A/N: Thank you for those that are reading! I hope to make this my biggest success story yet. Reviews are needed/appreciated. :)

Soft, and warm. . . and fuzzy. . .mmm, like the best tiger fur she could ever imagine, brushing against her silky skin, offering the utmost protection all around. Katara snuggled into the fur, her fingers curling tight around it and pulling it close to her chest as possible. It was strangely like home, the way it smelled. It settled her heart, as if sinking into her chest in deep meditation. She buried her cheek into the blanket, nuzzling close.

Wait.

Katara's eyes slowly opened, with a small cry from her lips in protest of waking up. Eyebrows furrowed, she stretched, and found her body oddly dry, which, is especially strange. She distinctly remembered being cold and wet, just a few minutes ago. A dainty hand ran down her stomach, then her side to find a silk, baby blue nightgown.

What?

Silk?

As soon as the fog lifted from her vision- which she now found limited- she could see that she really was wrapped in a tiger fur, orange and black dagger-like stripes starkly contrasting. . .not that she was complaining, it felt ah-mazing, like nothing she had ever felt before. But she wasn't going to take charity work. Ever. Intent on finding whoever it was that was keeping her, she sat up quickly, earning herself a head-spin. Her eyes rolled, and she gingerly propped her head up with a hand. Her fingertips brushed what she knew to be white bandage. But. . .why was her head bandaged? Did she get into a fight or something? As she shifted, the fur blanket did as well, wafting a comforting scent to her in a whole new wave. It wrapped around her like the fur, promising her warmth and security. . .but, this scent wasn't of water, or spring, or vanilla, but rather, a slightly woodsy smell, with scorching fire. It was an amazing combination, like going camping in the woods. The mere thought relaxed her heartbeat to a slow, steady pace. The camping life was how her family had once lived, when their parents were still around. They'd sit around a fire, laughing, talking, making do of what they had caught for the day. Her father would share the most intriguing stories, when he used to be in the army, or mystical tales of faraway lands, full of adventure and wonder. Her mother would tell of how their parents met, or baby stories (Sokka did NOT like this part at all), but Katara loved listening to them all. When she closed her eyes, she could still hear them, how excited they would be, how they would pull you in, turning myth into reality. A smile flitted to her lips, resting softly like a bumblebee on top a flower. Perhaps, that is where her sense of thrill comes from. She always wanted to go off on her own story, to tell something to her kids, that would tell their kids, and so on. And that's what she intended to do last night- she wanted to not live an ordinary life anymore, but actually make a difference.

She frowned a little, curling a fist to her heart. Sokka wouldn't understand. After all, he's perfectly happy with the life they have now. If only she could have convinced him to come with her. . .but she knew it was pointless. If she had told Sokka, he probably would have chained her down and have gotten people to supervise her. Constantly. All the time. As if she needed it. Pfft. She could take care of herself just fine. She didn't need a man's help. She was perfectly capable of handling everything on her own.

"Hello?" Katara called out, stepping out of the bed, which was way too comfy for ANYONE'S good. Her feet landed on polished, cool stone. Immediately, she could feel the history shooting up from the ground into her nerve endings. So many stories, but all of them unknown, unspoken. What fallen soldier's blood lay under her feet, or what untold king had walked across this very surface? She desired to know all the stories this. . .place had to offer. Where was she, though? Why was she here? How did she get here?

Who were those arms that completely melted her from the inside out, just a few moments ago?

