Stranded With a Stranger

Meeoko

Summary : Book 2. Whilst traveling in the Earth Kingdom, Zuko and Iroh are attacked by the Rough Rhino's. Zuko wakes up to find himself stuck in the forest with a loud and intriguing stranger. Short-fic for winner of my poll, Zutara-for-the-win.

Author's Note's : Okay, here's chapter 3. I've only had one review so far since posting the last chapter, so I'm assuming my old reviewers are long gone (which is fair enough. It has been a year after all). But if anyone DOES review, could they tell me why I can't seem to post links onto my profile any more? They don't seem to work. ANyway, thanks again. Hope you enjoy this one.


Zuko hadn't slept well at all. He had tossed and turned several times, waking up in the middle of the night to a jolting pain in his chest. It took him a few minutes to realize that he wasn't being attacked, but that he'd sat up quickly and the bruising on his chest was hurting. He was dreaming of his grandfather, Azulon. Zuko had been drowning in a sea of icy needles jabbing at his flesh. He could hear a dull roaring in his ears that had slowly turned into his grandfather's voice. He was pulled out of the sea by Azulon's strong hands and held high above a cliff. His grandfather recited to him the oath they had sworn as children.

"If someone has proven themselves above and beyond the call, it is to that person you owe your life. Their needs shall become your own. For although life can easily be taken, it cannot easily be given back."

Then Azulon had thrown Zuko off the top of the cliff, back into the icy waters below where he slowly suffocated. Zuko had woken up in a cold sweat with steam rising off from his body. Zuko had suffered from nightmares since the day of his banishment and although he was used to a lack of sleep, the nightmares never got any less terrifying or realistic. It was dawn. Zuko always woke at dawn, rising along with the sun, for that was his element. But when Zuko sat up (rather painfully at that), he saw that the Earth Bender was already awake. She was sat cross legged in front of the fire watching over some eggs that were slowly baking on a rock. Zuko wondered where she'd gotten the eggs from. Sure, it was still spring, but eggs were almost impossible to find in a forest so dense as this one. She looked up at him and smiled.

"Good mornin', Zulee. I'd ask ya if ya slept well, but it sure didn't look like it."

Zuko blanched. He prayed to Agni that he hadn't lost control of his bending whilst he was asleep. Whenever Zuko had nightmares, he tended to lose the ability to control his bending and would often heat up to ridiculous temperatures because of his inner fire. He wondered if Terru had seen him do anything that was suspiciously Fire Bender, but he was certain that if she had seen him do anything out of the ordinary then she would have just killed him right then and there. Zuko wouldn't have blamed her either, though he wondered exactly why he said that to himself.

"Hope ya like eggs." Terru said, seeming oblivious to anything he might have done the night before. "Took me forever to find the damn things."

As much as Zuko detested being in the presence of the Earth Bender (or anybody for that matter), he had to admit that the eggs smelled good. But first, he had to begin his morning rituals. Zuko had a strict policy that he would not eat breakfast until he had completed his bending exercises, though obviously he wasn't going to do any of that in front of Terru. Instead, Zuko shook the blanket off of himself and tried to flex his foot. It still hurt, but it wasn't restricting his movement. So, Zuko painstakingly rose to his feet and slowly began to stretch out his limbs. He didn't want to be getting sloppy with his training just because he was injured. It hadn't stopped him when he'd been half blown to hell off his own ship when those damn pirates tried to kill him and it wouldn't stop him now! He went through the movements carefully so as not to do himself any further damage, ignoring Terru's gaze as she watched him. He didn't want to be too obvious that he was doing bending movements, so he used some typical stretches and positions that were similar to a non-bending martial art he used as the Blue Spirit.

Slowly, his muscles began to limber up. Zuko began to feel a bit more comfortable in his body as the tensions eased and by the time he had finished the set ten minutes later, he felt better than he had since he fell off the bridge in the first place. Turning away from Terru (he remembered the last time she'd seen him without any clothes on!), he unwrapped his Earth Kingdom shirt to reveal the huge purple bruise on his chest from where he had been kicked by that accursed Emu-Horse. The edges were turning a very murky brown colour, but that meant that it was healing. Zuko wondered whether or not he'd had any internal damage, though he doubted it. If he had, there would have been no way the Earth Bender girl would have been able to heal him. Especially if she was living alone in the forest to avoid her battalion. Assured that the bruise wouldn't cause him any lasting damage, Zuko retied his shirt.

