A/N: hey! this is my first fanfic, and it's still being worked on. updates will probably not be regular and most likely far apart. it's mainly about my OC's, but Zuko and the gaang are in it. no ships, sorry. (maybe some hints but no more than that.) set after CRoD, I think.

Disclaimer: If I owned Avatar, it wouldn't be as awesome as it is. but I do own my characters.

A Fire Nation soldier roamed through the forest, making plenty of noise. They wore a full uniform, including a helmet. They were not concerned about being heard, even though it was Earth Kingdom territory.

Most people would've called them cocky but they would've laughed in their faces. This wasn't considered a risk by this particular soldier.

There was movement in the underbrush nearby. The soldier turned to the noise, but didn't prepare to fight. A young man, distinguished clearly as Earth Kingdom by the clothing and green eyes, sprang out of the bush ready for an attack.

The soldier just looked at him, and he glared back. The Fire soldier didn't look very tall, and apparently wasn't a bender. He had a sword, but didn't draw it. The earth bender charged at the soldier and pushed him down. He pined the Fire Nation soldier down, surprised that he didn't fight back or struggle. The sounds of people rushing toward them were expected by the Earth Bender for they were with him. The soldier seemed to know this, and in a quiet voice

he pleaded, "Please, help me…"

The Earthbender almost jumped with surprise, the soldier was a girl! The other Earth Soldiers surrounded them as he scrambled off the girl. Two came forward and grabbed her firmly, then another one pulled off the helmet. There were several gasps of surprise, she was not what they had expected.

Her hair wasn't dark like most Fire Nation people, and her skin not as pale. Her golden eyes were tired and showed a little fear, but there was no fire there. Her hair was pulled up in a lose topknot and several strands had come free and fell into her face.

"Please" she whispered, the voice was filled with innocence found rarely in these dark times, he resisted showing sympathy

After regaining his composure he said, "Tie her up, were taking her with us. And don't forget the blind fold." The Earth Soldiers hurried to do as he said.

---

She was in a cell sitting in a meditative pose, but her mind wouldn't settle down. She kept thinking about the handsome young man that had tackled her. He had kind of scruffy, unkept, brown hair and his eyes were a beautiful shade of green. There was one thing that bothered her, and that was the hate in those eyes.

She sighed. why? she thought sadly. Then she heard footsteps, the door to her cell open, and then nothing. Without opening her eyes she said, "are you coming in or are you going to stand there all day?" she waited a moment then opened her eyes and went on, "Come on in, make yourself at home." she said sarcastically, as she looked at the man. It was the young man that had captured her, in the light of the cell she could see he was tall and built like an Earth Bender.

He walked in and stood in the middle of the cell, a few steps away from the bed she was sitting on.

She wasn't wearing the armor anymore. Now she was wearing cloths that were a dark red, almost brown. He figured that's what she had been wearing under the armor. They must have taken the armor because it was no where in sight.

She smiled, "I want to thank you, and I'm sure my Captain would thank you as well. since I've been nothing but a thorn in his side since I was assigned to his unit."

"Thank me? For what? I just got you captured." He added the last bit smugly.

"That's why. I'm no longer in the military thanks to you." She ignored the obvious rudeness of her comment, being in the war was supposed to be a gift, and to fight for your country was an honor.

"Why is that a good thing?"

"Because I never wanted to be in the military to begin with. I see no point in this stupid war." she paused, "I don't see why they even drafted me, I'm not full Fire Nation. Despite what my father insists, I know I'm not."

"You're not fire nation?" This was unheard of, except for the concubine's half and half children the Nation's kept their bloodlines within their borders.

"Oh, I am. Just not completely. And I have no useful information. Sorry I was a low ranking soldier, and I hardly listened to my orders." She said this all in one breath.

Now he was seriously confused, this girl contradicted everything he thought about the Fire Nation. And she was happy to be captured, by the enemy?

"I just realized, we were never properly introduced." She stood and bowed, "I am Zaira. Daughter of commander Odol." she straitened, "well, retired commander."

"Rea." he said, unsure of what to think about this girl.

They just stared at each other for a moment, then someone opened the cell door. "Rea, your father wants to speak with you." then he left.

Rea rolled his eyes, "Now what does he want?" then he remembered Zaira, "You'll be questioned later." then he left.

"Won't that be pleasant." then she sat back on the bed and tried to meditate.

-----

Rea once again entered the cell, but this time he held a tray of food. He set it down on the small table. if you'd call it a table, it was more of a stool. She watched his movement, they were confined as if he was holding something back. "is something wrong?"

"Yes- no, ugh." he said, obviously frustrated.

"Wanna talk about it?" she asked carefully. "Come sit down." she scooted over and patted the space on the bed beside her. He reluctantly sat down. Her attitude was so disarming that he completely over looked his training. "Now what's wrong?"

