Chapter 6: Chapter 6

The entirety of Avatar: The Last Airbender and franchise is the creation of Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko and product of Nicktoons Network (Nickelodeon/Viacom). I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender or its characters. This story is a unique fictional derivative of the original work, written (not for profit) by an Avatar enthusiast.

A/N: If you want a feel of what I was going for with the entire chapter listen to Rhianna/Drake "What's My Name". The song has a kind of romantic, hazed quality that I wanted to capture with description of Faé and the moments between Katara and Zuko.

Rated: T

Avatar Journeys

Chapter 6: In the Hills

"Iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!"

Katara opened her eyes and looked at the door. The sound of laughter and thuds of running feet echoed rom under the door. There was tumble then the giggling began again, then more running. Katara smiled and sighed. Children at play had been her wake-up call since they arrived in Faé'nda. While it did ruffle her feathers as a way to wake up, she enjoyed the sound. It foretold her future. Especially the way Zuko and I have carried on, she thought looking down. Zuko lay on top of her still asleep. His body was like a hearth radiating heat. She inhaled, feeling his weight sink against hers, unhooked her legs from his and kissed his head. She lay back and looked at the window over their bed. Light filtered in through the slits of the shutters. The sounds of bleating sheep, hollow foot falls, hagglers and chatter drifted up to the window. She closed her eyes. Peace. Stillness. Comfort. Happiness, she smiled to herself and wrapped her arms around her husband and let the peace of their room lull her back to sleep.

She felt slow stirring, air hit her abdomen and soft, warm kisses move up from her breasts to her neck to her chin to her lips to each of her eyes. She smiled pulled down on his waist and he lowered himself into a deep kiss.

"Good morning" he whispered.

Katara pecked his lips and answered "Good Morning."

He re-nestled himself on her, wiggling between her legs as he did. She quietly giggled. He rested on his elbows and stroked the hair away from her face, kissed her forehead and rolled away from her. Katara lingered in bed, admiring him while he sat on the edge of the bed. He said he "gathered" himself during his morning reveries. He rubbed his face, then moved his hair from his face and inhaled ten times, his shoulders rose and fell ten times. He limbered his ams with ten circular motions then stretched his neck in each direction ten times. Katara eased up and slid her hands under his arms to his stomach and kissed the back of his neck. He put his arm around hers.

"We should get going. The day has already started." He got up, threw on some pants and opened the window near the door of the room and stood there as the light came in.

Katara fell on the inside. Even though they were enjoying their honeymoon, a lot, she thought, it had been a rushed one. Each day had a goal before they could actually enjoy time together. She understood his reasons for pressing on the way he did, Iroh didn't give him that map for nothing but I really want to enjoy this time away from everything. She knew where Zuko thought the map would lead: to his mother. But she had the nagging feeling it didn't. If Iroh knew where Zuko's mother was, Katara was confident that Iroh would have brought her to Zuko already. The resolution and hope in his eyes held her tongue on the subject. She didn't know that for sure. She knew she wanted time. Time to just be me, be with him, time to just be us.

"I think we should poke around the market place for navigators first. Then start asking around for where or what Kyunno is," he mused, "depending on what we come up with we-,"

"Why don't we stay a couple of days?" she asked.

"What?" he said turning around and sitting in the window sill.

"Why don't we stay here for a couple of days? I mean, we have been on the move since we left the Fire Nation and we made it to this area in record time-"

"But we haven't begun to look for the Kyunno."

"I know but it is around here and it's not going anywhere. We don't have to rush to find it. We can take a break."

He looked away from her. She recognized that look: the stiffness around his eyes, the vein in his forehead that was making more appearances lately. Weighing his options.

"I'm not trying to force a decision between the map and our honeymoon."'

"I didn't say you were," he said with his eyes averted.

"I'm trying to relax, Zuko," she said crawling to the end of the bed, "We decided to go on this trip for our honeymoon but does that mean we can't have any of that time to ourselves?"

He didn't say anything, just lowered his eyes.

"I mean the day is half over. We've already lost a lot time sleeping off all the traveling. Let's just take the rest of it to enjoy ourselves."