"Breakfast's ready, if ya want it!" Terru piped up, holding out a platter with two eggs on top of it.

Silently taking the platter, Zuko sat in front of the fire with his legs crossed and began to eat. The eggs were hot and delicious and he finished them both within a minute. Terru looked over at him, before walking over to Cougar. Terru pushed a bunch of hair from her eyes and began to stroke Cougar, who was lying down lazily a few metres away from Zuko.

"You wanna know how Cougar and I first met?" `Terru asked. Zuko said nothing, which the Earth Bender seemed to take as a yes.

"I remember it was a cold, bitter night." She began. "The tree's were swayin' and you could see smoke in the sky from the fires a few miles away. I got real scared and wandered through the woods, completely lost. I headed into a clearing, much like this one, to try to catch my breath. I'd been runnin' for too long and I was certain that if I didn't keep goin', then they'd find me."

Zuko had an overwhelming urge to ask who 'they' were, but remained silent as Terru continued her story.

"But I was tired and I couldn't go on any longer. So I sat down and waited. It didn't take long for 'em to find me. They had eyes everywhere. After all, it was their forest. But it wasn't who I expected it to be. It was a group'a soldiers, carryin' fire through the woods in their hands. I'd never seen anythin' like it before that night and it scared the livin' hell outta me. They attacked me. I tried to fend 'em off with my father's blacksmithing hammer that I'd taken from his shop, but they overpowered me."

Zuko listened intently, though he was determined not to show any signs that he was interested in the strange girl's story.

"I was just about done for. One'a them was about to deliver the final blow when all of a sudden, there was this mighty roar. Next thing I knew, the soldiers were screamin' and runnin' away, but no matter where I looked I could only see the fading light on the sun. I blacked out and when I woke next, there he was standin' over me."

Terru gestured to Cougar, scratching behind his ear affectionately.

"A great huge beast!" she waved a hand. "I was scared to death. All the people in my village had been careful to keep their little ones close to the houses when they were playin' just in case a Wolf-Lion would come and take 'em away. A few of our animals had been killed an' eaten too. But he didn't hurt me. He just looked at me and when he licked my face, I knew he wasn't going to hurt me. He was just a big softie really."

But then, Terru's face fell. She looked crestfallen and her voice went very quiet, almost a whisper. Zuko's eyebrow rose up, noticing the woman's strange behavior.

"It took me three days to find my way back to my village." Terru mumbled. "Cougar carried me all the way. But by the time I got back, everyone was gone. The whole village had been burned down and everyone – my pa, my brother and sisters, my friends and even the man I loved – were all dead."

Silently, Terru began to pack up the items she had unloaded into the saddle bags and then put them onto Cougar's back, along with its saddle. She gestured to Zuko and then at Cougar, a sad smile on her face.

"Time we got goin', Angry Pants. Hop on."

Zuko wasn't sure how to react, especially after being called 'Angry Pants'. The Earth Bender's strange behavior baffled him and the story intrigued him at the same time. He wanted to ask her what she was doing still in the forest. Was she hiding from the soldiers who had burnt her village and killed her family? Why hadn't she been there to defend them when they were attacked? Why hadn't she used her Earth Bending to fend them off?

All these questions reverberated inside his head, but he didn't dare ask them. A man's past was his own business. Zuko had suffered enough in his own life to know when enough was enough. He hated people prying into his affairs and pitying him for it and he didn't expect the Earth Bender to be any different. Zuko hated being pitied and he sure as hell wasn't going to offer it to someone else. Terru nodded at the Wolf-Lion's saddle, seeming impatient. But Zuko didn't move. There was no way he was going to get on that thing again! Terru guessed his intentions because she frowned and pouted.

"You ain't walkin'. That's for damn sure."

Zuko had a perpetual frown stuck on his face. He knew he didn't want to get back on the Wolf-Lion, for fear that it would kill him. But realistically, the Earth Bender could have issued the command for Cougar to kill Zuko yesterday if she'd wanted to. She could have done away with him in his sleep if she'd wanted to, but she didn't. Terru looked him up and down, a small frown creasing her brow. She waved her arm at him slowly, as if he hadn't understood the question. This made Zuko blow an irritated breath through his nose, but carefully, he took a step forward closer to the Wolf-Lion. Then another, and another. Soon enough, he was standing beside Terru and Cougar, though his arms were crossed over his chest defensively.

"There." Terru beamed at him unexpectedly. "That wasn't so hard now, was it?"