"My father. He's so hard to work with!" then he stopped. "Why do you care?"

"I don't like it when people are upset, and sometimes it helps to talk about it."

He looked at her strangely. "What?" she asked.

"Are you really the daughter of a Fire Nation commander?"

She looked away, and nodded. "yes, and he was all that you'd expect from a fire nation commander. He was deceitful, unkind, and well let's leave it at that," she rubbed her arms subconsciously.

"Why do you ask?

"You seem to nice to be Fire Nation, much less the daughter of a commander." he admitted.

"A child can't chose their parents." she said with some bitterness. "I love him, but…"

"but what?" she shook her head, he thought for a moment. "Sometimes it helps to talk about it."

She looked at him. "True, but sometimes the past should be left in the past." she smiled, "besides I don't know you very well yet."

"Yet?" he raised an eyebrow.

"Well, I don't think I'll be going anywhere soon. I am in a cell and they, you, probably won't let me go." she looked away, "I'm from the Fire Nation, we're all heartless monsters, remember?"she almost said it jokingly, but the hurt was evident in her voice.

He looked down sadly, "I should go before they find us talking, that wouldn't be good for either of us." he left.

Why do I care?She's Fire Nation! They can't be trusted! So why do I? he thought as he left.

----

Zaira sighed and rubbed her sore arm lightly. She was bored, and a little sore from the 'interrogation', but she knew the Fire Nation was worse. She was thankful that they weren't as rough as they could be. She paced a little, then she laid on her bed and crossed her legs so that one was in the air. She swung her foot a little, humming to herself. She put her arms behind her head and closed her eyes, still humming.

She hadn't slept much, and the hunger pains had faded several hours ago. She was used to being hungry, so it hadn't bothered her much. They were trying to get information from her, but she didn't know anything useful. She wanted to be out there helping, not here rotting in this cell, but at least she was safe from her father and Captain here.

She could pick locks. If she really wanted to she could leave. She didn't because she wanted to earn their trust. She was still wondering why, but she usually didn't question her instincts. So there she was, laying on her bed trying not to be bored, when she heard an explosion.

She sat up, "What was that?" she heard people rushing around, then nothing. they must be on another hall. she stood and went to the door. ok, I'm not sitting here while something interesting is happening. she picked the lock with her hair pins and stepped in to the hall. Following the sound of fighting, she soon found two fire benders fighting an Earth Bender and a non-bender.

"Hey!" The Firebenders stopped briefly before she punch he nearest Firebender.

When the Firebenders were defeated, the Earth Kingdom soldiers looked at her surprised. "th-thanks" said one.

She smiled, before hearing more fighting around the corner. Running ready for a fight she found Rea and an unconscious Firebender.

"What are you doing out here!?" he asked, surprised. She came at him and sent a punch toward his face. He closed his eyes, but the blow didn't come. He opened his eyes and Zaira was smirking. He heard a groan and turned to see a fire nation soldier lying on the ground with a bloody nose. He turned back to Zaira, and raised an eyebrow. Then he surrounded the fallen soldier with earth, so he couldn't get away.

--

After the intruders were taken care of the Warden came around and saw Zaira. She was sitting in the cafeteria sipping on a glass of water. "WHAT IS SHE DOING HERE?!" he shouted, angrily, of course.

Everyone stopped and looked at him.

He stormed over to her, there was fear in her eyes, but before he reached her Rea stood in his way. "Out of my way, boy!"

He stood firm, "No"

"Get out of my way!"

"NO!" he said very loudly.

The Warden backed up a little, "Why not?" then as an after thought, "You're disobeying direct orders."

"She helped fight the soldiers, she deserves her freedom." he said firmly.

"She's Fire Nation!"

"I know that!" he said frustrated. He calmed down a little, "She fought her own people, if that doesn't prove her loyalty to us nothing will."

"Is this true?" he asked the others. They nodded and one said, "She took out four that I know of."

"Fine, she's free, for now." Then he stormed off. After he left everyone let out a sigh of relief. Rea turned to Zaira, who had her eyes squeezed shut and she was shaking.

He bent down, "Are you alright?" he asked, concerned.

She nodded weakly, and she was still shaking a little. He looked around, they sat in an awkward silence for a few moments. His attention went back to her, she was saying something quietly. He listened closely, "He looked… so much like him." she took several deep breaths, opened her eyes and look at Rea.

There were tears in her eyes, but she blinked them away. "Thank you."

He picked up her cup and put it in her hands, "You're welcome." then he went and sat with the others. After a few minutes Zaira got up and walked outside.

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, enjoying the breeze. She smiled a little and when she opened her eyes she found a tree in the courtyard. her smile grew and she went over to it. Soon she was on a low branch of the tree, swinging her leg. She leaned back against the tree, closed her eyes and sighed, content.

A/N: well that's it for the first chapter. hopefully more will come soon, but untill then, please review!