It was a wonderful day for Katara. Her stomach was full of the serpent sea turtle eggs her mom had cooked for breakfast. The air was crisp and blew around the squat snow houses she called home. The sun was bright and shining in the sky like a golden ball of butter. The turtle seals were honking far off in the distance making a beautiful melody that filled the air. The seven year old took a deep breath spread her arms out wide and let her breath back out. The cold went from outside to inside her to back outside again. She felt as if she was embracing the entire world. The entirety of her home, all of the love in the village reflecting right back to her.
"You are so weird." Sokka said as he shoved a snowball against his little sister's head. Katara took a stumble to the side and frowned. Putting her fist on her hips in a very grown up mocking stance. It would have been more intimidating if she wasn't wearing such oversized mittens with small tassels on the end so that they wouldn't get lost or mixed up.
"I am not! Gran Gran said that appreciating the world gets you more in tune with the spirits! And to be more in tune with the spirits brings you a closer appreciation of the world and your place in it!" She grinned and crossed her arms over her chest smug. "So there!"
"Bleh. Spirits. No one believes in that garbage." The nine year old boy responded. "They're probably not even real."
"They are too real!" Katara said stamping her boot. A woman walked between the two squabbling children and raised an eyebrow. Katara and Sokka quickly walked out from between the houses and to more open ground. That way they wouldn't be in the way.
This was the water tribe way. With such close quarters and intimate settings, many villagers could give small commands to children. Such as to move along, to help with a fishing net, or to watch a cook pot fire. It took a village to raise a child. And in turn the child grew to love and trust the other members of their village. It helped keep the village close, they were the equivalent of one giant happy family.
Katara and Sokka moved into the center of the village. Both eyeing the other with matching childish smirks. Sokka dove to his right in a feint before reaching low and flinging snow at his sister. Katara matched his move and began to fling snowballs right back. Soon the two were running and flinging snow. Making snow balls, picking up handfuls. Sometimes just grabbing a chunk of ice.
Katara paused and bit her lip, holding her hands out, trying to do the bending she had done last week. A bucket of water and slush wiggled near Sokka and then tipped over. It was far from the exploding typhoon that the girl had hoped for. Sokka laughed and jumped over it. Grabbing a large snowball from a snowman that was starting to droop. He flung it towards Katara who found herself under the full weight of the snow.
Sokka jumped on top of her afterwards and brushed her free. Her ears were starting to sting from the snow. Katara tossed her head back and let out an excited high pitched laugh. Her brother joining in. Their mittens were covered in snow and ice, their parkas were soaked and sweaty on the inside. Their boots were crusted in a fine layer of fun and excitement. Katara continued to laugh her brothers bright high pitched joy joining in and mixing with hers.
A thick flat flake floated down and landed on her forehead. Leaving a black smudge. Katara paused and looked upwards. More snow flakes were falling. They were black. And they were mixed with ash. Katara blinked, her wide blue eyes began to fill with terror. Sokka shot up and helped his sister to her feet. His mouth hung open in surprise. And fear.
"Find mom. I'm getting Dad. Stay safe." Sokka said giving her hand a squeeze before turning and running for the hunting kayaks. Which were on the other side of the protective snow wall. On the side where the ash was coming from. On the side where the large black metal cylinders were slowly advancing from.
"Okay." Katara said softly. The last words she spoke to her brother. The last words he spoke to her.
She turned and she began to run. A blast of heat came from one side of the snow wall that defended their village. The wall was meant to keep polar bear dogs out. It was meant to keep wandering children in. It had over the past few years been made into a protective barrier from raiders. And it was being breached with ease.
Katara stumbled over a broken basket that was sitting in the middle of the alleyway. The basket was on fire. A igloo she stumbled past crumbled and she shrieked. She continued to run, pushing past running legs. She stumbled forward and pushed through the dark blue wool blankets that acted as their door.
"Mom!" She shouted. Her breath caught in her throat. There was a man in their house. He was tall, he had a fire nation uniform on. Kya was kneeling at his feet, staring up with wide terrified eyes. Her gaze instantly swung to her daughter. Fear making Kya's face look young and helpless.
