Chapter Seventeen:

-Katara-

It took us at least two weeks, but we finally reached the port with the ferries that would take us to Ba Sing Se; along the way we sold the ostrich – horse since we couldn't take it with us into the city. When we arrived we were escorted by two earth benders and I was shocked at what we came across. I don't remember ever seeing so many sad, discouraged people in my entire life. I heard babies crying and saw wives clinging to their husbands. I felt my eyes start to prick, but Zuko noticed before I could start crying. He wrapped his arm around my shoulders, squeezing them briefly, and giving a small smile to cheer me up, as he led me to our boat.

Iroh had given us each our own passport and our tickets for the ferry. He and Zuko were going back to using their fake names, Lee and Mushi, so as not to cause a scene as Zuko had described it. It wasn't long before we were leaving the port with over a hundred refugees on board.

The cool breeze and the scent of the sea surrounded me like a comforting blanket as we sailed. About a half hour later my stomach started to gurgle so Zuko came with me to receive some food; I was still afraid to go by myself. Zuko sensed this so he once again wrapped his arm a little more tightly around my shoulders as I kept my arms wrapped around his waist. As he held me close to him I just started to notice how muscular Zuko is for being sixteen. Once again I felt safe encircled in his arms. I had to try hard not to smile. Zuko raised his eyebrow at me as we approached the front of the line, but I just shook my head telling him it was nothing. He shrugged and I did my best to shake off this feeling as we were given our meals.

We were given some weird looking porridge with some kind of meat in it. I was hesitant to try it, but it would have to do. We took our food back to where Iroh was still standing watching as small waves crashed against the boat. He began to comment on how we would love Ba Sing Se and how he couldn't believe he was getting the chance to go there again after so many years. I wanted to ask him what he meant, but decided it would probably be best to ask him later. The whole time Iroh was speaking Zuko was scowling and made some comment about us not being tourist, but refugees. It doesn't take a genius to realize how much Zuko hates the idea of being a refugee. Quite honestly, him scowling like that kind of scares me; it's very intimidating. Personally I don't think Zuko even realizes he is. Shrugging it off, I brought the bowl up to my lips and tried a little bit of the porridge.

Boy was that a mistake.

It tasted like someone had put dirty socks in while cooking it! What meat had found its way into my mouth had absolutely no flavor and was just about as hard as a rock. It was so revolting that I started gagging. Zuko grabbed a hold of my shoulders as I tried to cough up what I just ate. He and Iroh leaned me over the side of the boat as I continued to cough; I think a piece of the meat is still stuck so it sounds like I'm coughing up a lung. Zuko continued to hold me as Iroh patted my back in order to help me. Finally I spat out the so – called piece of meat and took in a deep breath. Iroh smiled in relief as Zuko pushed my hair out of my face. Just that small motion sent tingles down my spine; I still don't get it.

"I'm so sick of this food!" Zuko complained still holding me even though I was alright now.

"Tell me about it" a deep male voice spoke up startling me.

The three of us turned towards the voice. A young man, probably about the same age as Zuko, stepped out of the shade into the sunlight. Following him were two teenagers. I think they both might be a year or two younger than him. By the way they stood behind him I assumed he was their leader…of what not a clue. He had shaggy, brown hair that is a little longer than Zuko's. His clothes looked like he had taken scraps of cloth from different outfits and added them to his shirt at the collar, one of his shoulders, and his pants while he also wore boots that looked slightly worn. The same went for his companions clothing as far as the taking scraps of cloth and adding it to their wardrobe. He also had tan skin, not like mine, but he wasn't at all pale like Zuko and Iroh. Upon further inspection of this stranger I saw he had dark brown eyes. He was smiling at us kindly and he had a piece of hay in his mouth.

"My name is Jet" he began again. Pointing behind him he introduced his friends. "This is Longshot and Smellerbee."

"Hey" Smellerbee replied in a slightly gravely, feminine voice. So she's a…tomboy? Yeah that's the right word. Longshot simply nodded his head to acknowledge us. Not really one to talk?

"Smellerbee?" Iroh questioned. "I must say that is an unusual name for a young boy."

Oh no Iroh! "I'm not a boy, I'm a GIRL!" she shouted offended.

I did a face palm as Zuko stood there in utter shock at the outburst while Iroh's mouth hung open. "Oh I'm so sorry" he tried to apologize, but Smellerbee wouldn't have it until the boy, Longshot, held her by the arm as she tried to walk away. He glared at her until she sighed and nodded her head. I was right; Longshot is not one to talk, but rather use his facial expressions to get his point across.

Smellerbee calmed down, but then I noticed the boy named Jet staring at me intently, his brows furrowed in concentration. Zuko had let go of me by then, but now I much rather he hadn't. Suddenly realization seemed to flash across Jet's face. He gawked at me wide – eyed. "Katara?" he asked stunned.

My mouth dropped as I gasped. How does he know my name? Apparently I wasn't the only one surprised.

Longshot and Smellerbee gawked at each other as if they just realized who I was too. Iroh stroked his beard as he processed all of this. Zuko's confusion was written all over his face, but something else was there too. It looked like he was weary of this complete stranger. Zuko turned me to face him as he asked me carefully, "Do you recognize these people?"

