Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar. It belongs to its rightful owner.

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Camp was set up and everyone was exhausted. Just not too long ago, hours merely, they were spotted in the Earth Nation town Po, where a raid was taking place with Fire Nation soldiers, demanding the collection of money. Being merely spotted, it sparked their interest, and they tried to make sure the Avatar and team of raga bongs had nowhere to run. They escaped, fortunately, but many didn't, and lost their lives to the enemy monsters.

The events left the gang in a sad stupor. Not much was said, and everyone was tattered and tired. The camp was erected and everyone without much of an appetite, including Sokka, shockingly, just wanted to sleep off the events before their big task at hand. The rumors of the fire nation twins in the distance forest located north. It was rumored that they were fire bending masters and Aang needed a teacher. They could be just the people to teach him fire bending.

It was said to be rumor, so who knew? It was a risk they were willing to take as the days grew near to when he really needed it the most.

Getting up from her position by the fire Katara grabbed her canteen and turned to where her brother was the only one up, who sat against the closest tree on the verge of sleep.

"Sokka," she called softly to grab his attention with reassurance, "I'm going to take a bath. I'll be back later."

The look in his eyes told her that he thought it was not a good idea for her to go off on her own.

"Why don't you take Toph with you, you should not go off on your own. It's not safe," he spoke defeated, in a low voice to not disturb the two who were asleep close to the fire.

Katara shook her head, and gave her brother a sad, low reassuring smile, and said, "I will be fine on my own, now you go get some rest."

The young warrior nodded, and stood up. He strolled up to his sister, and put his arms around her in a light brotherly embrace. He really loved his sister, and wanted to protect her. When their father left to fight in the war he told Sokka to watch out for his sister, and that was what he would do.

Katara put her arms around her brother and laid her head on his shoulder.

"Things will get better. We have to look out for Aang, and focus on getting him a Fire Bending teacher." She released her brother, and he nodded.

"Now you get some sleep, I'll be okay," she turned and headed off south of their campsite, and followed the stream of water. A ways down was where the stream met the lake, and that was where she'd bathe, and relax. The night's calm and quiet, and the air was still. The warmth of the season made light wear comfortable. A light blanket sufficed when it was time to retire for the night.

Walking down, and dodging the thick tree roots of the heavy laying trees that made the thick cover, it was a great spot for the gang to rest. Far away from the towns turmoil there was nobody around, and no danger was noticed, or felt; Toph reassured them of this. She was able to feel the vibrations off the ground with her feet because she was blind. Her feet were her eyes. Sometimes she pushed though, and knew whether someone was lying or not; it felt uncomfortable sometimes when you were trying to cover-up something you didn't want someone to know. Once spoken from her everyone knew. Was she ashamed? No.

There was also another alternative as to why she wanted to disappear from the group, and bathe. During the fight she was burned; her left arm and she wanted to heal it on her own without anyone knowing. She didn't want them to know because they all had enough on their plate. With her healing ability it would be gone without a trace, and the pain would be no more. The memories will remain, but the physical wouldn't.

The lake in view she stopped when her senses perked up. Averted to her side she turned sharply to see a dark figure slam against a thick tree, and slide down clutching their arm. They growled sharply; a painful sound that emitted like a wounded animal.

Hiding behind the closest tree she had to make a decision. They were not safe. Somebody else was here. Were they followed? They had tread very carefully, and made sure of it.

Watching the figure stagger in pain the dark figure ripped off the hood they were wearing and that was where she saw the feature that gave him away; his scar. The mark that would always give him away; it was Zuko.

He kept his eyes closed and gave one last scream before he slumped over. Slumped over, he didn't move, and she could not hear anything from him. Was he dead? Was he unconscious? Only one was to find out: She made her way up to him, and knelt down.

Head snapping up she had a split second to dodge out of the way as a wave of fire was sent toward her. Once he readied himself, and saw that it was her he backed down quite a lot. His scowl dropped, and he looked away.

