Chapt 4 Introductions

The Gaang were resting in a large guest house, courtesy of the king. Everyone sat around a large table, drinking tea and discussing the last few days. Sokka was off sitting in a corner trying, unsuccessfully to puzzle out the silver backpack while Katara tended to their 'patient' in a room down the hall.

"So have the Nomad's ever used different color tattoos?" Zuko was asking Aang.

"No." Aang told them, "Blue is for the sky, the air. As far as I know they've always been blue. I don't understand what green could mean."

"Hey, Aang's a poet and didn't know it." Sokka mumbled, trying (for the forth time) to cut the silver backpack with his boomerang.

"Will you put that thing down." Suki chided him, but when he ignored her, she got up, "I'm going to go see if Katara needs a hand."

Suki stomped passed Sokka, pointedly looking away from him. Sokka had forethought enough to look guilty but went back to working on the backpack as soon as she was gone.

She walked down the hall and opened the door at its end.

"Hey Katara, do you want." but she stopped, smiling when she saw Katara jerk awake with a snort in the chair beside the bed. On the bed, with blankets pulled to his chin, was the man who had fallen from the sky.

"Oh. I must have dozed off." said Katara, getting up to stretch.

"Here." said Suki kindly, stepping into the room, "Go have some tea and something to eat. I can take over for awhile."

"Thanks Suki." said Katara and pausing only to kiss her sister in-law's cheek, she left the room.

Suki sat down in the chair to examine the stranger. She had to admit he was quite handsome and ever since they had first rolled him over she thought there was something strangely familiar about him. His face only had a few scars and the few that were there seemed to suit his face, giving it what Suki thought of as a feral handsomeness. Outside the window the sky was beginning to darken. Ever since they had found the man that morning he had not awoken and they had soon discovered that he had a high fever. Although the last time they had checked that afternoon, Katara had announced that his fever seemed to be breaking.

Suki leaned over and placed her hand on his forehead. It was still hot but definitely not as bad as before. She turned to a basin of water on the bedside table. Reaching in and pulling out a cloth she wrung the water from it before bringing it to the man face. She almost shrieked when a hand materialized, gripping her wrist loosely. She had not seen the man move. The hand pulled her's away from his face and she saw his wide eyes gazing back at her.

Suki gasped. The man's left eye was a bright, emerald green but his right eye was a dark, stormy grey with flecks of brown. His eyes seemed to be slipping in and out of focus and his sweat soaked face became a mask of pain.

"Aunt Suki? Please, Aunt Suki." he whispered hoarsely, his breathing ragged. Suki slapped her other hand over her mouth to stifle another gasp, "Don't let them. I don't want to hurt anymore. Please Aunt Suki."

The man tried to raise himself up but collapsed back onto the bed and his eyes started to roll as his consciousness faded once more. Suki had to strain to hear his last words.

"Tell Mom I didn't mean it. Please, Aunt Suki, tell Mom I'm sorry."

His eyes closed, his breathing settled and his limp hand fell away from Suki's wrist. Suki just stared down at the man for a full minute before she bolted from the room.

"Guys! Guys." cried Suki, bursting into the kitchen, "You'll never believe what just happened."

The Gaang had jumped to their feet as Suki entered and Sokka was instantly by her side.

"What is it? What's wrong?" he asked her.

Still pumped with adrenaline Suki began babbling.

"You'll never believe it he woke up an he kept calling me Aunt Suki! an oh my goodness you should see his eyes an he wants me to tell his mom something and then he,"

"Suki, Suki." said Katara, coming over to her, "Slow down and tell us what happened.

Suki took a deep breath and in a calmer voice told her friends what had happened.

"What was that about his eyes?" Sokka asked her when she had finished.

"One of them is green, like Maki's." Suki told him, "But the other kinda looks like Aang's, except it's got all little bits of brown in it."

Suki paused and looked to the rest of the gaang with confusion in her eyes.

"But why do you think he kept calling me 'Aunt Suki' and why does he think I know his Mom?"

"Because you do." came Aang's quiet voice, startling them all. He turned to Toph, "You feel it too, don't you? Some kind of connection."

"I can see him." Toph said with a frown on her face.

"You see," started Aang.

"No. He's getting up." interrupted Toph, pointing at the doorway to the hall.

"WHERE IS IT?" boomed a voice through the house. Louder than Appa's roar, as loud as thunder.

