Steam: An Avatar Story

Chapter 22

Katara had finally slipped into a fitful sleep when she was unceremoniously woken by a bucket of freezing water poured on her face. Sputtering and coughing, she shot up. She glanced around, vision blurry, as she tried to remember what happened. The metal, the rocking – she was on a ship, Zhao's ship, and they were going to attack. Zhao was looking for Zuko and Suki. Two firebenders were standing outside of her cage, cruel amusement twisting their faces.

The front of her gown was soaked, and her hair was plastered to her face. Water, the water! She needed to try and bend it. So foolish of them, splashing her with water. She tried to draw on that energy pooled at the base of her spine. She couldn't feel it there, she couldn't feel any of her bending. Agni damn it all. The tingling she had felt before had disappeared entirely. She tried to think why. The food. The drug that suppressed her bending must be in the food. Looks like she wasn't eating or drinking anything for a while.

The doors to her cell opened, the guards laughing as they realized she had been trying to reach her bending. The two men grabbed her, one at each arm, squeezing tight enough to hurt. Katara grit her teeth, resolving to not show them how much pain she was in with her injured leg and the pressure on her arms.

"Where are you taking me?" Katara demanded. Her voice was hoarse. Agni, how long had she been here? She couldn't remember anything, she was so foggy. The last thing she remembered was eating the food.

"Quiet," one of the guards hissed. They just dragged her to another room, and shoved her into a metal chair, strapping her down with chains. Katara strained, trying to loosen them, but to no avail. "Admiral Zhao will be here soon."

"Why?" Katara asked, voice scraping. The guards just chuckled and walked out, ignoring her.

True to their word, Zhao walked in a few minutes later.

"Go to hell," Katara snapped.

"So feisty. We'll break that spirit in a few hours." Hours? What was he going to do to her? "Where's the prince?" Katara remained silent, fire burning behind her blue eyes. Zhao just sneered, holding his hand up. Red-orange flames danced around his fingers, the glow reflecting off the dark metal of the ship's interior.

"You can burn me all you want, I won't tell you anything," Katara hoped she could hold out. She had to, for the safety of her people, the safety of Zuko and Suki.

"We'll see about that," Zhao smirked as he pressed his burning hand to her arm. Katara screamed, but did not break. Unfortunately, Zhao had only just begun.

—-

Zuko glanced up at the darkening sky. He wasn't sure what it was, but it almost seemed like the snow now falling was black. Suki and Sokka stood next to him, eyes narrowed. They had been on the streets, trying to pick up any clues as to who could've taken Katara. Beck was with his uncle, attempting to get Chief Arnook's support. Hopefully, Princess Yue could sway him, Zuko knew she and Sokka had grown close over these few weeks.

Katara had only been gone for a day, but it felt like an eternity to Zuko, and he couldn't even really act on how he was feeling, because Beck was always there, always watching Zuko. He hated him, and Beck hated Zuko right back. The only reason they had tolerated each other these past hours was because Katara was missing, and they were on the same side for once.

"What is that?" Suki murmured the question. Zuko wasn't sure, but Sokka tensed beside him.

"It's the black snow," Sokka said, voice hard.

"Meaning?" Zuko replied, knowing he would not like the answer.

"The Fire Nation has closed in on the North. They mean to sack the city." Sokka's voice was hollow. Suki covered her mouth with her hands, horrified.