Here's my hidden project I've been working on for O so long. Started writing back in the beginning of April and its what the middle of June! Has two parts (Maybe).
Warning: This story is very looooooooooooooooooong.
Ages: (Of characters so far)
Katara: 17 soon to be 18
Aang: 15 going to be 16 in a matter of months
Enjoy!
Its been Far to Long
'Help me', Katara thought terrified as she stood hidden behind a statue of a guard frozen with fear. Her left shoulder pressed against the wall as she squished herself inside the small space as far as she could as she watched a few soldiers run by. Her eyes wide open in fear.
'Aang where are you?', she wondered scared.
She had been held captive here at the prison in the Earthkingdom for at least 7 months, and it was the most terrifying 7 months of her life. It had been almost 4 yrs since Aang had defeated the Firelord and everything was absolutely fine with the world until a year ago when a rebellion broke out. Azula as there leader and now the Earthkingdom was plugged into darkness with it being controlled now by this rebels. Even the Earthkingdom army couldn't stop them. She and Sokka were living at the South pole at the time when they found out the news when a letter arrived from Aang. Whom they hadn't seen or heard from in a little over 2 years. It was the worst feeling ever and the worst had yet to even come because exactly a week after the letter arrived a group of 20 rebels attacked her tribe and kidnapped her from her family.
Flashback . .
Dear Katara and Sokka,
As much as I hate to be the bringer of bad news but it seems that I will not be able to come visit you for quite sometime.
Azula's back.
And this time she's brought a whole army with her and there slowly taking control of the Earthkindom, supposedly not even the army can stop her. So me being the avatar has to stop her. Everything is so hectic now and we don't know where she'll strike next. So I'm writing this to warn you about her and to say that I'm sorry for not writing to you guys so much I never have anytime around here.
Your dearest friend,
Aang
Ps. I miss you both and I'm sorry that I haven't been able to visit or write back.
Katara stared at the letter looking over it again and again before crumbling the letter and saying to herself, her voice thick with emotion:
"No"
End of flashback . . .
She knew exactly why she was here they wanted Aang to take the bait and she really prayed hard everyday that he wouldn't come. The last thing she wanted was for him to get hurt or worse killed when the world was once again at its most vulnerable state again. Ever though more and more she often found herself wondering if he'd ever come to rescue her.
She had been hurt time and time again and it wasn't just physically by she had been hurt may times psychotically. Everyday Azula would come in demand her to give information on Aang, but like always would refuse and tell her she had no idea. This would result in another burn if Azula was in a good mood otherwise she'd send a guard in or do the worst thing she could think of to her.
Flashback . . .
Katara sat in the dark, her arms wrapped around her legs that where tucked up to her chest.
She sat there waiting for what she knew was to come.
'Azula will be hear any moment now', she told herself terrified 'Then I'll have another 10 whip marks on my back, a few more severe burns or a couple more purple bruises from a guard beating'.
She sat there for what felt like an eternity telling herself these horrible reminders over and over again. Not once did she think that maybe Azula wouldn't come today. She knew better, Azula always did.
As expected she heard footsteps coming in her direction down the hallway outside. She closed her eyes and brased herself. The next thing she knew the door was opened with a creak of medal. She looked up and into the same cruel merciless eyes of Azula like she had everyday for the last 7 months or so.
"Alright peasant tell me where the avatar is and I'll let you free", Azula said causally like she does everyday.
Katara just looked up at her with pure hate. She sat on the dirt ground of her cell. Her robes were hardly even there, most of it had been burned off and what remained was scorched, torn rags. She barely even considered it clothing at all, because it barley even covered her at all. She had fixed it so she just had a worn out skirt that barley reached her knees, and a simple cloth rapped around her chest.
"Like I've said before I have no idea where he is", she said in a loud voice almost yelling "How many times do I have to tell you I do . . . . Not .. . Know . . Where he is!"
Katara gasped in pain as Azula grabbed her by the neck and slammed her hard against the wall. She winced in pain.
"I see you don't want to cooperate", she hissed, "like expected"
She looked at the girl right in the eyes. And glared at the waterbender with eyes that seemed to burn right threw the poor girl's soul and made her shake in fear. No longer hiding it she stared at the ex- princess with absolute sheer terror. Her ocean blue's were wide open in fear and where now a faded grayish blue in color. Azula smiled at the frightened water bender and warmed up her hand and watched in amusement as Katara squirmed in her grasp.
"You uncomfortable?", she taunted. The young water bender just shook violently in fear as she tired to escape the growing heat on her neck.
"Listen here little girl", she began coldly "Either you tell where your little boyfriend is or . . . .",
She formed a fire whip in her free hand and said in a low dangerous voice "Face the consequences".
Katara's eyes slowly wandered to the fire whip and she felt tears stream down her face for she knew she was going to get it anyway.. She knew nothing at all and yet Azula insisted she did and came everyday and interrogated her. She knew that Azula most likely knew that she knew nothing, but said nothing about the matter, and probably came just to torture her.
Knowing there was nothing else to do answered "I . . I d.d oo n't kn.n.ow a.anyth.thing".
"What?", Azula asked smirking.
Katara swallowed the lump growing in her throat and squeezed her eyes shut as tears flew down faster. She could already feel the whip baring down on her back as she answered again this time a little louder "I.I. s. said th.th.at I.I d.d.on't kn.now . w.where he i.is".
Azula released her grip and let the girl fall to the ground with a thud. Her eyes still closed she turned in the opposite direction for she knew that running would only make matters worse. She knelt there body tense, eyes shut, and tears streaming down her face as she prepared herself for what she knew was to come.
She smiled cruelly to herself at the water bender and she merciless let the whip fly onto the girl's almost bare back resulting in a heart wretching scream, as the burning long whip cut into her back. Hot painful tears streamed down her face and she didn't try to not cry it would only make it worse.
'I'll never tell her, never', she thought over and over as each blow came lashing and burning her back. Sending an unbearable pain through her weak body. By the 5th lash the water bender was sprawled out on the ground crying her lungs out unable to stay kneeling.
