Dying To Survive
Chapter 6
"Dreams never lie."
..::-::..
The darkness consumed Katara's mind as she started to regain consciousness. A shot of pain struck her forehead and then receded like a ripple of water into the emptiness. She opened her eyes quickly, gasping and looking around to see if she was still in the Master's room. Katara gaped and spread her fingers over her cozy sheets.
"This is my room," she commented quietly.
Immediately, she doubted the events that had occurred, pretending that she had dreamed it all, but the pain hadn't been dreamt; it had been real. Katara slid off her bed and walked to the window, swaying gently from side to side. Her fingers swept across the window frame smoothly and then her hands rested on the edge. She sighed as her head leaned forward and fell onto her shoulder. Leaning against the wall, she could see the sunset, so vibrant yet distantly fading away from her. It was full of bursting orange sparks, the sun splattered against the red backdrop like an upturned yellow bowl melting in a potter's fireplace. The wisps of lavender clouds gently hovered up in the sky and in the distance, the soft breeze rustled the leaves in the forest that loomed over the plains. She squinted, and for the first time noticed a small point on the horizon that wasn't moving. From a distance, it seemed like it was covered in ashes, a dull grey point above the forest. After a few more minutes of silence, she let her head sway back towards the middle of her room and away from the picturesque view. It would be the last time she saw it from the window in the temple.
As Katara was about to fall onto her bed, she heard a melodious dinging of tiny bells. They rang in rounds, from lowest pitch to the highest and back again. In a split second, Katara changed her direction and ran out of her room. All around her, doors were flying open and students were rushing away from her and to the left. She followed the flow of traffic and her head began to buzz with a premonition. The bells were to signal an all school gathering and she knew exactly what it was for.
"Do you know what they're going to say?" asked one student.
"Nope. I just finished dinner and now I have to go back again! Why did they have to wait so long?" replied the other.
Katara looked away from them and tried to shut her mind of the noise surrounding her. Even though she had missed dinner, she felt no hunger at all. When she began to think about it, she realized that there was no feeling in her body whatsoever. Her legs moved forward, but she didn't feel any strain. Her arms swung back and forth as she walked, but she didn't feel the stiffness in her shoulders, the weight they carried. Her head drooped low as she finally made it into the Gathering Hall, where all special assemblies were held.
The place was stacked with students. In place of the long and small tables, there were rows of chairs for everyone. Even with this arrangement, many were still standing at the sides of the room, turning their heads to each person they were conversing with. Katara saw no one around her that she could recognize, so she sighed and stood toward the back of the room while one sensei followed another in toward the main stage. Two pillars stood on each end and the spiraling vines were lit up simultaneously. Everyone was silenced at once, the top sensei stood up, and stepped forward spreading his arms out.
"Good evening students. I am honored to speak with you all at the end of this lovely spring day. It has been a long year at the Second Temple of Sanoroi, but the summer breeze is soon upon us. I remember my youth, and often times, I found myself traveling far and wide, learning about new places, new people, and forming relationships with them both. The bonds I made during my journeys are still thriving within me and I will never forget them. We have called you all here tonight to announce the start of a new tradition at the temple. You are all young, worthy people, who have sacrificed their connections with their loved ones, parted from home, to come here and study. The Masters of this temple, the gracious and kind people that they are, have decided to allow each of you an extended break from study, outside this very temple."
Some murmurs roused the audience, but Katara folded her arms and narrowed her eyes. She scoffed and looked away from the sensei speaking.
"That's a bunch of lies," she slithered the words through her teeth. "The Masters are far from kind, gracious people!"
Someone shushed her from behind and Katara winced slightly while letting her arms drop. She took a deep breath and looked back at the sensei.
"We are granting you somewhat of a leave, although it is not exactly that. Once outside these walls, every one of you will have a specifically assigned mission to complete. This mission will challenge you to remember the knowledge you have learned here and more importantly, will remind you of the values it holds. There will be ample time for visiting with family and most certainly time for amusement. Once autumn rises, we will hope to see you all again for another year of education."
The sensei looked up momentarily toward the ceiling and tried recollecting his thoughts. Most took this as a sign that his speech was over, so they burst out into conversation at once. Katara rolled her eyes and started to stomp away when she heard his shrill voice again.
"Wait a moment! Please quiet down! I have just one more thing to add!" The sensei pointed his finger high up in the air and then recalled his arm and stroked his long beard. "For this mission, you are allowed to choose one person as your partner! Once you do, your assigned tasks will be sent to your rooms in the morning! That is all."
Katara stood frozen to the ground as if she had bended herself into place. Her jaw dropped and she shook her head slightly as many joyous bursts exploded throughout the room.
"I'm so glad we get to have partners!" one girl said.
"This is going to be so much fun!"
"I know! Do you think I should ask him? He's rather cute and all, but I heard he can be a jerk," someone else shrieked.
The comments melted together like a stew and Katara could only hear her own thoughts above the shrieks and laughs. She stood in place, closing her jaw again and clenching her fists tightly. Her eyes scanned the floor in front of her as feet scrambled by slowly. She already knew her task. She had to kill Zuko, but now, she had to choose a partner? Nothing made sense to her anymore. The world was darkening and her hope was fading away fast.
On the other end of the hall, Zuko started to walk towards the entrance. He searched the heads as his thoughts became directed towards one person standing amidst the shoving students. When the sensei had said they needed a partner, the only person he could think of was Katara, and there she stood, looking at the floor solemnly. Her depressed eyes weren't glowing anymore and he felt a knot tighten in his stomach. It was most likely his fault. He had been put on the spot that day, but he had thought about it ever since he received news of his task and Zuko became frustrated with himself. Looking up again, he tried to find her, but she had disappeared. He scanned the crowd frantically, knowing that he had to find her first, before anyone else did.
