Chapter 1: Flames of doubt
Katara watched quietly as Toph bended a large hole into the hillside, large enough to fit the four teenagers, the Earth King, a lemur, a bear and a flying bison, into the side of the island that looked out to sea. Sokka helped Katara move Aang's sleeping body into the cave while the others followed. Toph sat quietly beside her friend and student.
"Should we make a fire?" Katara asked Sokka. He shrugged.
"May as well. It's a bit chilly. Come help me get some firewood. Toph, keep this lot out of trouble." The blind girl cracked her knuckles.
"Sure thing." She said. She sensed the Water Tribe siblings leave, and the Earth King settling beside her. Bosco made himself comfortable next to his master, while Appa chose to rest by the opening. Momo curled up on Aang's chest with a quiet purr.
"So this is what exile is like." The Earth King said quietly. "I didn't think it would be so..."
"Outdoorsy?" Toph supplied.
"Indeed."
"Ok, spill. What happened?" Sokka demanded. Katara picked up a twig.
"I'll tell you when we get back, I don't want to have to repeat myself." She replied bluntly.
"But Katara-"
"Sokka, I said later!" She snapped, throwing her sticks down angrily. He looked quite taken aback, then looked away.
"Katara, Azula was wearing Suki's clothes." Sokka said quietly. The waterbender heard the pain in his voice. "What if I've lost her too?"
Katara didn't know what to say. She'd seen first hand how ruthless Azula was - they all had. But her brother clearly needed some hope.
"If anyone could escape Azula, Suki could." Katara said quietly. "She would've been unconscious for a while, but I'm sure she's fine."
"Yeah...yeah Suki's tough." Sokka said, trying to convince himself more than anything.
Katara bent and picked up her pile of sticks, then followed her brother back to the make shift cave. The Earth King had fallen asleep against Bosco. Toph hadn't moved, and neither had Aang or Momo. Appa groaned a little as Sokka started lighting the fire, and backed away once the blaze was lit. The Water Tribe sibling glanced at the mighty beast, shying away from the flames.
"Damn Fire Nation. They must have done something to him." Sokka said angrily. Katara walked over to Appa and gently rubbed his nose.
"Don't worry, Appa. This fire won't hurt you." She cooed.
"I have a question." Toph said suddenly. "What do we do with him." She jerked her thumb in the direction of the sleeping monarch. Sokka drew a complete blank.
"Come here Toph." Katara said. Sighing, the blind earthbender stood and walked over to her friends. They were just out of earshot, in case the Earth King woke up."We need to think of somewhere safe to take him. I don't think he'll be particularly useful in making plans of a rebellion or something." Katara and Sokka glanced at the Earth King, who's glasses were in danger of falling off his nose. Sokka gave Katara a look of agreement.
"Maybe we should ask Aang about that guru he went to see. An air temple should be one of the safest places." Sokka said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
"If he ever wakes up." Toph said in a surprisingly bitter voice.
"Don't worry about Aang." Katara said gently. "If he could survive in an ice burg for 100 years, this should be nothing."
"Have you always been this naive?" The younger girl asked.
"Yeah, always." Sokka answered. "Ow!" He cried out when Katara whacked him over the back of the head.
"Uncle?"
Zuko stood inside the metal jail cell, glancing around him. His uncle was sitting on a thin mattress that was serving as a bed, and refusing to look at his nephew.
"Are they treating you well?" The ex-Fire Prince tried again. Silence.
"If not, I'll make sure they're replaced." Silence, but louder this time.
"I'll even ask them to bring you some tea."
"So I can taste the bitterness of betrayal again?" Iroh finally broke his silence with these scathing words. Zuko felt hurt streak through his body, but knew he deserved it. He knelt beside his uncle and lowered his head.
"I will not ask for forgiveness, Uncle. I don't expect you to ever forgive me. I know I won't forgive myself. I did what I thought was right. You have to understand." He looked desperately at the side of his uncles face.
"She was going to have the Earth Kingdom and the Avatar. I couldn't let her just take it all. I want to go home uncle!" He said, almost angrily. "If she'd won them both, I'd have no chance of returning." Iroh remained resolutely silent. Zuko sighed heavily. "Don't think I'm proud of betraying you." His voice was quiet and husky. "You were the only one who stayed by me after..." He reached up and touched his scar."Even when we were in exile, you stayed with me. I'm sorry uncle. I really am sorry." He stood slowly.
"Zuko, if you think that you have your honour and your home restored to you, then you are not the boy I hoped you were." Iroh said, suddenly turning his amber gaze on his nephew. "If you go to the Fire Nation, or even stay here, you will be killed! Stop this foolishness! Please Zuko, give it up!" Zuko knocked on the door to signal he wanted to be let out.
"I'm trying." He said quietly, then left the old man alone in his cell.
Iroh sighed sadly and sat back. He could see in his nephew's face that it was finally dawning on him. The consequences of his actions in the underground caves would come back and bite him, hard. He just had to hope Zuko was prepared.
Authors Note: everybodys having some ANGST! it makes the world go round lol. trying hard not to let them go OOC, but i felt some of these things needed to be said or done. wow, 4 reviews and 115 hits! not bad for a first chapter. thank you to Wren Sharpbeak, Lady Charity, Shadowhand Zealot and Another Face for being my first reviewers! you were all very kind and supportive! and dont worry, if i include any OCs, they will be minor characters. if they are major, they will have personalites (like the ones in my LOTR fanfic) i am hoping to make these chapters longer as i progress, and am shocked that im already uploading this a week after the first one! you got lucky people:D i hope you enjoy it
