Thicker than water
Chapter 1: Never Look back
The firebender sent a burst of flame near the doorway, blocking KataraÆs exit. She fell back, awkwardly half-running, half-stumbling into her motherÆs arms. Her mother shrieked, but was cut off by the man.
ôHow stupid do you think I am, woman? A chieftain searching for a Waterbending master for his wife? A thirty year old woman? No, you would have been captured with the other barbarians had you had any talent. And had you not, you would still be smart enough to keep it hidden. But searching for a master for his daughter. That sounds much more plausible, donÆt you think?ö
Mommy was scared. Katara was scared because mommy was scared, and held onto her closely. She closed her eyes, hoping that if she just held on tight enough this would just end. That the nightmare would be over and she would wake up. But she didnÆt wake up, and it didnÆt end.
ôLeave her alone!ö her mother shouted. But the man didnÆt listen, and ordered her to get out of his way. Mom got very quiet and held Katara close and whispered to her. ôI want you to run, run to your father and donÆt look back.ö Katara nodded.
Katara was pushed out of her motherÆs arms as her mother lunged at the man. Katara tried to run in the confusion, she tried to get out of the tent, she really did. But she wasnÆt fast enough. Her mother shrieked.
She didnÆt obey her mother. She looked back.
She saw the fire coming from the manÆs hands. She saw her mother burning, screaming, dying. She saw it and heard it and smelled it; it smelled like burnt hair, and clothes, and meat.
Katara ran. She ran toward her mother. Her motherÆs body was still hot, but she had to stop it, she had to put out the burning. Tapping into the push and pull she barely understood, she called the snow to come to her mother to stop the burning. She called the water. The burning stopped, but it wasnÆt over. She could feel another burning, not from outside, but from the inside. Mommy was wrong on the inside. She was wrong, but Katara could fix it, the water was showing her how. She pushed and pulled at the light to make mommy right.
But nothing seemed to help. No matter how hard Katara tried, the burning wasnÆt stopping, and the lights inside were fading.
Katara found herself roughly turned around. She had forgotten about the firebender. He crouched down, and regarded her with an ugly, cold look. Katara tried to struggle, but she just couldnÆt find the will. Finally he smiled the most horrible smile Katara had ever seen, and spoke. ôFire Lord Azulon is old, and anyone who could give him something to help extend his life would be greatly rewarded. Congratulations, barbarian, you get to live.ö
He grabbed her and roughly lifted her up. Katara screamed and grasped for something anything, her clutching finger touching her motherÆs necklace. She held onto it like a precious diamond as she was lifted up. The man ran out of the tent, carrying Katara under his arms. As he ran, she found new strength and will. She kicked, she pounded, and yelled and screamed and hollered and raged and panicked. And so did the water with her.
The ground rumbled. Burst of snow and ice shot up from it responding to her anger. The man yelled at her to stop but Katara didnÆt. She raged, not even specifically at the man, for she was far past the point of coherent thought. She just raged, with the ice, with the snow, with the blizzard-
A hard punch to the face brought her back to earth. It wasnÆt the gentle smack of her mother keeping her away from the fire, nor the punch of her brother when they brawled, but the full force punch of a trained solider. KataraÆs nose broke and blood streamed down her face. She clutched it and began to cry as loud as she could.
The man made it another few steps before picking her up and holding her to his face. ôSHUT UP!ö he roared. Katara continued to cry. ôSHUT up. Shut up or IÆll kill you. Do you want to die!?ö He shook her violently as he continued to yell and she continued to cry.
But whether by her cries or his yells, hope had come. Though her eyes were half-blocked with blood and tears, Katara could discern the faint outline of the Water Tribe Warriors, first one, then many, yelling and running towards her. The man cursed and threw her back over his shoulder.
But her hope was stillborn, for other soldiers came as well, stopping the warriors, and driving them back. They were yelling, at her, at him, Katara didnÆt know. She couldnÆt make out the words over her own screams for her father. Some of the other soldiers ran towards them, flanking her on each side.
