Katara was the first to wake up. She recalled all the events from the night before, and remembered how she let all her emotions show in front of Zuko. She remembered going to sleep in his arms.
So if I fell asleep in his arms why am I laying down?
She opened her eyes and found herself in her sleeping bag with someone's arm wrapped around her waist. She rolled over to find her face had been right under Zuko's. She had cuddled up next to him all night and hadn't know it. She had been thinking it was Jet or someone like that who had happened to find her.
"Finally decided to wake up huh?" The new voice among the quietness had startled her, and she jumped at the sound of it.
"Good morning to you too. I always love being woken up with a head bumping my chin." Zuko said sarcastically.
"What happened last night?" Katara said unexpectedly.
"Well you started crying, and I came over to comfort you. Then you began to shiver, so I firebended heat through my arms to you. And you fell asleep, so I put you in your sleeping bag. You started to shiver again and...um...I couldn't just let you freeze so I...um...had to sleep next to you to keep your body temperature normal."
Katara looked down at her sleeping bag and up at him.
"I did move my sleeping bag over next to yours...ok...I wouldn't do anything to harm you."
Zuko got up and started to get all of his things packed up, and Katara realized what he was saying. She was freezing without him next to her. She started to make breakfast when she noticed Zuko staring at her. He quickly looked away blushing.
Ok now I'm seeing things. She thought to herself.
When they had eaten and they were all packed they went looking for the nearest shelter because the cave somehow disappeared. They came across a small town where they bought all the provisions that they needed. While they were there they came across some soldiers.
"You there, young girl, have you seen a group of people from the southern water tribe, the earth kingdom, the Fire Nation Prince, or the Avatar?"
"Act like you don't know a thing." Zuko whispered in Katara's ear.
"No, sir, I haven't. Isn't the Avatar supposed to be dead anyway?"
"No ma'am he's alive, and you'd better be telling the truth or you will pay for consequences."
Zuko and Katara walked away as quickly as they could before they heard yells and feet pounding behind them. They broke into a sprint, running for the forest.
The soldiers must have recognized me. Zuko thought.
He grabbed Katara's wrist and pulled her into an alley that lead to the forest and to the mountain. They were over thrown and surrounded by soldiers after several minutes. The firebenders were in fighting stance when Katara was able to get them all under her will. She bloodbended as many as she could, while Zuko fought the rest.
They were finally able to get out with them all confused or very injured, and they ran for the mountain. They stopped once they were on the other side and by a stream. Katara wasn't too injured, but Zuko was a different story. His right shoulder was burnt, his shirt was torn to bits, his legs were cut, and his left cheek was bleeding. Katara finally got him to lie down so that she could heal him.
"You're very stubborn. You know that right?" she said while manipulating water onto his leg.
"I guess I am." Zuko watched with interest as all the cuts on his leg healed. Katara helped him take off his shirt, so that she could heal his shoulder. She realized that he had a lot more that just a burn. After healing his shoulder she looked at his side to find a larger one. She turned Zuko over on to his back to find that the burn on his side was nothing compared to the raw flesh of his back. She carefully worked her way all over it, while Zuko groaned. He said nothing because of the pain. Katara found that the only scratch that was left was the one on his cheek.
Katara turned Zuko over carefully. Zuko, still in pain, groaned again. Katara brought the water to Zuko's cheek, and he flinched at the sight of it being so close to his face. Katara brought it slowly to his face resting in gently on the gash. Zuko closed his eyes. After a few seconds the cut was healed and Katara put all the extra water back in the stream. By the time they were done, it was night time again. Katara helped Zuko put his sore body into a sleeping bag, and set hers down next to his. She got in hers, but sat there staring into the void of space.
"Why were you crying last night, Katara?" Zuko asked after a large amount of silence.
"That is none of your business," Katara replied coldly.
"But you seemed really upset about it and I was wondering if I could...well...you know...help?"
Katara stared at Zuko.
Him offering to help me even though he doesn't know what it is or how hard it would be to do. I don't buy it for one second. I won't let him help.
"Zuko I don't need help, and I wouldn't take it from the likes of you either." Zuko was surprised by the way she responded. He didn't think that it was a large problem, but he saw that it was bigger that even she could handle.
The night was cold, colder than it had been the night before. They got in their sleeping bags and tried to fall asleep. Katara, who was freezing to death, couldn't help wonder how a firebender could not wear a shirt in the freezing weather. Zuko caught her starring at him.
"You cold?" he asked.
"Yeah, why?" she asked cautiously.
"I could come over there to warm you up." Zuko suggested
"I'm fine thanks," Katara responded coldly.
Zuko got up and put his sleeping bag next to hers. She tried to move away, but Zuko scooped her up in his arms playfully. Katara kicked and squirmed, her arms aimed to hit Zuko's face.
