Ehehehe…I know this is late, but here is my Zutara Week '09 story. I did not sign up, I'm just writing it for my/reader's enjoyment.

At least it didn't take until December to be inspired! (see profile)

Disclaimer:^#^%^^&*##$%%$%&^&*(% I do not own ATLA. If I hadn't censored my….frustrations….this story would have to be under M. And I like my young readers (if I have any…)

Day One: Crossover.

"Katara, come on! We have to keep moving or we'll fall behind schedule!" Sokka yelled. Everyone (the Gaang except Katara) was waiting for Katara to cross over the gorge. In order to get to market (I guess I should clarify some. The group is in Ember Island, but not on the beach, in a secluded area deep on the island, with cliffs and gorges and forests. They need to get to the market because Appa has a stomach ache and needs herbs sold only in the market), they needed to cross a rocky gorge, with nothing to cross on but a narrow tree trunk.

"Y-Yeah…just give me a minute," Katara stuttered. Damn, if only there was some water, I could- she thought, hating her weakness for heights. Flying on Appa wasn't bad because she felt safe, but with nothing to keep her from falling to a gory death but an old tree trunk, she wasn't feeling very safe.

"W-Why don't you guys go on ahead? Suki knows what herbs to get, I'll wait here," she called, sitting down on a rock.

"No! We need to stay together! Who knows what could happen if we leave you alone?" Aang protested.

"I'll be fine, Aang. I look Fire Nation with these clothes, and besides, I can protect myself. Besides, if Appa continues his moaning and groaning, someone's bound to come investigate."

"She has a point, Twinkle Toes," Toph pointed out, and pulled Aang's hand away to the rest of the group.

"If you're sure…" Aang relented and led everyone away. Katara sighed and wiped the accumulating sweat away from her eyes. While doing so, her eyes traveled down the gorge, and she gulped. It was more than a hundred foot drop, and the bottom was riddled with sharp rocks.

A cough startled her out of her reverie. She whirled around to see Zuko, standing behind her.

"Zuko? What are you doing here? I thought you went with everyone else!" Katara asked. Zuko ignored her question and smirked.

"Afraid of a little gorge?"

"LITTLE?! Do you see how far away the bottom is?!" Katara cried.

"So, you're not afraid to fight my father and his huge army, with the added strength of the comet, but you're too scared to cross one teeny little ravine?"

"Well, if it's so 'teeny', then why don't you cross it?"

"Sure," Zuko shrugged. Placing one foot in front of the other, he crossed with perfect balance, and with a calm look on his face. Katara twitched. That does it…I'll show him who's scared!

"Who's afraid?" she sneered, and with a deep breath, placed one foot gingerly on the tree. It gave a small crack, and Katara had to physically force herself to not jump away. Inhaling deeply, she stared straight ahead and put one foot in front of the other. Finally, she felt solid rock underneath her feet as she sank down to the ground, sighing.

"There!" she said, smug and proud. Zuko shrugged. "I crossed faster than you."

Ooooooooooooooh, he makes me so mad!

Snapping upright, she yelled, "What does that matter? I crossed over, didn't I?"

"With my teasing and practically keeling over."

Fed up, Katara aimed a punch at his head. He caught it, and spun her away. She retaliated with a shove, and, realized too late, how close they actually were to the edge of the cliff.

"Aaaaaaah!" Zuko cried as he fell down.

"Zuko!" Katara screamed, trying to reach for his hand, but she was too late.

Sorry for the cliffy. Actual, I'm not sorry at all, cause I'm going to update this soon, like, in an hour. XP (I kinda have to, if I wanna keep up with Zutara week). I understand that today is supposed to be 'blood' which ties in nicely with this chapter. So please leave a review on your way away from this page. Thank you.

And yes, I know Aang could've airbended her over, or Toph or Haru could've made an earth bridge.

Explanations: Don't have one for the Aang thing, except for that this is a ZUTARA fic. The earth bridge might…attract attention? Point is, this is a Zutara fic so everything has exceptions for Zutara.