Top of Form

Bottom of Form

Cartoons » Avatar: Last Airbender » Wherever You May Be

B s : A A A

Author: Strata's Stargazer

Rated: M - English - Romance/Adventure - Reviews: 56 - Published: 01-18-09 - Updated: 05-25-09

id:4802671

Avatar the Last Airbender: Wherever You May Be

A/N: Hello all! Couldn't really remember the last time I updated, so I figured that would be a good sign to put up the next chapter! I am going to be re-posting previous chapters, but it's only to fix spelling errors, nothing major like re-writing scenes or whatnot.

Also, I am starting another story! Hundred: Scenes is based off my first Avatar fic Hundred and is, of course, a ZukoxKatara , the Fire Nation ends up going into a civil war following the end of the war, but Katara is sworn to Zuko through a blood promise so she's in the Fire Nation as well. It's (hopefully) a rather dark story, focusing on a nation split by civil war, so please check it out! Read Hundred beforehand to get the gist of the story first though!

Anyways, enjoy the chapter. Zuko delves into his thoughts about Katara (not as emo as I would have thought) and you get to meet someone new!

Wherever You May Be

Chapter 8

The sun hitting her eyes nearly drove her to her knees the next morning and Katara grasped the doorframe for dear life as she tried to blink back the tears in her eyes caused by the glare. Slowly opening her eyes again she watched as Zuko send out several large bursts of flames into the sky as he came to the end of a kata. The ground beneath him had been melted away, either from the heat he was radiating or on purpose, giving him plenty of space to practice. He wasn't wearing his parka, but as a firebender he actually had to option to train without it, while she was shivering just standing in the doorway.

Closing the door to protect the heat inside the hut, Katara silently continued to watch him practice while trying not to think just about how awful she felt. She had obviously drunk too much alcohol last night from the nausea continually rolling in her stomach and the pounding headache she had upon waking up, having made just sitting up painful let alone actual movement. She recalled going to bed after leaving Zuko in the living room, groaning softly as she recalled how close they had been and how bad she had wanted to kiss him in that instant.

She couldn't even say what it was that had stopped her from letting him kiss her, but was nonetheless thankful she had stopped. The fact still hadn't prevented her from seeing the look in his face when she had pulled back at that last second, the hurt and confusion that had flashed across before she had turned away. Then, rather than face those emotions, she had bolted to the bedroom, leaving Zuko alone. She didn't know when he finally came to bed but he had already risen when she had woken up.

Zuko finished with a flare of red flames, the snow around him steaming at the heat of the attack. He stood in the snow for a few minutes panting before turning and pausing when he saw Katara sitting on the steps watching him.

"Um, morning," Katara said softly, not being able to meet his gaze as he approached.

"Morning," Zuko replied shortly, wiping the sweat from his forehead. He went up the stairs and into the hut without saying anything else and Katara closed her eyes as she rested her forehead against her hands. As the cold was only worsening the headache she got up a few minutes later, stepping inside to see the door to the bedroom close behind Zuko.

The thought of food wasn't appealing at the moment so she settled on some weak tea before sitting in front of the fire, closing her eyes as she rubbed her forehead. Finally giving in she crossed her arms on the table and rested her head on them, sighing as the headache started to fade.

When Zuko stepped back out of the bedroom a few minutes later he paused seeing Katara slumped over the table with her head on her arms. However, seeing she was breathing smoothly he decided to leave her and grabbed his parka before stepping out of the hut, exhaling as the cold slammed into him. Obviously Katara was paying for last night's indulgence of honey whiskey, which wasn't surprising after five glasses of the potent alcohol. Still, it didn't explain why she had decided to drink so much, but the comments she had made last night were both confusing and telling.

There were still too many things unspoken between them, Zuko thought as he went to the barn to take care of the buffalo yak. The events of a year and half ago weren't brought up, but it didn't explain the looks of sadness that flashed over Katara's face when she thought he wasn't looking, or the way she would sometimes withdraw into herself for no reason. Last night was just another example of that, leaving him feeling frustrated and unsure of what he needed to do.

"Of course, it's not like I can just blurt out, 'Hey, I think I'm in love you. I left my betrothed in the middle of the night and my country just to come after you'," Zuko grunted as he dumped a pile of hay in front of the buffalo yak who stared up at him before grabbing some of the hay to munch on. Pushing the hair in his eyes back, Zuko leaned against one of the posts as he formed a ball of fire in this palm before starting to toss it between his hands.

