Aang ran, leapt and stumbled up the mountain ridge, looking down on the valley where his friends camped below. He paused at the top to grab his aching ribs to look forward into the unknown and back on what he was running away from.

It was stupid for him to leave them. Aang was never going to be able to continue his firebending training without Zuko. Right now, Aang's life was extremely valuable, and he wasn't going to have anyone to watch his back. But most importantly, those teenagers were his friends and his masters. They were his family and more than anything, he needed them.

But he couldn't imagine traveling another day with her. Katara didn't owe him anything, especially not her love, and Aang couldn't help but feel guilty at his reaction. She had become everything to him though. He had sacrificed so much for his love for her. To not let go of her.

But she was in love with someone else, no, with Prince Zuko. Zuko was his friend. Did that make just make himself angrier? It was so unfair. Aang thought about how much less it hurt when he didn't care, after losing Appa. He couldn't remember why he started caring again.

Aang turned and walked down the far side of the ridge. He didn't know where he was heading in the dead of night, nor did he care where he was going. He just kept moving, trying to get away from the ache of his broken heart.

Without realizing it Aang had wandered into a village, and a group of piercing eyes watched him walk down the street, the sun barely lighting the new day.

#

"I can't find him anywhere." Toph said as she and The Duke pushed their way back into the clearing. Toph and The Duke sat down heavily, exhausted from their search. Sokka, Haru, and Zuko had already returned with no luck as well. Teo sat waiting, making sure Aang didn't return in their absense. He hadn't.

"I'm telling you guys, he went to the village to get some more sweets." The Duke said as he shook his empty candy bag.

"But without telling someone? He's never done that before. My instincts are saying that something is wrong." Sokka put his hand on his stomach for emphasis of the gut feeling. "Wait, did anyone run into Katara? Maybe he told her."

"No, I saw her at the stream practicing like she told us. She said she hadn't seen him."

"Wait Haru, was that it?" Toph asked urgently.

"Was that it what?"

"Was that all she said? 'I haven't seen him'" Haru nodded, and Toph looked over at Sokka quizzically. Sokka seemed surprised as well.

"What's wrong? What did you expect her to say?" Teo was confused. Sokka, Toph, Katara and Aang had exchanges like this frequently, knowing the nuances of one another's personalities and sharing inside jokes. The rest of the group had to frequently ask them to fill them in on their secrets. Zuko didn't seem to care one way or the other, he just sat and listened and on rare and random occasions, smiled.

"My sister should have been the first to miss him."

Zuko narrowed his eyes. Thats right. Katara threatened to turn him inside out if he so much as hurt his feelings, why is she so impassive now? Why isn't she here throwing accusations? And then it struck him.

Zuko stood up suddenly, startling Momo into screaming, and rushed off into the woods.

"I think Zuko might have a guess as to where Aang has gone." Toph said to the group, who were staring in wonder at the leaving prince.

#

Aang walked through the silent streets, still too early for anyone to be awake. He was barely paying close enough attention to know where he was, so it was far too late before he realized there were people approaching him.

Rough hands grabbed him and spun him into the nearest alley where they pushed him against the wall. Aang finally woke up to his surroundings, counted 4 men standing around him, one knife pushed against his throat.

"Where's your money kid?"

Aang just shook his head. He itched to blast these people away from him, but one slip of the knife could end him. He also wasn't ready to reveal himself as the Avatar to these cut throats and the village. Not if he could help it.

"Come on kid, out this early, traveling? Picking something up for your parents? Give us your money or I'll slit your throat." The man shook him roughly. Another one looked through his pockets and his shirt.

"Nothing." The first man cursed and spit, and then punched Aang on the side of the head and sent him reeling down the alley. Aang landed hard, face down on the ground. The men didn't leave though, they came and stood around looking down on him.

"Hey, lets just rough him up and go looking for those other kids up in the valley. I'm sure they've got some money." One of them said. The men chuckled.

"Or at least a pretty girl..." The men howled in laughter and anticipation, and one kicked Aang in the stomach.

But Aang was already lost. In his mind, he had already lost his friends, lost the war, and these insignificant mortals were threatening his life. Deep inside, his Avatar spirit roared to life. Since Aang had lost everything, the Avatar Spirit burst through his locked chakra. Aang felt the power roar inside of him, and was enraptured by the sensation. He was detached from this world, and something deep inside was eager to test his bending on these worthless criminals.

#

With every step Zuko took, more and more pieces snapped into place. The visit from the guru and the dilemma of the Avatar State. The guru's message about Aang not being able to sacrifice himself for his friends seemed to fit the picture somehow and Katara's strange behavior last night.

Zuko followed Katara into the clearing, expecting another threat on his life. Instead though, Katara just watched over his shoulder. Zuko began to ask what was going on, but Katara just hushed him. Then, very suddenly she began talking about some nonsense about training and then she was very close to him. Way too close. Zuko could smell her faint, sweet smell, see her faint freckles and even see the tears clinging to her eyelashes. Then she kissed him. Zuko's world snapped back, and he put his hands on her arms to push her back. Katara moved away slightly, paused, and then rushed into the woods. Zuko was very confused, but had no answers so simply dismissed it.

What Zuko had missed was that she checked over his shoulder again after she moved away.

Why did Katara kiss him though? Why did that matter so much to Aang? Was Zuko missing something?

Finally he found her. Katara was just sitting on the river bank, knees to her chest and her head buried in her arms.

"Katara." Startled, Katara whipped around, but when she saw it was Zuko she just lowered her head again. Zuko walked over and stood at her side.

"Katara, what happened last night?" and then she was crying.

Zuko just stood there flabbergasted. What was he supposed to do now? He'd never encounterd a crying girl in his life. Or anyone crying for that matter. He took a step backwards to leave, but then took another step forward to comfort her. He stood shifting his weight back and forth long enough for Katara to calm down and stand up. She looked up at him.

"Sorry." She turned to head back to camp. "I'm sorry Zuko, I shouldn't have ever done that to you. It wasn't fair, and now..." Katara shook her head. "Lets go meet the others."

#

They ran, of course. The sight of Aang's glowing tattoos made his identity evident to all of them. Aang was going to make sure that they never hurt anyone again. If they hid in houses or buildings, Aang levelled them. If they tried to blend in groups of people, Aang killed them all. No matter where they hid, he found them.

And he ended them.

When they were all dead, Aang continued on his way, bloodlust still coursing through his blue, glowing veins.

#

A/N: I'm trying to not be cliche, but i dont feel like its happening. He isn't on a rampage, he'll calm down soon, i promise. Hope you enjoyed!