The Forgiven (Zutara)

I'll Save You From the Pirates

"I'll save you from the pirates." I heard as I ran smack into someone's hard chest. I stumbled back to see who it was. I bended water to freeze his feet which just barely bought me enough time to bend water that would take me across the river. When I was halfway across the river I felt the water not obeying my command. I glanced back, they had captured a bender and was forcing him to bend the water and take me back towards them. I jumped for it, landing on the ground. I ran as fast as I could into the forest, but the water wrapped around my waist like an arm and pulled me into the river. It held me under not allowing me to bend the water, I held my breath for as long as I could, then bender bashed me back and forth against the sharp rocks. My lungs were burning and I couldn't hold my breath any longer. I was pretty sure I was dead, but when my eyes opened and I coughed up the water trapped in my lungs I was shocked. It took a minute for my eyes to register everything that was going on, I but I soon realized that the banished prince brought me back from the dead....And grateful though I was....He still tied me up and tried to make me tell him where the Avatar was. I slowly met the benders gaze. "Bite me." I growled. He walked behind the tree and held up my mothers necklace where it would normally be around my neck.

"Are you sure you don't want to tell me?" He asked. "I'd be more than happy to return this to you." He smirked walking back in front of me. I tried to hide my shock.

"It's just a necklace. Keep it." I replied. My eyes flicked towards the water bender who nearly drowned me, it was Bako. He was like my uncle. My father figure when dad wasn't around. I gasped which caused him to look up at me. His mouth fell agape. "Bako?" I asked.

"Katara. I didn't-I had no idea that was you." He said shocked.

"I take it you know each other." Zuko smirked. I turned towards him.

"You've got another thing coming if you think I'll ever tell you where Aang is. So either kill me or let me go." I growled. He stared me in the eyes, testing me. He saw that I was serious and got angry. We both heard an animals roar and looked up. It was Appa. Aang and Sokka sat on his saddle looking around. I saw Sokka point at me, then Aang turned Appa towards me. I shook my head. I bended water while everyone was distracted by Appa, I cut my ropes and was about to attack Zuko while he was distracted, but I felt a blade pierce through my shoulder. The impact knocked me down, the last thing I saw was Sokkas face staring at me in disbelief.

"Katara!" I heard his scream of protest even though he was so far. This caused Zuko to look back and set what it was that made him scream. Bako was trying to run towards me. I could see everything starting to go black. My breath was rigid, I felt an arm around my waist the last thing I saw was Zuko uncle, him, and Bako standing over me wide eyed. I grabbed Bakos hand.

"Tell my dad that I'm sorry for being so angry at him." I whispered squeezing his hand, I could hear him talking to me, but I couldn't quite make out any words. Everything turned to black but to my surprise I woke up. I was on a fire nation boat and I was alive, captured, but alive. Zuko was standing by me, somehow keeping me alive. I couldn't talk. I was too exhausted. I just fell back under. 

I woke up again, gently grasping my arm letting out a small whimper of pain. My breathing was rigid. "Shit." I muttered.

"Don't move." A raspy voice cane from the corner. I looked up. It was Zuko.

"Your highness." I said too exhausted to be angry.

"Are you mocking me?" He growled. I scoffed.

"No. You're a prince aren't you?" I asked.

"I'm banished, no one addresses me like that." He turned his head away from me.

"Banished or not. You're of royal blood. You're still a prince." I said going to stand up but he walked towards me and pushed me back down.