Katara
Aang's talk with the lady doesn't go as planned. And in the end we end up giving away our tickets to lead the couple through the Serpent's Pass so we know they get there safely. Suki joins us as we leave.
As we walk through the treacherous pass, I try not to think of the stubborn and Infuriating Fire Prince, but I can't get him off my mind. I told everyone it was a long story I'd tell them later, but later really means never. They can't know I spent weeks traveling with Zuko, especially since I spent most of it sleeping in his arms.
He made it clear when he left, he's never going to give up. In fact, he might show up at any time trying to capture Aang, and I need to be ready to fight him. On the plus side of things, I learned a lot of ways to beat him. On the down side, He learned my tricks and how to beat them too. I can only hope he won't find us again, but with how he tracked us all over the world I find that doubtful.
Why did he have to make that last night together so amazing if he was just going to leave while I slept? I had never felt that way in my life. Something happened between us. Something… more. I don't know what, exactly, but it's like we crossed another barrier.
I shouldn't be surprised he left. He told me he would never switch sides, and he stuck to that. But I am, and it hurt. Now I just have to figure out how to make myself forget.
"Hey, can we talk a Sec?" Suki asks, breaking me out of my thoughts. I look over at her and force a smile.
"Sure. What's up?"
"When you guys were on Kyoshi Island, Sokka and I had a connection." Even through her makeup I can see her blushing. "We...we slept together the night before you left. But he's acting really weird around me now. What changed?" She asks. I smile sadly at her. I knew about her and Sokka when we were on Kyoshie, although Sokka didn't mean for me to find out. I caught him sneaking out of our apartment and followed him down the street and into Suki's house. At the time, I was scandalized. But In the end, we all went through too much for me to make a big deal about it. Sokka doesn't even know I know.
"I know. I'm really sorry, Suki. Sokka did like you, but we never thought we'd see you again. He fell in love with the Northern Water Tribe's princess, Yue. He's engaged to her now."
"Oh. Well that's disappointing." She says and looks down.
"I'm sorry, Suki." I say and rub her arm.
"It's okay. I mean, I like him a lot, but it probably wouldn't have worked out long term anyways. He's going to be the next chief of your tribe, and I could never long term leave my island."
"Right. I'm still super glad to have you traveling with us, though. If I'm being honest, you're the first friend my own age I've had in a long time. Our particular tribe is so small, I'm the only girl over 10 and under 30."
"I'm sorry." She tells me. "I don't know what I would do without the other Kyoshi Warriors. They're practically my sisters."
"That must be nice."
"It is. And I'm still glad to be traveling with your group, even just for a little bit. Sokka's not the only reason I wanted to come. It's good to see you and Aang again, too."
"Thanks, Suki." I say. She nods and runs up ahead to check on Aang, who hasn't said a word since we set off.
…
The Serpent's Pass isn't a walk in the park. We face dangerous cliffs, ocean passes, and wild animals at every turn. Even a short fight with a Fire Nation ship. And of course, in the middle of it all, Ying goes into Labor.
I help with the delivery, and a beautiful little girl is born. She names her Hope, and it's able to give some to Aang. I'm glad. He's been so withdrawn since we lost Appa.
I on the other hand have to go off by myself for a bit. If I had a copper piece for every time I delivered a baby on this trip, I'd have two copper pieces. Which isn't a lot but it's weird it happened twice. How was it only a week or so ago that I delivered Shin Lee? Who'd have thought I'd deliver two babies from strangers on this journey? Who thought I'd miss Zuko so much after he left.
When I get back to the group, Suki comes over and gives me a goodbye hug, asking me to stay in touch by falcon when I can.
When we finally get through the pass, we assume it'll be smooth sailing to Ba Sing Se and the Earth King. Of course that was too much to hope for, and end up having to face Azula and her friends again as we break their drill trying to get into the walls.
When we finally get inside the city, we're given the VIP treatment from the get-go, since we're with Aang. They even set us up in a nice apartment in the upper ring of the city while we wait for our day with the King. The problem is that the wait will be almost a month, regardless of how urgent we tell our guide it is. What's more, everyone here acts so strange. And while they say they'll help us with our search for Appa, no one seems particularly inclined to. So we just wait, and we hope we'll get a lead.
It's not a bad time. The city is so peaceful, and it's nice that after so long of sleeping on the ground, or in the cold, and on the run we're finally safe, warm, and in actual beds.
Sokka spends his days sometimes exploring the city, and sometimes writing letters to Yue to be delivered by falcon. It's tough for the birds to get to the North Pole, though, so who knows if she'll get them. It's sweet that he tries, though.
Aang spends every spare second he has looking for Appa, or anyone who might know something. We all try to help him at first, but after the first week, we one by one give up hope that he's in the city. Aang won't give up, though. Although one day he does take a slight break and help a zookeeper expand his zoo just outside the gates.
I enjoy the libraries and tea shops in the upper ring. One day, I'm even able to get Toph to join me for a spa day, which I know is a little out of her comfort zone, but she seemed to have a good time with it anyways. Although I think we both enjoyed throwing the mean girls making fun of our makeup in the river most out of everything.
Days are easy and fun, although it's a little stressful having to sit on such important information while we wait. Nights, though, Nights are the hardest. I have my own room, which is nice, but at the same time I'm not used to sleeping alone. Back home, we all slept in the main room of our house. On the road, our group sleeps around the campfire together. And with Zuko, well, I slept nestled in his chest, enjoying his body heat, and somehow knowing he'd keep me safe.
And when I go to sleep now, alone, I can't help but wonder where he is, and how he's doing. He made it clear in his letter he wasn't joining Iroh in Ba Sing Se anymore, he was going to hunt Aang. But Aang's here, so could he be too? But he wouldn't know Aang was in the city unless he was also in the city. Unlike other places, Ba Sing Se is closed to the outside world, so news won't travel as fast.
I'm torn between missing the banished prince I should feel nothing but hate for, and also hoping we never run into him again.
I just need this war to end. We meet with the Earth King, plan the invasion, kill the Fire Lord, win the war, and I go home to help those already trying to rebuild my home. Maybe meet that Powerful bender Auntie Wu told me about. He's probably a waterbender from the North that came to help with the reconstruction of the South. Have a family and a life, and leave this horrible war and the Fire Prince helping to wage it as a memory of the past.
Memories I hope I can forget.