"Aang, this isn't right. Sokka's leading us the wrong way..." Katara whispered to Aang as Sokka led the way. They had just left Basing Sing Se after the big ambush from Azula. Katara had healed Aang with her remaining healing water. Toph and Sokka were being extra aware of all the surroundings as they did not want to risk another ambush now that Zuko had escaped and teamed up with Azula.

"We should have done something to help Iroh," Katara said. She felt so guilty for leaving the poor man behind but there was nothing anyone could do- he was blocked by Azula and Zuko.

Aang looked at Katara sadly, before replying, "There's nothing we could have done Katara...I only hope that Zuko shows some mercy towards him because we all know Azula won't. From what we've seen for the last couple of months, it's safe to say that Zuko does care about his uncle."

"Yeah, that's the only thing he does care about," Sokka muttered as he leaned against a tree for support. The four of them had been travelling for two days now- they flew with Appa for a while before he got restless and tired. Now all they could do was walk as far as they could to make it to the Earth Kingdom and set their plans against the Fire Nation into motion.

The gang continued waling in silence with occasional mutters from one or the other and for little stops along the way for rest and for Appa. All the while, Katara kept replaying images back in her mind of how she had almost connected with Zuko. She knew it in her mind that she did not imagine Zuko opening up to her – she almost healed his scar- almost. For some odd reason Katara felt a sudden sympathy for Zuko and felt it was probably because they both shared the loss of their mothers to the Fire Nation. She didn't understand her feelings – Zuko was supposed to be the enemy, yet why this sympathy? Since she couldn't erase the thoughts from her mind, Katara made herself think of new thoughts of her improvement of her water bending powers.

As the four travelled slowly across the kingdom, the sun set and soon it became dark. Toph and Sokka decided that they should rest for the night and head out again in the morning. Aang said he felt much better and that his wound was nearly disappearing. They set camp and slept, not worrying about any attacks from Zuko or Azula. They were too worn out to contemplate such incidents.

The following morning the sun came out bright and early waking Aang from his nightmares. He had been running away from something in his nightmares and woke up screaming and sweating from head to toe. All night he had tossed and turned unable to get a proper night's sleep. The only thought that kept him sane was that he had his friends around him, protecting him. After breakfast Sokka packed up all their possessions along with his boomerang and demanded the others to get a grip on themselves because today would be a daunting day – they had to make it to the Earth Kingdom.

"Now that Aang is feeling much better we should be able to make more ground today," Sokka was sounding unusually smart and calm headed today- not his usual self. "And Toph...please put that flower away."

"It's not a flower!" Toph raged. "How many times do I have to tell you, geez!" With that she stamped on ahead leaving Sokka fuming after her. Now Sokka was back to being his usual self- at least the smartness lasted a couple of seconds.

"Please Sokka, just for today will you not upset Toph, she's having a hard enough time going back to the Earth Kingdom so don't make it any harder for her." Katara pleaded. "Let's try and get on so that when Toph gets back to her family, she's somewhere near happy."

"That girl is never happy," Sokka retorted.

"Yes, well we all understand why that is, so please calm it for today."

"Okay."

Sokka walked on following behind Toph while Aang and Katara walked side by side with Appa. "What do you think is going to happen once we get to the Earth Kingdom?" Katara asked. She had been thinking about it all morning and tension was beginning to show. Aang looked equally subdued but for completely different reasons. He was being plagued by his recent nightmares and hadn't told any of the others about them – he just couldn't. He knew that something was wrong and that the nightmares were a sigh but he just couldn't work them out. He didn't want to burden the others with them since he already feels he's risking all the lives by travelling with them.

"Aang?"

"Sorry Katara, I was just thinking about something." He absently stroked Appa's fur. "Er...to that question you asked...i really have no clue what the Earth king has planned but it'll have to be ingenious If we're to defeat the fire nation."

"I hope for all our sakes that we do defeat the fire nation..." Katara's voice trailed off. She was still confused about the incident back in the cave where Zuko joined forces with Azula. Katara thought Zuko disliked Azula – it was all obviously an act she thought. In that moment Katara felt the need to confide in someone. "Aang?"

"Yes?"

"It's just I want to ask you something." She let her eyes wonder around the scenery where mountains stood high with hug trees sheltering them likes big castles on a hill. "It's just...i was in the cave with Zuko before you and Iroh came...he seemed humanuntil then. I saw a side of him that none of us thought existed. I just don't understand why he chose to join Azula after all his running from her." She seemed exasperated with herself.

Aang thought long and hard before answering. He could easily tell that Katara was fighting a mental battle with herself – she just tensed up when she didn't understand something. Aang knew he had to answer carefully and it had to sound like a good conclusion. "Well I guess Zuko just felt he had no choice. He has been running from the Fire Nation for months now and when Azula offered him a chance to live, he took it. I guess he felt he had nothing left but to give in. Don't forget he is the enemy even if was to fight against Azula and not with us."

"I know that!" Katara erupted. She felt so irritated and now she knew why. She was going to heal Zuko, thinking that he had changed, she showed him sympathy and listened to him- damn she believed that he was a good person at that moment. She realised that she was annoyed for believing that Zuko had changed into a better person. She cursed herself fro being so forgiving – all Zuko did was use her until he didn't need her on his side. Well I'll show him next time she thought. I am not going to be made a fool of twice.

"Thanks for listening Aang. You're a real friend." She kissed him on the cheek, oblivious to his blushing. "I don't know what I'd do without you."

Sokka heard this last comment. "Hey! You two lovebirds come over here." He yelled.

"Shut up Sokka!" Katara threw her bottle at him.

"No need to hide your boyfriend Katara, I understand and I wish you well. Aang is nice." Sokka said in his superior toned voice. "You can't do much better-OUCH!" He rubbed his arm where Katara thumped him. "What was that for?"

Katara's face flushed as she stared at Sokka with an indignant face, refusing to waste her breath on him. Toph shook her head and laughed at the sibling row. None of them noticed Aang behind them, blushing furiously at being called Katara's boyfriend. He knew his crush on her was deepening and these remarks always cheered him up.

"Sokka, Katara stop it." Toph pushed herself in between them. "This is why Sokka called you. Look." She pointed down below the cliff they were standing on, to a huge wall barricading the Earth Kingdom.

"We've finally arrived," Katara jumped with relief. She really did need a rest and so did the others.