A/N: I can tell you guys are getting to the point where its like: Where is the Zutara? When is anything going to happen?! Don't worry…its in the next chappie, or the chappie after that. I promise, its coming.
Chapter 7
Katara remembered why she hated the swamps so much as her and Zuko trudged through the muck and fog. The smell was terrible, and the humidity was unbearable. It was nearly nightfall and the darkness made it more difficult for the pair to maneuver through the swamp.
Zuko stopped abruptly and put his hand out to stop her too. "Did you hear that?" he whispered. Katara waited for a beat. All she could hear was the distant sound of a bull frog.
"Hear what?"
They stood still in complete silence. After a moment, Zuko continued to walk. Katara quickly looked around and then followed suit.
Suddenly, there was a large cracking sound, and a swamp monster appeared in front of them. It was the same swamp monster Katara, Sokka and Aang had encountered on their earlier adventures.
Zuko quickly blew fire at the monster. "Stop!" Katara screamed, at the monster, and at Zuko. "Hue! Stop!" she hollered at the man in the center of the monster.
Zuko turned to face her. "What are you doing?!" she ignored his questions and continued to shout.
With the water from her pouch she sliced the top half of the monster off. "STOP!!" she yelled.
The monster started to regrow, but then it stopped short and the monster fell to the ground. In between the many veins was a short, large man with gray hair.
"Hue!" Katara ran over. Zuko took a hold of her hand to stop her. He pointed his sword at the man.
"Who are you?" he asked menacingly.
"Leave him alone," Katara ordered angrily as she tugged her hand away. "He's my friend. Maybe you heard me yelling his name before?" She crossed her arms and walked over to Hue.
"How are you?"
"I'm good," Hue cocked an eyebrow at Zuko. "Who is that?"
"That's Zuko," Katara kept from rolling her eyes. "The new fire lord."
The two bowed to each other. "I think we've met before," Zuko said. Hue scratched his stubbly chin. "Maybe."
"What brings you two here?"
Katara looked over at Zuko. She didn't know if he would mind Hue knowing their plans, or if he wanted to keep them secret.
"We are trying to reach the Fire Nation," Zuko replied. "We wanted to reach the Great Divide by night fall, but we ran into some trouble." He added attitude to his last words. They hadn't taken fighting with Swamp Monsters into consideration.
Hue looked up at the sky. "I wouldn't travel any farther tonight," he said. "The Swamps aren't the best places to travel tonight."
"Come back to the camp," Hue started walking, and Katara and Zuko followed him.
"Thank you, Hue," Katara said thankfully.
As long as she was as far away from Zuko as possible, it would be okay.