When it was all over the poor girl couldn't feel her arms and legs nothing but pain, pain, and more pain so much that it over came her. Azula apparently wasn't in all that good of a mood today and gave her 20 lashes instead of just 10. She was coughing up blood, coughing, and crying so much now she couldn't stop all she wanted was the pain to end.
Azula left the room after what felt like an eternity to the water bender. The evil ex- fire princess walked out with the crying of the hurt girl behind her with every step. As she locked the door and walked away she could hear still hear Katara sobbing in the cell by the time she was down the hall. Until eventually as she walked away the cries began fading with and with each passing step.
'Until tomorrow', she thought with a grin.
End of flashback . . .
O hei o siu man chung long
Yit huet yit sing hung yat gwong
Daam si tit da
Gwat ji jing gong
Azula's personal favorite was the fire whip. Every time she brought it out Katara felt her blood run cold in fear. She has many scars all over her legs, neck, arms, and back from such beatings.
She froze, her breath ceased in mid air. Someone stomped in the room angrily and slammed the door behind them with a loud bang, causing her to flinch. The loud bang echoed throughout the entire room
"What do you mean she's gone!", she heard Azula yelled. She felt her heart race at hearing the evil ex- princesses voice.
"Yes she's no where in the hideout, we searched everywhere its like she disappeared", the soldier replied.
"I don't care. I'll find her, even if we have to burn down all of the Earthkingdom!", Azula barked.
"Yes Mam", the soldier replied timidly.
"Now get out of my sight!"
"Y. . y.es Mam", and the soldier hurried out.
Katara breathed short shallow breaths as the princess walked forward. She stopped and held her breath and prayed Azula wouldn't see her as the ex- princess walked by mumbling.
She breathed a sigh of relief when she heard the door on the other side of the room open and shut.
She peered over around the statue and looked into the hallway and found no one was there.
Tiptoeing as quietly as she could trying to not let herself freeze with fear every time she hear a noise. All she could think of was that blazing whip slashing down on her back cutting threw her sensitive flesh. Katara knew that would be her punishment if Azula caught her, something she could only describe in one word "death". If it wasn't the beating/ whipping itself she'd receive it'd have to be the infection of her injuries.
She opened the door cautiously and looked around and found no one in sight and let out a breath she had no idea she was holding. But after about 10 minutes of sneaking around trying to find the exit her luck ran out.
"Hey!", a guard yelled as he spotted her as he walked around the corner.
She felt paralyzed with fear but soon recovered and ran as best she could ignoring the pain of her many injuries. Tears fell as pain ripped through her entire body with each step as hot tears streamed down her face.
"HEY GO ALERT AZULA I FOUND HER!" he hollered to another guard down the hall who ran off to find Azula.
She burst threw the doors of the prison and dodging fire blasts. Her heart was racing and blood pounded in her ears. Another blast was fired and she tripped.
"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh!"
She screamed as she tumbled and fell onto the hard ground. The water bender groaned in pain as dirt got into her fresh wounds and blood fell from newly open ones slowly. She could see the gate and it was open.
'Come on, get up, get up!', her mind screamed. Her body felt like it was on fire every muscle in her body screamed "STOP!" but her mind screamed "MOVE!". Listening to her mind she slowly and painfully stood up, the sound of fast approaching footsteps made her move faster. Once she was standing she felt a sharp pain in her left arm she looked and saw a large cut.
She groaned and then was met by a familiar sting on her back and she felt paralyzed and tried extremely hard not to fall to her knees. Her breath seemed to leave her as every cell screamed out in pain and she grit her teeth together and squeezed her eyes shut.
Her mind screamed 'move' and taking a deep breath, forced herself she run, tears fell as she tried to ignore the stinging pain in her left shoulder and ever where else. With every step she took she thought 'Come on one more and I'll be out just one more'. But the main trigger was she'd most likely be killed if they caught her or suffer something worse than the normal 10 lashes she received, she counted.
'More like 100 lashes', she thought knowing Azula was merciless and did not care how bad her prisoners screamed and cried she enjoyed every bit of it. She also new if she lost the word death was written all over her cell, Azula and her fire whip.
Before she knew it she was a mere 10 feet from the gate but it was closing.
'No!', she cried in her mind and picked up her pace, Katara ran as fast as her sore legs could carry her. Her muscles burned and she wanted to stop but she didn't, 10 feet seemed like a mile.
Before she knew it she was at the gate and she jumped just barely making it out. She rolled and fell on her stomach and scrapping her arms and legs as she fell.
She looked back to find the gate had closed and scrambling to her feet once again she took off north. She ran until she was positive they wouldn't catch up to her. Sighing in relief Katara walked in whatever direction she felt like going in, as long as it took her as far away from Azula as possible.
'I'm free!', she thought happily as she watched the birds fly about and little creatures move about the forest ground.
'Its been so long I thought I'd never ever see daylight again!', she sighed feeling the wind hit her face.
She stopped at a hill over looking a large river and the thought suddenly hit her.
'Where do I go from here?'
"Where do I go from here?", she asked herself out loud, "I have no where to go to, no one to go to, I'm just a runaway prison of Azula's. There's always home but how do I get there and if I get there. . Will there still be a south pole to go home to?".
Katara walked down to the river side and raised her hand, the water followed, this caused her to smile. Hand glowing she placed it on a bruise. The cool water felt good against her sore skin. She continued to do so until only the severe ones were left and those would have to heal on there own. Though when she looked again it didn't look like much had changed. Her hands was still bruised.
'Wow I must be worse off than I thought!', she thought shock but shook it off.
Next, she cupped her hand and brought it down to the water and lifted it up to her mouth and drank. The water soothed her dry throat and helped quench her unbearable thirst. After she had her fill she looked around at her surroundings, a beautiful lake in the forest somewhere. There were no houses or boats, nothing. So once she was positive no one was near she undid her chest strap and slid off her skirt and stepped into the lake. Once she was up to her waist in water the water bender dunked herself under. The cool, refreshing water soothed her burns and many other injuries. After getting cleaned up and feeling refreshed she stepped out onto the shore and waterbended the water out of her hair and off her body. Next she slipped the skirt on and finally bound the chest strap around her bare chest.
