A/N: This is a Zuko chapter with events aligning with The Dragon and the Wolf, chapters 3-6. I have to admit that writing Zuko-Hakoda conversations is harder than I thought it would be since I've already spent 30 chapters developing that relationship. Also, and I think I've said this before, but any fatherly role that I portray here for Zuko does not discredit Iroh in the least. It's just different, and I contend that Hakoda could grant Zuko a valuable perspective since he's removed from the Fire Nation family drama whereas Iroh is not.

"Katara."

The word wasn't spoken, yet somehow he heard it. Like a harsh whisper, parched and needy. With the pressure of something firm and soft wrapped around him, Zuko thought he was back in his igloo where Katara only visited in the lusty haze of his early morning daydreams. The faint sound of rippling water mesmerized him, too, just like her body moving in waves, commanding her element. He slowly opened his eyes, expecting his vision to be filled with orbs of blue, but instead the harsh sun beat down on him from its position high in the sky.

So, it is not morning. Katara is not here. I'm... on a boat... with the chief?

A weary voice then confirmed. "Oh, good. You're awake. You need to drink water."

Realization gave way to a rise of panic. Why can't I speak? Why can't I MOVE?

Then he did see blue eyes, glistening with concern, as Hakoda pushed a thin skin covering from Zuko's shoulders. He shivered as cold air hit bare skin, but it was nothing compared to the frigid arctic waters. His muscles still screamed with exhaustion, so he knew the chief must have pulled him back into the boat.

"Your clothes should be dry by now. We have the favor of the noonday sun. Or perhaps you have the blessing of Agni. I didn't expect you to make it back there."

Zuko nodded and took the waterskin that Hakoda offered. "S-s-sorry."

"Zuko, it was just a paddle. It wasn't worth—" The statement was soaked in sadness and something else—disappointment? No, that wasn't it entirely. His uncle had expressed it before—love? Whatever it was, it was overwhelming. The chief had already given him the mark of the trusted after ice dodging earlier that morning, but it couldn't be that simple. Nothing was ever that simple, and Zuko doubted he deserved anyone's love or trust.

"I never think these things through." Zuko settled on this for an explanation.

Hakoda didn't bite. "I find that hard to believe for someone who does so much thinking."

The topic of conversation soon switched to polar bear skin which Zuko discovered he was wearing—that, and nothing else. Despite its amazing capacity at providing warmth and aid in survival, he suddenly wanted it off. Hakoda, with his intuitive nature, understood.

"You should get dressed. We'll be back soon. Unless you want to explain to Katara how you ended up naked in a canoe with her father," he said with a smirk.

Zuko groaned. "Well, and we already have to explain to Kanna why all the fish are burnt."

"Actually, Kanna might be interested in the polar bear skin story."

Zuko didn't like the implication and made quick business of redressing himself. The chief refused to hand over a paddle for him to help with rowing, though. As much as Zuko despised being useless, he supposed that was fair since he'd been stupid enough to drop a paddle in the ocean and then dive in after it.

"I think the polar bear would suit you, actually," Hakoda said.

Zuko folded his arms across his chest and huffed. He thought maybe the chief was talking about actual suits, and he was done playing dress up for the day.

"Kanna is very superstitious—err, spiritual, I should say. She believes everyone has a spirit animal. Mine is the wolf, as you'd probably guess. The wolf is protective, adaptable, intuitive, and loyal—sometimes too loyal, perhaps." Hakoda paused and pinned Zuko with a pointed look. The young Fire Lord understood he'd been the recipient of such fierce loyalty. I even owe him my life.

The chief's expression softened. "The polar bear is strong, determined, and enduring. But its most defining characteristic is its ability to surrender to its environment. It accepts the circumstances, yet continues to thrive. I think Kanna would find this interesting. It could work to your advantage in gaining her favor."

"Why? Because she wants me to surrender? I'm sure the symbolism there would be quite validating for her, but we're not at war anymore. My approach to peace is not about give-and-take; it's about working together."

"I understand that, Zuko. It's not so much a surrender to another person, like in a fight. It's a surrender to oneself. The polar bear blends in. Maybe Kanna just needs to see you making an effort to accept her culture, that's all."

"I—" Zuko realized that throwing the fight with Pakku may have communicated submission, but it did not demonstrate acceptance. He had a lot to learn about Water Tribe culture before he could claim to respect it. He needed to become immersed in order to understand.

"Well, I wasn't planning on mentioning it, but Kanna would be interested in your treasure as well," Hakoda added.

My what?

"The egg," he clarified.

The what?

Hakoda lifted a layer of seal skin from the assortment of gear in between them to reveal an egg-shaped stone. Zuko remembered now. He'd secured the paddle without a problem, but he'd risked his life to retrieve this... whatever it is. Zuko wanted to reach out and touch it, but the look on the chief's face was almost one of warning.