"Animals have it so easy," he muttered to the buffalo yak. "You don't have to try and explain emotions you don't have a full grasp on. You just get put in a pen, do your business, and get out. Nothing else."

When he thought about it, he wondered sometimes if his feelings for Katara originated from the time down in Ba Sing Se when he showed her the person behind the scar and the anger and she actually saw it. Their conversation had influenced his actions on the day of the Black Sun, almost as much as Uncle had, when he realized he didn't have to regain his honor by killing a twelve-year-old boy or prove it to his father. Then, at the Air Temple, when he had been seeking their approval it had been Katara's he had wanted the most, to go back to the time in the cave when she had accepted him, when they had realized how much they had in common with having lost a mother.

Even once they had become friends, she was still the person he enjoyed being around the most, the one he always looked forward to seeing. That was because she always challenged him, be it over a spar or over a topic like trading agreements and state policies. They had such different points of views, but Zuko learned from Katara's and knew she learned from him. Their heated conversations had constantly driven out the others in the group, but neither noticed or really cared.

His relationship with Mai was completely different; she didn't like to comment on a lot of things and her general air of ennui disconnected her from the world around her. He couldn't hold that against her, knowing how her parents raised her, but it had become frustrating at times over the years.

"Why can't relationships be easy?" he groaned, smacking his head against the post as if the pounding would somehow make the answer of what to do pop in his head.

Sighing, Zuko unfroze the water for the buffalo yak before leaving the barn. Glancing between the hut and the town, he spotted people walking around in the nice weather and with a shrug headed off into town.

Maybe while in town he could find a man like Uncle who would like to impart the wisdom of relationships to him. Or, find a way to tell a stubborn waterbender he loved her without chasing her off forever.

sSs

"Feeling a little under the weather?" Jerking her head up in surprise, Katara blinked before glancing around, finding Zuko near the door removing his parka. Rubbing the sleep from her eyes she noted the headache had faded and so had the nausea and she wondered how long she had slept on the table. "You've slept another four hours. I figured it would help the hangover."

"It did," Katara said hoarsely, her mouth feeling like it had been stuffed with mothballs. Grabbing the cold cup of tea in front of her she downed the contents before shuddering at the horribly bitter taste. "Where did you go?"

"The village," Zuko said, joining her at the table. It seemed whatever had been bugging him that morning had been dismissed as he was actually willing to talk to her she reflected dimly as she tried to wake up. "I talked with some of the villagers."

"Wait, what?" Katara asked, staring at him in surprise. "You actually talked to people? You never like talking with strangers!"

"Doesn't mean I don't know how," Zuko told her indignantly before motioning to the fireplace. "You want lunch?"

"Uh, no," Katara winced, feeling the nausea come back at the thought of food. At least the headache had gone away.

"So, what did you talk about?" she asked as Zuko went about finding food to eat. Suyin and Yao had given them rice to supplement their diet of soup, as well as more vegetables and meat so they would be well stocked until the pass opened in the spring.

"The weather, how they support themselves, how many people live here, that kind of stuff."

"What did you learn?" Katara asked curious. At home they were able to live off the sea the months of winter, but the Daiyu Mountains didn't seem to offer a variety of wildlife and vegetation.

"The weather sucks, they said to be prepared for more snowfall in a few days," Zuko told her with a shrug. "They farm in the warmer months, plant almost the entire valley with root vegetables and a hearty wheat as soon as the ground thaws. Everyone helps, so everything gets split depending on family size. Some people go to villages like Chengdu and another one on the other side of the mountains and buy clothes and items that they can't grow."

"How big is the village?"

"Roughly a hundred people, but with the war over it seems some residents are returning to their home towns."

"That's good, they can see their family again that way," Katara said softly, wondering briefly if she should tell Zuko what she learned last night. Something had her holding back though, so Katara decided she would ask a few more villagers. Ursa might not have stayed in the village, but there was a possibility she may have come through here briefly.

"We've been invited to dinner again," Zuko told her and Katara raised her eyebrows in surprise. "Yao and Suyin seemed to vouch for us as good dinner guests."

"Wonderful," Katara said, standing up from the table. "I'm going to clean up, then tour the village in daylight. Want to join me?"

"I'll pass," Zuko told her before smirking. "I talked as much as I'm capable of right now."

