"Hey Suki did you need me? Katara said you wanted to talk to me," Aang walked over to the fire pushing his messy hair out of his eyes.

"Oh she said that you wanted to talk to me? Something about no fire flakes?" Suki frowned not understanding.

"No? I said nothing of the sort," Aang tilted his head to the side confused.

"That's weird? Where is Katara then? I haven't seen her," the non bender looked around as Aang looked behind him where appa was.

"Katara?"

-

Katara grunted as she pulled herself up as she climbed the rope to the top of the cliff, her nails digging into the dirt as she crawled to be stable on the ground.

She was going to get in so much trouble.

Katara let out a breath of relief standing back up, adjusting her bag as she took off in a jog to get distance between her and the others. She had to be back in the fire nation.

Yea, she was going to get in so much trouble.

"They wanted me to be in that stupid family, if no one wanted me to get involved then don't force marriages on children," Katara huffed as she ran across the dry dirt under the moon light.

No, she doesn't regret marrying Zuko, she loved him and was grateful for having him in her life. But she will always be angry for them being treated like property that was traded for a false sense of peace.

Now the two of them are making sure it was going to happen.

Katara eventually ran out of energy to run away from the avatar and the 'bodyguard' that where suppose to protect her. But she didn't need protecting. She slowed down to a walk as she breathed heavily looking up at the sky, the moon was hard to see in the clouds but it was also the second night after a full moon. The stars were bright at least.

Pulling the map from her bag she walked and looked down at the scroll, she was still close to the fire nation but no doubt zhao would find her and use her to get to Zuko. She wasn't stupid.

Zuko was apart of an organization she remembered, order of the white lotus, she could find them knowing they were powerful benders from all over the world, fire nation including. His uncle. General iroh would be one to put his life on the line for peace, like Zuko.

But if he was in prison or out of prison it would take longer to track him down.

Katara remembered zukos swords master, Zuko was going to join him for a weekend, what was the masters name?

She looked at the Capitol of the fire nation trying to find something of the sort where a swords master may be. Master piandao.

Spirits it's going to be a lot of walking these next few weeks.

—

Katara walked for two days to the northern village of the capital of the fire nation, walking around the Capitol to avoid any soldiers, she was able to hitch a few rides from farmers who had wagons pulled, no one questions who she was thankfully as she stayed closer to those in poverty than the rich.

She yawned rubbing her eyes as she walked through the village seeing people having a normal day like any other. The market was full and people were smiling, almost as if nothing happened. Or maybe they didn't care what happened to their fire lord or prince.

She wondered if the bastard died yet. She wondered if he was truly on his death bed.

"Excuse me," Katara went over to a merchant once they were done talking to a customer.

"I'm sorry I'm a bit lost, I'm looking for a man named piandao," Katara said softly as the man looked at her suspiciously.

"Who's asking?" He scoffed.

"I heard he's the best sword man, I'm looking to learn as his student," she smiled hopeful, her eyes full of innocence and wonder.

"Ha, You won't last a day," he laughed in her face.

"I won't know unless I try, can you direct me to him?" She tried again.

"I'll save you the blood, sweat and tears dear, don't bother," the man waved her off and Kataras eyes harden annoyed instead now.

"You can either tell me or I'm going to keep asking," she bit back her tone a little.

"For an exchange," Katara dropped a bag of coins on his cart.

The man looked at her again and saw the water tribe necklace around her neck, he gulped a little recognizing why someone like her would be looking for a master.

"Keep your money, head towards the mountains, you'll find a trail into a valley, it'll be hard to miss his gates," the man sighed a little pushing the bag towards her.

"Thank you," she pursed her lips nervously now.

"No, thank you my lady," he nodded and turned away.

Katara didn't say another word as she kept to herself and moved towards the mountains outside the village. She touched her necklace softly and gulped, he knew. She wondered if her in laws or if she impacted the merchant. Or how.

She could feel her feet dragging as she traveled to the valley of the mountains, there was a forest all around but after what felt like forever she saw gates. Large gates that wouldn't allow anyone to even sneak a peak.

She walked towards the doors that were a striking red and gold handles. Knocking firmly on the doors, minutes passed before she used the handle to knock even louder.

The doors opened and sword was pointed at her nose before she even saw the person that welded the blade.

"Who dares?" A man glared at the door.

"I'm looking for prince Zuko," Katara said calmly but her eyes stayed on the blade a little worried.

"Who's looking?" His eyes narrowed.

"His wife," she looked at him.

The sword was lowered and the door opened wider.

"Were you followed?" He asked in a low tone.

"No, I came alone," Katara nodded.

The man opened the door and allowed her in, as soon as Katara walked through the gates, the large doors closed behind her and locked.