It's February. Where did all that time go? Last time we were left with Katara's chilling discovery that Aang was missing. Should have had Aang insurance to be honest. Some people just don't think ahead. Now let us continue the story and find out the answer to the question on everybody's minds: Will Katara ever get Aang insurance?

Disclaimer: Avatar: The Last Airbender was never my property, I don't have that kind of money.

Behind her was the soothing sound of water gently splashing into the basin of the fountain. Katara found that it quite calming, alleviating some of her stress. This was something that she certainly needed. After realising that Aang had disappeared she sat down on a bench by a fountain in the town centre. It was all she could do to put her mind at ease whilst she tried to get a hold of the situation. She supposed it was something to do with being a waterbender, it felt like she had some kind of connection too it.

'It's okay Katara, you can do this' she thought 'So Aang's gone, big deal. You can get him back no problem.' She tried to make herself believe that, she truly did but it was useless. Aang was gone and with him went everything else. He was the only thing tethering her to her old life and now that he had disappeared she could feel everything slipping through her fingers. It wasn't just that though. Aang was her friend, and if there was one thing she knew about herself was that she stood by her friends. She needed him back and in a moment of determination she decided resolutely that she would do just that.

The mayor was sitting at his desk in the town hall, comfortably skimming through various letters from the townsfolk. There was a knock on the door to which he barely looked up, absentmindedly telling the person to come in. He looked up to see Katara close the door behind her.

"Why hello, miss…" he trailed off.

"Katara" she put in helpfully.

"Miss Katara. Please, take a seat" he encouraged, putting down his papers and gesturing to the chair opposite him "Now to what do I owe this pleasure."

"I was wondering if you could help me find something" she began.

"Of course! If it exists then it's somewhere on these streets. Perhaps you should-" the mayor insisted enthusiastically before being interrupted.

"Someone."

It was almost impossible to notice, the ever so subtle change in his expression. But Katara did not miss it and now she knew everything she needed to know.

"I'm so sorry to hear that. Although it pains me to say it, but your friend may well be lost to the woods. Many who enter the forest do not leave, it is a sad truth but a reality nonetheless" he explained sympathetically.

There was a long pause before anyone said anything "I should have known this would happen. He's always been reckless, this day was going to come sooner or later" Katara said emotionlessly, staring down at the oak planks "Thank you for your help mayor. I- I think I need some time to take it all in."

"Of course. Take all the time you need" the man insisted as Katara got up and bowed before exiting. It wasn't until she returned back to her room at the inn did she reveal the various documents that were previously hidden under her coat.

"Now let's see who you really are mayor…"

The Evening

Under the cover of darkness a lone waterbender moved silently across the rooftops of the town. The moon's glow faintly illuminated the streets whilst the stars were concealed by a thick layer of clouds. Remembering the route from one of the maps she had snagged from the mayor's office she made her way to the courtyard. Sliding down the piping of a building she ducked into the nearby shrubbery, peaking out to get a look at her surroundings.

What she saw was worse than she feared. Lining the courtyard were dozens of metal enclosures each containing one of the badgermoles they had seen 'helping' around the town the day before. The animals could barely lift a paw from the tight space of the cages, most lying down looking at the ground sadly. After reading the stolen documents from the mayor she had discovered what really happened with the badger moles, but that didn't make it any easier to look at the poor creatures.

Suddenly Katara's mind flashed back to a different time. She was in a prison surrounded by dejected earthbender prisoners. It then flashed to images of the same earthbenders using lumps of coal to fight back against their imprisoners. Then it was over, she stared wide eyed at the ground before her expression turned steadfast once more.

Standing by the cages were two guards, presumably on duty guarding the animals. She looked to her waist where her flask was equipped. She took a deep breath before in one swift movement she burst out of the bushes, rushing up to the guards and freezing them before they had a chance to react. She looked from cage to cage but there was still no sign of who she was looking for. Eventually she reached two large metal doors. Hesitantly she slowly pushed them open to see Aang in chains against a wall.