With an almighty shout her father broke through the line, charging at them like a spirit. The man carrying her yelled at two of the other Fire Nation soldiers to stop him. Her dad cut them down like they were nothing, but the delay was enough. More and more of the soldiers came, delaying her dad, and Katara found herself carried further and further away. She stretched out her arms, ignoring the stinging pain in her face, as if somehow she could stretch enough to touch her father, to rush into his arms, but it was futile.
As if it was one last howl of defiance from a defeated tribe, her father hurled his spear with all his might and managed to strike one of the soldiers on the arm, but that was it.
Katara screamed when they tried to drag her into the metal ship, no ship like that could float. But screaming had long proved useless, and she was rewarded with another slap to her bloody face and thrown in a small, lightless room. Outside there was shouting and yelling. It was all the soldiers seemed to speak in. Then a horrible whistle, like some great beast roaring over the arguments. The ship jerked like an angry sea monster. That was what it was, some sort of horrible, angry evil sea monster; maybe they wanted to use her as food.
Katara huddled into a corner, and cried herself into exhaustion and sleep.
She awoke when the door was opened by the firebender. The pain in her face was almost gone. She couldnÆt tell most of the soldiers apart, they all had skull like masks, but she could tell which one was him; she would never be able to forget him.
ôGet up,ö he snapped. Katara huddled against the wall.
ôI said get up.ö This time his snap was punctuated with a spark from his fingers. Katara slowly rose, her trembling legs barely able to hold her. ôCome on.ö
They walked past rows of metal corridors until they reached a room. Inside Katara could see more men. She stopped, she didnÆtÆ want to go in. But this only made the firebender mad, and he grabbed her by the scruff of her coat, half-choking her as he dragged her in.
The men inside looked over her. Katara wanted to hide, but there was nowhere to run. Finally, one spoke up. ôSo this is our little miracle meal ticket, eh? CanÆt say she looks any different from any other savage.ö
Another man spoke up. ôThatÆs because she isnÆt. We should just kill her and be done with it. Finally eliminating the waterbenders should be more than enough. ö
The man who had taken her angrily spoke up. ôJioh, youÆre an idiot. The waterbenders were the only threat these savages ever had against our ships, without them they donÆt matter and that means we donÆt matter. Already half our ships have been transferred away in the last few years, and the only reason more werenÆt was because of evidence there was at least one more. Unless we find a way to please the Fire Lord, we are going to be stuck with no hope of advancement or promotion or action.ö
ôAnd this is your plan,ö a tall, thin man disdainfully stated. ôWell, we should at least make sure the goods work.ö He walked towards Katara with a bucket of water in his left hand. He set the bucket down next to them, then held out his right hand and unwrapped the bandages covering it. The wound was fresh. ôOne of your savage little friends nicked me, heal this.ö
Katara stood open mouthed. She didnÆt understand what he was talking about.
The tall man smiled. ôI think sheÆs defective.ö Around the room the other men laughed.
The firebender wasnÆt amused, and yelled at Katara. ôDo you want to join your mother? Heal him or else.ö Flames appeared in his hand and he held them an inch from KataraÆs face.
Katara ran to pick up the discarded bandages and clumsily attempted to rewrap the manÆs hand. He smacked her with his good hand. ôDefiantly defective.ö The other men roared with laughter.
ôI saw her heal. She tried to heal her dead mother,ö the Firebender insisted.
ôHealing a woman who ended up dead. A stunning recommendation. IÆm sure the Fire Lord would want that.ö
The firebender gritted his teeth with frustration and angrily bent down to face Katara. ôAre you trying to humiliate me?ö
Katara desperately tried to say, no, that she wasnÆt, she just didnÆt know what he wanted. But the words wouldnÆt come, her voice died in her throat, and she had to settle for a terrified shaking of her head.
ôThen heal him. Or do you want to face my fire?ö
She continued to try to say no, that she didnÆt want to face his fire. Tears streamed down her face, but the word simply couldnÆt come.
