Chapter 1: Running Away
Katara didn't know what had come over her that night especially after all of her tribe's teachings. They had just defeated Fire Lord Ozai and Aang had asked her to be with him making it so that she had to finally tell him that she only loved him as a brother. Having turned sixteen during the time they had travelled the world in her tribe she was old enough to drink, and even if she wasn't her father had given her permission to celebrate their victory. Now though as she woke with her head pounding and beside someone she had never thought she'd be with that way she had wished her father had stopped her.
Her tribe had always warned young girls not to give themselves up before marriage, and to her tribe it was a disgrace if a girl lost her virginity before marriage. The only time it wasn't a disgrace was when the girl had had no choice in the matter. However she knew even when drunk that he wouldn't have taken her innocence if she hadn't allowed it.
Getting up quickly glancing at the man she had only begun to see as a friend she knew she couldn't stay here, and neither could she go home. Her father would be trying to find a suitable husband for her, but the only man she would be able to marry without being seen as a disgrace was the one lying in his bed. At the same time though she knew exactly what she had to do, although there was blood on the bed proving what had happened and his honor would demand he married the girl whose innocence he took she doubted that he would remember the previous night. All she would have to do is act like everything was fine, and then leave after finding out some sort of excuse that would justify her not staying here and not going home. It would take all her skill to make sure neither Toph nor Aang figured out something was wrong.
Dressing quickly she was glad he was such a sound sleeper otherwise everything would be pointless because he would catch her leaving his room. They had become friends and she knew she couldn't lie to him outright if he caught her. If she stayed and he had to ask her father for her hand due to honor she knew it might break his relationship with Aang, and the world couldn't deal with that sort of trouble right now. To make their dreams of a war free world true they needed to keep all the nations in harmony, and that meant they all needed to be on good terms with the Avatar.
Leaving his room with one last glance at him she was glad that she had awoken so early because there were no servants to see her leaving his room, and therefore no one but him would be able to figure out what had happened. Luckily for her that meant that unless if he was used to being drunk he wouldn't recall anything that had happened. She didn't even recall anything after drinking, but the evidence spoke for itself, and luckily she had seen the blood confirming that he had been the only one she had been with that way. Katara just couldn't handle it if she had ended up having lost her innocence and been with two different men in the same night.
It was probably good for her that her room was so close to his because it made it less likely for her to be caught during her walk of shame. What would Gran Gran think of her when she learned that her only granddaughter had brought shame on their family? After all the water tribe might blame her family for being too lenient with her. Trying to banish those thoughts from her head she headed towards the bath in her room and quickly washed away all the evidence of the previous night. The warm water soothing the ache she felt, although it wasn't as bad as she had heard from some woman when visiting the Northern Water Tribe. They had thought she needed to be told of such things to prepare her because of the fact that with no men in her tribe they felt no one had deemed it worth it to tell her such information at her age.
After the water went cold she quickly bended the water off of her not wanting any moisture left on her well she prepared for the day. Her head was still pounding from her hangover, but she wanted to make sure no one would expect her to be more then hung over. At the same time though it was the perfect excuse for her to not be too social since it was her first. Dressing quickly and then focusing on her hair she was glad that no one expected her to be in formal clothing because with the way her head pounded she doubted that she could do it.
A knock sounded on her door almost making her jump in freight did he wake up and remember? "Lady Katara," a voice rang through making her sigh in relief. "It is time for breakfast."
"I'll be right out," she called wincing at the pain the loud voices caused her head. If it wouldn't have seemed rude and strange for her she would have just skipped breakfast altogether. With everything that happened and the pain in her head she doubted that she would be able to eat anything without throwing it right back up. Then again as long as she was able to drink some tea it wouldn't seem weird to the others her not being able to eat because they all knew this was the first time she had ever drank. Having seen it as something to be avoided when they were constantly on the run after all you can't escape someone if you don't have a clear head.
Looking into the mirror one more time to make sure she hadn't somehow missed a love bite or something she took a deep breath. She was Katara best friend of the Avatar, daughter of the Chief of the Southern Water Tribe, and a Master Water Bender she could do this. After all she knew how much was put on her being able to hide what had happened. Aang might have accepted that she had no feelings for him, but he would see it as betrayal thinking she hadn't told him the whole truth if she admitted to what had happened last night. He'd think she rejected him for someone else when she wasn't even sure of how she felt about him. At the same time he would think that they had gone behind his back. If they had truly done this out of love though and had told him how they felt he'd forgive them, but he wouldn't forgive what he would see as lies.
Blinking back the tears that caused she walked towards the door opening it and sighing when the young woman who called her bowed. She would never get used to someone bowing to her. She might basically be the Princess of her Tribe, but unlike their sister Tribe they hadn't really shown that they were nobility. After all a tribe with only women and children couldn't really be bothered to treat those who had to work as hard as them differently.
