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We were lost, if that was possible. Could you be lost if you don't know where you're going? I suppose not. After all, you'd have to have a destination in order for you to get lost. So, since we had no destination we weren't lost. No, we were just wandering around in a forest, with no idea where we were. Great. Just great.

Zuko strode at the head of our group, looking at the sun as though that would help. Once again, I reflected on how entirely stupid this was. Zuko wasn't going to find the avatar. I mean, what are the odds of Zuko finding and capturing him? Zuko and Iroh should just settle down somewhere. Besides, why would Azula accept Zuko again even if he did capture the avatar? She won't. Most likely he'll go groveling back to his sister, which will basically be suicide. I mean, it's not like Azula will say, "Oh, my poor brother. Didn't you find that naughty avatar? Well, never mind, come sit by the fire and have something to eat."

"Uncle!" Zuko called.

"Yes, nephew?" Iroh answered.

"I'm hungry." I looked at Zuko. Was it possible that his tone actually sounded human? No, I was imagining it. "We can get lunch ready," I told him, unsoldering my bag. Rummaging through it, I pulled out a stale loaf of bread and a few apples. Zuko frowned. "Is that all?" he growled.

I nodded.

"Why isn't there more food?" Zuko snapped. I rolled my eyes. Sheesh, Zuko was an idiot. "We're running out of supplies," I told him patiently.

"So what are you going to do about it?"

"We'll go foraging for food when we're done here," I answered. "In the mean time, here." I offered Zuko an apple and a piece of bread. He scowled and knocked it out of my hand. "I'm not eating your peasant food!" he snapped.

"Nephew, calm down," Iroh chastised him. "Have some tea. It will help you." Smiling, he offered a cup of tea to his nephew. "No!" Zuko exploded. "I'm sick of this! I'm sick of running around a forest with a stupid peasant and a fat, foolish old man! I'm leaving!" Aiming a fire ball in our direction, he stormed off.

Well, that was weird. It was like Zuko was PMSING or something. One minute he was quiet, the next he just exploded. "What's wrong with him?" I asked Iroh. He sipped at his tea before replying, "My guess is that Zuko is homesick."

"How could he be homesick?" I demanded. It didn't make sense. How could he miss that horrible place? The palace was in shambles, his parents were dead and his sister imprisoned him.

"How could he miss it there?" I exclaimed. "It was awful!"

"To you, maybe," Iroh told me. "But Zuko grew up there. He's familiar with it. And I suppose he misses his parents." After saying this, Iroh stared into his tea, downcast. Iroh was right. As stupid as it was to me, Zuko did miss his family and his home. He'd been taken away and dumped with a water bender and his uncle. It was just so depressing. Couldn't Zuko see that Iroh cared about him, and so did I? But it's not because I like him. It's because it's in my nature to care about people, that's all. It was pretty sad that Zuko wanted to go back to people who didn't want him instead of wanting to be with people who did want him.

"Do you think Zuko will come back?" I asked. I wasn't worried about him. Honestly, I could care less about what that stupid prince does. Well, maybe I do care. Maybe because I'm a girl, I've assumed the role of mother in the group. I don't like to see people get hurt. I have this need to protect people. It was nothing to do with Zuko personally.

"I'm sure he'll be back, Katara," Iroh assured me. "He just needs some time to cool down." I nodded, relieved. Absently, I picked at my bread. I hoped Zuko was okay.

Zuko's Point of View

Urgh! This was so frustrating! I was wandering around in a forest, lost, with my stupid tea-obsessed uncle and a stupid water bending slave. What was her name again? Kalina? Kat? Kana? Ka-something. Yes, it was Ka-something. Not that it matters. I'm the prince- well, fine, former prince, of the fire nation. I didn't need to bother myself about learning names of slaves. Although Uncle seems to be friends with her. Disgraceful. He used to be the Dragon of the West, a feared general. Now he's a fat old man who's obsessed with tea and befriends slave water benders.

How hard could it be to find one person? I'm pretty sure people would notice someone who could control all for elements. But then again, the avatar was being hunted, if I remembered my lessons correctly. Maybe he hasn't mastered all of the elements yet. Did the avatar have markings on him? Hopefully. But suppose he hadn't returned. Then what?

You're on a wild goose chase, you know.

Oh no. It was that annoying voice in his head that pointed out the flaws in his plans and made him think of things he didn't want to think about.

I am NOT!

Yes, you are. Do you honestly think that Azula will let you come home?

Of course. She promised!

Azula always lies.

She's not lying this time!

How do you know?

I just know. She's my family.

She threw you into the dungeons to rot!

Family members can make mistakes!

You would have died if it weren't for that water bender!

Azula would have let me out!

If you say so.

Look, I know what I'm doing.

No, you don't! Face it, this was just a ploy to get rid of you! Do you honestly think that she'll let you come back?

Yes, I do! I'll capture the avatar and then I'll regain my honor!

You won't, and you're making a big mistake.

No, I'm not! Now shut up and leave me alone!

To my intense relief, the voice didn't pester me. It was an idiot. I knew what I was doing. Azula was the only family member I had left. Without her, I had no one. Yes, I know I have Uncle Iroh, but he's a buffoon. How am I supposed to be a great Fire Lord if I travel around with a fat, tea loving old man? I'm a prince; I have to be the best. Uncle Iroh isn't the best. He's too soft, too mild. For Agni's sake, he befriends slave water benders! How am I supposed to be a good Fire Lord with that kind of influence?

