Yin & Yang

Chapter 26.

Tears streamed down the water benders' face from her anger filled eyes. Toph's hand came down hard on Katara's cheek, leaving a large red mark. Katara stumbled back and Jet's lifeless and bloody body thudded to the ground. Her eyes widened and she gasped at the site. "Now that you finally realize what's going on," Toph began. Katara looked to the shorter woman. "Zuko is in a lot of pain right now and you could probably help him out. Those medics can only do so much." Her hand traveled to Katara's shoulder. "I can find the other two easily. Jet's dead, that much is certain. Now get going." Toph's heel hit the ground and the rock under Katara's feet shifted and threw her in the direction the medics had taken Zuko. A flicking of her wrist sent the ground straight up underneath Toph, sending her flying into the air and up to the roof. The shillings made out of clay gave her a vague picture of the area and she darted out in the direction she believed Smellerbee and Longshot had most likely traveled.

Guards and servants lined the walls and cluttered the hallways as Katara fought to get past them. They all made such noise that her shouts to them to move aside fell on deaf ears. Groaning to herself, she looked down the long hallway. With a broken shoulder, there was no way she could just shove through everyone. Tapping a guard on the helmet and shouting up to him, she was relieved to see him turning around. "Having all these people here is not going to help the medics at all. I need to get to Zuko. Have the guards start clearing the servants out." Looking up to see the face of the man, she was disappointed to see that he wouldn't follow her orders and he brushed her off.

"I would do as she says, soldier." Iroh's voice sprang up from behind Katara. Both the guard and her turned around to look at the older man. His red and brown robes dirty from walking back to the palace. The guard stood to attention for the Dragon of the West. "I heard what happened from Toph. I am worried about my nephew. Please, do what you can?" Katara nodded to the aging man. The booming voice of the guard next to her shouted out the orders from Iroh and the guards quickly began ushering people back to their stations or at least back into the garden where everything had happened. Iroh and Katara slowly made their way against the traffic.

Katara's eyes darkened and she began scowling and uttering curse words as her shoulder and arm were jostled and slammed against by both bodies and walls. The worried faces of the residents soon walked around the two going against them as though a river would flow around a rock. Iroh approached the two guards in front of the room where Zuko's cries of pain came from. They locked their spears together to prevent them entry. "Move aside. The uncle of the Fire Lord wishes to see him well." Iroh ordered them. Their masks were down and one shook his head. A finger escaped his fist around the spear he held to point to Katara. Iroh looked to the scowling girl, ready to attack the poor man. "I know you are doing your assigned job. But she is no threat, I promise. If anything, she will be able to help. Besides, she is wounded." He indicated her arm. "Now move aside." Again, the man said nothing and held firm.

Huffing, Katara stepped up to him past Iroh. "You will let me past or you will end up like Jet in the gardens. I am in no mood to argue right now." The man didn't falter. Katara's hand balled up into a fist. "Move or I will make you move!" Her shout startled the remaining people in the hallway. The door swung open behind the spears revealing a very agitated medic. Turning, the guards let their defense falter long enough for Katara to duck between them and stalk inside to where Zuko was laying. One man looked up to see the girl and immediately stepped back.

The three people were dressed in white robes with deep pockets where bandages hung from. "Hey! What do you think you're doing!" The woman that had opened the door ran up to Katara and grabbed her by her broken arm. Katara yelled out in pain and the two guards entered the room with Iroh in tow. "Get out of here right now!" She pulled hard on the broken limb. Katara wheeled around, her good hand raising up her body. All but two fingers down and holding them in front of her face, she twisted her hand around and the woman froze. Her hand unsteadily moved off Katara's shoulder. "Wha-..?" A scream of fear escaped her lips.