"I will lead you to where everyone is eating," the woman said with another bow. The classic clothes of the Fire Nation servants tugged at Katara's heart because she knew with Ozai being Fire Lord the servants probably feared those with power. Hopefully after only a few months with their new Fire Lord they would realize that they no longer had something to fear, and hopefully Azula would be able to heal. Katara just couldn't find herself able to blame the young woman for her actions since her father had been the one to turn her into the monster she was. If they were lucky love and affection from her brother and uncle would be able to help her heal.
As she walked to where everyone else was she felt like a noose was tightening around her neck. Even if they didn't know it from today onwards their entire relationship would change because she would always be hiding this from them. Never again would they be able to have that carefree nature about them because her lies would be ruining it.
"The Lady Katara," a man announced opening the doors to the dining room. Immediately her family and friends eyes were on her as they all smiled and waved. Sokka was stuffing his face, and Katara wondered how he could eat so much after having drunk as much as he had the night before.
Smiling at them although it didn't quite reach her eyes she greeted them, "Good morning everyone," it was obvious that her heart wasn't in it though when she got concerned looks from them as she sat down. Maybe the fates were smiling at her because she had a seat as far away from him as possible. The look on his face told her he knew what had happened the night before, but because he hadn't looked up immediately when she came in she knew he didn't remember who he had been with.
Smirking at her behind his food Sokka turned towards her, "feeling a little sick today little sister?" he asked in a sing song voice as she drank her tea but avoided the food.
Glaring at him she just turned away mad that he could have such a chipper attitude after last night. Thankfully though everyone seemed to believe that was all that was wrong as her dad and Iroh laughed at her. She knew they didn't mean anything harsh about her, but a small part of her felt upset that they were laughing at her. The only reason she held off snapping at them was because they didn't know what was truly wrong with her, and she didn't want them to look deeper into it. Besides if they knew they wouldn't laugh at her they would probably be very disappointed in her.
"Are you going to be ready to leave in a few days?" he dad asked once he stopped laughing his words making everyone turn silent and solemn. Most likely the rest of the gang had never thought about what would happen once they won the war, and they probably hadn't realized that they would all be going their separate ways.
Toph had been talking about how she needed to make her parents realize her worth, and had been planning on starting a school for metal bending. She felt like this was something that could help make building things faster, and at the same time would be helpful to catch criminals. First though she would need funding to do it and her parents were the best choice for it. Even though she worried about them trying to cage her again she felt she could get through to them by showing them her rare skills.
Now that their dad had been found and the prisoners of war were going to be released the Southern Water Tribe was going to need them to rebuild. Her dad as their Chief and Sokka as the next Chief, but they didn't really need her for that. Although they both expected her to help them with the rebuilding of the Tribe there was nothing really for her to do. Suki had to go back to Kyoshi Island and train a new leader for the warriors if she wanted to be able to marry Sokka.
Aang would have to stay here in the Fire Nation so that he could make relations with the other nations easier and help prevent uprisings. Aang and Zuko would have to work together to repair the damage done to the Fire Nations beliefs due to the past Fire Lords. They had all talked about these things in passing for what would happen once the war was over, but they hadn't really comprehended that they would be apart.
"Actually dad," she said nervously, "I'm not going back with you."
The minute the words were out of her mouth her father and brother turned to her with sad eyes like they couldn't believe it. She doubted either of them had thought that after having been finally reunited once again that she would willingly want to leave them. However even if last night hadn't happened Katara wouldn't have gone home with them now that the war is over she had to figure out what she wanted to do with her life. All she knew for the moment though was that she didn't want to return to the Water Tribe or stay in the Fire Nation.
"Katara why?" Sokka asked his voice sounding like he was trying to hold back tears. It was surprising because she had rarely ever thought she would hear her brother on the verge of tears, and certainly not because she wasn't going home. All eyes were on her and the look Toph was giving her told her that she had to be careful with her words otherwise Toph might notice she wasn't telling the whole truth.
Smiling softly at her brother she answered him trying to hide her own pain. "You all know exactly what you want to or need to do with your lives. I don't I just need to be able to find my own path, and I was planning on leaving tonight," those last words made everyone quiet, but no one denied that it was what was best for her.
Hours later they all shared tearful goodbyes as Katara left having been given a Komodo Rhino by Iroh to make her travelling easier. It would be the last time anyone would see Katara for years, although she made sure to write everyone knowing if she didn't that they would have hunted her down. They all respected her way to much to interfere with her trying to find her path, and they told her they missed her and that they would patiently await her return home.
Authors Note: I do not own Avatar the Last Airbender otherwise Katara and Zuko would be together. This plot is one I came up with on my own though and I do own my own characters. I hope you enjoy my fanfiction and would appreciate reviews on what you think.