He looked up at her. The sun at his back, shadow in his face, his amber eyes seemed to glow.

"If the Kyunno has been around here all this time then I doubt it will disappear between now and tomorrow. Pleeeeease, Zuko?" she said with her best big eyes and pouted lip.

He laughed. His laugh was like shooting stars to her. He rarely gave himself enough rope to smile let alone laugh. Leaning into the sunlight, watching him laugh, he looked like the epitome of happiness. I love it when it you're like this. He chuckled at her.

"Okay," he said smiling, "we'll take the rest of the day off."

"Yessssss!" she said leaping to her knees and throwing her arms in the air.

"Hehe, maybe even tomorrow," he said walking up to her and kissing her forehead and she lowered her arms, "maybe."

She watched him walk over the cupboard with their clothes, smiling at his back. It's really bright, she thought looking out the window. After her eyes focused she realized two things: There was a startled old man leaving his room across the court and she had no clothes on.

"Oh my goodness!" she threw herself on the bed, snatching the sheets over herself.

"What's wrong?" Zuko said coming over to the bed. He heard a plunk outside the window but didn't see the source then turned back to her.

"Katara?"

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Zuko left the room first with a grin on his face, Katara followed closing the door hard and crossing her arms.

"It's not funny," she said, blushing.

"Yes, it is. C'mon," he said walking slowly around the deck to the other side. Katara kept her head down and followed behind him.

She watched as Zuko eased around to the other side and stopped. The door across from theirs was ajar and the old man was lying on the ground.

"Is he alright?" she asked from behind the column.

"I don't know," he said slowing approaching the old man and crouched over him. She couldn't see what he was doing but she assumed he was checking for the old man's life drum. Zuko sighed and lowered his head. Katara walked from behind the column.

"What is it?"

He didn't say anything just shook his head.

She felt her chest tighten, I couldn't have, "Zuko, is something wrong-"she said walking up behind him. She looked and saw the old breathing. There was slight grin to his open mouth.

"He fainted," Zuko chuckled shaking his head. Her chest unclenched and batted him with her knee as she walked past them.

"It's not funny," she insisted.

"Hey wait, c'mon, help me," he said.

She turned around raising her brow. Zuko waved his arm over the man.

"It's the least you can do after nearly killing him," he said with a grin. She walked over and opened the door.

"I didn't nearly kill him."

"Yes you did. Look at him, how many moments like this morning do you think this guy has in him?" he said as he grabbed the old man around his chest. Katara looked at the old man. He was thin as leaves with a face full of wrinkles. She rolled her eyes at the back of Zuko's head and picked up the old man's feet.

The young couple laid the old man in his bed, closed his windows, left his room and closed the door. Outside they exchanged chuckles and flat looks. They walked down the hall toward the staircase, playfully tussling with each other as they descended the stairs. Zuko didn't want to, but Katara stopped and asked for directions to a market. The old couple she asked named a series of hills and directions to follow to get there. Katara looked around and didn't know how they could tell one hill from the other. They eventually trailed a group of young girls that were talking about their plans at the market. When they arrived in Faé'nda it was late in the evening and Katara was too tired to care what it looked like. She thought it would be like every other village they'd passed through; she was wrong.

Faé'nda was a bustling village made of complexes built around and into the hilly landscape. Wooden bridges, sidewalks, grooved paths and natural landscape connected the complexes. Some hills had holes carved into them for quicker access to other parts. Smoke puffed out of the hills with homes or shops built into them. They eventually learned how to navigate the village, recognizing signs on the hills and began memorizing a path. The land was relatively flat and narrow around the market, flanked by hills on either side. It was three long houses with open arched beams built on the hills.

