Disclaimer: I do not, and never will, own Avatar: the Last Airbender.
The next morning Katara awoke to find that the camp fire was already put out, everything packed, and a clump of berries sitting piled on the ground a foot away from her. Zuko was sitting cross legged on the other side of the clearing, eyes closed and back ramrod straight in a meditation pose. Katara watched him warily as she eased herself up from the ground, careful not to make a noise. But as she shifted her weight, her leg rolled over a stick and it cracked deafeningly in the silence. Zuko's eyes flashed open and Katara gave up, instead sitting up noisily and beggining to eat the berries.
"Good morning," Zuko said civilly, not really expecting an answer but still determined to show her he could be good and trustworthy.
Katara glared up at him and continued eating. Zuko felt a twinge in his heart, though he was used to her cold behavior towards him by now. Coldness he knew he deserved, but it would have been nice to be forgiven. But, to his everlasting surprise, Katara sighed and looked up at him.
"Good morning. Thank you for the berries and for ... this," Katara gestured to her crutch and splinted arm. She spoke with cold formality, with no hint of offered friendship or forgiveness in her voice.
Zuko blinked, surprised that she was being civil, if not warm.
"Oh, ah, you're welcome," he stammered. Katara seemed not to hear.
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The two walked for the rest of the day in silence. The day was still and calm, but near sunset, the tranquility of the evening was shattered when a horrific roar sounded through the air. Both benders automatically moved into defensive stances. Katara summoned a weak water whip with her left hand, barely able to hold it in place with only one arm but still trying. Zuko shifted slowly into a basic firebending stance, wincing as the burn on his leg stretched.
The sound of sticks and leavs cracking beneath something heavy became louder and louder.
ROAR!!
An enraged platypus-bear charged through the foliage and thundered straight towards the two startled benders. Before Zuko could do anything, Katara bravely but foolishly struck out with a water whip. With only one hand to wield it, the force of the whip that would normally have knocked the platypus-bear to the ground only served to enrage it further. With a growl it turned towards Katara and charged.
Desperately, Katara reached for the water in her bending pouch, but the water just wouldn't work with her. The beast swiped at Katara with one massive paw, and though she dodged, she still received a large bruise to her side. Just then, a toung of flame reached for the platypus-bear, burning the hair on its side. The bear roared in pain, and turned towards Zuko. The firebender sent another burst of fire towards it, but the platypus-bear charged straight through the flame, knocking Zuko to the ground. It ran off then, convinced that the two humans who had dared trespass on its territory were dead.
"Zuko!" Katara cried as she pushed herself off the ground, "Are you all right?"
Genuine concern was in her voice, for Katara was essentially a forgiving person by nature, and her self-enforced anger at Zuko had been forgotten in the face of his pain.
"M'fine," Zuko muttered, trying to sit up.
"Don't you dare move," Katara chided, placing both hands on his chest and shoving him back to the ground. Zuko resisted for a moment before complying. The movement caused the leg of his pants to move. With a gasp, Katara saw the burn that covered Zuko's leg, the bandages he had wrapped around it torn loose by the platypus-bear.
"Why didn't you tell me you had this?! You needed the crutch more than I do!"
"It's nothing. I'm not weak," Zuko said firmly, defending his precious honor and pride.
"Oh, and are you implying that I'm weak?" Katara asked indignantly.
"What? No! No, I-I-I mean, uh..of course you're not-" Zuko spluttered, wondering how he had ever gotten into this mess.
Katara just glared at him and he shut up. Rifling through his pack, she found the burn salve and bandages and rewrapped Zuko's burn, muttering all the while under her breath, snatches of which Zuko heard.
"Stupid....idiot....arrogant....obsessed.....traitorus....stupid honor...."
Zuko grit his teeth and exerted every ounce of self control he possessed to keep his temper.
When the wound was tightly bound, Katara stood and pulled Zuko to his feet. She tossed him the crutch, pulled on the pack, and started striding off in the direction they had been going before.
"As I said, you need it more than I do. I noticed you limping earlier and my leg is pretty much better. The bruises are almost gone," Katara stated.
Zuko tried to protest that he didn't need it and that he wasn't weak, but Katara wasn't listening. He sighed and followed her, but refused to use the crutch. Ten minutes later however, with pain shooting up his leg with every step, Zuko was forced to swallow his pride and use the crutch. He glared when Katara smirked.
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They camped that night in silence. Zuko automatically lighting a fire and going out to hunt. Katara bringing out two blankets from the pack. When Zuko returned with nothing more than some berries and a sour expression on his face, she smothered a laugh (badly) and split the berries into two equal piles, eating her own share immediately. In silence, Zuko stretched out by the fire and fell asleep while Katara took the first watch. Katara woke the firebender up a few hours later so she could get some rest herself. The whole process was carried out in total and complete silence. But this time, it wasn't an awkward silence. It was a comfortable one.
Author's Note: Ah.....I'm trying to convey that Katara is feeling less cold towards Zuko and doesn't actually hate him, just hasn't chosen to accept that in her mind yet. I don't know how well that came across, so just trying to clear that up a little. Reveiws are much appreciated! Advice is too!
