Dying To Survive
Chapter 17- The Chain
"If your inner energy is misdirected, so will your whole life be." C. Astrid Weber
..::-::..
Katara blinked and stared, her eyes bemused, as the sharp light was dragged away from her body. Zuko stood across from her, with the same confusion drawn on his face. Their fingers were locked together, holding onto the seemingly distant hope that they could stop the struggle. A distant breeze swept by them as a shocked silence rose like that of a chilling cemetery. Gradually, they let go of each other and observed the empty space that had been occupied only seconds before. The orb was gone; only a few scattered piles of soft dust remained. Katara bent down and stroked the grains with her fingers. Somewhere inside, the past nagged at her increasing heartbeat, but Katara's mind was building a sturdy wall to stop her recall. Zuko narrowed his eyes and knelt down next to her. She looked up at him and stumbled over her words as her eyes pleaded with his for an explanation.
"What did we just do?" she asked.
Zuko's back tensed; he gripped Katara's shoulder, trying to remember. He searched through the fog inside of his head, but there was nothing there except a dense feeling of closure between himself and the woman before his eyes. In the space of a few seconds, and the expanse of blinding light, the two of them had become lost, and somehow they had found their way back to their conscious state. The mountain still spread out around them, the trees guarding their home like a protective gate. But the howling agony of the humans near them caused Katara and Zuko to shake themselves out of their delusional dream. Seeing the scowl on Taiko's face, Zuko immediately took Katara in his arms as they stood up. Katara looked up at Zuko questionably. The feeling of being so close to him felt as familiar as the constant action of breathing to keep herself alive, yet it didn't make any sense to her. All she knew to be true was that they had been tricked by the Masters of the Temple, and that in order to stop them, Zuko and Katara had grabbed the orb.
"It's gone… the orb… that just isn't possible," Mayuri said with a flat face. Her dry eyes bulged as she stood up. She swayed slightly and crept over to her husband as her torn robes followed her like a bored procession. Taiko growled with complete fury. The prophecy had come true; the two travelers, Zuko and Katara, had stopped them from obtaining power. After all he had done to ensure its failure, the prophecy had kicked him onto his back. Mayuri gathered her strength to pull her husband up from the smooth rocks below his feet. Taiko hunched his back and pointed his finger straight at Zuko.
"You will die here today. I guarantee it!" he yelled. Mayuri let her hand fall limply to her side as it fell away from Taiko's arm. Her crestfallen eyes stared into the dimming sky above as her husband charged at Zuko. She chuckled slightly and shook her head.
"My son… I am sorry that I have failed you," she whispered. Katara gripped Zuko with curled fingers as her breath caught itself in her throat. Taiko's bloodshot eyes were edging closer and his craving for revenge filled the air with a heavy ominous taste.
"Katara, run to the side when I give you the signal," whispered Zuko into her ear. "When he comes at us, we'll surprise him by attacking from behind." Katara nodded as Zuko's hold of her tightened. The reassurance she felt again reminded her of some distant bond, but Katara remembered nothing. Suddenly, Zuko's brisk breath rushed against her neck and her eyes widened as, for a second, a tingle spread across her lips. She blushed, but the memory left her and it seemed to only be a desire, not a real memory.
"Now!"
Confused from her blurry consciousness, Katara stood where she was, gawking at the man bursting forth with rage. Taiko's arms shot out and a hazy aura glowed around his dangling hair as the wind knocked Katara to the side. Zuko's eyes widened but to his relief, Katara caught herself before she fell. She exchanged a look of determination with Zuko; her face flushed as her anger seeped into her clenched hands. Katara suddenly remembered that Taiko had used her as a tool to kill Zuko. She wouldn't let Taiko breathe again. Zuko roared simultaneously with Katara as they brought their hands up in an arc. They stepped towards one another and braced their feet into the crumbling rock. A few drops of rain dropped a top Katara's head and she smirked. Gathering all of their chi, fire met water as Zuko and Katara's attack flew towards Taiko's back. The man chuckled and ducked at once, letting his fingers remain in the air. He grasped the trail of water and turned around to face his foes.
"Did you forget I can manipulate two elements?" Taiko asked.
From behind them, Zuko and Katara heard an icy voice. "As can I," Mayuri said. She had recalled Zuko's fire and it now waited tentatively in the palm of her hand. Zuko gritted his teeth as he and Katara backed into each other.
"It didn't work," he said.
"Let's split up and take them one on one," Katara replied. A sudden movement from the side caused all four of them to change the course of their attention. Laia held her arms out as her dampened hair hung close to her fixed face. Jet sliced his swords against each other as a low grumble faded into the sky. The darkness of the night hadn't arrived yet and the surroundings reflected an ivory shade as the battle stalemated.
"Looks like you two need some help," Jet said with a smirk.
"And I can do more than just firebend, lady," Laia added. Mayuri's green eyes cast a laughing mock towards the girl as her fingers pulled down, all of them falling together to form a bulb. Laia gasped as did Jet. The ground sucked them in half way, their torsos glued to the rocks around them. Angered further, Zuko lashed out at the woman.
"Don't get them involved in this!" he yelled.
She covered her mouth with her fingers and laughed softly to herself. "My, my, you seem to be riled up. They are the ones who bothered to interfere before. Now it is your turn to suffer," she said, her face suddenly dark and serious. Katara snarled and lunged forward, her arms gliding behind her back. Zuko twisted around to face Taiko as a flame came to life in his hands. Zuko punched the air rapidly, sending bullets of fire into the drops of oncoming rain. The light sizzled as Taiko formed a whirlwind out of the rain. The zooming air shot past Zuko's ear, but it didn't stop him. He spun around with his arms reaching to the sky, and the multiple flames became one whip. He directed it downward with his fingers, in the middle of Taiko's whirlwind. Taiko swore under his breath and dodged to the side as the flames shattered, disappearing as they hit the soaked ground.