There came an almighty crash and a broken door flew from the hallway, narrowly missing the Gaang seated at the table and smashed into the wall opposite.

The Gaang were instantly on their feet in their various fighting stances. Sokka was gripping his boomerang while Suki stood beside him ready with his sword. Mai was between Zuko and Toph, assorted sharp and pointed kitchen utensils gripped between her fingers, ready to throw.

From the hallway the man stumbled uneasily into the room. He threw out a hand and gripped the doorway to steady himself and when he raised his head to look at the gaang his face was a mask of pure fury. His bright green eye glittered brightly and rolled but his other seemed to glow a deep blood red. He barred his teeth at them and a feral grown rose from his throat.

"Where?" but suddenly his green eye locked onto the silver backpack on the floor where Sokka had dropped it. Faster than a striking centipede-viper he lunged forward, snatched up the bag and clutched it to his chest like a long lost lover. Then he gripped the bag with two hands and pulled, opening an invisible seam along it's side and peered within. He stood like that for a moment, swaying slightly as the anger drained from his features.

"Err, hello I'm the Avatar." said Aang, dropping his stance and taking a step forward.

The man's head snapped up to look at him. His eyes had returned to normal, one bright green, the other a dark stormy grey. His eyes took in Aang and the rest of the Gaang and the color drained from his face. He staggered backward, his features reflecting pure terror.

"No. No! Not this." the man dropped the backpack and clutched at the side of his head, dropping to his knees. His eyes locked onto Toph and pain suffused his features, "I can't face…you can't be." then his eyes rolled up and he collapsed onto his face, unconscious once more.

Sokka came forward and prodded the man's shoulder with his toe, "Well, that was weird." and the Gaang relaxed slightly.

"Leave him be, Sokka." Katara chided him, coming forward, "Here, help me with him."

Together she and Sokka rolled the man onto his back. Zuko came forward, grabbing some coats from a hook on the wall and passed them to Katara. She tucked one under the man's head and threw the rest over his prone form as blankets.

Mai, Toph and Suki came forward as well to see what they could do but Sokka spotted the silver backpack lying on the floor, against the wall. It's side was still open and he moved over to pick it up.

"By the spirits." it was such an uncharacteristic remark from Sokka that it made everyone turn to him.

From the backpack, Sokka had pulled a large square shape. To the Gaang it appeared to be a sheet of rice paper sealed inside a flat piece of glass. Sokka merely held it before him, his eyes wide with shock. Suki stepped around him to see and her own eyes went wide.

"What is it?" Mai asked them.

Sokka stepped wordlessly forward and laid the object onto the table. Everyone crowded around to see.

It was a painting, beautifully done. It showed Sokka and Suki standing close together with little Reena held between them. Standing before them were Hakoda Jnr and Maki, grinning cheekily out of the picture. They were all dressed in their blue winter clothing and in the background was blue sky and the undulating white plains of the south pole.

"It's amazing." Suki breathed, "Where did he get it?"

"It's in my workshop at home." Sokka told everyone quietly, "I haven't even finished it yet. Master Piandoa has been giving my lessons and well," he rubbed the back of his head sheepishly and looked at Suki, "I was going to give it to you for our anniversary when it was finished."

"Wow." was all Suki could say, never taking her eyes from the picture, "But, are you sure it's yours?"

"I haven't even started doing the boys in the painting at home." he told her and pointed at the picture, "Look."

There in the corner of the painting was a small picture of a cog wheel with a smiley face inside, Sokka's personal mark.

"Oh, wait. Here, Toph, take a look." Sokka said suddenly, sliding the painting toward her.

Toph gave him an exasperated look and waved a hand before her pale green eyes.

"Hello, Snoozles? How long have we known each other?"

"No, not that." said Sokka with a sigh, "I've been experimenting with a new type of paint. Here." and he grabbed Toph's hand from the table and placed it onto the surface of the painting.

"Oh, Wow." exclaimed Toph, "I can see it." and she avidly ran both her hands across the surface of the table, her face enraptured.

"It's earth paint." Sokka told the Gaang, "Different colored earth and oils mixed together. I wanted to see if it would work and then, well." He paused, blushing red.

"What?" Toph asked him slyly

"Well, I was going to do a portrait for you guys." Sokka said, pointing to Zuko, Mai and Toph.

"Cool." said Toph with a smile, "Are there any more?"

