•𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗔 𝗚𝗮𝗺𝗲•

6

A/N: Hi! 

     Katara tried to calm her nerves as she sat, waiting for her skill assessment. Hama told her to not do too well, that would put a target on her back. But Master Pakku told her not to do badly because that would put a target on her back too! She had just decided to wing it and see where that left her. But her brain kept coming up with each possible scenario where things could go wrong.

     Zuko scowled next to her. They hadn't spoken since dinner the other night, but Katara didn't mind. She and Toph had gotten even closer, and she finally felt like she had made a true friend. Toph even gave her a nickname, "Sugar Queen". Katara didn't know fully what it meant, but she was touched someone cared enough about her to give her a nickname.

     Now she was alone in a cold room, with only Zuko. Toph had just entered the testing room, and Katara couldn't help but worry for her friend. Toph had told her she planned to fail greatly, then surprise everyone in the arena. Katara admired her friend's bravery, but she hoped Toph wasn't playing the weak card too hard.

     She and Zuko had sat there for hours, and her patience was dwindling. Of course, she had the luck of being the last one to be tested.

     A man came out and gestured for Zuko to stand and follow him. Katara barely looked up and started to pick at her nails. Lo and Li wouldn't like that, and the thought brought Katara some satisfaction. 

     She gazed at her ring and thought of Aang. What was he doing back home? Was he worrying about her? Was he trying to forget about her already? The thought made her throat tight.

     She tried to think about other things, like the pranks Toph would play on the Careers. But her mind kept driving back.

     She shook herself. She needed to focus on skill testing more than anything. She was planning on showing off some waterbending moves, like showing off her water whips, and showing how she could manipulate ice. She wondered what Zuko was doing.

     The door opened and the same man came out to tell her to come in. Katara hopped up and followed him into what looked like an exact copy of the training room.

      There was a wall of all kinds of weapons, swords, knives, clubs, bows, and arrows. Even stations where you could show off your survival skills. But Katara saw that there was no water to be seen, and she knew they were trying to put benders at a disadvantage. She had always thought it was unfair that firebenders could create their element while others had to find it.

     She looked up towards the balcony and saw the Gamemakers were sitting around and having a feast. There were whole tables of food, so much it could probably serve all of her district's population. But what stood out the most was the fact that none of them had even looked at her.

     She cleared her throat. "Um hi," she squeaked. Her stomach turned around and she took a deep breath.

     The Gamemakers glanced her way, and then went back to eating.

     Katara shrugged and tried to draw the water out of the air. A few drops collected above her hands, then more, and more, until she had a large ball of water. She cheered on the inside.

     She glanced at the Gamemakers, and became angry when she saw they weren't even looking!

     She cleared her throat deeper, but they still didn't look her way. They seemed more interested in the bottle of wine they were drinking out of.

     "Excuse me?" She said, trying to get their attention. The conversation seemed to just get louder! How hard was it to just assess one more kid?