Steam: An Avatar Story

Chapter 15

Zuko's eyes widened as he saw the ropes hurtling towards them. He couldn't do anything, he was still too weak. Next thing he knew, he was tackled to the ground, Katara's body covering his. Sokka crashed into Suki, pinning her, and Beck hit the floor.

"What are you doing?" Zuko asked, trying to calm his body's response to the girl laying across his body.

"Saving you!" Katara snapped.

"This is really emasculating." Zuko said, raising an eyebrow.

"Oh go cry me a river," Katara rolled her eyes, rolling off his body on to the saddle bottom, then pushing up to take an offensive Firebending stance.

"I can fight," Zuko muttered. Katara heard him and snapped her eyes to his, glaring.

"Stay!" she barked, turning back to the enemies.

"You wish," Zuko whispered, hopping to his feet.

"I should've known," Katara sighed, turning back to the battle. Zuko took a stance next to her facing the other direction. Beck was in the water riding a waterspout as he took out the ropes and chunks of ice and snow that Katara and Zuko missed.

Sokka looked over at Katara and Zuko, watching how they moved. Their every movement complemented each other, as if they trained firebending together their whole life. Katara spun to the back, dodging a jet of water she couldn't redirect while Zuko whirled around and switched places with her, a fire fist already formed as he punched out at the jet head on. Katara kicked a jet of flame towards the boats in the distance that were carrying their attackers. She's a Waterbender first, why isn't she fighting with water?

"Aren't you supposed to be the Avatar?" Zuko shouted above the noise, teasing her. "Why aren't you doing your glowing eyes shit? What's the use?"

"Shut up Zuko, I don't know how to do it on command!" Katara snapped back.

"Maybe that's something you should figure out!" Zuko ducked another jet of water, tapping Katara with his elbow on his way down, letting her know to duck as well. Katara dropped, glancing over her shoulder at Zuko, eyes narrowed.

"Oh gee, I never thought of that!"

"Your sarcasm," Zuko punched a couple of fire balls at some rope, "Is not warranted right now."

"Go to Agni!"

"Only if you join me." Katara rolled her eyes, and was about to respond when Beck was knocked off his typhoon.

"Beck!" Katara screamed, taking a step towards the young waterbender. Sokka was there already, paddling out to him as he tried to dodge the attack.

"Agh!" Katara's eyes snapped to Zuko. She watched him fall, almost as if in slow motion as a blunt force slammed into his stomach, pushing him overboard.

"Zuko!" She screamed. Ren roared and writhed as a whirlpool held her in place and buffeted her injured wing.

Ren! Katara screamed, glancing at the beast's head.

Save him! She shouted. I'll be fine! Katara set her jaw and dove into the water. Zuko must've been hit hard enough that he couldn't draw breath, causing him to pass out. Katara's eyes narrowed in anger as she dove deeper, grasping at his robes. With all her might she kicked upwards, but she was slowly losing her breath as well, he was just so damned heavy.

Katara closed her eyes and used one hand in a desperate pushing motion, and the water obeyed. It split from top to bottom, creating a typhoon on which she could rise up, calling on the little knowledge she had of Waterbending, and praying to their ancient spirits Tui and La.