She at the moment did not know how to react. Was she supposed to snap, gather the water and destroy him? Was she to play healer for the enemy who would not care one bit if she was he in the situation? Or, was she to heal him, or at least help him because it was the right thing to do? Was this the time to do what the right thing was to do?

"Let me see your arm," she said as calmly as she could muster up to the banished prince. She didn't want for an answer, but reached out-

"Leave-"a quiet remark she quickly jerked her hand back afraid he was going to strike, and burn her face off.

The sight of his arm, even in the dark let her know that he was not in the brightest of condition. The crimson of blood surrounded the wound and the remainder of the sleeve. There was also dried, dead skin that would blister, and turn worse if not taken cared off.

He didn't look at her.

Not looking at her was not a 'no' answer, so she tried again. Reaching out he jerked in her direction, and before she knew it she was on her butt on the ground, and hungry emotion of flames were formed in his hand. He was not happy at all. The facial expression said it all. It was angry, but more than that. It seemed a bit haunting like a monster was trying to rip from his skin and dominate his being. He tried to hide the pain he was feeling like any great warrior would do. But when it came to the point of flashing, throbbing pain it would soon conquer and leave him gasping for life.

The flame was gone, and the uninjured hand was dropped. Once again he looked to the distance past her, and said very quietly, his breath heard in short gasps, "You have to leave."

Beads of sweat formed on his face. The air was nice, but it wasn't that hot. He wasn't emitting huge amounts of energy either. The pain must've been articulating to the perspiration, or he was developing fever.

"I don't want you to die!" she shouted in his face more than she incepted doing; if at all. Both shocked, he was more shocked, and gave her a very confused, pained look.

Blinking a few times to register what she said, she turned away from him and went over to the lake and knelt down to the water's edge. Commanding the water she took just enough, to heal the burn on her left arm. Rolling up her sleeve she formed the healing water over the wound and closed her eyes enjoying the cold water, and how it relaxed and healed. Closing her eyes she relived the moments that happened not too long ago:

The town was quite big, and there were many people. Most who ran were woman and children. The men, with all their might tried and tried to fight the Fire Nation. The reason the unwanted soldiers crashed upon the Earth Kingdom town was to collect wages they destined on the people. With people crying, places burning, and people dying they were merely doing that. They wanted to destroy the town for unknown reasons. The collection of money must've been a cover-up.

Then, to throw Aang, the Avatar, into the mix the soldiers used that reason as well and soon the town was an all out raid to destroy it, and capture Aang.

With Aang being closest, the two bent the water of previous rain fall out of every surface they saw was damp. Shooting at the two soldiers they managed to push them off, and into the trample of people trying to get away.

With frightened people and soldiers the mess was chaotic. It was hard to keep track of the people who mattered most to her. To make sure Aang wasn't out of her site he grabbed her hand, and led her through the hustle of people who were pushing and shoving even those they cared most about.

Not too far away Sokka was having his own battle which ended quickly with the swing of his boomerang. He soon joined Toph who was surrounded by Fire Nation enemy. They were working very well together. Sokka distracted, and Toph brought down the blow. They handle that much so they rushed on to where the most action was taking place. Fire and smoke scorched to the sky where the screams were the loudest. Like a banshee looking for her lost children the lives of many were being taken, and the horror continued. Opposing the direction of many, as quick as lightening a ball of fire shot through the crowd. Katara broke the hold Aang had, and shielded her face. The remains hit the skin, but she could not scream or gasp. Instead she had to bite down on her tongue, and contain the pain. The sleeve was back down when her arm was down.

"Get out of here, get out of here," she was pushed in the direction of the crowd when three wide ladies pushed past dragging crying children with lacerations to the face. In the quick time to reach for Aang he was gone, but that didn't get her hopeless.

"Please, don't hurt my wife and child." The pleas of a man with his arms around his wife and child caught her attention and she rushed over there.

"Leave them alone," Anger boiled up inside of her, and the water whip formed as she charged at the man harassing the family. Fire quickly, he destroyed her whip, and took charge with the flames in his hands.

