Hey everyone! I'm back with chapter 6! Hope you all have enjoyed, and thanks so much to everyone who's commented, especially hsm2fangurl and Avatar Wolf and KataangLove especially. You guys rock! So here's chapter 6, enjoy! And please read and review!
Azula suddenly opened her eyes and was blazing mad. That water tribe peasant! How dare he attack her, and win! Fire blazed from her fingertips as she got up. The peasants, traitors, and her brother had all disappeared, and blood dribbled down her cheek from her cut on her head. She tried to find some clothing to wrap her head in until she got back to the ship. She cussed and swore all of the way, trying to find her way in the ever-worsening-storm.
Back in the cavern, Ty Lee and Zuko were trying to revive Mai, and Sokka and Toph were working on Katara. They were all breathing hard as they tried to save two lives, plus one on the way. Sokka was pushing on his sister's chest and giving her mouth-to-mouth. Toph felt Katara's stomach to see if the baby was okay. "The baby is fine," she said, sighing. "Katara isn't." Toph's hands fell to the waterbender's chest. "No heartbeat, no breathing. If we don't do something, we'll lose the baby too." She stared at where she felt Sokka was. She could feel him shaking. He looked at his sister. "Katara, stay with us." He turned to Zuko and Ty Lee. "Anything?"
"No," Ty Lee said sadly. She watched Zuko. He was tenderly stroking Mai's cheek as he whispered to her. Tears were in his good eye.
But suddenly, Ty Lee had an idea. "Zuko, I don't know if this will work, but stand back. It just might." He got up and she hollered, "Mai, Zuko just kissed another girl! She's better for him, since you're asleep."
"Are you crazy?" Zuko hissed angrily at her. "That won't work! And that's not true!"
Mai's eyes fluttered open. "What?" she whispered in a shallow voice. Ty Lee squealed. "Zuko, it worked!"
"It—worked?" Zuko said, scratching his head. "I'm so confused…"
"Where's Zuko?" Mai asked quietly. He came into her view. "Hey," he softly whispered. "I've missed you."
"I missed you too," she said, closing her eyes.
"I'm so sorry I left like that. But I had to do the right thing. I needed to join the Avatar, Aang. I'm sorry I broke your heart."
"I forgive you. And I understand why you left. But you've grown more handsome since I saw you last." She smiled.
He kissed her cheek as she closed her eyes again. "Just rest now," he said. "Ty Lee, keep watching her."
He walked over to where Sokka and Toph were. They had given up. Tears fell down both of their faces. As he knelt down next to one of his best friends and touched her cheek, he suddenly had an idea.
"Fire is life," he whispered. Then he understood. "Sokka!" he yelled as he shook his friend. "Fire is life! I understand!"
"Zuko, she's gone. And you make no sense," Sokka said through tears.
"No, Sokka, firebenders, I think, have healing abilities! I can try to heal her!"
Sokka moved as Zuko lit his hands on fire, and breathed in and out. Instantly, the fire turned a glowing blue, and Zuko felt a deep calmness come over him, the first he'd felt since his mother held him, a long time ago.
Zuko put his hands on Katara's heart and focused his energy toward and through her body. As soon as he breathed out, she breathed in suddenly, as if she had been underwater and gasped for air. The two rushed to her side, while Zuko fell over, his energy draining from him. Ty Lee caught him, but he just looked at Katara, who was breathing more easily now. Sokka turned to the exhausted ex-prince. He smiled and put his hand on Zuko's shoulder. "Thanks, Zuko. You saved her life."
Zuko just smiled. As Sokka turned back to Katara, Zuko looked up at Ty Lee. "Thanks," he said. He slowly got up and went over to Mai, and healed her too. He sat next to her and continued to stroke her hair, while Ty Lee sat across from him, rubbing Mai's arms to keep her warm.
Sokka wiped the hair away from his sister's young face. She was breathing, but wasn't awake. He saw the giant lump in the back of her head when she hit the ice, but he figured she'd be fine.
He brought a sack from behind his back and passed out food to everyone. And as everyone fell asleep for the night, only Sokka and Zuko stayed awake, back to back, brothers keeping watch.
Many hours had passed when the nurse finally walked up to Aang. Her hands were covered in blood and she had a tired expression on her face. Aang didn't look any better, from his own cuts and scrapes, his own blood, and Tahn's blood all over his hands and his clothing.
"So," he asked worriedly. "How is he?"
"Even with me being a healer, it's taken a while to stop the blood flow, and he won't heal for a while…"
"Is he okay though? Will he live?"
"Yes. He's resting. You can go in, but don't let him move around a lot."
"Thank you for saving him," he said as he bowed and went in.
Tahn's eyes were closed, and there was a bandage around his middle and over one shoulder, but he looked peaceful. Aang stood over his left shoulder, looking at his one friend closer to family here besides Appa and Momo. He bowed his head and sighed.
"Aang?" a hoarse voice whispered. He looked up and saw Tahn looking at him though half-closed eyes.
Aang softly touched his shoulder. "Hey, you okay?"
"Yea," he whispered. "I feel a dull pain all the way through me."
"Of course, buddy. You were run-through. But I'm just glad I returned the favor."
"Thanks for saving my life."
"Don't mention it. But you aren't to move for a few weeks. Anything you want me to do?"
"Could you stay here?"
"Why?"
"I have no family near here, I can't leave, and I just need a friend to talk to. Can you stay?"
"For you, yea."
"Thanks."
"Rest now. I'll come back later."