It just so happened that someone else had found her already.
"Katara! Over here!"
She looked up and saw Jet's waving hand. For a moment, she forgot about everything and laughed as he was pummeled to the side while he was waving to her. A smile cracked onto her face and she found her strength again. She walked towards him and helped him stand up.
"Are you okay?" she asked.
"Of course I am!" Jet said while brushing away the dust on his clothing. He looked at her with a smirk and cocked his head to the side. "So what do you think of this mission business? I don't know about you, but it sounds like it could be a lot of fun. I was starting to miss the old days, you know? Back when it was me and the Freedom Fighters, roaming around and doing stuff, saving people."
Katara sighed and shrugged.
"It seems sort of pointless to me. Most of these people will just leave and do whatever they want to do. No one's going to force them to do anything," she said bitterly. Jet's smile waned and he raised his eyebrows. She seemed different than before when he had seen her. There was something obviously wrong, but he didn't know what it was.
"Well that's the good part about it! We can do whatever we want to!" he exclaimed.
Katara looked up and questioned him. "What do you mean, we?"
Jet leaned his head back and mocked his shock. "Well aren't we partners? Or did I just imagine that we're the only friends we have got here in this place? I wouldn't want to go on an adventure with anyone but you, Katara," he said smoothly, his smile shining brightly. The corners of Katara's mouth rose slightly into a smile and she nodded.
"I guess you're right. I wouldn't have it any other way too."
"It's settled then! We'll pack tomorrow morning and find out our mission," Jet said with a wink. He stretched his arms out as he looked to his left. "Oh wait a minute, there is someone who I know, actually. But I'm not close friends though!" he added quickly. "I'm just going to go say a few words. I'll be back in a minute. Just wait here for me."
Katara nodded and watched him disappear into the crowd. She hunched her shoulders and bit her lip. There wasn't a way out of it. Her partner was going to have to be Jet, but then she'd have to come up with a fake mission in the morning, or maybe Taiko would give her one for a cover. She suddenly felt her fists clenching and her blood speeding up to her face. With her eyes closed, she saw Taiko's smirk and she mentally attacked the face, making it vanish into the darkness.
"Katara?"
"What?" she barked, turning around to face the man addressing her. Katara's eyes widened instantly as she saw Zuko standing in front of her. After her surprise passed, her face became scrunched from confusion. Zuko was smiling, or rather failing poorly at smiling. His face seemed dismantled and he averted her gaze for a long time, instead looking just above her head. The room was starting to spin around her, and Katara felt faint. She gripped onto her arm for balance and closed her eyes momentarily. When she looked up, Zuko wasn't smiling anymore and his eyes were downcast.
"I wasn't myself before. I mean, when you asked, I don't know what I said. I'm sorry," he spilled out and then looked her right in the eye. Katara's mouth hung open and she stepped forward slightly while losing her balance. Zuko caught her arm and held her in place while she bent her back up again. They stared at each other wordlessly, their hearts beating faster with each second. Zuko couldn't take the suspense any longer. He needed to ask her already. "Will you go with me on my mission?" he asked awkwardly. Katara pulled away from his grip at once and stood straight up, not believing her ears. He stood there trying to keep his appearance as normal as possible, as if it didn't really matter what her answer would be. He apologized and now Zuko wanted to be partners with Katara. The day couldn't have gotten stranger.
"I know what you must think of me. I'm only asking because… I know no one else."
She narrowed her eyes, and for a moment, her anger from their dispute shot back up her spine. He still hadn't given her a reason for what he said. His excuse was that he was sorry, but sorry was just a word. She didn't know if he meant it, if he felt anything. His excuse for asking her to be his partner was because he knew no one else. Then, Jet's comment came back into her mind. There was no one stopping Zuko from doing anything outside the temple's walls. He could go without a partner and just leave. If what Taiko had said was true, there was a reason why Zuko was going to follow the temple's rules and traditions, it was because he had an ulterior motive. And as Katara realized all of this, Zuko waited anxiously for her answer. Her face was scowling and Zuko's stomach flipped; it wasn't a good sign. Suddenly Katara's face lightened considerably as an arm landed across her shoulders, wrapping itself around her neck.
"Sorry, but she's my partner. We already talked about it, didn't we Katara?" Jet asked cheerfully.
At a loss for words, Katara looked at Zuko in the eye and nodded. A flare burst inside of him and Zuko turned around, making his way into the dispersing crowd while stomping out his rage. Katara's eyes drooped and Jet let go of her.
"Did he really think you'd say yes? That's pathetic," Jet said.
Zuko wasn't sure of where he was going. All he knew was that he wanted to get away from her. There was so much frustration burning in him that Zuko didn't know what was wrong with him. He ran his fingers through his hair and stared around the room wildly. He had tried to deal with that woman but there was no point. It didn't matter anymore; he'd just leave by himself and get away from everyone that was giving him a headache. Just when he was about to leave, through the shadows, Laia came into his view. She was waving and smiling happily.
"Zuko! I found you! You know I turned down a lot of guys just now. They all wanted to be partners with me, but I said that I already had one," she said as she stepped in front of him. Her short straight hair bounced lightly as she smiled.
"Who is it?" he asked, hiding his anger.
"You, silly!" she said and laughed. Zuko's eyes widened and then his mouth tightened. His eyes looked at the entrance and he saw Katara leaving with Jet. Zuko turned back towards Laia and nodded.
"All right. We'll be partners," said Zuko forcefully yet with a distant sadness. He was going to turn away from her when he gasped in shock. Laia flung her arms around him and smiled brightly while laughing.
