Stranded With a Stranger
Meeoko
Summary : Book 2. Whilst travelling in the Earth Kingdom, Zuko and Iroh are separated and Zuko wakes up to find himself stuck in the forest with a loud and intriguing stranger. Short-fic for winner of my poll, Zutara-for-the-win.
Author's Note's : Well, it was close, but the winner of my fan artist poll was Zutara-for-the-win, creator of 'Kimochi the Spirit Monkey'. As promised, I have included them into a one-shot fiction as a prize for their hard work.
I would also like to thank both Rooeru and Cynicalmuse for all their hard work and devotion, as they've been following since the very beginning. I talked to Zutara-for-the-win (Terra) beforehand and organised things. Hopefully, this will be as accurate as possible. It will be about 2/3 chapters long.
And to my wonderful reviewers:
At the end of IFYH, I had so many reviews that it was near impossible to reply to them all, without making them very short. So instead, I would like to thank you all here. Thank you for all of your encouragement, support and absolutely incredible responses!
From those who have been following since the days of EAI, to my anonymous reviewers and those of you who joined at the very end – THANK YOU!
One anonymous reviewer, Angie has also put forward a suggestion about possibly making a fiction about the days before Zuko and Katara's marriage. This has got me thinking and at some point, I might pursue it. (I would also like to thank her for her very touching and in-depth review).
Anyway – on with the story!
"We've been riding for hours!" Zuko fumed, kicking at his Emu-horse. "Can't this thing go any faster?"
Iroh fought the urge to roll his eyes and placed a hand on Zuko's shoulder. He shrugged it off as if the touch burnt him and glared ahead at the open road.
"Patience, my nephew." Iroh chided. "We are lucky to have come across such fine creatures. We would still be back at Omashu if it weren't for our friends here. They have been running hard all day."
Reaching over the saddle of his own Emu-horse, Iroh rubbed underneath the creatures chin, smiling. The beast moaned happily as it walked and raised its head a little higher, so that the more itchy area's could be reached.
"We're wasting our time." Zuko grumbled, pulling his rice hat lower over his face. "If you hadn't stopped in that town to look for some stupid tea leaves, we'd be half way to Ba Sing Se right now!"
Iroh looked up at his nephew as if he had shoved a white hot branding iron in his backside.
"Stupid tea leaves?" he repeated, aghast. "No relative of mine would ever say such a thing! Tea is a wonderful, magical feat of genius, Zuko. Without tea, I would be but a sickly old man. And you would not want to be responsible for my ill health, would you, my nephew?"
"Ugh!"
Sinking into the back of his saddle, Zuko crossed his arms and pouted. What was the use in stealing from people when they could just cut back on tea and feed themselves for once? This was ridiculous! Of course his Uncle had been recovering from his injury since their last encounter with Azula, but Zuko had a sinking feeling that the old man was feeling just fine.
They rode in silence for several more hours, slowly following the long and winding dirt path through the forest. Luckily, neither Zuko nor Iroh had much difficulty riding in silence. There were times that entire days would go by without a conversation and nobody would mind. They had too much to think about, anyway.
The sunlight was beginning to dim, filtering away through the thick, willowy canopy of the trees overhead. It made Zuko uncomfortable. Like he was being denied his own element before the time was up. He fit well into the darkness, but it disturbed him to be away from the great, sweltering ball in the sky. Without it, his power was just that much less.
"There is a bridge just north of here." Iroh spoke up, finally breaking the silence. "After that, there is only a few miles to go before we leave the forest again. We shall make camp once we have passed through."
Zuko didn't reply. He wouldn't give his uncle the satisfaction of coming up with the plan before he did.
They trotted on, turning the corner slowly. True to Iroh's words, there was the bridge. Zuko swallowed. It wasn't exactly what he had expected. The bridge was a good fifty feet long and twenty feet wide. But that wasn't what surprised him. Underneath the bridge, there was a swift, huge torrent of gushing water that spat and sloshed angrily over the edges of the riverbank.
Zuko hated water.
He always had. But that hatred had only been intensified since his trip to the North Pole, barely a few weeks ago. Diving into that icy, life-stealing embrace had been like having thousands of tiny daggers shoved underneath his skin and then pulled upwards. It had clutched at his heart and almost killed him! More than that, it had lost him valuable strength – and the Avatar!
Yes, Zuko hated water.
"Ah, the Men Sing river." Iroh smiled, patting his Emu-horse on the neck as he dismounted. "Good for fishing and the waterfall that lies beyond those trees is truly magnificent. I was fortunate enough to see it once, before the siege of Ba Sing Se."
Zuko swallowed again, careful to hide his face from his uncle with the rice hat. Great. A waterfall. Even better.
"Why're you getting down?" Zuko demanded, watching his uncle dismount. "We can just ride over it and get through quicker!"
Iroh shook his head, grabbing hold of the reins of the Emu-horse.
"No, Zuko. I am afraid not. It will take some convincing to lead these Emu-horses across. They do not take kindly to water."
"That makes two of us." Zuko mumbled grumpily.
"What?"
Zuko dismounted, refusing to meet his uncle's eye.