Zuko didn't reply and he suspected she knew he wouldn't either, because a second later, she stomped her foot onto the floor and the earth they were standing on rose into the air so that it was level with the Wolf-Lion's back. Jumping from the rock, Terru landed with ease on the Wolf-Lion's neck, just between it's large horns. Zuko was less than excited to be getting back on the creature and was as careful and slow as he could be when he climbed onto Cougar's back. There was no need to hold onto Terru. The Wolf-Lion was plenty big enough to carry both of them with ease and Zuko had no fear of slipping off. Plus, he had absolutely no intention of clutching onto the annoying Earth Bender like a helpless child.

Kicking the sides of the Wolf-Lion gently, Terru urged the animal into a walk. Zuko held on as they began to travel through the forest, wondering exactly what he thought he was doing.

They had been wandering for almost three hours when Terru turned to Zuko in the saddle and asked him a question.

"So, where'd ya reckon your uncle went to?"

Zuko had been thinking back to their conversation in the clearing going over everything she had said in his mind, but now that she'd mentioned it, Zuko had absolutely no idea where his uncle might be. What if he hadn't survived the Rough Rhino's? What if he too had fallen in the river? Zuko took a moment to gather his thoughts. The only way he'd be able to find his uncle was if he back-tracked and retraced his steps.

"The bridge I fell off." He said, still thinking. "It was a little further up the river from where you found me."

But Terru shook her head. She seemed to have recovered her jovial attitude, which didn't surprise Zuko in the least.

"A little further up? Boy, you gotta be kiddin'. That's at least another days journey from here. The falls I stopped you from fallin' over are miles away from the bridge! Guess you just didn't realize, what with tryin' to stop yourself from drownin' and all."

Zuko rubbed at his temples. He hadn't realized it would take that long to get to the bridge (if it was even still there) and it didn't help that the stupid Earth Bender had taken him all the way up into the mountains in order to save him. He also didn't appreciate being called 'boy'. After everything that had happened in the last two days, Zuko supposed he should be thanking Terru, but his pride stopped him. He still felt too raw from the rejection he had felt at the hands of those Earth Kingdom families he had saved from the tyranny of the corrupt Earth Kingdom soldiers. They had not reacted kindly when they had found out his true identity, though if Zuko was honest with himself, he hadn't expected them to. He had convinced himself when he had attacked the Earth Benders for kidnapping that kid, Lee that he knew who he was and that he should have heeded his mother's words and shown it. The days of memories past had given him so many mixed messages that he had hadn't known what to do. And after he had declared to the Earth Kingdom town who he was, he had realized he was no closer to knowing who he was that to the villagers accepting him into their lives.

"Guess we'll head back to the falls then" Terru announced, pulling the Wolf-Lion to the left a fraction.

Zuko had spent most of the day meditating, though it was a little difficult to do so whilst Cougar was on the move and Zuko was coming along for the ride. What he was trying to figure out was the nightmare he had had the previous night. It troubled him greatly. He hadn't dreamt of his grandfather for years and it disturbed him. For a while, he tried to concentrate solely on the dream, but eventually his mind drifted back to memories of his childhood in the Fire Nation. He pictured his grandfather sitting atop his fiery throne scowling down at them as if they were traitors to the cause. His son Ozai had sat beside them with his wife and daughter, showing off his Azula's abilities in the art of Fire Bending for an unrelenting Azulon. Zuko had been left behind.

But then, he heard his grandfathers voice reverberating inside his head, speaking the words of the oath he had sworn to his own father and he to his. Zuko could see himself reciting these words as well, not only to the old and sickly man in front of him, but the towering, dark presence of his father with eyes cast in shadow.

"If someone has proven themselves above and beyond the call, it is to that person you owe your life. Their needs shall become your own. For although life can be easily taken away, it cannot be easily given back."

Zuko opened his eyes. Was this his dream connected to his oath somehow? Had he dreamt of Azulon because he was about to break his oath and desert the woman who had saved his life? Perhaps it was a message from the Spirit World from Fire Lord Azulon himself, or was it just Zuko's long forgotten conscience? He shook his head from side to side. He didn't know anymore. He didn't know who he was.

The trees passed by in a blur as Zuko thought back to his grandfather and his great-grandfather. Such powerful, decisive men who were ruthless in their wishes and terrifying in their actions. Should he be like them? Shouldn't he be the successful, well respected and strong leader of the Fire Nation? Loved by his people and sharing his greatness with the world? But lately, it hadn't felt like it was that simple. Ever since Azula had tried to take he and his uncle prisoners aboard his ship and set a bounty on their heads, labeled as traitors.