"Katara!" Kya said. The man in the sharp black and red uniform turned to the child with a scowl. "Katara. Listen to me. Get out of here. It's fine. Go find your father."
Kya spoke firmly. She spoke evenly. The barest hint of a tremble burning in her words.
"Listen to your mom kid." The man growled. His brown eyes held only anger, a deep resentment that he had to be here, doing this. Kya smiled lovingly at her daughter and nodded. Katara took a step back. Her hand gripping the blue blanket of her home tightly.
"Mom I'm scared." Katara's voice quavered. The man rolled his eyes with a snort.
"Whatever. Stay then. You. Answer the question." The man turned back towards Kya with a scowl. His broad back turned towards the helpless little girl standing in the doorway. Kya looked up at him, then back at her daughter. Her throat tightened, adams apple bobbing. A bead of sweat rolled down Kya's cheek. A very out of place bit of liquid with how cold it was inside of the snow home.
"I…I….I" Kya began her mind racing.
"Answer it! Where is the final water bender in the southern water tribe?!" The man stepped forward and gripped Kya by her hair pushing her head backwards forcing a yelp from the woman's mouth.
"No! Let her go!" Katara shouted striding forward. Her little mittens balled into fists. The man didn't even glance at the child. He just shook Kya's head harshly.
"Tell me or we burn this little chunk of ice off of the edge of the map!" He shouted, spittle flying from his uneven teeth. Kya took a deep breath. Her generous breasts rising and falling in her blue fur wrappings.
"There are no water benders in the southern water tribe. Your fire benders killed the last one off years ago." Kya said with a firm look back. Her heartbeat steady, her gaze true. The man glared down at her longer.
"You will find no hostages here." Kya said. Katara was quivering, hovering behind the man. Her mittens pressed to her shaking chin.
"Damn. No…No no….No…Damn it. No…" The man grumbled. His hand left Kya's hair and went to his chin. Rubbing it furiously. His eyes darting around wildly. Fear clear on his face.
"Not again. No. Not another one. I can't go back empty handed. No. Demotion at best. Execution at best. They said take a water bender. Make an example of them…I…" He stared at Kya and a leer slowly spit his ugly features.
"No. I think we found the perfect hostage right here." The man's leer turned into a near demonic grin as he reached down again and grabbed Kya roughly by the scruff of her neck. Yanking her up onto her feet. Kya stumbled in surprise. Her feet slipping on the ice covered floor.
"Mom?" Katara said. Her eyes wide and tears brimming there.
"You're still here? Get lost you brat!" The fire nation solider spat in disgust. Katara flinched back before scowling back up at the bigger man.
"Katara." Kya said warningly. She glanced down at the mans strong whip like hands. His knuckles had soot and ash and burn marks on them. His eyes were filled with a fanatical hate exclusive for soldiers and fools. Which this man was clearly both.
"Katara it's okay." Kya said soothingly.
"Out of my way you little brat." The man said pushing Kya forwards. Katara growled and rushed forwards. Her little fists pounding into the man's powerful thigh.
"No! Let my mom go! Let her GO!" Katara howled like a lemur bat from hell. Her screeching reaching a higher and higher pitch as she smacked impotently at the man's leg and side. His thick armor making it so he couldn't even felt anything. He grunted as Kya squirmed in his grip. Trying to sooth her daughter, trying to keep her safe.
The mans little patience complete burned away. He raised his closed fist and let it fly. Katara grunted as he backhanded her across the room. All of his force in the blow. The little girl took it directly in the chin.
Katara hit the snow wall her eyes unfocused. She heard a crunch and felt a sharp pain in her head, right towards the base of her neck. She saw stars, which didn't make any sense since she was indoors. Kya was shouting. Katara could hear her mom shouting. Followed by rough cracks and groans.