Sokka seemed surprised to find the backpack still clutched in one hand. He reached inside and pulled out another square of rice paper sealed inside the same clear glass. He glanced at it and then quickly tried to hide it under the table.

"Err, maybe we shouldn't," he started but Suki reached under, snatching it from his hands and placing it on the table.

The Gaang gasped again.

It was a beautifully done painting of Zuko and Katara. Zuko looked a little older, with a few crows feet around his good eye and a touch of grey at his temples. He was shirtless and was gazing with undisguised love into Katara's eyes. The picture of Katara looked only slightly older, her hair was pulled up into a bun and the stylized golden circlet of the Firelady was pinned to it. She was dressed only in a tight fitting blue gown and was gazing with equal passion back at Zuko. In the corner of this painting was again, Sokka's signature.

"What is it?" Toph asked and reached over to touch the painting, "Hey, I can see," she frowned suddenly and pointed a finger at Katara standing next to Aang, "HEY!"

Katara stepped back and raised her hands, "Don't look at me."

"There's a couple more guys." Sokka interrupted, pulling another painting from the backpack, "And remember, I don't think these are really us."

The next painting caused Toph to forget all about the last. It showed Aang and Toph standing together, Aang's arm around her shoulders and he wore his familiar goofy smile. Aang was older, dressed in his Nomad clothing but with a full head of black hair, peppered with grey. Toph was wearing her usual Earthbending slacks and tunic. She had a touch of grey at her temples but otherwise remained as beautiful as ever. Standing before Toph were two young girls. The larger girl looked around seven or eight with long black hair done in a style like Mai's and her eyes were dark grey like Aang's. The smaller girl was perhaps five or six and was like a tiny replica of Toph with bright green eyes. But what caught the Gaang's attention was the young, teenage boy standing next to Aang in the painting with an identical goofy smile. He greatly resembled Aang, dressed also in traditional nomad clothing. The striking difference was his dark brown hair, bright green eyes and prominent green tattoos.

The rest of the Gaang had a difficult time looking at the painting as Toph's trembling hand kept sliding around it's surface.

"Kids?", Toph whispered hoarsely, "My kids?" she swayed slightly and Zuko gently lowered her into a chair.

Another paining was laid on the table and the Gaang leaned forward once more.

This one showed Mai and Toph sitting together on a large chair with two young boys standing to either side of them. The two women looked only a few years older although Toph's picture showed that same grey at her temples as the last painting, only slightly less. The two boys were the same age, perhaps ten and the one beside Toph was unmistakably the boy from the last painting but without the green tattoos. The boy beside Mai was obviously her son. He shared her same fine features and silky hair but the golden eyes shining from his smiling face were definitely Zuko's.

When Toph's hands slid over the painting she turned and smiled warmly to her two lovers, "He's so handsome."

Everybody smiled and Sokka placed the last picture on the table.

This one was different from the rest. It was beautifully drawn but lacked color and showed what appeared to be a teenage Suki. Dressed in an unfamiliar, tight fitting outfit, the girl was standing in a traditional Kyoshi warrior stance and tucked into a belt at her waist were two folded fans.

"Oh, I can't see this one." Toph said sadly when she touched it surface and Mai began describing it to her.

"This one doesn't have my mark." Sokka pointed out.

"You know," said Suki, turning her head this way and that as she looked at the picture, "Those look like my fans but I'm not sure that is me."

"That's because it's Reena." came a deep gravely voice from across the room and the Gaang jumped.

They had been so engrossed in the paintings that they hadn't noticed the unconscious man getting to his feet. His face was still slick with sweat and he swayed slightly but his eyes did not waver from the Gaang. His face seemed empty of emotion now but for a touch of anger between his brows. His eyes flicked from face to face but Katara noticed that he seem to shy away from looking at Toph.

"Reena?" Suki whispered, looking again at the picture.

The man's eye's locked onto Suki and pain flashed across his features, vanishing as quickly as it had appeared.

"Please Aunt," He paused and dropped to his knees, head bowed with arms held before him, palms facing upward. "Please Suki. They are my family. Give them back."

Suki looked at the man with compassion. She took the backpack from an unresisting Sokka and reached for the other paintings on the table.

"No." came Toph's sudden angry shout, "Explain this."

She lunged forward and grabbed two of the paintings. The one showing her with Aang and the children and the one of Zuko and Katara.