Most of the items of the market were practical items: wood, water, tools, livestock, harvest and fabrics. The merchants were practical and stubborn. Zuko wanted a new polish stone and found one that was black and glossy. He haggled with the large man for half an hour. Katara was nervous that it might climax into a fight but they eventually reached a deal and Zuko slammed the money on the table. They stopped and watched dancing troupes, sword players, and storytellers. They got hungry and looked for food. The foods were mostly fruit and bean pastes and breads. Anything with water, like soup was expensive. It was also very spicy which didn't affect Zuko as much as did Katara. Then there were the gambling hagglers who seemed to gravitate towards them. "We're new faces," Zuko explained. He put on his hardest face and firmly held her hand. There was a particularly persistent paisho player that seemed to show up all over the market. A man a little older than them. He wore different clothes than most of the people in the market, some it wrapped in bandages. His eyes were a black as fume stone but twinkled brightly. After Zuko's fourth refusal they didn't see him again. Katara began noticed that the locals wore loose, thin and pale colored fabrics. She drug Zuko into a fabric shop for new clothes. "To blend in," she explained. They happened upon some scribes nearby and looked over their maps. The day waned. The late afternoon, the market and the noise exhausted them. They decided to head back to the lodge.

The sun was lying low before them. The light coated the tops of the hills. A sweet smell caught Katara's nose.

"You smell that?" she asked.

"Yeah," he said, "smells great."

She looked around. Only one hill in the area was issuing smoke. "I think it's coming from there." It was a wide hill topless hill with wooden decks around it and carved in windows. They walked toward it. A gang of chattering kids nearly mauled them running toward the hill. They walked up the worn in path to the inside. It was warm and smelled of broths and bread. They fell in line with the other customers. They asked the kids in front of them what the sweet smell was. "COUBONS!" they said in unison to the surprise of the other patrons. When they got to the counter they ordered coubons and water. There would be a wait so Katara decided to find seats. The view outside drew Katara to the deck facing east. The hills were green and lazy with the closing day tasks. A woman was sweeping out the threshold of her hill. An old couple eased down eased down the path. The gang of children with their coubons sat at the edge of a nearby walkway, their little legs hanging through the rails over the air. She picked a table near the rail of the deck, checked to see if Zuko would see her from the counter and then sat down. I really like it here, she rested her chin on her hand. She heard the chair next her and looked up with a smile on her face. It fell. It wasn't Zuko. The paisho gambler?

"Hey," he said with a smile, "I love this place. It has the best coubons," he turned the chair backwards and sat down.

Katara looked at him, brows furrowed. "What are you doing?"

"Visiting my favorite food shop," he said.

"No, I mean what are you doing here ? With me?" she pressed.

"Oh, well, I wanted to play a game of paisho with you," he said, "You or your fella."

"We told you that we weren't interested in playing," she said.

"Really? Now I can see that with your fella," he nodded in Zuko's direction. Katara glanced over. Zuko had his back to them. "He doesn't seem to have the finesse for this game. Looks like a real hot head to be honest. But you, you look like you have keenness and adaptability. Dare I say," he said raising a thick brow, "a killer streak?" Katara raised a skeptical brow in return. He laughed.

"I could be wrong but one thing I'm sure of is that you will enjoy this game," he concluded.

There was something in his expressions that bothered Katara. He looked, talked and smiled like he knew something about them. We only 'met' each other today if you want to call it that.

"I can see that you're skeptical, but how about this: I'll lower the odds for you. I'll give you the friend handicap. 'Kay?"

"Friend handicap?" she said flippantly, "I don't even know your na-,"

"Mana'manian," he said lowering his head and flourishing a wrapped hand, "my people call me Mana but locals know me by name's translation: Sandman. You can call me by whatever sticks."

"Well, Mana" she began.

"Mah-nnah" he corrected.

"Mahnna. We're not interested in gambling regardless of the odds," she concluded.

"Oh, this no gamble. No stakes. This is just a good-natured clashing of minds made in spirit of a personal wager."

"We're not interested," cut in a raspy voice.

They both looked up. Zuko looked like an angry waiter wearing his signature frown and holding two steaming plates. Mana laughed at him. Blew his chances, Katara thought.

"Man, you look like a peeved waiter," he said chuckling and getting up, "Here, let me help you." he said with his hand out.

"Thanks," said Zuko. He walked up him as if he were going to accept but instead Zuko spun the chair around to the other side of table with his foot and sat down next to Katara. "But no thanks."

