Time and Time Again

Chapter 2: Fade To Black

Katara's heart thudded as she raced through the forest. She dodged as many branches as she could, but some still managed to get her, cutting her skin like a whip. She could hear people behind her, chasing her. They crashed through the forest, their armor making it harder for them to dodge the debris and plants. Katara knew she had to get away, but she didn't know where to go.

Aang had abandoned her. Sokka, her own brother, had left her. She knew they couldn't have known about her capture, so why did they leave without her? Tears began to blur her vision, making it even harder to run through the dark forest. Desperately, she tried to blink them back, but they only began to spill over. Her breath became ragged as sobs broke through her chest.

Katara broke through the trees, running into the clearing that she had crept away from, just a few hours ago. She mad a beeline for the trees on the other side. She was less than twenty feet away from the trees when they burst into flame. Katara let out a scream and skidded to a halt. The flames engulfed the trees, reaching for her. Panicked, she ran in the opposite direction of them, only to come face to face with five Fire Nation soldiers. She dodged to the right and ran towards the only safety she knew, water. The tears continued to blur her vision, causing her to trip and fall into the awaiting pond. She came up, sputtering.

She leaped onto her feet and spun around, into a waterbending stance. The soldiers stood a few feet from the edge of the pond, ready to attack her. Katara's heart raced, she knew the odds were not in her favor, but she would go down fighting this time.

Katara brought a wobbly stream of water into the air and attempted to use the water whip technique. The water, much to her dismay, fell back into the stream with a splash. One of the soldiers laughed at her, and she could imagine why. She was a little girl standing, soaking wet, in a pond as tears poured down her face, and she could not even do a simple waterbending technique! Fury built up inside her, causing her eyes to flash. With one small exhale, she charged.

She knew she didn't have the slightest chance against five grown men, but she gave it her all. She ran head first into the gut of the man who laughed at her, sending him sprawling onto the ground, gasping for air. The other four moved into action right away. One man grabbed her around the waist and lifted her feet off the ground. He quickly let go as he fell, holding his privates as he groaned in pain. He should have kept my feet on the ground, Katara thought smugly as she tried to punch another soldier. He easily blocked her hands and got a firm grasp on her.

Katara grunted as she tried to kick at the man but another soldier grabbed that leg. The soldier who had been holding her arms let go as the other man gave a firm yank on Katara's leg. Katara yelped as the ground met her face. She watched, helplessly, as the boot of a soldier advanced towards her head. The felt a sharp pain and the world faded to black.