"Nothing."
The Emu-horses began to fidget as they neared the bridge, swinging their heads around and stopping mid-step. They were afraid, and Zuko didn't blame them. Grabbing a firm hold on the reins, Zuko took a slow breath and followed his uncle, dragging the reluctant mount with him. They put up a good fight, digging their feet into the dirt the closer they got the the bridge. By now, they were bucking their heads and braying and Zuko had a job to hold onto his own. Iroh was a few steps ahead, soothing and cooing to the beast as he tried to edge it towards the bridge. Zuko rolled his eyes and gave the reins a tug.
There was no way he was going to fuss over the stupid creature like his uncle.
"Come on!" Zuko grunted, digging in his own feet as they took the first step over the bridge. "Stupid, worthless beast."
The Emu-horse threw its head sideways, jolting Zuko forward and he cringed as he reached out a hand to steady himself on the bridge. The rushing water looked terrifying, and they weren't even a quarter of the way over the bridge yet!
Regaining his composure, Zuko tugged angrily on the reins, slinging them over his shoulder and lunging forwards. The Emu-horse took three reluctant steps forward and then began digging its talons into the wood again. Zuko ground his teeth together.
"I should just leave you here, you pathetic thing." he hissed, concentrating only on the dry land at the end of the bridge.
"Zuko!"
Looking up at Iroh's startled words, Zuko barely had time to blink before a blast of intense heat hit him.
The Emu-horses reared up and screeched as pieces of splintered wood shot through the air, rattling the foundations. Zuko's heart stopped in his chest as he rose to his feet, feeling the bridge beginning to groan underneath him. A large chunk of the railings had been blown away – right where he was standing only a few seconds ago!
"There they are!" an angry voice bellowed. "Get them! I want them alive!"
Feeling his eyes go wide, Zuko looked over towards the bank they had come from. A group of heavily armoured, bulky men in Fire Nation armour rushed towards them. They sat atop ferocious, angry looking creatures, horns down and ready to charge.
"The Rough Rhino's!" Zuko bellowed.
He was lurched forwards as the Emu-horse bucked and screamed. His hands were still caught in the reins and the creature was too terrified to run or calm itself down. Angry calls followed them from the bridge as the Rough Rhino's jumped the fresh gap between the bank and the bridge. One held a lengthy chain with a hook on the end and he span it above his head, ready to attack.
"Zuko!" Iroh called urgently. "Let go of the Emu-horse! We must run!"
But Zuko couldn't. The reins were still twisted around his hand and the thrashing Emu-Horse threw itself backwards and forwards in a desperate attempt to escape – taking Zuko with it! The bridge shook and groaned underneath them as the terrified creature stomped around hysterically and Zuko felt his body beginning to clench itself into a knot. The stupid creature was going to break the bridge if it didn't stop!
"Get 'em!"
A whizzing noise flew through the air and the iron chain flew past Zuko's right ear, barely missing him. The Emu-Horse squealed, raising itself into the air and braying. The chain withdrew and shot back a second time. Zuko went to swerve away, but the jerking of his mount threw him back again and the curved talons of the deadly hook grazed his arm as it shot past.
"Zuko!"
The sound of running feet on the bridge sounded behind him as Iroh rushed to his nephew's aid and the bridge below trembled and groaned again underneath them. Zuko tried desperately to reach toward his mounts muzzle, to try to dislodge the bridle, but the animal snapped at his fingers and barked angrily. The sharp beak clipped his fingertips and Zuko had to fight the temptation to smack it around the head.
More running feet. The sound of a sword being drawn. Leaning backwards, Zuko shot out a jet of fire with an angry kick towards the Rough Rhino's. But the thrashing reins threw off his balance and he fell backwards, bringing the Emu-Horse forward with a start.
Iroh was by his side, reaching up to try to grab the rearing creature. Zuko was either going to get flattened, or become a pin-cushion if he couldn't get the bridle off!
"Uncle!" Zuko cried as the Rough Rhino's cleared the gap and ran towards them. "Stop them!"
"I can't!" Iroh grunted as the Emu-Horse jerked sideways. "The bridge is wooden!"
Great! Zuko thought as he struggled. No Fire Bending!
But as soon as Iroh had a hold of the bridle, he shot backwards as the point of a blade jabbed at his chest. The Rough Rhino glared down at Zuko, smiling wickedly. He rose his sword above his head as Zuko tried desperately to right himself and brought it down in a single swoop. Forcing all of his weight away from the Emu-Horse, Zuko jumped backwards. The blade's edge flew past his fingertips, slicing the reins in two.
Rolling backwards, Zuko clenched his teeth as his upper body slid through a gap in the railings, so that he could see the rushing water beneath him perfectly. Pushing himself back onto the bridge as quickly as he could, Zuko ripped the now shredded remains of the reins from around his hands and shot into a bending stance.
Iroh was fighting off two of the Rhino's, deflecting and parrying the blows that shot towards him. A growl rose in Zuko's throat and he unsheathed his two dual swords and charged.
