Chapter 14
“Look at him,” said Sokka. “Look at his face, he is turning summer away. When will you drop this?”
Katara sighed. She fell back on the grass and closed her eyes, letting the sun caress her face. The last question kept circling her mind. She wasn’t even sure how it had gotten so bad or how she had taken it so far. Just last night she wanted to blast everything into oblivion. She was becoming irritated by people smiling. Yet nothing of that anger she felt that morning. The sun shone brighter and birds chirped sweeter. She felt so happy and calm, she was ready to twirl and giggle. How had she been feeling as if the sky was about to fall on her head? Was the sun really brighter? Was that all that she needed to feel calm?
“I mean he isn’t even here, why bring it up?” continued Sokka.
She didn’t need the reminder. Especially now that she was wrapped in a happy bubble. Thinking about it had previously made something inside her boil to the blowing-its-lid-off levels. Katara wasn’t sure why she was angry. She just knew she was angry and it was directed at him. She had tortured herself wondering if he really meant one last favor. What was with the whole ‘undying servitude’ thing then? Did he just tell her what she wanted to hear so he could escape? That couldn’t be could it? She wasn’t such a bad judge of character. He had been genuine, hadn’t he? Would she be surprised if he wasn’t though? Yesterday, the thoughts would have sent her in a fit of rage. Today, she had no doubt in her ability to correctly judge people.
“We can drop it,” she told him.
“Huh?! What about my speech? I have a whole speech prepared. I was thinking about it all night.”
Katara snorted. “I’m sure it was an owl snoring all night that kept me up.”
She was really up almost all night but it wasn’t because of the snoring. It was anticipation. She wasn’t really sure what she was anticipating but it was like she couldn’t wait for the first light to break the darkness. She convinced herself it was because of the plans they had that evening, but she became less certain as the night passed.
“Sheesh, what’s with the grin? Did a happy bug bite you?”
She reached up and touched her face. Yep. There was a smile. She schooled her features. Besides a happy bug biting her, she wasn’t sure what it could be. It was like she was having a long period and it abruptly ended with the promise of never coming back. Where was the anger that kept driving the people around her away? Why did she feel like all hadn’t been right in the world but now it was? What could have changed? Everywhere her eyes moved, she only saw despair.
It had been a few long days they were camping outside. But they couldn’t live on the edge of the cliff much longer. Less people than Katara expected gave up on the first day and left for Ba Sing Se. The remaining stayed faithful that they would return to their homes with the help of the avatar. That faith worried her. Especially, when it was an unrealistic expectation. She had made sure to explain it to the people but it either fell on deaf ears or people just stayed away from her.
“Are you sure you want to go alone? You can wait for us,” Sokka said when she still didn’t speak.
“I’ll be fine. It’s a simple plan.”
“I know, but now you are making me a little bit worried.”
She smiled at him. Throwing an arm around Sokka’s neck she drew him closer. How could she sometimes forget how lucky she was? She rubbed his head drawing groans from him as he struggled to get out of her hold.
“Not that worried! Not that worried!”
She laughed. “Thank you for being not that worried. I promise I’m fine. Plus, I’ve taken care of you all your life, Little Tom-Tom is a piece of cake in comparison.”
“What?!” Sokka said in indignation. “I was a responsible child. I basically raised myself. You can’t compare me to the one who kidnapped himself.”
Katara snorted. “Right.”
“No way you raised me this awesome on your own,” he said, grinning at her.
She kissed Sokka’s cheek. “I’ll be fine.”
“I know, but it’s okay for me to worry.”
“I know.”
It was nothing to worry about really. They were trading Tom-Tom for Bumi. She was going to sneak into the city with Tom-Tom and spend the night. Aang, Sokka and Appa were going to help another group of people arrive safely at Ba Sing Se. They had been making the trips round the clock since they had deserted Omashu. She wished they would take a break but no one was really listening to her, maybe it was due to the lack of words when she communicated lately. If everything went according to plan, King Bumi would be free and everyone else given the chance to return home. Probably. Simple with absolute zero guarantee it would work.
“You two make sure you don’t do anything stupid, understood?”
Sokka saluted her.
“He is really adamant about this,” she said. “I’m worried about this exchange.”
“Well, you are adamant about yours and I’m sure it’s not helping his general mood.”
Katara watched Aang sulking far away from the campfire. Someone had brought him a bowl of food and even while eating his face was set in a pout, chewing his food as if to offend it. He had insisted he would never need or use firebending and stopped talking to her. On her part, she didn’t do well either. She had gotten so angry steam was almost curling out of her ears. She wasn’t sure how it had fired up inside her but suddenly they were yelling at each other. If not for Sokka she wasn’t sure how their friendship would survive it.