Traitors….

Did his father really want him imprisoned? Was he really embarrassed by his only son? Zuko knew that he had failed at the siege of the Northern Water Tribe, but he had wanted to press on. To continue his search for the Avatar and prove to his father that he was not some weak and honourless child. But after Azula had arrived, everything had begun to change. Zuko had experienced more kindness in his life as a refugee than he had in his life serving his father - and this worried Zuko. It worried him because he was starting to see his nation in a different light. A light he hadn't wanted to see. The people of the world didn't see the benefits the Fire Nation was trying to bestow upon them, as he had been taught as a child. The world didn't see their greatness. They hated the Fire Nation and it had caused them endless pain and suffering. And the thing that worried Zuko most was that he was beginning to understand these people. Something inside him almost wanted to help them. Maybe that did make him a traitor….

"Hey Zulee." Terru spoke, interrupting his thoughts. "Can I ask ya a question?"

When Zuko said nothing, Terru took it as a point to continue.

"What's your real name?"

Zuko froze. He knew his game was up. But when neither Terru or Cougar didn't show any signs of aggression, Zuko decided to give them what they wanted. Perhaps then they'd be content and stop asking questions.

"My name is Zuko" he sighed, rubbing his temples.

He could see Terru nod her head as she sat in front of him, guiding the Wolf-Lion. He could picture her smiling, which was almost certainly the case.

"I'm guessin' you're that prince everyone's talkin' about then." She said smugly, pleased with her own deductions.

Zuko lowered his eyes. He was almost ashamed to say it, so he didn't. She knew already. Terru shifted in her seat at the saddle so that she could see him. Her smile was gentle and she didn't seem like she was about to turn him in for treachery. Her hair flapped about in the breeze and some more came loose in her bun, covering her eyes. She hastily flicked it out of the way.

"They'd be pretty damn happy if they knew you were here."

"No kidding." Zuko huffed, still feeling ashamed. Now he knew he couldn't refuse to hold his oath. It had been a sign in his dream, telling him to remember his promise and now here this strange and intriguing woman was, acting as if everything was fine and that they were just two people casually riding around the forest on a Wolf-Lion.

"Then again, they'd be real happy if they found me here too." Terru added, winking at Zuko before turning her head back around to see where she was going.

Zuko waited for her to continue, but when Terru didn't continue, he didn't ask any questions. It was as Lee's father had said; "A man's past is his own business". They walked on in silence for the remainder of the day, which suited Zuko, though he had plenty of questions he wanted to ask Terru. Why hadn't she attacked him when she knew who he was? Or was it because she was running from the law as well and she understood his position? And why had she seen fit to help him in the first place? She could have easily let him go over the waterfall to his death. Instead, she had saved his life. Now Zuko knew that he was meant to be here, no matter how it may have come to pass. He knew he couldn't' abandon this woman without first fulfilling his oath. Whatever she needed, he would give. And it was around the campfire that night that he decided to tell her. She listened quietly as he explained how his family had been sworn to the oath for generations and how he would not be able to go on his way without fulfilling it, for it would dishonor him. He could see that now.

"Help me keep my promise." Zuko finished humbly, bowing his head.

For almost a full five minutes, Terru said nothing. Zuko was sure that she would have laughed at his ridiculous family tradition, but she had listened silently and offered no rebuttal. Finally, Terru looked up at him.

"Actually," she said thoughtfully "there is something you can do for me."

Zuko stopped chewing on his Gopher-Bear to listen. Of course, Terru had gone to catch their dinner with her bow and had made Zuko stay at the campsite with Cougar. Needless to say, the man and the animal had spent most of the time regarding each other strangely.

"There's been a bunch'a meat heads burnin' down the forest, near the edge of the woods. They've been cuttin' down trees to cart them off to be used in their little war games." Terru smirked devilishly at Zuko, which made him feel a little uncomfortable "I want you to help me show 'em not to mess with the forest. Won't do much for your street cred, but it'll sure as hell be fun!"

Zuko simply nodded. He would do whatever it took to repay the favour.

"Course we'll look for your uncle along the way too." Terru said, letting Zuko know that it wasn't all just about repaying favours. "I've got a feelin' I know where he's gone anyway."