Katara forced her to laugh as she closed the door before sighing and resting against the wood, wondering if she could make it through another night of pretending to be engaged to Zuko. Last night definitely could not be a repeat, she thought, reaching up to unconsciously graze her lips before dropping her hand as she closed her eyes to try and control the emotions she didn't know if she wanted gone or continue to keep close to her heart.

sSs

"A mid-wife?" their newest host, Jie, asked confused that night as Katara helped with the dishes again. The three other women in the kitchen turned to stare at Katara who flushed under their curious gazes. "Why would you need a mid-wife, unless you're having a child before spring?"

"No! Not that," Katara rushed to explain, blushing harder when she realized why they had looked at her. "You see I'm a healer and I just wanted to talk to the village's mid-wife."

"Well you would want to meet Sun who has been the village mid-wife and healer for the past twenty years," Jia told her before frowning. "If you have an interest though, you should visit Lady Tien as well. She is our faith-healer when Sun is busy with her other duties."

Katara got information on where to visit both ladies, her curiosity peaked at the mention of a faith-healer. She had met a few in her travels and there was a good chance Lady Tien may be able to help her with the chi blocking. That and healers ended up knowing everyone in the villages, even those who didn't live there for a short period of time.

The next morning Katara sparred briefly with Zuko in the area he had cleared in the snow using his broadswords, enjoying the exercise even if she did lose in the end. She had her revenge by pelting Zuko with a snowball before rushing inside to change into dry clothes as he brushed snow from his hair. When she had left he had been practicing his bending, which she didn't begrudge him after being stuck inside for so long where his bending had been left to domestic chores.

The sky was slightly overcast so it felt warmer, but Katara still dressed in warm pants and pale green tunic, her parka on top of it. It wasn't as well made as her Water Tribe one, but smelled faintly like Zuko so she still enjoyed wearing it as she headed off into the town, the hood up to protect her ears.

Sun turned out to be a woman in her early fifties who use to live in the Fire Nation colonies until her husband had been killed in an attack on the village. She had brought her children here after her loss, all who had left the village to live elsewhere in the Earth Nation. Sadly, she also didn't remember any Fire Nation women entering the village around the time Ursa would have and Katara was expecting Lady Tien would have a similar answer.

The faith-healer lived to the rear of the village, so by the time Katara arrived in the afternoon she was sweating in spite of the cold weather. The house was of decent size and Katara smiled as she approached the door, hearing the laughter of a child to the rear of the house. She had seen a few young children while out today and yesterday and had been excited to see they were happy as they played in the snow. Reaching the door she quickly undid her snowshoes before cautiously knocking on the door, hoping she wouldn't be interrupting anything.

"Coming, coming!" a voice called from inside the house and Katara smiled at the woman who answered the door. She was in her late sixties, her hair snow-white in the topknot she had it styled in. Eyes a light golden-brown stared at Katara in curiosity before she bowed in the Fire Nation style.

"Are you Lady Tien?" Katara asked as she slowly straightened.

"I am. I take it you are the young woman who got stuck in the mountains with her betrothed," Lady Tien said, smiling when Katara looked at her in surprise. "Gossip always makes its way through our town, especially when new residents appear after a snowstorm."

"My name is June," Katara introduced herself. "The women in the village said you are a faith-healer."

"Bah, those old bats just say that because I recommend tea for their ailments, which always seems to work. More an effect of their mind than the tea," Lady Tien told her with a chuckle and Katara immediately thought of Iroh and how he would probably have done the same. "So, what can I do to help you? Do you need contraceptive medicine?"

"Wha...? Uh, no," Katara stuttered, flushing in embarrassment as she shook her head. Maybe she shouldn't have said she and Zuko were engaged since it seemed to be causing her more problems than necessary. "That wasn't why I came to see you."

"I am sorry, I simply assumed," Lady Tien apologized, motioning Katara to enter. "I just prepared a cup of tea, would you care to join me?"

"I would love to," Katara said, following her back into the kitchen. From what she could see the house was decorated in that of the Fire Nation with reds, gold, and blacks. Even the kitchen showed signs of a Fire Nation heritage, including the ornate teapot Lady Tien poured from. "Thank you."

"Good tea is always worth sharing with someone," Lady Tien commented and Katara was once again reminded of Iroh. "Especially ginseng, it's my favorite."

"How do you get such good tea up here?" Katara asked curious, enjoying the tea. Sadly, it proved how poorly both she and Zuko made tea, despite the many times Iroh had tried to teach them.

"It's a secret," Lady Tien said with a faint smile. "So, how may I help you?"