"Very cool," Mana said nodding, "Well, allow me to introduce myself, friend. My name is-,"

"I don't care what it is and we're not friends," Zuko cut in, "I don't care about whatever wager your trying to scam over a game of paisho-,"

"I'm no scam rat, man-,"

"And furthermore, I don't care for you following us. It makes my blood boil. So I'm going to say this slowly and clearly so you understand: We. Are. Not. Interested." Zuko picked up a cup of tea and sipped it with his eyes closed, eye brows still knotted together. Mana leaned over on the table. He had a mute smile on his face.

"Okay, okay. Just let me suggest-,"

"I suggest you leave," Zuko said slamming his tea cup down on the table so that some it spilled on Mana's hand. He snatched it back sucking air through his teeth. "Playing with fire will only get you burned."

All traces of Mana's jovial attitude were gone and he stared at Zuko with fight in his eyes and clenched jaws. Zuko glared back at bringing his tea to his lips again. Mana silently conceded, pulled back from the table and walked away. Katara sighed glad that the situation didn't escalate.

"Glad he's gone," she smiling.

"Yeah," Zuko said watching Mana leave the establishment. Change of subject, she thought. She audibly sniffed the air.

"Mmmm," she hummed, "This smells awesome. Are these the coubons?" She said pointing to four medium-sized white balls with little orange strips laced over them.

"Yeah," he said putting his arm on the back of her chair, "They come in lots of different flavors. I chose manorang flavor. And the server recommended this pale tea to drink with it," he said sipping it again, "it's pretty bland but he said it's supposed to be."

"Well," Katara said grabbing her cup and scooting next to her husband, "let's see." They both grabbed a steaming coubon and bit into the light, grainy substance.

"Mmm!"

"Whoa."

The coubons didn't stand a chance. Their other confectionary mates were eaten seconds later. They learned that this particular shop specialized in making the treat in every way imaginable. Zuko had another round of spicy coubon kabobs and Katara had a soup coubon with dozens of the little balls inside a clear broth. They talked with other patrons in line, ate until their stomachs pulled at their clothes, talked and laughed into the night. They left extra money on their table and walked lazily back to their lodge, arms around each other.

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They woke up early the next day dressed in the local fashion with their mission firmly in mind. They would return to the market and ask around about the Kyunno, that's all. They trotted down the stairs, adjusting and pulling their clothes. They were making plans as they crossed the court to stop at the shop from last night for a light breakfast when they noticed a familiar face reclining in a chair next to the exit. Mana.

"Morning!" he said.

Katara saw the tension rise Zuko's shoulders. He started advancing on Mana, Katara followed behind, grabbing his hand to slow him down.

"I figured you guys were ruffled because you were hungry and tired. So I decide to catch you guys in the morni-"

"I told you to stay away from us," Zuko growled grabbing Mana by his collar.

"Actually you told me you weren't interested," he said calmly.

Katara looked down. Zuko's hand was starting feel lava. She squeezed it and Zuko let Mana go.

"No. I told you to leave us alone. You just can't take a hint, so I'll say it plainly. Stay away from us or you'll regret it," said Zuko stepping back. Katara felt his grip loosen on her hand. He began to walk away but Mana stepped in his path with a dark look in his face.

"I seriously think you're underestimating how fun paisho can be."

"Move out of our way."

"You're really missing out, man."

It began. Zuko shoved Mana's chest but Mana turned out and locked his arm around Zuko's. He tried pull away but Mana held fast. Zuko let go of Katara's hand lifted his right leg to knee him in his side. Mana dodged it then tried the same thing. Zuko caught his leg and tried to fling him into the court but Mana held his grasp until they both toppled over. Mana rolled over his head into a low crouch as Zuko lept up and turned into a defensive pose.

