Author's Note: Hey, guys! Here's the first chapter of the next book! I hope you like it! - Fira

Refugees

Sequel to Maya

One

Maya sat with Zuko on the ground, leaning against a wooden support beam that held up the roof of an Earth Kingdom spa. It had been three weeks since the incident at the North Pole. A few feet away, Uncle lay on a massage table, with two men standing over him, working out the kinks in his back. All around them was the sound of rushing water, as the spa was suspended above a massive waterfall. There were cherry blossoms everywhere, and a cool breeze blew through the open archways of the buildings.

"Ahh…"

Maya looked up at Uncle's sigh of content, and smiled. He looked so relaxed that she thought she might fall asleep just from watching him. It was a nice change from the hell they had all gone through over the past few weeks.

"This is what I've been missing," Uncle said. "Who knew floating on a piece of driftwood for three weeks with no food or water and sea vultures waiting to pluck out your liver could make one so tense?" He looked over at Maya and Zuko, smiling.

Maya smiled back, but when Uncle frowned, she turned to look at Zuko. He had his head down, hiding his face beneath a large straw hat with a low brim. He was not happy.

Uncle came over to them and sat down. "I see," he said, voice now serious. "It's the anniversary, isn't it?"

"Three years ago today, I was banished," Zuko said. "I lost it all." He looked up, at nothing in particular, glaring into the distance. "I want it back. I want the Avatar. I want my honor. My throne. I want my father not to think I'm worthless." At this, he turned his head away and down, closing his eyes, shoulders hunched.

"I'm sure he doesn't," Uncle said. "Why would he banish you if he didn't care?"

Maya face-palmed, shaking her head and trying not to laugh.

Zuko looked up briefly at the two of them, with an expression that said, "You guys are irritating me," and then got up and walked away.

Uncle turned to face Maya and said quietly, "Ehh, that came out wrong, didn't it?"

Maya snorted.

Later, after Maya had had her turn at the massage table, the three of them returned to their temporary home at the retreat. (Maya had asked Zuko if he wanted to get a massage, but he had just waved her off and grumbled to himself). Their "home" had been lent to them for no money by an old kindly lady who ran the place, on account of the fact that they had stumbled in two days earlier haggard and starving. Now, as the sun went down, they went inside to settle in for the night.

"Look at these magnificent shells!" Uncle exclaimed, as he placed a bag down on the table. He lifted one of them up to examine it. It was coral-colored, and fan-shaped. He put it down and picked up another one. This one was blue, and had obviously once been home to a crab, based on its tubular shape. "I'll enjoy these keepsakes for years to come."

"We don't need anymore useless things!" Zuko butted in. "You forget we have to carry everything ourselves now."

"Hello, Brother. Uncle," said a voice from the corner of the room.

Maya jumped and spun around to see who it was. That voice… It was strangely familiar. As if from a dream. She saw a girl around Zuko's age sitting cross-legged in the chair at the back of the room. Her face was in shadow, but Maya could see her well enough. She was exceptionally beautiful, in an eerie sort of way, as though she were a porcelain doll. Her lips were too red, and her eyebrows were too perfect. Her eyes were golden, like Zuko's. That was how Maya figured out who it was.

Azula.

"What are you doing here?" Zuko spat angrily, turning to face her.

Uncle also did not look happy to see her.

Maya figured she should be careful. From what Zuko had told her, Azula was apparently insane.

Azula picked up a shell from the table where Uncle had been displaying the ones he had collected. She examined it with a disinterested air. "In my country, we exchange a pleasant hello before asking questions," she said. She uncrossed her legs and stood up, going over to them. "Have you become uncivilized so soon, Zuzu?"

"Don't call me that!" Zuko yelled.

"To what do we owe this honor?" Uncle asked, though his voice was anything but pleasant.

"Hmm," Azula said. "Must be a family trait. Both of you so quick to get to the point." At the word point, she squeezed the shell in her hand, and it shattered and fell to the floor in pieces.

Maya swallowed. Her nails were like talons.

"And who is this?" Azula asked, stepping right up to Maya and smiling at her, eyes narrowed. "I don't believe we've met."

Zuko stepped in front of Maya, grabbing her wrist. "She's no one."

Maya sighed. She appreciated that Zuko cared enough to protect her, but she was tired of standing in the background all the time. Even if Azula was crazy, she was going to risk it.

"What Zuko means is that my name is Maya," she said, stepping around him and bowing to the girl. "I'm Zuko's girlfriend." From the corner of her eye, she could see Zuko and Uncle flinch. She didn't care. She would accept the consequences of her actions, whatever they might be.

Azula's eyes widened for a split-second, and then they returned to normal. She completely ignored Maya's respectful bow and turned to look at Zuko, who had his head in his hand. "Well, Zuzu, I'm impressed. I see congratulations are in order. Though, I wonder… Have you strayed from your home country with this one? She seems… different from other Fire Nation girls I've seen."

That would be my mother's side coming through, Maya thought to herself.

"Ah, no," Uncle butted in quickly. "She's definitely Fire Nation."

Maya shivered slightly as Azula's keen gave alighted on her again and gave her a once-over.

"Well, enough with the pleasantries," the girl said. "I've come with a message from home." She grabbed a strand of her hair and straightened it out. "Father has changed his mind. Family is suddenly very important to him. He's heard rumors of plans to overthrow him, treacherous plots. Family are the only ones you can really trust."

At that, she glanced briefly at Maya. Then she turned and looked out the window. Her whole demeanor changed. She seemed, somehow, less threatening suddenly. "Father regrets your banishment." Her voice was soft. She turned even further away, so that Maya could not see her face anymore. "He wants you home." She turned again to look at Zuko from the corner of her eye. She seemed to be looking for something.

Zuko did not change a bit. He still stood there, leaning forward slightly, looking at the ground. Maya glanced at Uncle. He seemed almost to be rolling his eyes. This whole situation was making Maya feel nervous. She kept waiting for Azula to blow something up, or do some other crazy thing.

"Did you hear me?" Azula said, crossing her arms. "You should be happy. Excited." She sounded angry now.

Zuko turned and looked out the window. The setting sun had turned the cherry blossoms blood red.

"Grateful," Azula continued. Then she smiled. "I just gave you great news."

Uncle went towards her. "I'm sure your brother just needs some time –

"Don't interrupt, Uncle!" Azula shouted.

Maya jumped. Crazy, indeed, she thought.

Azula stepped towards the door. "I still haven't heard my thank you," she said, looking at Zuko, who was still turned towards the window. "I'm not a messenger. I didn't have to come all this way." Now she was the irritated little sister. Still, there were slight undertones of insanity in her voice, like she might suddenly snap and shoot flames at everyone in the room if someone looked at her wrong.

"Father regrets?" Zuko said quietly. It was the first thing he'd said in endless minutes. His eyes closed. He looked as if he were in turmoil. He opened his eyes again. "He… wants me back?"

Azula cocked her head to the side, and looked at him, eyes narrowing. "I can see you need time to take this in," she said, voice oh-so condescending. It sounded almost as if she was trying to be sincere, only she didn't know what sincere was supposed to sound like, so it ended up coming out as condescending. "I'll come to call on you tomorrow. Good evening." With that, she turned and strode toward the door.

Before she stepped out into the open, she turned and smiled at Maya. It was a creepy smile that did not reach her eyes. It reminded her of the smiles Admiral Zhao used to give her. "It was nice meeting you, Maya. If you decide to join us on our return journey, I so look forward to getting to know you." And then she was gone.