Zuko wondered how she could possibly have any idea where his uncle might be, especially in such a dense and large forest. But he supposed that Terru would know the terrain better than anyone, especially if she was living here to hide from the army. At least, that was Zuko's theory. He decided he would take the plunge and ask.

"What are you doing here exactly?" he asked, unsure of how he must have sounded.

Terru seemed taken aback by this question, because she frowned. Getting up from her seat by the fire, she went over to stroke Cougar's snout, scratching at the itchy places behind his ear. After a few minutes, she replied.

"I'm making up for lost time." She said simply.

Zuko rolled his eyes. If she wasn't going to tell him any more than that, then fine! It wasn't like he cared anyway. But he was surprised when Terru continued.

"I only recently found out who I'm supposed 'ta be. Took me a real long time."

Zuko's good eyebrow rose up into his hairline. He hadn't expected the Earth Bender to be so forthcoming with her personal problems. But in some strange way, he understood what she meant. He lowered his head and looked at the floor, feeling ashamed. Zuko had faced many problems in his life before and all he had overcome. But this – this was something he couldn't conquer. Terru looked at him with her head cocked.

"It gets easier." She said quietly "It doesn't always feel like the right decision and it's hard, but when ya finally figure it out you can begin to heal."

Heal. That was a meaningless word to Zuko. On the day of his banishment, he had been told that his scar would heal someday. But had it? Had it really? He looked at the dirt floor absent mindedly, not willing to look the Earth Bender in the eye for fear she would see his shame. He was glad that she didn't try to touch him. Nor did she try to comfort him, which Zuko was glad about. He didn't want anyone pitying him. Pity was the worst thing anyone could ever show to him, in his opinion. If people pitied him, they that meant they thought he was weak. And Zuko was not weak!

"Well then." Terru said, piping up. "You better get some sleep, Zuko. We'll be at the bridge tomorrow."

When Zuko woke at dawn, Terru was already awake. Though there were no eggs for breakfast this time, she instead gave him some dried meat to chew on and he did so thoughtfully after he'd gone through his bending motions. Only this time, he went through his Fire Bending forms. After all, if Terru already knew who he was then there was no point hiding it form her. Although they were in a clearing, the Earth Bender had point blank yelled at Zuko when he'd shot a jet of flame from his fist.

"You've gotta respect the forest, kid! Do you wanna burn down the whole damn thing?"

Zuko had grumbled and scowled at the young woman, but had continued on with his training without the use of fire. He didn't appreciate being referred to as a kid. After all, Terru didn't look any more than three years older than he was! Zuko's muscles were beginning to feel less strained and when he looked down once again at the bruise on his chest, he could see that it was beginning to turn a moldy brown colour – a sure sign that it was healing. His ankle also didn't give him much grief, though Terru still wouldn't let him walk on it. Zuko wasn't quite so afraid of the Wolf-Lion anymore. In fact, it seemed like quite a docile beast, never once coming any closer to Zuko than he wanted him to. The only time that Zuko was wary of him was when Terru would throw him a piece of meat or a dead animal and he would tear it apart like the animal he was. Then Zuko would try to keep his distance.

They had set out early, much like the previous day and Zuko's mind had been racing a mile a minute. He was thinking about his uncle and what might have happened to him. His overly active sense of danger told him that the worst had happened and that Uncle had either been killed or captured. How could he have fought his way off the bridge without the use of his Fire Bending? Maybe he had just run into the woods, hoping to lose them in the tapestry of foliage and tree trunks. But if he had done that, was there ever a chance that Zuko would find him again? He could be anywhere!

Terru seemed to pick up on his thoughts, because she spoke form the head of the Wolf-Lion as they walked through the lush grass.

"I wouldn't worry." She said, sounding carefree and aloof "I know where your Uncle's gone. The woods can hear him askin' for ya."

Zuko had absolutely no idea what she was talking about. The woods were listening?

"How do you know?" he asked, frowning slightly.

Terru turned in the saddle and smirked at him. She winked playfully and Zuko felt a blush cover his cheeks, which he quickly hid from her by looking at the floor.

"A girl has her ways." Terru smirked, laughing gently.

Zuko scowled at the floor as they walked, embarrassed that he had blushed in front of another human being. He called himself stupid over and over again, wishing that he could just burn the woman down where she stood. But he couldn't' do that. Not now. The crazy Earth Bender had saved his life and he would do what he could to repay the favour before he headed to Ba Sing Se.

If I get there at all. He thought to himself doubtfully.

