Chapter 15:
The sun beat down on them as Sokka and Katara trudged uphill. Katara had hastily fastened several containers out of some leaves and filled it up with water from the river. They had plenty to drink, but that did not make the trek any less exhausting. Bugs hummed in the air and humidity clung to them like a wet rag.
Sokka and Katara dragged themselves along for hours, until the late afternoon. The trip would not have been so arduous if they did not have exchange turns carrying a whole person with them.
Azula weighed heavily on Sokka's back as he stumbled through the trees. Her body was far too warm, and her heat seeped into his skin, adding to his discomfort. There was nothing Sokka hated more than having to carry someone who was such a terrible enemy. He had not forgotten how she had played with his emotions on the Day of the Black Sun. He would never forgive her for incarcerating Suki, and for wasting all of their time during the eclipse.
Sokka internally growled. He was going to find Suki no matter what the cost, and if that meant killing Azula, then he was ready to do so. Glancing briefly back at the unconscious princess, Sokka found himself scoffing at how pitiful she looked. Her hair was matted with sweat, her skin flushed, and she shivered underneath her skimpy robes. Sokka thought he felt something akin to pity, but the feeling was wiped away when he realized how much his back ached. He could have sworn his spine was bent out of shape.
Sokka staggered to the side and dumped Azula down at the base of a tree. "That's it," he mumbled. "Either we take a break, or you can carry her."
Katara was about to take up the princess, but then she recognized the discomfort in the muscles of her back and shoulders. "You're right," she sighed. "Let's take a break." She sat down next to her complaining brother and they took turns taking long drinks from the sacs of water. Katara then knelt in front of Azula, who was still lying in the awkwward position she was in when Sokka thoughtlessly dumped her there.
"What are you doing?" Sokka asked.
"Giving her some water."
"I'm sure she got enough of that last night," Sokka chuckled. "No need to give her ours."
"If I don't, she'll die," Katara said simply. She flipped Azula onto her back and elevated her head. Katara raised her hand and summoned a thin stream of water into the air. Without warning, Katara forcefully waterbent the liquid into Azula's mouth and down her throat.
Sokka's eyes widened in awe as he saw Azula's throat contracting as the water shoved its way down. The princess cringed and mumbled something inaudible.
"There," Katara seemed satisfied. "That should do, for now."
"Talk about forceful," Sokka scoffed.
Katara shrugged. "I'm not going to let her die, but that doesn't mean I have to be gentle."
"Well alright. It's not like I care," Sokka sighed. "So what's the plan?"
"Why are you asking me? Coming up with plans is your job."
Sokka rolled his eyes. "Fine. I say we continue hiking uphill after taking our break, and then camp somehwere when it gets dark."
"Sounds simple enough."
Just then, Katara heard a small sound from the princess. She looked down at her curiously, and saw Azula shifting. The chains secured around her wrists clinked lightly as she squirmed in her sleep. Azula's eyelids clenched tightly together, and her lips made out words with no sound.
Katara watched as Azula mumbled and fidgeted. The princess was slowly coming to wakefulness, and Katara was not surprised when a pair of intense amber orbs revealed themselves.
Azula's glazed eyes stared blankly ahead, half clouded with sleep and half clouded with confusion. Katara remained silent, looking into the pools of gold. Azula blinked several times and groggily rolled over onto her side. Without warning, she was assaulted by agonizing, hacking coughs. Her shoulders shook uncontrollably as the spasms ravaged through her body.
Sokka heard her coughing and turned.
The princess struggled to control herself. When her coughing spell was over, she was involuntarily gasping for air. Azula lay there, panting for a few moments before she took in her surroundings. Blurs of green spun around her, contrasted by two blue smudges. As her vision sharpened, Azula made out the images of the two water tribe peasants.
Katara regarded her impassively. "You're lucky to be alive."
Azula waited a moment before answering. Her usual quick wit and tongue failed to function, due to the fact that her mind was processing information at a snail's pace. Making out words seemed to take such an effort, but Azula forced herself to speak. "As are you," she choked out.
Crossing his arms, Sokka scowled. "You should be thankful. I could have let you drown in that icy water, but instead, I rescued you. My sister and I have been breaking our backs for the past several hours carrying you."
A heavy sense of disgrace fell upon Azula. She felt sick at the thought of a couple of uncivilized peasants lending her their assistance. The worst part was that she had absolutely no use for them. Her father had ordered her to kill Zuko and the avatar, not a couple of barbarians. However, sticking with these uncultured beings will lead me to my goal, Azula reminded herself. They will bring me to the avatar and my brother.
"It warms my heart to know that you care for my well being," Azula sneered. "I never imagined I would ever require help from the likes of you." She pushed as much arrogance and smugness into her words as possible, trying to put up a superior facade. It was quite difficult, seeing as she was lying on the ground in rags with her wrists chained up.