Katara tried to raise her head but it was just so heavy. And her mind was so fuzzy. She felt so cool on the snowy floor. She rested her overly warm cheek on the cold floor and closed her eyes. She would rest for just a little while. She was sure when she woke up everything would be just okay again.
Katara blinked. Someone was carrying her, she tried to lift her head but a sharp pain in her skull made her close her eyes again. She groaned and snuggled closer to the cold metal armor that was carrying her. She looked upwards and saw the scowling ugly man who had been in her home. He was carrying her. In his other hand he was yanking someone. Someone dressed in blue.
"Mom." Katara moaned out silently. She felt like her tongue was too big for her mouth, and her eyes were unfocused. She gazed around her in disbelief. Only little bits and pieces seemed to be getting through. This was definitely her village. But in a state that she could not recognize. Many houses were falling apart. The meticulously made and lovingly handcrafted igloos were melting. Baskets were busted in the street, entire streets were just gone. As if a great burning flame had scrouged them from the earth.
Katara saw the distant glaciers that marked the shoreline. She closed her eyes and breathed deeply. The harsh hard cold air was being overwhelmed by another smell. A deeper dirtier smell. Of grease and oil. She opened her eyes, forcing them to remain open, forcing them to remain unclouded. She watched her home slowly disappear. Smoke and fire raging over the protective wall.
She watched until the man walked up the ramp leading into the belly of the great fire nation war ship. The door closed behind them. And Katara slept again.
The rocking of the boat woke Katara up. The stink of sweat and the close hot quarters knocked into her head. She let out a little groan of pain. Her eyes were brimming with tears. And her head was filled with only pain and suffering. She felt something surge in her stomach and she barely kept her bile down.
"Katara. Oh Katara." Kya said as she stroked her daughter's head. Katara eased her eyes open and stared up into her mother's face. Kya stroked the sweat stained hair off of Katara's forehead. The cell they were in was dark, and hot, and windowless. The only light coming from a flame flickering in a lamp above the door. The red glass making the entire room seem confining. The flickering of the light made Katara squeeze her eyes in pain.
"I'm thirsty." Katara whispered up to her mother. Her mouth was dry and full of bone dust. She blinked slowly, her eyes felt dry and too large for her head.
"They didn't give us any water. I'm so sorry. Katara….why didn't you run? You should have run." Tears beaded in Kya's eyes and began to drip onto her daughter's face. Katara let out a moan and rolled over. Her head was in Kya's lap. The soft blue furs that her mother was still wrapped in made a comfortable pillow.
Katara buried her face in her mother's furs and began to sniffle. In pain. In fear. In confusion. The boat went over a large swell and the light flickered all the harder.
Two days went by. The two cuddled silently in the dark. Then the door opened, a fire nation guard stood scowling down at the two of them. He held a bucket in one hand. He tossed it onto the wall next to them. Katara flinched against her mother. Wrapping her arms tighter against the woman.
Kya reached over cautiously and gripped the bucket. She scooped a handful of water out and sipped it eagerly.
"It's for your faces. Not your stomachs. Drink it if you want. It's the only thing you are getting until….later." He smirked before turning on his heel and slamming the door closed behind him. Kya scooped some more water out and rubbed it against her face. Letting the dirty straw stained water drip down her tired face. The water stained the top of her furs.
Katara looked into the bucket. Her tongue sticking out of the corner of her mouth. It was dry and the size of a slug. Katara made a disgusted face. The water was filled with dirt particles, what looked like cooking grease, and straw and hay. They must have banged the bucket against every single wall on the way to their cell.
Katara frowned and concentrated. The water was still there, she could feel it. She could sense it. She reached her fingers out and began to wiggle her fingers carefully. She visualized the water, the water was living in there. She just needed to pull the liquid away….
"Katara!" Kya shouted and slapped her hand down. The water splashed back into the bucket. Knocking the bucket off center. The blob of water she had willed into the air splashed everywhere. Across Katara's face, chest, her mother, the wall, the floor.
Katara blinked in amazement. She stared at her mom, her eyes began to water and overflow in confusion. Kya gripped Katara firmly by the shoulders and shook her sharply.