Finally, he said, "Last night was a full moon. Kanna told me that our trip should be successful because it is called the 'fish moon' this time of year. I joked around with her because I grew up calling it the 'egg moon' instead."

Zuko's eyes widened at yet another story of Water Tribe symbolism—it was fascinating. He raised his eyebrows and bobbed his head, encouraging the chief to tell him more.

Hakoda's expression remained grim. "You see, Kanna is from the North, and the 'fish moon' means that an abundance of fish are spawning this time of year. You saw today that we only have a small cove where that happens down here. In the South, we call it the 'egg moon,' and it's a bad omen. If a child is conceived during this moon cycle, he or she will be born in the dead of winter, when the chances of survival are slim."

"S-s-so you're saying that me finding some petrified egg in the ocean is a bad omen?"

"I'm not. I personally don't put that much stake in that sort of thing. I'm just warning you. In case Kanna says something."

Zuko did notice there were different levels of spiritualism among the South Pole citizens he'd met so far. It was the same in the Fire Nation, he supposed. He'd even argued recently with the head Fire Sage about interpreting the sovereign will of Agni. He wondered what Katara thought about spirit animals and moon meanings.

Is that... Katara?

They were close enough now for him to make out her figure standing on the docks. When her face came into view, he could tell she had been crying. He wouldn't have a chance to ask her, though. By the time they secured the canoe and disembarked, Kanna was also there waiting for them. Hakoda immediately jumped into the story about how Zuko charred all the fish, a Fire Nation way to preserve them, he said. He even mentioned the whole polar bear spirit animal thing much to the Fire Lord's chagrin.

But when she saw the egg, Kanna's whole face lit up. To Zuko, she was almost unrecognizable without her furrowed brow and hardened scowl.

"So, it's true!" She gasped, her gloved hands framing her expression of wonderment.

"What, Gran Gran?" Katara tugged at the old woman's elbow while casting a sideways glance at Zuko.

The old woman's eyes sparkled like faceted gemstones. "Have I ever told you about the Legend of Makenna?"

"So, this Legend of Makenna is that important, huh? That the whole village has to hear it?" Zuko didn't care that he and Katara had been charged with stripping herbs, a job that she had apparently left unfinished earlier that day. He was just grateful to finally spend time with her.

"Gran Gran seems to think so," Katara said with a long and labored sigh.

Zuko set aside the strange-smelling green plantlike things. He would ask questions about Water Tribe cuisine later. "Hey... are you OK?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. So, what happened out there? Where did the egg come from? And seriously, what did you do to all the fish?"

Zuko knew that her smile was fake and her scolding tone intended to draw the attention away from herself. So, she's not ready to talk about it. And that's OK.

"Oh, umm. So, your dad and I were fishing in the freshwater cove over by the ice dodging course. We actually had to go through the course to get there, so—"

She lightly tapped his forehead. "Did you get a mark?"

He caught a whiff of lemon and ginger as she withdrew her hand. It reminded him of Uncle. "Huh?"

"For ice dodging. Sounds like my dad was testing you. So... how did you do?"

"Uhh, yeah. The mark of the trusted. But then I broke his trust, I messed up. I burned the fish because I—" I never think things through. I'm a failure at everything I do.

"It's OK, Zuko. You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to."

He wondered if that was her way of saying thanks—and reminding him—of the pass he'd given her on talking just now. She knew it was hard for him to discuss his failure, his shame. Does she feel like a failure somehow? Is she... ashamed?

He decided to keep talking anyway. "So, then I accidentally dropped a paddle in the ocean. I figured I could get it... because I swam in the North Pole after all. But when I was underwater, I felt this weird sensation. Like an intense heat was calling to me, pulling at me. It was the egg, and I had to go back for it. It was like I didn't have a choice."

"I'm sure you had a choice, Zuko. Everyone has a choice."

It's never that simple. "That's how your Dad ended up saving me... the stuff with the polar bear skin." Zuko felt his face turn red as he imagined the chief stripping him of his clothes. Did he have to resuscitate, too? Would things be... awkward between them now?

"You know, it's not fair that he gets you alone and naked when I don't."

Katara's sultry tone combined with Zuko's current train of thought didn't compute. "Hey, that's just... don't..." His words were cut off with her very insistent kiss.

Their kiss was cut off by a very insistent "Ahem."

"Zuko, I need your help carrying all the fish to the festival grounds. Kanna wants to have a feast before she tells the Legend of Makenna," Hakoda said.

Father and daughter avoided eye contact. Zuko tried to suppress his hammering heart that had lurched into his throat. "Yessir."

Now, that was awkward.

If Zuko was going to say it, now was as good a time as any. "I'm sorry, sir. For what happened earlier."

