Aang woke with a headache, and from the look on Katara's face, he wasn't the only one. Sokka grumbled and started to snuggle deeper into the covers, but suddenly froze as the previous night's events caught up with his sleep-fuddled brain. It didn't look like a very promising day. Sure, the Fire Nation invasion had been defeated, and they didn't have to worry about crazy Admiral Zhao anymore, but…
"When are we supposed to be at that meeting, again?"
Katara winced at the pitch of Aang's childish voice. Normally, it was a cheerful sound, one she found pleasant and comforting, but right now it just felt shrill. Maybe she should go see Yugoda. Zuko had given her a concussion, after all. He'd knocked her out cold.
And I gave him back worse than I got. She dragged her attention back to the present. "I'm sure Chief Arnook will send someone to find us when it's time, Aang. Don't worry."
Aang worried anyway. He understood Arnook's position, really, he did, but he couldn't stop the sinking feeling in his gut when the Chief had spoken of calling a council to decide Zuko's fate. He wasn't really sure what to feel about the situation, besides extremely uncomfortable. He didn't owe Zuko anything, and he really, really didn't like him- but that was a personal matter. Something to be settled one on one, honorably. The way most of the Water Tribe reacted made it extremely clear that they wanted to punish him as a matter of principal, a sort of "destroy all things Fire Nation" mentality that chafed at everything Gyatso had taught him.
"I'm going for a walk. I'll see you guys at the meeting, okay?"
Katara gave him a slight smile, but her heart wasn't in it and it showed. She couldn't blame him for wanting to get away for a while.
"Don't stay too long, all right?"
He nodded, already halfway out the door.
Sokka didn't feel like waiting for a messenger to come summon him. He'd sit outside the meeting room door all day if he had to, but he wasn't going to sit in his room and wait, like a child. He said as much to his sister, and she mumbled something and nodded absently, so he left. He was a warrior, not a child.
He was a warrior; he should have been stronger. He should have been able to keep her safe. Zuko may have screwed everything up, but it didn't change the fact that Sokka hadn't been there when Yue and Katara needed him. Hadn't even been there.
He stomped down the hall, nearly colliding with a door that opened suddenly in his face. He backpedaled on the ice, and regained his balance before whoever had opened (and was now closing) the door could see his clumsiness. Then the man turned, and Sokka grinned.
"Kinaktok, my good man. You're just who I wanted to see." His face grew suddenly serious as he asked "Where's the meeting house?"
The slightly startled expression on the Bender's face relaxed. "Easy, now. You've got plenty of time. Why don't you grab some breakfast first? It's bound to be a long day."
At the mention of food, Sokka's stomach growled. He wasn't sure whether to thank or curse the man for his suggestion. "Ah, you know, I just might do that. Where are you headed in such a bad mood, anyway?"
"Looking for Shesh."
"The seven foot giant built like a mole-bear?"
Kinaktok grinned briefly at the description. "That's the one. We're supposed to look in on your Firebender friend, make sure he hasn't died in the night."
"If he had, it'd solve a whole lot of problems."
"Ain't that the truth."
***
"That ought to take care of your headache, dear."
Yugoda stepped back, pulling her hands from Katara's temples. The dull ache was gone, washed away by the old woman's healing skill. Katara sighed in relief.
"I hope you've come to see me for more than just a healing session…"
Yugoda's tone was injured but playful, and mischief twinkled around her eyes. Katara smiled.
"I'm sorry I haven't been around more. Everything's been so- crazy, lately."
"So I gather. I understand you made quite an impression on that Fire Nation prince they captured."
Katara shifted in her seat. "If by "impression" you mean big fat bruise, than yes."
Yugoda's eyebrows rose, but she kept her peace, waiting for the girl to continue.
"I know I shouldn't feel sorry for him, and I don't, really, he's a horrible person and he chased us all the way from one end of the world to the other, and I'm not sorry I fought him, he deserved everything he got, but-"
"But?"
"I never hurt anyone before."
"Ah."