This only made the man angrier. ôAnswer me! Are you going to heal him?ö
The word finally came, only now it was the wrong one. ôNo.ö After it left her lips Katara realized it was, but by then it was far too late.
The man grabbed the wrist of her left arm and set it on fire. Katara screamed as the burning, biting, continuous pain. It was worse than anything she had ever felt before. She struggled to get away, but the man didnÆt let go. Around her she heard laughter.
Finally, after an eternity of pain, the man let her go. She ran screaming towards the bucket of water, plunging her arm into it. The fire was put out but Katara kept her arm in the water, letting its coolness entrap her arm. She stood there, closing her eyes [and] just letting the water soak her arm, oblivious to the outside world for a few glorious seconds before the tall manÆs voice echoed across the room.
ôWell, it seems sheÆs not defective after all. Congratulations.ö
Katara looked down, her arm was glowing. She yelled and pulled it out of the water, but the pain returned. Quickly she tried to put it back in, to replicate the earlier coolness, but now it was hard; the unconscious rhythm didnÆt come as easily, and the cooling healing didnÆt happen.
ôOr not. Put her back, IÆd rather not risk my hand to an amateur with a half-burnt arm.ö
The firebender gave a grunt of acknowledgement and lifted the bucket of water while KataraÆs arm was still in it, Katara winced as it hit the sides of her arm as he lifted it. ôFollow.ö He order and they walked back down the hallways, until they arrived back at the room she had been previously locked in. He set the bucket down inside the room. ôHeal up. You had better be ready in the morning.ö
Katara nodded silently and walked back into the room. She plunged her arm into the water trying to find the healing coolness of before. The door shut, and all was darkness again.
Katara woke up soaked. She had fallen asleep still trying to heal her arm, and the bucket had fallen over when her arm dragged it down. She picked it up, feeling around its bottom. Katara could feel a little water in it. She knew that water wasnÆt good, her arm had been in, and it didnÆtÆ smell right, but she was so thirsty.
Katara felt the bucket, finally she tried to will the water to come via bending, but none made it to her lips. In the darkness she couldnÆt tell if any was coming. Finally she settled for putting her hands in and creating a makeshift cup with them. She brought the water up to her lips but immediately spit it out. It was seawaterà even nastier than normal seawater.
Katara squinted as the door opened. The Firebender had come back. He looked down at her still-soaked clothes and gave a sneer of disgust. Then he motioned for her to follow. Again they walked along the metal corridors. Katara couldnÆt tell if they were going to the same room, but she thought they were. She struggled to keep up with the Firebender, her mouth felt so dry. She tried to work up the courage to talk.
Finally they arrived at the room. There were two other people in it. The first was the tall man who was standing up, the other was another soldier, seated on one of the benches, Katara didnÆt recognize him. The tall man held out his hand. ôI believe you know the drill.ö
Katara stared at the hand. She was so thirsty, she didnÆt think she had the energy to heal it. And she still didnÆt understand how she did it in the first place. ôWater.ö
The tall man smiled a rather thin smile pointed to a bucket besides him. Katara ran over, to sniff it but it was the same type of water as before. ôNo, this is wrong.ö
The Firebender snapped his fingers again. ôWrong, wrong? WhatÆs wrong with it? You healed your arm with water exactly like it, are you trying to defy me again?ö
ôNo!ö Katara shouted, huddling defensively.
ôI believe the little mite is asking for drinking water.ö The tall man tsked tsked. ôHave you been feeding her, Yoh? You should know you have to water her crops if you want to sell them at market.ö
The Firebender gritted his teeth, ôHeal him, then a drink.ö
Katara nodded gratefully, and then turned to the tall man. The promise of water gave her new energy. She motioned towards the bucket, but the tall man simply stood there.
The tall man frowned. ôWhat is it? Use your words. Unlike your people, not all of us speak in grunts and pointing.ö
ôPlease, you need to be in the water.ö
The man rolled his eyes. ôJust bend the water up.ö
ôIà I canÆt.ö
He gave an amused chuckle. ôI suppose that is what we get for taking her because sheÆs untrained and not dangerous. We are going to have to work on that, I doubt the Fire Lord would want to have to take a full bath for every healing application.ö The man sat down on the floor and put his hand in the bucket.