"Well, now that you're awake, that saves us the trouble of having to carry you," Katara said with aloofness.
Azula's eyes narrowed, despite their tiredness.
"Katara..." Sokka whispered uncertainly. "Are you sure...?"
"Of course!" Katara put a hand on her hip. "If this she-devil is so proud, then she can walk on her own...with dignity!" Katara stormed up to Azula and towered above her. "We need to continue upriver now, and my brother and I are in no mood to drag your weight along with us. So you'll just have to carry it yourself."
Sokka's bit his lip. "I don't think that's such a good idea..."
Katara raised a hand, silencing him. She glared down at Azula, who had not made a move. "Well? What are you lying around for? Get up, and let's get going!"
That damned girl. Azula gritted her teeth, frustrated not only because she had driven herself into a corner, but because she had allowed the peasant to put her in this difficult, demeaning position. Azula's mind began to conjure up a list of courses of action to take. At this point, there were only three options available. One was to go against the girl's orders, and to remain on the ground. By doing so, however, Azula would be admitting that she was too weak to stand. She grimly ruled out that choice.
Another option would be to outright admit that she was unable to walk, thus putting her modesty out in the open and tossing her dignity into the trash. Azula shuddered at doing such a disgraceful thing, and crossed out that option with great pleasure.
Grimacing, Azula faced her final choice.
"Hurry up. We don't have all day," Katara snapped. She and Sokka were standing up with their supplies in hand. Azula knew that if they were to leave her here in the forest bound up, she would surely perish. Her only choice was to follow them.
Taking a deep breath, Azula rolled onto her stomach, bent her legs underneath her, and then slowly elevated herself. Her hands were chained behind her back, leaving her no means of support or balance. Her legs shook unsteadily beneath her. Her muscles had not been used in days, nor had they been fueled by food. When Azula managed to get up on her wobbly legs, her vision began to swim.
Katara watched her, frowning. Sokka was mildly worried.
"Katara, we shouldn't be doing this."
"She deserves it. She thinks she's so high and mighty because she's a princess...I'm sick of it!"
"I know she deserves it," Sokka sighed. "I hate her too. But don't you think this is overdoing it a bit?"
Katara didn't answer.
Azula battled with the agonizing pain that shot throughout her body. Her torso burned sorely, and her head felt like it had been cracked in half. Blood pounded in her ears, and her vision flickered. Azula focused on putting one foot in front of the other. Each step was excruciatingly difficult, and each step drained away what little strength she possessed.
"This could count as torture," Sokka rubbed the back of his head. "Just watching her kills me."
The princess teetered dangerously for a moment, and Sokka and Katara were sure that she was going to fall. But Azula regained her balance, and drew herself up with as much pride as possible. "What...are you looking at...?" she gasped. "We don't...have all day."
Sokka opened his mouth to speak, but Katara interrupted.
"You're right. We don't have all day. Let's go, Sokka." Katara snatched up her brother's hand and led him up upriver. Azula trailed dizzily behind.
The two water tribe members walked slowly on purpose, just to make sure that Azula could catch up. Katara cast glances back, eyeing daggers at the princess.
Azula staggered through the forest, fighting against unconsciousness. She kept her eyes on the two people clad in blue, following their footsteps. She felt something drip from her face, and realized that she was completely soaked with sweat. Her breaths came out ragged and shallow. It hurt to breathe, it hurt to stand, and it hurt to think. But Azula had her pride to keep in mind. She was not going to give the peasants the satisfaction...she was not...
Azula fell heavily onto her knees. She mentally screamed at herself to stand up, but her body no longer obeyed her.
Hearing her collapse, Katara and Sokka stopped in their tracks. Sokka slowly trudged back to the princess. "Do you need help now?"
"N-not from you."
Disregarding the answer, Sokka bent down and gripped Azula's arm, pulling her up. Even with Sokka's support, Azula found that she still could not stand on her own. Her legs were feeble, spent.
"If you can't walk, we'll have to carry you," Sokka said simply. "Does it pain you that much to have a couple of peasants help you?"
Azula was fading away. Her limbs shook with effort, and the pain suffocated her. She stared into the eyes of the water tribe boy, unable to conjure up the strength to reply to him.
Sokka knew what was going to happen long before it did. Azula's golden eyes became dull and unfocused. Her arms, legs, and shoulders began to relax, and her head gently rolled back. Sokka caught the princess as she sagged in his arms.
"Does your pride really mean that much to you?" Sokka muttered. "Why would you put yourself through so much for such a thing?"
Azula's soft groan was his only answer.
Sokka stared at the princess who was limp in his arms. Then he turned to Katara. "I believe it's your turn to carry her next."
Katara grumbled, but said nothing.
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Fear not, dear readers...things will get better for poor Azula ^.^ Review, please!