Stolen (Building Bridges Book 1) (ON HOLD)

Chapter 3

Katara couldn't believe how they'd treated Aang. She was so angry at them. She wanted to hurt them, and that made her afraid. It had been so long since she'd felt anything this deeply, and she didn't know what to do with the emotions.

So she ran away, deep into the ice fields. She couldn't breathe.

Aang was FUN and nice and... and... and NOT familiar. He'd helped her feel again, he'd made her laugh! And they'd sent him away.

Like they didn't care that she needed him.

Like they didn't care that he'd made her feel alive for the first time in two years.

She needed to burn off steam, and there was only one way she knew how to do it.

She dropped into a stance, and closed her eyes.

Her hands rose almost of their own volition, and she didn't have to see to know that the snow was following her movements, turning into water. She made it dance around her body in intricate patterns, made it twist and writhe through the air. The minutes flew by, but she didn't notice. She was only focused on the water and her movements and the beauty of bending. She loved to bend.

It was so rare that she got to practice this way, though. If her family knew that she was already a master waterbender, it would raise questions. Questions that she wasn't ready to answer, even after two whole years.

Instantly angry all over again, Katara changed her forms.

Suddenly the waterbender wasn't bending like a waterbender.

Her motions were faster, more precise. And the water moved faster, twisting like a snake. Her eyes snapped open and she spun into a crouch, going onto her hands and kicking out before going up onto her feet again. Snow followed her body's path, and water shot from the ground and the air near her feet, turning into icy spikes that shot through nearby drifts like arrows.

It was a firebending move, and an advanced form at that. Had any water or firebender seen her do it, they would have been shocked. All but one.

She frowned darkly. She didn't want to think about HIM.

But in her heart she wondered where he was, if he was okay. She hadn't seen him since that fateful day, two years before.

In her vulnerable, emotional state, she couldn't stop the memories, and without her wishing it, her mind took her back... and back.. and back...

****

"NO!"

She runs into the arena, moving as fast as her worn silk slippers will allow. She is at his side in seconds, tears streaming down her cheeks. He's unconscious, his black hair falling in limp strands around his face. She brushes the strands back; she can feel the steam coming off him, smell the sickening scent of burned flesh.

She looks up at the monster who towers above them, a sick grin on his face.

"How could you?!" She screams at him, fury and pain overpowering her fear. "He's your son!"

"He's a weakling and a coward. He's no son of mine. From this day forward he is BANISHED, until such time as he can regain his honor—by capturing the Avatar."

Then Ozai is gone, sweeping out of the room. And she is left holding the boy she loves in her arms, sobbing and wondering, confused and lost. She is left questioning everything she knows, begging someone, anyone, to tell her why in the world humans are so heartless and cruel.

Begging someone, anyone, to tell her what she's supposed to do now, and how she's supposed to make this right.

But no one answers her.