Katara gently put her hands in with him. She still wasnÆt sure how she did it before, but she had some idea. When she helped herself she had felt a flow. She had let something that was like the water but not water flow around her hands. The flow, the lights were wrong, but she set the pieces right. She wasnÆt sure she could find the energy in someone else, but she had to try, she didnÆt want to be burned again.
She grasped the hand and began to search for the energy. Finally she found it, a mass of energy that wasnÆt flowing across his wound. She began healing. The man gave a contented sigh and spoke up. ôYes, it appears she can heal others. Yoh, while sheÆs working could you be a gentleman and get the girl some water.ö
The Firebender spoke with barely contained fury, ôI am your commanding officer. Not your fetch boy.ö
The tall man spoke dismissively. ôYes, yes. But IÆm being healed and canÆt move, and poor Juro over here has his leg injured. So itÆs not like either of us can do it.ö
ôYou should watch your tongue. It might get burned,ö the Firebender stated before stomping out.
ôOnly as long as youÆre in charge, you old has been,ö muttered the tall man so softly only Katara could hear.
Katara concentrated on healing the hand. It was nice, she could close her eyes and just focus on the energy on setting things right. Forget where she was, forget this horrible ship, with its horrible men and all that had happened to her.
All too soon the healing was complete and the man fished his hand out of the water and stood up. He teasingly flexed it. ôGood, good. I think that will do nicely. You are quite a natural, arenÆt you? Ah Yoh, youÆre back.ö
The Firebender set down a mug of water, and Katara greedily picked it up. It was a relief, but not enough; she was still thirsty, but fear overruled asking for more.
ôNow, heal Juro,ö ordered the Firebender. Katara turned to the man on the bench, who had been so quiet the entire time Katara had almost forgotten he was there. She went over to him, and frowned. The wound was on the upper calf of his right leg, it wasnÆt very big, there was no way he could fit it into the water. Katara looked from the bucket to the man awkwardly.
ôIdiot, bend the water to him.ö
Katara knew about bending, it was what happened when she made water move. But she didnÆt quite know how. Slowly she tried to remember how she had moved the water when she was back home to splash her brother-
Katara stopped, tears welling up as she remember her home. She began to stand there and cry, but this only angered the other men.
ôWhat are you blubbering about?ö demanded the Firebender. When she didnÆt respond, he continued to shout at her.
Finally the tall man spoke up, ôWhat is the saying, Yoh? The burned hand learns best?ö The Firebender nodded, and Katara screamed as she realized what was going to happen. ôTry to not damage her too much, if she has to spend a day healing every time she messes up the Fire Lord will be long dead before we can present her.ö The Firebender grabbed her hand and Katara shrieked as it burned.
The rest of the day quickly evolved into a pattern. Every time she messed up, letting the water drop, or not getting it up right, her hand would be burnt. It wasnÆt as bad as the first time, nothing was as bad as then, but it was still bad. It only took few minutes to heal her own hand before she was to try again.
The worst part was trying to hold the water up to the leg and healing at the same time, but eventually she began to get it and was burned less and less. However, as her expertise grew, so did her exhaustion. Finally, the tall man spoke up.
ôThatÆs five times in a row she failed, we wonÆt be getting anything out of her tonight.ö The Firebender nodded, and Katara was escorted back to her room. As soon as she was back she fell onto the floor.
A few minutes later the door was opened again. Katara shrank back, but all the Firebender did was set down a plate of food and another cup of water. Katara hadnÆt realized how hungry she was until now, but fear kept her away from the man. He rolled his eyes and walked away.
Katara crawled over to the plate. She didnÆt recognize anything but she was too hungry to care. With a dropping heart, she also realized that he hadnÆt left any utensils, but again she was too hungry to care. She began eating with her hands.
Yoh Rah looked at her with disgust. ôBarbarian,ö he muttered before closing the door.