I closed my eyes and concentrated on trying to draw up some sort of memory to help me. As usual I came up blank. I shook my head sadly, upset that I couldn't remember yet again and that these strangers seemed to know me. Zuko turned us back around to face the three teenagers, but he kept his hand on my back in – between my shoulder blades. This gave me some comfort since its Zuko way of telling me he won't let anything happen to me. "I'm sorry I don't know who you are" I apologized to Jet.

Jet looked dumbfounded at my apology. "Katara what are you talking about? We saw each other a couple of months ago. You met me and the rest of my freedom fighters when we were all still together."

"And why aren't you with your friends?" Smellerbee interjected.

They weren't asking a lot of questions, but it still upset me and my head started to hurt. I absent – mindedly began to rub my temples until Zuko pulled me into a hug and started stroking the back of my head, running his fingers through my hair. "It will be alright Katara" he whispered low enough for just me to hear. "Don't stress yourself out."

I hugged Zuko back as I buried my face into his chest. Out of the corner of my eye I noticed Jet eying Zuko suspiciously. He was making me feel very uncomfortable so I hugged Zuko a little tighter; he didn't seem to notice.

Jet spoke up again as Zuko continued to hold and comfort me. "Anyway, the reason I came over here is because I found out the captain is eating like a King while we feed on that rank porridge. The three of us didn't know if you would want to help us retrieve some food for us and the rest of the refugees." Iroh seemed to be drooling at the 'eating like a King' bit while Zuko and I just stared at Jet, taking in what he said. "So, what do you say?"

I didn't say anything. Zuko was staring at me. He seemed to be observing the size I am now, making me self conscious. In the short amount of time I had been with him and his Uncle I had gained back most of the weight I had lost. I had never been skinny to the point that I looked like a walking skeleton, but it is still going to take a while before I am back to the weight I had originally been. My stomach began to gurgle again and that must have been the deciding point for Zuko because he turned to Jet, releasing me from the hug, only to gently hold my wrist instead, and said, "I'm in."

They had agreed to go ahead with their plan at night so they were less likely to be seen. I didn't want to go, but I also didn't want Zuko to leave me behind. The rational part of me was saying that I could be of help to him while the irrational part was saying that I feel much safer with him, despite the fact that I know that I'm safe with his Uncle.

"'I want you to stay with my Uncle'" he had said.

"'But I can help'" I protested.

"'I'm sure you can Katara, but it would make me feel better knowing you were with him." After he said that I eventually gave in and agreed.

"'Just promise me you'll be safe."

Zuko gave a short laugh that sounded more like a scoff. "'I don't think anything more can happen to me.'" He indicated to his scar with humor in his eyes until I smacked his arm and pouted. He finally understood I was serious. "'I promise Katara.'" He placed his hand on top of my head and ran it down the side of my face to comfort me, yet again. Not that I don't mind him comforting me, but I really need to get a hold of myself these days.

So here I am watching the open water as I wait with Iroh for him to return unharmed. About a half hour after they left they came back with sacks full of food. They all started distributing food to all of the refugees on board. At last they finally came back to us. I watched Zuko carefully as he laid out our food—barely noticing he had snuck us some rice that looked like it had been mixed with various vegetables that were still giving off some slight steam and meat that looked cooked long enough and was the right color—searching for any injuries; not a scratch.

We all ate together as we talked for a few hours, except I mostly listened. At one point Jet pulled Zuko aside as they talked privately. I watched them. I couldn't hear anything, but whatever Jet had been talking about Zuko responded with a shake of his head saying no and very few words. After they returned we started to get situated to get some sleep before we reached the city in the morning. Jet stayed close to his two friends as Iroh fell asleep snoring. I couldn't get to sleep though so I wrapped a blanket around me as I continued to watch the night sky and looked up at the moon shining brightly; it was close to being full again.

"Katara is something wrong?" I heard from behind me. I turned to see Zuko approach me, the light breeze causing his bangs to fall into his eyes. I shook my head, shrugging as I turned back to glance at the moon; causing my hair to fly into my face. "Just can't sleep?"

I nodded. "I don't know why." I laughed quietly to myself before I spoke again. "I know this will sound weird, but I feel like the moon has some kind of pull on me. I felt something like this, but a lot stronger the last couple of times the moon was full."

"I think that's because of your water bending" Zuko reasoned. "Water benders are stronger at night and you're at your strongest during a full moon. So it's probably your chi flowing through you making you feel like this."

I nodded again. That does make sense, I guess. "I will admit—I'm kind of scared to be going into such a huge city."

"I know. Just remember you have me…and my Uncle. We won't let anything happen to you." He smiled at me and I returned the gesture. "C'mon," he held out his hand, "you need to sleep."

I took his hand as he led us back to our spot on the boat. We both sat down and Zuko inquired with his eyes if he could put his arm around me. I nodded to tell him it was okay. He wrapped his arm around my shoulders to provide me with warmth. Inwardly I smiled as the warmth he was radiating started to lull me to sleep. As my eyes started to drift close I thought I saw Jet look back at us, glaring. I shook it off saying my mind was playing tricks on me as I drifted into a dreamless sleep in Zuko's arms.