Katara ran towards Mayuri as the flames swirled towards her from both sides. The waterbender wiped the rain off of her forehead and as the droplets dispersed into the air, she froze them with her erect fingers. One by one, they collided together to form a dense sword. Katara held it firmly within her grasp and charged her foe. For a moment, she wondered why it was that she preferred to fight this way, but it wasn't of much concern. Her only focus was to puncture the evil heart of an old woman who sought the finalization of selfish desires. Taiko had caught Zuko in an on slaughter of wind and ran towards his wife's pressing battle. He pressed his hand into his pocket and grasped the vial of Katara's chi once more. Immediately, Katara halted, the tip of her sword just inches away from Mayuri's chest. There was a knock on her forehead and suddenly her vision went black. The sword clattered to the ground, melting into a puddle of water. The rush of pain soared from her feet, through her torso, and into the arms that cradled her body tenderly. Katara collapsed and withered, convulsing through chattering teeth.
Zuko saw the blurry form of his friend falling to the ground, and the bitterness built up in his flames exploded into the air that barred him from going after Taiko. The wind subsided, cut open as if a cannon had blast through a wall. Zuko heard Katara's deep moans before he could see the glazed look in her blue eyes. He darted towards Taiko, yelling.
"You're the one who is going to die today!"
Shocked by Zuko's unexpected escape, Taiko froze as Zuko knocked him down to the ground, his hands tightening around Taiko's neck. The vial rolled out of Taiko's hands and the pain lifted off of Katara's body at once, only to be replaced by a sharp jab in her side. Mayuri kicked the waterbender with a short laugh.
"Do you think I will allow you to stand back up?"
Katara pounded the floor with her fist and all of the frustration splashed up with the water from the ground. Mayuri widened her eyes in horror as the puddle of water from beneath her, suddenly engulfed her body. It formed a frozen shield all around and encompassed the distraught Master momentarily. Katara choked and pushed herself up. She pushed her cold wet hair away from her face to see Zuko rolling closer towards her with Taiko. Amongst the rain, a small piece of glass remained and as it reflected against the fading daylight, Katara's hope rose. Her chi lay just a few feet away. She stumbled and ran towards it. Her fingers clutched the small vial and at once, its warmth soothed her aching muscles. Quickly, Katara popped open the lid and hovered her hand over it. Closing her eyes, she imagined the chi flowing back into her strained body, so that she could be whole once more.
"She… wanted… murder… Katara… eck," Taiko mumbled. Zuko's anger was toppled with confusion and he let go of Taiko's neck out of curiosity. He had said something about Katara and murder. Zuko punched Taiko's face and it twisted to the side with a sharp crack. His eyes bulged and he moaned as a strip of blood mixed with the rain and ran down his face. Taiko heaved for air as he turned back towards Zuko.
"What were you going to say?" Zuko asked darkly.
Taiko's eyelids fluttered as a smiled formed. "She was… going to kill you. Katara… wanted to kill you. Just ask her… if it is a lie. She cannot deny the truth…"
The rain slid down Zuko's head as his bangs clumped together and dangled over his eyebrows. He lifted his head and gazed towards Katara who was eyeing the empty vial with immense joy. Zuko rose from the ground and slowly made his way towards her as Taiko's rough coughs rumbled against the tame thunder. Katara noticed Zuko approaching her and she rejoiced.
"Zuko! I'm okay now. They can't hurt me anymore!" she exclaimed. Her radiant eyes and her bright face were washed away with the rain as she saw the look of breeding perplexity on Zuko's face. He walked with his arms clinging towards the center of his body, and his back leaned forward, trying to pull himself toward an answer he was hoping to hear. Zuko stopped in front of her and shook his head. "Zuko, what's wrong? Did you get hurt?"
"Taiko just said… that you tried to kill me," he replied warily.
Katara backed away, her heart seized with confrontation. Her hanging mouth and wide eyes tasted the dirty water spilling down from the thin grey clouds. Her crime had finally been uncovered and as the shock burst within her, Katara let go of the vial, letting it fall straight into the ground where it broke apart into a million tiny pieces. At the same moment, the ground shook as Mayuri lifted herself out of her icy imprisonment. Both Zuko and Katara glanced at the Master as the storm raged around her. The dirt that clung to Mayuri's clothing had tangled into her hair, and as the wind swept around her, she had the image of a wild woman rather than a subdued Temple Master.
"Prepare to die," she said, directing the ground towards Zuko and Katara. Zuko instantly pulled Katara into an embrace that dodged the attack. They tripped and rolled back towards Mayuri's husband. A tower suddenly loomed over them; the shadow of a man desperate for revenge slithered across Katara's face. Taiko had risen once more and he hunched over his prey like a bloodthirsty monster.
"You did not carry out my order, but in turn he has weakened because of you! Perhaps with one last blow… you will both perish!" Zuko rolled onto Katara as she cried out in fear. It was Zuko's final attempt to save her. But before Taiko could send a stake of ice through their hearts, a crack whipped through the air above him. An iridescent bolt of lightening electrified the sky as within a second, it struck down into Taiko's body. His eyes glowed as he trembled and his clothing sparked. The defying boom echoed away from above as Taiko's body fell to the ground, alight in a cyclone of flames. Zuko noticed the heat first and dragged Katara away from it. The rain poured over them as if mounds of blankets had been dumped from the sky. Swiftly, Katara stood up and brought her arm over her head to stop the rain from obscuring her vision, but within a few moments, the rain stopped all together, and the clouds vanished, leaving the sky in a light violet hue.
Katara let her arm drop as she looked at Zuko. His mouth was closed tightly and she shifted away from him, her eyes not able to bear the painful arc within his soul. Mayuri jumped off of the towering mound and landed on one knee. She gazed at the dying flames that encircled her husband and she collapsed.
"Taiko… you won't be able to command me anymore… I should be thrilled, but…"
Mayuri's back arched as her hands came a light with fury. She stood up and shot a blast of fire towards Zuko with both hands. "Why have you done this to us? I never wanted misery, all I wanted was…" She ran ahead and Katara gasped as she stepped ever closer to Zuko. He gripped the flames that came towards him and created a shield of scarlet citrus fire. Mayuri screeched and tripped as her direction was diverted to the left. She propped herself with her hands and when she picked up her head, her mouth went dry. Her fingers trembled as she reached for Jet, who was still stuck in the ground with Laia.