"That's so great Zuko! I can't wait to find out what our mission is!" She let go of him and put her right hand on her hip while with the other she tapped her chin in thought. "I hope it's something challenging! We should be able to do it without any problems though since we're both so strong! Oh! I should go start packing! I'll see you tomorrow morning bright and early!" She waved quickly and ran off. Zuko stared after in bewilderment and then shook his head. Everyone had left and only a few people were there to take the chairs away. He sighed and walked out of the Gathering Hall.
..::-::..
"See you tomorrow," Katara said unenthusiastically. Jet nodded and turned away from Katara's room. She shut the door and stood there staring at its simple wooden furnishings. There wasn't a logical reason for anything that happened anymore. She would have to deal with everything as it happened, but there was a part of her that wanted to live freely so much, that she'd kill to just stay alive and get out of the temple. Katara lifted her hand and stared at it in the dimness of her room. The lines in her palm were deep and she called out her chi to form a light blue glow around the walls. Her hand fell to her side heavily and she climbed into her bed, pulling the covers over her head.
"Why does this have to happen to me?" she said, her yell muffled by the blankets. In another moment, she pulled the covers back to give her room to breathe and then she stared at the ceiling, wiping away the tears forming at the edges of her eyes. Her breathing slowed down gradually and she looked at the dark sky for some hope. The sparkling stars in the sky called out to her in the desperation she felt and for a moment, Katara felt at peace, just staring out her window. A soft breeze came into the room and she yawned as it washed over her face, refreshing her skin with cold warmth. Her eyes began to blink and then her head fell onto her shoulder, and soon Katara was asleep.
..::-::..
There was a loud knock on the door and Katara moaned as she was pulled out of her deep sleep rudely. She rubbed her eyes and yawned as the knocked repeated, this time more forcefully. The morning light streamed in through the window and she got up, scratching her head. As she opened the door, her eyes widened as she realized that she had fallen asleep in her robe from yesterday. There was a man in a casual kimono and he stared at her head, trying to hold back laughter.
"This is your mission. Your partner has already received the notice. This is also another notice although I don't know who it is from."
Katara took the two scrolls and smiled, thanking him with a nod. She shut the door and leaned her back against it, sighing. The scrolls landed with a soft thud on her bed as she ran to the mirror to see what she looked like. Her mouth dropped and she restrained herself from screaming. Twists of hair were pulling outward from her head in all directions and the ends were frizzed.
"I look like a crazy maniac!" she exclaimed to herself. For the next hour, she spent agonizing moments combing her hair out until it was smooth and straight. She took a quick shower and when she got to her closet, she was surprised to see a new blue robe hanging there, almost resembling the one she had come in. There was an extra as well and Katara shrugged, pulling the water out of her hair with her hands on either side of her head. The water flowed through the air and back into the bowl of water near the shower. She sighed and sat on her bed, debating which scroll to read first. Her fingers reached for the one of the right and then she decided on the left at the last moment.
'Mission Statement for Katara and Jet.
You are hereby notified of your task. With your skills, you are to travel to the lower side of the Kuusu mountains. There, you will find an old woman who lives alone in a hut. She is need of your assistance and has a deadly disease that can only be treated by a master waterbender. Along the way, there will be many dangerous paths and together, you will help one another to complete this task.'
Katara rolled her eyes and laughed with disbelief.
"This is only to cover up my real mission, so that Jet doesn't know it," she said. Katara picked up the other scroll and looked at it curiously before opening it.
'Mission Statement for Katara.
You must be wondering why I have given you and Jet another task. It is because there is indeed an elderly woman needing your help. Do not think that just because you are to do this task, that you will be able to delay your original goal. On the contrary, it is rather a beneficial task for you, since this woman lives in the very mountains that encompass the Orb of Chi. It is my advice that you wait until Zuko reaches the Kuusu Mountains in order to dispose of him and his evil body. As you might have already assumed, you are to let everyone believe your only goal is to help the elderly woman.
With regard,
Master Taiko of the Second Temple of Sanoroi'
Katara snarled furiously, crumpled the scroll, and threw it in the water. The ink dispersed through the bowl, and soon enough, it was cloudy and black. Her wrinkled eyebrows lifted up and she looked away to the bright day outside. She sighed and started packing what few things she had with her. The blue kimono hung loosely on the hook until she slid it onto her body. In the mirror, her damp hair hung down and she stared at herself, thinking automatically of her mother. Katara's fingers reached for her necklace and she held it tenderly. In that moment, she decided to pull only half of her hair back, just like her mother. She smiled at herself when the braid was done. If only her mother was still alive, they might have passed for twins. This thought comforted her briefly and then Katara stowed away her brush and sleeping bag, her warm pull over for when they reached the mountains. The bundle wasn't as heavy and large as she thought it'd be. She strapped it to her back and looked at her room for the last time. The sheets were folded neatly on her bed and the desk was stripped bare. It was like she had never lived there before.
..::-::..
The Gathering Hall wasn't as full as it had been the previous night. Students were eating their last breakfast at the temple and picking up supplies for their journey. Katara walked slowly through the place, like a lost duck in a pond. She looked around with large eyes and desperately wanted to see a familiar face. Just then, she spotted Jet with two bundles of food in his hands.
"Jet!" she exclaimed and ran towards him. She stopped in front of him and he turned, knowing who the voice belonged to. He looked at her with a grin and then when his eyes caught her, his jaw dropped and he fumbled with the packages. Jet bent down to catch them, as did Katara. They both caught each other's parcels and simultaneously hit each other's forehead. "Ow! Jet! Why did you drop the packages?" Katara asked curiously. He stared at her, never before seeing her hair down like it was. She looked a lot more stunning in her own natural blue clothing and his heart started to beat faster. He swallowed hard and then laughed casually, running his fingers through the edges of his hair.