They walked for a few more hours in silence. Zuko contented himself with meditating, though this time he focused solely on calming his mind and concentrating. His inner fire burned within him slowly, ebbing and rising with the rays of the sun as they filtered through the trees. He could hear the footfalls of a small creature about fifty yards away and the chirping of the birds. The sound of his own breathing calmed him and slowly, the hours passed in a haze. When Zuko heard Terru's voice announce that they had arrived at the bridge, he almost didn't hear her.

Stepping down from the back of the Wolf-Lion, Zuko groaned and rubbed his temples. The bridge was split it two! It had burn marks along the handrail that was left on one side and some of the posts were splintered and cracked. Terru whistled.

"Looks like they did some damage, huh?"

Zuko darted his head towards Terru. What did she mean by that? How did she know? He tried to play the dumb card.

"Who did some damage?" he asked.

Terru let a laugh out through her nose. It was most un-ladylike.

"You think I'm stupid, Zuko?" she put her hand on her hip. "I'm talkin' 'bout those Fire Nation guys on the Komodo-Rhino's."

Zuko's mouth fell open. He stammered, trying to come up with anything to say. How did she know about the Rough Rhino's? Had she been spying on him when it had happened?

"But I – how did you – I mean you…." Zuko gave up.

Terru smirked, obviously enjoying the way she had flustered him. It angered Zuko greatly to be made to look like a fool and he glared at her.

"The trees told me." She said, shrugging.

Zuko frowned. The trees had told her? What in Agni's name was she talking about? The crazy wench had obviously been living by herself for too long! But before Zuko could reply, Terru swung back onto Cougar's saddle and patted the space behind her.

"Come on then." She hurried him "You wanna find your Uncle or not? Cos he ain't gonna wait much longer. Been waiting for nearly a week now."

Zuko tried to stammer another incoherent word, but it was useless. He supposed the only thing he could do was trudge on and find Uncle. Walking back over to Cougar with a slight limp, Zuko jumped up into the saddle behind Terru. She turned back round to face him.

"You're gonna have to hold onto me this time." She said.

Zuko frowned.

"Why?" he asked suspiciously.

They walked towards the bridge. Cougar padded towards the broken posts, but then stepped backwards. Zuko could see exactly what Terru intended to do and he hastily grabbed onto her waist, though it made him flush with embarrassment. He was glad that she couldn't see him as Cougar began crouched down with them sitting on top of him. Suddenly, he burst into a run faster than any Emu-Horse and as Zuko closed his eyes and grit his teeth together, they flew through the air. There was a moment where Zuko felt as if he were suspended in mid air and his stomach flew up into his mouth, but he nearly bit his tongue when they came crashing down onto the other side of the broken bridge, clearing the twenty foot gap quite easily.

"We better go find that uncle'a yours then." Terru laughed, perfectly aware of Zuko's discomfort. "He should be at the shrine of the wood spirit."

Zuko was just about to ask her sarcastically if the trees had told her that when they lunged forward into a run. Luckily, they ran along the road, so Zuko didn't have to worry about dodging through trees at break-neck speed. But that didn't mean that he wasn't terrified all the same. They raced over the dirt road with ease, hurtling forwards faster and faster until Zuko was certain he would fall off. They ran along the dirt road for almost two hours before they came to a stop. Surprisingly, Zuko saw that the Wolf-Lion wasn't the least bit tired. In fact, it wasn't even panting! Terru urged the creature into a slow walk, laughing when Zuko prized him arms from around her waist like he had been frozen to it.

They began to walk up a rather steep hill. There were stone steps built into the earth, heading far up into the forest. The Wolf-Lion took its time whilst climbing them, careful not to fall backwards down the steep incline – especially with passengers on its back. They took about twenty minutes to climb up to the top of the path, where the trees were thicker and almost no sound reached the clearing that was up there. As Zuko's eyes saw over the ridge, he caught sight of something beautiful standing in the centre of the clearing. It was a large golden statue, but it had been torn down to the ground and had broken into several pieces. Burn marks covered the expanse of the clearing and some of the trees had been cut down forcefully.

"Zuko?"

It was then Zuko saw who was kneeling at the bottom of the statue, with tears in their eyes. The old man smiled upon him with great joy and rose up onto his feet, wiping a tear from his cheek. Zuko sat atop the Wolf-Lion with a smile he hadn't realized he had on his face. Relief washed over him in waves and he dismounted from the animal immediately and began to walk towards the statue's base.

"Uncle!"