Leaping through the air, Zuko landed a kick into the chest of a Rough Rhino and lashed out with his swords at another as he landed. The Rhino parried his blows with a huge hammer and lunged forwards, pushing Zuko backwards into the railings of the bridge. Desperately trying not to look down, Zuko's muscles strained and screamed as he fought against the superior power of the older man.
Although he was stronger, the Rough Rhino wasn't quicker. Bracing himself for pain, Zuko hung his head backwards and with all his might, head-butted the man in the nose. Reeling off, the Rough Rhino clutched at his nose and swore.
The whistling sound of arrows tore through the air and Zuko dived, a green-tipped arrow barely skimming his side. He landed on the bridge with a thud and then jumped backwards once more, narrowly avoiding the gigantic, crashing talons of the Emu-Horse, which was rearing and bucking in its terror. An arrow was lodged in its flank and the beast shrieked in agony as it jolted its body this way and that – unable to go either backwards or forwards.
Iroh dodged to the side as easily as a man half his age, swerving away from the pointed hook as it shot past his shoulder. Leaping to his feet, Zuko was barely able to regain his balance before a pointed blade was shoved in his face.
Parrying the blow from the angry Rhino, Zuko reeled around the bucking Emu-Horse to avoid being kicked. But the creature was sided by two angry and armed men and it jerked, hitting Zuko square in the chest with its talon.
Flying through the air, Zuko felt a searing pain in his leg. Then, before he could realise what had happened, he was falling.
The image of red clad men and the prickling hackles of the Emu-Horse were the last thing he saw before he went under.
His lungs filled with water as Zuko fell down into the roaring river and the current grabbed at his ankles and legs, twisting and turning him through the water over and over again. Zuko's eyes shot open as he tried to right himself and the searing pain in his chest and leg intensified as the sharp, swirling waters tore at him with its icy grip.
He didn't know which way was up!
Twisting rapidly through the water, Zuko's foot connected with something and he kicked against it, his lungs screaming for air as the water choked at him. Piercing cold jabbed at his eyes as he broke through the surface, sucking in all of the precious air that he could.
But the icy clutches of the underworld clutched at his ankles and Zuko was swept under once again, away from the precious embrace of air. Something sharp caught his arm as he was swept past and he let out a cry, his lungs filling with water once again.
Zuko's heart was pounding, his nerves on fire and his mind was screaming. He was drowning! And his uncle had said that there was a waterfall at the end of the river! He was going to drown and be crushed to death!
Another sharp point speared him in the chest and Zuko stifled the cry, holding onto the last fragments of oxygen he had left. His vision was clouded by the water and he couldn't see which way was up or down in the constant swirling. The edges began to grow black as his lungs burnt and scorched, too starved of oxygen to continue much longer.
Kicking against the currents as hard as he could, Zuko fought to get to the surface. But the same, icy cold hands of the river pulled him back down into the darkness. Something echoed through the water and Zuko thought he heard muffled shouting.
He stopped dead, slamming hard into something dark and still. Pain tore through his body and the last of Zuko's breath was slammed from his lungs as he ploughed into the wall. His vision dimmed and the black edges began to throb, but suddenly, Zuko was thrown upwards.
His stomach lurched as he broke through the surface of the water and he coughed and spluttered, taking in great gasps of air. He waited for the icy hands to pull him under, but nothing came. What? Wasn't he in the water anymore?
Lurching sideways so fast that the dark grey wall in front of him blurred, Zuko's head hit the solid surface when the slippery floor juddered to a halt. He continued to cough and splutter, retching as he brought up what seemed like half of the river from his stomach. Shivering violently, Zuko felt himself shoved forward and onto something squishy. Grass. Grass! A loud grinding noise sounded behind him and then the same pounding roar of the river began to echo beside him.
His head swam.
His body went limp, falling into the cushy grass beneath him and he blinked heavily, trying in vain to dislodge the water that had stung at his eyes.
"Hello? Are you okay? Hello?"
Was he dead? He supposed so. He'd been running from it long enough.
Something pushed against his side and with a heavy shove and a grunt, Zuko rolled onto his back. His eyes felt heavy and the began to close.
"Hey, hey! Don't you go an' die on me!"
Was that something that a spirit would say? It seemed a little unorthodox. But a sharp sting to his face brought Zuko back to reality. He winced, closing his eyes tightly and let out a pained grunt. Had somebody just slapped him?
There was a sound beside him that similar to a sigh and Zuko felt the warmth of a hand on his face before his eyes were forced open and the light blinded him.
"You okay in there?"
Zuko winced, trying again to close his eyes against the light, but warm hands prised them open and someone looked down into them, checking for something. If he had had more energy, Zuko would have immediately swiped the hands away. They were touching his scar!
The light blinded him and Zuko coughed again, feeling something lumpy and sore stuick in his throat. It was blurry and his eyes were red raw from the whipping water of the river, but Zuko just managed to make out the colours black and green before they were allowed to snap back shut again.
Warmth. He remembered that. Warmth was good. Warmth was alive.
Zuko refused to open his eyes. He had slept a dark and restless sleep, where he was pretty sure someone had been moving him. It was a smooth and easy ride, almost as if he were floating. But it wasn't comfortable, he remembered that too. And it was cold. Very cold.