"Oh, they just slipped. That's all," he said.
"Okay. Is this all we need?" Katara asked.
Jet nodded and she smiled. "Yeah, it's strange though. Why do we have to go to some far away mountains? I don't like the mission we have," Jet commented while they walked outside.
"I know Jet, but it's an elderly woman. Besides, it's my duty as a waterbender to heal people, and it's your duty as my partner to help me."
Jet looked at her through the corner of his eye and smiled. "All right then, if you say so, partner."
Katara flashed him a warm smile as they walked into the temple's main entrance. There was an open yard just before the gate, and most of the students who wanted an early dismissal were already there. Katara could feel the sun's warmth on her skin and the breeze flowing in from the outside world. For once, her spirits were uplifted and her real mission floated to the back of her mind, covered by a thick blanket of dust that she didn't want to sweep away.
A familiar looking woman waddled through the crowd and kept calling out to everyone. Katara peaked above Jet on her toes and smiled as Oraka came towards them.
"Well would you look who it is, now, don't you look so pretty this morning!" she exclaimed with a wave of her hand. Oraka's grey hair glistened in the light and her youthful personality seemed to be brighter each day.
"Thank you for the compliment," Katara said happily. "It's how my mother wore her hair."
"I'm sure you look just like her! But my, who's this? I don't believe we've met before!" Oraka stated loudly and leaned in closer to Jet's face. He backed away hesitantly, but then smiled and shook her hand.
"The name is Jet. I'm Katara's partner."
Oraka started to giggle like a little girl and then ushered Katara aside, so that Jet couldn't hear them.
"Hey! What are you two whispering about? Are you talking about me?" he asked. Katara bent lower so that Oraka could whisper in her ear.
"You've certainly got a way with the men! He sure is handsome, but what kind of name is Jet? I'd say you're better off with that other one, Zuko!"
Katara stood up straight and immediately frowned. "Don't say that! I said before, it's not like…"
"Oh, don't be bashful girl! Oh! There he is! I'll call him over so you two can work things out! Oy! Zuko!!"
Katara's eyes widened as she saw a man about twenty feet away turn around and stare at them. Her jaw dropped as his eyes broadened. His gaze fixed on hers as the wind blew her loose hair around her face. In a split moment, she felt his eyes paralyze her so that she couldn't move. It was like he was taking in every ounce of her energy just through that powerful, longing gaze. Her heart started to beat faster as he moved forward, but then it stopped, collided against the walls of her chest, because Laia sprang up from behind him and hugged Zuko tightly. His eyes tore away from hers and Katara put her hand to her heart quietly. Her eyebrows lifted as she saw Zuko push Laia away.
"Zuko! Isn't this exciting? We get to go on a mission to find the Orb of Chi!" Laia exclaimed loudly. Zuko grabbed her by the shoulders and jerked her smile vanished.
"Don't talk about our mission! No one can find out! Remember what the notice said?" he asked her.
"Oh, that's right! It's top secret and we can't tell a soul!" she said while nodding her head.
"Good." Zuko let go of her and sighed. He looked back with the corner of his eye and then turned towards the entrance. Katara jolted with a start when Oraka snapped her fingers in Katara's face.
"Hello in there? Someone wants to talk to you!"
Katara spun around and saw Jet's questioning glare.
"Jet, what's wrong?" she asked.
"You seem a little, distracted. Care to share?" Jet asked musingly.
Katara gaped and felt a sudden rush of heat to her face. "Oh stop it Jet. Nothing's wrong with me. I just need to get used to being outside again. It's a lot warmer than a few days ago. I'm just a little dazed."
He squinted and observed her face carefully. She stared at him and then tapped her foot impatiently.
"Jet! What are you doing?" she asked.
"All right. You're not lying, I don't see anything wrong with you," he stated.
She hit him on the shoulder and he winced. "That's right. Nothing is wrong with me. Can we go now? I want to get out of this place."
He nodded and they headed towards the main gate. Its tall frame loomed over them all and squeaked as the hinges grinded against one another. Oraka had slipped through the crowd and pulled Zuko on the sleeve.
"What the…"
"It's me!" Oraka said in a hushed voice. Zuko frowned and looked for Laia in the crowd.
"Look, I'm sorry but I have to go now," he said.
"No! Just wait a minute! I have to tell you something! Before you go, just listen to this advice. It might not seem like it now, but don't give up hope! I have a good hunch about that girl, so don't let her go!" she said happily.
Zuko crinkled his nose and stated skeptically, "Who? Laia?"
"No!" she waved her hand and pulled his head down so she could whisper into his ear. "Katara! I saw the look in her eye when you two saw each other! There's definitely something there!"
Zuko stood up right and bowed slightly, his eyes gleaming and wondering if what the old woman said could be true. He closed his eyes and then opened them suddenly when he felt her arms around him.
"Um, I…" he stammered.
Oraka wailed and sobbed into his new dark green kimono. "Oh! I know you will be happy in life! Never give up! Eat well! Fight fiercely! And don't forget to come back! Oraka will be waiting for you to see how much taller you've grown!" Zuko forcefully but politely pushed her away from and bowed hurriedly. Somewhere in the crowd, Laia was calling his name.
"I'm sorry, but I must leave now," he said and walked away.
"Be careful!" she waved joyously as the doors opened and the students cheered enthusiastically. His figure disappeared from her view and she sighed as the crowd diminished. Happiness swelled in her heart and she smiled, knowing that sometimes, all people needed was an extra boost of encouragement now and again.
