The Golden Wolf Warrior
By: Agent-Ayu
Chapter 7: Flow Like Water
Note: This chapter was rather difficult to write. I was originally going to have Azula be jealous over Jet, but I realized I'd be repeating the episode and I didn't like that. Also it didn't fit with what I had in store for Azula and Katara. I've changed the ending to this chapter so many times I lost count.
Also if you have a deviantArt account, there is now a group for Golden Wolf Warrior. It's GoldenWolfWarrior.(deviantArt).com
Disclaimer: Disclaimer from Prologue still applies.
"We've got exactly three copper pieces left from the money that King Bumi gave us. Let's spend it wisely." Sokka announced as he walked out of the shop.
"Uhh, make that two copper pieces, Sokka. I couldn't say no to this whistle!" Aang said happily as he took a bison shaped whistle out. He took a deep breath and blew.
Sokka instinctively plugged his ears with his index fingers only to hear nothing. "It doesn't even work." Momo chattered into Aang's ear causing the airbender to stop blowing. "See even Momo thinks it's a piece of junk."
"May be it isn't Sokka. Look it's shaped like Appa. I think it's one of those whistles that only certain animals can hear." Azula pointed out.
"No offense, Aang, but I'll hold the money from now on." Katara held out her hand as Aang guiltily handed the money over.
"C'mon, let's get back to Appa." Azula said as she started walking off.
The group passed by the docks where many large ships were busy soliciting varies customers. "Keep your eyes forward and ignore them." Azula briefly told everyone as they kept on walking.
"Earth Nation! Fire Nation! Water Nation! So long as bargains are your inclination, you're welcome here! Don't be shy, come on by!" They all heard one barker shout to the crowd. Suddenly the barker came running up towards them.
"Just keep walking." Azula whispered enough for the others to hear.
"Oh! You there! I can see by your clothing that you're world traveling types. Perhaps I can interest you in some exotic curios?" The barker addressed Aang.
"Sure! What are curios?" Aang asked. Azula glared at Aang as the whole group was stopped.
There was a pause before the barker responded. "I'm not entirely sure, but we got'em!" The barker grabbed Aang by the shoulders and bustled him onto the ship.
Azula took a deep breath and quickly let out some fire through her mouth. "The whole point was to get out of here quickly." She whispered to herself.
Everyone walked onto the ship and started looking at varies items. Azula walked over to the scrolls area. She saw a symbol that she had grown to recognize very well. Carefully she looked to make sure no one was looking. Azula turned her back to the scroll as if she was waiting for her friend's to finish what they were doing.
She made sure that the merchants were still busy as she grabbed hold of the scroll and snuck it out of its place in the shelf and tucked it into her robe.
"I've never seen such a fine specimen of lemur. That beast would fetch me a hefty sum, if you'd be interested in bartering." The pirate captain walked up to Aang starring at Momo.
"Momo is not for sale!" Aang defended while trying to keep Momo away from the captain.
"Waaait a minute, sea-loving traders with suspiciously acquired merchandise… and pet reptile birds. You guys are pirates!"
The barker wrapped his arms around Sokka's shoulders. "We prefer to think of ourselves as high risk traders."
"That's great. We're leaving now!" Azula urged and walked off the ship. There was no room for argument.
"What was that about Azula?" Katara asked as the rest of the group caught up with the firebender.
Azula just kept on walking faster and faster until they were out of the ship's sight. "Trust me the sooner we get out of here the better. I'd rather face the Fire Nation over a bunch of low life pirates."
"Damn it, were did those blasted kids go? We need to get that scroll back or the captain will have our heads!" Azula heard one pirate say.
"Run! Don't stop running until you get back to camp!" Everyone separated and broke out into a run.
"There they are!" One of the pirates shouted.
All of them seemed to only be chasing Azula. "Good, I can easily lose them." Azula ran fast constantly jumping on barrels and to jump from wall to wall over merchant stands to keep the pirates away from her.