Chapter 1: Never Look back
The firebender sent a burst of flame near the doorway, blocking KataraÆs exit. She fell back, awkwardly half-running, half-stumbling into her motherÆs arms. Her mother shrieked, but was cut off by the man.
ôHow stupid do you think I am, woman? A chieftain searching for a Waterbending master for his wife? A thirty year old woman? No, you would have been captured with the other barbarians had you had any talent. And had you not, you would still be smart enough to keep it hidden. But searching for a master for his daughter. That sounds much more plausible, donÆt you think?ö
Mommy was scared. Katara was scared because mommy was scared, and held onto her closely. She closed her eyes, hoping that if she just held on tight enough this would just end. That the nightmare would be over and she would wake up. But she didnÆt wake up, and it didnÆt end.
ôLeave her alone!ö her mother shouted. But the man didnÆt listen, and ordered her to get out of his way. Mom got very quiet and held Katara close and whispered to her. ôI want you to run, run to your father and donÆt look back.ö Katara nodded.
Katara was pushed out of her motherÆs arms as her mother lunged at the man. Katara tried to run in the confusion, she tried to get out of the tent, she really did. But she wasnÆt fast enough. Her mother shrieked.
She didnÆt obey her mother. She looked back.
She saw the fire coming from the manÆs hands. She saw her mother burning, screaming, dying. She saw it and heard it and smelled it; it smelled like burnt hair, and clothes, and meat.
Katara ran. She ran toward her mother. Her motherÆs body was still hot, but she had to stop it, she had to put out the burning. Tapping into the push and pull she barely understood, she called the snow to come to her mother to stop the burning. She called the water. The burning stopped, but it wasnÆt over. She could feel another burning, not from outside, but from the inside. Mommy was wrong on the inside. She was wrong, but Katara could fix it, the water was showing her how. She pushed and pulled at the light to make mommy right.
But nothing seemed to help. No matter how hard Katara tried, the burning wasnÆt stopping, and the lights inside were fading.
Katara found herself roughly turned around. She had forgotten about the firebender. He crouched down, and regarded her with an ugly, cold look. Katara tried to struggle, but she just couldnÆt find the will. Finally he smiled the most horrible smile Katara had ever seen, and spoke. ôFire Lord Azulon is old, and anyone who could give him something to help extend his life would be greatly rewarded. Congratulations, barbarian, you get to live.ö
He grabbed her and roughly lifted her up. Katara screamed and grasped for something anything, her clutching finger touching her motherÆs necklace. She held onto it like a precious diamond as she was lifted up. The man ran out of the tent, carrying Katara under his arms. As he ran, she found new strength and will. She kicked, she pounded, and yelled and screamed and hollered and raged and panicked. And so did the water with her.
The ground rumbled. Burst of snow and ice shot up from it responding to her anger. The man yelled at her to stop but Katara didnÆt. She raged, not even specifically at the man, for she was far past the point of coherent thought. She just raged, with the ice, with the snow, with the blizzard-
A hard punch to the face brought her back to earth. It wasnÆt the gentle smack of her mother keeping her away from the fire, nor the punch of her brother when they brawled, but the full force punch of a trained solider. KataraÆs nose broke and blood streamed down her face. She clutched it and began to cry as loud as she could.
The man made it another few steps before picking her up and holding her to his face. ôSHUT UP!ö he roared. Katara continued to cry. ôSHUT up. Shut up or IÆll kill you. Do you want to die!?ö He shook her violently as he continued to yell and she continued to cry.
But whether by her cries or his yells, hope had come. Though her eyes were half-blocked with blood and tears, Katara could discern the faint outline of the Water Tribe Warriors, first one, then many, yelling and running towards her. The man cursed and threw her back over his shoulder.
But her hope was stillborn, for other soldiers came as well, stopping the warriors, and driving them back. They were yelling, at her, at him, Katara didnÆt know. She couldnÆt make out the words over her own screams for her father. Some of the other soldiers ran towards them, flanking her on each side.
