Keiko finally reached the smoking village. She looked around for Zuko. She was growing concerned as the smoke was getting thicker.
Keiko looked around and found Zuko kneeling on the ground beside his uncle. She placed her hand on his shoulder and shook him. 'Zuko! Get up! Snap out of it!' Zuko looked dazed but seemed to be out of his sudden shock. 'We need to move him, otherwise he will suffocate in all this smoke.' Zuko nodded and together they half lifted, half dragged the heavy man. They found a small hut on the edge of the village that hadn't been caught in the fire.
'Okay, Zuko I need you to find water and using this spare cloth, make bandages,' she said, pulling out a container and a long piece of cloth. 'Can you do that?' she asked, looking at Zuko. He seemed a bit nervous but said he would look for water. Keiko took out some medicinal herbs to treat the wounds and a small teapot. She found a special herb that when soaked and made into tea, helped that person to recover faster. Finding spare sticks, she quickly put the remainder of her own water into the small teapot and the herbs.
She looked around, making sure no-one could see her and quickly used her firebending to light the fire. Keiko placed the pot over the small fire. She turned to look at the injured man, her father. As she sat there, memories of her childhood flocked through her mind. Keiko had these memories locked up, thinking she would never see her brother or father again. The thought of seeing her father again unlocked her memories and they flowed out, letting a few tears escape. When she heard footsteps, she quickly brought her sleeve to her face and wiped the tears away.
'Here's the water, Yumi' She hesitated before taking the can of water. That's right, he knows me as the Earth Village girl. She quickly set the water over another set of sticks and pulled out her firing stones. Before she could make a flame, Zuko already used his firebending. Adding another set of herbs, she said, 'Thanks.' She saw him smile a real smile, reminding her of the cousin she once knew.
'Oh no!' Zuko watched as Yumi suddenly stood up. 'I left my injured deer-horse on the path. Watch the water for me Zuko!' she yelled as she began running out of the village and back on the path. Stupid, stupid, stupid! How could I forget an injured animal that I left on the side of the road! I really must be becoming an idiot!' She let out a sigh of relief when she saw her deer-horse sitting there, searching the path with worried eyes. Seeing her, the deer-horse gave a whinny of relief. 'Come on now. We'll go slowly this time.' Yumi led her deer-horse down the path, thinking: I hope Zuko didn't do anything drastic. I mean he knows how to boil water, right?
Meanwhile~~
Zuko was sitting on the ground wondering about what Yumi said. What does she mean 'Watch the water for me?' He peered in the pot than at the can of water and saw bubbles on the surface. Hmmm...is that suppose to happen? Worriedly, he began to drag his uncle's injured body away from the bubbling water. Just in case. Although he had been on the road for so long, he still was unskilled. The times that he had tea were all made by his uncle.
He was so relieved when he heard Yumi tell him to watch her horse while she ran closer to the rattling, bubbling containers. As she ran towards the fire, something about the way she acted reminded him of someone. But who?
Soon, Iroh was bandaged and sleeping in the hut. Yumi climbed up the hut and stared at the stars. This was a thing that she did since she was young. She closed her eyes and remembered lying on the grass beside Lu Ten and Iroh. Iroh had said to them with a smile, 'If you look into the stars, sometimes you can see where your family is.' Everyday, she had looked into the stars hoping to find Lu Ten and her father. Although they stars hadn't helped her, she was happy.
Zuko sat in the hut, watching his sleeping uncle. He couldn't help shudder at the thought of how close he could have lost him. He was shocked as he felt a few stray tears fall down his face. But he was happy that he was still alive.
