Zuko woke to silence. Even Sokka's thunderous snores, rumbling from where he lay awkwardly propped against a rock, couldn't fill the unnatural silence outside. Zuko rolled carefully to his feet, tapping twice on the ground to let Toph know it was just him moving, so she wouldn't wake fully.
True to nature, the capricious firenation weather that had driven them to ground just hours before was now clear as fine glass. The stars glittered like water scattered over black velvet, and the full moon cast stark, confusing shadows across the ground.
His footsteps cushioned and silenced by deep, damp leaves, Zuko made his way slowly towards the sound of rushing water. He found the stream with little trouble, and knelt down by its rocky edge, still wary of the strange quiet. Everything was still as he bent down and reached with cupped hands to scoop up some of the cool, clear water, but as he touched its surface, the water came alive, wrapping around his wrists and pulling him bodily into the shallow stream.
As he struggled against his bonds and the current, fighting to bring his face above the surface, he sensed a shadow fall across his exposed back. He twisted his head back to peer over his shoulder, but all he could see was a silhouette against the full moon.
The tension around his wrists loosened, and suddenly the looming shadow became Katara, the full moon over her should lighting her face in an otherworldly way.
"What are you doing here?" she demanded roughly. She had let him go, but her posture did not relax in the least. Zuko stiffened in response.
"I woke up thirsty." He snapped.
"So you're sneaking about just for a drink? What about the water skins back at camp?"
Zuko cut short a sharp reply, taking a deep breath before walking over to the shore and sitting down. As he did, the utter quiet struck him again.
"Listen. It's too quiet." Katara paused at that, and stood with her head cocked. Not a cricket's chirp or a leaf's rustle disturbed the eerie quiet.
"I didn't notice, over the noise of the water…" Katara shifted her stance on the stones of the streambed, casting about for any noise other than that of the rushing water.
Zuko shivered slightly, as much from the oppressive quiet as from the chill of the water. He took a deep, steadying breath, carefully raising his body temperature, at the same moment as Katara raised her hand in an odd wringing motion, and Zuko felt an odd tugging at his clothes, like a strong wind, and most of the water went twisting silently back into the stream. Zuko bit back a small noise of surprise, and raised his gaze to meet Katara's.
"Thank you" he said, but she had already turned back to her bending. He could tell by her posture that she was now more alert, listening to the silence, or perhaps to him, as he stood, making careful noise so she would know he was leaving.
He paused a moment, transfixed by the play of gleaming moonlight over water and bender alike. He shook his head sharply, wondering at his lapse, and turned to leave.
Katara watched him from the corner of her eye.
iI still don't trust him. I have to keep an eye on him. That's why I'm watching…/i
Once he had walked deep enough into the trees that he could no longer see the gleam of the water, Zuko stopped and listened again. Now that he was away from Sokka's snores and the sound of the water, he could hear the small, furtive noises of the night. Something scuttled low through the leaves to his left, a twig snapped somewhere behind him. He could hear a light breeze rustle through the trees high above.
But nothing else.
He should hear the calls of the panther-owl, the eerie laughter of the fox-bear, the creaking of the bearded frogs. He couldn't even hear the peeping of the sharp-eared mice.
Zuko began making his way quietly in a wide circle around their camp, pausing occasionally to listen to the silence.