"My child… my son… you've come for me," she whispered. Jet leaned back and Laia noticed that if Mayuri was going to die, she had to do it after they got out of the situation they were in.
"Yes… he's come for you. Please let us out of this confinement," Laia pleaded. Jet widened his eyes and looked at her like she was delusional. He was about to retort but she winked and poised her head in Mayuri's direction. She was dragging her body towards Jet and she nodded.
"Oh, of course! Please forgive me Akeyo! I will release you at once!" She swung the palms of her hands downward into the ground. At once, the earth toppled over as it sent Laia and Jet flying out of it. Laia grabbed a hold of Jet and steadied herself just as Mayuri's sobs filled the air. Jet swallowed hard and looked away from the madwoman. Her fingers curled around his ankles as she brushed his feet of the crumbling dirt. Laia raised her arm in preparation for an attack, but Jet stopped her. He gripped her shoulder and narrowed his eyes as their friends started quarreling a few feet away.
"Taiko's gone now. We just have to do something about Mayuri and then we'll be all right," Katara explained quickly. Zuko, frustrated, yelled and pushed past her. Katara bit her lip and tugged onto his dirty brown sleeve. "Zuko, what are you going to do?" He shrugged her off as he stomped closer to the kneeling woman. Laia hid behind Jet, the fury in Zuko's eyes more horrifying than that of a wild animal. Mayuri grunted as she was lifted up by her collar. Zuko swung her around so they faced each other. She looked directly into his eyes and sneered.
"What is it now? I have no reason to live! I will go to the Spirit World with my son and husband! Leave me be," Mayuri said.
Zuko tightened his grip and growled in her face, the side with his scar a mass of withering confusion.
"Tell me! Is what Taiko said true? Was Katara going to murder me?" he asked swiftly.
Mayuri sighed as he let her feet touch the ground. She swayed and put a hand on Zuko's shoulder. Her messy hair waved in the lone breeze as her heart leaked with agony. Her green ribbon had come undone and finally dropped of the entangled hair. Her pearls had scattered everywhere and all that was left to lose was her strength.
"Well that didn't work, did it? She can explain for herself, as for my husband and I, we wanted you both dead. What better way than to have you get rid of each other?" she asked. Zuko slapped her and she spun around before falling to the ground next to her husband. She adjusted her jaw and narrowed her eyes in Zuko's direction.
"You'll pay! All of you will pay!" she turned her face to Jet and reached out to him with a crooked smile. "Come Akeyo, let us leave this place of misery for good." Laia clung onto Jet's arm and kept him back firmly. Their eyes were round and wary; so much had been said and they understood none of it. They didn't know what Zuko and Mayuri were talking about. Jet backed away and shook his head.
"My name is Jet, not Akeyo. I'm not your son."
Mayuri's jaw dropped as her mouth wavered, savoring the taste of her utter loss. "No… you aren't…" She gripped the grains of dirt between her fingers and slammed her fists into the ground. With each impact, the ground rumbled beneath her. Taiko's body turned over and she saw his scorched face for the first time. There was no blood and yet it stained her vision. Her heartfelt cries rang through everyone's ears. The high-pitched noise was unbearable and as the mountain peak began to rise and fall simultaneously, Katara, Zuko, Laia and Jet all covered their ears to block the screech. This proved to be Mayuri's ultimate weapon; she was stabbing them all with the torture wringing throughout her body. Her fingers ran over the rough edges of her husband's skin as the tears from her swelling eyes scattered themselves like polka dots over the charred mess. She yelled out once more and then with a stammer of her fists, she rammed the ground below her down into the mountain. Mayuri and Taiko disappeared quickly into the shadows as the encircled ring of the mountain that was left piled higher still. Mayuri had carved a gigantic funnel within the mountain, like digging a hole within the sands of a faraway beach in paradise. Her wails deceased as the rocks tumbled down into the hollowness. The four travelers scrambled away from the rockslide; they hurled themselves down the slopes of the peak just as it caved into the hole, covering it from the bottom up. Katara tripped over a rock and landed on her back. She cried out in pain as the rumblings disappeared. Sharpness overwhelmed her muscles behind her shoulder as she rolled to a stop. Zuko braced himself against a tree nearby and Jet hovered over Laia protectively as the rocks discontinued moving.
Jet winced as a loose rock hit the back of his neck. Laia grabbed onto Jet's head and looked at him seriously.
"Are you okay?" she asked, her lips trembling. Jet stroked her hair and nodded. Laia sighed with relief and pulled him into a firm embrace. She looked around and shivered; the darkness of the night was chilling and yet there was a bright glow to it as the moon came into view. Jet helped her stand up and they looked for Zuko and Katara. She was a few yards away, near the edges of the forest where the barrier had been before. Katara lay on her back stiffly as she gazed up into the cobalt sky. Laia ran to her side and knelt down beside her. Katara shifted her head towards Laia and smiled roughly.
"Katara… are you hurt?" Laia asked.
She closed her eyes and moaned slightly. "No, I'm all right. Where's…"
Zuko was a few feet away, not daring to look in Katara's direction. Jet walked up to him cautiously, his face withdrawn and bathed in shadow. The moonlight bounced off of Zuko's scar so that it flushed furiously. The quiet stillness that had seeped into their souls after the battle held a dejecting edge to it. Zuko's eyebrows furrowed beneath his still drying hair. He looked up at Jet and opened his mouth slowly.
"Is this real?" he asked quietly. Jet glanced past Zuko's shoulder to see Laia helping Katara sit up. The waterbender winced at the pain in her back but she quickly smiled and took a deep breath.
"No, I said I'm fine, Laia," Katara insisted. Laia muttered to herself as she helped Katara stand up. Zuko finally turned around and met Katara's vacant blue eyes. She stared at Zuko, his scar distorted from the knowledge he had learned. Katara took a few steps forward, her heart trembling inside of her chest. She opened her mouth, but no words came out. Zuko had finally heard the truth, and she had finally acknowledged her actions to be her own faults. The animals rustled in the trees near them as the four regrouped. Zuko looked down at the ground and clenched his fists as Laia spoke.
"We should probably leave now," she stated.
