i have rewritten parts of the previous chapter, plz re-read that before reading this one. many many many thanks to Steamboat Ghost for all your help and advice on that chapter.

Chapter 9: A woman scorned

Katara watched as Momo dug in the sand for bugs, chirping happily every time he found one. At one point, he offered a grub to her, but she shook her head.

"You eat it Momo." The lemur shrugged and scoffed the grub.

"That thing eats far too much."

Katara jumped and turned, glaring at Zuko.

"Do you have to sneak up on me like that? Or does it give you a thrill of the old days of chasing us? Where's Aang?" She demanded.

Zuko pointed wordlessly to where the Avatar sat on his rock, obviously deep in thought.

"I told you, I'm not interested in chasing him anymore. He was my only hope of going home, but I know now that hope was a lie."

"You'd know all about lies, wouldn't you?" Katara yelled, then turned back to stare at the ocean. She heard Zuko take a deep breath, clearly trying to hold his temper.

"I never lied to you. It's just...I didn't think things through. That's always been a fault of mine."

"Oh, Prince Jerk has a fault! Will miracles never cease!"

"Would you stop that? I'm trying to apologise." Zuko said angrily. Katara suddenly stood and turned, blue eyes blazing with anger.

"Apologise? How dare you think that I am so weak-willed as to accept any apology that comes from a filthy, backstabbing, lying firebender! I thought you'd changed for the better! I told you about my mother!" Her voice cracked audibly, but she was determined not to cry this time."I bet you just made up what you said about your mother being lost too, I bet it was just another plot of yours to 'capture the Avatar'!" These last three words were said in the most mocking, masculine voice she could conjure. Only then did she see the look of fury and grief in Zuko's face.

"I know what I did was wrong, and I am truly sorry for making the wrong decision. I was confused, and I thought I had the chance to finally go home. But don't you dare suggest I would ever lie about my mother!" He hissed, stepping angrily towards her. "She was the only person who believed in me. I wouldn't lie about her."

Katara could tell that he was telling the truth, but was too furious to care.

"How can I believe anything you say." She said angrily.

"I'm a lot of things, but I am not a liar. I'm a terrible liar, just ask my uncle." He furiously raked his fingers through his messy black locks and released a blast of steam from his nose, clearly trying to calm down.

"You're disgusting." Katara snarled. "I can't believe I ever offered to help you! I don't even want to think about what would've happened to Aang...how could you?" She finished, shaking with fury.

Zuko closed his eyes and looked down, sighing heavily.

"You wouldn't understand." He said quietly. He absentmindedly raised an arm as Katara tried to hit him again, blocking her easily. Katara stepped back, a little frightened that he'd sensed her attack with his eyes closed.

"Why did you save me?" Katara asked suddenly. Zuko frowned slightly, trying to remember.

"I-I don't know. It seemed...right." He said quietly, finally turning his amber gaze on her ocean blue glare. "Would you have preferred to have dropped to your death?"

"Of course not, but...after everything you've put us through...do you just take immense pleasure in confusing me?" She cried, frustrated. He snorted.

"Not everything is about you. I'd just been electrocuted, and you'd just saved my life. I still have some honour left." He looked at her legs, to see her pants were singed. "You got burnt too."

"Yes. I did. But I healed myself."

Zuko nodded, then looked behind him to see Aang walking toward his uncle, who grinned and patted the boy companionably on the shoulder. He then turned back to look at her, then did something she never expected.

"Thank you." He said quietly.

Katara wasn't sure what he was thanking her for - his and his uncle's rescue, healing his burns - but Katara felt it was genuine. As Toph knew well, the waterbender could hold a good grudge. But Katara was not a girl who could hate for very long. She despised this quality at that moment. She would never forget, she more than likely would never forgive, but try as she might, she couldn't hate him forever. Before her, she could see the lost, numb boy who allowed her to touch his shame - his scar. Katara sighed angrily.

"I appreciate that you are trying to redeem yourself. But I can't accept it. Not now it's too soon. Maybe not ever."

"I understand." Zuko said quietly. "I am sorry for what I did." He turned and made his way to his uncle.

Katara didn't move for a long time, watching as the others started to prepare. They would be leaving once night fell. They would be rid of that angry jerk within hours, and their bellies would be full. However, the feeling that they would run into him again couldn't be shaken. Somehow, he'd always managed to turn up nearby. Not wanting to think about what that could mean, she shook her head and picked up the bursting Momo, cooing to him as she walked over to her brother.