The beautiful maiden could hardly see. . .it was pitch black, save for the soft candlelight that lit the room along the walls. Glorious, long candelabras rested all over this room. . .or, rather, the portion of the room she was in. The warm light flickered and danced in the golden sheen of metal, as if entertained by its own movements, that vain fire. Cautiously stepping forward, she felt for the ground she could not see, and found small steps. Tapping each step with the tips of her toes, she finally found her way down, and felt a long, smooth carpet. Deciding this was the best way to follow, she took note of exactly how everything looked, for what she could see, at least. It definitely did not feel like a peasant's home; it had to be someone of high stature, of high wealth. Who else could afford fur all the way from India, or (at least what felt like) the finest silk of China? Where was she-

"AHH!" She shrieked, when balls of orange fire spontaneously erupted out of the mouth of the darkness. It swirled, it danced, like a wild horse of fire that could not be reigned in. It was as beautiful as it was terrifying. She fell on her bum, her arms held up in front of her face.

The smell of burning hair.

Her parents' screams, echoing fresh in her ears.

Charred flesh.

And those eyes. . .those cold, malicious eyes, with a wicked grin to match.

No. . .No, she told herself, shaking her head as it began to pulse. Those weren't her memories. They couldn't be. Her parents died. . .peacefully. She woke up one morning, and they had fallen asleep, eternally, wrapped in each other's arms. It wasn't that bad.

As she opened her eyes, the fire had stopped, and this time, there was no candlelight around her to help her. She was truly all alone. . .in the dark. . .

With a fire beast.

"Looking for someone?"

Fear prickled her skin. The voice was definitely a man's. Oh, sweet Spirits. . .what did he plan to do with her? "Yeah. I'm looking for you." She stood up, brushing off her. . .silk nightgown. "I just want to ask some questions."

"What if I don't want to answer them?" Footsteps circled around her. Were they close? Were they far?

Katara frowned, and found her firm voice. "I'm going to make you answer me."

The playfulness left his voice. "I'd like to see you try, waterbender!"

xXx

Crap.

Oh crap. Oh crap. Oh CRAP.

She didn't know how to fight. She never learned in her life! But, she wasn't going to back down. Not here, not now. If this was how it was going to end, then she would die with honor. She put her hands up, very bravely, and narrowed her eyes. "Bring it!"

As soon as that challenge left her lips, all the lights puckered out. Nothing save her own breathing could be heard around her.

Footstep.

Bah-dum.

Footstep.

Bah-dum. Bah-dum. Bah-dum.

Her heart was pounding in her ears, her chest constricted, and her jaw clenched tight. Strength washed into her muscles, squeezing her hands into fists. Taking a defensive stance, she prepared for the worst.

A sputter before her, a tame, golden fire flickering in front of her eyes. And his face. Now she could see. . .

He was beautiful. His face was perfectly shaped like an egg, his jaw smooth, his eyes bright like the sun and just as every bit intense. The color of amber, they were slit, contrasting with his milky pale skin. So smooth, except for the mask covering his left side of his face. The deadly concentration in his expression was that of a dragon- amused, calculating, raw. Such a gaze made her heart flutter, made her thoughts stop abruptly. . .

Her hand struck out, reaching for his throat, but he caught her wrist effortlessly. Calmly, even. But the strangest thing, she noticed, is that in his other hand, a small flame flickered, hovering over his palm.

. . .how?

"You are not ready to fight," he whispered in his husky voice, more stating than anything. . .even with a bit of pride. "But I promise you a real fight, when you are able to."

"I can fight you-" But before she finished, he let go of her wrist and stuffed his hands in his pockets, walking away. She frowned and stumbled after him, even a bit blindly. "HEY! I'm not finished with you!"

He stopped, turning only his head to look back at her, his eyes cold. "Who said I was finished with you, waterbender?"

"Stop calling me that! And, just tell me your name, at least!"

Before he turned around, she could have sworn he looked slightly amused, even a glisten in his eyes.

"Zuko."

A/N: Tell me what you think! Most of this is improved, so. . .I also know that the characters are a bit OOC, but they'll be more IC as the story goes along. My reasoning behind this is because it is an AU, and so their circumstances have made their personalities a bit different (hence a serious Sokka in the first chapter). Do not fret, they'll be more IC as they spend time with each other. You will see them shine as the characters we all know and love. :)