No sooner he was joined by four other men. Form of a circle, and step back, and a wave was soon over the men destined to take them out.

It didn't work. All she got out of it were angry, drenched soldiers.

Out numbered now, she tried, tried and tried again.

The others, who she needed now at her aid, were busy with their own battles. This was going to be it. Aang, who she needed to be strong, was in complications. He needed her help more than anything.

An attack from and Earth Bender sent the ground out from underneath her, and she was sent into a heap along with the other soldiers.

Another soldier, no, with better view she saw that it was Fire Nation, but a civilian? They weren't seen because of the cloth that covered them, stood in front of her like a shield.

Fighting with an intense fire he managed to break the soldiers away from the young bender. She watched in wonder wondering why someone of that origin was helping her. They were very strong, but never turned around to reveal themselves to her.

Earth benders now; the men of the town surrounded the mystery person, and soon there were no Fire Nation soldiers to fight. Everyone was after this enemy now. A blast of nowhere, and the figure went down clutching their arm in---

"You!" Opening her eyes she turned to the tree where Zuko slouched. In the time of her stroll down memory lane he had ripped the sleeve off of the wounded arm and dabbed at the blood which seemed to be everywhere now. Even in the grass this was not good.

Eyes on Katara now she guessed that it was okay to approach him so she went over, and knelt down again. Seeing the cloth he wrapped himself in before she picked it up, and fingered it before letting it drop to the grass like water forming a puddle.

"You were the one that saved me," she smiled, and her eyes lit up. Maybe now, just for the moment he wouldn't be the enemy. Later it would all return to the way it should be.

The banished prince shrugged and continued his work.

Her own wound was gone, and the sleeve was back down over it. Now she had to make things right.

"You helped me, so I'll help you."

Zuko looked down at her, and to her astonishment he gave up and closed his eyes leaning his head against the tree.

Water from the lake she was able to heal most of the wound. Being severe, and not being taken care of when it happened it wasn't completely healed, but it would not get infected.

"There, that should hold you. You should wrap it."

Opening his eyes, he was more at ease, and the pain wasn't visible anymore.

Ripping the sleeve off his other arm he held it out to her to take. She did, but with hesitation. He wanted her to do it?

"Alright," she used the sleeve, and wrapped it around the remains tightly, but not cutting off his circulation as much as she wanted too.

Now that was done it was time to go. Standing up she stretched her arms over her head.

"You should be fine now." Was it supposed to be this awkward? That was the way she felt. This was not supposed to happen. He was the enemy, and she went along and healed him like he was part of the gang. Something told her that whether or not, friend or foe, she would've helped him out. Why? It was the mothering instinct she had to posses that made her act that way; since she was young. A while back she would've turned the other cheek if it meant riding of him to help Aang have something less to worry about. Why was now different?

"I better go," her eyes wondered around, then back to him. She had to say something to the boy who just sat there. Should she thank him, just leave, or stay?

"Thank you again." Turning she started to leave. It was impossible to take a bath now that he was there. He would not attack tonight. He didn't have the energy, nor should he after she helped him out. Tomorrow, when he decided to return to normal she would be ready to get him.

"Wait," he called out. She stopped and turned around. What was he up too?

Getting to his feet he rushed up until he was ten four feet away from her. He towered over her a foot.

One palm above closed fist he bowed, "We're even."

"Right." Old façades returned and she narrowed her gaze at him. He was the enemy, and whatever he thought next to hurt the Avatar she would be after him.

But as she hurried off she could hear him say that she shouldn't be there. He was there, and they were a safe distances from the scene.

Back at camp she caught the sight of Sokka turning the opposite way on the ground to Frey sleep.

"You can sleep now," she reassured even though he pretended to sleep. She lay down as well close to her brother, and had no problem sleeping. They were even, and nobody had to know what happened. Aang had enough to worry about, as well as everyone else. If they knew that Zuko was near no sleep would be gained, and he would've not got the healing he needed. He would've died.

Why did she care?

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That was the first chapter. Tell me what you think? I apologize in advance about my poor grammar. Next chapter will be out soon.