Aang narrowed his eyes slightly as Zuko hovered beside his uncle, glad he wasn't near Katara anymore. The jealously that had raced through him confirmed if anything that, while he may have let her go in attempting to join with the Avatar Spirit, his feelings remained the same. That told him he hadn't done the job properly - she was still his earthly attachment. He was glad to see Katara so furious at the former Fire Prince, glad to see he hadn't attempted to join their group. He'd hurt Katara, which in Aang's book was a sin almost greater than killing. And he didn't want her to give Zuko another chance, like she had with Jet.

While he knew having Zuko on side as an ally in the end might be a huge advantage, he'd rather have his untrustworthy face as far from his family as possible - he would not let him hurt Katara again. Zuko would have to make serious changes if he ever intended on being trusted again. Aang smirked at the death glare Katara sent the youth. Zuko returned the gesture. Yep, there would have to be a mini miracle for them to trust Zuko again.

Toph sighed heavily as she realised that she was going to have to ride bareback - again.

"Can we please get a new saddle?" She begged.

"There might be one at the air temple." Aang said reassuringly.

Toph sensed Zuko standing nearby. She could feel his apprehension and fear.

"Scared of heights, Sparky?" She said, punching his arm companionably.

Zuko stared at the short earthbender beside him, stunned.

"Sparky?" He muttered vaguely, then shook his head. "No, heights don't bother me."

"At least you can see what coming." Toph said bitterly.

"That doesn't mean I have to like it." To his surprise, the girl laughed, punching him again.

"Shame you're leaving, we could've used an intelligent male. Not including your uncle, of course." She said quickly.

"Hurry up, Toph, I'm starving!" Sokka cried as he helped push Bosco onto Appa's back.

"Yes, Mother." She said sarcastically. "You coming, Sparky?"

"My name is Zuko." He said reproachfully.

"You know, I did hear what your sister calls you-"

"You call me that and I'll make you blinder."

Toph laughed again as she bended herself onto Appa.

"Hey Twinkletoes, can we keep him? He thinks he can make me blinder!"

"No, Toph." Sokka said angrily. He smirked at Zuko. "No more pets."

"Pets?" Zuko said angrily, and climbed Appa's back with remarkable speed. Appa groaned under the extra weight. Aang patted his head.

"You don't have to take us far, buddy, we just need to find a river and some food. Yip yip!"

Iroh grabbed Zuko and shoved him into Appa's back, halting his potential killing spree and saving him from falling off the bison as he leapt into the air. Gagging on the taste of bison fur, he looked around to see the girls and his uncle were closest to him. Katara refused to look in his direction, and Toph was burying her face in the thick white fur.

"See Zuko, your first trip on a flying bison conscious!" Iroh laughed. He clapped a hand on his nephew's back, terrifying the youth.

"It's as bad as you imagined." Toph groaned.

It took them longer than expected to find a river, but when they did, Appa headed straight for it, wanting to roll in the water. He obediently landed on the banks, where his passengers disembarked, then leapt into the river, rolling happily.

Momo spotted a bush covered in berries and shot forward, closely followed by Bosco and Sokka. Katara and Aang gave the three an exasperated look while Kuei chuckled. Toph shook her head. Katara grabbed the two younger benders and pulled them to a bush out of range of the gorgers.

"Hold out your hands Toph." She said, plucking the berries while Aang grabbed a handful and shoved them in his mouth.

"I can pick berries, you know." She said irritably.

"I know, but I don't want you to pick one that's not ripe, you'll be sick all day."

Toph was silent, then held out her hands with a sigh. Katara loaded her hands and glanced at the former Earth King, who was looking at the bushes curiously.

"I didn't realise that food just...grew like this. In the wild. Dirty."

"It's alright, Kuei, I promise. Just eat the red ones." Katara said, scoffing some herself.

Kuei cautiously picked a juicy berry, studying it suspiciously, then ate it. His eyes shot open and he started to eat with an enthusiasm that would rival Sokka.

Katara laughed, then realised the two firebenders were not among them. Turning, she saw Iroh and Zuko still standing by the river. To her shock, Appa licked the prince as she watched. She grabbed Aang and pointed this out as Iroh's laughter filled the clearing.

"I'm glad you find this so humourous." Zuko said sourly, holding his saliva dripping arms away from his body. As the water and airbender watched, the youth moved forward into the river fearlessly and started to wipe the drool onto Appa's fur.

"Did Appa...is he...are they...Katara?" Aang managed weakly.