"Listen to me! Don't do that! Don't do that ever again! They can't know! They can't find out what you can do! If they know you are…what you are…they WILL take you away! They will take you away from me and we will never see each other again! Do you hear me?" She shook her daughter sharply. Her voice just as sharp. But her eyes were terrified. Terrified not just for herself, but for her daughter. For her safety, for her life.
Katara nodded her head. Kya stared at her daughter, her lips tight. The two pulled each other together. Katara sniffled again. Kya sighed softly as she buried her nose in her daughter's hair.
"We've got to stick together. No matter what. We are going to stick together. We will survive this. I promise you. It will all be okay." Katara nodded, her face buried in her mother's ample bosom.
Hours later the door opened again. This time two fire nation soldiers stood at the door this time. Glowering at the two water tribe members. Kya stood up slowly. She gripped Katara's hand firmly and pushed her daughter slightly behind her. Blocking as much of her daughter as she possibly could. Trying to find a way to give her daughter even just a moment of safety.
"Okay. Come on. You still need to get there. Start walking." The older foul faced man said. He stepped aside. Kya slowly began walking. Katara keeping up with her. The two walked slowly into the corridor. The heat hit the two of them like a brick. Katara squeaked a little. She was still in pain from the bump to her head from a few days ago.
The air was almost shimmering with warmth. Katara felt sweat bead out on her forehead. She had never experienced heat like this before. She had been warm. And she had been cozy. But she had never been this over heated. Not even during the summer months.
They walked down many corridors and through hallways on top of hallways. They finally reached a staircase that lead to the upper decks. Kya and Katara emerged blinking in the sunlight.
Katara let out a surprised gasp. The world around her….it was so…so…so green. So blue. So RED. Everything was different from the world that she had come from. The warship that they were in was dwarfed compared to the many others surrounding them. The cove that they were seated in was surrounded on all sides by high mountains. The mountains were black with fertile earth, and sprung across the earth was countless plants, trees, brush, hedges, blooming flowers. The thick hot stench of flowers in bloom buffeted Katara's face.
"Come on move it. Down the gangplank." A man said giving Kya a kick in the rear and making her stumble forwards. Kya walked rapidly. Dragging the young girl with her. Katara with a young girls curiosity kept on pausing to stare at the massive city that lay before her. Some of the houses were the size of villages! The streets as wide as ice flows! The sound of movement and the shout of people were a din that threatened to deafen her!
Katara clapped herself firmly against Kya's side. Her lips trembled, still dry, still dehydrated. She wormed her mittens against her mother's belt. Kya patted her daughter comfortingly on the top of her head as they continued to walk down the plank and into the strange city before them.
"Come on. Move it. We need to get the two of you ready." A voice snapped behind them. A boot connected firmly with Kya's rear pushing her forwards. She stumbled and righted herself. She glared over her shoulder. Shooting one quick look was all she could afford. She knew that was the only time that they would ever permit her to do it again.
"Ready?" Katara whispered out. At the base of the gang plank was a large carriage, being pulled by two fire nation ostrich horses. The great big birds shook their heads. The carriage had no windows and only one very thick door in the side.
"Where are you taking us?" Kya asked the nearest fire nation guard. There were many of them moving around the marketplace. The pier was one massive seething sea of people, hawking wares, unloading massive cargo, pushing beasts of burden around. A few carriages and litters moved through the street.
"There. That is your new home." The fire nation solider said with a grin as he pointed upwards towards the highest tower in the city. In the exact center of the massive city too. Katara gulped as she gazed into the interior of the wooden carriage. There were no seats. Just thick wooden planks.
"Stay close to me darling." Kya said as she ducked under the low doorway and pulled herself into the carriage. Katara crawled up after her mother. The door closed and locked, the metal clinking against the door. The two found a wall to lean against. Katara crawled into her mothers lap and curled into a small ball. The carriage began clicking over the cobblestones. And pulled the two into the untold world that was going to open up before them.