My stomach rumbled. Maybe I shouldn't have stormed away. Eating peasant food was degrading, but it wouldn't kill me. It wasn't like there was anything else to eat. But going back would mean facing Uncle Iroh and that peasant. Which would mean I'd have to put up with them asking me if I was okay, or the girl scolding me. Why couldn't they just leave me alone? It wasn't like I needed them. That stupid water bender can't keep track of the food properly, and Uncle Iroh is always busy picking random leaves and berries for his tea.

It was settled. I didn't need Uncle Iroh or that stupid peasant. I didn't ask for them to come; I could get along fine without them. Let them wander around in the forest for all I cared. They were only holding me back. Once I captured the avatar, I'd regain my place on the throne. Then I'd throw that peasant into the most horrible cell ever, and banish Uncle Iroh. He'd probably be happier running a tea shop in some small town than in the castle.

Okay, it was settled. I was on my own, without any food, or a map. Maybe I should just go back to the others. Oh, this is ridiculous! I am the Prince of the Fire Nation! How hard could it be to forage in the forest, or burn a little animal to a crisp? Granted, as a prince someone else should be fetching my food for me, but I suppose I had to make sacrifices. After all, how hard could it be?

Note to self, NEVER, under any circumstances, THINK, or SAY, 'how hard could it be?' Mark my words, the universe will punish you for it. It guarantees no success and huge frustration. I'd tramped around the forest for I don't know how long. Branches kept tugging at my clothes, and I tripped a bunch of times. I was pretty sure I'd stepped in some plant that was supposed to itch. My face was flushed red and my clothes were sticking to me because of the sweat.

My stomach was tying itself in knots. I think it was shrinking due to lack of food. Yeah, that was it. There hadn't been one animal in sight. This was a forest! Weren't cute little critters supposed to be frolicking here? Maybe they knew I was hunting them. Yes, that's it. My mind was giving off signals, and the animals were picking up on it. Wait, I didn't just think that. See what wandering around in the forest with Uncle Iroh and that peasant has done to my brain?

I was staggering. I was dying over hunger. Also I was hot, itchy, sweaty, and thirsty. So much for getting by on my own. Fine. At the interest of my health, I might have to swallow my pride. If I don't find food in the next half an hour, I'm going back to the others.

Luck must be with me. I found a bush with some bright red berries. Usually, I'd never eat berries I'd never seen before, but I was starving. Besides, they looked perfectly fine. Grabbing a handful, I crammed them into my mouth. My face contorted. The berries were sour! For a moment I was tempted to spit them out, but hunger got the best of me. Screwing up my face, I popped the berries into my mouth, trying to swallow them as fast as possible.

That was disgusting. Just as I was wiping my mouth, my eyes caught movement. Turning, I saw that there was a beehive! My heart leapt as I aimed a fire blast at the hive. It toppled to the ground, smoking. Bees swarmed out, buzzing angrily. Ignoring them, I scrambled to the fallen hive, scooping up gobs of honey. Greedily, I crammed my face full, ignoring the bees. It was delicious! My joy was short-lived. There was a sharp stinging pain in my arm. Wincing, I pulled it back. Then there was another in the back of my neck. The bees were attacking me. Angrily, I attacked them back. Unfortunately, this was a forest, and I used bending, I could start a fire. I settled for the other option- run!

The bees followed me as I tore threw the forest. All I could hear was their buzzing in my ears. My feet kicked up dirt as I ran, and my arms flailed wildly. My heart pounded and the breath was torn from my body. I could feel stinging pains of every part of me. Desperately I aimed a tiny little fire blast and continued running. The bees still kept following me. How did one get rid of bees again? Oh yeah, water! I really wished that peasant was here right now!

No, I don't! I was approaching a lake! Water! I was saved! Hope surging through me, I sprinted to the lake and dove in. Water rushed up my nose. Spluttering, I surfaced, inhaled, and then dove back under. Above me, I could hear the bees. Hopefully they'd leave. Maybe I should have plucked a reed so I could breathe. I was running out of air.

As soon as I surfaced, I was attacked. I'd duck under, run out of air, and then get attack. My lungs felt as though they were stretched to the breaking point, and I was sore all over. My mouth opened and water began pouring in, along with dirt. I didn't care. Coughing and sputtering, I writhed, but my feet were entangled in weeds. My lungs were burning. I couldn't breathe. Water gushed up my nose and mouth. Frantically I tried to bend, but it was no use underwater. I was going to die drowning after I was hiding from bees. How pathetic.

Well, at least I'd get to see my dad again. When I'm reunited with my father, please, spirits, don't let him know about how I died! It's so humiliating! Darkness was closing in on me. Okay, I was just closing my eyes. Yes, I'd given up. What was the point of fighting? I was helpless.

Suddenly, a hand grasped me by the shoulder and dragged me up. Gasping for air and sputtering, I barely noticed that the bees were gone. For a moment I coughed and sputtered, filling my lungs with good, clean air. "Who're you?" a rough voice demanded.

I turned to face a scruffy looking man. "I'm Prince Zuko," I panted, trying to look as dignified as possible. The man's eyes gleamed. For the record, I am perfectly capable of defending myself. But I'd nearly drowned, been stung by bees, and was feeling light-headed. What happened next was not my fault. If I wanted to, I could've taken the stupid man. But I was worn out. How many people would be able to fight after nearly starving, stepping in some itchy plant, being chased by bees, and nearly drowning? I rest my case. This was unfair. I should get a due over. What happened was, the man whipped out a huge club. I barely had time to blink before it was slammed into my face and I tumbled into the water. My nose was smarting and my head ringing. Everything moved in and out of focus. Great. How did trying to find lunch turn into this?