The water churned beneath me as my boat hit the rapids. I didn't stand a chance, I had little boat control, it wasn't my element. Suddenly the prow hit a rock and the boat broke in half, sending me flying out, into the water. I screamed as I went under, my mouth filling with water, my head hitting a rock. My eyesight went black and the last thing I heard ,before I passed out,was water sloshing.
"Will she be okay?" I woke up to the sound of voices close to me.
"It is up to her now, I have other people to attend to." The voice stopped and there was the sound of a door opening and then closing. I let out a small sigh and opened my eyes, only to be met with the scared face of the fire prince.
"You're awake. Should I get th-"
"No just help me up." I wriggled my arms free of the cover and he grabbed them carefully and pulled me up. Leaning on my palms I looked at him, taking in the shaved head and scared eye.
"Am I correct in assuming that I am in the presence of the exiled prince Zuko?" His shoulders tensed at the word exiled and he gave a hash nod. He looked me up and down, clearly taking note of me. I sat up straighter, wincing as my head throbbed, and folded my arms in front of me.
"You know my name, might I ask yours?" He shifted slightly, leaning forwards, as he spoke.
"My name is Kila." I replied, ignoring the look he gave me, pulling my hair over my shoulder- feeling the familiar tickle at my ribs- and realised that it was loose. I looked around the small room, looking for my hair tie, when I caught his eye. He raised an eyebrow.
"What are you- oh. Here." He reached into a fold in his clothes and pulled it out. I reached for it and started to pull my hair up into a top knot.
"Are you alright? You seem...bored."
"I have too much energy, I need to spar. How long have I been here?" I got up, glad for the fact that I was still in the clothes I had been wearing before the accident, and stretched.
"I found you 2 days ago. Are you a bender?" he asked, getting up and standing next to me.
"2 days. Wow. Yes I'm a bender." I held my palm out and a small ball of fire appeared above it. He smiled.
"I'll spar with you then." I smiled and turned, conscious of the pain in my leg as I walked, and started to the sparing arena.
As I exited the room I was almost instantly lost. I stopped and Zuko walked into the back of me, sending me onto my bad leg. I stumbled and he quickly grabbed my wrist, spinning me around.
"Are you sure you're alright?" His gold eyes met my mismatched and he started, I nodded and transferred my weight onto my other leg.
"But you just fell." his voice started to rise as I pushed myself away from him.
"Its an old wound, one that surfaces occasionally. I'm fine." I replied as I pulled my eyes from his and started down the corridor.
"Other way," he said, a sigh escaping as I turned and gestured for him to lead. "I don't want to fight you if you're already wounded."
"Tough," I retorted, starting to get annoyed with the prince. After a few more turns we were outside in the training area.
I stretched and flicked my hands out in front of me as he started to take off the armour he was wearing. I grinned and dropped into a ready position I had been taught as a child. He caught my smile and a small, uncertain one, spread across his lips. He launched a volley at me and I leapt forwards into a flip, jumping over him. I span around and returned a volley at him, catching him as he was turning. He staggered backwards at the force of the impact and absorbed the rest, sending a ball back at me. I jumped to the side,forcing the fire to my will, and launched a flaming roundhouse kick at him. I caught a glimpse of the smile that was spread across his face as he dodged the attack and dropped to the floor, kicking my legs out from underneath me. He hit my bad leg and I fell to the floor, hard. I tried to pull myself up but I couldn't and fell back to the floor. He took in a gasp as he realised what he'd done and scrambled off the floor and helped me up. I leant against him and wrapped my arm around his shoulder, trying to not put weight on my foot.
"I'm sorry. I didn't know... well I did, but. How bad is it?" he asked all to fast as he helped me back the way we'd come. I rolled my mismatched eyes and stole a glance at him to see if he was seriously asking. He was.
" The scar goes from my hip, well the bottom of my ribcage really, to my foot."
"How did you -"
"That's a story for another day." I replied as I pulled myself off of him ever so slightly. I pushed open the door to the room I had woken up in and was met by the wrinkled face of the person I assumed to be the healer.
"Where have you been, I was gone for 2 minutes..." she reached for my ear and grabbed it, pulling me closer. I winced and looked up at Zuko who was holding back a smile.
"Just like old times huh?" He said as the woman pulled me into the room. I glanced at him over my shoulder and grinned as the confusion passed. He recognised me.