"Should have played the game. You stood a chance at winning," Mana grinned before spinning in circles on the floor, kicking his legs out at Zuko's ankles in quick succession. Zuko sidestepped, hopped and kicked away Mana's feet but couldn't find an advantage. Zuko backed away quickly then countered with the same move. Mana slid into a plank position, Zuko flowed up onto his feet, seized the advantage and charged toward him into an axe kick. Katara held her breath thinking he would fire bend. Mana blocked with a jab into Zuko's leg. Zuko backed away, grunting and Mana stood. Mana had pulled out a short knife. Zuko drew his broad swords. They silently charged one another. Mana swung in, Zuko blocked and swiftly brought his sword up to Mana's throat as Mana brought another knife up to his.

"HEY!" came a voice from behind them. Katara looked back. A bespeckled thin man was running down the stairs, flustering with his robes.

"Hey! There is absolutely no fighting in my lodge! You have to leave the grounds immediately!"

Zuko and Mana didn't budge.

"Leave or I'll call the guard to remove you!" he said with a frown. They still didn't move and the owner gestured to two boys that left out the back.

"Zuko," Katara said, "c'mon."

She didn't see Mana glance at her when she said Zuko's name and that he began to grin mischievously. He lowered his knife. Zuko didn't.

"I mean it leave IMMEDIATELY!," said the owner.

Zuko glanced over at Katara, then back. Mana was already at the door.

"Cya," he said smiling and dotted out the door.

Katara furrowed eyebrows and looked at Zuko who was looking out the door.

"You two!" said the owner. They turned to look at him.

"Vacate my premises immediately!"

Katara looked at Zuko and rolled her eyes and headed to the stairs. He returned his sword to sheath, mugged at the owner, and followed her. They gathered their things, threw the bags over their backs and shoulders and headed back downstairs. The guards were waiting but they shrugged them off. They walked to the only other familiar place outside of the market: The shop from last night. They ordered some heavy green tea and sat at deck facing the morning sun and drank quietly. They decided they would press on and head to the market. Both of them on guard. And as they expected, they found Mana at the market crossroads; unexpected was his four friends. They slowed down anticipating a fight.

"Hey," Mana smiled at them as if they were old friends, "I figured you two would be back here."

Everyone looked at each other but didn't move. Zuko and Katara kept walking, guarding each step.

"Is this about that scuffle back at the lodge?" he said jutting his thumb in it's direction, "c'mon, that was a friendly sparring match."

They were ahead of them but as expected, Mana and his friends followed. Zuko gave Katara a meaningful look. She moved a brow in affirmation.

"Or is this about getting you kicked out?" he said, "Don't worry. We can put you up for the rest of your trip."

Zuko turned around at the last statement, danger danced in his eyes. His hand was heating up again. Katara looked around and noticed all the wood. This will be very bad. She squeezed his hand hard.

"Zuko," she said lowly, "not here."

"Yeah, Zuko," said Mana casually, "You don't wanna lose it here around all these elderly folk and children. Besides, didn't your uncle teach you better?"

Katara looked at Mana. What?

"What did you say?" Zuko asked.

"You know, I don't think he'd appreciate you passing up a good paisho game either," Mana said, "I bet he would have played me."

"I don't know what you think you know about us but-,"

"I don't think anything. I know plenty about you, Fire Lord," he said smugly, "And Lady." He said looking up at Katara.

"How do you-," began Katara.

"Through an order of mutual acquaintances that are better discussed in private," he said, "perhaps over some drinks? Or tea? I know a great place on the other side of Faé."

They got the hint and slowly stepped aside for Mana and his gang to lead the way. On the other side of the market grooves trailed in the grass and Mana lead them on the north one. The hills rose again but this area had less of the complex structure of the other side. People occupied tents and huts built around the hills and were more of a diverse population. Mana led them to a particularly large tent built around a tall narrow hill. They all walked down into a deep moat-like path on the inside of the tent. Mana lead them a little ways to the right, then turned to his friends, said something in their language and they all departed save for one. Mana spoke to him, he nodded and went back toward the entrance. Mana then turned to them.

"Please," he said waving at booth.

Katara sat first, then Zuko. Mana sat across from them, grinning.

"I knew you were a hot head," said Mana as he sat.

"You know about the White Lotus?" asked Zuko. Mana nodded.