“He needs a firebending teacher, Sokka. Do you happen to know one?”
“Oh you met him, what, yesterday? Name dropping already?”
Katara smiled at the teasing tone his words took. “It’s not everyday one has a favor to collect from the Fire Nation prince.”
“Exiled prince.”
“Exiled or not, a prince is a prince and it doesn’t affect his firebending.”
“He says he won’t ever use it.”
Katara shrugged. “He doesn’t have to use it if he doesn’t want to. But he needs to master it. I thought you understood that.”
He sighed. “I do, but try convincing him.”
“I hope once he masters earthbending, he will be more peaceful.”
“Or you discuss feelings with him.”
“Sokka,” she said in exasperation. She wasn’t discussing anything with anyone.
“Alright. But you can’t go without talking to him.” He waved a finger at her face. “No matter what, we don’t part ways being angry at each other. Understood?”
She stuck her tongue out at him.
“So will you be taking care of Tom-Tom or other way around?”
“Where is he?” Katara asked, looking around. The child had the tendency to walk towards the sharpest point head first if no one paid attention. “We should be already going.”
Sokka went in search of Tom-Tom while Katara went to Aang. It was her rule not to ever part ways angry and she was glad for it. She wasn’t sure how to talk to him or what to say. She couldn’t just back down because she was happy now. No matter her state of mood, he needed a teacher. She was just guilty of going about it the wrong way. Mainly raising voice and forgetting her own arguments.
He didn’t look up from his food as she sat next to him on the grass. Katara searched her mind, trying to find something to say that was neutral but nothing was coming to her. Probably, an apology was a good place to start, she just didn’t know how. They were silent until Aang spoke.
“You look weird in Fire Nation clothes.”
Katara’s laugh was born of relief and nervousness. She looked down at the clothes she wore. It was high quality and fit her well. The fabric was soft against her skin and designed for maximum comfort.
“I feel weird wearing them,” she admitted. It was the appearance that weirded her out. When she glimpsed at herself, it made her cheeks burn for some reason and nerves faltered in her stomach.
“Are you sure you want to do this? You can wait for us here.”
“I’ll be fine,” she said quietly. Part of her was looking forward to it. As if she could distance herself from her life for one night and be just like everyone else. “Promise me you won’t put yourself in danger, especially stupidly.”
“I don’t want to make promises.”
“Aang, don’t be reckless because you are angry with me. I get why you are angry, I really do and I promise we’ll talk once we rescue Bumi.”
“We haven’t stopped fighting with each other since you saved him,” Aang said, glancing at her.
Her brows rose. “Really?! I haven’t noticed.”
To her relief, he laughed. But went back to pouting immediately. “I’m never going to need a firebending teacher, Katara.”
She shrugged. “That’s alright. You’ll still have one reserved just in case.”
He eyed her as if she had grown another head and the third one was just budding. “Ha? What happened to you?”
She rubbed the bridge of her nose mostly to avoid the eye contact. “I’m sorry for blowing up the other day. Can we just call it teenage pains?”
“Can I get them too?”
She dropped her hand to look at him. He wasn’t pouting but he looked worried. She smiled as brightly as she could. “Nice try, Grandpa.”
She was glad they could keep their tones light and laugh the remaining of their conversation. It was still strained and full of unanswered questions but at least they didn’t part ways without talking to each other. Katara relaxed having that off her chest for the moment and fully concentrated on the task at hand. Which was a squealing baby in her arms.
She grinned down at Tom-Tom. “We’ll have fun, I promise.”
Tom-Tom clapped while giggling, already having fun. He would jump from her hands and crawl the rest of the way he was that happy to be going on a walk but somehow she managed to hold him tight to her chest as they left the campsite with one of the rebels.
Luckily, he had been taken with her from the first moment. He slept and ate next to her without much complaint. She knew the evening alone wouldn’t be completely relaxed since he had so much energy but she knew she could handle it. After he went to sleep, she would have time to herself.
“If you get tired, I will take the baby,” said the lady who was her guide. Katara was going to use her house for the night. It was in the area populated by the Fire Nation newcomers, so her presence wouldn’t stick out. The lady would drop her off, pack up her things, and leave.
“Thank you,” Katara said, nodding. He was heavy enough that she would need assistance. She wasn’t sure Tom-Tom would agree.
“It’s not far,” the lady continued. “Once we are inside the mountain I’ll use earthbending to move us faster.”
They continued speaking as they moved down the hill to where the hidden passageway was. Katara’s hopes of finding a friend died the moment she saw Omashu had fallen. They had stayed even longer than she expected. Everyone around her was too busy trying to find a way to survive to have time for her. And with Tom-Tom becoming her sole responsibility and her mind continuously fogged with worries, she found she wasn’t exactly the prime candidate for the moment for starting up another relationship. Another relationship she would have to give up.