She kept running until she saw a familiar cabbage cart that she saw back when they were in Omashu. There was no way to run around it. She dropped to the ground using the momentum of her running to slide underneath the cabbage cart. The firebender saw the cabbage merchant hold his breath when he recognized her.
Azula easily got up from her slide in one motion and continued running as the pirates ran into the cabbage cart. That last she heard as she exited the town was the cabbage merchant screaming, "MY CABBAGES!"
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The sun was just starting to set when everyone arrived at the camp. "What was all that about, Azula? All the snapping you're doing and the running?" Sokka asked when the firebender came into view.
"Not now Sokka we have to pack and get away from the pirates."
"But-"
"No, buts. Trust me the quicker we get out and away from here the better."
Everyone once again didn't argue with Azula as the all packed the little supplies they had and got on Appa. "C'mon Appa, yip yip!" Azula commanded just as everyone barely got in the saddle.
"Azula slow down!" Katara shouted as she grabbed hold of the firebender's shoulders. "What is wrong with you?"
"Simply getting us to safety before I tell you anything." Azula got up from her spot on Appa's head and sat on the saddle. "There was a reason they were chasing us."
"And what reason is that miss crankiness?" Sokka asked irritably.
"Because of this." Azula took out the scroll she had stolen from the ship.
"No, Azula, you didn't. Don't tell me you stole from them." Aang begged.
The firebender smirked. "I wouldn't call it stealing. I call it high risk trading."
"What is so special about that scroll that you had to steal it?" Katara asked.
"It's a waterbending scroll. I don't know what kind of forms are in the scroll. I couldn't look at them while we were in the ship." Azula explained.
"So you risked all our lives over a waterbending scroll that you don't even know if it's real?" Sokka asked now furious at the female warrior.
Azula glared at the boy. "It's a real waterbending scroll, Sokka. I know because they wouldn't have had the Waterbending insignia on it if it weren't. Those pirates most likely stole this scroll from a Waterbender in the north. Katara and Aang need this scroll to practice waterbending."
"Let me see the scroll." Katara took the scroll out of Azula's hand and unrolled it. "Wow, they have some crazy moves in here. This water whip one looks promising though."
"You can practice once we get to a source near water and away from that trading village. Yip yip." Azula said.
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"Commander Zhao, are you certain that there is a firebender helping the Avatar?" Akuzo asked Zhao as they walked through the palace courtyard.
"I am certain, Sire. It is the same firebender who help defend Kyoshi Island and the one at the Fire Temple on Crescent Island. She was wearing clothes from the Water Tribe. And always makes it a point to remind me that you overthrew Fire Lord Azulon nine years ago." Zhao reported.
Akuzo suddenly stopped. "What is your estimate for how old the girl is?"
Zhao had to think for a while. "I would have to say she would be about the same age as Princess Cazu, Sire."
"Very well, that is all Commander, dismissed."
The commander bowed before walking off. Akuzo looked out to the courtyard and gripped the railing so hard that his knuckles turned white.
"I wonder if it's her. She was only a child when I took the thrown and she escaped after I killed her cousin."
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Night had fallen by the time Azula had landed them in a forest filled with red and orange leaved trees.
"Wow, Azula you picked a great spot to camp." Aang complimented.
"Thanks. There's also a river for you and Katara to practice waterbending." The firebender pointed with her thumb.
"Great! Aang let's practice the water whip! Azula can you observe?" Katara asked.
"Why do you need me to observe?"
"Because you understand the waterbending forms better than me. And you're a firebender!"
Azula was speechless.
"Aang don't you want Azula to help us?" Katara looked over to the airbender.
"Yes! A firebender helping us learn waterbending is amazing."
Aang and Katara grabbed each of Azula's arms and dragged the firebender to the river. Azula sighed as she sat on a near by rock and watch the two practice bending the water before attempting the water whip.
"Okay I'm ready to try it!" Katara drew some water out of the river. She shifted her weight back like the scroll did. As she shifted her motion forward Azula saw what Katara did wrong when the water whip backfired on the waterbender. "Ow!"