Ngaan gwong maan lei cheung
Yan guang wan li chang
Sai fen yiu faat ji Keung
Looking around Katara noticed everything was quiet. She also noticed the slowly depleting sunlight.
'I better find a place to rest for the night', she thought as she looked around and found a few yards ahead of her was a thicket a perfect place to hid from her pursuers if they were to come after her. After a few minutes she had herself situated in a comfortable manner and hidden in the underbrush she drifted off into slumber, faster than she had in a long time.
The next morning she awoke to the sounds of the forest and unable to believe that she was, after months of imprisonment, finally free. After breakfast she had gathered of berries which was all she could find she decided it was best she'd leave. With one last passing glance at the lake she continued on her way.
Later. . .
Katara walked for what felt like hours until she couldn't go on and her knees finally gave out and she dropped to her knees in exhaustion. And just as she was about to pass out from exhaustion she heard a noise and using all her energy left to jump into a near by bush. She winced as some of the branches tore at her sensitive injuries on her back, arms and legs that were still healing. She hid in the bushes for a minute or so before looking through and saw someone, a boy sitting across from her facing the other way.
He was shirtless and meditating.
'Wait meditating? only one person I know of does that and that's. . that's Aang'.
Her eyes grow wide when she saw the arrows and the break where Azula had shot him 4 years ago.
"Aang?", she called her voice small, timid and unsure.
He turned slowly and to her shock and joy it was him. He stared at her for a few moments before asking, "Who's there?".
She slowly made her way out of the bush and stood up whincing in pain, before stepping out of the shadows allowing him to see her in the light and grabbed a nearby tree for support, as her frail body shook slightly from the effort of just standing up.
The avatar stood staring in shock at the person before him and the multiple burns, bruises and cuts covering her body. The girl barely wore anything at all just a worn down, burnt cloth around her chest and a torn up shirt that almost reached her knees. He had to force himself not to stare.
The 15 yr old Avatar rose and stared at the 17 yr old waterbender only a mere 6 feet away from him
He seemed to shock to speak for a second and then took a few steps in her direction before asking, his voice filled with disbelief, "Katara. . i. is that you?".
She looked up at him and gave a small smile and nodded her head slowly, since she found herself unable to speak. he slowly approached her and had an expression on his face that was of joy but yet not believing she was here.
Aang took her face in his hands, the second his hand made contact with her skin he realized this was for real she was really here with him, he wasn't dreaming. While still cupping her face in his hands and brushed a stray tear away as he beamed happily.
"It really is you", he said joyfully and near tears.
"Yes", she replied softly.
Without a moments hesitation he embraced her tightly. He was now 3 or 4 inches taller than her now. Katara berried her face in the crook of his neck and sobbed tears of joy. While Aang hugged her over and over rocking her in his arms as he cried tears of joy and kissed her hair every few seconds. For a little while all she did was sob into his chest while he held her close never wanting to let her go. Cherishing the moment for as long as possible.
"I. I m.m.is.ssed . .y.you s.so m.much . . . Aang", she finally managed to say threw her sobbing, "Y.you h.have n.no i.idea h.how t.ter.rib.le i.it w.was th.they t.tort.tured m.me e.everyd.day. I.I w.was s.so s.scared a.and, it hurt so much".
He didn't know what to say he had missed her so much and after more than 2 yrs of separation and learning that she had been captured. Then to see her like this all beaten up was both heart braking and infuriating at the same time. He only wished to take the pain away, to have the power to erase her horrible memories and everything that had happened to her for the last, what, 7 - 8 months?!
"Ssshhh. . I know, I missed you too Katara so much . . .", he whispered into her hair while kissing the side of her neck softly "And I thought of you everyday. . I . . I only wish I could have come to save you sooner", he whispered hugging her tighter.
Then she pulled away a little until her hands were on his chest and she was arms length away. She looked him square in the eyes, hers big and scared, and said scared "No Aang I'm glad you didn't come because Azula would have killed you for sure".
"But Katara. . . ", he began to protest but she cut him off.
"Aang I would have rather have died there rather than have you be killed. The world can't afford losing you especially since Azula's ba . .".
Suddenly in a blink of an eye, her world became dizzy and she began to wobble . He grabbed her by the arms firmly to keep her standing straight up.
"Katara?"
"Katara?"
He repeated while shaking her a little bit trying to keep her awake. She looked up at him with blank eyes that appeared to have a cloud appearing over them and panic gripped his heart. He shook her harder this time and cried "Katara? O please don't do this to me Katara, what's the matter? come on, please . . . answer me!".
She didn't seem to hear him because her eyes closed and she let out a sigh and then went limp and soon blacked out.
He caught her as she fell and sagged in his arms unresponsive.
He placed a hand underneath her legs and another on her back and carefully lifted her up and carried her back to Appa.
Once aboard his bison he placed her gently into the fur lined saddle. Her breathing was short and shallow, and her chest rose slowly with every breath she took. He then turned around and jump onto Appa's head, "Yip, yip", he cried and they took to the sky's.
After a little while he tuned around and hopped into the saddle startling Momo who jumped up and screeched.
"Sorry Momo", he apologized to the poor lemur who then came over and lied down next to the unconscious Katara. The avatar sighed as he moved a stray hair out of her face and watched her as she slept peacefully.
Since the first time he came upon her that day he actually got a better look at her and realized how much she had changed. She still looked like the 16 yr old Katara he last saw but much older and mature looking now. He was amazed how much 2 years can change a person both physically but mentally as well. But of course he knew her long imprisonment by Azula must have done some damage but the question was, how much?
As he stared at her bruised arms with scorch marks here and there he knew she must have suffered badly. For as his eyes traveled around her body her found her legs were badly bruised and burned. But his eyes became glued to her back. A horrific sight that infuriated him.
