Stolen (Building Bridges Book 1) (ON HOLD)

Chapter 5

"Get out of the water before you catch a cold, you big jerk!" Katara heard the laughter in her own voice, and marveled at it. It had been so long since she'd felt this carefree.

And she was really glad that Aang had finally come to his senses.

"On my way!" Aang was laughing too as he made his way toward the shore, and Katara shook her head, waiting for him. He could be such a child... but then, he was a child, really. He was only twelve years old.

So young to be the Avatar, to have so much responsibility...

Yet again, her mind tried to draw her back toward Zuko and the dilemma she now faced, but she forced the thoughts away.

She didn't want to be sad—

Oh no! She gasped as she saw a fin rise in the water behind Aang, and then, Aang was sucked under.

He came up a heartbeat later, on the back of the Unagi! Katara moved before she even thought it about what she was doing—the water flowed around her like an extension of herself. 

She had to save Aang.

She didn't know if she wanted to save him for the world, or for Zuko. 

Right then, she didn't care.

She ran across the water, reached down and grabbed Aang. The huge sea serpent snapped at them, but she leapt back and sent a jet of water at its face. She ran back across the waves, as fast on water as Aang was on land. 

She carried Aang back to the village as quickly as her legs would carry them; thankfully, it was late, and no one was around to stop her and ask bothersome questions. She laid Aang on his bed, biting her lip in worry. He'd taken quite a beating from the Unagi, and she only hoped the damage wasn't too extensive.

Smoothing her hands through the air across his body, Katara felt the water in his lungs, and ever so carefully, she pulled it out.

He coughed, and his eyes blinked open—she smiled at him, glad that he was okay.

Filled with emotion, memories surprised her, crept up on her conscious mind before she could stop them, and pulled her back in time.

****

She is building a sandcastle. Ursa places a fig leaf on one of the towers as a flag. There's a shout from behind them—she turns and sees Azula in the water. 

It wasn't Azula who shouted. 

Suddenly afraid, Seren runs into the water. The moment she touches the waves, she knows. She is furious. She wants to hurt Azula, but she can't bend will all the people around on the beach.

So she grabs Azula by the hair and shoves the princess under the water. 

Azula will never know that the water is helping Seren hold her down. Beside them, Zuko pops up, sputtering and gasping. He is blue in the face.

Azula almost killed him.

Ursa is there, and she pulls Seren off Azula. Azula is screaming and choking, telling Seren that she is going to die.

Seren doesn't care. She takes Zuko's hand and pulls him out of the water. He is still coughing, but she can't help him until they're alone. His hand is warm in hers, the salt water between them is a bond. His fingers are tight around hers, and she can see the fear and confusion in his eyes.

He doesn't understand why his sister is so mean.

She does. She has seen monsters like Azula before. She hurts for her friend. She wishes she could take him away from there and keep him safe forever.

But they can't leave Ursa behind.

They run away, hide behind some rocks. She feels the water in his lungs and pulls it out, tossing it away just as Ursa finds them. Ursa's eyes go wide. This is when she knows what Seren is for the first time.

Seren says nothing. With her eyes, she dares Ursa to tell someone. Ursa never does. 

****