When I wake, the sun is low in the sky. I don't remember falling asleep. Or getting to where I am. The last thing I do remember is kissing Zuko. He must have brought me here.
I'm lying on my back beside a pond. I roll over and fall into the water, instantly flooded with relief. I lay in the water for a long time, trying to let my skin absorb as much as it possibly can. I can slowly feel the strength returning to my body. I think I've been dehydrated enough for one life time.
Fresh water makes for faster healing and I make quick work of my ankles. When I pull myself out of the pond, I notice that my boot is sitting at the water's edge. Aang's bison whistle is draped across it. Too bad Zuko couldn't have left the meteor behind, too. It's no longer in my pocket.
That's why this is so foolish. Zuko is the enemy. I'm fighting to help Aang save the world from the Fire Nation and Zuko is fighting to prevent that. And alright, maybe I haven't been doing such a great job in the world saving department. And let's face it, if it weren't for Zuko I would be dead. But a few kisses, no matter how good they feel, are not enough to change the fact that Zuko and I are on opposite ends of a war. Our nations hate eachother, our elements hate eachother, we should hate eachother.
Zuko can kiss me and save my life all he wants, but at the end of the day he is still my enemy. Nothing can change that.
But for some stupid reason, that thought manages to make me feel sad.
Toph hates the South Pole. The ice is too cold for her to walk around barefoot all the time, therefore she can't see at all. She's been anxious and snappy ever since we got here. But Aang assured her that it would be a short visit; they just need to stock up on a few supplies. Toph is mad and I get to spend time with Aang, so everything works out for me.
Toph has been moping for the past two hours since we got here and Aang has been trying to console her while telling Sokka what's been going on and talking to his friends here simultaneously. It's a pretty impressive feat.
While I was dealing with Zuko, Aang and Toph were having little luck finding Aang a fire bending teacher. They came across a man named Jeong Jeong, but apparently it just didn't work out. So now we are completely back to square one; meteor-less and fire bending teacher-less. The odds of winning this war definitely aren't in our favor right now.
Aang is always good at keeping a brave face, it's in his nature, but I know that he's secretly worried about what will happen if the Fire Lord is ever able to use the meteor. Plus, there's Sozin's comet to worry about. Those stupid fire benders really have the upper hand right now. And I'm no help at all. I lost Garjan's meteor to the crown prince of the Fire Nation and then I let him makeout with me. Fraternizing with the enemy is never a good idea.
Aang and Toph are gonna have to leave again soon and leave me behind. They'll be traveling around the Fire Nation looking for a teacher for Aang and I'll just be left to sit here in Sokka's tent, watching him be still over his paperwork, and worry about the safety of us all.
But that's my own fault. For fraternizing with the enemy.
In my defense, I didn't know that he was the enemy at the time. I'm really just an innocent victim here. Sort of.
Maybe I could have tried a little harder to not kiss Zuko back. I could have ignored his roaming hands and hot skin and spicy scent. Or his lips on my neck and his fingers gripping me tightly and his hips pressing down into mine. I could've ignored all that. Maybe.
"Master Katara?" A voice calls from outside our tent. Toph is the first to look up.
Sokka's eyes flick to the entrance. "Come in."
A young warrior walks in, clutching a rolled parchment in his hand. I know all of Sokka's men by name, so this boy must have just started training. Another kid sent into war… He nods formally when he sees me and presents the parchment for me to take. "Commander Dante told me to give this to you."
"Thankyou…um…?" I reach for the letter and hug it to my chest, ignoring Toph's demands to know what I've been given.
"Taruk." He nods once more, both to Sokka and myself, before disappearing from the tent.
"It's a letter, Toph." I tell her, untying the string around the rolled up paper. The material is thick and I have to bend it back a few times before being able to fully open it.
"Dear Amala, I trust that you are doing well. My nephew tells me that you have been traveling a lot lately. I, myself, have been traveling some as well. Recently I met up with an old military companion, who tells me that he's thinking of vacationing up North. Since you are familiar with the area, I thought I'd ask your opinion as to where he should travel to. He's mostly interested in big cities, you know. But someplace exclusive would be best. Do you know of such a city? Let me know if you do. Maybe you and I could meet up there sometime, too."
The letter is written in Iroh's elegant calligraphy and signed with his signature White Lotus flower.
Instantly, I start to panic. A big, secluded city in the North is obviously referring to the Northern Water City. The Fire Nation has been unsuccessful in taking the city over the past few years. The giant ice walls that surround it make it impenetrable. Only powerful water benders are able to open the barriers.
But Iroh wouldn't be writing to tell me about just another attempted raid. If he thinks that I need to know, then the Fire Nation must have something big planned. The entire army must be on their way to take over the Northern Water City. And we need to be there to stop it.
"Sokka!" I exclaim. He's already looking at me and his brown furrows with worry when he sees my panicked expression. "The Fire Nation is going to attack the Northern Water Tribe!"
"What?" Aang's voice is anxious. "Is that what the letter says?"
Sokka springs up immediately. "Are you sure? Let me see that."
I pass the letter to him. "It's from Iroh. It won't make any sense at first, but I know that's what he's trying to tell me. We have to warn Chief Arnook!" I plead.
Sokka stomps out of the tent, taking the letter with him, throwing the flap open with force. "Dante, ready the warriors to travel to the North Pole. And prepare for battle. Shen Zi, you will assume the role as Chief while I'm gone. You'll need to select men to stay behind with you." He commands, his voice fading as he heads to gather up his other commanders. I have become familiar with how Sokka acts as Chief, but it still manages to surprise me. My brother is only a teenager and yet he, like Aang, carries the responsibilities that men twice his age would struggle with.
The difference is that Sokka had my father to teach him everything he knows, while Aang is still learning. The lot of us are Aang's teachers and there are too many questions that we just don't have the answers to.
"Aang, we have to go with them. We have to help."
"I know. We'll leave right now." He nods, pulling his brown boots on.
Toph does not look pleased at all. She is scowling a worse scowl than I've ever seen on her before. "More ice, right? There's gonna be more ice, isn't there?"
"Not entirely." I assure her, pulling on my blue parka. "The Northern Water City has actual building structures, the kind that you're used to. You'll be able to see just fine indoors."
Aang leans down and takes Toph's shoulder, helping her to her feet. I can tell that she hates to need assistance like that.
My hands are shaking when I pull my boots on. A handful of Fire Nation soldiers are a piece of cake to take down, but an entire Fire Nation naval fleet? I have faith in the power of the Northern Tribe's benders, but the Fire Nation's sheer numbers will overwhelm us.
Atleast Iroh's letter has given us the benefit of being prepared for the attack and the ability to devise a plan.
I just hope that we'll be at the city in time to warn everyone of the oncoming siege of the North.
Sorry for this short, somewhat lame chapter. I needed to set up for the next one, which will be all sorts of interesting and dramatic, I assure you. Happy holidays to all you lovely people!