From what was visible it was covered in open sores, some fresh, others old, some were old wounds broken open again. Red lash marks in all directions and bruises upon bruises most were purple others blue.
He placed her hand in his own and gently massaged a dark blue- purple bruise with his thumb. Then there what appeared to be one that look about only a day old and went straight down her back and was a deep red surrounded by dried up blood and was just starting to scab over.
Then something caught his eye. Something on the side of her face covered by her hair. Gently pushing some strands of hair away he stared at it eyes wide. A thick, blood red streak as big as his thumb ran from ½ inch away from her ear and ran on from of her ear that curved down her neck and became thicker as it went down her back until it became the size of a fist. He traced down the scar very lightly with his fore finger, with his free hand, from in front of her ear down to a few inches below her rib cage.
He sighed. Still massaging her bruised hand.
"What did they do to you Katara?", he asked her even though he knew she couldn't hear him.
Jo ho hon
Jo goh ho hon ji
Mui tin yiu ji keung
Yit huet naam ji
Bit sing hung yat gwong
The Next morning . . .
He awoke to sound of whimpering and crying. Aang open his eyes slowly and groaned as he sat up. He automatically looked over too check on Katara.
She was squirming and thrashing about. She was sweating and tears were coming down the sides of her face. And was crying out inaudible words.
"Katara!", he cried and within a second was by her side. He placed a hand on her forhead to discover it was very warm. His hand moved from her for head to both hands cupping her face gently to discover it wasn't must different. He moved back to get a better look at her.
She was curled up in a ball now, shaking, and saying over and over again in a pleading voice "Leave me alone . .please. . . please .stop" then, she let out a scream that could chill blood.
Aang felt like his heart would break as he watched, 'She's probably have a nightmare about something from her imprisonment', he thought sadly. When she screamed he felt even more horrible and scooped her up into his arms and held her close to him.
She struggled against his grip but he kept a firm grip on her and whispered over and over in a reassuring voice:
"Shh its ok Katara, I've got you, I've got you, its alright, your safe I won't let anyone harm you"
After a few minutes of screaming and kicking Katara finally began to settle down, then suddenly she woke up.
She was panting heavily and tearing up.
She looked up to find a shadowy figure above holding her close. Her vision was blurry, everything was dark and the tears weren't helping. She got scared and began struggling again but when she heard Aang's gentle voice she burred her face in the crook of his neck and cried tears of relief.
He continued to stroke her mangled hair in a comforting manor and whispering comforting words while she sobbed uncontrollably into his shoulder. When she finally did calm down and had fallen into a restless slumber, he waited a little while until he was sure that she was asleep and bent over and kissed her on the top of the head.
Aang placed her back down onto the saddle and held her face in his hand while gently caressing her cheek, that was wet and tearstained from all her crying, with his thumb and sometimes tracing along her jaw line. For a moment he traced along the scar on the side of her face and found it rough and indented slightly. He found himself wondering how in the world she had got it and it looked like it must have been awfully painful when it was an actual injury but now it was nothing but a scar now. While stroking her hair gently with his other hand as he watched her sleep. He could've swore he saw a smile brighten up her features
'Thank the spirits that's over', he thought in relief.
The next morning . . . .
Katara woke up the following morning with a horrible headache. She tired to sit up but failed miserably and lied back down when the world became dizzy.
So she sighed and looked up at the sky and noticed the clouds were moving. 'Huh?', she thought confused her face scrunched up in confusion. She rolled over to her side and saw Aang asleep only a foot away from her, and that they where on Appa.
Her face grew warm as she starred at the sleeping Airbender excactly 1 foot away from her.
'Wow he sure has changed', she thought amazed.
In truth the young air bender was now a fully realized Avatar having mastered both the avatar state and all 4 elements and only 15 yrs old. He had definitely grown taller and muscular from all his training and fighting. His shoulders had broadened and his face had a more male appearance to it having narrowed and his jaw line had broadened. Giving him a more noble appearance. He had lost all the baby fat so he didn't have round cheeks like when he was 12 and 13 and shortly after he'd turned 14. This was the last time she had seen him.
She silently watched him sleep his chest rose with each breath and she found her eyes glued to him. Unable to take them off.
After a few minutes Aang woke up. He was stiff and sore from the previous day. The first thing he thought was 'Is it true? Did I really find her?'.
He felt eyes on him and turned to find an exhausted water bender next to him, staring at him in shock.
"Katara?", he said without thinking as he sat up.
"Mmh?", she mumbled and looked him in the eyes.
"What happened ?", he asked concerned propping himself up as his eyes wandered to her many burns and bruises. She knew immediately what he was referring to and he saw pain flashed in her eyes.
'It was horrible .. .", she began quietly and her voice thick with emotion, "Azula came everyday and demanded I tell her were you were and I told her I had know idea where you were and she didn't listen. So she whipped me with a fire whip. . 10 to 15 lashes or more if she felt like it.. . I counted. Sometimes she's send a guard in and . . And he'd . . . he'd . . I can't say it, its just to horrible too describe!".
Katara began to tear up as she squeezed her eyes shut trying to forget.
Aang suddenly felt rage and fury slowly build up inside of him as he suddenly realized what she meant and swore revenge on Azula and whatever man or men she's referring to. But he also felt horrible about what she was forced to endure. So without thinking twice or really at all he scooped her up in his arms like he had the other night.
Yeung hoi tin wai ngoh jeui neng leung
Heui hoi tin pik dei
Wai ngoh leiseung heui cheung
Hon bik boh go jong
Katara gasped in surprise and whinced a little in pain. And stayed stiff for a few seconds her eyes wide open until she realized what had happened and then she relaxed and completely melted into the embrace. Tears still rolling down both sides of her face, she then turned and rested her head on his shoulder and sighed.
"I'm sorry", she said her voice choking up a bit her eyes down cast.
"Wha.. What for?", he asked her astonished as he looked down at her. 'Why she apologizing?', he thought shocked 'If anyone should be apologizing its me for even letting this take place'.