"Do you know anything about chi blocking?" Katara asked, figuring she would ask about her problem first before bringing up Ursa. There was something about this house and the blatant link to the Fire Nation that was causing her to feel anxious, but not uncomfortable, so she wanted to find out what it was.

"Chi blocking? I know a little, mostly in theory. Only a select few in the world are well versed in chi and the human aura," Lady Tien said softly, blinking at Katara in curiosity. "Why are you asking?"

"My chi has been blocked," Katara explained slowly, not wanting to give away too much information even though Lady Tien seemed trust-worthy. "I am a waterbender, so it's affecting my bending. It has happened before, but never on such a permanent basis."

"And so you were hoping I would be able of help?" Lady Tien asked and sighed at Katara's nod. "I am afraid, child, I can not be of help. Yet, I heard that your destination is Ba Sing Se once the path clears, yes?"

"Yes."

"A very old friend of mine lives in Ba Sing Se," Lady Tien told her, frowning in thought. "I haven't seen her for well over twenty years, when we both still lived in the Fire Nation. She was trained in chi blocking and even spent a few years away from the Fire Nation in her younger years with a guru from the Earth Nation."

"Do you mean Guru Pathik?" Katara asked without thinking, only realizing her mistake when Lady Tien stared at her in surprise.

"Why, yes," Lady Tien said. "How do you know of him?"

"Oh, um…there are rumors he helped the Avatar."

"I had not been aware of that, but yes, she trained with him. Etsu lives in the Lower Ring of Ba Sing Se, but sadly I do not know any more than that," Lady Tien told Katara, shaking her head. "I wish I could be of more help."

"No, you were more than helpful," Katara told her before taking a deep breath to brace herself. "I do have another question, though. I am looking – "

"Nana Tien! Nana Tien!" a child called before the door in the kitchen leading outside was thrown open.

A boy, probably no more than ten years old, ran inside, yanking the heavy clothing that covered him head-to-toe off of him as he did so. Black hair blocked the child's face as they struggled out of the boots they were wearing before looking up and Katara's breath left her in a rush as she stared at the boy's face.

"Oh, Spirits," she whispered, meeting curious yet hauntingly familiar gold eyes. "You're Ozai's child."

There was a crash as the tea cup Lady Tien had been holding hit the table and shattered, startling all three occupants of the kitchen. The boy turned to Lady Tien before rushing over to her, small hands reaching out to comfort the shaking woman.

Katara continued to stare at what could have been Zuko's split image at that age, vaguely recalling an old family portrait that Zuko had been able to find in the palace during reconstruction. It had been before Ozai had taken the throne and Ursa's disappearance, when the four had still been what could be called a family. The two boys looked identical, even their hair done up in short ponytails.

"What, what did you just say?" Lady Tien asked, one pale hand landing on the boy's shoulder in reassurance.

"That child," Katara said, pointing to the boy. "That is Ozai and Princess Ursa's child is it not? The younger sibling of Fire Lord Zuko."

"How do you know?"

"The eyes," Katara explained, feeling her heart race as she continued to stare at the child. "The only people I have met with eyes like that belong to the royal family."

"And you know the royal family? You claim to be from the Northern Water Tribe," Lady Tien said, standing up and moving to stand in front of the child. "How would you know?"

"I am not Northern Water Tribe," Katara clarified, slowly standing but making sure not to approach the two. "My real name is Katara. I am a Master Waterbender from the Southern Water Tribe."

"Katara? The Katara?" the boy said, poking his head out from around Lady Tien who had paled to an ashen tone at Katara's introduction. "The same one that traveled with Avatar Aang and taught him waterbending? The same one that knows Fire Lord Zuko?"

"At your service, Prince…"

"Jiro," the boy said, fully stepping out from behind Lady Tien who sank back down to her seat as she stared at Katara in surprise. Katara gave the prince a bow before turning to Lady Tien and doing the same.

"I'm sorry for lying. Until a few weeks ago I had been captured by some unsavory people and was covering my tracks by taking a false identity," Katara explained to Lady Tien who nodded slowly. Katara quickly went and grabbed another cup, pouring the older woman fresh tea who took it gratefully. "I think you should meet the man pretending to be my betrothed. I know he'll have an interest in knowing Prince Jiro even exists."

"You don't mean…" Lady Tien trailed off, her eyes widening as Katara nodded.

sSs

"What?" Zuko asked, staring at Katara in disbelief. He had been talking with some of the village men when Katara had run up to him and pulled him away, blabbering something about the buffalo-yak and tea. Once they had been out of ear shot she had stopped, opening and closing her mouth a few times before blurting out a rush of words that left him in shock. "What did you say?"