Jet nodded his head and sighed. "The Masters are gone. We have to tell someone like Oraka… or…"
Suddenly, Zuko snarled and pointed a finger at Katara who had been standing near him solemnly.
"Do you deny what they said?" Zuko spoke under his breath. She looked up into his eyes, which were gradually turning into a cold slate of amber. Katara choked on her words as the tears spread across her eyes.
"Zuko… I…"
The harsh wind whistled low, its voice full of sorrow and ache. The bitterness of the night echoed in a howl's hoot as its wings fluttered through the forest. Katara hung her head as Laia stepped back. She didn't want to believe what the Masters had said, but Katara's silence was enough. Jet too stood numb as he narrowed his eyes.
"Katara, out of all people… how could you do that?" Jet asked her. She shut her eyes and winced as the wind crept by her back. The pain was increasing, but she didn't know what it was from. Laia darkened her gaze and glanced at Zuko. His temples were flared as his breaths grew warmer. For a moment, she thought he was going to strike Katara down, his fists ablaze, but Zuko only clenched his fingers and turned around swiftly. Katara gasped for air and lunged forward. Laia's eyes widened as Jet went after Zuko.
"Zuko… I'm sorry…" Katara whispered. Laia came back to Katara's side at once and held her. Katara hitched her breath as she leaned on Laia for support. The waterbender's face was covered in sweat as her teeth chattered. Laia knew then that whatever the reason was, Katara wasn't a heartless being. There must have been an explanation, but Katara was in no condition to explain. Katara searched the woods for Zuko's shadow, and when she saw it along with Jet's, she moaned.
"Laia, you have to help me get to him. I have to explain…" Katara said hoarsely.
Her friend nodded and bit her lip before they stumbled along. Laia had seen the gash on Katara's shoulder blade. The blood had seeped into her blue kimono and had dried up to create a spread of burgundy fabric. Though Katara had been hurt, her determination to follow Zuko proved to Laia how strong she really was. After they left the mountain peak, Laia looked back and blinked; a shimmering form glided around in a circle, raising its hand upward, but as she took a closer look, there was nothing but the rays of moonlight wandering around the mound. Katara coughed but Laia still didn't say anything. They passed numerous amounts of trees as they headed into the depths of the Kuusu Mountains once again. The trails were hidden among the bleak shadows that appeared over the soft grass, but Laia cornered Jet and Zuko's figures from afar and kept going after them adamantly at Katara's able pace.
Up ahead, Jet tried reasoning with Zuko.
"She tried to kill me, Jet. You can't change the facts," he said bitterly.
Jet sighed and brushed his fingers through his hair. It was all true, but he couldn't believe Katara's reasons were the same as the Masters.
"Why don't you ask her again? Maybe she'll apologize," Jet suggested.
Zuko turned around and waved his arms dramatically. "She's not going to say anything because she wants me dead. She didn't even answer me when I asked her if it was true." He hung his head and punched a tree nearby. The force recoiled and vibrated into his arm. Zuko's eyes suddenly widened as he felt a familiar feeling coursing through his body. It seemed like the same thing had happened before, as if he was experiencing déjà vu. He shook his head and continued walking past the shrubbery near him. Jet rolled his head around and took a look back to check on Katara and Laia. They were at most a hundred feet away from them. Jet caught up to Zuko, and tried again.
"Come on, Zuko. Don't you think she deserves another chance to explain?" Jet asked. Zuko growled and shoved Jet out of his way. Jet scowled and pushed him back.
"Look, I know you hated me before the war. I was the son of the Fire Lord. You thought I was the cause of all evil in the world, or something like that. But I never was. I wasn't anything close to that. I made some mistakes, but I never tried to kill anyone." Zuko pointed back into the distance but didn't look in that direction. "Now she's the one who tried to kill me, and all you do is tell me I should give her another chance. Sorry, but the act she played was too much. I'm not listening to this anymore."
Zuko pushed past him and kicked a few rocks out of his path. He muttered to himself and huffed angrily. She had toyed with him, made him look like a fool just as the Masters did. For some reason, this strained his limits. His heart wouldn't allow Zuko to make connections with many, thus when he gave his trust to Katara, the person that seemed most likely to understand his situation, he never thought he could have been wronged. Slowly, each cell in his body was beginning to shrivel up. The light and passion that burned inside of him as a firebender was waning, all due to Katara's betrayal. Jet leaned against a tree with crossed arms as he stared after Zuko. He shook his head and chuckled.
"So you don't want to see her ever again? You don't even care that she's injured? There's a big gash on her back, you know," Jet remarked. Zuko stopped dead. He clenched his fists as a spark lit in his heart. The light from it burned furiously, a torch for his shining future in which he could have considered Katara to be a part of. Despite it all, he still cared. He was a decent human being after all. Maybe in the future he could have cared even more deeply, but she had shattered the bond that they had made with her decision to defy him.
"Then why don't you go help her?" Zuko said stiffly. He continued on without another moment's hesitation. Jet groaned to declare his defeat. Zuko's core was broken and shut, and nothing would make a difference. There was a side in his words that was right; Jet should have gone and helped Katara, but until they had gone to the peak, they had all been a team. Now, with Zuko's scorn, it seemed like that dream like fantasy had ended. Jet ran back to Laia and Katara as he left Zuko to continue down the trail. The birds had all gone to sleep by now, and what remained were the crickets chirping monotonously. Katara breathed heavily as she stepped on a twig and stopped to rest. Its snap felt like she had broken her own body in half after becoming so frail from all of Taiko's torture. No one except herself knew the whole truth, but she couldn't deny that at one point, she had still thought of Zuko as the evil monster that she had always made him to be.
Jet jogged up to them and widened his eyes. "Katara… you're so pale. That's it. You're not walking any further." Before she could protest, Jet knelt down in front of her with his back facing her front. He turned his head around as he pointed his thumb at his neck. "Get on. I'll carry you down." Laia smiled to herself and winked at Katara. She smiled back half-heartedly and clung onto Jet's back. Her eyes shut close as Jet heaved her up onto his back. The three of them walked on further, Zuko's figure becoming smaller yet. The time passed with agonizing pace. There was nothing more to be done.
