Hey, guys! I have dedications for this chapter. They are:
RedLoveDrop & KityPryde
Hope you like this chapter! R&R! -Katybug
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Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar. (Stupid Mike and Bryan. They won't let fans do anything...)
Chapter Four: A Friend In Danger
The snoring stopped as Liz was shaken by Sokka, who was trying to get her up. "Liz?" he whispered. "Liz?" He grabbed her shoulders and shook her like a dishrag. "Liz!"
She shot up. "But I don't like bananas!" she said, apparently awakening from a dream. Sokka's nose crinkled as he chuckled softly. Liz blushed, looking at Sokka with tired eyes. "Sorry," she whispered. It was still early morning.
"Liz," Sokka continued, "Katara, Aang, and I need to get to the market. Sorry for tearing you away from Appa, but you can take my sleeping bag while we're gone."
Liz sniffed. "...Okay." She slowly got up, and tried to climb down the bison's side. Tripping, she stumbled into Katara, who was walking up behind her. "Sorry."
Katara smiled. "It's okay." She looked up at her brother. "Sokka, why can't Liz come with us? I'd love to have another girl come and shop with me."
"What about Toph?" Liz asked.
"Toph?" Katara chuckled. "We'll be lucky if Toph wakes up before midday."
"Liz can come," Aang's voice said behind the two girls. They turned to see the young Avatar with a hood over his head to cover the blue arrow.
The two girls smiled at each other, happy to have shopping partners. "I'll go get ready," Liz announced. "Does anyone have a comb?" Katara pulled a seal-tooth comb out of a bag on her shoulder. "Thanks." Liz walked off to the fountain to wash up, while Zuko came towards the others, wanting to join them on their trip.
Sokka was, of course, reluctant at first, but finally said, "Zuko...You can come. We'll need protection anyway."
Katara raised an eyebrow. "Why? Oh, wait, it's not that 'Food eats people!' thing again, is it?" Sokka's face went blank.
"No!" he replied. "It's just in case something goes wrong." Katara rolled her eyes and headed after Liz to the fountain.
- - -
The harsh wind kept pushing Liz's bangs in her face while she and the rest of the group were flying to a near-by Fire Nation market. Annoyed, she pushed the thin bangs behind her ear.
Looking below, Liz could see nothing but forests and hills, with the occasionally river or two. The young foreigner was still astonished by the view, just as she had been the day before. Every once in a while, though, she'd bring her gaze back up to the people on Appa's saddle. Aang was steering, Sokka was counting money, Katara was putting a band in her hair, and Zuko was just sitting in the back, staring at the floor of the saddle.
Suddenly, Aang called out, "We're here!" And, indeed they were. From far away, Liz could see a small bazaar next to a village. She frowned, knowing there was a long walk ahead of her. In the midst of her thinking, Appa landed, again thumping his large toes on the ground, and Liz jumped up, surprised by the sudden stop. Sokka and Katara giggled slightly, and it was enough to make Zuko look up.
They all climbed off, and Aang and Sokka pulled a large sheet of moss off a bolder and laid it on top of Appa, creating a cover for the giant cotton ball. Liz's feet were bare (she had left her shoes at home, and her socks were too dirty), so the walk to the market wasn't very pleasant, and it was also very silent. No one talked, and if there was a sound coming from anyone's mouth, it was a yawn. She figured it to be around ten, considering how bright it was outside. The air was fresh, and Liz tried to take slow breaths as she walked.
"Ouch!" Liz suddenly screeched. Everyone jumped. Even Zuko.
"What is it, Liz?" Katara asked in a motherly tone.
Liz lifted her dirty foot and began to massage it. "Oh, it...It was nothing. I just stepped on a sharp rock, that's all." Katara smiled, and they continued the long walk.
But, soon, Liz took a breath of relief as they all came out of the thick brush and into the crowded streets of the bazaar.
"I'll go look for food!" Sokka volunteered while keeping his eyes on a booth selling what seemed to be fresh fish.
He started walking towards it, and Aang stated, "I guess Zuko and I will go look for some supplies." Zuko sighed, then nodded.
"Okay," Katara agreed. "Liz and I will go look for some clothes."
The two girls walked off together and began looking for people selling clothes. Liz needed new clothes if she was going to stay in the Avatar's world. Her jeans and T-shirt stood out a bit. I wonder where they get the fish from? Liz wondered to herself. Suddenly, a salty smell took over her nostrils. She turned to what looked like a dock at the other side of the market.
"We better lay low," Katara whispered in Liz's ear as they passed two Fire Nation guards that were standing around a well. Liz nodded, not fully understanding.