As always, she ended up spending time with the elderly women. They were well versed in medicine and referred to Katara as one of their own. She was glad for that bit of contact. Learning new things gave her less time for worries. Even now, as they moved the lady pointed out different plants and explained their uses to her. Her chatter helped Katara forget the ache in her hands from holding the baby. But she couldn’t get rid of the feeling of being watched.
“Are you alright, Katara? Is something wrong?”
She must have scanned the area one too many times. If there was someone she couldn’t exactly find them by just looking around in this terrain. She wanted to do more but also didn’t want to freak the lady out. They moved more carefully after that but nothing strange jumped out at her. They made it to the passageway, which lay inside the foot of the mountain rather than sewers, safely and waited inside to see if someone would follow them.
“I think we are safe.”
Katara nodded and followed in the tunnel. Water was trickling down the walls and ceiling, the sounds of tapping echoing. Katara inhaled and felt suddenly like herself for a moment as the musty smell filled her lungs. As the distance grew between her and the boys, the more she started to really appreciate this plan. She might not be alone, but some time away from it all was something she needed. Maybe she could get her head straight. Stop the nonsense she shouldn’t have started in the first place.
“Just a little longer,” said the lady. “Watch your step, it’s getting slippery.”
Katara smiled. She was more at home on the slippery ground than solid. As long as water was around her, she would always be safe. Her movement was still slow and careful not to scare the child. She whispered to him every few seconds, reassuring they were fine. He was unusually silent, clinging to her.
They came out into a small open area illuminated by sunlight hitting a small pull of water. There were a few cracks in the wall but not big enough to provide an exit. They traveled through another tunnel before they reached a bigger but similar open area. From then on the lady used earthbending to move the ground underneath them. At first Katara had trouble balancing herself, more correctly getting through the dizzy feeling it left when the ground under her feet moved. Tom-Tom, on the other hand, was more active now, looking around with curiosity.
They cleared the mountain and walked out in the light. Katara closed her eyes and covered Tom-Tom’s as well. The sun was descending but the light was still sharp after being in the darkness for so long. Once their eyes had adjusted they cleared the outer wall of the city and moved deeper to its heart.
Katara stopped by a stall which was about to close for the evening and managed to buy some leftover vegetables to make dinner and breakfast for them. She missed cooking and she wasn’t passing this opportunity. They bought a few other things as if she was staying longer than a day but Katara was so excited to play house for an evening she didn’t stop herself.
The lady led her to the house and after retrieving the items she came for, she left. She asked her a few times if she would be okay and as much as Katara assured the lady and herself, something didn’t set right with her. The feeling of being watched returned the moment they left the cave and entered the city. Yet, no one paid much attention to them.
Katara dropped her beg on the counter and let Tom-Tom go. She shook her arms a few times to get rid of the pain. Her tries to hand him off ended with his screams. So, Katara ended up carrying him all the way. Her arms were half asleep from the pain. Then she spun in a circle with giddiness, looking around the house. Inside here she felt safe, sure no one was watching her. She didn’t let her guard down, but relaxed a bit as she followed the baby stumbling about the room like a drunken man.
“What should we do first, Tom-Tom? Shall we sing? Dance? I should catch you, you say?”
Katara charged, making him squeal in delight. They ran around the room until she was out of breath and fell on the floor. Why was this making her so happy? Why did she view it as an escape? They lay on the ground for a few minutes but hunger forced her to her feet. She looked at the child knowing full well she couldn’t take her attention away from him to concentrate on making dinner. As the only solution she could think of she put an ice fence around him, making sure nothing dangerous was in his reach.
Opening windows in the kitchen she let the light and fresh air in. Katara leaned against the windowsill and looked at the street. It was quiet but busier than she expected. Everyone marched purposely somewhere, minding no attention to each other. Shops had closed their doors but restaurants and bars opened. If not for Fire Nation, she traveled through enough of the Earth Kingdom cities to know the streets would be filled with ruckus.
From the corner of her eyes she saw Tom-Tom had scaled the ice and was sliding on the other side with a giggle. She shook her head at him amazed at the child’s ability to overcome all the obstacles in his quest to reach his target. Katara put him back, building the wall higher. They struggled for a few more minutes before the fence was high enough to be impenetrable and she could finally start cooking.
Katara was chopping carrots on the counter in front of the window when the feeling of being watched returned. This time it felt like ten folds stronger. She tightened her hand around the knife and slowly lifted her head, scanning the area. At first she didn’t notice anything out of the ordinary on the street. On the second glance she couldn’t believe she didn’t notice a figure leaning against a tree.