chapter 14.....kick ass action coming your way!!!!!
The small trio made their way to the forest, Aang leading ahead, knowing the way, Sokka grumbling behind him, mumbling about instincts and Zuko having the back. They walked in silence until they broke into the forest.
"Do you remember the plan?" Zuko asked around, the others nodding their heads. He headed forward.
"Zuko, wait" Sokka called out. The firebender turned around to stare at the warrior. Aang just stayed quiet.
"What do you plan on doing with my sister? Are you going to force her to go to the Fire Capital?" Zuko had pondered this. He didn't want Katara to be unhappy, but he knew that she loved him.
"It's her decision" he answered before turning on his heels and heading deeper into the forest, his dual-swords drawn. Sokka's boomerang in the warriors grip, the airbender clutched his staff in his hand. He nodded towards Zuko before running and taking off. He would act as the eyes, looking to see if and when they would be attacked.
He circled around, until he spotted Longshot, sitting on a tree top, obviously guarding the tree house. Aang swiftly landed and waited for the others to catch up, although he didn't have to wait long. Zuko could be seen in the distance, jogging up to the boy, Sokka not far behind.
"They've got Longshot over there," he pointed to the tree the archer was in, "which means Jet's other lackeys should be somewhere…" he didn't finish. The older boys turned around to see jet's gang approaching in the distance, Jet at the front.
Zuko first instinct was to pound in Jet's head, but decided against it. He ran ahead with the others close behind. They twisted through the trees, until they could spy on the group without being seen.
They listened into the conversation.
"Yeah, she was great. Really feisty, that's how I like 'em." Sokka's face flushed with anger, along with Zuko's, the atmosphere growing hotter like the anger in Zuko. He had to take a few deep breathes so the bush would not catch fire. They listened in some more.
"She's in my room. Under lock and key, but don't underestimate her. She's quick and smart. She could break out any time."
"If she's under lock and key, how do you get in?"
"I have the only key, duh. Only I can go in there and play with her. You guys got that?"
The trio stayed still as the group passed their hiding spot, not even noticing them. Zuko nodded to the others, signaling for them to go. They followed the group back to the tree top. Once the rebels were in their hide out, they climbed up the trees.
Poking their heads up, they saw an unwelcome sight. Two of Jet's lackeys heading right for them. Sokka jumped up and made quick work of them, Zuko noted. He looked around for anyone else that might interrupt.
They made their way around the hideout, running into no one yet, getting hopelessly lost in the time being.
"Where do you think we are?" Sokka asked, after they turned to a dead-end for the millionth time.
Zuko shrugged, Aang had said he knew his way around here. Sokka looked toward the youngest of the three.
"This isn't like the one he used to have and remember that we did negotiations in the woods." Sokka nodded and looked at Zuko.
The young Fire Lord saw them staring at him, and he just glared, "what?"
"Well," Sokka started, "you could track Aang really well. Maybe you could do that for Katara." Aang looked at him hopefully, but the firebender just sighed.
"Yes, but I knew where I was going, and how to get around. This place is just a maze to me."
"How are we going to find her?" the Avatar asked, looking down at the ground. An ear-piercing shriek filled the tree house and the trio ran towards the source.
"That's one way," Sokka joked, receiving glares from the others, "I was only kidding." They turned a corner and ran into Smellerbee. Aang blew a gust of wind at her, knocking her unconscious almost immediately.
They ran until they felt their lungs would burst through their chests. They looked around the hall.
"Okay, now which way?" Sokka asked, looking down the three hallways.
"We split up, obviously" the Fire Lord sneered. Sokka just huffed and ran down the hall on his left. Aang took the right, leaving the center hall for Zuko.
The firebender jogged around the hall for what seemed like minutes, until he came to an unwelcome sight, Jet. He immediately lit his fists, waiting for the other to grab his swords. Jet only smirked.
"Think I wouldn't be prepared for you?" His only answer was a fireball whizzing just below his right ear.
The bowl he was carrying shattered as he dropped it, instinctively reaching for his hook swords. He carefully swung at the other man, only wanting to make him retreat. What Zuko didn't know, was the door on his left was where Katara was.
"Hand her over jet, and I promise I won't hurt you too bad." He kicked Jet in the gut, knocking him down momentarily.
"Ha! She's happy here, with me!" he knocked Zuko over, who was punching him repeatedly in the gut. He aimed one right above his gut, knocking the wind out of him. Jet doubled over, but not before kicking Zuko's feet out from under him.
"Jet give her back to me. I know she's here!" the firebender shouted at the rebel leader, swinging at him again.
"How did you find this place? And no she's not here, she's dead." Zuko smirked at him, knowing the rebel was definitely not prepared for him.
"I can tell she's here Jet, give her to me." Jet snorted as he raised a hook sword to the firebender. Zuko dodged it, but barely.
"She doesn't want to see you! She wants me, and only me!" It was Zuko's turn to snort. He stopped mid throw when he head banging on the door.
"Zuko! I'm in here. Help me!" shouted Katara's muffled voice from behind the door.
"It sounds like she doesn't want you. Unless that's her way of shouting 'I love you'." He smirked as Jet's face paled, then flushed with anger. Jet swung at him, but do to his fury, miscalculated, landing flat on his face.
He grunted in frustration as he jumped up. He didn't have time to block the rather large fireball directed towards him. He put his arms protectively around his face, to block it.
He fell to the ground with a yelp, before letting the haziness of unconsciousness take over. Zuko smirked as he made his way towards the door. He yanked it open, in time to see Katara stumble back, falling into the bed. He noticed the small smile that graced her features as she realized who it was. Her head lolled to the side as she passed out.
Zuko rushed to her, immediately examining her. Her leg was a bloody mess, and he tore some of his shirt to stop the bleeding. Checking her over some more, he couldn't help but notice the two large bruises haunting her delicate face.
He picked up her limp body and walked out of the room. Stepping over jet's form, but 'accidentally' stepping on all of his fingers. Coming down the hall, he turned a sharp corner, slamming into the warrior.
The Water tribe citizen was ready with a smart remark, but stopped once he saw his sister. Immediately he felt the white hot fury surge through him, wanting to pound Jet's head in.
"It's all ready taken care of" was Zuko's only words to him as he pushed past him. He didn't really want to know how it was taken care of, but glad it was.
They met up with Aang some ten minutes later. Aang had taken out the entire group so they wouldn't run into anyone. They swiftly med it to the town, just as the sun was setting.
Searching, the town looked deserted, so Zuko thought of the next sensible thing. He started for the docks, only to turn to look at the two others. Their eyes in equal slits, mouths halfway open.
"Are you coming?" They just nodded, closing their mouths and followed him. Halfway to the ships he also threw out to them, "You're welcome to stay, we have plenty of space."
"Of course, we would love that very much!" Aang said, before Sokka could turn down a nice sleep in a warm place in an actual bed! They made it onto the ship. Zuko ordered a general to escort the two to the guest rooms.
He brought Katara down to the infirmary quickly. He looked at her helpless form; many emotions flowed through his mind, anger flashing in his eyes.
"I'm sorry I could not protect you," he whispered to her, before beckoning for the healer to come.
and she's saved and Jet got his ass kicked....now for more meaningless violence and cruelty....i love writing......*skips away humming*