Hey everyone! Thank you for waiting, but I'm finally done with school and my wisdom teeth are out so here is Chapter 26!
I wanted to address something. I just write for fun. I write Fanfiction because it's a good creative outlet for me, and I enjoy putting fruition the thoughts and ideas I have bouncing around in my brain. I post my fanfic here because it's nice to have an audience for my work, and for the most part, everyone here is supportive and constructive.
That being said, while I do invest a lot of time in this activity and I care about what I'm writing, I try not to take myself too seriously. So, if things are not 100% accurate according to cannon, you'll have to forgive me and let it slide. I don't use a beta, and (confession) most of the time I don't proofread my work, although for this chapter I revised a lot of stuff because I wanted to get it exactly right. I read all of the comments, and I do take into consideration what the readers say and what they are thinking of the story (and I'm really grateful for those comments!) but ultimately, this is my story to write. I'm not making anyone read it.
So now that's off my chest. For the course of the many months I have been writing this story, I've had the fortune of having a very supportive audience, so thank you for that. Anyway, enough talk, please enjoy Chapter 26.
Kateri raised her head, looking across at Etka. "They're here for her. The Fire Nation army is coming for Anahi."
"What happened?" Naheel came hurrying over, his eyes widening in shock when he saw his sister lying on the ground. "Anahi!"
"She's still alive," Etka proclaimed, removing his finger from her neck. "She's just hit her head hard from the fall."
"We need to leave right away," Kateri declared, examining Anahi's chest and stomach for any bits of splintered wood. Smoke was getting in her eyes and nose, and she coughed, agitated.
"We?" Naheel repeated, in a bit of surprise.
"We can't stay here," Kateri returned, realizing the extent of what she had just said. Had she just admitted that she wanted to stay with him? Did she now just realize this herself? "We're under attack. Naheel, Etka, you cover me, I'm going to carry Anahi."
"Let me," Etka volunteered, but Kateri shook her head.
"I need you and Naheel to be able to defend in case we run into trouble," She said, slowly removing her long head scarf and tearing it in half. Naheel's eyes widened in surprise. "And Naheel, can you bend some water into this? We all need to be able to breathe."
Naheel drew up water from the pond and doused the halves of Kateri's headscarf with it, and in turn, wet the top halves of his and Etka's robes, which they pulled over their mouthes and noses. Kateri tied the wet scarf over Anahi's face before she did her own and carefully lifted Anahi over her shoulders, one arm wrapped under Anahi's leg and holding onto her opposite hand, keeping her in place. Kateri had one free hand to protect themselves with.
There was another blast, one so strong that shook Kateri's bones. She knew that she was obligated to defend the Temple and protect the inhabitants, but she was doing that, wasn't she?
"Come on," She ordered. "We have to get down to the harbor and hijack a boat. I know a couple of hidden ways out of the Temple, but we have to hurry." They would have to sneak out the back, through the Sister's chambers. No man had ever been inside the sacred place, but now was not the time.
Kateri began to jog with Anahi on her shoulders, Etka with the staff in hand and Naheel with pools of water around his fists. Her heart was racing, and the smoke from the burning fire stung her eyes. Her home was burning around her, her Sisters fighting to protect the sick and the hurt. Where were Ruae? Kula?
She didn't have time to think about them right now. Anahi was hurt, and possibly dying, and they all would be put to death if they were caught. Kateri led them deeper into the Temple, and tried to block out the sounds of the screaming all around her. They ran past Sister's and refugees alike, all trying to escape. The group stumbled into the main courtyard, and what Kateri saw made her stop dead in her tracks.
Avatar Kosumi was burning. Two Fire Nation soldiers were standing before her, torching the wooden statue with jets of flame. Rage stirred within Kateri, and she nearly dropped Anahi.
"No!" She cried with a strained shout, tears forming in her eyes. Instantly, Naheel drew up a massive wave of water and sent it cascading towards the statue, extinguishing the flames with a loud hiss and soaking the soldiers.
"That's her!" One of the soldiers cried, significantly pissed off, pointing to Anahi on Kateri's shoulders. "That's the girl!"
"Not over my dead body," Etka snarled, stepping forward, his eyes dark, his grip on his staff strong and powerful.
"Song Etka," The other soldier sneered, a wicked smile twisting over his face. He swept into a frivolous bow, mocking him. "My salutations, Captain."
"How's your back?" The other taunted. "Do you still cry about it?"