"You know what, Katara? I'm not going to judge you. It's obvious that the Masters had something to do with everything. I for one, am glad that they're not going to be bothering us any more. That Taiko really freaked me out!" Laia exclaimed. Katara smirked as her head rolled along Jet's shoulder. If there was anything that benefited her out of the situation is that it was over with. She felt the heaviness in her limbs drip away the further they moved from Taiko and Mayuri's burial site. But there was all the more reason for her to hate herself for the ending. Zuko would consider her face to be the site of the utmost betrayal, even worse than his all those years ago. At least her friends were still close by; they didn't think she bore the mask of a monster.
"Thank you, Laia. Jet, please hurry. I need to tell Zuko…" Katara coughed again and he shushed her.
"Just relax. I'm not going to let Zuko get away from us. I promise."
With that said, Katara's heart lay at rest against Jet's back. Her right arm gripped around Jet's neck as her left dangled; the wound in her shoulder blade wasn't bleeding for the time being, but it still pained her to lift her arm. Jet's hold of her was tight, and she trusted that he wouldn't let her fall, so with a few bobs of her head, and the lulling rhythmic step of Jet's walking, Katara let herself drown in the pool of black water she had enveloped herself in.
..::-::..
Night had surrounded the forest, but the shadows didn't exude an eerie dread like before. As the travelers made their way back down the mountain side, they passed small groves of flowers they hadn't seen before. There were bunches of them, all blossoming with dark red petals and black insides. Beneath the bushes grew little mushroom stalks with frizzy ends and soft rooftops. Laia brushed her fingers over the velvety leaves. She sighed and looked at Jet who still carried Katara. The sweat ran down his forehead freely, but he didn't mind.
"It seems like a completely different place. It was so much darker in the daylight. Jet, do you think Zuko and Katara did something to make it like this? It seems so much more peaceful than before," Laia stated.
"The orb is gone. That's what they called it, right?" he asked.
Laia shifted uneasily and chuckled. "Yeah, I guess so." She let her gaze drop as they continued following Zuko. "Do you think they'll be okay?" Jet rolled his eyes and quickened his pace.
"If they don't settle this soon, my body will be the one suffering!" he said. His aggravation caused Katara to stir and Laia broadened her eyes to warn him. They looked up ahead and saw that Zuko had stopped moving. The opportunity had presented itself, and after a few hours of hiking through the woods, they finally reached him. Zuko turned around when he heard the twigs crunching beneath their footsteps. He narrowed his eyes and immediately crossed his arms. Jet loosened his grip on Katara and let her feet briskly touch the ground. She murmured warily as her vision began to brighten. The moon's light shined through the gaps in the trees and a single beam spotted Zuko as he looked at her with contempt.
"Zu… Zuko…" Katara mumbled. She stepped in his direction and lost her balance as a vine crept out from nowhere. She landed in his arms and when Katara looked up at him, his face contained a raw snarl of hatred.
"I never wanted to kill you!" she blurted out. Zuko gripped onto her arms firmly and she flinched as the pain from her back reared through her left arm. Her body dangled so that her knees floated above the ground. Zuko leaned forward and stared straight into her teary eyes.
"It's too late to say anything. I finally understand the deception you're capable of. I want nothing to do with you," he said thickly. Zuko flung her to his left and Laia gasped as Katara's body began to roll down a hill filled with sprawled tree trunks. Jet darted out and ran after her while Laia shot out towards Zuko. She growled furiously as her fist became alight with fire and made contact with his gut. His mouth flew open and he toppled over as she stood her ground with her eyes sizzling beneath the moon. A few drops of blood trickled out of his mouth and he wiped them away with his teeth locked together.
"For someone who knows about judgments, you should know not to be so harsh on her. Let her say what she wants to say, and this time, listen!" Laia said forcefully. Her foot spoke a thousand words per minute as it sent Zuko rolling down the hill after Katara. Laia jumped and dodged the mangled branches as the slope decreased and the hill leveled out. She stood near Jet and suddenly sneezed. To her right, she could hear the throbbing moans coming from Zuko as he cradled his dented abdomen. Laia smirked as she wiped her nose; she looked for Katara and once she found her, stiff as the trees around them, she helped her stand. Zuko pushed himself off of the ground and walked over to Katara, rage circling through his head. He looked at Laia and lowered his gaze hotly.
"If you want to say something, then spit it out."
Katara nodded her head to Laia. She took her leave and walked over to Jet. Zuko folded his arms as Katara winced, the embarrassment flowing through her blood as she looked up at him. Her mouth opened as Katara took a deep breath.
"I lost my free will. Taiko forced me to kill you or else..." her muscles tensed at the thought of the pain she had endured for so long. "If I didn't, I would suffer until I died myself."
Zuko's gaze softened slightly, but the moment he looked back into her luminous blue eyes, he remembered the trust he had embedded within her. She hadn't told him anything. Instead, she acted like her mission was the most important thing. His eyes widened as the realization whipped the air out of his chest.
"Your real mission… it was to get rid of me, wasn't it?" he asked fiercely. Katara's resolve broke and she fell onto her knees. The tears that she had been pushing back burst out as if a dam had collapsed. She sobbed and gripped onto the ground with her frail fingers.
"I had to do it! You don't understand! The whole time… the whole time I was being tortured, but I didn't let him win. He had the vial with my chi, and that's how he controlled me! Don't you get it, Zuko? I had no choice!" she yelled.
Zuko stood back, somewhat shocked at the intensity in her voice. He squinted at her trembling form, and for the moment, pictured himself withering in agony, holding back the urge to get rid of the source that caused such immense pain. It was then that Zuko saw the torn frayed edges of Katara's clothing. She continued to hold back her pain; she let no one know about the throbbing before, and she was doing the same thing again. His fury died down as Zuko knelt beside her. Katara picked her head up and sniffed as Zuko looked at her with pursed lips.
"How did it happen?" he asked.