Up in her tower, Mayuri watched the students down below and sighed. The woman in the blue stood out like a like a bolt of lightening in the sea of dispersing students. Taiko rested his hand on her shoulder and smiled to himself.
"We need to rest and store our energy. Come to bed. We must sleep," he said in a low voice. Mayuri smiled lightly and kissed him before he turned away from her. With one last look, she let the curtains drop and the sunlight died inside her heart.
..::-::..
The sun was bearing down on them. Miles of rolling plains stood before them, with the occasional tree giving birth to shade. There was a silent breeze and Zuko shivered. Blue sky stretched itself for eternity above them and he cursed himself for thinking about the waterbender again. He had tried all morning. It was noon, they had eaten lunch, and Zuko was still meditative. Laia got up and stretched energetically, shooting random bursts of fire into the air. Zuko stared into the flames and felt himself becoming drawn to them.
"Let's practice our firebending for now! I'm tired of walking. Come on, get up!" Laia said as she pulled on his arm. She smiled brightly, and he stood up with her. There was so much fire in her eyes that he couldn't resist and he got into his stance. She cried out and shot the first flame right above his shoulder. Zuko dodged and ran around her while his trial of fire followed. She cut it down and then she pulled the whip's end with her hands. Zuko's eyes widened and then he focused, pushing the flame towards her as much as possible. Laia's forehead was poured in sweat and she couldn't take it anymore. The fire exploded in front of her and she fell to the ground. Zuko stood above her, lending her his hand. The sun towered over him in the sky and she thought she was looking at the most perfect man in the world; the sun glowed all around him and even though he wasn't smiling, it made him radiate appeal. He kept his hand out until she took it and smiled.
"That was a great spar! I think I'll need to learn that trick from you! It really had me by surprise, but you were stronger in the end," Laia said with critical observation.
"You just need more practice," Zuko said and then walked away. He picked up his gear and traveled onward. Laia closed her left eye half way and cocked her head to the side. She quickly got her gear and followed him. In a few moments, she was by his side again.
"Why did you just run off like that?" she asked.
"We should keep moving. It's a long journey and I want to make it into the Ionen Forest by nightfall," he stated.
"Oh," Laia said and looked up ahead. The forest's trees were minute still but she knew from her past trips that the trees were grandiose and twice the size of the temple. Their relative size at the moment taunted them with the distance they still had to walk. Laia sighed dramatically and Zuko looked at her through the corner of his eye while they walked through the short grass.
"It's really bright out, isn't it?" she asked.
"I suppose."
"That's what we love about the summer though, the way the sun always shines!" Laia beamed happily.
"Sure," Zuko said crisply. He kept walking but Laia stopped where she was, her fists clenched and a scowl growing on her face.
"Hold it right there Zuko!" He halted abruptly and twisted around quickly. "What's your problem? Do you really not know how to socialize? Before, I thought that maybe I shouldn't judge you so quickly, and I gave you a second chance. But if you're not going to talk to me, if I can't tell whether or not you like me even as a friend, then I don't see how I can go on an entire journey with you! The silence is unbearable!" she exclaimed furiously. Zuko raised his head and squinted at her.
"So you want me to be more responsive?" he asked.
"Yes! Exactly!" Laia said with hope shining in her eyes. Zuko walked towards her and she smiled brightly. Suddenly, he snatched her wrist and pulled her forward.
"Come on, quit whining. If I don't want to talk, that's my business," he said.
"But Zuko!"
He let go of her and she pouted. "You're no fun, you know that?"
"Yeah, I know," he said. They continued to walk through the fields as Sanoroi was beginning to shrink in size. The temple was just a dot on the horizon and the forest was becoming closer with each step. Initially after their squabble, Laia had decided to ignore Zuko, make him see how it felt, but in the end she cried out and grabbed onto his arm. Zuko rolled his eyes and sighed.
..::-::..
"According to this map, we should go north east to get to the Ionen Forest," Katara stated. Jet sighed dramatically and bent his back so that his arms hung down to his ankles. They had been walking for hours and it was well past midday. Their conversation had been fun for a while, but then they each grew irritated from the overexposure of the heat and never ending plains.
"This heat is unbearable. Can't we get to the forest any faster?" Jet whined.
"Soon Jet, we'll get there if we just keep walking."
"Too bad Aang can't give us a lift with Appa," Jet said as he looked up into the sky where the clouds were beginning to form. He never had the chance to experience riding on an air bison and at that moment, Jet spread his arms out and ran ahead, smiling like a delirious idiot.
"Jet, you know as well as I do that Aang has more important things to do. Jet, will you stop it? I can't keep up with you!" Katara exclaimed as she caught up with him. He stopped and grinned at her. His hair was slightly pushed back from the wind and it stuck out on its ends. She laughed and pointed at his forehead.
"What's so funny?" he asked.
"You."
He quickly matted his hair down and sighed. Smiling, they both carried on, a few hills forming beneath their feet. Katara shielded herself from the hot sun and breathed in the fresh scent of grass that was all around her. Beads of sweat trickled down her cheeks and she laughed at herself.
"I don't know why I put my hair down. It's getting in the way too much. I guess I just thought it was a special occasion," she commented. Jet watched her undo the bun in the back of her hair as she intertwined it with her fingers so that it became a single braid. "It was nice while it lasted." She looked at him and then he nodded quickly.
"Yeah, it was nice, but that's nice too. There's nothing wrong with your hair like that," he said.
Katara smiled and looked up the ascending hill. "So, are you ready to use your legs?" she asked teasingly.