Perhaps that was all a dream. Or it might have been reality. Zuko wasn't sure. He wasn't even entirely certain who he was at that moment, or what he had been doing. There was definitely a distinctive memory of not being able to breathe. But although the last pathetic grips of sleep had long gone and left him, Zuko refused to open his eyes. Darkness was safe and reliable. The light stung and if he opened his eyes, he might find something that he didn't like.
Something wafted over him, filling his senses with the most delicious and wonderful smell he had ever experienced in his life! And there was something against his face, warm and soothing. It was probably a fire. But it didn't feel like a fire.
Moving himself ever so slightly, Zuko's throat screamed and grated in protest and he shot forwards in a fit of coughing. Something seemed to be stuck inside his throat and he spluttered in an attempt to dislodge it. His heavy eyes shot open and he registered a brown, hard-looking floor before the coughing had passed and he flopped back downwards onto whatever it was he was lying on.
A sharp yelp tore at his ears and Zuko fell backwards as a quick movement shot out from underneath him. He fell back onto a cushy sleeping mat, but the shock rattled him and another fit of intense coughing wracked his body, causing him to curl up tight against himself until it had passed.
"Cougar! That's not a very nice way to greet a guest!"
There it was again. That voice. So, maybe he wasn't dead. No, Zuko thought. I'm not that lucky.
"Are you okay?" the voice asked.
Zuko heard footsteps between his coughing as the voice came closer. Something warm touched his shoulder and he shrugged it off, coughing out the very last of the water that seemed adamant to stay inside his lungs and grow stagnant until it poisoned him.
Reluctantly, he opened his eyes. There was no use in playing dead now, anyway.
The dim light wasn't enough to make him flinch like it had before, but he squinted against it until his eyes had adjusted. His eyes felt like someone was piercing him with small red-hot daggers.
The same colours began to form into place. Black and green. There was a large expanse of lumpy grey behind the figure. A cave. He was in a cave!
Things looked hazy but after a while, the colours began to take shape. A pair of eyes, a nose, an open mouth in the shape of an 'o'. Zuko's stomach lurched as the figure beamed down at him. An Earth Kingdom girl – great!
"Hey, you're awake!" the girl beamed at him, showing a full row of white teeth. "Bout time too! I wasn't looking forward to diggin' a grave."
Zuko's eyes burnt. A person, a girl. Wait - where'd she come from? Where was his Uncle? Images and questions swirled inside his head, but Zuko couldn't quite give them a form. There was still too much river water in his brain!
But he still heard her and tried not to growl at the word 'grave'. What did she think he was – a child? He'd been through worse and survived! What made her think a little water could kill him?
Well, it was more like a lot of water. Angry, stabbing, icy cold, unforgiving water that terrified him even more than the Rough Rhino's. But he wasn't going to admit that to her, much less explain it!
"You've been out for two days." the girl's smile never faltered. "It's a good thing I spotted you. You shot right past me! A couple'a more feet and you would have gone over the waterfall! You got bashed around pretty bad and that river looked damn cold."
No kidding. Zuko thought angrily to himself.
"Cougar took quite a liking to you." she continued, beaming. "It's kinda weird. He's never taken to anybody like this before. Guess you must be an animal lover or something."
Zuko wanted to punch himself in the face. Animal lover? Hardly! It was a stupid animal that almost got him killed in the first place! And why was she still talking? But Zuko froze in place when a large furry nose was poked in his face. Now he realised exactly who 'Cougar' was!
"Ya know," the girl pondered thoughtfully, stroking Cougar's shaggy yellow fur. "I guess there aren't many people out there who can get this close to a Wolf-Lion without getting eaten. We must be lucky, I guess. Cougar's been with me since he was a pup, so don't worry, he's not gonna eat you or anything. At least, he hasn't eaten anyone before."
Zuko was rigid. He clenched his teeth together as the huge, hulking animal poked its nose in his face. The shaggy mane fell in his face and tickled his nose, but Zuko didn't dare push it away. She was living with a Wolf-Lion? Was she a complete and total imbecile?
Her words weren't exactly filling her with confidence either! The bulky Wolf-Lion was almost the same height as his Emu-Horse, three times as long and about ten times as powerful! Cougar opened his mouth, showing a row of terrifyingly razor sharp teeth. Zuko braced himself and lay completely still, his heart rate beating that much faster than when he had been drowning in the river! But instead, a warm soggy tongue licked at his face, making Zuko freeze up even more.
"Aw, see?" the girl beamed. "Told'ya he likes you. Good thing too. Probably would'a eaten you otherwise."
Zuko remained completely still, waiting nervously for the gigantic Wolf-Lion to grow tired of him. At least now, he knew what he had been sleeping on!
"Cougar, get outta here, will ya?" the girl sighed, grabbing the creature by the muzzle and shoving it away. "Give the guy some space!"
Zuko wasn't sure whether or not to admire the girl's bravery or laugh at her idiocy. She'd just shoved away the Wolf-Lion like it was a naughty child! And the creature was letting her too! The girl didn't even seem much older than he was - perhaps twenty or so.
