Zuko allowed the ostrich horse a break. He was tired as well. He'd been riding away from that village without stopping for three days. He slid off the animal, tumbling to the ground.
The ostrich horse grunted kicking at Zuko before trotting off to eat its first meal since the village. Zuko wearily rolled out of the way of the animals claws. He struggled to keep his eyes open. He was so tired. His eyes were red and they stung.
A low growl came from his stomach. He grasped it in pain. "Stupid village peasants." He muttered. "Didn't accept my help, didn't even give me food. I should have burned them all." Even as he said it he knew he could never level to such a thing. Even now in the desert with no food or water he didn't hate the villagers, he was simply sorrowful that they didn't help him because of his heritage. He didn't like the feeling of sorrow. It wasn't him. He was strong.
He grabbed the dagger under his cloak. "Ungrateful kid." He said, slowly standing. His head swam as he righted himself. He blinked a few times before stumbling off the dirt road towards a small desert tree.
The sun beat mercilessly on his face. He slumped against the tree but sadly it was too small to provide him with any shade at all. He glanced around, half-heartedly looking for food. The only vegetation in site was the thistles the ostrich horse was munching on.
He crawled over, pulling a few branches off. He looked at them in disgust, then shrugged and stuffed them in his mouth. The prickly plant stabbed at the insides of his mouth, but he was so hungry he barely noticed. He finished chewing swallowing the thorny bunch. He winced as the thistles cut at his throat.
He coughed trying to get rid of the raw feeling of his torn up throat. The coughing made it worse because suddenly his throat felt like it was on fire. Zuko gasped then stumbled to the ostrich horse, he had to get out of here. He reached towards it but it just moved out of his reach.
"Come on you stupid animal. I need food and water." He said his voice sounding rougher then usual. He stepped towards it again and he swayed violently. He blinked as the ground swirled up to meet him. No wait, he was moving towards it. Before his head made contact with the hard ground, he glanced up to the road.
"Is that a girl?" He mumbled before everything went black and he hit the ground.
Katara yawned rubbing the sleep from her eyes. She glanced up seeing Aang and Sokka were still asleep. She glanced to where Toph had slept. It wasn't exactly her fault that she had run off. Toph was just so selfish. Katara sighed standing up. She walked over to Sokka, picking Momo up off of his head.
"Don't sleep on him." She said reprimanding him. She set him carefully on the ground. Momo watched her leave then jumped back on Sokka's head curling up.
Katara picked her way over to a stream, carrying their water containers. She bended water into each one. They were leaving today and Sokka told them that they'd be heading into a desert. They were going to look for Toph on the way but chances were she didn't want to be found.
Katara finished filling the containers then stepped back to Appa. She checked the bags. "We're almost out of food. Darn that Sokka." She muttered. She stood, stalking off into the woods."There has to be food around here somewhere." Katara stopped next to the stream bending down to pick up a small fruit. She looked around then spotted the source. A large tree loomed over her laidened with fruit.
Katara gazed at the too high fruit, then grinned at the water. She bended some towards her then gathered it up before whipping it out to the tree. Some fruit fell down and she caught it in Sokka's bag that she took for this purpose. She continued like this until the bag was full. As she started back to their campsite, she heard a noise. She glanced up quickly catching a flash of red.
Katara gasped dropping the bag, before running back to the others. She burst into the clearing screaming "Firenation!" twice. Twice because of course Sokka didn't hear a thing.
Sokka jumped from his sleepingbag throwing his boomerang and sending Momo into the air. Only he was tangled into his sleeping bag so he fell over. Then like a boomerang should, his returned knocking him in the head.
"Sokka cut it out we don't have time." Katara said packing her things and loading them on Appa.
"Yeah like I hit myself with my weapon on purpose." He said standing up from his sleepingbag. "Your the one that claims firenation is out there. We lost them ages ago come on!" He crossed his arms stubbornly. Then he sighed and began to roll up his bag.
"Sokka come on!" Katara yelled rushing over and putting his things on Appa. Aang sat on Appa waiting for the others. The minute they jumped on he took off, Momo trailing along before alighting on Appa's tail. Suddenly fireballs flew at them making Appa sway to the side to avoid contact. Katara gave Sokka a meaningful look, and he looked down ashamed that Katara was right.
Another ball flew at them and Appa swerved out of the way, causing his passengers to fling about the saddle. Appa roared before dodging another ball. Then without warning a fireball came out from in front of them hitting Appa full in the neck. He roared in pain lunging back, and his passengers tumbled off towards the land below.