The man dropped his hands but did not look up.

"When I was young I loved the paintings and drawings of my Uncle Sokka." the man began. Sokka and Suki exchanged glances, "He would often make copies of his work just for me. I had them with me when Koh," he paused and took a deep breath, "Most of them are gone now. Those are the only ones I have left."

"But why would you have all these paintings with you, wouldn't you have them at home?" asked Sokka, curious.

The man shook his head, "I was, traveling."

"Liar!" Toph shouted, pointing a finger at the man.

The man finally looked up at the gaang. His expression was pained but his eyes were pleading. This time the others could see that he would not look directly at Toph.

"I will explain. What I can. But please, give me back my family." and such was the pain in his voice, Toph relented and handed the paintings over to Suki.

Suki gathered the rest and placed them into the silver backpack. She walked over to the man and offered her hand. He looked at it like he didn't know what is was.

"Come." she said kindly and took his hand in hers, "Come sit down and we'll talk."

She helped him to his feet and when he wobbled unsteadily, Sokka was instantly at his other side. Together the husband and wife helped the man to a seat and eased him into it. Suki grabbed one of the coats from the floor and laid it over his lap, blushing.

"Err, your naked." she whispered to him conspiratorially, as though no one else in the room had noticed.

The man gave a humorless laugh and suddenly closed his eye drew a deep breath through his nose.

"Can I smell tea?" he asked, his eyes still closed.

"Oh, Yes." said Katara, jumping up, "I was just getting some before you got up."

She bustled over to the counter and grabbed a tray laden with cups and a large teapot. She was personally glad of the distraction. Lack of sleep and recent events were leaving her very confused. The man and the rest of the Gaang remained silent while Katara set out the cups.

"Zuko, would you mind." she said, holding up the teapot.

"Oh, sure." Zuko turned away from the man and placed one hand on the base of the teapot and steam was soon rising from the spout.

As Katara filled the man's cup he sniffed deeply once more and then, to the Gaang's surprise, he raised the cup and downed the steaming contents in one go. His features became suffused with bliss and he suddenly lunged at Katara, snatching the teapot away from her. He knocked away the lid and tipped the pot up to his mouth and the gaang could hear the sounds of his gulping and slurping echoing inside the pot. When the pot was empty, the man dropped it to the table and gave a huge, contented sigh.

"Thank you Aunt," he paused, "Uh, Katara. That was delicious. Just like Uncle Sparky used to make."

Everyone blinked and Zuko reddened slightly.

"Err, I did make it." Zuko told the man, then frowned, "And its Firelord Zuko, or even just Zuko. Sparky is, is." he looked at Toph and blushed again.

Toph just glared at the man.

"Who are you anyway?" she demanded of him, "Do you even have a name?"

Still the man did not look directly at Toph.

"But you know it already." he said to her softly and every head turned to Toph.

"I do?" asked Toph surprised.

The man's gaze remained fixed on the teapot before him as he spoke.

"My mother told me the story of her dream man and how she used to fantasize,"

"HEY! Shut up." Toph's shout startled everyone. She had gone bright red.

"You never mentioned a dream man before." Mai said to Toph with a raised eyebrow.

"Yeah." said Zuko, frowning, "Who is it?"

Toph sighed and shot another glare at the man.

"It was long ago. Before I met any of you guys." She sighed again and the color crept back into her cheeks, "You girls remember what it was like? When you were little. Sometimes you like to dream up adventures and romance - stuff."

She paused, her face now very hot and red.

"I remember." Katara said and the other women nodded, "I used to be a damsel in distress, lost on a drifting iceberg until my shining prince came to save me."

"Yeah, well, I got my prince now." said Toph, leaning into Zuko, "But back then I used to dream of an Earth prince who would come an rescue me from my parents. I used to fantasize about him so much I gave him a name."

The Gaang leaned forward expectantly.

"Its an old, old name for the Earth spirit." Toph said quietly, "One of my tutors told it to me once."

Toph looked sharply at the man.

"Daniel."

"Yes. A name that much of the spirit world now rightly fears." Daniel growled and stood up suddenly, squaring his shoulders - the effect rather spoiled when the coat slid off his lap.

"My name is Daniel Gyatso Bei Fong. Son of Avatar Aang and Toph Bei Fong." He glared at the Gaang for a moment, then a sudden sadness touched his eyes and he sat down again, reaching into his backpack he drew forth the picture of Aang, Toph and the children, "Brother to Mai and Kyra." he drew his fingers down the painted pictures of his sisters then placed the picture on the table.

