complicated way is that I love you and I want to be with you for as long as we have each other." Kuzon then sighed again. "There…I actually said it."

Katara giggled.

Kya smiled. Yes. He definitely reminds me of Hakoda as a young man. Very quiet. Hard to read but honest when it counts. Good pick Katara. I look forward to the future.

Katara then rested her forehead against his with a wry grin.

Kuzon raised a eyebrow. "Wait what is that look for?"

The waterbender just chuckled. "Sweet-talker." She then pressed her lips roughly against his. This threw the Avatar off-guard and he almost tripped. Luckily she caught him in her arms, holding him up by his parka. He moaned into the kiss. She wanted him to remember who he belonged to. She wanted him to remember who had his heart. It was also her idea to keep any idea of cheating on her off the table. She wanted him obsessed with her lips. Obsessed with her touch. It was part of her nature. Water Tribe women were known to be both extremely possessive of their partners and very passionate with them when the moment was right.

Kya clasped her hands together grinning. Very good Katara. Show him who he belongs to. You have made me proud. "My my. I think I should give you two a moment alone." The teasing tone in her voice drew the attention of the young couple.

Katara just gave her mother a shrug. "I mean…if you wouldn't mind."

Kuzon glanced at her curiously. "Uh..Katara..what has gotten into you all of a sudden?"

Katara grinned cheekily at him. "I'm feeling passionate tonight. Do you want me to stop? I don't mean to make you uncomfortable."

Kuzon shook his head. "No…not at all. I..admit I'm surprised but happily surprised." The waterbender smirked back. "Good to know."

Kya then clasped her hands together. "I do have one request before I go though."

Katara turned to her mother with a coy smirk. "What's up Mom?"

Kya smiled at both of them. "When this war ends…I want you two to marry in an official capacity and have children."

Kuzon's face went white. Children? Marriage? Is she serious? We are both fighting a war. We can't possibly consider this now.

Katara, instantly attuned to her lover's emotions, gave him a kiss on the cheek and squeezed his hand whispering. "Calm down sweetie. It will be alright. We will consider all that later. Let me handle this."

Kuzon then allowed himself to breathe. Katara then cleared her throat. "We'll consider it Mom. I promise."

Kya nodded. "Good. Be well both of you. I will be watching from afar always." The woman's spirit then disappeared in a wisp of wind.

Katara then looked down at her boyfriend and chuckled. "Heh. Not bad sweetie. You handled that well. I am very proud of you."

Kuzon nodded with a nervous chuckle. "I tried my best. I have to admit. She surprised me. I can definitely see where you got your charm and beauty from. Not to mention your wit that I love so much."

Katara then gave him a sly grin. "Oh you."

The two then engaged in a fierce making out session that continued until they fell asleep

The two then fell asleep in each others arms.

She then cuddled him as the two of them fell asleep.

Please enjoy this one!

Sorry for the wait!