"It's kind of pathetic, isn't it? I came all the way here, and I had to pick a fight with Master Pakku to even get his attention, and I worked so hard learning with all the boys- I was so proud of myself. I'm better than all the other students, even Aang. And here I am coming to you for advice, after I turned my back on your kind of Waterbending-"
"Oh, I wouldn't worry about that. You're a talented girl, Katara. Gifted. I have no doubt you could learn both disciplines, if you truly wanted to."
"You really think so?" Katara breathed, heart suddenly lighter.
"Katara, you've surpassed all but Pakku's most adept students in the space of a few weeks. You're a natural. Of course, learning to heal is more of an internal discipline, where learning to fight is an external one. Which brings me to the reason you came to see me."
Not for the first time, Katara marveled that Gran Gran's old friend could understand her so well after such a short time.
"They didn't ask you to take a look at him, did they?"
"I suspect they had other things on their mind. I know I did. Fortunately, I have a very competent team of healers to assist me. I did hear rumors of the boy's condition, however. Despite your own doubts just now, I hesitate to believe you could be responsible for his condition."
"I'm not, I guess. He was already hurt- I just didn't pay it any attention."
"Quite understandable. You were protecting a friend." Yugoda leaned forward in her seat and took Katara's hands into her own. "Why don't you tell me, so I don't have to rely on rumors and hearsay."
Katara took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and began. She started with the scratches on Zuko's forehead, hesitated only a little at the bruise she herself had caused, and stopped with the poorly sewn cuts on his back.
"Well," the old healer said at length, " it's always difficult to form a diagnoses at a distance. However, it would seem from your description that most of the wounds are only skin deep, and already healing. He isn't coughing up or pissing blood, is he?"
"I-don't-think so" Katara answered, suddenly uncomfortable.
"Well, then, I wouldn't be too concerned about the possibility of internal damage. He most likely would have died already if that were the case."
There was a soft knock at the door, and a man stepped through, bowing slightly to the old woman and then turning his attention to Katara.
"Chief Arnook has called the council…"
"Oh! Uh, I'm ready," she sputtered, grabbing up her coat and hastily pulling it over her head. Pushing her hood out of the way, she turned back to smile at the old woman.
"Thanks, Yugoda."
"Anytime, my dear."
***
Zuko didn't so much wake up as regain consciousness in waves. He noticed small disparate details- soft diffused light, chill air on his face, a warm even weight spread over his body. Eventually they fused together into a cohesive whole.
He was lying under a heavy fur, on a pallet, in a room made entirely of ice. No surprise, really, except for the fact that one of the walls was glowing a soft blue. There were no torches, no lamps that he could see, just that cold blue brilliance filling the cell with light. He shut his eyes and turned away, every muscle in his body protesting the motion. He ignored the pain, for the moment. He'd known the price this mission would take out on his body- there was no point grumbling about it now. True, he'd been counting on Uncle to know how to patch him up afterward…
Uncle-
He straightened, using the pain as a distraction to chase the thought away. There was no point speculating. With any luck, the Avatar or one of his friends would let something slip. Sokka, especially, could use a serious lesson in the art of discretion. He wouldn't put it past the idiot to come and gloat; it wouldn't be all that hard to goad the Water Tribe boy into giving something away.
Wrapping the fur around him, and trying not to think of what kind of animal it had come from, Zuko rearranged his sluggish limbs into something approximating a sitting position. The motion made him momentarily dizzy- not a good sign. It was then that he realized his head felt unusually light in quite a different way.
He'd been unconscious when the healers had shaved away his hair to treat the burn. Uncle had done his best to make it look intentional, copying an old style used by the warrior class in the distant past. He hadn't been in a position to really notice the transition, and over the years, he'd gotten used to it. This was different.
Zuko reached up behind his head and tentatively felt the short patch of hair where the tail should be. Somehow, the loss of that comforting weight at the back of his head made him feel more vulnerable, more naked, than being stripped topless.
Shivering slightly, he pulled his hand back under the thick fur. They hadn't given his clothes back, though he wasn't sure if it was intentional or merely an oversight. Whichever, it limited his options to huddling in a corner with as much of his body under cover as reasonably possible.