"Of course I am! There's nothing wrong with my physical well being! I'll race you!" Jet shot up from the bottom and started dashing his way up the hill. Katara merely smiled and followed slowly. When she finally reached the top of the hill, he was panting and clutching his side. "Oh, so… you… made it Katara! I was just… waiting for you…"
"It looks like this hill was no problem for you at all, right Jet?" she asked.
He nodded and swung his arm in circles to stretch. "I could do that again if I wanted to," Jet said.
"Well, you're in luck," she said and pointed to the horizon. Jet's jaw dropped as he saw one hill after another piled in between them and the forest. The trees seemed too far away to be even close, and then he sighed.
"Maybe I'll just take it easy for now. I'm guessing we'll have a harder time later on anyways," he said rationally.
Katara nodded and put her hands on her hips. "Good thinking genius. I want to wait a moment though. Look at this place, it's amazing…" Her voice was full of awe as she saw the rolling hills surrounding them. She looked back and didn't see anything left of the temple. Widening her smile, Katara took a deep breath and spread her elation out into the wind. They started walking down the hill and Katara thought how lucky she was to finally get away from the place that had given her a new life but instead filled it with shadows that never went away. She could wander through the countryside for days and she wouldn't even have to think about killing Zuko for countless hours. Just as she thought this, a dull pain stiffened her legs and she crouched down to hold them close to her body. Jet bent down to her and put his arm around her shoulders.
"Katara, what happened? Can you walk?" he asked sincerely.
She looked at him and smiled weakly. "I'm fine, don't worry. My legs just got cramped, that's all." He helped her stand up and Katara looked down somberly. She really wasn't going to get away from the temple at all. Taiko had held true to his words; if she didn't kill Zuko, she'd die first. Katara took her next steps hesitantly, holding onto Jet's arm in case her legs stiffened again. They gradually found their way over a few hills and the occasional wild flowers that grew on them. The tall stalks of the trees became larger as they ventured on and the hills grew steeper. A couple more hours passed and they were closing in on the forest. Just a few more hills to go and they'd finally be encompassed by peaceful shade. When they reached the top of one of them, Jet held his arm out before Katara could go any further.
"What's wrong Jet?" she asked.
"Look at that."
He pointed down below them and Katara's mouth dropped. To her right and left, below her feet, was a spontaneous rocky slope. Puffs of grass were grouped together and they decided that it was the only way to go onward. Katara held his hand and they jumped to the stable parts of the hill, hoping to avoid any dangerous misplacement of their feet. They were almost half way down when Katara's right foot slid and hit a slanted rock. She cried out and pulled Jet down with her. He held onto her tightly as their backs hit the rocks below them. Each jab was worse than the previous one and Katara buried her head in Jet's chest as they rolled to a stop. He let go of her slowly and she opened her eyes cautiously, still hanging onto Jet's armor, worried that they were still going to fall. He smiled at her as Katara's breathing slowed down.
"That wasn't so bad. We should have taken the express route after all," he joked. She felt the fear turn into a burst of anger and she growled at him like a wild beast.
"It's not funny! We could have been killed!" she exclaimed. Jet's face suddenly turned as white as the clouds above them and she puzzled over his fearful expression. "Jet? What's that look for?"
Without time to respond, Jet pulled her up the hill where there were fewer, more sporadically placed rocks. The descending hill they had fallen down was now filled with a landslide of tumbling debris. Katara couldn't feel the air in her lungs, the muscles in her strained legs as she scrambled up to safety. By the time they had made it up the hill, a cloud of dust lay at the bottom ledge. She trembled slightly as Jet put his hand on her shoulder.
"Let's go. Don't think about what might have happened, all right?" he asked. Katara nodded and turned away from the wreckage. She had a deep foreboding feeling in her stomach, almost as if that landslide was planned somehow. However it couldn't have been; it was nature and no one could trick nature into doing whatever it wanted to do.
..::-::..
The day had been brutally long and hot. Laia and Zuko had finally made it into the edges of the forest. The wide plains of grass had crept into the shifting shadows of the tall maze of trees and Zuko gawked at their audacity. It was almost as if when entering, a silent warning spread through his body. 'If you touch a single tree, you'll regret it.' Laia took deep breaths of the surrounding air every ten seconds and she would smile widely even though it was darkening. The trunks of oaks were plastered with arm's length outstretched branches, all spaced out evenly between each other. The tapestry of the leaves above them let almost no sunlight inside, almost as if it was a barrier for unwanted forces. Yet although there was no light in the evening, the forest itself seemed to have a dim glow. Fireflies occasionally flew around Zuko, who after five minutes of this, decided to extended a flame from his palm so that they wouldn't come near him.
"Zuko, why do you not like fireflies so much?" Laia asked curiously.
"They remind me of where I was raised," he said simply.
She pursed her lips together and frowned. "That doesn't tell me much," she said but quickly continued when he gave her a stern look. "But that's fine! Absolutely fine, it's okay if you don't want to talk about it!" He looked away and she sighed, making a face at him with her tongue sticking out. They passed by many trees, all of them with bushes of dark round leaves growing at their bases. After a few more minutes of walking, Laia heard a distant wild moan and she shuddered.
"Zuko? Can we stop for tonight and make a fire? I'm just exhausted… and don't tell me you aren't, because I know you are too. You don't always have to act so manly and tough you know," she said as she sat down in a small open area of the woods. He looked at her quickly through the corner of his eyes and walked towards a tree without saying anything. Before Laia could call after him, he was coming back with a bundle of broken branches that had fallen on the ground. Zuko threw them onto the ground in front of her and she smiled.
