He stalked silently through the forest, instinctively avoiding every twig or leaf that was a potential betrayer of his presence. His large build and lean muscles belied the stealth he was capable of and currently employed. He halted and crouched low to the ground. The man sniffed at the air, nothing. With blinding speed he deftly buried the blade of his long knife in the trunk of the tree next to him. Placing his ear to the hilt, he listened intently all his senses were perked in expectation, scouring the area for any hint of life. Clear. Satisfied, the warrior smoothly pulled the blade free and returned it to its place at his side. The young man stood and walked back the way he'd come, reaching in his britches for the few last pieces of jerky he had saved. Mmmmm, the warrior loved jerky, so succulently delicious. Damn, all out.
Sokka pondered as he walked, as he so often did. He thought about everything. Girls, meat, friends, girls but mostly he thought on the war. It was two long years ago that everything and everyone went into total war mode. Little skirmishes of rebellion against the fire nation were things of the past. Now the water nation and much of the earth nation had joined their armies and were engaging fire nation. There were many losses. But vital victories always emerged just as everyone began to loose hope. The army had been young, small and inexperienced. But the ranks began to swell as more people dared to defy the fire nation. There were few stable basses for the rebel army. The North Pole was the central nervous system of the operation. This was the safest place they had. Nigh impenetrable. Much of the training took place here. The former northern air bending temple was another strategic location. All the army's weapons and technology came from here, as well as the few aerial squads the rebel army possessed. Kyoshi Island was still untouched by the fire nation but it was agreed its location was too risky to have more then a small dosho for soldier training. Instead the island acted as a food provider for the rebel nations. For this reason the island was well guarded but not conspicuously so. There were a dozen other small bases for the army but it was agreed that the army's footing in these areas was too feeble for greater activity.
Sokka himself had personally trained a number of forces for the army including Special Forces and spies. Katara and Toph had done their share of training others, specifically benders who were often used for more dangerous missions that required their talents. And Aang, well Aang held it all together. His ideas and ways of doing things were often shocking to the older officers of the army but no complaint was ever heard because Aang's judgment always turned out to be flawless. Aang had been offered title of Rebel Lord over the entire army but he declined, claiming that was not his job as the avatar. But he did help immensely none the less and kept everything together as well as could be expected. They had asked Aang to stay within the safety of the North Pole's walls but he declined this as well. And when Katara, Toph and he, Sokka had been asked to stay and train more recruits they declined also, refusing to leave Aang's side.
Now the group, Katara, Toph, Aang, Sokka, Momo, and Appa went from front line to front line, bolstering and encouraging where they could and advising against rash decisions, a special super force, a representation of the army itself. They often visited base camps to sit and talk with soldiers there, to let them see Aang and get what courage and hope they could from his prescience.
Sokka thought on how everything had changed. The sky itself seemed darker, grayer, all the time. He felt a distinct tug at his heart. There was something coming. Coming soon. An impending... Something. But not now. Silently he headed towards camp to await the others as they made their way back from scouting.
Katara stalked as silently as she could, tip toeing around bramble and trying to stay relatively safe behind cover of trees. Her eyes narrowed as she scanned her surroundings trying to sense any breathing or movement. Just as she turned to head back to camp a long arrow with a black shaft and red feathers buried its head in the tree she had been standing in front of a split moment before. A fire nation arrow. Swiftly she made to get around to the other side of the tree for cover. But suddenly there was a blinding flash and smoke billowed forth surrounding her and the area around her.
Katara bent forth her water whip and lashed out blindly. The whip connected and wrapped firmly around what she thought was a tree limb. She thought wrong. What it wrapped around was moving swiftly toward her and had grabbed the whip so she couldn't snap it free. Just as she was letting the water slip out of form so she could recollect it for another attack, strong arms wrapped firmly around her and a hand slipped over her mouth to muffle her cry of protest. The figure lifted her easily from the ground with out breaking his stride. She struggled and flailed against his grip.
She was too busy fighting to notice where they went and her stomach suddenly fluttered upwards as they dropped into a relatively shallow cave. It was naturally hallowed out under a large tree, the roots acting as a ceiling of the dank little shelter. Katara was forced into a crouching position, and pulled tightly against the chest of her captor, her back facing him. Katara pried her mouth open to bite the man's hand, but only succeeded in cutting her lip with her own teeth.
"Stop that." said the horrifyingly familiar voice. Katara's eyes widened in recognition and she struggled all the harder, beating uselessly with her bound arms.
"I said stop." said Zuko.
Grudgingly Katara calmed herself and listened intently outside. There was shouting and footsteps. Instinctively she wiggled closer to the shadows but Zuko still had her held fast.
"They'll be leaving soon. Once they depart so may you." He said quietly.
Katara mumbled something from under his hand and struggled slightly to tell him she wouldn't run, she just wanted to be let go of. Zuko obliged after giving her a meaningful look, silently demanding she stay.
"What do you want from me?" she asked, fingering her bloodied lip.
"Nothing. I had been waiting in those woods for seven hours for the right chance to attack those men. They're stealth archers, the best of their kind. But then I saw you approach and they began to move in on you. With my plan ruined, I just threw the bomb and decided to help you escape at that time as well. Do forgive me if I ruined a wonderfully conceived attack you were planning on them." said Zuko with a trace of a smirk on his marred face.
