Just the Opposite || ATLA, Zutara

sixteen || the warning

KATARA'S POV:

We were finally back on track to finding Zuko and Azula's mother.

I was able to give myself a few healing sessions to help my burns, and they're now healed. I have a few scars, but I'm not in pain anymore, which is good. Earlier this morning we left our campsite and have been travelling on Appa ever since. Azula says that Ozai told her that her mother was in the Earth Kingdom, near Ba Sing Se. It'll be a week until we get there from the Fire Nation.

Zuko and I have still managed to keep our dating thing a secret. Maybe Toph knows, but I'm sure she won't tell. Sokka doesn't know anything, neither does Ty Lee or Aang. But I could tell that Azula's suspcious.

"A storms coming," Toph said, staring straight forward. Obviously, she wasn't looking at anyone or anything specfic. But she was very monotone.

"How do you know? There's not a cloud in the sky! It's perfect out!" Ty Lee exclaimed, her braided ponytail whipping in the wind. I wish I could still braid my hair. But since the incident, it's too short to braid. It just stays down with a small Fire Nation bun on the top of my head.

Toph shook her head. "No. I can feel it. A bad storm's coming. We need to find shelte," she warned, and Aang nodded his head in agreement.

"We should listen to her. Last year there was a bad storm that we didn't believe in, and Sokka almost drowned at sea. Toph's right-- we should find shelter," Aang explained, and Sokka rolled his eyes.

"That storm last year was just a coincidence! We'll be fine! If we keep stopping all the time, we'll never reach the Earth Kingdom by tomorrow," Sokka complained.

"Aang and Toph are right. My Uncle and I experienced the same storm, and we almost drowned at sea too if it weren't for the eye of the storm," Zuko chipped in, butting into the conversation. I remember that day, we were coming out of the water from almost drowning. Once we passed Zuko's ship, we flew out and above the storm clouds, and we were safe.

Azula rolled her eyes. "That was before you and Uncle became traitors," she sighed, and the shut her mouth shut immediately after realizing what she said. Even though she claims to be "good" now, she sure doesn't act like it. I frowned at her.

"If you can't be nice to anyone, then don't speak to us at all. I'm not dealing with your dumbass tricks anymore," I snap, and everyone looked at me, not angry, just... shocked. Sokka seemed to be the only one who wasn't.

"I'm-- sorry, I--" Azula stuttered, but I held up my hand, silencing her.

"I don't wanna listen to you. Just stop," I order, and she nods slowly and she looks out at the horizon with Ty Lee patting her back in comfort.

"So where are we headed to?" Toph asked.

Sokka looked at his maps. "The closest place around her is... Ember Island! I remember going there and seeing that terrible play," he muttered. Azula, Ty Lee, and Zuko's faces lit up a bit, I wasn't sure why.

"Then that's where we'll go for safety! Appa, down there! Yip yip!" Aang exclaimed, and Appa began to head downwards in the sky and onto Ember Island.

*

"I wanna show you around," Zuko whispered in my ear. Everyone else went to find a cave, and Zuko and I agreed to find some more supplies.

"We don't have time, silly!" I laugh. "The storm could be here any minute!"

Zuko glanced up at the sky. There was still no cloud in the sky. He shrugged. "I think we have a little time," he smirked, and I nodded in agreement. He took my hand and dragged me along the beach to show me around (even though I've been here before.)