Etka lifted his staff in the air, spinning it over his head and beginning to form fire around the staff's body. He lunged forward with a loud cry, launching a powerful burst of fire towards the soldier, throwing him down onto his knees. "You're wrong there," He said, his voice terse and full of quiet rage. "I never showed my pain. I never begged for mercy. You, however, will be when I'm done with you."
The other soldier rushed at Etka to attack, and Etka stepped out to the side and struck him hard in the ribs with the staff and in a split second, spun the staff around and knocked him across the head with a sickening, bone-splitting crack. Kateri felt her stomach turn over. The soldier dropped immediately and did not get up.
"Etka," Kateri said forcibly. "We don't have time. She doesn't have time."
"More will come," Etka said, his shoulders rippling in anger. The soldier lying before him looked terrified.
Naheel swept a gust of water forwards and froze it against the wall, trapping the soldier with it. "Let's go!" He dragged Etka away from the wall, and Kateri followed, giving the charred, ruined statue of Kosumi one final look.
Was she doing the right thing by helping them? A thought, a brief and horrible thought passed through her mind, that surrendering Anahi to the Fire Nation would stop this attack, would save all of the lives here. But was it so horrible? One life for hundreds.
Kateri looked at the faces of Naheel and Etka beside her, how ready they were to lay down their lives for the safety of the group. She remembered how she herself had insisted on going back to get Anahi after Naheel and Etka were safe in the Temple. She remembered how Anahi had used the last of her strength to protect her, and Kateri knew in her heart that she would do the same for her.
"This way," She led them through the deserted chambers of the Sisters, their steps echoing through the halls. Kateri stopped by a simple door at the end of the chambers and turned to look at Naheel and Etka. "This is the way out."
Naheel reached for his sister. "Thank you for all that you have done for us," He said earnestly, his voice low. "We all owe our lives to you."
Gratefully, Kateri put Anahi down, and Naheel picked her up, carrying her over his shoulders as she had. Kateri was frozen. This was it, this was the end, and a choice had to be made. She could join her Sisters in defending the Temple, or she could protect Anahi, Etka, and Naheel. Protect the masses, or protect the few people she had ever loved. She closed her eyes.
"I'm not leaving you here," Kateri said, straightening up. "I'm going with you."
Naheel's face changed as he struggled to hold back his surprise and relief. "Really?" He asked, and Kateri nodded, exhaling shakily.
"Hopefully there shouldn't be as many soldiers outside this door," Kateri instructed. "But be prepared to defend yourself. I'll lead you down to the harbor, and we have to steal one of the smaller Fire Nation ships in order to travel as quickly as possible out of here."
"I know my way around any of the warships," Etka said, bracing his arm against the door. "The three of us can likely overcome a smaller vessel if we act quickly."
"That sounds like a plan," Kateri replied. "Naheel, Etka and I will flank you on either side, but follow us towards the harbor, alright."
"Alright. Ready?" Naheel asked, his muscles rigid and showing through his tunic. Kateri wanted to hold him again, to forget about what lay beyond the door.
The Temple shook again with another blast, and Kateri knew that they didn't have much more time. "Let's go."
Etka shoved the door open, and they burst out. Kateri's gaze swept around them, and spotted a cluster of soldiers heading their way. "Run!" She cried. "Keep running and don't stop!"
Lightning blossomed at her fingertips and Kateri skidded to a halt, facing the pack of soldiers head on. She set herself into a stance, circling her arms around her head and met them in the middle, shooting out a powerful beam of blue lightning that struck the ground before the soldiers and ricocheted upwards, knocking several of them back.
Etka was moving beside her, having just fended off a pair or soldiers opposite Naheel. He was limping slightly, relying heavily on his staff to walk. Kateri knew he couldn't go on for much longer without hurting himself.
Kateri grabbed Etka by the arm, helping him forwards. He hobbled down the steps towards the docks, but Kateri stopped and stayed at the top of the stairs. "Go help Naheel find a ship!" She cried, seeing the approaching soldiers closing in. Her heart was beating in her throat. "I'll fend them off!"
Etka turned around, looking up at her in shock. "Kateri, no..." He breathed, but she waved her arm impatiently for him to go.
"I'll be right behind you!" She cried, shooting a jet of lightning at the closest soldier. "Go, Etka!"
Etka gave her a reluctant, fleeting look, and then began down the steps again. Kateri stepped forwards, away from the docks, and began to hold back the soldiers, shooting off bolts of lightning as quickly as she could. Her heart was racing in her chest, her eyes darting around at the attacks from all sides. She couldn't hold them all off. Not on her own.
