Chapter Text
“Then go.” Katara paused in her packing for a moment to look at the boy who had just spoken.
“I was going anyway.” The boy sighed again.
“I get that you have to take this trip, so take Appa and go. You need to face this man. But when you do, please don't choose revenge. Let your anger out, and then let it go. Forgive him.”
“Forgive the man that murdered my mother?” she spat as she loaded the last of their belongings on the sky bison. “That’s impossible.”
With a heavy heart and a hope that Katara would do the right thing, the Avatar watched Appa fly off into the night sky.
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“First we’ll have to figure out where they are stationed.”
“Stationed?” she questioned further.
“Yes. We need to find the Fire Navy communication tower. All the navy's movements are coordinated by messenger hawk. And every tower has to be up to date on where everyone is deployed.”
“So once we find the communication tower, we bust in and take the information we need?”
“Not exactly. We need to be stealthy and make sure no one spots us, otherwise they'll warn the Southern Raiders long before we reach them.”
They travel to a guiding outpost that served as a coordination station for the entire Fire Navy. With Zuko’s direction and a bit of cleverness on both their parts, they reach the room that contained the assignments of all the Fire Nation troops. One lone guard sat inside writing at something. Her back was to them as Katara crept up behind her. Using the ink from her writing utensils, the waterbender subdued the guard as Zuko quickly identified and pulled the information they needed.
Perhaps if she were not so caught up in seeking revenge for the death of her mother, she may have played with the idea of how valuable the outpost could be to their mission. She could have seen that the knowledge contained in that room could have given the group an idea of where the Fire Nation was traveling and when. The type of knowledge that could save lives. But Katara could only see one life. She could only see one use for the document she held in her hands. And after reading it, the only knowledge she retained was that the Southern Raiders were docked at Whaletail Island.
As their journey pushed forward, Katara could not help but think of the memory that had plagued her for so many years. She could never erase the sight of her mother lying dead before her eyes. She could never erase the image of the look the murderer wore on his face as he ordered her out of the hut. She could never erase the smell of burning flesh from her senses or feeling that she couldn’t do anything to save her own mother. But she could erase the man that caused her all that pain. With Whaletail Island in sight, she could feel her blood begin to boil again under the light of the full moon. Eyes fixed on the ship Zuko had pointed out as the commander’s hull, she was more determined than ever.
On the ship, Karatra wasted no time in disposing of the meaningless foot soldiers. In a swift, strong, and powerful display of waterbending enhanced by the moon, she sends most of the crew overboard with a massive wave. She and Zuko proceed to the main control room where the ship’s captain is waiting.
“Who are you?” The man spoke out prideful.
“You don’t remember her? You will soon, trust me.”
The boy’s words confused the commander, but the truth became clear very quickly.
“Wha—What’s happening to me…?”
The tenseness of the situation was so clearly evident in the way Katara bent the water to her will. After defeating the old innkeeper that night, she swore she would never use such a devastating technique again. Despite the promise to herself, the captain was subdued instantly, his own blood betraying him.
“Think back to your last raid on the Southern Water Tribe.”
“Please!” the man begged. “I have no idea what you’re talking about! I don’t know!”
Katara’s rage, festering for all those years, easily was enough to kill the man right then. She could have ended the suffering quickly and moved on. But she wouldn’t do it without a confession. She wouldn’t do it until he knew exactly who killed him—so he was looking her in the eyes when she took him out. Inadvertently, it was this thirst for the ultimate vengeance that spared the man his life.
“Don’t lie! You look her in the eye and tell me you don’t know what you did.” Zuko goaded as their eyes met.
“It’s not him.” From raging anger to sadness and depression in mere moments, the girl released the commander and began to walk away. “That’s not him.”
Confused, Zuko turned to the weak, cowering man again.
“If you’re not the man we’re looking for, who is?”
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He caught up with the waterbender after she left through the room’s door.
“Katara!" She looked back dejectedly, and he locked eyes with her in a steady gaze. “I got it, for sure this time.” Her head lifted, determination becoming renewed.
“I know where to find the man that killed your mother.”