At least now he could breathe again, since the Wolf-Lion had retreated to a more appropriate distance. It kept looking at him with its head cocked, as if it was eager to inspect him. Zuko really wished that it wasn't!
Not to be left forgotten, the mysterious Earth Kingdom girl smiled the same enthusiastic smile and held out her hand towards him.
"I'm Terru, by the way."
Zuko looked over her, fuming. Was this girl serious? What did she expect him to do - sink to his knees and thank her? He'd just woken up, had no idea where he was or what had happened to his Uncle!Did she actually think that he was going to shake her hand? She'd already launched herself on him, along with her pet. And why was she still talking? Zuko was suddenly reminded of his sister's annoying friend from the Fire Academy, Ty Lee.
Terru cocked her head, waiting for a response. But when she received none, she got the hint and let her hand drop. But instead of simply leaving him alone like Zuko had hoped, she continued to smile like an excited idiot.
"Guess you're still tired, huh? No idea why though. You've been sleeping for two days now! It's been getting kinda cold without my sleeping fur."
She laughed and pushed aside a strand of messy black hair. It seemed to be everywhere! What was she, a feral child or something! Maybe that would explain why she was living with one of the most dangerous predators in the world!
"Oh yeah, do you want a drink'a water or something? Guess you're pretty thirsty. Why is it that people do that, d'ya think? They almost drown and swallow half the river, but then when they wake up – they're thirsty!"
Zuko contorted his face into the most angry expression he could manage without wincing. Her incessant chattering was driving him insane! His head was pounding like a Rabba-Roo and although he had remained silent the entire time, this Terru just wouldn't leave him alone! Gods, it was just like that Earth Kingdom kid, Lee all over again! Did nobody in the Earth Kingdom keep quiet for more than ten seconds?!
Terru shrugged her shoulders and turned around towards the steady fire that was behind her. A pot hung over it and the same delicious smell wafted over Zuko, making his mouth wet with hunger. Concentrating on the ceiling, Zuko waited for the girl to turn back around. Perhaps if he ignored her, she would just shut up! But then again, he had been ignoring her since he had woken up! He didn't even know if he could speak. His dry, itching throat ached terribly and the lump in the back of it still hadn't dislodged itself.
Where's Uncle? Zuko thought to himself, a little sadly. Did he make it out? Was he captured? What if he fell in the river too?
His thoughts were interrupted as Terru turned back towards him, holding a steaming cup in her hands. It smelled wonderful and Zuko had to concentrate hard on the ceiling to stop himself turning right around and snatching it from her.
"Here ya go." she smiled. "Nice hot broth. If you want some'a the stew, you're gonna have to hold this down first."
The raw itching in his throat was becoming too much to ignore and the enticing smell of the broth really was appealing. Letting out a breath through his nose, Zuko decided that this girl's incessant noise was less important than his thirst. Bracing himself to sit up, Zuko was surprised when his body didn't respond to his command. His movements were slow and clumsy and even moving an inch or so blossomed a dull ache in his chest.
"Uh, yeah, why don't you let me do that?" Terru interjected, her smile fading slightly as she watched him struggle to sit up. "You were banged up pretty bad and it doesn't look like you're gonna be moving far anytime soon."
What! Zuko groaned inwardly, scathing with anger. How long am I going to be stuck here with this annoying peasant? I need to go find Uncle!
Terru reached down with one hand towards him, but Zuko shrugged her off. He'd be damned if he accepted her help! Clenching his teeth together, Zuko forced his slow muscles into action, the aches in his body screaming in protest. When he raised himself up onto his elbows, the sleeping fur that covered him fell away and he snarled in both anger and embarrassment.
Terru blushed and grinned stupidly as she wiped away another strand of loose hair from her eyes.
"Heh, sorry about that. But your clothes were soaking wet and you were really cold. Wasn't like I could wait to ask permission or anything. Your clothes're dry now though, so you can put 'em back on if you want."
Swallowing, Zuko scowled up at her and forced a low snarling sound out of his parched throat. She had undressed him?
Surely this girl was just asking for a reason to get burnt! She's taken away his clothes, for Agni's sake! Reaching over as quickly as he could without inducing too much pain, Zuko pulled the blanket back up to his neck. There was no way he was going to let some insolent peasant see him like this! Weak and exposed!
Terru's blushing face infuriated him so much, he was tempted to just knock the cup of boiling broth into her lap! But he didn't have enough energy and his throat was still on fire, obviously being a little worse for ware after he had growled at her. Unable to look at her with the rage surging through his body, Zuko forced himself up into a sitting position, ignoring the protesting screams from his body and keeping a close eye on the Wolf-Lion, who sat patiently in the corner looking at him.
Terru held the cup towards him, but Zuko snatched it out of her hands. After all of this embarrassment, he was certainly not going to let her feed him like a child! His hands shook around the cup and they felt incredibly heavy. Resting his elbows on his knee's to steady himself, Zuko took long quenching gulps, ignoring the scorching in his mouth. Even the mildest dishes in the Fire Nation were hotter than that!
"Wow, you must be pretty thirsty." Terru smirked. "You like Rabbit-Mouse stew, right?"