"I said you have a brother," Katara told him again, smiling nervously up at him. "And he's here."

"I…where?" Zuko finally got out, not quite sure what to feel.

"Come on," Katara said, grabbing his hand in hers and pulling him quickly through the village. He didn't recall the trip, the thoughts racing through his head too rapid and convoluted to make sense.

He had a brother?

"Here!" Katara said and Zuko blinked. He looked at the house and took in the Earth Nation design and small stature, a suddenly chill running through him. His mother, the princess of the Fire Nation, lived here with a younger son, his brother?

"Katara," he rasped out and she turned from the door where her hand was raised to knock. He wasn't sure what she saw, but a shaky breath left him as she stepped up and reached up to cup his unmarred cheek. "Please…"

"I swear Zuko," Katara whispered, meeting his gaze calmly as she pushed some of the hair away from his face. "Trust me."

"Always," he whispered and Katara smiled softly before turning and knocking on the door. There was nothing but silence and Zuko would have let the fear return had Katara not grabbed his left hand and squeezed it. Finally the door squeaked open and he exhaled harshly at seeing the figure in the doorway, suddenly feeling five again. "Nana…"

"Fire Lord Zuko," Lady Tien said with a shaky bow and Zuko jerked himself into action, reaching up and pulling the woman upright. Surprising the two of them he hugged the woman who had been his and Ursa's nanny in childhood, feeling thin arms gently return the hug.

"I thought he killed you," Zuko whispered, finally stepping back to look at her. She seemed a lot less intimidating now as he stared down at her rather than staring up as he had as a child when under her watchful eye. "You just disappeared, so I thought he killed you because of her."

"No, child. Your mother would never let that happen," Lady Tien said before smiling at Katara who was smiling happily at the reunion. "Come, let us go inside where it is warmer. Your…your brother is waiting to meet you."

"I really have a brother?" Zuko asked and stepped back when Lady Tien turned to glare at him. He really felt like a five year old rather than a Fire Lord under her disapproving gaze and stared at the floor, wincing as he heard Katara stifle a gasp next to him.

"Prince Zuko!" the older lady snapped, not even noticing that she used the wrong title. "How dare you discredit Lady Katara's words. Apologize!"

"Oh…no," Katara gasped and Zuko finally looked up to see her collapsed against the wall. Her hands covered her mouth with tears leaking from the corners of her eyes as her whole body shook. His eyes narrowed when he realized it wasn't because she was touched at the reunion but because she was laughing at him. "It's…that was more than enough! Sokka wouldn't believe this!"

"If you say so, Lady Katara," Lady Tien said even though she frowned at Zuko who bowed his head again.

"The great Fire Lord humbled with one look," Katara taunted softly.

"Shut up," Zuko growled as the two quickly removed their parkas before heading to the kitchen where he could hear a dull thumping sound.

"That boy. I swear he'll put a dent in the cabinets doing that. Jiro!"

"Sorry, Nana Tien!" a young boy called out as the three reached a doorway.

Zuko paused before he could enter the room only to be pulled in by Katara who grabbed his sleeve and forced him to follow her. They reached a kitchen where he could see a teapot set out with three cups and the remains of a fourth as well as a boy who was jumping down from the counters under Lady Tien's watchful and disapproving gaze.

"Yes, well," Lady Tien trailed off nervously as Zuko stared at the boy in amazement. There was no denying the truth behind the boy's origin, he looked like Zuko had and bright golden eyes stared up at him in curiosity. "Prince Jiro, I would like to introduce you to your older brother, Fire Lord Zuko of the Fire Nation."

It was comical how big the boys eyes got before he bowed awkwardly, as if it was something he had only been taught in passing and never had to perfect. It actually would have been the case, Zuko realized, if they were in hiding and Jiro was allowed to grow up as a normal child. There was an awkward feeling in his stomach as he looked down at the boy, as if he was staring back through time to see himself.

"Zuko," Katara hissed and he jerked before quickly returning the bow back to Jiro's whose eyes widened even further in surprise. As Fire Lord he didn't have to return the gesture, but it was worth it to see the awe that filled those golden eyes.

"Jiro, why don't you go up to your room and start on your lessons for the day?" Lady Tien commented and Jiro opened his mouth to protest before nodding shortly and leaving the three adults in the kitchen. "Please, Fire Lord Zuko, sit."