Obviously, the problem of not sleeping for 48 hours (give or take) had been solved, and he wasn't in danger of freezing to death unless he decided to be remarkably stupid. That left hunger and thirst as primary concerns. He'd been too nervous to eat before the attack, but he could ignore that for a while longer. The real problem was dehydration. His mouth was practically glued shut, and as he forced it open the cut in his lip split. He needed water. Badly.
The answer was practically staring him in the face. A slight, lopsided smile playing on his lips, Zuko reached out and placed his palm flat against the wall. The ice melted to liquid water under his touch, and ran down the wall in a tiny stream.
"What do you think you're doing...?"
He'd been so intent on his goal he hadn't even heard the men enter. Zuko didn't have a chance to respond before two long tendrils of water twisted around his wrists and tightened. Kinaktok pulled, and Zuko lurched forward. He landed chest down on the icy floor and hissed through his teeth as giant Shesh pinned his arms and hauled him to his feet.
"I-" he tried, but his tongue felt thick and useless. "I was-"
"What? You were what?" The Waterbender's voice was as cold as the ice surrounding them, and Zuko felt the muscles in his chest start to burn as the large warrior holding him shifted his grip, forcing Zuko's arms further behind his back. (and straining the limit of his mobility.)
"Thirsty", he managed at last.
Kinaktok's eyebrows rose, and he searched for a hint that the boy was lying, but there was none. Unconsciously, Zuko licked chapped lips, and Kinaktok gestured for his partner to let go.
Zuko felt the pressure on his arms release, but didn't relax an inch. He didn't know what these men wanted, and he wasn't about to drop his guard again.
"Thirsty." Kinaktok's voice held more than a hint of mockery. He watched the gold eyes narrow to slits, the slight flare of nostrils. As humbling as it might be to make the Prince of an enemy nation lick the walls for moisture, there was simply no point. Besides, the Chief wanted the boy alive. He unhooked a water skin from his belt, and held it out.
Zuko regarded the action warily. It was a test, one designed to make him lose. If he reached for the skin, the Bender would probably move it beyond his grasp. He folded his arms over his chest.
"Stubborn whelp, en'cha", remarked Shesh wryly, and smacked him upside the head. Zuko stumbled forward, but Shesh caught his arm before he had a chance to fall. He winced slightly as bear-strong fingers closed over bruised flesh, and hated himself for it.
Kinaktok grabbed Zuko's chin, turning his face so he couldn't hide the emotions flickering across it. "None of that, now," he said, held the rim of the open water skin to Zuko's lips, and tipped it up.
Cold, sweet water flooded his mouth, and Zuko drank. And drank. The Water Tribe mens' eyes widened as he snatched the skin out of Kinaktok's grip and drained the water skin in one long swig. Then he stood, eyes closed, gasping for air.
For a moment, Kinaktok caught a glimpse of something that looked a little like sorrow, and a lot like sheer exhaustion, before Zuko pulled himself back together. The change was instantaneous; suspicion, derision and anger snapped into place like a door slamming shut right in his face. Kinaktok blinked, but whatever it was did not return.
For a while, no one moved. Then, Kinaktok reached out and plucked the skin from Zuko's unresisting fingers.
"You need more, don't you?" Kinaktok asked quietly. Zuko didn't say anything, but he didn't have to. Kinaktok deliberated for a moment before speaking.
"Tell you what, brat. I'll make you a deal. You play nice, don't try to melt through the walls, and we'll make sure you get all the water you can drink. Something hot to eat, too, hmmm? You look like you could use it. We'll even get you some warm, clean, clothes." He replaced the skin on his belt and motioned to Shesh, who pushed Zuko toward the pallet in the corner. He opened the door and ducked through. As Kinaktok followed, he turned back, and his voice hardened to steel.
"If I see, or hear, that you've used Firebending for any purpose at all, I'll make you wish you'd never been born."
Zuko fell back onto the pallet as the door closed behind them. He pulled the fur around his shoulders, shivering, but not from the cold.