- - -
After wandering around for probably twenty minutes, Katara found a small little clothing booth. She raced towards it, shouting after her, "Liz, c'mon!" Liz ran after the waterbender, trying to keep up.
Katara led her to a large wooden rack that held up red cloaks, sashes, hats, and wraps. "These look pretty nice," Liz said, feeling the fabric on a dark red sash.
"Would you like to try them on?" the merchant who was selling the clothes insisted. Liz and Katara nodded eagerly. "Take what you like. There are changing tents back there." The old woman pointed to brightly-colored tents that were towards the back of her stand.
"Thanks," Liz said, smiling. The two girls began looking, and Katara soon found Liz an outfit that she thought would look nice on her. Liz walked to the tent, and about three minutes later, she walked back out.
"It looks great!" Katara exclaimed.
"Really?" Liz asked. She had never been much of a clothes shopper. Jeans were basically her thing. The old woman running the clothing stall brought a rusty mirror for her. Liz turned around, walked in place, and admired the beautiful red that covered her body. The maroon sash fit around her shoulder and waste, making a bit of a figure stand out. The baggy red pants felt comfortable, and Liz liked the way they looked. "Um, do you have any slippers?" she asked the old merchant. "Nothing too fancy or anything. Just something to protect my feet."
The woman nodded and brought out a pair of simple, rose-colored slippers. Liz tried them on, and said she was satisfied. Katara paid the old woman, and Liz walked away feeling better. She finally blended in and didn't have to worry about causing the kids trouble by sticking out. "Thanks, Katara," Liz whispered. Katara shot her a smile, and the two went to find the others.
- - -
The girls quietly slid past the two guards again without being noticed. "Why do we have to be so careful?" Liz asked once they were far enough away.
Katara's eyes shone with a hint of fear, before quickly returning to normal. "Every one of us, Sokka, Aang, me, Zuko, we're all outlaws of the Fire Nation. We've been in hiding since..." Her voice trailed off. Katara thought back to the Day of Black Sun. A shiver ran down her back.
"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to," Liz comforted. Katara sighed and nodded without taking her eyes off of the ground she stared at. They walked in silence after that. Liz noticed that she could still smell the salt from the water. For some strange reason, it made her feel good, and after the little shopping trip with Katara that day, she realized she didn't want to go home.
After about ten minutes of searching for the rest of the group, Liz could see a shadow out of the corner of her eye. Without turning her head much, she glanced behind. She leaned into Katara and whispered, "I think we're being followed." Katara looked at her with worry written all over her face. "There's a man behind us. Do you know who it is?" Katara's eyes fluttered as she tried to see behind her without turning her head.
"He seems familiar, but I doubt he's seen me before," she replied. Relief overcame both of them, and they kept on looking for one of the others.
After a while, Liz looked back again and didn't see the man. Maybe he thought he knew us, Liz thought to herself. "There's Sokka," Katara whispered. About ten yards away, Sokka was talking to a merchant selling turtleducks.
Katara took exactly four steps, when, suddenly, a man behind her yelled, "That's her!" Liz and Katara turned to see the man that was following them with two guards. He was pointing at Katara. "That's the girl who's helping the Avatar! They're always destroying my cabbages!" In the blink of an eye, the two guards rushed up to Katara and grabbed her arms. They began pulling her away.
Sokka ran towards them, while Liz bended water whips, slapping the guards, hoping they'd let go as they towed Katara to the navy ship that was anchored at the dock. Sokka pulled out his boomerang. "We don't have time for that!" Liz shouted. "Just run!"
The two ran after Katara who was struggling and yelling, "Let go! Liz! Help!" Liz kept her eyes on her friend, trying to remember the moves she had learned.
The whips wouldn't work, and Liz finally commanded Sokka, "Find Aang and Zuko! Go now!" Sokka ran off to search for his companions. Tears flooded Liz's eyes as she watched the guards pull Katara up on the metal ship. "Katara!" she screamed, fearing for her friend's life.
But it was too late. The ship's bridge was being lifted up, and there was no way to get to Katara now. Liz collapsed on the wooden dock. She sat on her weak knees and berried her face in her hands. That's how the others found her.
Sokka rushed back with Aang and Zuko at his side. "Liz!" Zuko shouted, seeing the girl crying on the dock. He ran to her side. "What's wrong?"
"Sh-She's...gone," Liz whispered. "I...I couldn't stop them...I should've been able to stop them, but I just couldn't!" Tears were still racing down her cheeks.
Aang walked towards her and said, "It's okay. We'll find her. We need to get on Appa and follow them." Liz slowly got up, drying her eyes. Zuko tried to help her, but she didn't pay attention to him. Aang's right, she thought. We'll get her back.