Stunned by his sudden concern, Katara gaped at him and became speechless. "I… It was the day before we left the temple, I think. Taiko summoned me and told me about the orb. He said you were going to… steal its power, and that I had to stop you. The only way, he said, was to kill you." Zuko leaned away from her, his head spinning at the conniving power of the deceased master. "At first, I didn't believe him, and I refused. Then, he took out a small vial with my chi. Somehow, without my knowledge, I had been trained in the art of Hikku, so I could kill without any shedding any blood. During that time, he had stolen my chi… I was in no condition to refuse him."
Laia's eyes brimmed with tears as she heard the story. Jet's anger towards the masters tripled, and he would have went to kill them himself if they weren't already gone. Zuko's heart slowed down as he sighed deeply. He was about to forgive her, but there was one more question he needed her to answer.
"So… that was the only reason you tried to do it? You never wanted to just because you agreed with Taiko?"
Katara's heart leapt to her throat, trying to stop the words from coming out, but it was no use. "Not the whole time. There was a part of me, at one point… during the beginning of the journey here when I thought he was right." Zuko stood up quickly as Katara grabbed his legs. "No, Zuko, it was only a moment. When I actually tried, you stopped me and I knew then that it was never possible. You aren't like your father, I know that now."
He eyed her strangely and suddenly felt a weight lift off of his shoulders. The burden he had carried, the image of himself as a heartless person because of his father, was erased forever by her confession. Katara pushed herself up and clasped her hands together as she pled with him.
"I'm sorry! Please…"
He shrugged her off and took a few steps away from them all. "I can never trust you, Katara. Funny how things have changed during the years. All I wanted was to find someone who could look me in the eyes and tell me that they believed I was who I am. I'm sick of having people judge me! And of all people, you…" the bitterness echoed in his voice, a sad declaration of his choice. Zuko wasn't going to forgive her after all. Katara followed him into the darkened opening among the forest. Katara couldn't bear to have him make her out to be a foul pest, but that's what she was. She never gave Zuko the credit he deserved. He had tried his entire life to be himself, a prince worthy of the throne, not because of his lineage but because of his character. What kind of a person was she to think of him a person equal to his evil sister? Katara shook her head as she walked on, but suddenly bumped into Zuko. He had stopped and spread his arms out wide. She looked up at him and saw the clean smooth skin on the right side of his face. His eyes bulged, and when Katara looked ahead, the color drained in her face.
It was like all of the dirt had been piled into one place, but instead, their view was obscured with mounds of dust. Katara looked down and realized what she was standing in. The soft aching breeze blew the dust across their faces. Zuko and Katara raised their arms to shield their heads, and at that moment, a rattling clank pierced their ears. Katara cried out as Laia and Jet ran to them. They stood mesmerized by the being hovering over their friend's bodies. Zuko opened his eyes and turned his head with a yell. Katara too held the same reaction as Ineka, the woman who they had come to help, laughed merrily to herself. She gripped both Zuko and Katara's wrists tightly. The clank grew louder. Ineka had bound the quarreling two with a chain, from Katara's left wrist, to Zuko's right one. She pulled away as Zuko tried to reach her.
"What is the meaning of this?" he yelled. The force of his movements pulled Katara forward, and she winced in pain, her back still tense and sharp.
"I've seen my father. This is where he and I finally will rest. The spirit that resides here has told me to carry out one last action before leaving this world." Ineka's orange kimono glimmered in the moonlight, its shadows a light beacon of hope. "You two must never leave each other's sides, or peril will overcome you!" With a shrill cry, her body began to disintegrate before their eyes. Jet's mouth quivered as the dusty sand showered down to the ground like rain. When nothing remained, Laia gaped, her eyes rolling to the back of her head. Jet caught her as she fainted, and dragged her away from the field of the dead.
"This is…" Katara began.
"…where everyone died," Zuko finished. For the moment, they had forgotten about the present dilemma. The surprising appearance and disappearance of the haunting woman distracted their thoughts, but the heavy chain that bound them together clashed together again and brought Zuko's attention back to the present. "I'm going to firebend this off of me," he said, annoyed.
"No! You'll burn yourself," Katara insisted. Zuko raised an eyebrow and chuckled with disbelief.
"Don't say that, Katara. You're going to sound like you care."
Katara pursed her lips and held the tears inside of her. The guilt that danced throughout her drained body became heavier with the attachment of the chain. Zuko carefully brought a flame to his palm and held the heat next to the circles of metal. After a few minutes, and nothing happened, Zuko let the flame die. He growled with frustration as his nerves became shot.
"Great. This is exactly what I need. I have to be stuck with you," Zuko said. He gave her a nasty look and she lashed out her right, free arm.
"Zuko, I said I'm sorry! What more do you want? It's not like I'm going to kill you. Taiko is dead! I got my chi back! Can't you forget this ever happened?" She wanted to twist away from him, but her arm stretched out and straightened with the chain. "Ow!" Katara whipped back and cringed. The pain shot into her wound once more. Zuko huffed and yanked the chain in his direction, not caring at all that Katara was in pain. She deserved it.
"Come on. The sooner we get back to Yukaki, the sooner I'll be rid of you. That stupid woman! Where did she get this chain anyways?" Zuko muttered.
Katara hunched over, not knowing what else to say. Her words had fallen on deaf ears and it appeared that she would never be forgiven. Jet slapped Laia's cheeks slightly as he cradled her in his arms.
"Laia, wake up. We have to keep going. Laia… Laia, please?" Jet asked for the third time. Katara managed to smile slightly as her friend woke up and looked around dazed. She blushed and screamed at Jet for being so close to her. Katara looked right at Laia and she stood up furiously, angry with herself for being too weak to withstand the sight of death in such a strange form.
"We're leaving this place, for good. I want this chain off, and I want to leave now," Zuko explained. No one questioned him, but the thought of persuading Zuko to think the situation over again, still lingered in Jet and Laia's minds. They sighed and nodded their heads as the procession out of the mountains began once again.
..::-::..
By now, a few more hours had passed. Zuko led the way with Katara trailing right behind him. Jet and Laia whispered to each other a few times, but other than that, everything was silent. Even the crickets had stopped chirping. A few clouds had wandered into the sky, and the mood deepened to that of a funeral march. No one had commented about the Masters; nothing in their consciences objected to the timely deaths of the cruel tyrants. The trees were becoming sparser and the shadows lengthened as the group finally made it out of the mountains. Once they stepped onto the gravel road that surrounded the Kuusu Mountains, the air blossomed into a light breeze. Everyone stretched their arms as if they had been confined to one position for a long time. Jet immediately found a soft patch of grass to the side and laid back on it. Laia rolled her eyes and sighed.