Zuko ignored her and kept on drinking. Terru watched him with an infuriating patience, never once taking her eyes away from him, or washing the smile from her face. When Zuko had finished the delicious brew, he handed her back the cup and continued to scowl. Looking down at the blanket, something caught his eye.
Hating himself under the scrutinising gaze of the Earth Kingdom girl, Zuko moved the blanket away from his chest only by a fraction. A large black and purple bruise swelled over his chest, covering from his stomach, almost to his collarbone.
Terry let some air out of her mouth and chewed on her lip, not bothering to turn around to give him a bit of privacy.
"Yeah, nasty, ain't it? What'd ya do, get kicked by an Emu-Horse!"
That was exactly what it was. Zuko remembered the scene a little clearer now. Yes, it had been the stupid Emu-Horse that had knocked him into the river in the first place! He remembered having the wind knocked out of him completely and looking down at the vast bruise, Zuko could see why.
"No internal damage though." Terru continued. "I checked. And you got quite a lot'a scrapes on ya. Sprained ankle, bruised a bone in your arm, got a nasty cut on your arm and your shoulder and hit your head a few times. But considering the beating you took, it could'a been much worse."
Zuko remained silent. He wondered if she had seen his encounter with the Rough Rhino's. Suddenly, Terru looked down at the floor, blushing. The showering curtains of loose black hair swept back over her face and she made no attempt to sweep them away.
"Actually, a lot of your injuries are, uhm, well, alot'a them are my fault."
Peeking through the curtain of cascading hair, Terru looked intensely guilty under Zuko's angry gaze. He hadn't stopped glaring at her since she had let the Wolf-Lion jump on him!
"I tried a few things to get you outta that river before you went over the falls." Terru mumbled. "But you,uh, you kept bouncing off 'em. I guess it wasn't the best idea in the world to try and fish you out with pointy rocks, huh?"
Zuko's frown eased up. His memory jogged into place, though it was all very hazy. The jagged objects that he had crashed into, he definitely remembered the pain from that. And the wall. It had moved, hadn't it? Like the water had drained away, or he'd been lifted up into the sky. But wait! Didn't that make her-?
"Earth Bender." he spat, wincing and unable to hide his contempt.
Terru didn't seem to know how to react. Both joy and confusion shot across her face. He had spoken, but he had also spat out as much venom as he possibly could when he had mentioned her people. His last encounter with Earth Bender's had been less than pleasing and now he was reliving the same kind of hammering pain that he had before!
Terru finally settled on the same infuriating smile before she answered again.
"Hey, so you can speak! I was beginning to think you didn't like me!"
Zuko sighed heavily and put his head in his hands, rubbing at his eyelids. It had been an incredibly tiring awakening. It probably hadn't even been twenty minutes, but it felt like a lifetime had passed for Zuko.
His eyelids began to droop again and he felt a heavy weight come over his body. Wincing at the screaming pain in his muscles, Zuko lowered himself back down onto the sleeping fur. Even if this Earth Bender didn't shut up and let him sleep in peace, he'd just fall asleep anyway.
"So, now that you're speaking to me and all," Terru chirped, clearly happy by his breakthrough. "I guess you can tell me your name."
But when she looked at him for an answer, Zuko was already fast asleep.
It was late when he woke again. Reluctantly, he opened his eyes, certain that he would wake up to the perky Earth Bender, beaming down at him like a clueless idiot. But when he forced his heavy eyes open, he saw her, cuddle up closely into the fur of the Wolf-Lion, both snoring gently.
Feeling his stomach grumble, Zuko raised himself back up into a sitting position. The pain hadn't lessened much during his slumber and had cramped up from being still for so long. He looked around the cave, uncertain of exactly what to do, when he spotted a small bowl beside him. It was filled with some of the stew he had seen boiling in the pot the last time he had been awake and a cup beside it, filled with more broth.
Both bowls were cold as he picked them up and Zuko looked warily over towards the sleeping Earth Bender before judging it was safe to heat them back up again.
He finished the food in record time and gulped down the steaming broth happily. Zuko had to admit, it tasted good. Very good. Even if she was incredibly annoying – and the enemy – Terru was an excellent cook. Maybe even better than his Uncle.
Uncle...
Zuko's thoughts turned to the old man. What had happened to him? Was he alright? Even though Zuko had abandoned his uncle only a few weeks ago so he could travel alone, he had to admit he was worried about him.
Zuko made a decision then and there.
He scowled angrily as he gathered the blanket around himself and a blush coloured his cheeks. His clothes were slung over a rock beside him and Zuko tried not to think about what the Earth Bender might have thought when she had taken his clothes away from him!
Zuko was her enemy, but he was a man first. Plus, his Earth Kingdom clothes seemed to have easily fooled the perky Earth Bender.
When he tried to stand up, Zuko saw spots. Every fibre in his body seemed to protest as he rose to his feet. His legs seemed to have gone dead and he stood there for a moment, gingerly flexing muscles that had lay dormant for the past two days. Or it might have been more than two days.
