She'd finally fallen asleep, but even in sleep she was fitful and uneasy. Her hands clenched at the blanket, and her breathing was harsh and uneven, almost as if she were still crying.
Hama had played them all for fools, but Katara especially. She'd reached out to someone from her beloved Southern Water Tribe only to be forced over to the dark side of Waterbending. She'd known exactly how to manipulate her into Bloodbending even after she'd refused it, by using himself and Sokka as puppets.
He knew that kind of pain all too well. Like Hama had used him to control Katara, General Fong had used Katara to force him into the Avatar State by pretending to drown her in the quickand; even as he'd resisted the pull was too strong and when it was over, he hated himself for falling into that trap.
Of course, General Fong hadn't taunted him the way Hama had done to Katara. But even so.
You don't deserve this, Katara.
She shivered, either from the cold or from the lingering fear...probably both, Aang thought as he draped a blanket over her. Suddenly, little cries rose from her throat as she began to thrash about in her sleeping bag.
"No, please...leave them alone, I won't do it, I won't do it...!" She writhed and twisted under the blankets, fresh tears streaming down her face. "No, stop it! No...no, no, no, I'm sorry, I didn't want to, I'm so sorry!"
"Katara!" He gently grabbed her shoulders, trying to calm her, and her eyes snapped open.
"Aang..." Her shudders stopped and her breathing evened out as she realized where she was, and who wasn't there. Aang pulled her into his arms and held her tightly, like she'd done for him so many times.
"It's okay," he whispered as she cried against his shoulder, "it's okay, Katara. She's gone now, and you'll never have to do it again." As he stroked her hair, she began to calm down, eventually falling asleep.
He didn't leave her side for the rest of the night.