"For breaking down like that", she said quietly "I shouldn't have . . .".
She felt Aang tighten his grip on her and he told her straight out, "Katara its ok and you shouldn't be ashamed or upset in fact you have all the reason in the world to be upset" .
She just remained silent and Aang thought she was still upset.
"Well if there's anyone to blame it'll be me", he began.
"What?", he heard Katara ask quietly in disbelief. And he saw her look up at him her Cerulean eyes filled with shock and disbelief..
"What I mean is if I had done something sooner this wouldn't of happened to you", he said sadly avoiding her gaze that turned from disbelief to soft and understanding. Her voice was soft yet firm "Aang . . (sigh) . . this was bound to have happened anyway and you and I both know it. Now I know you feel horrible and feel full of regret but you have to understand. If you had gone and rescued me Azula . . . would have killed you". The last part she said bluntly and emotionlessly to try and prove a point even though deep down inside she felt horrible and was scared for him. Seeing his expression she added the ending of each sentenced was full of emotion:
"I say this because . . I was scared for you Aang . . and I couldn't stand it, if I knew Azula had hurt you because .. . Of me"
Her eyes wandered away and she turned her attention straight ahead of her.
"Ka. . .", he began but was stopped abruptly as Appa roared and turned quickly to the side as a fire ball whizzed by. They felt the intense heat as they went falling in the opposite direction.
"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh"
Aang held Katara tightly with one arm as her arms instinctively went around to his neck, and she held on tight, as he used the other arm to grab a hold of Appa's saddle. Katara's lower body dangling over the saddle caused her to let out a high pitched screech of fright as she tightened her grip.
Aang air bended both him and Katara onto the bison's head, who was still holding onto his neck for dear life, and sat down and quickly placed the waterbender on his lap, who pulled her legs up to her chest as she held onto him her eyes closed tightly now. He let go of her and grabbed onto the reins with both hands.
"Yip, yip!", he cried and flicked the reins. The flying bison groaned in response and flew faster.
While Aang was preoccupied trying to dodge the fire blasts flying at them and telling the bison to move faster, Katara had opened her eyes and looked around frantically. She found that she was on Aang's lap.
Her face grew a deep crimson but it soon faded as Appa turned to the side quickly to avoid another fire blast. She regained her grip and let out a short gasp as she felt a strong arm grab hold her around her middle pulling her closer as they turned.
Once they had were back on course Aang looked down at Katara. He found her arms around his neck and was pressed up against him, her legs tucked up to her chest, and her eyes shut tight. She looked like she was scared, a lot.
"Katara?", he asked her out of breath "Are you Ok".
"Yeah", came her reply calm but a little jumpy and she looked up at him "I'm fine'
He smiled for a second then immediately turned him attention back to steering.
Appa dodged attacks for at least 10 minutes and was getting tired.
"Come on buddy", the avatar cried trying to get Appa to pick up the pace "I know your tired but yo . . . . KATARA!"
Appa had been hit and the tired bison let out a loud roar of pain. But when the fireball hit its target the two passengers Aang and Katara jerked forward then back again. In the process it was strong enough to loosen Katara's grip and when they jerked back she lost her grip and went tumbling backwards screaming. It all happened in a spit second Aang wasn't able to react and grab her and Katara was flying, more like tumbling, backwards and unable to bring herself to focus because she found her body was paralyzed, or unable to move.
Her world went dizzy, everything spun in circles right before her very eyes, and everything was a blur. The next thing she knew her back is smacking into something hard and her head jerks back violently causing her head to smack into something, hard. She hears Aang voice screaming her name. She looks up dazed to see a blur of colors but sees movement far in front off her. Katara shakes her head trying to clear her vision and rubs her head and as her vision slowly clears up. Looking around see she's at the back of Appa's saddle and Aang is at his head looking at her worried. While Momo is holding onto one of the bison's horns in to front of Aang.
"KATARA! O SPIRITS ARE YOU ALRIGHT!", she hears him cry worried and scared.
"Uuuhhh", Katara groans as she holds her head in her hands, her head in spinning again and there's a horrible throbbing pain on the back of her head.
"KATARA!" she hears him cry again this time desperate and more pleading like.
"I.I'm fine!", he answers him back as loud as she could, even though she felt like she was going to be sick.
"Are you sure?"
"Y.yeah"
"Alright hold on!"
Holding her head in one hand, grabs the side of the saddle with her free one. Katara stomach began to feel really weird and she leans over the side of the saddle. Big mistake. The world flew by in a whiz of colors and shapes. She suddenly felt sick and her stomach became more unsettled. Suddenly she couldn't hold it in anymore and threw out the contains of her stomach.
"Uuuuhhh", Katara groaned weakly and sagged on the edge of the saddle. Weakly she looked down and her eyes grew wide.
'AZULA!'
She screamed in her head. There were fire nation soldiers marching in there direction following Appa. They had catapults with them and were shooting fireballs with them.
'Azula's army!', she thought alarmed 'But how'd they find us?'.
Squinting she saw a soldier light another fireball and they were about to cut the line to launch. Eyes widening she yelled to Aang just as they shot the fireball:
"Fireball!"
Yau hon bik hung gwong fut ho hei yeung
Gei si naam yi dong ji keung
On bo ding hung dai ga jok dung leung
Jo ho hon
Aang looked back an saw the flying object hurdling in there direction. He steered Appa away just in time to have it skim his fur. As all this was going on Katara gripped the saddle for dear life, her loose mangled hair flying everywhere in the wind, gripping the saddle so hard her knuckles turned white.
When she opened her eyes again she saw that they were still on the run and that Appa was getting tired and it wouldn't be much longer before he'd get shot out of the sky. Aang who noticed this too and kept egging him on saying, "Just a little longer buddy come on you can do it".
He looked back to see how Katara was doing he found her clinging to the edge of the saddle.
'Ok at least she's Ok. . For now', he thought 'I've got to get us out of this situation'.
He looked ahead and saw the long canal of the Serpents pass ahead of them.
