Salute everyone!

My mother tongue is not English, so please excuse possible mistakes. Hope they won't detract from your enjoyment of reading :)

1. The stranger

Sokka felt a severe headache; he opened his eyes and realized that something was wrong. Suddenly he remembered what had happened yesterday. "KATARA!" he cried. "One more storm, nothing special except we lost Katara,"Sokka was weeping.

/-

Zuko stood on the forecastle looking into the distance. He had been searching for the Avatar for so long, and now he had missed him. Again.

"Good news, nephew, the storm has passed away," Iroh came up to the nephew. "Sometimes destiny gives us signs…."

"Bla-bla-bla," Zuko yawned. "If you are so clever, why did you slip on a wet floor and sprain your wrist?"

"There is a purpose of everything," Iroh beamed at the Prince.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH" Zuko was tired of all that stuff.

"Sometimes you just need to wait to see what destiny has prepared for you," Iron didn't give up.

"Oh, sure... If I stay over here, the defenseless Avatar will come to me," Zuko folded his hands at his chest. There was a tone of mockery in his voice.

"MAN OVERBOARD!" one of the soldiers shouted. "Actually, it's a woman!" the second one added. "Actually, it's the waterbender…" Zuko whispered. Her chest was moving up and down; she was breathing.

"HEH!" Zuko saw that the soldier was hoisting her up in a gruff manner. "You are an idiot! Be careful!" No, Zuko didn't take care of the waterbender. He just needed to keep her alive: she could tell where the Avatar was.

The Prince picked out the unconscious girl and suddenly realized how small she was.

And this is THE waterbender… he couldn't believe that this miniature had ruined his plans.

"Prince, what are going to do?" Iroh's voice broke the thoughts.

"Throw her inboard."

"Prince, you shouldn't throw ladies inboard. It's dishonored behavior," Iroh told quietly.

"LADY? This annoying girl is LADY?" Zuko began to boil. "Uncle, I suppose you didn't peruse who she is."

"I did, Prince. I have also observed that our guest is sopping wet, and she needs a good rest."

The only thing stopping Zuko from demonstrating to his Uncle what rest he would like to give this waterbender was the mind She can tell where the Avatar is.

Finally Zuko got mad, "You are a crazy old man! You understand nothing!"

"My _no_understanding_ predicted the appearance of this girl. You can throw her inboard and spend two more years for the Avatar search, or you can try to believe and see what will be next."

Zuko grated teeth, "Fine. What do you suggest?"

"Provide her the captain's room…" Iroh started.

"MY CABIN?" Zuko interrupted in a fury. If the nephew didn't love his uncle so much, it would be the last Iroh's words.

"… and if you don't want she would die from some disease she must be changed into dry clothes," Iroh remained unappalled.

"Who's going to do it?" Zuko answered with a sarcastic twinkle in his eyes. There weren't women in the ship, and the soldiers became excited.

"You are."

"WHAAA…" Zuko couldn't even finish the outcry.

"Well, I hardly change my own clothes with my dislocate wrist. Of course, you are able to commit the task to one of these men who has been lonely in a sea for a long time…"

"I get it. Fine" Zuko made a face. " Stupid Avatar. Stupid waterbender. Stupid male soldiers, Stupid Iroh." Zuko repeated it again and again while leaving to his room with the unconscious girl.

Zuko was sitting on the floor in his room, between a bad and a door. He took away all water stuff. So the little witch can't attack me when she will wake up. Or can she? Zuko didn't know. Anyway, I'm a powerful firebender, I can beat some girl.

He had to give her his favorite tunic: it was the only item that was clean. And it made Zuko so crazy. He was trying to calm down, but the only thought he could focus on was "Stu-u-u-upid. Stu-u-u-upid."

Suddenly he saw a movement: the girl was awaking. She sat up and looked around. When she saw Zuko's face, she shuddered.

She's afraid of me. Zuko smugly grinned. But then he got nervous. The girl stared at his scar like she saw it for the first time. It was disagreeable to him… and strange.

In the end Katara looked directly in the Zuko's eye and asked "Who are you?"