With an almighty shout her father broke through the line, charging at them like a spirit. The man carrying her yelled at two of the other Fire Nation soldiers to stop him. Her dad cut them down like they were nothing, but the delay was enough. More and more of the soldiers came, delaying her dad, and Katara found herself carried further and further away. She stretched out her arms, ignoring the stinging pain in her face, as if somehow she could stretch enough to touch her father, to rush into his arms, but it was futile.
As if it was one last howl of defiance from a defeated tribe, her father hurled his spear with all his might and managed to strike one of the soldiers on the arm, but that was it.
Katara screamed when they tried to drag her into the metal ship, no ship like that could float. But screaming had long proved useless, and she was rewarded with another slap to her bloody face and thrown in a small, lightless room. Outside there was shouting and yelling. It was all the soldiers seemed to speak in. Then a horrible whistle, like some great beast roaring over the arguments. The ship jerked like an angry sea monster. That was what it was, some sort of horrible, angry evil sea monster; maybe they wanted to use her as food.
Katara huddled into a corner, and cried herself into exhaustion and sleep.
She awoke when the door was opened by the firebender. The pain in her face was almost gone. She couldnÆt tell most of the soldiers apart, they all had skull like masks, but she could tell which one was him; she would never be able to forget him.
ôGet up,ö he snapped. Katara huddled against the wall.
ôI said get up.ö This time his snap was punctuated with a spark from his fingers. Katara slowly rose, her trembling legs barely able to hold her. ôCome on.ö
They walked past rows of metal corridors until they reached a room. Inside Katara could see more men. She stopped, she didnÆtÆ want to go in. But this only made the firebender mad, and he grabbed her by the scruff of her coat, half-choking her as he dragged her in.
The men inside looked over her. Katara wanted to hide, but there was nowhere to run. Finally, one spoke up. ôSo this is our little miracle meal ticket, eh? CanÆt say she looks any different from any other savage.ö
Another man spoke up. ôThatÆs because she isnÆt. We should just kill her and be done with it. Finally eliminating the waterbenders should be more than enough. ö
The man who had taken her angrily spoke up. ôJioh, youÆre an idiot. The waterbenders were the only threat these savages ever had against our ships, without them they donÆt matter and that means we donÆt matter. Already half our ships have been transferred away in the last few years, and the only reason more werenÆt was because of evidence there was at least one more. Unless we find a way to please the Fire Lord, we are going to be stuck with no hope of advancement or promotion or action.ö
ôAnd this is your plan,ö a tall, thin man disdainfully stated. ôWell, we should at least make sure the goods work.ö He walked towards Katara with a bucket of water in his left hand. He set the bucket down next to them, then held out his right hand and unwrapped the bandages covering it. The wound was fresh. ôOne of your savage little friends nicked me, heal this.ö
Katara stood open mouthed. She didnÆt understand what he was talking about.
The tall man smiled. ôI think sheÆs defective.ö Around the room the other men laughed.
The firebender wasnÆt amused, and yelled at Katara. ôDo you want to join your mother? Heal him or else.ö Flames appeared in his hand and he held them an inch from KataraÆs face.
Katara ran to pick up the discarded bandages and clumsily attempted to rewrap the manÆs hand. He smacked her with his good hand. ôDefiantly defective.ö The other men roared with laughter.
ôI saw her heal. She tried to heal her dead mother,ö the Firebender insisted.
ôHealing a woman who ended up dead. A stunning recommendation. IÆm sure the Fire Lord would want that.ö
The firebender gritted his teeth with frustration and angrily bent down to face Katara. ôAre you trying to humiliate me?ö
Katara desperately tried to say, no, that she wasnÆt, she just didnÆt know what he wanted. But the words wouldnÆt come, her voice died in her throat, and she had to settle for a terrified shaking of her head.
ôThen heal him. Or do you want to face my fire?ö
She continued to try to say no, that she didnÆt want to face his fire. Tears streamed down her face, but the word simply couldnÆt come.