Sokka laughed as he piled a small campfire.
"What's so funny?" Katara asked angrily.
"Nothing. Hey, Azula can you light the fire for us?" Sokka jumped when a small fire blast almost hit him as it lit the campfire.
Katara tried to do the water whip again. She once again failed to shift her weight properly through the stances. Instead of the water hitting the imaginary opponent the water whip went the opposite direction and whipped Momo.
Momo screamed when he felt the whip hit him in his rear. He forcefully jumped into Azula's chest, knocking the firebender off the rock. The lemur gripped to her shirt like a scared child.
"Oof!" Azula had the wind knocked out of her.
"Argh! Why can't I get this stupid move?" Katara shouted.
"It's because you're not shifting your weight properly." Azula pointed out as she got off the ground cradling Momo in her arms. "Aang, care to demonstrate."
Aang looked at the firebender nervously. "I'm not sure if I'm able to get it right…" The airbender looked at the scroll once more. He slowly moved through the stances and perfectly bended the water whip. "Hey, Azula's right it's all about shifting your weight through the stances! Did you see that Katara? Katara?"
Both Aang and Azula watch Katara stomp off to the edge of the woods. "What's wrong with her?" The Air Nomad asked.
"I have any idea what it is." Azula walked over to the waterbender.
Katara had her back to the camp as she sat on the ground staring up at the night sky. Azula didn't say anything. She sat down next to Katara as Momo jumped into her lap. They stayed like that for a while.
"You're upset because Aang is better than you at waterbending." It wasn't a question.
"It's not fair! I've been practicing for years and I still can't get the most basic moves down. He just started today and he mastered the moves I taught myself!" Katara brought her knees up to her chest.
"I think he's mastering waterbending so well is because he's already mastered one element. Not because he's the Avatar."
"But you're not even a master firebender yet. If you were the Avatar I'm sure you'd pick up waterbending no problem."
"I don't think I would've. Water is my natural opposite. I might be going through the waterbending motions with my fire but that doesn't mean I'd be able to bend the water. It's the opposite of your problem though. You can bend the water, but you can't control the water without the proper motion.
"You were going through the motion, however there were a lot of little movements you did that was throwing your bending off. A misstep, a different bent in the wrist, or not concentrating, those are your weaknesses Katara." Azula observed.
"I am concentrating though. If I wasn't I wouldn't have been able to lift the water up anyways." Katara argued.
Azula closed her eyes as she tried to find another way to approach her friend. "You're forcing the water."
Katara was about to retort, but she immediately closed her mouth when she couldn't think of a counter to what Azula had just said.
The firebender was petting Momo behind the ears. "Every time you try something new you get angry and try to force the water. Do you remember what I told you a few weeks ago. The morning on the day we went to the Southern Air Temple?"
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"You've been watching me firebend too much and are trying to force the water to move. Keep in mind how water moves, it flows wherever it wants. Feel the water Katara. Water is part of you just like fire is part of me, I would never be able to control it if I didn't feel the fire."
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"You told me I need to feel the water and that it was part of me like fire is to you." Katara responded.
"Have you been feeling the water?"
Katara looked at the ground while she hugged her knees. "No."
"Come on, get up." Azula stood up causing Momo to wake up and jump on her shoulder. The firebender held out her hand.
"Why?" Azula lifted Katara up.
"We're going to work on your waterbending. Just you and I." Azula walked closer to the river. "Okay, forget the water whip. Let's go back to the pushing and pulling of the water you were teaching Aang earlier. Go head and do it."
The waterbender got into position and was about to bend the water. "Oh, two more things Katara. One, you're not allowed to get angry with yourself. If I'm not angry you shouldn't be. And two, because it's night you should be able bend a lot stronger and easier than this morning."
"Okay." She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. Katara didn't move for a while, she was trying to listen and feel the water. Once she felt it she began to shift her weight back and forth creating the push and pull motion.