"How?" asked Katara.

"Official member as of five days ago. Sepal rank," Mana said. Zuko and Katara just looked at him.

"Sepal rank?" said Zuko.

"Yeah," he said. He read their confusion, "The first rank of the White Lotus. Novice level. Don't you know?" They shook their heads.

"You mean neither of you are members?" Mana asked. Katara searched her mind but came up with nothing. Zuko shrugged. "So neither of you have a White Lotus tile?"

"I do," Zuko said, "but I don't have it or an official acceptance."

"So paisho is out," Mana said, "Good thing you mentioned his name eh, Katara?" he said smiling at her.

"But how did you know to hassle us for a game?" she asked.

"They told me I was looking for the Fire Lord and Lady," Mana said plainly. Katara was confused even further.

"If you knew who we were then why all the hassle?" she asked.

"I didn't know what you looked like. I just knew who you were," he said, "My order was to help the Fire Lord and Lady in a few days and you two were the only outsiders that stuck out the most around here. I have an eye for these things. That, and the whole 'don't play with fire line.' Nice one by the way," He said winking at Zuko. Behind them emerged a young man who bore a resemblance to Mana. He had a plate with four cups on it. "This is my younger brother, Sungyani," Mana said grabbing cup of clear liquid.

"Call me, Yani," he stated.

"Well, what do you want?" asked Zuko grabbing a cup.

Mana looked confused now.

"You were trying to get our attention. Now you have it. What do you want?" Zuko said.

"Mmm. We're supposed to help you," Mana said gulping his cup, "with the Kyunno."

"You know what Kyunno is?" asked Katara.

"Yes," he exhaled through his teeth then continued, "Kyunno means 'the path' or 'the way' in old si wong or the old desert language,"

"What do you mean 'old si wong'? You mean the Si Wong desert?" Katara asked.

"Yeah. There used to be city in Si Wong desert, hence a language. Did you know that?" Mana asked.

"I know there's a library in Si Wong desert," she said.

"That makes sense given that there used to be a city, but that's beside the point. The Kyunno is a path." He stated.

"A path that leads to where?" asked Zuko.

Mana turned to his brother.

"According to some of our old lore, the Kyunno leads to a secret cache of the old Si Wong city," Yani said, "there's nothing special there since there are caches all over the desert except that there was one cache worthy of a name; of being a secret. You see Kyunno is just the name of the directions. The cache itself is called Tunya: Power. In the lore it's called Kyunno Tunya: The Way to Power."

Katara and Zuko quietly ingested the information.

"So," Zuko said, "This doesn't lead to a particular person?" Katara looked at Zuko then Yani.

"Not unless they're a dead person," Yani said not noticing Zuko's eye twitch, "many of the caches our people have used were old and untouched like the ones we've found recently." Multiple caches prompted a question in Katara.

"So there's more than one cache, right?" Katara said. Yani nodded then gulped down his cup. "How do you know which one Kyunno?"

"Tunya, actually. That was a pickle for some time," said Mana, "we had to do some more reading and traveling to figure that out."

"What did you come up with?" she asked.

"Well, after all my reading," began Yani, "I got the impression the cache could only be opened under certain circumstances. According to what I have read it can only be seen in the eye of the running sands. There's only one occasion in which moving sands form an eye. During a sandstorm, there is no sand in the center just high winds."

"And that narrowed it down significantly, but not quite enough since we were able to bend the doors open on two of three candidates and found nothing particularly special in them," Mana picked up.

"But we have a strong feeling that the third is Kyunno Tunya," finished Yani.

"So you can't open this third cache?" said Zuko.

"Well yes and no. We can bend it open but only with about ten men but there's a second lock on this one," said Yani excitedly, "and you need fire open it."

"It's more than that," said Mana, "you need to fire bend to open it."

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A/N: I've been listening to music for inspiration and attune the what aspects I'm trying to describe so you may see more song recommendations.

Next: Chapter 7: The Cold Desert

Thank you to the creators of Avatar: The Last Airbender for creating a world I never dreamed of.

Thank you for reading,

Uitori.