Chapter 10: In sickness…

'Zuko? Are you all right?' I watched him trembling all over his body and didn't miss the unhealthy looking, pale skin.

He nodded and turned his back to me, so I would no longer ask every five minutes how he was feeling. Still I crept closer and laid the back of my hand on his forehead. It didn't last very long: he was so hot that I had to withdraw.

I opened my mouth to say something, like I would look for some clean water for him, but I thought of the silence or the argument which would follow and just stood up quietly. Fortunately the sand underneath my feet didn't make any sound and Zuko didn't notice me walking away.

I knew he was very vulnerable on the beach, but after our boat trip last day we had walked all night and still hadn't find a better shelter. I kept repeating to myself this was an abandoned place and I would be back before he or anyone else would find out, but still I hurried and ran as fast as I could.

To distract myself from the pain in my thigh, I pondered on my own explanation about the sudden change in our course again. Zuko suddenly wanted to search for a pond in the Northern Water Tribe, but didn't want to explain why or where exactly. Still, I had a strong feeling he meant the pond where Yue had er… turned into the moon. I had made up the explanation that he almost dreamed the same as me in the forest; his mother could have told Zuko to leave Aang alone and to go to the pond as some sort of relaxation technique. Only his mom would be able to get him doing that.

My distraction didn't last very long, so I was very happy to see the reflection of the rising sun in a small river in the distance. I was completely exhausted, but laughed out loud and even began running faster, my target finally within sight.

In the back of my mind I saw Zuko sweating and trembling in the dunes, visible for every passer-by. He wouldn't give a sign of gratitude if I handed him the fresh water, let go finally explaining everything, but I knew he would be thankful deep, deep inside. Imagining a smiling Zuko almost made me hop to the river. I had just reached it when I stopped all at once.

They were all three there, riding ostrich horses. In reflex I immediately lay down and hoped they hadn't already seen me. I knew I would even stand no chance against the three of them with Zuko by my side, let go alone.

Ty Lee shared an ostrich horse with Mai and had to cling to her if she didn't want to fall off. Azula however had the biggest ostrich horse all to herself. I was already watching them for a while when I found out they were walking towards… me. Of course.

In complete panic, I jumped into the river and was happy to see there was already a little turn in the riversides because of the streaming water. I bended the water faster and pushed it against the mud so that a part of the riverside was pulled away and left behind a hole. I pushed myself as far as I could against the mud so I wasn't visible anymore. I had become a part of the riverside. Fear really did make you creative.

The water surface was just above my nose, so I could still hear and breathe without any help of waterbending. I heard the ostrich horses coming and the trio got off. They were arguing about something I couldn't quite follow.

'You said he would be here.' Definitely Azula's voice.

'Yes, the fisherman told me so.'

'Then where is he?'

'I… don't know.'

'Calm down, Azula, we'll find him. I'm sure he's somewhere around here.' That bored voice must have been Mai's.

'Where else than here can he be? He needs water, and walking on the beach would make him vulnerable, so he should be right here if your source is telling the truth. I truly hope for the both of you we'll find him before the end of the day, or…'

'But me and Mai have to share one ostrich horse! He can't hold the both of us all day long! He will slow us down!'

'That's your own fault. You sold your ostrich horse to the fisherman.'

'Yes! In exchange for information about Zuko!'

'That doesn't change the situation. You could have also just threatened him. Fear is the only reliable way in a lot of…'

Without thinking, I had opened my mouth in astonishment to hear Zuko's name. Subconsciously I had already known they were talking about him, but it hadn't been the worst of my worries for that moment. A lot of muddy water found the way into my mouth and I coughed it all out at once, fortunately exactly during Azula's speech.

'Shh, I think I hear something.'

A long silence fell in which I hardly dare to breath.

'Are you trying to distract me? I can't hear a thing. We're just wasting our time here. Let the ostrich horses drink and then we're gone.'

'Where will we search now?' Mai asked.

