A/N – Unfortunately, I don't own Avatar: The Last Airbender. Or the characters. Just my character Nika. For now. Muahahahaha!
Fire – Zuko
Zuko looked back and saw a shadow flitting behind them. It had been following him & Uncle for days now. When he had told Uncle yesterday, Uncle just shrugged and said if the person wanted to come, he or she would come. Zuko shook his head, no matter what; he would confront the stranger when it was time to set up camp. As if on cue, Uncle stopped the ostrich horse & said,
"We'll set up camp here tonight." Zuko smiled grimly; time to deal with the intruder. "Since you're going to the forest, pick up some firewood." Uncle continued as he took out the camping bags & water canteens. Zuko sighed and went inside the forest. It was cooler inside the forest, the shadows creating a welcome reprieve from the heat, even for a Firebender. The shadow flitted in front of Zuko. He chased after it, until they reached a clearing.
"You were noisier than a komodo rhino." The stranger commented wryly.
"Who are you & why are you following us?" Zuko asked angrily.
"I'm Nika & I wasn't really following you. We happened to be going in the same direction." She said and pushed back the hood of her dark red cloak. She had skin that was a couple shades lighter than a Water Tribe girl and dark purple eyes. Oddly enough she had black hair like someone from the Fire Nation with a single crimson lock of hair hanging in front of her right eye. "Now, I believe you needed some firewood?" she asked and held out an armful of thin branches. Zuko stared at her and walked off. Nika followed him to Uncle.
"Z- ah, Zihao, who's this you've brought?" Uncle asked.
"I'm Nika." Nika said before 'Zihao' could reply. Uncle looked closely at her and nodded.
"Put the branches there." he said, indicating the center of the camp.
"What, you're okay with random strangers barging in like this?!" Zuko sputtered.
"Zihao, she isn't trying to kill us & she looks like a nice girl." Nika smiled & put down the branches. "I'm going to take a bath. Try to get along." Uncle continued. Zuko snorted and Nika sat down in front of the fire. As Uncle got his bathing stuff, Zuko sat on a log next to the bundle of sticks.
"Where did you come from?" Zuko asked her gruffly.
"Fire Nation, as far as I know. I've been living there as long as I can remember." Nika replied as she poked a stick into place.
"How could you have survived there? You look like a Water Tribe peasant." he scoffed.
"Well, I was the leader of a street gang called the Western Dragons. I did well enough with them." she said.
"Do you want to take a bath, Nika?" Uncle asked. Zuko started but Nika just nodded and stood up slowly. After she left, Uncle lit the fire & sat across from Zuko.
"Well, what did you find out?" Uncle asked.
"She says she's from the Fire Nation & used to be the leader of the Western Dragons." Zuko said.
"Really? What a surprise." Uncle murmured.
"What do you mean?"
"The Western Dragons were one of the strongest street gangs in the Fire Nation & had many skilled benders. They named themselves after, well…me. They used many of my techniques as well." Uncle shrugged.
"Not bad, I suppose." Zuko said. Uncle looked at the sky; it was getting dark. Nika walked into the camp, looking surprisingly dry even though she was wearing the same clothes she had on before.
"Well, you can sleep on the ground and Nika will get your sleeping bag. I'll sleep on the other side of the fire." Uncle said to Zuko.
"What?! I'm not–" Zuko spluttered.
"I'll sleep on the ground. I'm so used to that & it'll be hard to adjust to a sleeping bag." Nika said.
"Good." Zuko said & lay down in his sleeping bag. Uncle shrugged & lay down in his. Nika sat near the fire, with her head on her knees. The last thing Zuko heard before he fell asleep was the sound of Uncle's snoring & the girl's quiet humming.
(-_-}
Zuko's stomach grumbled when his nose detected the aroma of beef. He could hear Uncle chatting away happily with that new girl.
"Hey, wake up." the girl said and nudged Zuko in the side. He opened one eye and growled.
"Well, if you don't want the food, I'm good with that." she shrugged and walked away. Zuko scowled and got up. The girl had put two bowls filled with stew on a flat rock on top of the embers of the fire. Uncle was eating his bowl of stew and watching the clouds skid across the sky. Zuko walked down to the stream and washed his face and rinsed out his mouth. When he got back, one bowl was gone & Uncle was putting the rolled up blankets into the saddle that the girl- Nika -was giving him.
"Your bowl's on the fire." Uncle said. Zuko sat down in front of the fire and ate the stew.
"I'll wash out the bowls." Nika said and held out her hand. Zuko handed her his bowl and she walked down to the stream.
"What a nice girl. She can even cook." Uncle said as he patted his stomach. Zuko grunted and mounted one of the ostrich horses. Nika came back into camp and put the bowls in Uncle's saddlebags.
"Zihao, let her sit behind you." Uncle ordered. Zuko scowled but before he could say anything, Nika said that she would meet up with them wherever they chose to stop.
"Are you sure?" Uncle asked, looking worried. A past leader of the Western Dragons or not, a lone girl in the woods with possible bandits...not a pretty picture.
"It's fine, I can protect myself." she grinned at him. "I'm sure Grumpy must have told you. Besides, I've lived here for some time, so I know the terrain." 'Grumpy' snorted & accidentally kicked the ostrich horse. It screeched & shifted in place until Uncle patted the ostrich horse on the neck. He gave Zuko a disappointed look & Zuko looked away. It was an accident, but it wasn't like he was trying to be particularly careful. Uncle got into the saddle in front of Zuko & lightly held the reins.
"Well, no matter. We'll walk with you-unless you don't want the company of an old man?" Uncle smiled at Nika.
"I'm good so long as Zihao has no complaints." Nika said with a smug grin. Uncle gave Zuko a warning look. Zuko sighed & shrugged. Uncle smiled at Nika once more & kept up a steady stream of conversation that never seemed intruding or boring to her.
And so, the Fire Nation's exiled Prince, the elder brother of the most dreaded leader in the world, & a girl who had more secrets than even she knew, started their journey.
A/N: So I hope you realize that Zihao is Zuko, right? The only time he's called Zihao is in conversation because this chapter is supposed to be third person. But every chapter onward will be first person unless I say otherwise (don't worry, I'll say who's viewpoint it'll be at the beginning of the chapter).