"Do you want to light the flame, or should I?" she asked him. Zuko sat down and looked at the branches without saying anything. She sighed and then concentrated on the branches. Her palms were facing the ground solidly and then without moving a single finger, a flame burst among the branches. Zuko's eyes widened momentarily from the surprise and then he looked at Laia's content face after she displayed her trick. The glow of the fire flickered on her face and through her eyes. "Did you like that trick? I thought of it myself. If I can focus on an object that's far away, I can make the fire pop up there instead of right in my hands. I have other tricks too, but I'm not going to tell you. It wouldn't be fair when we spar again," she said with a delicate smile. For the first time, Zuko saw the real Laia, the one who cared more about fire than what other people thought. He took out a few bites of food and ate in silence while Laia did the same. There was a soft silence between the two as the fire cracked and sparked in front of their faces. The warmth spread through them and Zuko felt more at ease than he had while they were traveling on the plains.
Laia sighed and leaned her back against a tall twisted tree trunk. Her fingers curled through the mossy leaves and she laughed quietly. Zuko looked up at her and she stared at him with a question shining in her eyes.
"I know you won't answer me, but did you get that scar through a firebending accident? Were you trying to learn a new trick?" she asked. The flames roared to life in front of her and Zuko's face was hidden among them. Laia's mouth dropped as she quickly pulled the flames down. Zuko was forcing them with his emotions but suddenly, he let go and stood up with his fists clenched.
"Yeah, it was a trick, a trick that cost me my life. I'm tired of this! Next time, try to think before you ask stupid questions, okay? I'm going to rest," Zuko said and then marched away from her. Laia gaped and then sighed, seeing him crouch down behind a tree not far away. She bit her lip and thought about what he said. It was true that she didn't know much about him and that must have been a personal question, but she really wanted to know. Maybe next time, she would try and ask once again, but for the time being, her eyes slowly began to droop as the fire flickered in her eyes.
Somewhere not too far away, farther south of Zuko and Laia's campsite, Jet and Katara were also settling into the forest's calm atmosphere. After their long day filled with torturous nonstop walking and rough landslides, Katara and Jet were already done for the day. They made it a few feet into the forest and Jet already started yawning. Katara dragged him by his wrist farther into the woods and the dimly lit surroundings. Occasionally they each stumbled over a hidden pebble or tangled pile of grass. When Jet did so for the seventh time, he crashed into Katara and they both fell. She growled in frustration and pushed him off of her. Jet sat back watching Katara push herself up with her hands.
"That's it. We're not going any farther tonight. Let's just rest here," she said as she exhaled her breath deeply. Jet unpacked his sleeping gear and spread it out on the mossy undergrowth. Katara rolled her eyes as he immediately laid down without even eating. She took out her meager dinner and chewed slowly. Jet's eye rose and his nose crinkled as he smelled the food. He sat up rigidly and looked at her with round eyes. "Jet, what are you looking at me for? You have your own portions. I'm not giving you any of mine."
"Oh, that's right," he said and started to rummage through his pack. When Jet found the food, his eyes lit up and he ate it all in two bites. Katara laughed and finished her meal at her own pace. She put everything away once she was done and then sighed. Her eyes scanned the environment around them; the tall trees seemed to reach all the way up to the sky and she shivered, suddenly feeling dizzy. Katara looked back down at the ground and her hands flew to hold her head in place. She winced and tried to suppress the pain in her head.
"Katara! What's wrong?" Jet asked with worry as he came to her side. She shook her head and breathed deeply for a moment before letting go of her head. The pounding subsided and she smiled weakly at him.
"Please stop worrying about me. I told you before, I'm fine Jet," she said forcefully. He looked her directly in the eye and held her by the shoulders.
"And you need to stop lying. Tell me what's been bothering you. Is it the same feeling like back when the landslide happened?"
Katara's eyes grew wider as she stared into Jet's concerned face. She couldn't tell him the truth, but she couldn't lie either. It was too obvious and he knew something was bothering her. The tears strained her eyes but she smiled nevertheless.
"You're right. There's something wrong with me. I didn't want to tell you because I didn't need you to worry about me, but since you can tell… I have this illness and I can't cure it myself. Because of this, I'll sometimes get random bursts of pain in my body or my head. Once in a while, I have a good day, but lately I haven't gone a day without feeling pain at least once."
She finished her speech and left Jet dumbfounded. He leaned back and looked at her with unbelievable awe. "So you've had to deal with this by yourself all this time? I can't believe you didn't tell me. But that was your choice I guess. I'm just glad you told me. Now I will know what's wrong without you even telling me."
He smiled at her and she felt her hands begin to shake. She had just told him just a little of the truth but it seemed like a web of lies that she covered herself in just to protect herself and no one else. Katara yawned as her vision was dimming.
"I'm going to go to sleep Jet. Wake me up early… in the morning… so we can get… a head start… okay?" Katara lifted her head up when she heard no response and rolled her eyes when she saw that Jet had already fallen asleep. She sighed and let the forest's peace consume her.
But it only lasted for a while. The darkness started to open with a loud crack and Katara saw a flame erupt from nowhere. It came zooming towards her face and she shielded herself, letting the flame disperse into the darkness once more. It seemed like her body wasn't there at all, like time had stood still and let the air out of her own body. Suddenly, the ground shook beneath her and Katara started to fall. Her arms flailed wildly as she lost her voice. The few seconds seemed to hold her in place forever but finally she managed to find her lost voice and scream out through her mouth.
"Help! Please help me!" Her voice echoed around her and then she came to an abrupt halt as she landed into a pair of strong arms. She opened her eyes slowly and saw a pair of glowing amber eyes staring at her. The face came into focus and she smiled widely, feeling like she was in the safety of the world's strongest fortress, just because she was in Zuko's arms. "Zuko, I'm so glad you're here!" Katara grabbed onto his neck and buried her face in his warmth, forever wishing that she'd stay there in his embrace where no one would find them.