Katara smiled despite herself. Zuko had a slight sense of humor, who knew? Her smile soon dissipated though. "I have to get back to the others; those archers will find them and attack. I have to warn them." she froze as she began to move toward the mouth of the cave, both from the look Zuko shot her and from the thought that just occurred in her mind.
"Your not planning on following me are you? And what did those archers have that you wanted so much as to go out of your way to kill them?" she asked narrowing her eyes at Zuko.
Zuko smirked, expecting as much from her, "Don't worry about your friends, that bomb of mine was a fire nation bomb, they will have seen the flash and left. I have no intention of following you; I no longer desire the avatar's life, or the acceptance I was promised with the capture of him. I suppose in a way I am after what you're after. Peace. But I also realize that this is impossible to obtain. Still, I want to look anyway. I have a feeling I'll be crossing paths with my father once more. Actually I'm not sure why I'm telling you all this."
Katara looked baffled at this sharing of information as well. She studied the floor thinking. "How do I know your telling the truth?" she asked.
Zuko pondered this a brief moment and said, "You don't. And there's nothing I can say to make you believe me, I've never done anything to earn your trust. But it doesn't matter anyway."
She smiled pleased with his answer. "I believe you. Well where will you go now?" she said.
Zuko looked a little surprised and somewhat pleased with himself, "I don't know. I'll continue to wander. There's not really anyplace for me. I'll search until I find somewhere, a place to be. What I'll do when I get there I don't know. Before my uncle left he taught me all he knew of fire bending, he also taught me that one's training is never done, there's always new things to learn. So that's what I'll do on the way to this place I search for."
Katara frowned, but nodded, not wanting to probe painfully deep over his uncle. She wondered what had happened to him. "So... whose side are you on, Zuko?" she asked tentatively.
Zuko studied the cave wall, silent. Just as Katara thought he wouldn't answer, he did. "I'm on the one I feel is right."
She waited for him to continue but when he didn't she spoke. "That doesn't really-"
"I'm on the side of the right. But I'm on my own. I now believe the Fire nation should have remained in its own lands. I believe the other nations are right to fight back. I wish to help. I do what I can but I can't exactly walk into a rebel army strong hold and sign up, can I? You know being the son of the lord of the enemy and all. So I search for the place I'm looking for."
Katara stared at him for a long while, shocked at his confession. Of his utter righteousness and beliefs especially since they betrayed everything he had wanted for the longest time. She was shocked at the apparent growth the prince had gone through. She smiled at him and was about to say more when he stood and went to the mouth of the cave.
"Its all clear now. I'm sure your friends will be looking for you." He began to leave the cave when Katara stood.
"Wait. I owe you a thank you for saving me back there. So, thanks." she finished lamely.
Zuko merely nodded. "Until we meet again Katara." and with that he left.
Katara stood still a moment then ran out into the forest. She quickly looked around but there was no sign of Zuko. She stared off into nothingness, thinking. Shaking her head she began to run swiftly back to where they had made camp. She'd have to wave them down from up in the clouds where she knew they must be waiting for a sign from her.
Zuko crouched on the limb silently watching her go. He stood and gracefully dropped to the forest floor. He began walking through the brush, off to nowhere, to find peace of mind.
"A trick?" offered Sokka.
"No, I could really sense that he was being honest. I'm sure of it." said Katara brushing aside a strand of hair the wind blew in her eyes as it whipped around them. She drew her winter coat tighter about her, the air this high, teaming with the water vapor made for a cold ride atop Appa.
"I don't think it really matters anyway. It doesn't change anything really." said Toph, sighing a little disinterestedly. "What do you make of it Aang?"
Aang sat atop Appa's saddle side, cross-legged, chin in hand. His brow furrowed in thought. He shook himself as if bringing himself back to reality from his thoughts out in space. "Tophs right. It doesn't really matter. I for one trust Katara's judgment. Besides it has been a very long time since Zuko has made an attempt at kidnapping me. So long as he leaves us alone, we'll do the same for him. Now what more pressing at the moment is getting back to the North Pole?"
"The North Pole? We just left there not 4 weeks ago. I thought we were going for a quick visit to Kyoshi island to help settle the trade agreements with the Earth bending village of Roy Kan?" said Sokka hunching down by the side of the saddle, trying to find some reprieve from the hammering wind pounding at his ears.
Toph smirked at him, knowing he must be wondering if Suki was on leave to go back to her village for a week or two. Suki and her fellow Kyoshi warriors were a sought after special force and were nigh constantly on call to villages under attack to bolster the front lines. Students modeled after a former earth bending avatar were inspiring to those who put their faith in Aang and the rebel army.
"We were. But that was before I got me great idea. Besides the chief of Roy Kan is bluffing. He doesn't really have a choice, he'll trade with us and get a fair price or he'll trade with the fire nation and get his house burned down. No, we need to get to the north pole." said Aang, scratching his chin.
The others waited for him to continue. "Well?" shouted Sokka after an extended period of time, making Aang jump. "What was your great idea?"
"Oh! Yes, I've decided the time has come to retake Omashu." said Aang as if this were something as simple and mundane as cleaning Appa's toenails.
The others all stared disbelievingly at him. The only movement was the wind dancing around their bodies and through their hair, unperturbed by this earth shaking announcement.
End of Chapter 1