'Perfect!', he thought happily.
"Yip, Yip"
Appa hurried and once they were over the Serpents Pass Appa flew higher in the sky and out of sight. Both Aang and Katara slumped down and sighed in relief and both thought at the same time:
'That goodness that's over'
Once Aang had calmed down he looked over and into the saddle to find Katara lying on her back with the look of relief on her face as she watched the clouds go by. But he found she was holding her head with one hand.
"Are you Ok?"
She looked over at him and replied "Yeah I'm fine. . Just my head hurts . .You?"
"Yeah"
Katara then went back to starring at the passing clouds. This caused him to smile, sighing soon found himself staring at her.
The water bender felt a pair of eyes on her and looked across from her and found him staring at her, smiling. A smile tugged at the corners of her mouth as she remembered something similar like this happening before.
"Why are you smiling at me like that?"
At the sound of her voice Aang was pulled out of his daydreaming, and a turned a shade of pink. Katara just laughed at the air benders embarrassment. This caused him too turn red.
"I. I'm sorry Aang its just you f.face i.is as red as a hogmonkey", she said hiccupping while bursting out laughing again.
Once Katara had stopped laughing she rolled over on her stomach. carefully, so she would irritate her wounds, and looked up at him. Suddenly a thought came into her mind.
"What do we do now?"
"Huh?"
"I'm mean what do we do now? go pick up Toph and head to the Fire Nation capitol? Discuss a plan to take down Azula when we get there? Which I am able to help you with, since she kind of told me the whole world domination plan within the first 4 months while she had me imprisoned. She thought I would never escape", she suggested while leaving out the threat part and her being chained to a wall at the first prison she was at. They had moved her of course, to a new secret head courtiers though. But she didn't want him to know that. "And also write a letter to Sokka and my family telling them alive and well? Well what do we do, what's our plan?".
Aang pondered on this for a moment before answering:
"'I guess we could go with your plan but I think we should write a letter to your brother at the Earthkingdom army base instead of waiting till we reach the Firenation. But tell him too send the reply note to the Fire nation palace because by the time he receives it and sends the reply we'll probably be in the Fire Nation. Because knowing him he'll want to hurry up and see you as soon as possible"
Katara laughed a little at this "Yeah".
Aang chuckles a little when something catches his eye, turning he saw the land on the other side of the pass. It was all forest but there was a village about a miles walk from the place he decided to camp. Flicking the reins he cried:
"Yip Yip!"
"AAAAArrrhhhhhhhh"
Appa groaned as they landed on the other side of the 4 or so mile long canal know as the Serpents Pass.
"Where here!", the avatar cried as he jumped to the back and next to Katara. He lifted her up and she gasped a little in surprise, and air bended them off the saddle.
Katara looked around them worried back out at the large canal as Aang placed her down gently, her back leaning against Appa for support.
'I hope they don't come after us', she sighed.
Aang who was busy unpacking noticed her uneasiness, placed down the sleeping bags he was carrying and walked over to her.
"Katara?"
"Huh?", the water bender looked up to face the concerned face of the avatar.
"What's the matter?", he kneels down beside her so there looking eye to eyes. Looking away and turning her gaze back to the canals replies quietly:
"Nothing"
"Katara I know you better than that", he takes her face in his hand and gently turned it to face him so her eyes were locked in his, "Now what's bothering you so much?".
She sighed.
"Its just . .. "
"Just what?"
"Just I'm worried that they'll come after us. I don't want to put your life in even more parole than it already is"
"Katara", he says softly never breaking eye contact with her and when she went to look away he gently moved her head until she was once again looking him in the eye again, "I don't mind you being with me, not even the slightest bit, and I'd rather have you with me where I know your safe, and where we can watch over each other, than knowing your in some prison at the mercy of Azula and her men".
".. Hm . . "
"Hm?"
She stared at him for a moment before looking to the side a small smile shown.
"I guess your right. After all its better than me rotting in some prison cell"
"Now that's the Katara I know", he said happily and brought his hand back to his side but not before brushing some loose hair out of her face. The two sat smiling at each other for felt like an eternity before they realized what they were doing and turned there heads away from one other blushing like mad, Aang coughed.
"We. . ell um.. . L.lets go over to the village I spotted while flying and get some food"
Katara nodded and with the help of Aang stood up. When she released his shoulders and he let go of her arms she wobbled a little bit before regaining her balance. Aang had his arms out ready to catch her if she fell and when he was positively sure she would be fine his hands went down to his sides.
But as she took a step forward her head began to pound and suddenly her legs gave out from underneath her..
Yung ngoh baak dim yit
Yiu chut chin fen gwong
Jo goh ho hon ji
Yit huet yit cheung yit
She gasped and just before she hit the ground she was caught in the Avatars arms. He stood her shaking form up and she placed her arms around his neck as he had his hands secured firmly around her waist, holding her up.
"I don't think this is such a good idea Katara. Your still injured", he told her worried.
"Aang I'm fine just a little sore that's all"
He didn't look all that convinced.
"Fine we'll try again but if you aren't able to support yourself, I'm not taking you to the market"
"Fine . . ."
So once again he released her and let her attempt to walk on her own or let alone stand up. As she began to walk she wobbled on the first few but after that was fine. Hesitantly Aang lowered his arms but was still watching her carefully and would continue to do so once they were out at the market.
"Alright lets go to this market"
The avatar turned around and began walking with Katara following close behind but suddenly after a few steps she stopped. Aang noticed and turned around and asked her confused "What wrong?".
She first looked at him then down at her body and at the rags that barely covered her that showed an awful lot of skin. In her opinion to much to go to a market. Also she knew Azula might have guards walking around the village.
"My clothes", she said simply raising her arms up to show emphasis "I can't go looking like this everyone will stare at me and besides what if Azula's captured this town? The men will know who I am". And with that she let her arms fell back to her sides.
"Yeah that could be a problem", Aang thought and rested his chin on one of his hands. As he thought.