Still deep in the crystal cavern a few hours later, they all woke up, including Katara. But she and Mai still rested. As Toph felt the top of the cave standing on Zuko's shoulders, she made the signal. "No one's around," she said. "We'd better go and get some supplies, or we all die," she said. She opened a hole, and Ty Lee and Sokka climbed out. "I'm going too," Mai said as she tried to stand. She did, but then fell over. Zuko caught her, but they both blushed. "You shouldn't," he said, but she straightened. "I'm fine. I need some fresh air and exercise. I'll be okay."
As they scouted out and hid behind the wall of snow, they looked over. The Water Tribe men were picking up broken tents, bodies, and more. The soldiers were beating them and boarding the women and children onto the ship. Sokka looked for Hakoda, and he found him. His father had a cut on his cheek, with some other cuts and bruises all over his face. He was picking up the camp, and every time he bent down, his face grimaced. Sokka tried to get his attention. "Dad…DAD!" he whispered loudly, and his father turned. "Sokka!" he whispered as he pretended to keep picking up rubble. "Are you and your sister okay?"
"I think Katara's time is coming, but other than that, everyone's fine. Are you okay?"
"No," he sighed. "I broke about half of my ribs, but other than that, we're okay. We'll survive, for now. But do you need anything?"
"Yea," Sokka said. "We need some more blankets, rags, and food. Can you get us any?"
"Yes, but we'll need a distraction. I'll get Bato to do it."
He walked to Bato, whose arm was in a sling, who looked at where the three were hiding. Then her walked over to the guards and told them that a prisoner had escaped. As they ran and Bato kept them searching, Hakoda grabbed a few bags of food and some blankets. He grabbed a few cloths too, and ran over. He handed the belongings to Sokka. He then also pulled a medium-sized parcel from his coat. "Give this to Katara," he said. "It's for the baby."
As Sokka took the package, he thought of one more thing. "Wait! Where's Storm? Is she okay?"
"They're all fine," Hakoda said. "Do you have the eagle whistle I gave you? The one that calls her?"
"Yea,"
"Call her. Those crystal caves can hold her. You will need her, and she needs you."
"Okay. Stay safe, dad."
"Go…"
"But…"
"Go NOW!!"
As Sokka took out the eagle whistle, he blew it and waited. He heard men yelling, ice crashing, and an eagle's scream. He looked up as Storm flew over and landed next to him. She ruffled her feathers and he hugged her giant head. "Hey girl," he said as he climbed on. "We've got to hurry! They'll be on our tails!"
He grabbed Mai's and Ty Lee's hands and helped them on. Storm took off. Sokka turned her towards the hot springs, but flew past them.
"Uh, Sokka?" Ty Lee asked. "Why did you fly past the hot springs?"
"I don't want them to go right to our hideout," Sokka said. "I'm not that stupid," he said to the two girls, smiling. Ty Lee and Mai looked at each other and smiled.
As they circled around once the soldiers were out of sight, they flew low, because the clouds and storm continued to worsen and the polar eagle was white, to help blend into the snow. They reached the hot springs and got off of the bird. Sokka yelled into the snow. "Toph! It's us! Make a big hole!"
The snow and crystals opened and Sokka yelled down over the wind. "Can you make a cavern big enough for Storm?"
"That huge featherball's coming down here?" Toph yelled through the worsening storm. "Yeah!" Sokka screamed. Toph earthbended another cavern deeper into the cave big enough for the eagle to rest, and Sokka coaxed the giant bird to settle down into the hole and nest in the cavern made for her.
As Sokka, Mai, and Ty Lee jumped down, Zuko looked up from his place next to Katara. She was resting on his shoulder. He softly got up and went over to Sokka. "What did you get?"
"I got some food to last us for a while, some blankets, some cloths for Katara, and dad handed me this for her." She opened her eyes and slowly sat up. He kneeled down next to her.
She opened the package and smiled. It was a soft, warm baby's blanket made of polar bear-tiger fur. She stroked the soft fur. "I have the best father." She looked up and smiled. "And the best family." She leaned back and closed her eyes, and was soon asleep.
They all went to sit around the fire, when Sokka noticed that Storm was trying to get comfortable, but looked uneasy. He went over to stroke her. "Easy, girl, what's wrong?"
She continued to move around, until she finally got up and looked underneath her. And Sokka looked too. His mouth dropped. Underneath her was a giant egg!
"Storm, you're a mother?"
The eagle screeched and nestled the egg into her feathers. He knew that since the polar eagles didn't make nests, they had a special pocket in their feathers and skin to hold the egg and keep it warm.
The storm got worse. They could all hear it outside. Every now and then, Zuko looked over at Katara, who looked more and more restless. He knew it would be soon. "Toph," he said. "Can you let me up for a minute?"
"Sure," she answered as she lifted him up and opened the top. He stuck his head out and looked for the sun below the storm. The sun was coming towards the horizon in the west. He guessed it about 4 o'clock. He came back down and looked at Katara. She started to sweat.
"Sokka…" she whispered as she breathed out heavily. Sokka's eyes widened as he looked at Zuko and they both ran to her side.
Okay, so Tahn's okay, Zuko found his amazing hidden ability (did you guys like that ?) and has saved Mai and Katara, Mai woke up in a surprising way, Mai and Zuko are together again, the Water Tribe is captured, and you can all guess what happens next chapter to Katara… I'll leave you hangin' for today. Next chapter tomorrow! Please READ AND REVIEW! Thanks you guys, hope you enjoyed this chapter!
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