In the Earth Kingdom Forest

Xiatian heard footsteps approach her hideout. With a silent whimper she hid herself deeper in he bush she was in.

Then a dark figure rose before her.

It didn't look like a human figure and it seemed to breath quite heavily. She had to hold on herself to not jump out of the bush.

The figure let go of something with a deep sigh. Its voice sounded like the old man she met earlier.

Suddenly there was a light. Now she saw it was coming from the palm of the old mans hand and it was a little flame, not like those in the woods.

Also she saw what he had let go of.

Her first thought was Oh no, she's dead! Mommy is dead! How am I ever to live again if she's not with me?

Then she noticed the chest of her mother slightly moving and her muscles relaxed again.

The Old Man started to look around apparently searching for something. That was when she got aware of the fact that she was still sitting in the bushes, not visible for anybody.

At once she got out of it and ran up to her mother. She cuddled up next to her and began stroking her cheek while tears started to fall.

The face of the old man turned into a wide smile when he saw this.

The next Morning

Kataras eyes opened slowly, her vision was blurred for a few moments. She just saw green all around her. Then she noticed the warm little body next to her. Her daughter was still sleeping, cuddled up next to her, clenching on the fabric of her dress. Smiling widely she hugged her tightly.

Her daughter slowly opened her big round eyes and looked up to her tiredly. "Mommy? Are you alright?" the girl asked.

"Of course I am, Sweetheart." her mother replied. Both of them got up in seconds when they heard somebody stomping through the woods. Katara's eyes widend when she made out who it was. "Iroh" she said her mouth curling up in a grin again.

"I got us some breakfast from the next village. Go on and eat, we have a lot to talk about. I'll make us some tea."

Xiatian ate happily while her mother and the man called Iroh talked about things she only partly understood. They talked about another man called Zuko and someone named Mai. Then it came to something called Fire Sages and Fire Lord and Fire Nation which she didn't understand at all. But at one point she listened up. Iroh was speaking "You know, my nephew still does love you." which made her mother stiffen and afterwards she was somewhat very sad. The little girl gave her mother a questioning look but she wouldn't say a word. At some point Iroh intervened "And you didn't tell her anything, did you?"

"No" Katara said lamely. Suddenly Xiatian felt rage boiling inside her, but Iroh knew this look all too well from his nephew and calmed the little One down by saying "She didn't want to hurt you, you're far too young for this and there are people who want to hurt you, you might have harmed yourself. All your mother wanted was you to be safe."

By Iroh saying so Katara almost cried. Her daughter looked up to her in concern. Then she craddled in her lap and hugged her tightly.

After what seemed like an eternity Katara let go but Xiatian refused to do so. Whisoering in her mother's ear she said "So, I am going to know who my daddy is now, eh?" .

Her mother answered "Yes, and we are going to rescue him." , "From what? Is he in danger?" the little girl asked confused which caused Iroh and Katara to laugh.