"Ah I have an idea!", he cried and hurried over to a bag and opened. He began searching threw it, with a confused water bender staring at him with a look of pure puzzlement on her face.
"Here it is", he holds up a dark cloak in front of her to see, "you can wear this while we go into town until we can get you some Earthkingdom clothes to wear".
"Ok"
Katara took the cloak that Aang just handed to her and put it on and turned around to face him and asks:
"So how does it look"
The avatar took a good long look at her. With the cloak on she didn't look so beaten up, with the exception for some of the blue-purple bruises on her legs, and with the hood over her head she wouldn't look as recognizable. Though the cloak went to past her knees by about an inch and went way past her ragged skirt, that was above her knees by about 3 or 4 inches, so it looked more like a bulky oversized dress.
"Well it sure does cover up most of her injuries but it might be a tad to big for you. .. . . But it'll have to do"
"Alright then lets go", she says excited and grabs his hand and pulls him in the direction of the village. He looks back at Momo and Appa and says over his shoulder "You two be good and stay hidden", and then the pair disappeared into the woods.
Appa roared in response as he and his little buddy Momo watched there master and friend disappear in the forest.
"Hey Katara?"
"Yeah?"
"How would all of the men possibly know who you are? because I'm sure Azula must have hundreds or soldiers working for her"
She stopped as bad images passed before her very eyes.
"Katara?"
She shook her head and replied unsure "Uh I. . I'll tell you later . . . "
'Maybe' she thought to herself as they continued walking.
At the market . . . .
Once the village came into view Katara pulled the hood over her head and walked beside the avatar. She stiffens for a moment when she felt him grab her hand in his own but then relaxes and keeps walking. For the first time she was glad too have a hood over her head, so Aang couldn't see her face, that was slowly growing pink.
"Stay close to me", he whispers to her as they enter the village and he squeezes her hand a little "I don't want us to get separated here".
She nodded without even looking at him.
As they walked Katara watched both men and women with children walk by carrying baskets, talking to one another and just going about with there daily needs. After a hour or so of searching she finally had picked out a nice but simple Earthkingdom robe that Aang said looked good on her. She, of course, blushed at the complement and bought it, well Aang bought it, since he had the money, for 3 gold pieces. It was tan with a green collar and belt, or sash.
"Hey about this one?", she holds up a robe for him to see.
"Try it on and let me see"
"Ok", she says excited and hurries once again into the dressing room.
'Girls', he thought 'can sure drive a guy crazy when it comes to shopping especially Katara. She loves it'.
"How do I look?"
He looks up to see her in a tan dress that went down almost all the way down to her feet. There was a green collar and belt sash around her slender waist.
"I like it, you look very pretty Katara"
She looked away blushing and giggled a little.
"You know you've said that for every robe I've put on so far", she smirked.
"Yeah I know but this ones nice and you look very pretty in it. . . . . I'm serious"
"Alright then I'll get it"
Once Aang had paid for the new robe Katara placed the cloak back on, now some of the green and tan part was showing. This made it look not so much like a dress.
"Thank you", she told him smiling looking him with her Ocean blues. Before he could respond she planted a kiss on his now burning cheek.
That night Aang watched in astonishment as Katara piled food into her mouth every few seconds, so fast he wasn't even sure she was even chewing the food, just swallowing it. As he watched her eat that's when he noticed something about her just wasn't right. His eyes wandered over every part of her body trying to figure out what was missing and then it hit him. She wasn't wearing her mothers necklace!
'I wonder what happened to it?', he wondered but figured it was best not to ask and went back to eating.
Later that night . . .
Aang woke up gasping for air as sweat pouring down his face. He took a deep heavy breaths as he looked around. He had just had another nightmare about Azula taking over the world and Katara getting hurt in some way. He was unable to stop it. This had been the 3rd one that night and every time he'd rush over and check on Katara to make sure she was ok.
This time was no exception like the last 2 times he looked over frantically to the water bender. Just this time she wasn't there. There was nothing but an empty sleeping bag 5 ft away.
Mind racing, he bolted out of his sleeping bag and took off in search of her. His mind racing with a thousand horrible thoughts.
To his relief he found her on the rivers edge.
'O thank the spirits', he thought as he let out a sigh of relief.
It was a full moon that night and lit up the canal leaving it gleaming in the moons reflection. The moonlight lit up her form in a bath of light He listened closely and could have sworn he heard humming.
He walked closer and this time was sure he heard humming, Katara was humming which soon turned in to words. She sang so softly he could barely hear but could still make out the words:
e lo ni gv ni li squa di
ga lu tsv he i yu
ni ga di da ye di go i
a ni e lo hi gv
u na da nv ti a ne hv
do da ya nv hi li
tsa sv hna quo ni go hi lv
do hi wa ne he sdi
'Wow she's got a beautiful voice', he thought in amazement 'I wonder what she's saying?'.
"Katara?"
She jumped and turned around quickly to face him. Stumbling a little before regaining her balance. At first her eyes showed fright and shock, which he realized she never had done before. Normally her eyes when someone snuck up on her was shock and determination not fright. Her watched her wide eyes become normal as she recognized him.
"Aang please don't scare me like that", she said slightly annoyed.
"I'm sorry", he apologized.
"Its ok", she looked away and back at the gleaming canal.
He walked up and stood beside her. Both were silent for a little while, both starring our at the large body of water before them deep in there own thoughts.
"Why are you up anyway?", Katara asked quietly finally breaking the silence.
"Couldn't sleep", he replied his voice distant and far away as he remembered his nightmare. He didn't want to tell her about them, so she wasn't worried. 'It had been so real' he thought.
"You?"
"O, I. I couldn't sleep either"
"O . . . why?"
"I'd rather not talk about it", she replied quietly looking down.
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah"
"You know you can tell me anything"
Katara looked up at his and into his ash gray eyes.
'Should I tell him?', she wondered.
She sighed.
"You know you've got a beautiful voice" he said smiling at her.
Her face grew red in embarrassment.
'Spirits he heard me uh I can't believe this this is so embarrassing', she said over and over in her head.
