Chapter 2

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Chapter 2 After traveling for miles, Appa landed so we could rest for a bit. Katara was showing me a new Waterbending move called the Octopus. Things were going great until she put her arms around me to correct my form and I forgot everything I was doing and lost myself in her eyes. I can't help it—they're just so pretty! Anyway, that's when this singing and dancing group came walking out of the nearby woods. They told us they were nomads. We decided to travel with them to Omashu through these secret tunnels and caves that one of them, Chong, told us about. The tunnels cut through the mountain and lead directly to Omashu. As we entered the caves, Chong told us about the legend of the two lovers. He also told us that the caves were cursed. "Only those who trust in love can make it through the caves. Everyone else gets trapped forever." Hmm. All we have to do is trust in love? Something tells me that's harder than it sounds. …As soon as we stepped into the cave, a rockslide sealed off the entrance. We wandered through the tunnels for hours. Then a wolfbat attacked. I sent an

Airbending blast at it, which knocked Sokka's flaming torch from his hand and onto Appa, who started kicking wildly. I'd never seen him so upset! Katara put out the fire just as Appa kicked the cave walls and rocks came tumbling down from the ceiling. I managed to get Sokka and the nomads out of the way in time, but then the rest of the ceiling came crashing down, and I had to grab Katara and fly us to the other side of the cave. After the crash, I found myself on the ground next to Katara with my arm around her. What are the odds? I wish I could stay like this forever… but I have to get up and make sure everyone's okay. Looks like Appa's okay, and Katara is too, but what's that huge wall of rocks? Oh, no! The wall has separated us from Sokka and the nomads. I guess they're going to have to find their own way out of the tunnel—I have to focus on finding a safe way out for Appa, Katara, and me. We'd been walking through the dark tunnels for hours when we came across a large stone door. We pushed through the door, but instead of an exit, there was a tomb—two tombs actually. Katara noticed that the pictures on the tomb walls told the lovers' story. They were from warring

villages on opposite sides of the mountain. Because of the war, the lovers had to meet in secret. They learned Earthbending from the badger moles so they could Earthbend these tunnels and caves to get to one another. Then the man was killed in the war. Instead of destroying both villages with her Earthbending power, the woman forced the two villages to stop the war and together they built a new city. The woman's name was Oma. The man's name was Shu. And so the new city was named Omashu to honor their love. "It says here 'Love is brightest in the dark,'" Katara read. Her torch is starting to fade. Soon we'll be trapped in total darkness. For the first time since we entered the caves, I'm worried. Still, I don't want Katara to know how nervous I am. Just stay calm, and everything will be fine. "I have a crazy idea," Katara said suddenly. "What?" I hope it's a good one, because this place is giving me the creeps! "Never mind," she said, turning away. It's pretty dark in here, but is Katara blushing? It sure looks like it. "It's too crazy." "Katara, what is it?" One of us better come up with something soon.…

"Well, the curse says that we'll be trapped in here forever unless we trust in love. And above this picture of them kissing it says 'Love is brightest in the dark.' So, what if we kissed?" Uh… did I just hear her right? Katara and me, kiss? Katara wants to kiss me? Almost since the moment I met her I've dreamed of kissing her. Did she really say that? "Us, kissing?" I need to be sure I actually heard her right. "See, that was a crazy idea," she said quickly. This is going to be the best day of my life! I can't move, breathe, or smile, but I've never been more excited in my life! I think I may pass out.… "Us. Kissing." Okay, stop saying that and just say yes before she changes her— "Us, kissing!" Katara repeated, laughing loudly. "What was I thinking? Can you imagine that!" It's too late. I blew it! Standing here in my daze I let the moment pass and now she's taking the crazy wonderful suggestion back… like she wishes she never said it. Now I have to act that way too. I mean, I can't let her know that I think it's the greatest idea she ever had. Just smile, and try to sound like you agree with her. "I definitely wouldn't want to kiss you!" Oh, no. I

wish I could take that back. What a dumb thing to say! And I don't even mean it! "Oh, well I didn't realize it was such a horrible option," Katara said harshly. "Sorry I suggested it." Great, now she's mad. Why do I say such dumb things! I have to make this right. "No, no, I mean if it's a choice between kissing you and dying, I—" Oh boy, that didn't help. I just can't get it right when it comes to Katara. Okay, let's try again. "I'm saying I would rather kiss you than die. That's a compliment." "Well, I'm not sure which I would rather do!" And now she's storming out of the tomb. Great. Instead of fixing things, I just keep making them worse. Why am I so afraid to let Katara know how I feel about her? Now it doesn't matter. I really blew it. "We're going to run out of light any second now, aren't we?" I asked, catching up to her. "I think so." At least she's still talking to me. "Then what are we going to do?" "What can we do?" She turned toward me. Just then her light went out. Here we are in pitch dark with no hope of ever