A/N: I would like to announce my new story Phases of the Moon. Oh boy I've been keeping this story locked down in Word for a looooooong time. I've been writing and writing for a while so I can upload it in pieces so you won't have to wait forever. YIPEE! I haven't seen this type of story yet where Katara looses her memory and Zuko has to help her gain in back. Actually I think I've seen a few but I just haven't read them yet. heh. For anyone curious I do have a tumblr dedicated toward atla. So without dilly dallying any longer here's the story.

Phases of the Moon

Katara's P.O.V

The first that surges through my brain was, am I dead? My question was quickly answered when I gain back my senses. The pain is the first thing I feel; pins and needle stab at my brain. My sense of smell is overwhelmed by a distinct scent of melted paint and scorched wood; it definitely wasn't the sweet spicy scent of firewood smoke I was used to. Opening my eyes I identified myself in a once thatched-roof house now a burned thatched-roof house. The room where I lay was no longer on fire, but was still seeping swirls of grey smoke. It's August and the dimming sunlight is leaking through the roof. For the first time I realize I'm damp surrounded by a small pool of water. Carefully supporting my weight on a wall a pain surges through my head.

I feel like I need to be somewhere, but where is where? I close my eyes trying to remember. The last thing I remember was a great surge of energy flowing through me.

I walked through the house without a clue as to what happened. The outside was littered with footprints and pieces of destroyed house.

"I'm not surprised seeing you here." A man walked toward me grabbing a hold on my shirt.

I tried to speak but my throat was too parched.

"Is he alive?"

I touched my throat hoping he knew I wanted water. He took notice of my efforts and eyed me suspiciously. He grabbed for my arms twisting them behind my back.

"No funny business." With his free hand he brought a small canteen of water over my lips and poured the contents into my parched mouth. I gasped for breath.

"Is he alive?" The man repeated.

The man looked desperate with anger behind his eyes. He wore Fire Nation armor and a gold insignia that represented royalty.

"Who?" My voiced scratched.

"Don't play coy with me. I know you used that spirit water on him and I know the soldiers spotted you and your brother." Pins and needles attack my brain again. My brain racked for answers.

"No, don't know what you're talking about. I don't-"

Barley lacking any communication black dots cloud my eyesight.

A boy about seventeen is beside me in the burning house. He holds a fragile looking boy with a blue arrow peeking out from under his brown hair.

"Keep running Sokka! They'll find him."

"Sokka?" I remember someone. I was attacked.

"The boy with the head tattoos, the Avatar!" Avatar? No, it couldn't be.

"Who are you? What's going on?"

The man's face softened and released me. I stumbled digging my knees in the dirt.

"Are you serious?"

"I don't remember," I eyed his golden insignia again. This time he caught me glancing. "do I know you?"

"Yes, unfortunately. Come with me." I didn't move. Something about him didn't seem to settle well in mind. Almost immediately he wrapped his arm firmly around mine walking beside me.

"Hey! What are you doing?"

"We're taking a walk." In my pathetic efforts of pulling away I decided my best bet was to follow someone who claimed they knew me. With each breath I took I selfishly inhaled the draft re-purify my smoked filled lungs. The re-animation sent chills through my wet clothes. Even more the sun was setting faster taking its warmth and light it provided. The man came to a hault making me trip over my feet. He lit a small orange flame in his palm.

"How did you find me?" I asked with more assertiveness.

"I suppose we have this habit of finding each other." I tugged my arm away from him letting him know his indignity. I immediately regret pulling away realizing how much I was using him as body support.

"I came here with a small group of recruits to an emergency distress call."

"It must have been pretty important for royalty to make a call to the scene of emergency, a prince perhaps?" I pointed at the royal print on his armor almost accusing him for my memory lapse.

He responded by repurposing his arms around me walking us into a clearing spreading out into a small mouth of a river. The recruits he spoke of stood at the edge of the water next to small Fire Nation navy ship. Noticing us they cautiously walked toward us.

"Be quiet." He whispered in my ear. Hearing his voice I automatically wanted to push his face in the opposite direction.

"I'm not taking another step without you telling me something."

"We are going to talk. I need answers too."

"Well that's great, let's talk."

"Back on my ship."

"I'm not getting on your ship." I looked at the man straight in the eye despite my overwhelming exhaustion. His face looked familiar. Memories kept rushing in but disappeared just as quickly before I could process them. He eyed me curiously.

"I'm having a hard time believing you forgot everything, like you have amnesia." One of his recruits reached us and bowed.

"Prince Zuko!" It was the first time I heard his name since I woke up. Zuko's eyes widened and half flinched like I was going to attack him. His grip on my arm increased.

Zuko? So his name is Zuko. He relaxed after my reaction to his name revealed nothing. Zuko regained his composure.

"Captain Tarrence, please escort her back to my ship." Zuko nudged me forward.

"I'd rather you just let me go. I'll gladly walk to the next town." I slide a little further away from Zuko.

"That's not an option." Zuko re-grabs my shirt.

"What are my options then?"

"You go with the Captain or," Zuko pauses tapping his chin. "you go with the Captain." I stomped my foot in frustration.

"So you're taking me captive?"

"Yes, I suppose I am," Zuko nodded to his recruits arriving. "Stay close to deck." He ordered his team.

"Yes sir."

Wholeheartedly debating on rhyme and reason I stay put. I could run for it and follow the river upstream to a nearby village but from the looks I'm getting from Zuko I don't think that would turn out in my favor. I say nothing more and go with the initial. I don't know where "Sokka" is nor do I know who I am, yet I'm following strangers toward a ship. This could be the worst possible decision I've ever made.

A/N: Thanks for reading, don't forget to review and share.