Azula smiled when she saw the water bend to the push and pull. She noticed how the bending seemed different now that Katara was concentrating and trying to become part of the water.
"Good, move on 'Streaming the Water'. Keep up the focus you have." Azula praised.
Katara opened her eyes and bended some of the water up and streamed the water around her. She felt the difference between the water streaming she did earlier and what she was doing now. She couldn't tell if it was because it was night or if it was because she was feeling the water.
"Much better Katara. Are you ready to try that giant wave?"
The waterbender took a deep breath as she gently guided the water back into the river. "I'm not sure yet. You were watching Aang and I earlier, right? So can you tell me what was the difference between what he was doing and what I was doing?"
"There was an obvious difference between you and Aang when making the wave. When you did it you were trying to force it and did not let the water flow. This is what you did."
The firebender brought her arms back and lifted it up slightly above her head. "You see how stiff I am?"
"Yes."
"Now this is what Aang did different." Azula brought her arms back again and lifted her arms as high as they could go.
"I see the difference. The second time you were more fluid and went with the motion until your body couldn't go any further."
"Correct. Aang was practically on the balls of his feet when he did it. You don't need to go that far to do the move correctly. Now go for it."
Katara took a deep breath and raised her arms like Azula demonstrated. However, the water did not come up like a wave it was a hug water bubble that burst, splashing both benders. She took a deep breath trying not to get angry at herself.
"I know what I did wrong. I didn't feel it. Let me try it again."
"I'm not going to stop you because you made a mistake. Though I do want you to control that wave. When Aang made his wave it wasn't controlled he washed our supplies down the river. If I'm correct you should be able to control the wave and decide when you want to move it."
She raised her arms again this time she felt the wave as it grew higher and higher. Katara took a step forward and pushed the wave down the river until it merged completely with the river again.
The waterbender looked over to Azula to see the firebender smiling and nodding.
"Keep practicing, Katara. I'll make dinner."
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Azula woke with a start when she felt water splash her in the face. The one day she chose to sleep in she was awaken anyways at sunrise. She looked over to the river to see Katara still practicing varies waterbending moves.
"Katara?" Azula yawned before getting out of her sleeping bag. "Katara, were you up practicing all night?"
"Yes! Ever since I finally understood the feeling of water I can't help but feel like I'm flowing like water! I just can't stop bending."
"Ever heard of over practicing?"
"Well, yes, but look at this. This is why I couldn't sleep last night, this thought came to me when we were eating dinner."
The waterbender splashed huge volumes of water against a tree until the bark was soaked. She took a deep breath and blew on towards the water rapidly freezing it against the tree.
"Breath of Ice. That can actually come in handy."
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When Azula finally caught up to where Katara, Aang, and Jet were Katara had already frozen Jet to the tree.
"Why, Jet? I can't believe I trusted you. You lied to me… you're sick and I trusted you!"
Suddenly a signal birdcall was heard coming from the valley way. Azula saw Jet perk his lips getting ready to signal back. Before he could a big fireball barely flew past his face.
The Freedom Fighter froze when he saw the fire. Everyone looked over to see Azula still in her fighting stance.
"Fire. You're a firebender?" Jet questioned in disbelief. "Katara, she's a firebender."
"Oh give it a rest Jet. You're an idiot. I've known Katara and Sokka since we were children they know I'm a firebender. You were just too stupid to realize I was one, especially since you've been attacking people of the Fire Nation." Azula told off.
Jet struggled against the ice. "I trusted you!"
"Like Katara trusted you!" Azula argued. "You don't even deserve to live with what you've been doing."
"Good ahead and do it. You'll just prove that people of the Fire Nation only kill the innocents." Jet said smugly.
Azula looked at him hard. "You're wrong. Anyone is capable of killing the innocents, not just the Fire Nation. You were about to kill innocent people in that Earth Kingdom village that is occupied by Fire Nation colonials. If we ever cross paths with you again you better stay away from us, you don't want to know what I'll do to you if you don't."