"If we made it this far, let's at least find somewhere decent to rest for the night," she said. Zuko sneered and yanked Katara forward.
"I agree. Look, the town is over there," Zuko said and pointed. There were no lights in the small huts that lined the port. Lake Nuchai glowed heavenly in the wide wake of the horizon as the deep moon reined the skies. The water sat still, and Katara's eyes broadened as she realized that the ship anchored in the port was no longer there. There were no signs of people, and because of that eerie absence, she shivered. Zuko raised his eyebrow and looked over at Jet. "Something's not right," he commented.
Laia glanced from the mountains to the lake and small town. She took a deep breath and shook her head.
"Great, now we come back and the place is deserted! With our luck, there might even be a plague or something!" Laia retorted. Katara smiled at her friend's unconcern for the apparent tense atmosphere she had created. Zuko didn't make the journey any easier for her. Katara's arm was sore and she felt the prickling in her back intensify with each abrupt swing of the chain. She knew that she deserved the pain, but it didn't dawn on her that perhaps Zuko was over doing it. They all neared the lake on the outskirts of the town. Laia gasped joyously and jumped up in excitement. Jet smirked as Zuko stood, somewhat displeased.
"At least there's still a way to get across the lake!" Jet said. A wooden rowboat rocked gently in the water as the breeze cooled them off. Laia and Jet got in without hesitation, but to Katara's surprise, Zuko wasn't going in after them.
"What's wrong, Zuko?" Laia asked.
"Maybe the two of you didn't see that there are no oars?" he commented. Laia's full smile fell as Jet stood up, his body unstable in the rocking rowboat.
"Why do we need oars if we have a waterbender?" Jet asked as he folded his arms. Zuko turned his head and glanced down at Katara, who was bending over to catch her breath. She flinched as he pulled her forward, and stumbled slightly so that she hit her shin on the boat's edge.
"You heard him. You have to waterbend us across the lake," Zuko stated. Her mouth fell open and she shook her head.
"There's no way I can do that! The lake is huge and it would take all night!" she exclaimed. Zuko tugged on the chain again and Katara fell forward. She propped herself on the boat's edges as he stepped into it. Katara growled furiously amidst the pain in her back as she got in behind him. They walked slowly towards the front, and when they did, Zuko sat down with his head held high. The scar he bore on his face turned dark blue, almost black in the night, and as the moon reflected brightly on the metal, Katara clenched her fists. The chain was punishing her. She had wanted to kill Zuko, and now she had become his personal slave.
"Look, I'm in no condition to waterbend us out of here! You realize that I have only one free arm, don't you, Zuko?" Katara's sudden annoyed tone caught everyone's attentions, but Zuko just laughed.
"Do you think I care?" His lips tightened into a straight line and he stared at her from his seated position. "After what you did to me, this is the least you can do. Now, sit and start bending." Katara wished with all of her feeble body that she could slap his cocky attitude right off of his face, but with the jabbing pulse in her heart, she knew she couldn't even lift her arms. She took a deep breath and sat down next to him. They both stared towards the endless horizon as Laia whispered to Jet behind them.
"We can't make her bend. Look at her back! That spot has turned black now!"
"Laia," Jet said, "it just looks black because it's dark outside now. Anyways, see what she's doing? Katara will be fine." Jet yawned and stretched his arms out. "As for me, I think I'll take a little nap." Laia fumed and banged him on the head lightly. Jet winced and frowned. "Fine. I won't. Geez." In front of them, Katara let her right arm dangle into the water of Lake Nuchai. Her fingers strummed the currents of the cool water as she searched for a good grip. Zuko looked away and was about to lean against the edge of the boat to rest, when they all heard familiar voices.
"There's a boat around here somewhere! I remember seeing it before."
"How could we miss the departure time? You just had to go so far away down the shore line!"
Two boys appeared in their sight, and Laia's face brightened considerably.
"Hyoku! Lee! What are you two doing here?" she asked enthusiastically. Lee dropped his jaw when he saw how tattered their clothing was. Katara's wound in the back seemed to attract everyone's attention, and it definitely attracted his. Before he could say anything, a tall woman walked up behind Hyoku and rested her hands on his shoulders. Zuko and Katara's eyes widened, but the peculiar feeling passed and they stared only in confusion.
"Fate is a funny thing. So we meet once again, Zuko, Katara." The woman bore shabby robes and her tangled hair puffed out everywhere. Her green eyes shimmered in the night sky as did Hyoku's. He smiled at her, even though he didn't understand what she had said.
"Who are you?" Zuko asked blatantly.
"This is my mom! Her name is Hyana and we met her over by the ridge. I felt like I needed to go there, and when the storm went away, she appeared from out of the trees!" he said happily. Hyana hugged her son and nodded.
"Mind if we join you on your journey across the lake? It seems as if any other means of transportation are unavailable at the moment," Hyana asked politely. Luckily, the rowboat could fit at least eight people, and with the new addition, it would make seven. Laia nodded eagerly as Lee jumped into the boat. Hyana stayed at the back end while Hyoku toyed with the flute he carried. Katara gasped suddenly as she recalled what Hyoku had said about his ability to control storms.
"Wait, Hyana… if you're his mother, then that must mean…"
"Yes, I am the Spirit of Storms, if that's what your question inquired," Hyana replied. Laia suddenly turned and raised her eyebrows.
"What?"
"I know it's hard to believe, but… I am the one that helped you during your battle. That's why, because I went against orders, I've been sent to Earth for punishment. I've been stripped of my powers, but that's fine as long as I can be with my son." Zuko watched them embrace, a mother and her child. Something in his memory stirred, but he shook his head and stared at Hyana with distrust; it was becoming somewhat of a trend for the firebender.
"You said you met us before. How is that possible if you're a spirit?" he asked. Hyana looked up and sighed.