A soldier met her on her left, and Kateri grabbed him by the arm and flipped him over her shoulder, then shot a bolt of lightning at the man behind him, throwing him back. She turned and saw a pair making their way towards the stairs and blasted them off, sending them flying down the stairs and into the deck with a sickening thud.
There were too many. A thought came to Kateri, and as she looked around, she realized that this was her last resort. She raised her arms above her head, breathing in deeply. She could feel the air currents around her crackle with static, spiraling higher and higher into the sky. Then suddenly, with a loud shout, Kateri clapped her hands together and a massive strike of lightning shot up into the sky.
"Enough!" She cried, turning towards the wooden steps. Power coursed through her veins, the lightning itself giving her her strength. No one was going to touch Anahi and Etka. No one was going to touch Naheel.
Kateri slid her right hand up the palm of her left and sent the bolt flying into the side of the wall of the Temple. The red plaster and wood exploded, raining down on the soldiers who were advancing towards her. She said a silent prayer that that side of the Temple was vacant, and jumped in surprise when the entire façade gave way, a sheet of fire and wood collapsing down on the soldiers below.
Kateri began to race down the steps, struggling to maintain her footing and fend off blows from the soldiers behind her. Her feet landed on the deck and Kateri spun around and with all of her strength, slid one hand up the palm of the opposite and the bolt of lightning shot forward, exploding on the wooden steps. The blast sent splinters of wood hurtling through the air, cutting into Kateri's skin, and soldiers screaming, falling as the stairs collapsed beneath them.
"Kateri!" She heard her name and was pulled back into reality. Naheel was standing on the stern, his eyes frantic and terrified. "Come on! Come on!"
She burst into a run, her feet pounding against the wooden planks. She didn't look back, she didn't turn back to fight those who had perhaps been able to pursue her still. The acrid taste of smoke burned her nose and mouth, and her eyes were watering so badly it almost looked as if she were crying as she ran. Naheel was crying out her name, urging her forwards. He extended his hand and with a cry, Kateri leapt up and seized it, hanging off the side of the boat.
"Go Etka!" Naheel screamed behind him, seizing Kateri's forearm and struggling to pull her over the side of the ship. There was a deep rumble from below deck, and the ship began to pull out of the harbor. Naheel groaned and with a final reach, pulled Kateri upwards and sent them both sprawling on the deck.
Kateri lay down on the cold steel of the ship's deck, completely exhausted. She looked a wreck, her hair loose and snarly and singed from fire, thin trickles of blood running down her face from the scratches and scrapes she had sustained. Her breathing was ragged and labored, and her tongue still tasted smoke.
She didn't want to raise her head, she didn't want to look at the destruction and carnage that lay behind her. She never wanted to fight again, only lay down, close her eyes, and sleep for a thousand years. The Temple was destroyed, her Sisters dead or dying. She had lost everything.
"Kateri," Naheel said softly, kneeling at her side. She didn't resist, didn't protest when he lifted her up and drew her into his arms. Silent, expressionless tears rolled down her cheeks, and she couldn't bear to look at the destruction behind her, as the only home she had ever known burnt to ashes. "It's over now," Naheel kept saying, gently stroking her hair. Her blood was running onto his fingers, but he didn't seem to care or even notice. "It's over now."
When the cruiser was safely out at sea, Etka left his position at the helm and met with Naheel and Kateri, who were standing at the stern in each other's arms, looking back at where the Fire Nation had slipped away from their sight. Etka had just been to see Anahi, who was below deck in one of the officer's quarters. She was still unconscious, but stable, and Etka was relieved. Naheel turned to meet Etka when he heard his footsteps, but didn't let go of Kateri.
"How's my sister?" He asked.
"The same," Etka replied, joining them and placing his hands upon the railing, staring out at the open water. "She'll wake up soon, though."
"We can't tell Anahi what happened to the Temple," Kateri spoke up suddenly, her voice hollow and flat. Etka regarded her in slight surprise. "If we tell her, she'll immediately demand to go back and want turn herself in."
"What should we tell her then?" Etka asked. "There's no way that she'll believe that the fireball that knocked her out was just an accident."
"We'll fudge the truth then," Naheel replied. "Tell her that the Temple was defended by the Sisters, who drove the army back. We'll say that the Sisters helped us escape."
"She'll believe that," Etka agreed, looking over at Kateri. "And she'll understand the sacrifice that you made to be with us. None of us will ever forget that."
Kateri gave a sad, withering smile, not meeting anyone's eyes. "It's over now," She said, repeating what Naheel had said countless times to comfort her. "I'll take first watch. One of you should sit with Anahi. She'll need someone when she wakes up."