"What's that?" I cried, pointing just over the next ridge of mountains. A huge blue glow, changing every moment, lifted higher than the mountains.

"Azula!" Uncle exclaimed, sounding fearful and full of resent, referring to Zuko's younger sister. "Hurry! Maybe Zuko is there, too!"

"What is it?" Toph asked, confused.

"Uncle thinks the blue fire I saw was his niece," I explained quickly as I began to pack our few belongings on the one ostrich we had left.

"Can I come? I'm looking for my friends, but I can't really see, you know," she asked politely.

I looked at Uncle, who answered, "Of course, but it'll be a tight fit on that ostrich of ours!" Sure enough, I nearly fell off each time we ascended. The closer we got, the more I could hear and see. "It sounds like a fight," Toph observed, listening intently. "I hope your neice is OK."

"She can take care of herself," Uncle remarked sternly. Within fifteen minutes we rose over the last bit of mountain onto a deserted town below us, falling to pieces. Before us was a mad array of several people, each fighting one another: Zuko, Azula, the avatar, Katara and Sokka. The benders were everywhere, on the rooftops one second, inside an old shop the next. Toph heard Aang's yelling and leapt from the ostrich towards her apparent friends. Uncle looked at me, a bit shocked, not knowing his small friend was actually and enemy. I was just as surprised but more interested in watching Zuko after not seeing him for so long.

He was chasing after Azula, probably hoping to take her down, then capture the avatar himself, knowing him. Uncle and I dismounted and snuck down to their level, hoping not to be noticed. We hid at the end of a long row of shops, peeking out at the battle ensuing. I desperately wanted to make sure Zuko was alright, but it was out of my control. Toph was fighting alongside Sokka and Katara, trying to distract Zuko and/or Azula.

I glanced over the town, and saw Zuko fly to the ground, landing hard on his back, unmoving. My heart raced and I rushed out into the open towards him. I went behind him and started to push him to his feet. "Zuko! You must get up!" I whispered desperately. He wobbled to his feet, but started quickly forward when he saw everyone else, including Uncle, backing Azula up against a wall. They had the princess cornered, and everyone's wish was to have her dead. All of our enemies, besides Azula of course, we fighting side by side together.

I didn't know whether I should stay or go; I wouldn't be of any help, I'm not a bender. But I'd missed my chance, it was too late. While I was distracted thinking, a blue flash lit up the town, and I heard a pained yell and a thud. I looked and saw Uncle fall hard to the ground. Then, dark smoke, and Azula was gone.

I raced out of my hiding spot, towards Uncle. Zuko crouched beside him, grief-stricken and yelling for everyone to get back. Katara offered her hand to help Uncle. I got scared, knowing the prince's next move. I sprinted between the two of them and grabbed Zuko's hand midair strongly before he could launch an attack on Katara. He looked up sharply at me, and stared, incredulously, into my face. I thrust it down, and turned towards the avatar and his three friends. "You must leave, now. I can take care of the general," I said, ushering them to leave before things got worse and Zuko decided he could catch Aang now.

"But Sing I can help. I'm a healer," Katara repeated.

I looked back towards Uncle. "We don't need your help," I said untruthfully. I looked, pained, into her eyes, hoping she would understand that although we really needed her help, Zuko would never allow it. "Thank you." I bowed and waited for them to leave.

I returned to Zuko's side, and looked over Uncle quickly. Azula must have tried to strike him in the heart to kill him, but missed; for from his shoulder was a deep red gash, burning hot. I sighed, wishing Katara could have helped us. I stood up and muttered, "I'll be back," and hurried towards where we left the ostrich.

When I returned, I found Zuko trying to drag his uncle into a building. "Stop!" I yelled frantically. "What are you doing?"

He looked startled. "I'm moving him into a building," he said somewhat obviously.

"You can't just drag him, you'll hurt him even more," I cried, swinging off the animal and walking towards Uncle's unconscious body. "We need a board big enough to hold him," I said, looking around the premises. Zuko walked away and came back with what looked like a door that had fallen off its hinges. On the count of three, we hoisted Uncle onto it, and together we carried him into the closest building.

I hurried back to get my first aid supplies from my pack. I reentered and sat down beside Uncle's still body. Zuko sat a few feet back, leaning against a wall, staring at his uncle on the floor. I began the careful process of removing clothing from around the raw area. The wound wrapped around his left shoulder, and was already a deep, scabby black-red. I treated it with simple herbal medicine, and wrapped his shoulder. Halfway through, he began to wake up a bit. His eyes fluttered open, and he began to mutter a bit.

Zuko crawled up to Uncle's side, opposite me, and made sure he was comfortable. "Zuko, where is Azula?" Uncle asked, distressed.

"She's gone, Uncle. She escaped," the prince said, calmly.

Uncle exhaled. "Darn. I wanted to show you how she controlled her flame until the last possible moment," he said slowly with a twinkle in his eye. I rolled my eyes.

"How are you feeling, Uncle?" I asked.

He moved around a bit. "It feels like I'm laying on a door or bumpy wood floors," he remarked in typical Iroh style, making me smile.

"Would you like anything?" I asked softly, laying my coat under his head.

"No, Sing. I'm going to take a nap. I'm as tired as a dog," he said, yawning. "But I would very much like some white tea when I awaken," he added before closing his eyes. I smiled, and tied off the wrap around his shoulder and sat back to observe my work. My patient slept peacefully, and hopefully I'd taken care of all the medical needs he had for the moment.

I stood up and leaned against a countertop, realizing how hungry I was. I looked to Zuko who had gotten up a while ago to look out the window for anyone who decided to return to finish their fight. I watched him hold his arm as he stood, and I got concerned. "Are you hurt?"

He didn't answer immediately; his mind was on something else. "Oh, no. It's just from today, my arm's a little tender," he replied.

I walked over to him, and pulled up the sleeve to reveal a long yellow-blue bruise. "There isn't much I can do for a bruise," I told him, pulling the fabric back over his toned skin. I turned around and looked down at Uncle again. "I think he'll be alright fairly soon," I thought aloud. "He just can't overwork himself. The wound will just tear open again." I looked quickly over to Zuko, expecting some kind of reaction, but he continued to stare out into the desert. He was holding something back, maybe it was guilt for leaving Uncle in the first place, or maybe he was more hurt than I thought.

"I'm going to see if there's a well around here," I said, taking a canteen and heading out the door into the evening heat. I walked around the entire city, and thankfully found a spicket between two buildings placed tightly together. I squeezed out from between the two, and headed back to our shop before the sun went down.