"I suppose you two don't remember."
Katara and Zuko shared an amused glance and she turned to face Hyana with the same questioning as Zuko had.
"This is the first time we've seen you. It's not possible. You must have mistaken us for someone else," Katara said. As she said this, Hyana stroked Hyoku's spiky head and the two of them fell asleep, embraced in each other's arms. Zuko looked away sullenly as Lee sighed and shrugged his shoulders. He leaned against Laia's side and yawned.
"She's nice… I just wish…" Laia shushed him and rested her head against his. Jet muttered to himself about how unfair it was for Laia to go to sleep but yet he couldn't. He laid down against the thick wall of the canoe as Katara turned away. Zuko tilted his head towards Katara and she looked to the right where the boat was tied to the mainland with a rough rope. She untied it and at once they started to drift away from their past. Katara tickled the water once again and she closed her eyes, steadying herself for a long night to come. Zuko shifted his body away from her so that he was facing the dark lines of the boat. Katara winced every so often as the wood croaked against the lapping water. As soon as Zuko felt like the darkness of night was going to engulf his mind, he was poked awake by a grunt. He ignored the noise, but next it was accompanied by a whimper. Zuko shifted places and by doing so, rattled the chain. Katara moaned stiffly, trying to conceal her burden. Annoyed, Zuko sat up and whispered fiercely.
"Will you be quiet? I'm trying to sleep…"
"I… I can't do it anymore. It hurts too much," she whispered. Katara's face glimmered with distraught tears. Zuko rolled his eyes and twisted her shoulders so that he could examine her back. Katara clenched her teeth as the muscles let loose and collapsed in her back. The dry blood turned darker as the gleaming river trickled down Zuko's fingers. His eyes widened as did his mouth; the sight of so much blood on her punched his guts inside so that they became hardened with disgust. Katara took a deep breath and he stammered.
"Just… just heal yourself!" he said. Katara looked at him from behind her left shoulder. She glared as the moonlight showed all her teeth in a straight line.
"Don't you think if I could reach it, I would have done that a long time ago?" Katara replied. Zuko cast his expression down and let go of her back. Katara choked momentarily as she arrived at a conclusion. "But I think you can help me."
Zuko tightened his face and leaned forward. "Why would I help you?"
Katara closed her eyes and then looked at him darkly. "Because then, I can get us out of here faster. It's your choice. It will only take a few minutes."
He thought about it cautiously, wondering if he should really help her after all she put him through. "Fine. Tell me what I have to do."
Katara took a deep breath and sighed. Her words came out slowly, as if she was embarrassed of them. She reached for his right hand with her left and saw Zuko's startled reaction as her fingers slipped into his palm. He clasped her hand tightly as she spoke. "Put your left arm around me so that you can reach my wound. Make sure your hand is touching my shoulder blade. While you do that, I'll reach into the water with my good hand and I'll try to send it through my body… and into yours."
Her words mystified him, and for a second, Zuko felt dazed at the prospect of going through such a spiritual cleansing. Katara took another deep breath as Zuko slowly brought his arm behind her neck. She shivered at his touch but kept her mind focused as she leaned towards Zuko's side so that her arm could fall over the edge of the boat. Zuko stared at her soothing face as the moonlight made her glow radiantly. Suddenly, he felt a coolness spread through his right arm, and as it traveled through his chest and into his other arm, Zuko closed his eyes as all of his tension eased. The cool water oozed out of his fingertips and it glowed as it seeped into Katara's disfigured back. Katara's head slowly fell forward as the warmth between them grew. Once she felt his hot breath across her face, her body collapsed into Zuko's embrace so that no space remained in between them. As the water cleansed her wound, Katara let her head rest against Zuko's chest. His heartbeat slowed and she began to drift into a pleasant sleep. Her fingers edged out of the water and as soon as the water stopped flowing through Zuko, he opened his eyes and pushed her off of him. Katara stared at him in shock, but as she fell back, the grip between their bodies, bound by the chain, pulled her forward again. Zuko narrowed his eyes and spoke darkly, almost as if afraid of letting his true nature show.
"It's done. Now be quiet. All of us need rest. You… just row," Zuko stated. Katara's eyes drooped as he laid down against the pointed railing of the rowboat. Her body rocked with the waves and she turned away, unsure of what the future would bring for her. At the moment, she was confused by what her adventure had brought her. She had made a new friend, Laia, and her friendship with Jet strengthened. Oraka, the kind woman, helped guide them in the right direction, and the little boys brought a smile to her face in the period of her weariness. Hyana, a Spirit as she claimed to be, seemed to have met her before. And the one person who had made it all so much harder to bear, the one who had slapped her into reality, was Zuko. She gazed at his peaceful face as the moon cast its spell, making it shrivel and gruesome. Katara wondered when she saw his face last as it was now. The uncertainty in the deep lines gave her a clue; it was when he had lost something so important to him. He had lost his identity when he betrayed his father. Now that Katara had betrayed him, he bore such a resemblance to that time.
She shivered as the breeze whistled against her pensive face. Katara shifted slightly so that she could raise both hands. The chain rattled a bit, but Zuko seemed undisturbed. She sighed and beckoned the water beneath her to bring them closer to a place of land. It was all that remained of her dignity and she clung onto it desperately. The water would erode every wrong she had done, the mistakes that cost her more than she knew.
A/N: :( not a happy chapter huh?? please don't fret!! ch 18 marks only the HALF WAY point of the book!!! so lots more is to come!! have any questions, then please ask!!
-yes, Mayuri is dead, same as Taiko.
-no, they don't remember about the SW... so they don't remember that they... kissed :X please!! no tomato throwing!!! ;
-yes, Hyana killed Taiko with her awesome lightening bolt!! 8-)
-Ineka is dead now too
and all of this has to do with where ch 11 left off ;P so if you were really confused... perhaps read ch 11 again??
? of the chapter- do you like Jet and Laia together:) or, otherwise known as Jaia ;D
thanks so much for reading!! comments are really appreciated!! (and advanced critique doesn't mean it has to be about anything bad!!) if you don't know what to comment about, then as always, you can include your favorite part of the chapter) Sayonara :D
-Monika-