This only made the man angrier. ôAnswer me! Are you going to heal him?ö
The word finally came, only now it was the wrong one. ôNo.ö After it left her lips Katara realized it was, but by then it was far too late.
The man grabbed the wrist of her left arm and set it on fire. Katara screamed as the burning, biting, continuous pain. It was worse than anything she had ever felt before. She struggled to get away, but the man didnÆt let go. Around her she heard laughter.
Finally, after an eternity of pain, the man let her go. She ran screaming towards the bucket of water, plunging her arm into it. The fire was put out but Katara kept her arm in the water, letting its coolness entrap her arm. She stood there, closing her eyes [and] just letting the water soak her arm, oblivious to the outside world for a few glorious seconds before the tall manÆs voice echoed across the room.
ôWell, it seems sheÆs not defective after all. Congratulations.ö
Katara looked down, her arm was glowing. She yelled and pulled it out of the water, but the pain returned. Quickly she tried to put it back in, to replicate the earlier coolness, but now it was hard; the unconscious rhythm didnÆt come as easily, and the cooling healing didnÆt happen.
ôOr not. Put her back, IÆd rather not risk my hand to an amateur with a half-burnt arm.ö
The firebender gave a grunt of acknowledgement and lifted the bucket of water while KataraÆs arm was still in it, Katara winced as it hit the sides of her arm as he lifted it. ôFollow.ö He order and they walked back down the hallways, until they arrived back at the room she had been previously locked in. He set the bucket down inside the room. ôHeal up. You had better be ready in the morning.ö
Katara nodded silently and walked back into the room. She plunged her arm into the water trying to find the healing coolness of before. The door shut, and all was darkness again.
Katara woke up soaked. She had fallen asleep still trying to heal her arm, and the bucket had fallen over when her arm dragged it down. She picked it up, feeling around its bottom. Katara could feel a little water in it. She knew that water wasnÆt good, her arm had been in, and it didnÆtÆ smell right, but she was so thirsty.
Katara felt the bucket, finally she tried to will the water to come via bending, but none made it to her lips. In the darkness she couldnÆt tell if any was coming. Finally she settled for putting her hands in and creating a makeshift cup with them. She brought the water up to her lips but immediately spit it out. It was seawaterà even nastier than normal seawater.
Katara squinted as the door opened. The Firebender had come back. He looked down at her still-soaked clothes and gave a sneer of disgust. Then he motioned for her to follow. Again they walked along the metal corridors. Katara couldnÆt tell if they were going to the same room, but she thought they were. She struggled to keep up with the Firebender, her mouth felt so dry. She tried to work up the courage to talk.
Finally they arrived at the room. There were two other people in it. The first was the tall man who was standing up, the other was another soldier, seated on one of the benches, Katara didnÆt recognize him. The tall man held out his hand. ôI believe you know the drill.ö
Katara stared at the hand. She was so thirsty, she didnÆt think she had the energy to heal it. And she still didnÆt understand how she did it in the first place. ôWater.ö
The tall man smiled a rather thin smile pointed to a bucket besides him. Katara ran over, to sniff it but it was the same type of water as before. ôNo, this is wrong.ö
The Firebender snapped his fingers again. ôWrong, wrong? WhatÆs wrong with it? You healed your arm with water exactly like it, are you trying to defy me again?ö
ôNo!ö Katara shouted, huddling defensively.
ôI believe the little mite is asking for drinking water.ö The tall man tsked tsked. ôHave you been feeding her, Yoh? You should know you have to water her crops if you want to sell them at market.ö
The Firebender gritted his teeth, ôHeal him, then a drink.ö
Katara nodded gratefully, and then turned to the tall man. The promise of water gave her new energy. She motioned towards the bucket, but the tall man simply stood there.
The tall man frowned. ôWhat is it? Use your words. Unlike your people, not all of us speak in grunts and pointing.ö
ôPlease, you need to be in the water.ö
The man rolled his eyes. ôJust bend the water up.ö
ôIà I canÆt.ö
He gave an amused chuckle. ôI suppose that is what we get for taking her because sheÆs untrained and not dangerous. We are going to have to work on that, I doubt the Fire Lord would want to have to take a full bath for every healing application.ö The man sat down on the floor and put his hand in the bucket.
