A Different Destiny

Chapter 37

After the failed attempt at healing Katara she didn't see anyone aside from when she was given water for days. She never thought she'd want to talk to another person so badly, even if it was just to ask the guards to tell anything at all about the outside. She missed the feeling of the evening air on her skin and the wonder she felt walking under the moonlight. Sometimes at night, when she felt most alone, left only to struggle through a sea of unwanted thoughts, she feared she may forget what the sky looked like.

If you had asked Katara how long this went on for, how many days she wearied on through this isolation, this place that brought her to the brink of madness- she wouldn't have the slightest clue. She realized at this time if you hadn't been through something quite so awful, so terrible, and traumatic there wasn't a way to explain what that meant. She was at a loss for words or explanation to describe what was going through her mind right now. When every day was the exact same, they all quickly meant nothing. When there was nothing to occupy her mind than the memories of the things she had recently lost. Well then, what was she really left with?

Had she spent some time thinking her situation over logically she might have found a tiny grain of hope amongst all this despair. She was being held in the hull of a ship, Firebenders weren't natural wanderers like the Air Nomads once where. Although not the quickest means of travel, there was in fact a destination in mind. But with everything that had happened to her the thought never crossed her mind. Without reasoning it through she felt as though she were destined to spend all of her days locked in this room.

It wasn't until she was thrust from her sleep one morning, the metal bones of the ship screaming as if to wake her. Unable to stop her momentum she was thrown into the side of her cell next to her bed, hitting the metal with a thud. She winced in pain and grasped at her shoulder.

Kind of them to warn her they were docking. She thought to herself- wait, docking!

For a moment she forgot the pain in her arm as a rush of exhilaration and excitement shot through her at the potential of finally seeing the open sky. The excitement quickly turned to dread as she realized this must mean they had reached their unknown destination, wherever they were that couldn't be good news for her.

Her mind started running through all of the awful possibilities and scenarios waiting for her on the outside. She thought of the horror stories passed around back home, almost as legendary of the spirit beasts that called the coldest, snowiest, and most remote parts of the South Pole their home. Some said that prisoners of war were taken far away for hard labor, often deep in the mines of a volcano. Far away from home and any source. It was said once you were sent to the mines you never left, especially if you were Water Tribe. The elders always explained that those who descended from those who learned from the great Moon and Ocean spirits could not be separated from their natural element like that and live.

Even recalling the memory of this made Katara shiver as she thought about these last several weeks on the ship. Although cut off from waterbending she knew this wasn't half as bad. She knew that deep in a volcano there would be no occasional salty breeze or she wouldn't be able to fall asleep to the soothing push and pull of the ocean waters beneath her like she did now.

For a moment her mind went to a dark place, she couldn't end up in a place like that. No matter what. She wasn't sure what she could do with her arm like this but even if it meant throwing herself into the sea, she couldn't find herself in a place like that.

For better or for worse, Katara wasn't quite sure- she didn't have all that much time to go through horror scenarios in her head before her cell door was thrown open and Captain Zhou and another soldier strode in. After taking a second look she realized the person with Captain Zhou wasn't an ordinary soldier but likely someone of similar rank and standing as Captain Zhou, based upon the finery of his gear and weapons. This was evident in the cool but respectful way in which Captain Zhou talked to this other man, normally there was an air of arrogance around him. Today he was all polite business.

They stopped just in front of Katara's bed and she looked up at them defiantly, saying nothing, but also trying not to let the fear show on her face. She refused to give them the satisfaction.

"So what do you think, Captain Ito?" Zhou asked, almost apprehensively.

The other man slowly looked Katara up and down like he was examining something in the store. He had to be older than her father but she never felt fear like this when her father looked at her.

Ito's eyes locked on Katara's injured arm and fury flashed across his face. "What's that?" he asked sharply, jerking his head towards her arm.

Zhou almost looked apologetic. "Look, we tried to get one of the healers, we had to mend it but she wasn't strong enough."

Captain Ito shook his head in disgust. "Useless.What's the point of having a healer around if they can only take care of minor bruises and cuts. I might as well have my grandmother here!" He paused and then sighed. "I guess it is what it is, but we must have that fixed before the auction this weekend! The sooner the better we need to know if this will have any long term impact on her so it can be noted in her chart."

"Of course." Zhou nodded in agreement and inclined his head slightly out of respect. "Aye!" he turned towards the door barking towards one of the guards who must've been waiting outside. "Bring the old hag in."

Katara wasn't sure what to make of any of this. Without realizing it she had slowly pushed herself to the furthest side of the bed. As if that'll make any difference she thought darkly too herself.

A few seconds later an elderly looking woman, who had to be about Gran's age, dressed in a simple prisoner's robe entered her cell. Although escorted by the guard, this woman walked with independence and purpose, walking just a step in front of the guard despite her age, forcing him to keep pace with her.

When she got to the side of Katara's bed she turned towards the two Captains and inclined her head as Captain Zhou had to Ito just moments before. But Katara knew enough about Fire Nation culture that what she had done wasn't nearly enough. When engaging with someone of military status, especially as a civilian, even a prisoner of war, it was expected to bow at least from the waist down.

"Hello Captain, you must forgive and old woman. While my bending is quite find, my body isn't what it used to be."

Captain Ito rolled his eyes and said nothing.

"Well get to it!" Captain Zhou snapped.

The woman gave him a hard stare but said nothing and turned to face Katara. "Hello there child, my name is H-"

There was a sharp crack as Captain Zhou had quickly strode forward and slapped the woman across the face. "Get to it already!" Katara gasped in surprise, holding her hands to her mouth to try to stifle any sound.

Despite the force she had just been struck with the old woman had stayed on her feet but had been knocked off balances a few feet backwards. For a moment she gave him a look that screamed with anger and hatred. Katara feared that the old woman may say something out of turn and be punished even worse. But like an ocean squall the darkness on her face quickly disappeared replaced by compassion and sadness as she looked back at Katara.

"Show me where it hurts and I'll get you fixed up." She said gently. And for some reason Katara found herself wanting to cry.