After his muscles had lessened their screaming to a dull ache, Zuko walked towards his clothes. His steps were awkward and clumsy and his ears went red at the thought of his sister and what she would say if she could see him now.
Changing into his clothes was even more difficult. Zuko was far too paranoid to simply change then and there in case the Earth Bender woke up, so he hoicked the blanket over himself and painfully pulled on his clothes. Even bending his legs made him wince!
Zuko could feel the dawn approaching. The close arrival of the sun called to him, making his inner fire burn just a little brighter and he tried to hurry his pace. Terru appeared to be a soldier, as Zuko had spotted the heavy-looking hammer alongside her belongings and a rice-hat bearing the emblem of the Earth Kingdom army. And most warriors rose at dawn, whether they were a Fire Bender or not.
Zuko didn't have the time or energy to worry about the questions buzzing in his head. He was in a cave, in the middle of nowhere with an Earth Kingdom warrior who could kill him at any time in his sleep! He had no energy to defend himself and had no idea where he was! His Uncle was either dead, captured or missing and when Terru realised that he was gone, she would probably send a vicious, angry Wolf-Lion after him!
Things weren't looking up, but Zuko ignored each of the worries. He had made a decision and he was going to stick to it! He'd be damned if he had to spend another day in a cave with an irritating, peppy Earth Bender and her dangerous pet!
Taking a deep breath, Zuko moved across the cave, walking as quietly as he possibly could when he passed the sleeping Earth Bender and her beast, Cougar. He could barely see Terru's face as he passed as the loose strands of hair completely covered her face. It was surprising that she tied her hair back. Why did she bother, if all her hair fell back out anyway?
Clearing his 'guards', Zuko stepped out to the mouth of the cave. He sighed when he saw that they were quite high up. Hundreds upon hundreds of trees surrounded the cave, all sloping downwards. Blinking back the sleep in his eyes, Zuko tried to find West in the sky. Ba Sing Se was in the West and that's where he and his uncle had been headed before they were attacked. So, if he got himself back on the right path, he had a better chance of finding the old man.
If he's even here to find. Zuko thought to himself, sulkily.
Taking in a deep breath and ignoring the squealing muscles in his body, Zuko began the descent down the rocky hill. It was hard going. The terrain was so rocky and unstable, little clumps of earth would occasionally slip out from underneath his feetand send him skidding down the slope. More than once he had to stop to catch his breath, as the little black dots danced in front of his eyes from the pain skipping through his body like lightning bolts.
He found it difficult to concentrate, the constant fatigue slowed his progress dramatically and the near-blindness of his raw, sleepy eyes made him see things in the sky that weren't there. Once, he found himself heading in the completely wrong direction and he had to backtrack half a mile and start again.
Nothing much passed through Zuko's thoughts during this time besides his uncle. He kept his mind focused only on two things – where he was going and how to block out the constant pain that dragged him down.
His ankle was the main problem. Zuko knew never to walk far on a sprained ankle, but at the moment, he didn't have much choice. He tried to zone out the pain as he edged slowly down the slope, walking similar to a crab to take the weight off his ankle. Zuko had been walking for four hours before he heard something coming from behind him. A pounding noise. A dull thudding, like the sound of Komodo-Rhino hooves thumping on the ground.
Feeling disdain wash over him, Zuko picked up his pace. The Earth Bender had finally realised that he'd gone and now she was coming after him! At least Zuko had had a head start – Terru was apparently not the typical soldier and hadn't risen at dawn.
Zuko's disdain increased when he realised that in four hours, he hadn't even covered four miles!
"Stupid ankle." he hissed as quietly as he could. "Stupid peasant. Stupid river. Stupid Emu-Horse!"
The thudding got louder and Zuko tried to force himself into a fast walk. He hissed loudly as the strain on his ankle began to finally take its toll, but he continued to push on down the slope. The thudding noise got louder again and Zuko grit his teeth together.
She had spotted him. He knew that much and now he had no chance of getting away without either getting forced back up to the stuffy cave, or discovered as the Fire Nation Prince and eaten by the gigantic Wolf-Lion!
"Hey, hey you!" Terru's voice carried over the trees. "Hey, uh, Angry Guy! Stop, will ya?"
Great. So now he was 'Angry Guy'.
Zuko ignored her as he continued to limp down the slope. The thudding became a little slower and Zuko's heart clenched as he realised that the Earth Bender had brought the Wolf-Lion with her. Ignoring the searing pain that shot up his ankle, Zuko carried on, focusing only on willing the black corners in his vision to disappear.
"Hey, stop!" Terru's voice got louder and she pulled up alongside him.
Zuko tried not to let her see him flinch when he saw that she was riding the Wolf-Lion! She looked angry, with her lips pursed and a hand on her hip. But there was also a little doubt in the corners of her mouth that made her look worried.
Zuko hated that. Worry was just as bad as pity!
"You're gonna really hurt yourself! Look what you've done to your ankle!" she scolded, the Wolf-Lion walking slowly beside him. "Hey! Are you even listening to me? Where are you going?"
Zuko considered telling her, just to get her to be quiet, but decided against it. He doubted it would help and he didn't want her getting suspicious. Growling angrily, the Terru punched a fist down in the air and a wall of earth shot up right in front of Zuko's path.
