DISCLAIMER: no own AVATAR.

uhhh... no comments today.

9, The Escape

Katara panted as she ran into the shelter of the trees. The waterbender looked behind her with terrified wide eyes as she heard Zuko yell and fire fly into the sky. She quickly rushed into the forest, desperate to find a village for protection.

Zuko's shoulders rose and fell as he took ragged breaths, trying to calm himself. Then suddenly, he stopped. He sniffed the air, and smirked, his eyes glinting demonically. Katara was still nearby. He would find her.

He walked down the gangplank, and disappeared among the foliage.

Katara crashed through the trees, branches tearing at her limbs and clothes. She knew that she was bleeding, but she couldn't stop. She needed to find protection. There had to be, she needed there to be a village nearby.

He smirked as he stared at all the broken branches with bits of cloth or strands of hair hanging from them. His waterbender was making this too easy.

She gave a silent prayer to Shala when she finally saw lights up ahead. A village. She was safe.

That was when the feeling of a terrible presence pressed down on her so harshly that she felt the breath be knocked out of her.

There she was. Standing right there. Then he heard her gasp. And then he saw her run.

Katara bolted away. She knew that feeling too well. Zuko had found her. She was so close. So, so close...

Zuko took to the chase. He knew that Katara would never make it to that village. He would catch her before then.

But then the unexpected caught him and stopped him in his tracks. Great Agni above, what was that?

Katara looked back to see Zuko hissing, writhing, and gagging, clawing at the sky. Her eyes filled with shining hope as she saw the sky begin to light up with the morning sun.

And she nearly leapt with joy when she saw the early morning light reveal rows upon rows of garlic. This was a garlic farm!

Zuko fell to his knees, pain swarming his senses as the sun touched him and the scent of garlic filled his nostrils. Shielding his eyes, he ran back to his ship.

And barely made it. Just as the hatch closed behind the vampire, the sun rose from behind the horizon.

The waterbender fell to her knees, her hands lifted skyward, celebrating the dawn. Never had she been so happy to see the sun. Never.

Even though she felt tired, Katara managed the rest of the way to the farm.

Along the way to the farm, there was indeed a small village, and people eyed the dark skinned girl in red. They recognized her by her skin as Water Tribe, so why on earth was she wearing Fire Nation colors?

Katara walked into a small inn, where she was greeted by a kind, portly woman.

"Mercy, child! What happened to you?" The kind woman, who appeared to be in her forties, asked Katara. She looked up at her with weakened eyes. The woman swept Katara up in her arms.

"I know that look, young girl. You were taken by a vampire? The Fire Prince, maybe? Don't give me that look, child, this place is a safe haven for people running from vampires, and I've seen enough of that look in other wide eyed young girls to know what's happened to you. Come, I'll give you clothes that are better than that red thing, and I'll get you a nice hot meal and a room. No charge." Katara could only smile gratefully.

And that's just what the woman, named Orqua, did. She gave Katara a nice blue kimono (much like her previous one) that complimented her nicely, and ushered her into a comfortable room that had a bed that at the moment looked very cozy. Then Orqua returned with a hot bowl of soup. Katara ate it gratefully, and she sighed as the food warmed her insides.

"Thank you for your hospitality. And your protection. I was just so afraid, Prince Zuko almost got me, if it hadn't been for the sun and garlic, he, he," Orqua hushed Katara as she started to cry.

"It's quite alright, deary. You're safe here. No nasty firebender vampire will get you here. You're safe in our town."

At high noon, Katara fell asleep, exhausted from all that had happened.

yay! Katara got away, now, just to figure out the next chapter... -

Valkyrie: thank you. And i'm basing this story off of two books I read, where for the female to become a vampire type, she must submit to being the male's mate, so no, Katara isn't a vampire. yet... ;) hmm... what WILL Zuko do without her? I think, go have a hissyfit and end up drink one of his soldiers dry. but, that's just what i think could happen.

Lerie: addicting? that's a new word to describe my story.

hexgirloffire: thank you.

a: umm... i don't know what to say. '

good evening to u all! (this wuz finished at 10:30 at nite. wow... i feel accomplished! )

INSANITY AT ITS FINEST
LONG LIVE THE HIPPIES!

Zukoscute2