Katara gently put her hands in with him. She still wasnÆt sure how she did it before, but she had some idea. When she helped herself she had felt a flow. She had let something that was like the water but not water flow around her hands. The flow, the lights were wrong, but she set the pieces right. She wasnÆt sure she could find the energy in someone else, but she had to try, she didnÆt want to be burned again.
She grasped the hand and began to search for the energy. Finally she found it, a mass of energy that wasnÆt flowing across his wound. She began healing. The man gave a contented sigh and spoke up. ôYes, it appears she can heal others. Yoh, while sheÆs working could you be a gentleman and get the girl some water.ö
The Firebender spoke with barely contained fury, ôI am your commanding officer. Not your fetch boy.ö
The tall man spoke dismissively. ôYes, yes. But IÆm being healed and canÆt move, and poor Juro over here has his leg injured. So itÆs not like either of us can do it.ö
ôYou should watch your tongue. It might get burned,ö the Firebender stated before stomping out.
ôOnly as long as youÆre in charge, you old has been,ö muttered the tall man so softly only Katara could hear.
Katara concentrated on healing the hand. It was nice, she could close her eyes and just focus on the energy on setting things right. Forget where she was, forget this horrible ship, with its horrible men and all that had happened to her.
All too soon the healing was complete and the man fished his hand out of the water and stood up. He teasingly flexed it. ôGood, good. I think that will do nicely. You are quite a natural, arenÆt you? Ah Yoh, youÆre back.ö
The Firebender set down a mug of water, and Katara greedily picked it up. It was a relief, but not enough; she was still thirsty, but fear overruled asking for more.
ôNow, heal Juro,ö ordered the Firebender. Katara turned to the man on the bench, who had been so quiet the entire time Katara had almost forgotten he was there. She went over to him, and frowned. The wound was on the upper calf of his right leg, it wasnÆt very big, there was no way he could fit it into the water. Katara looked from the bucket to the man awkwardly.
ôIdiot, bend the water to him.ö
Katara knew about bending, it was what happened when she made water move. But she didnÆt quite know how. Slowly she tried to remember how she had moved the water when she was back home to splash her brother-
Katara stopped, tears welling up as she remember her home. She began to stand there and cry, but this only angered the other men.
ôWhat are you blubbering about?ö demanded the Firebender. When she didnÆt respond, he continued to shout at her.
Finally the tall man spoke up, ôWhat is the saying, Yoh? The burned hand learns best?ö The Firebender nodded, and Katara screamed as she realized what was going to happen. ôTry to not damage her too much, if she has to spend a day healing every time she messes up the Fire Lord will be long dead before we can present her.ö The Firebender grabbed her hand and Katara shrieked as it burned.
The rest of the day quickly evolved into a pattern. Every time she messed up, letting the water drop, or not getting it up right, her hand would be burnt. It wasnÆt as bad as the first time, nothing was as bad as then, but it was still bad. It only took few minutes to heal her own hand before she was to try again.
The worst part was trying to hold the water up to the leg and healing at the same time, but eventually she began to get it and was burned less and less. However, as her expertise grew, so did her exhaustion. Finally, the tall man spoke up.
ôThatÆs five times in a row she failed, we wonÆt be getting anything out of her tonight.ö The Firebender nodded, and Katara was escorted back to her room. As soon as she was back she fell onto the floor.
A few minutes later the door was opened again. Katara shrank back, but all the Firebender did was set down a plate of food and another cup of water. Katara hadnÆt realized how hungry she was until now, but fear kept her away from the man. He rolled his eyes and walked away.
Katara crawled over to the plate. She didnÆt recognize anything but she was too hungry to care. With a dropping heart, she also realized that he hadnÆt left any utensils, but again she was too hungry to care. She began eating with her hands.
Yoh Rah looked at her with disgust. ôBarbarian,ö he muttered before closing the door.