"You don't need to use a title, Nana," Zuko said softly and smiled when Lady Tien flushed at the old name he had always used. She was the only adult he could ever remember calling them something besides their titles in his childhood, mostly because even his mother often referred to her as Nana. The three adults settled into an awkward silence as Lady Tien went about making a fresh pot of tea, Zuko glancing around the small kitchen that smelled of tea leaves and jook. "Here we go. Ginseng tea to calm the nerves."

"You do know Uncle Iroh, don't you?" Katara asked after Lady Tien poured them tea.

"Oh my, yes," Lady Tien said, blushing bright red. Zuko nearly groaned at the thought of his uncle having another 'lady friend' only to see Katara grinning in amusement at him as if sensing his thoughts. "We were close friends in our younger years. He married my second cousin as a young man, your aunt, but I didn't see him again until I was brought to the palace to be Fire Lord Zuko's nurse some years later. He was the only person that enjoyed tea as much as I did."

"It's a practice that women from lower families of nobility to become nurses and tutors," Zuko explained to Katara, knowing Fire Nation practices were strange to outsiders. "The older members of society think it's a way to pass on knowledge from one generation to the next."

"Old people are quacks," Lady Tien said with a casual shrug, smiling softly at the two at the irony of her words. "I have met many people over the years that were not nobility and are much smarter than I am."

"You don't say," Katara grinned at Zuko who frowned at her before turning back to Lady Tien, setting down the tea he hadn't touched.

"Nana, I have to know…where is my mother?"

sSSs

A/N: I love the word 'ennui', it's such a fun word! Technically, I don't think that word would exist in the Avatar world being French (it's also why I constantly force myself to not use fiancée and fiancé), but it fits Mai perfectly!

Ennui (n.): boredom from a lack of interest. If that doesn't describe Mai, I don't know what does.

Hoped you like the revelations of this chapter! There aren't a lot of stories where Zuko suddenly gets a sibling, so I hope that was an unexpected twist!

Also, a bonus! Below is part of one of my 'Scenes' from my new story. Please read and don't forget to review!

Disclaimer: Avatar the Last Airbender belongs to Nickelodeon and its creators. I just muddy the waters a bit.

Preview for Hundred: Scenes:

She woke up with a jerk, gagging as she felt the blood in her throat cutting off her air, tears falling down her face. Rolling onto her hands and knees, she struggled to take a breath, the now familiar strain in her lungs letting her know it had been some time since her last one.

Clawing at the ground under her, she felt her nails pull and bleed before she gave a hard sob before gasping as her throat finally relaxed enough for the air to get in her body. Gulping in the needed air, she closed her eyes before rushing out of the tent, still on her hands and knees, barely making it out before her stomach gave a heave and she threw up the sparse contents of her stomach.

Once she stopped, she shifted away from the vomit before collapsing on the ground, still gasping for air. The ice cold air blew over her overheated skin, but it was still some time later before she found the strength to get back on her feet.

Wiping the back of her hand over her mouth as she stared around the sleeping Southern Water Tribe, she grabbed a fistful of snow to wash the remnants of her expulsion from her mouth before finally shivering as the cold reached her. Knowing sleep would again be impossible Katara grabbed her parka from inside her tent, pulling it on before heading to the outskirts of the village, her destination the small port once again filled with the boats of her tribe.

Kneeling at the edge of the waterbending-made bay, she splashed the horribly cold water over her face before flicking it off her skin with a flip of her wrist, leaving her more awake but no less shaken. Glancing up at the sky as the ground around her lightened, she took in the half-moon hanging in the sky before glancing down at her hands.

She could clearly the blood covering her hands, the wet liquid shining in the silver light of the moon and she stared at it before shoving her hands back into the sea, frantically scrubbing at the skin to try and make the blood go away.

"Its not real, its not real," she chanted softly, wincing as her fingernails scrapped over her skin, pulling open the scabs already present on the dark skin.

Shivering as a particularly strong gust of wind came in over the harbor Katara paused before looking up as a chuckle reached her ears. It was the same chuckle that haunted that reoccurring dream and she pulled her hands out of the water with a jerk, the water trailing behind them freezing as her anxiety carried over.

"Katara…"

"Go away," she pleaded, wanting nothing more than to get rid of that voice in her head.

"Life-stealer…"

"Go away!"

"Congratulations Katara…you're a bloodbender…"

"I'm not! I'm not you!"

sSs

Return to Top

v