The hazy darkness started to lighten and Katara sighed happily as she felt the warmth radiate through her curled fingers. She smacked her lips together and pulled herself into the arms that held her. Katara's murmured two incomprehensible syllables and then opened her eyes. First, she thought she was still dreaming, but then her eyes fully opened and she jumped back out of Jet's arms. Her heart was racing and she looked around wildly, hoping for an explanation at what had just happened. She had been dreaming… dreaming about Zuko. Katara smacked her forehead with the palm of her hand in frustration and then stared at Jet furiously. He started to wake up and his drowsy face looked at her with confusion.
"Why do you look so mad Katara?" he asked sleepily. Katara stood up and found her pack of water. Immediately, without even bending it, she showered the water onto his face so that Jet would wake up.
"Was that a joke? I thought I told you I'm not interested in being with you like that!" she yelled loudly. Jet jolted out of his dreamy state and stood up to face her, his hair damp and dripping onto his shoulders. His eyes narrowed and he pointed at her accusingly.
"Joke? I woke up in the middle of the night and you were having a fit in your sleep! You were shivering and sweating as if you were going to be sick. Do you think I'd just sit and watch you? I came to your side so that I could comfort you, but then you grabbed onto me and I just thought maybe you'd feel better if I was there, which you did because you stopped shaking. Don't blame me for something you did!"
Katara gaped at him with disbelief and then looked away ashamed. Without glancing at him, she pulled the water out of his hair with her fingers circling in the air. First, he stepped back, not knowing that she was drying his hair, but then he curled his fingers into a pair of fists and he picked up his gear promptly. Katara hurriedly got her pack and followed him.
"Wait! I'm sorry Jet! Please don't be angry!" she called after him. He stopped and turned around.
"Angry? There's no way that I could be angry with you Katara," Jet said coldly, but then he saw her downcast expression and he sighed. "All right. You're forgiven." Katara lifted her head up and smiled as they walked into the forest.
The other pair of travelers was also waking up, but about an hour or more after the first. Laia opened her eyes and felt the morning heat on her face. She stretched and looked immediately towards Zuko who was still sleeping. Her stomach growled inwardly and she placed a hand on it as she frowned. Her eyes scanned the forest and she suddenly smiled as she saw a bush of red berries up ahead that she hadn't spotted the night before. Carefully, as to not wake Zuko up, she dashed towards the berries and picked them quickly, stuffing each one by one into her mouth. She chewed joyously but then stopped and her eyes popped open. Her whole mouth started to fume as if she had eaten an exotic pepper from the southern islands of the Earth Kingdom. Tears spilled down her face and then she screamed. Zuko got up right away and looked around frantically to find Laia jumping up and down in panic. He raced towards her and held her still by the shoulders.
"What's going on?" he asked.
Laia kept crying and jumping, her hands fanning her mouth. Zuko raised his eyebrow and then saw the bush of wild berries nearby. He looked at her again and he moaned before slapping his head.
"Are you out of your mind? Those are poisonous! I'm surprised you haven't passed out yet," he said and then got distracted by a thin layer of crawling fog. Zuko looked away from her despite her pleading and followed the trail to see where it was coming from. Through the trees he saw a glistening pool of water that seemed to stretch far beyond his current viewing ability.
"I think there's a lake up ahead. You need to…" Zuko was cut off before he could say anything else. Laia dashed away from him and ran through the maze of trees quickly before he could tell her to take her own gear. He sighed furiously and gathered both of their supplies before following her.
Katara pulled on Jet's sleeve excitedly. She was starting to feel the blood rush through her body quickly and she pointed ahead of them with the most eagerness she had shown throughout their trip.
"Jet! There's a lake up ahead and it's just the right size for some waterbending! Oh, I haven't had this kind of chance in months! Come on, let's go!" She dragged him forward and smiled brightly the whole way there.
..::-::..
There was silence. No one moved. Only two people remained, not even the gatekeeper was residing in the temple. Dust had already moved in for the absence of living creatures. Taiko faced Mayuri as they sat meditating in the dark chamber on the third floor. His eyes flickered open as did his wife's and they smiled at one another.
"This is going to be interesting," Taiko said with a laugh. Mayuri nodded and closed her eyes. She controlled her breath once more and then focused in on the two pairs of people inside of Ionen Forest.
"It is my assumption that they will meet each other at the lake," she commented.
Taiko sighed happily and closed his eyes. "I am certain they will darling, I am certain."
A/N: I'm surprised at myself! I wasn't sure if I could pull off the chapter length again, but instead of it being shorter, it got longer:D I hope that trend continues because I know you all like the long stuff hehe! All right, so not much really happened in this chapter, but I wouldn't say it's a filler… because it's not. Rather, I'd say it sets up the next chapter quite nicely, which, I must add, is probably going to be one of my favorite chapters to write!! It took a while to get into the flow of things with this because it was a lot different for me to write about them not being in the temple, but I should get used to it.
Did you like the change of setting and did I describe it well enough so that you weren't bored with it? I hope so:D But if not, and you're losing hope on this being a really good fic, fear not, because things are going to get really exciting, as Taiko and Mayuri pointed out ;) Oh! And one more thing, I need to know if you liked the fact that there was more of the main characters in this chapter… because that's what the focus will be on from now on. I know some of you really like the OC's so if you want me to, tell me and I'll try to add more parts in the chapter that include them :)
All right then, here's the part where I beg ya to please review!! It means the world to me if you read this that you share your thoughts because I literally go on any ounce of inspiration from you folks!! Thank you so much!!
-Monika-