"Aang!" she cried rushing over to him to free him.

He looked up his eyes wide "Katara! How did you find me" Aang asked surprised.

"Sshhh, no time to explain. We need to get out of here" she whispered freezing his chains and shattering them and releasing him. They made their way outside to where the badgermoles were, making sure that they weren't seen.

"We don't have long. Someone's bound to notice somethings not right soon" Katara warned.

Aang looked at the rows of cages before turning to Katara with purpose in his eyes "They deserve better than this. We have to help them."

Katara simply nodded in agreement and they set to work breaking the locks with a combination of waterbending and airbending. Unfortunately the animals were rather eager to leave and made quite a lot of noise as they stampeded out of the gates. It wasn't long until they heard alarm bells ringing and panicked shouts.

After setting the last badgermole free they sprinted to the courtyard exit only to find themselves surrounded by guards. Leading them was the mayor of the town who now had a displeased frown plastered across his face.

"All I ever did was try and help you" he looked around him raising his hands "This is how you repay my generosity?"

"Help us? You were only trying to help yourself!" Aang yelled angrily.

The mayor's frown only deepened further "Do you know what it's like to run a town this close to a city like Omashu? It's like we don't exist. We're nothing more than a stop off before the city" he explained bitterly. "When we first brought in the badgermoles no one batted an eyelid at Niúmǎ. They are what made this town something and now they're gone thanks to you"

Aang growled "You can't justify slavery, mayor. Those animals were wild creatures and you- you imprisoned them!"

"I did what I had to do to save this town! Just as I will do now, guards take the girl a waterbender ought to bring in the crowds."

The guards shuffled uncomfortably before one spoke up "the boy, sir?"

"Take care of him" he said offhand as he walked away.

The guards began to move in, Katara and Aang were back to back ready to fight. Before they could lift a finger the earth shook as the guards' legs were encased in rock. Around them badgermoles burst out of the ground knocking over the guards and trapping any that tried to escape. The mayor turned around startled by the commotion before clumsily running away from the animals. A badgermole surfaced in front of him opening a crevice which trapped the mayor.

When they snapped out of their shock they faced the group of badgermoles that they had freed earlier.

Aang stepped forward "I promise your kind won't be oppressed anymore. From now on you're all free badgermoles" he promised with a smile, bowing respectfully. The group burrowed underground leaving the two of them alone in the clearing. A gentle breeze blew through the air as they stood there looking at each other in silence.

"Hey Katara…" Aang trailed off hesitantly.

Before he had a chance to continue Katara leapt at him hugging him tightly "Don't leave again" she whispered quietly. The corners of his mouth turned up in a smile, blushingly lightly as he rested his hands on her back.

That day they left Niúmǎ, following the trail to Omashu without looking back. To the untrained eye they were just two more travellers making their way to the big city. But they knew they weren't just travelling companions. They were in this together or not at all. They were partners.

Somewhere nearby

"That went well" a voice pointed out.

"Yes… but let's just hope it stays that way" the hooded figure replied with scepticism.

"They always have"

The cloaked drifter sighed "If we can't… if things aren't like they used to be again he'd never forgive me"

"You still blame yourself for that? You know it was the only way" they said, a hint of sympathy in their voice.

Behind them a low groan disturbed the peace eliciting a chuckle from the stranger.

"Alright, Appa. Let's go."

That's right. I dropped the Appa-bomb. Watcha gonna do. Look I'm super sorry that I didn't update this sooner. I was having some emotional problems of my own that I needed to deal with. I really hope you don't hate me. I'm not promising anything but I'm gonna try and get a oneshot out for valentine's day. It will probably be Kataang but there's a slim possibility that it'll be Caleo. As per usual please take the time to review if you enjoyed it, they mean more to me than you'll ever know.

Good day.