Zuko had been with the gang for weeks now. The final battle with his father was fast approaching, the closer they got to home the more he began to panic.
Most nights Zuko spent awake, claiming that he was taking the first watch. He knew he should get some sleep, the dark circles around his eyes were becoming more pronounced everyday. He was getting sloppy, making mistakes with the avatars training.
It was starting to get harder to keep himself awake during the day, the gentle sway and the heat from the bisons fur lulled him into a sense of calm, causing him to drop his guard.
He didn't know how much longer he could stay awake for.
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The sun had set hours ago and the group was sitting around a fire.
Appa was snoring in the background, Momo laying on top, rising with every inhale only to drop back down when he exhaled. It made a funny scene, the fire casting shadows across them, making it seem as if the lemur was floating.
The fire cast shadows across everyone, highlighting the dark circles around Zuko's eyes.
The others were beginning to notice, all of them suggesting that he should get some rest and one of the others would take first watch.
Zuko would be Zuko and say that he didn't need a rest, that he was doing perfectly fine on his own, but not even Zuko knew if he could stay awake another night.
The warmth from the fire and soup that they had just eaten was beginning to make him relax. Clouding his mind like a warm blanket. His limbs were feeling sluggish, and with every breath, he was becoming progressively more sleepy.
"Zuko, you should get some sleep" Katara's face showed concern, her voice soft and soothing, like she was talking to a wounded animal.
Zuko was too tired to reply, he felt insulted though and managed a dark scowl. No one called him weak, especially not a girl.
"I'm not calling you weak Zuko, I just think that if you are going to protect us then you have to get some rest" She placated, Zuko could never understand how she could figure out what he was thinking just from his scowl.
"Hey", Sokka had whipped his head in her direction, obviously taking insult from the comment, but after a sharp look from his sister, he turned in the other direction and pouted.
Zuko would admit, Katara knew just what to say to get what she wanted.
Zuko gave a slight nod, but the look in his eyes said it all, 'five minutes'.
Katara gave him a nod back in understanding, she knew it was all she would get, but with how tired Zuko was she knew he would sleep much longer.
Zuko closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep, he hoped he didn't have the dream again, how was he going to explain that.