Appa, who thought the boy who'd freed him was going to scratch his belly, rolled over, sending a wave crashing over the ex-prince, effectively washing the drool off but leaving him wetter than before.

Zuko glared briefly at his uncle, who'd fallen to the ground in laughter, then shook his head.

"Dumb animal." He growled, then patted the bison's belly briefly before leaving the river, shaking his head to get the water from his hair.

Appa groaned in disappointment, and rolled back onto his belly.

"Aang...do you get the feeling we missed something?" Katara managed.

The Avatar nodded as Zuko stood before his chuckling uncle.

"I'm going now, Uncle." His voice carried across the clearing, enticing a whoop from Sokka. Iroh's laughs died, and he pulled himself to his feet. "I've been thinking a lot while we were flying." He shuddered briefly, then continued. "I can't stay in one place too long. I'm too recognisable. So, I'm going to do something else."

Iroh looked at his nephew, then smiled a little.

"You're going to look for her?"

Zuko nodded and continued in a voice only Iroh could hear.

"The Earth Kingdom is huge. If mother is hiding anywhere, it will be here. If I can find her...maybe I can understand why she left. If you achieve...if you win, I will find a way to contact you."

Iroh moved faster than he looked, sweeping his nephew into a Platypus Bear hug. After a moment, Zuko returned the hug, trying hard to hide that he wanted to squeeze the old man just as hard.

"I wish you luck, Zuko." Iroh said, releasing the young man. "Her presence has been missed deeply. And I know you will find her. Look how often we found the Avatar, and he was constantly moving!" He laughed.

Zuko treated Iroh to a rare smile.

"Thank you Uncle. I hope to see you again soon." And without a word or backwards glance, Zuko left, heading northwest.

Iroh watched him until he was out of sight, feeling his heart breaking. This time, he couldn't follow his nephew and make sure he was safe. His life was taking him down a different path now.

"Sir?"

Iroh turned to see Aang standing beside him, smiling.

"He'll be alright. If there's anything we know about Zuko, it's that he can look after himself."

Iroh smiled and looked back in the direction had nephew had left.

"Yes, he can."

"We should head off soon." Sokka said soon after Zuko's departure. Night had long since fallen. "We have way too much to do and not much time to do it in."

"No pressure." Aang muttered. Toph snickered.

Don't worry Twinkletoes, I'm sure you'll be able to master firebending by the end of summer."

Aang scowled at the earthbender, then remembered she was blind.

"You're not helping." He said irritably.

"Look, let's not argue." Katara said soothingly. "Let's just catch some fish, get some water and a bit of sleep, then head off." She glanced at Aang's bright clothes. They were ragged and scorched. "We need to get you some new clothes. Maybe there's a village nearby."

"We don't have any money." Sokka pointed out. Katara hesitated, and Sokka narrowed his eyes. "Katara..."

"We don't have a choice! We have no money, and Aang needs some new clothes, ones which don't stand out so much. You and I can at least pretend we're travelers." She turned her eye to the airbender, who was looking downcast. "I'm sorry."

"It's ok, Katara." Aang said, and grinned. "I was starting to grow out of these anyway."

"Right, so I'll go and borrow some clothes for Aang-"

"Remember what happened last time you 'borrowed' something?" Sokka said irritably.

"Toph, why don't you come with me." She said, ignoring her brother. "Then we'll know if we're being followed."

"Actually, I'd rather stay here." Toph said, looking a little embarrassed."I wanted to talk to Iroh, make sure he's alright."

Katara nearly fell over in shock. Toph? Thinking of someone else's feelings?

"Oooook." She said slowly. "Kuei, why don't you join me? No one will recognise you."

"I'm afraid I can't. Those berries have not agreed with me." He clutched his stomach with a groan and vanished into the bushes.

Katara sighed and rubbed her forehead irritably.

"Fine, I'll go alone." She grumbled, thinking her brother would be too lazy for the trip.

"No, I'll come." Sokka said standing.

Katara smiled appreciatively.

"Thank you." she then turned to Aang and cast a gaze over him quickly, mentally measuring him, then nodded. "Right, hopefully we won't be too long."

"Be safe." Iroh said, smiling gently.

"Thank you." Katara said as she and her brother wandered off upstream.

Author's note: hey all! happy mothers day! thank you all for your patience. my life is so hectic at the moment, and im posting this today coz im not going to have time tomorrow. im still not completely happy with this chapter, but I think it will do for now. itll probably be another two weeks until the next chapter, so until then, i hope this will satisfy :D thank you all for R&Rs