"Heh, you talk big but you're words are empty. Your family must have destroyed countless lives. I bet your family is the one who started this war!"
The firebender snapped. She shot a fireball to the ground near Jet's feet surrounding the tree he was pinned to, Azula kept control of the fire not wanting to cause another forest fire.
Jet shivered as much as he could in the ice in fear. The last time he was this close to fire was when his village was burnt and his parents died. Because of the incident he was arsonphobic.
"My family is dead. The Fire Nation has destroyed my life too by murdering my family. I don't know if my family did start the war or not, but even the family of the Fire Lord suffers. Everyone suffers." Azula's anger was starting to get the best of her as the ice around Jet started to melt.
"But if it wasn't for the Fire Nation I would have never had the chance to live in the Southern Water Tribe. I would have never been able to meet all the friends I made. I would have never met Katara." Azula whispered the last part to herself.
Azula raised her eyes a bit when she thought she saw a spark of blue in her fire. It was only for a split second since her fire still burned it's natural color. The firebender took a deep breath as she dispersed her flames.
When her flames vanished, Jet dropped to his knees. He was breathing deeply trying to get control of himself again.
"Why? Why didn't you kill me?"
"I'm not like you Jet. No matter how furious I am at you for hurting Katara, for lying to us, and all the other things you did to us… I'd be no different than the other firebenders if I did kill you." Azula explained.
Jet looked over towards the valley. He didn't want the Fire Nation villagers to live. The Freedom Fighter Leader did what came to his mind. He whistled the signal. He had just finished the signal Azula had tackled him and began hitting him across the face.
"Azula! Azula, stop! Stop!" Aang shouted as he pulled the firebender off.
The blasting jelly had just exploded and water rushed down to the valley. The firebender tossed a fireball to the ground near Jet and had it surround the boy.
"Don't worry." Azula broke out of Aang's grip. "I'm not going to kill him. I'm keeping the fire under control. Jet is afraid of fire. This will keep him quiet."
"Azula enough." Sokka and Appa had just landed on top of the cliff. "Jet isn't going to be hurting anyone else. The villagers are safe."
The female warrior dropped her hand and her flames vanished. She turned away and walked over towards the Sky Bison.
Once everyone was in the saddle they took off away from the forest. "Azula, Jet doesn't look like he's waking up." Aang pointed out as they flew away.
"He's unconscious. You would be too if you greatest fear wouldn't go away." Azula quickly explained.
As they flew over the dam, they saw a lot of the Freedom Fighters being arrested by the Fire Nation and on the other side of the now big river were the Fire Nation colonials.
"Azula…" Katara started as she placed a hand on the firebender's shoulder. "Are you going to be alright?"
"I'll be fine. Jet just pissed me off. Especially when he tried flirting with you." Azula blushed when she realized what she had just said out loud. "I mean… uh…"
"Don't worry about it. He was starting to tick me off with his flirting too." Katara leaned her head against the firebender's shoulder. "I still feel stupid for trusting him over Sokka and you."
"Well, you should feel stupid for not listening to me. As for Sokka, with all his 'my instincts tell me' business from two days ago, I don't blame you for not listening to him."
"Hey!" Sokka responded causing everyone to laugh.
"By the way Sokka, I thought you would go to the dam. Why did you go to the town?" Aang asked.
"Lemme guess." Katara said. "Your instincts told you."
"Hey, sometimes they're right."
"Sokka, you do realize you're currently leading us south right?" Azula asked.
The warrior tensed a little when he realized he was wrong, but he quickly recovered. "And sometimes they're wrong." He pulled on the reins directing Appa to go the opposite direction.
Everyone laughed. Katara lifted Azula's arm so that it was wrapping around her shoulders allowing the waterbender to snuggle onto the firebender's stomach. Azula blushed slightly when Katara wrapped her arms around Azula's torso. Realizing how uncomfortable Katara's position was, Azula laid down on her back in the saddle so Katara's head was using her stomach as a pillow.
It was that moment Katara realized she was falling for the firebender.