The next morning Katara was gone. Sokka hadn't yet woke up and was snoring softly in his sleeping bag. Zuko went to get up to start the fire for breakfast found he was pinned to the floor: With a knife made of ice.

He wasn't going to read anything into it, just another death threat. But if that was the case why was he still alive. He melted it and continued with his morning routine of starting breakfast. Sokka would wake when he smelled it. For some reason he couldn't seem to get Katara off his mind. Why had she come with him if all she intended to do was steal away during the night? Unless she wanted to see if he was lying, but if she thought he was lying, then why did she take the risk? Zuko really hated girls. They were so complicated.

"When did she leave?" Sokka's voice was monotonous, void of emotion.

"Before I woke up."

"Actually I never left."

The voice came from the direction of the stream. Sokka's face went from emotionless to ecstatic in a heartbeat. It made Zuko jealous, and not for the first time, of the bond that they shared. Or used to. Zuko noticed once again that Katara tolerated Sokka's affection, but didn't return it. Did his father really mess her up that bad? Or was it his sister's implements of torture? He had been privy to those and it wasn't a place for the weak spirited. If it had broken Katara, then it proved the strength of their effect. Zuko didn't have much of a stomach when it came to torture, but he acknowledged it as an effective form of retaining information.

"HEY! Fire-Freak." Sokka's voice broke through his thoughts. It seemed like he'd been trying to get Zuko's attention for a while.

Zuko thought he saw the ghost of a smile brush over Katara's lips. "What?"

"I'm going to find some meat that doesn't burn like a bitch."

"Wait? Wha..."

"Oh, Don't complain."

"That's rich coming from the guy that does nothing but." Zuko's anger had been spiked.

"See ya" With that Sokka was gone.

Steam erupted from Zuko's mouth as his fists clenched. I'm going to kill him. Zuko looked over at Katara, who was warily watching him in return.

"So" Zuko began

"So" Katara copied his tone.

"What did my father and sister do to you?"

"What are you suggesting, Zuko" She said his name with so much hostility that if naming someone had an effect; Zuko would be writhing with pain on the floor.

"That you aren't who you used to be, and I know that you were captured by Azula and taken prisoner, So I'm suggesting that they did something to screw you up bad."

Katara gave Zuko a bitter smile and looked away from him. "What of it? I have a better question. Why didn't they just Kill me?"

Zuko opened his mouth to speak, but then shut it when he realised he had nothing to say.

Seeing his predicament Katara continued. "They beat me. They tortured me. They starved me. They..." Katara stopped unable to go in a calm enough voice.

She trembled with emotion. Anger, shame, and hatred coursed through her at the memory of what they had done to her.

"I'm sorry." Zuko said simply. On Azula's part he knew exactly how imaginative she could be. As for his father, he could only guess.

"Don't be. As far as I'm concerned, if my brother trusts you then I can tolerate you." Katara said bluntly. "But don't make the mistake that we are friends."

"I hope I can earn your trust in the future."