"Hey, jerk!" Terru fumed, pouting. "You're gonna stay put and answer my questions! I think saving your life means I get'ta at least have a thank you! Or even some conversation! You haven't even told me your name! Now stay put or else I'm gonna force you back to the cave!"
Zuko was absolutely fuming. Fire coursed through his veins and he considered simply hurling a fireball in her face. But of course, that was the worst possible thing he could do! He wanted to walk around the wall and carry on away from her, but realised that this was also a stupid idea. It wasn't like he could outrun a Wolf-Lion! Especially with a sprained ankle!
Zuko looked at her, scowling fiercely. He could feel his eye twitching in anger, but made no move to conceal it. His throat wasn't nearly as bad as it had been since the broth, but his voice still same out as a stifled croak and his ears turned red in embarrassment.
"Let me pass."
Terru puffed some air between her lips and rolled her eyes. She crossed her arms definitely and frowned.
"Pfft! No way. And let you walk all the way to Ba Sing Se? I don't think so. Look at'ya ankle! It wasn't a bad sprain until you went and did this! No way you're makin' it down the mountain."
Zuko clenched his teeth. Unconsciously, his hands balled into fists and the anger flared up inside him like a lit match. He took in deep breaths, repeating the same mantra over and over again inside his head, even though it nearly killed him to do it.
She saved your life. She saved your life. She saved your life.
"Let me pass." he tried again through clenched teeth. "Please."
Terru's expression didn't change.
"I'm guessin' you're the kinda guy who doesn't take no for an answer."
Zuko glared at her and she continued, the Wolf-Lion looking over at him intently.
"Well, I'm the kinda girl who doesn't like havin' their patient get up and walk out on them in the middle a'the night on a sprained ankle. I'm also the kinda girl who doesn't like bein' kept in the dark." she looked at him square in the eye, her mouth turning into a pout. "Answer my question and I might help you down, if ya that desperate."
Zuko remained silent as the flaring anger built up inside him, inflating him so much he felt ready to burst. His fists trembled as he clenched them tighter and his jaw was tight as he ground his teeth together. A few weeks ago, he would have just burnt the girl to cinders where she stood! But now things were different – he was injured, exhausted and she had saved his life.
Zuko might not have believed in many things, but there was one moral that his family had always striven to uphold. If someone saved you in times or peril, it was your duty to pay them back. No matter how annoying or infuriating this girl was, he was bound to her.
And that was the sole reason that Zuko kept himself from torching her, right then and there.
"So, I'll ask again." Terru's face was impassive, expectant. "What. Is. Your. Name?"
Swallowing his pride, Zuko tried not to let the anger spill over into a physical form.
"Zu-Lee." he spat out, scolding himself for almost forgetting his cover name. "My name is....Zulee."
Terru's face suddenly split into an unexpected grin. Zuko bit down on his lip, hard. He would prefer to have the angry, stubborn stupid Earth Bender than have the optimistic, annoyingly energetic stupid Earth Bender any day!
"Well there we go!" she smirked. "That wasn' so hard, was it?"
You have. No. Idea. Zuko hissed inside his head, determined not to incur the wrath of the Wolf-Lion.
Terru straightened up in her position behind Cougar's neck, clearly pleased with the progress she had made. Her arms were still crossed, but this time in triumph. The smug look on her face sent Zuko's blood boiling.
"Now," Terru smirked. "where'r you going?"
Zuko was tempted to make a break for it, even if his foot fell off just to get away from her prying! For the love of Agni, she was as smug as her Uncle!
"West." he managed, not once able to separate his teeth.
"Not in that condition, you're not." Terru frowned, pouting out her lower lip. "You're gonna turn that sprain into a break if you're not careful. Prob'ly already have."
Although it grated on his nerves, Zuko had to admit that she was right. Even when he suppressed the agonising pain to the back of his mind, it was undoubtedly a stupid thing to do. He fouht the urge to look down at his ankle, or shift his weight. He knew that even this small action would give Terru all the advantage she needed.
Biting down on the inside of his mouth, Zuko took a step back and turned around. This was a stupid, useless waste of time and he wasn't about to waste the rest of his day playing Cat and Mouse with some crazy Earth Bender!
"Hey! Where'd ya think you're going?"
The brick wall increased in length. Zuko fought the furious twitch in his eyebrow and carried on limping.
"Hey! Zulee! I was talkin' to you!"
The wall increased once again with a loud thud. Zuko carried on walking.
"Why you stubborn, ungrateful little punk!" Terru's voice trailed after him, hanging shrilly in the air and Zuko bared his teeth as he continued to limp closer to the end of the wall. "Get your butt back here!"
The snorting sound of the Wolf-Lion reached Zuko's ears and he had to force himself not to freeze. Terru's voice was softer now, although she still sounded furious as she muttered to herself.
"I can't believe I'm doin' this."
Zuko reached the end of the wall. Turning slightly to begin his descent down the hill, he didn't even have time to widen his eyes before the flying rock hit him square in the head.
His ankle gave out. Everything went black before he even felt his head hit the floor.