"Y.ou he.ard", her voice cracked as she spoke.
"Yea I did though not much but, some" he replied then asked " . . I didn't know you could sing?"
Katara let out a nervous laugh.
"Yea I'm not all that good though"
"No I'm serious you've got a really beautiful voice"
She blushed and once he realized what he said he did also. Another acquired silence followed them. Soon the both of them began to shiver in the wind. Katara wrapped her arms around herself in an attempt to keep warm. Only soon after she coughed a few times and shivered again. Suddenly she felt a pair of arms around her. Looking over she saw it was Aang even though she already knew who it was in the first place.
The blush returned again this time a much darker red crimson. As to respond she leaned into him and rested her head on his shoulder, eyes closed sighing happily.
Looking up at the moon a thought came to the Avatars mind.
"Have you ever wondered why the moons full one night then a few days later its almost gone?"
Katara laughed a little at that.
"What?"
"Maybe you should ask Yue that one?"
"he. . Maybe?"
"There was this story Gran Gran used to tell me and Sokka and the other kids in our tribe years ago"
"How does it go?"
"Well a legend tells that of a gypsy woman who implored the moon weeping, she begged till dawn to marry a gypsy man. "You'll have your brown-skin man", spoke the full moon from the sky, "but in return I want the first child that you have with him,". For the moon spirit believed that one who sacrifices her child in order not to be alone is not going to love it very much", she began, "So eventually the two met and fell in love, years later from a cinnamon-skinned father a son was born, white like an ermine's belly with gray eyes instead of olive, in other words the moon's albino son.
"Dam his appearance!" the gypsy man cried "This is not a gypsy man's son and you won't get away with this". The gypsy believing himself dishonored went to his wife, knife in hand. "Whose son in this? I am sure you have deceived me!" he bellowed angrily and he stabbed her to death. Then he went to the mountain with the child in his arms and abandoned it there.
So now on nights when the moon is full it's because the child is happy and if the child cries the moon will wane to make him a cradle."
"Wow I never heard that one before but its so sad to"
"Well looks like you learn something new everyday"
"Yeah I guess your right", he yawned.
"What your tired?", she laughed slightly while staring up at him.
He merely nodded while smiling.
Katara then yawned and laughed a little "I guess I am to, lets head off to bed its getting late anywaaay".
Suddenly she turned a deep red. Aang looked at her strangely 'Why she blushing?' he wondered.
"Katara?"
"Yeah?"
"What's wrong?", he asked her.
She looked away for a moment as she contemplated whether to ask him or not. 'Ask him!', her mind screamed but yet she found herself unable to say it. 'It's now or never' she sighed and talking a deep breath she found the courage to ask him.
"I.if it's a.all right with you d.do you m.mined I.if I can lie down with you for a while? I. I mean if that's ok with you"
This caught him by surprise, not that he would object just he wasn't expecting it. Which clearly showed oon his face. Mistaking this for no she said quickly but getting softer at the end:
"I'm sorry I asked its just .. . I've been having these nightmares lately and. . . "
Aang perked up when he heard the word nightmares. Without thinking he asked softly "About what?".
He felt her shake in his arms and he looked down to find she was fighting back tears.
"Horrible things", she whispered her voice jumpy and emotional "They were so real . .".
He held her closer to him as flashbacks of his nightmares came back to you.
"I know how you feel"
She looked up at him confused.
"That's the same reason I couldn't sleep. I've been having these nightmares 3 in fact"
"Three?!", she looked at him dumbstruck. 'Why didn't he tell me', she wondered.
"Yeah"
"Why didn't you tell me?", she asked concerned.
"I didn't want to worry you", he sighed "Is that why you never told me about yours?".
"Yeah", she sighed.
Another wind blew over the pair and both shivered in the wind despite there current position.
"Come on lets head off to bed", Aang suggested taking her by the hand.
"So you don't mind?"
"Of course not", he replied softly and gave her hands a reassuring squeeze. She smiled.
With Aang's help she slipped under the covers of the sleeping bag and soon after he slipped in beside her.
"You comfortable?"
"Yyyeeaah", she yawned.
He wrapped his arms around her middle and pulled her close to him, afraid to lose her like in his nightmares and what happened for real life.
"Aang"
"Mm?"
"What are we doing tomorrow?"
"We are going to go pick up Toph at the army base"
"O . . . ok" she replied yawning after only half hearing, and began to fall fast asleep with his arms around her waist and hers around his neck. As warmth and the thought of finally being safe consumed her.
Before she was completely asleep she thought she felt a pair of hands gently hold her face, while gently caressing both sides lovingly. She felt a finger move up and down her throat and lightly graze her lips every so often. She knew for a fact it was Aang but didn't make him stop, for she was too sleepy and would barely even remember the event in the morning. Instead she enjoyed the moment half knowing that if she would remember this she'd be sure to tell him in the morning.
Once it had stopped she heard him whisper 'I love you' and gently kiss her cheek.
Subconsciously, she snuggled closer to him and rested her head on his chest smiling.
'I love you too' she whispered.
Little did she know during the whole thing Aang was staring at her affectionately as he caressed her face gently with his thumb and massaged various others areas on her neck and face. He loved watching her sleep. Sighing as he realized everything was right where it was supposed to be.
His face flushed when she pulled her self up to his chest, still asleep (or so he thought) and whispered something that made his heart leap for joy.
'I love you too'
At first he was stunned but soon recovered and wrapped one arm around her waist firmly and the other he placed on the back of her head and stroked it lovingly as he whispered into her hair:
"I love you too Katara with all my heart. Thou perhaps more than you know or may ever know'
Bit sing hung yat gwong
Jo goh ho hon ji
Yit huet yit cheung yit
Bit sing hung yat gwong
Its finally done after 2 months. what do you think?
Background music: Once Upon a Time in China
Song Katara sang: Ending part of the Inuit version of Amazing grace
Story Katara told: From the song Hijo de la luna
Please Review, I really need to know that people are actually reading this collab of oneshots/two shots