Hakoda stopped mid-stride and shifted the weight of the two baskets of burnt fish he was carrying. "Sorry for what, Zuko? It's OK to kiss her, you know. I didn't mean to interrupt. There's just a lot of work to do, that's all."

Zuko could leave it at that, but he could tell by the way the chief was looking at him, they both knew he had something else to say. "No, I meant from earlier on the boat. For breaking your trust. I made a bad decision, and you were disappointed in me. I will do better next time."

At this, Hakoda set down his baskets, and Zuko did the same.

"I wasn't disappointed in you, Zuko. I was afraid of losing you. Do you understand the difference? I care about you because of who you are, not what you do."

Zuko nodded even though he didn't understand at all. Don't my actions determine who I am? Or is it... the other way around?

Chief Intuition was right on cue. "It's OK to be confused. You are young and still figuring out who you are. And you will make lots of bad decisions. So, it's important that you learn from your mistakes and try to do better next time, as you say. But don't do it for me. Do it for yourself. I gave you the mark of the trusted because I trust you, Zuko. But you need to learn to trust yourself."

"Yessir." I can't very well trust what I do not know.

"It's a lot to take in, Zuko. Trust is a hard thing to build back up when it's been broken."

Or hard to recognize when I don't see it often. "I don't want to break yours, sir."

"I know."

The chief was smiling at him now, and Zuko still didn't understand. These fatherly vibes—love, confidence, concern, trust—were always so foreign to him. Just like with his uncle, he had to travel very far to find them. And in order to receive them, he had to leave something behind.

"I'm sorry about yesterday, too." Zuko pressed a finger to his temple where scarred flesh barely registered the touch. "When I wasn't truthful about..."

Hakoda's smile quickly faded into a deep set frown. "Well, you weren't exactly forthcoming, but you didn't lie. I'm just sorry that you had to endure that kind of pain. Nothing you could have done would ever justify—"

"It was to teach respect."

"There is a difference between commanding respect and ruling through fear. The strategy may win a few decisive battles, but inflicts a war's worth of wounds."

Funny you would mention strategy and war. Did the chief already know how he got his scar?

"I saw another scar of yours today," Hakoda redirected. The one you got when you fought your sister."

Well, he knows about that one at least. "Yessir." Zuko eyed the baskets now, wishing the conversation would end.

"I meant it when I said that I would trust you with my life and the lives of my loved ones. You already proved yourself trustworthy when you took that lightening bolt for Katara. You earned your mark, Zuko."

"Thank you, sir." He wondered what would happen if he picked up the fish and started walking.

"You still don't seem convinced."

"I'm sorry. I hear what you're saying, I just don't know that I've done enough, yet."

"Zuko, I know you understand things in terms of trials and rituals. So, if there were such a thing as ice dodging in the Fire Nation, then this would be your mark of the trusted." Hakoda placed a hand on his own chest. "And that would be your mark of the brave." He pointed at the left side of the young Fire Lord's face.

I was anything but brave that day.

"Are there any other marks?" Zuko asked, genuinely curious albeit emotionally spent.

"Yes. The mark of the wise."

"Only three?"

"Yes. Because ice dodging is supposed to be done in groups of three. And you can only receive one of them when you do your part," Hakoda explained. "It's not about performance. It's about accountability. That's what honor means in the Water Tribe."

"What mark did you receive, Chief?"

"I didn't. My father never took me ice dodging." Ice blue eyes turned cold and fierce, and somehow Zuko knew. And this was something he understood, too.

As the day pressed on with preparations for the feast and Kanna's epic storytelling, Zuko did as he was told and helped where he could, but was largely preoccupied by his recent interactions with Hakoda. He was less intimated and more intrigued by his girlfriend's father now. The chief led his tribe by listening and serving. He taught his children by empowering and encouraging. Perhaps he was a little too trusting—of the Fire Lord dating his daughter or the Northerners' plans for reconstruction. Or maybe he understood the importance of international corporation. Or more simply put, people need people, no matter where they're from or who they are.

Hakoda really was like a wolf—protective on the home front, adaptable on the world scene, intuitive to others' needs, loyal to meet those needs...

Zuko thought he could be that kind of leader. The kind that builds people up instead of tearing them down. I wonder what my spirit animal is?

Little did he know, he was about to find out.

With the egg positioned next to her, the whole tribe surrounding her, and the firelight illuminating her weather-worn face, Kanna began the long-awaited saga.

"In recent weeks, the North and the South have come together to help restore and rebuild our tribe here in the South Pole. I have heard grumbling and bickering and accusations and suspicions, and it saddens me. These are supposed to be times of peace. We are supposed to to be sister tribes, working together, not tearing each other apart. I am even from the North, and what I am about to tell you is a treasured legend from the South. Am I worthy to tell it? You bet a striped-bellied tiger seal's whiskers I am."