Daniel mumbled something under his breath and Mai, who was closest leaned forward.

"What was that?" she asked.

"Nothing." Daniel replied gruffly and turned away from her. He reached over to pick up the painting and replaced it in his bag.

But Toph, with her keen ears had heard, "Now lost."

"Now." said Daniel, looking up at the Gaang with a hard stare, "I need to know everything that's happened since you, " he pointed at Aang, "woke up in the iceberg. Once I understand what has happened here I will be better able to tell you what is to come."

The Gaang blinked at him.

"That's eleven years." Aang told him, "Some of us haven't slept in two days. Maybe we should,"

But Daniel brought his hand down sharply on the table with a loud 'Crack!'.

"Sleep? There is a battle coming that could shatter your world." Daniel growled at him, "And if I am to preserve it for you, I need to know." He glared down the table at Aang and the rest of the Gaang glanced at Toph who was throwing a hauntingly similar glare back at Daniel.

"I'll stay up." said Zuko, breaking the tension, "I got a good nights sleep last and Daniel can fill us in in the morning."

"I'm staying up too." announced Toph, not dropping her glare, "To make sure he," she jabbed her finger at Daniel, "behaves."

"I'll just refill the teapot for you." said Katara, throwing worried glances at her friend as the rest of the Gaang stood up.

"And food." Daniel told her gruffly, "I need food."

Katara's weariness, tension and this last command, finally made her snap. She spun around and raised her hands, the water from the kitchen basin leapt into the air and formed into dozens of razor sharp ice spikes - all pointed at Daniel.

The Gaang backed away in surprise.

"Unless you want to feel my water whip you will speak to me with respect." she hissed at him, he sudden anger startling everyone.

Aang was torn between getting Katara out of the kitchen and preserving his own skin. He joined the rest of the Gaang against the kitchen walls, only Zuko and Toph remained in their seats.

"You say I'm your Aunt so understand this, boy," said Katara in a quiet, dangerous voice and leaned into Daniel's face, "If you speak to me or anyone here again without using some basic manners AND respect I WILL put you over my knee."

Daniel's expression had not shifted from his vacant, angry stare during Katara's entire rant but a few moments later he broke into a wide grin, crookedly reminiscent of Aang's. Then he threw back his head and gave a short, barking laugh.

"That's my Aunt Katara! Mother Katara." Daniel stated, in his deep growl, his hard gaze never leaving her eyes, the crooked grin now somehow mocking, "But this body hasn't had sustenance in a long, long time and my re-entry into the mortal realm has left me weak and damaged. I would greatly appreciate it if you could at least point me to the food. Please."

Katara's furious expression remained fixed and her eyes remained locked on Daniel's. She flung one arm out and pointed at a door in the corned of the room. Then she turned away and the ice spike lowered back into the basin, collapsing quickly back into liquid. Keeping her face averted from everyone she addressed the room at large.

"Goodnight." It left her mouth as a whisper and with that said she hurried from the room.

Aang stepped away from the wall and walked over to Daniel. He placed a hand on Daniel's shoulder and looked down at him with profound sadness. Daniel's grin vanished but the angry glare remained firm.

"If you wear those tattoos for the reason I think you do, then you have lost your way, my friend." Daniel's glare did not waver but his eyes widened a fraction as Aang continued with a sad tone, "You're right. You were damaged when you entered the world. You had quite a bit of internal damage but Katara spent hours working on you and then spent the day at your side, watching your fever. Don't be hard on her, she just cares. We'll talk some more tomorrow."

Aang gave Daniel a tiny smile and quickly left the kitchen.

Suki, Sokka and Mai said their goodnights to Zuko and Toph, then quickly followed suit.

Daniel only nodded to each as they left but Zuko noticed something odd. As Mai and Sokka walked passed Daniel they gave him furious glares, but his angry stare remained the same. Yet as Suki walked passed to follow her husband, her gaze was sad, almost disappointed and Daniel's gaze quickly flicked away from hers to his hands resting on the table.

Katara lay in a soft comfortable bed, wishing she could get to sleep. She had been tired enough when she came to bed and her little outburst in the kitchen had left her drained. She had quickly changed into the silky gown Mai had given her as a present and was in bed before Aang walked in the door.

