Chapter 3

She led him by the hand despite his clear aversion to her touch. He stumbled when the ground began to climb and she was there to support him, earning a growl for her efforts. He heard the woman sigh but she dragged him on nonetheless. The sounds of the village died away and he began to relax slightly. Where was she taking him though?

At first the scent of smoke deterred him but the sweet smell of herbs in the smoke helped to draw him on and she led him into a small house. They passed through a large room, at least it felt large, and then into a smaller room where she pressed him onto a small but thick floor mat.

He sat there, clutching the bone to his chest while he listened to her move around.

Then she was in front of him again and he felt her hands on his scar, to which his reaction was a violent withdrawal, crawling backwards until his back hit a wall.

"It's all right," she said softly, moving towards him again.

This time he almost felt her raising her hand towards his face and his hand lashed out, knocking hers back and he felt something fall to the floor and rattle to a stop. Then he heard her sigh.

"Fine," She said and he heard her leave.

He stood and followed the wall until he found a door that led outside. However, he wasn't prepared for the drop and the earth fell away beneath him. He rolled to a stop near the bottom of the hill, new scratches to add to his supply. However, the burns over his eyes and head were now throbbing so bad that standing was impossibility.

It was so bothersome he almost cursed, almost screamed. He lifted his hands and covered his eyes, despairing.

Aang sighed as he guided Appa above the clouds, using a small map to guess where they might be above the Fire Nation. He was so scared of what might happen now. Sokka kept talking about the solar eclipse and what they could do. He still wanted to find Hakoda and the other Water Tribe warriors and lead a rebellion against the Fire Nation. Somehow, in his heart, Aang didn't think that was the way to go.

Appa groaned and Momo leaped onto his head. Aang glanced up and saw the storm clouds heading their way.

"Maybe we should go around those, Aang," spoke Katara's soothing voice.

Aang shook his head. "I don't see a way around them and if we go lower the Fire Nation could spot us."

"Yes, I'll take random lightning over lightning directed at us any day." Sokka said with his usual level of sarcasm.

Aang didn't turn at the sound of a shoe hitting Sokka. That would be Katara. Then Toph would say…

"Well, I say we should land and wait it out. Get some good ol' earth beneath our feet."

Aang shook his head. "We don't know where we are. What if we land in the middle of a Fire Nation war zone or something like that?"

They fell silent behind him and Aang sighed. He knew that there were constant risks but at the same time, they'd risked so much on the Earth King and his help then Azula and the Dai Li had messed that up horribly. They were running out of options and fast. He didn't want to face the Fire Lord. He was beginning to believe more and more that it was hopeless.

There was no sign of Jeong Jeong. Who else could he get to teach him fire-bending? Sneak into a Fire Nation school? Find some private tutor like Toph had once had?

Zuko?

Aang shook his head at that last thought. Zuko couldn't be trusted. Ever.

He'd waited until the pain dulled somewhat and crawled to where he could hear the river. He sat beside it listening to the roar of the rapids, the bone clutched in his hands. How could he defeat Azula without being able to see? Could he truly put his trust in the Avatar to succeed? Who would teach him fire-bending? Who could he trust?

This damned scar. It had destroyed his life, tearing him away from all he knew. It was this scar that had killed uncle.

His hand rose almost of its own will to his scar, despite the pain of the tortured flesh near his eyes.

This damned scar.

The world was silent for a moment as he sat by the river, one hand clutched on the bone, the other resting lightly on his scar.

Then his nails hooked and he took into his own face, through the scar tissue until he bled. He clawed at the flesh, releasing the bone for the first time since acquiring it to rip at the burns on his face. He tore the skin and muscle away until the pain became so intense that he blacked out.

He awoke back in the hut. At least, he was pretty sure it was the hut. It smelled the same. Strange how he had started noticing those little instincts that told him how big a room was and that he could tell he was inside by the smell.

The woman entered again and he realized his head didn't quite hurt as much.

"Rest." She said softly.

Something was pressed to his lips and he was so thirsty that he drank until she took it away and replaced it with plain water which he drank as well. She helped support his head until he was through then pulled the blanket up over his shoulders.

"You have a mild fever but it'll break with rest and care. You sleep now. I'll fix you something to eat when you wake."

His hand traced over the bandages circling most of his entire head, leaving only the lower half of his face and his right cheek and ear exposed. The world started to fade away but he caught a few more words from the woman as they buzzed out.

"My name is Yuzu. Call if you need something."

Pairings available by request. Really don't want to do another Zutara but you might convince me.