She paused to allow for a few chuckles from the crowd before continuing in a firm voice. "We all come from the same place anyway, North and South, alike. Someday I will tell you the legend of the Lion Turtles, but tonight we speak the name of Smoke on the Water, the heroine of the 61-Day Siege, Makenna of the Southern Water Tribe."

Zuko heard a collective gasp and felt Katara huddle in closer to him. He knew this story did not cast a positive light on the Fire Nation—as if any story ever did—and he suddenly wished he was anywhere else but here.

"Makenna was a woman of rare beauty. She was also fiery and spirited, prone to outbursts, so no tribesman would seek to control her. She always felt different from her people. She felt misunderstood and alone. And it was true. She was different. It was rare for someone from the Water Tribe to have the spirit of the dragon, but Makenna did. A greater purpose burned within her, and one day, her story took flight. Because one day, Makenna met a dragon.

The Fire Nation army that attacked our tribe was ruthless and relentless. Rumor had it that Fire Lord Sozin led the faction himself. Our warriors were able to hold their own, but after more than a moon cycle's worth of fighting, our forces were growing threadbare and weak. Makenna felt drawn to the Fire Nation camp for some reason, a calling if you will, and since she often wandered alone anyway, no one missed her presence in the village.

This is when Makenna first met Sora, Fire Lord Sozin's dragon. It is hard to say whether or not Sora was her actual spirit animal, but since Makenna was the spirit of the dragon, the connection was there, nonetheless. Sora was heartbroken over the loss of her companion, Fang, Avatar Roku's dragon. She sought the reincarnation of the Avatar so as to reconnect with a past life and lost love. Sora revealed that Sozin also sought the Avatar but for destructive purposes. He would not leave the South Pole until all was destroyed as was his doing in the Air Nation.

Makenna then devised a plan to revive Sora's spirit, fulfill Sozin's mission, and save her people. With her exotic Water Tribe beauty and her powerful dragon spirit, she seduced Sozin, convincing him that the child they conceived together would be the next Avatar. She did this in full knowledge that she would have to leave the Water Tribe to go live in the Fire Nation, but her people would be safe. And she would get to be with Sora.

At the same time Makenna became a mother, so did the dragon. Their spiritual connection deepened. Now that she had laid her egg, though, Sora wished to join Fang in the spirit world. She entrusted the care of her offspring to Makenna, and in turn, Makenna entrusted the spirit of her child to Sora. By this point, Sozin was an embittered old man. He had lost his taste for war and only wanted the warmth of Makenna in his bed. While she had hoped to return home some day, her life was comfortable and easy in the Fire Nation. She figured Sozin would be dead by the time their child would show signs of being the Avatar... or not.

Fire Lord Sozin outlived them all. When it was confirmed that their son was not the Avatar, at the mere age of three, Sozin killed the boy. Wrought with grief, Makenna took Sora's egg and escaped for the Water Tribe. She almost made it home, but a thick fog on the water made for poor visibility. She crashed into an iceberg and went plunging into the sea. A fishing crew found her boat, a small Fire Nation vessel, just as the gray clouds lifted the next morning. Her body was never found, so this is why we call her Smoke on the Water. Her dragon spirit dwells in the early morning mist where she mourns the loss of her son."

Kanna closed her eyes and folded her hands in her lap. An occasional sigh or sniff could be heard. Zuko didn't know how everyone could remain so calm when his thoughts were racing like mad. What about my grandfather, Azulon? Is Makenna his mother, too? Do we... am I... Water Tribe?

Then there was the undeniable draw of the damn egg—he could feel it again.

Kanna's eyes shot open, and she was staring right at him. "The egg was never found, either," she said. "Until today."

"Wha-what? So, you're saying that this is… the dragon egg? S-s-sora's egg?" Zuko stammered.

"That is precisely what I'm saying," Kanna confirmed.

"But it can't be!"

"And why not? Chief Hakoda told me where you found it. Not far from where the glaciers jut out in the sea. The location is right. It sure looks like a dragon egg to me, granted I've never seen one before. But the fact that you found it, Fire Lord Zuko, should be confirmation enough. And if you need further proof, touch it again. Feel the heat. Feel the power. You know the story is true because it is in you, too."

"In me? What's in me?"

Zuko searched both Katara and Hakoda for some indication they knew what was going on but only received shrugs and blank stares. He looked hopelessly back at Kanna.

"Your spirit animal is not the polar bear, although I did find the story from today's fishing trip quite amusing."

Oh yeah, so what is my spirit animal then? Zuko did not expect the old woman to actually answer.

"Fire Lord Zuko, your spirit animal embodies strength and courage. You are powerful, but not power-seeking. Your purpose is not to control, but to create balance. You are fire, but you do not burn and destroy. Instead, you are fire that rekindles and restores. You are the spirit of reconciliation. You are the spirit of the dragon."