"Katara? Babe, are you OK?" He'd asked her quietly.

Poor Aang, thought Katara, He's so lost when I loose my temper. Not that I'm much help.

"Yeah, I'm alright," she said softly and patted the bed beside her, "Get in here and warm me up, Loverboy."

Aang quickly stripped his robes and a huge yawn split his features. He reached for the ceiling and stretched his tired muscles. He was still a little sore from the events on Appa the night before.

Katara watched her husband through half lidded eyes which seemed to sparkle in the dim light. Their constant traveling and never ending work had given Aang a lean athletic build and Katara was secretly thrilled each day that he was hers. Aang glanced down and saw Katara looking at him. His wide, cheeky grin spread over his face and he leaned back against the wall, crossing one leg behind the other.

"Hey Babe." he said in a fake macho tone, "You light my fire."

He raised his hands and clicked his fingers. A bright ripple of yellow flames ran up his legs, his torso and then finally disappearing at the crown of his head.

Katara giggled and she felt some of the tension drain from her body. She raised her hand to cover a huge yawn. Aang quickly crossed to the bed and slid under the covers next to her, sliding his hands around her and drawing her close. He kissed her deeply and lay still.

Then Aang sighed, "It been a big day, huh?" he said sleepily, yawning again.

Katara rolled in his embrace to lie on her back and gazed into the shadows amongst the rafters above her.

"It's been a big few days." whispered Katara, "Do you think," but when she turned to look at him, Aang had already fallen asleep. Katara gave his peaceful face a little pout but quickly drop it. She couldn't blame him.

Staring at Aang in the dim light her imagination pictured Daniel's face over Aang's and she gave a little gasp. There were definite similarities there now that Katara's adrenaline levels had dropped and she was really looking at things. When Daniel had stumbled into the kitchen delirious his eyes had beeen relaxed and unfocused, but wide. He had looked bewildered, lost. Just like Aang when he'd first woken up in that iceberg (Just a 12 year old boy but she'd long since admitted to herself that she'd loved him from that first moment).

After Daniel had recovered he'd set his face into a cold, angry stare. But his eye's. Those strange dual eyes had conveyed a wealth of emotion to Katara. She'd seen a look like that in only one other person's eyes.

Zuko's sister, Azula.

Back during the war, Azula had been the child prodigy who had excelled beyond anything her Fire Bending masters could teach her. Azula and Zuko's father, Ozai, the then Firelord, had taken her under his wing, twisting and corrupting her mind from a young age till she became cold and cruel. Sometime during the last days of the war, Azula, at the tender age of 14, had lost her mind. When Zuko, with Katara as backup, had arrived to challenge Azula for the throne of the fire nation, the princess had been chaotic and unstable.

Azula had challenged Zuko to Agni Kai, a fight to the death with the throne as the prize. But she had ignored the rules of single combat and had sent a surprise attack at Katara, a bolt of lightning. Zuko had intercepted the attack but was grievously wounded and Katara had been left to deal with Azula on her own. The two girls had fought. Azula had been a vicious opponent but Katara prevailed by trapping the princess in a block of ice then leaving her chained to a grate on the ground. When Azula had finally realized that there was no one left who feared her and even her Fire Bending had failed her, her mental state had completely collapsed.

She'd been catatonic for months. Not even responding when Aang, freshly returned and exhausted from his own battle with Ozai, had taken her ability to Bend fire away.

Zuko had sent for the best healers from every nation and Katara had checked in when she passed through. But only time could heal Azula. It had been months before she would even acknowledge Zuko's presence let alone speak with him but over the years she had improved and at last she was released from the asylum. A few years ago Zuko had commissioned a small island retreat for Azula, where she now lived with a few servants and doctors.

On the rare occasions when Katara would accompany Zuko on one of his visits to the tropical island, it was even rarer for Katara to be spoken to be the exiled princess.

Azula would always just give Katara that glare. It was a hard and cold stare, but it was just a cover. Something for the frightened little girl inside Azula to hide behind. But deep within Azula's eyes the cold, calculating animal still lurked, seeking weaknesses to exploit and waiting for an opportunity to strike. Azula was no longer cruel, just lost and lonely. But Katara could still see the predator lurking in Azula's eyes. It was something Katara had always seen in Azula for as long as she'd known her.

And it was something she'd seen tonight, in Daniel's eyes.