'The beach will be our last chance, I guess, but it doesn't sound anything for Zuko. He always searches a good shelter. Ty Lee, can I please ask you what you're doing?'

'Just using this opportunity to get rid of all the sweat since I've been so close to Mai all night.'

'Didn't I just say…'

'It won't take long, I promise.'

Before I knew what was going on, there was a loud splash and the water pushed me against the mud once again. I took advantage of the time Ty Lee was underwater to breath one last time and then to push myself to the bottom. I swam away with the waste water Ty Lee had caused by diving. This also meant I couldn't see a thing and cut my arm by bumping against a very sharp stone. Out of pain I let go my last breath. I had to go up again.

I was happy to see I had already left the three of them far behind me, but still swam a little further before I dare to come out of the water. As I lay my hand on the riverside, I felt something cold and slippery underneath it. It turned out to be a frozen wood frog. I remembered the time me and Sokka were ill and had to suck the frog to get better. I took it with me and ran straight to where I had come from.

Even if I thought I had run the fastest I could in searching for water, it didn't took me so long to get back to Zuko. In contrast to then, now I was very happy I had left him on the beach. I was surprised how good Azula could predict the next step of her brother, even if she had totally different techniques herself. But this time she had been wrong: we did stay on the beach. Just a bit unlucky that was her second choice and she was heading towards it at the moment.

'Zuko! Wake up! You're never going to believe this!' I got no response. 'Zuko?'

You could hear his raspy breathing from far. It didn't sound very good. I lay my hand on his forehead again and my skin immediately burned. 'Ouch! How can you even still be alive at this heat?'

'I'm a firebender.' Zuko answered softly without opening his eyes.

I smiled. He spoke. 'Really? Then you'll be pleased to hear another one of your kind is coming to see you.'

Zuko turned his head towards me and slowly opened his eyes. 'What do you mean?'

' I just got to see your beloved sister. Don't worry, she didn't see me, but she is coming over here at the moment in her search for you.'

He narrowed his eyes and I could see a deep wrinkle appear on his forehead. 'Then we actually should worry. Just crazy how she always finds me.'

'She was now going to search the beach, so I think she will be here in about an hour, but maybe we should already start thinking of a way to get you moving on. And please don't say you're just fine, you can bake an egg on you. I could try to heal you, but you should first cool down a bit. In the meantime you should suck this frog.' I gave Zuko the frog and was surprised to have no resistance. He must have really felt bad. I pulled the remaining water out of my clothes and made it rest on his face.

'It isn't worth the effort, my dear. We followed you here.'

I looked up in terror and saw Azula next to her ostrich horse, wide grinning.

'Well, well, brother, I see you're hanging around with peasants now?' For a moment she looked at me, to make sure I got what she meant. 'Father will be pleased to hear that.'

'She's my prisoner.' Zuko said calmly with the frog still in his mouth.

'A prisoner running back to her guard? Sounds like you're treating her very well. But you know what? I'll let you go then. The enemy of my enemy is my friend, of course.' She actually smiled at that: a small, polite looking smile at the face I never thought I would ever get to see that.

'Azula…' Ty Lee began, but she immediately quit as Azula hold up her hand. She pushed me aside and faced Zuko. 'Father asked for you.'

That was it. Just like that, I was officially free. And according to Azula, Zuko would have to postpone his meditation trip to the Northern Water Tribe to see his father first.

I didn't know whether I should leave or stay and looked desperately at Zuko. When his eyes crossed mine, he slowly nodded and then looked away. He wanted me to go. My heart kind of broke, but I decided to do listen. I didn't want to see the Firelord as well. Hadn't it been Zuko's own mom who had told me to leave those I cherish behind if I wanted to save them?

Zuko's trip to the pond was none of my business anyway. Maybe it was time for me to join Aang again; I was more needed there, even if I didn't want to.

I started walking away and decided to look behind me one more time. Zuko still had the frog in his mouth, although it had already thawed out long before and now struggled to get free. I smiled. Unfortunately his golden eyes didn't get to meet mine one last time.