Chapter 13: Learning To Live In The Wild

A few more days passed and Zuko's hair began to grow back, just like my confidence, as our food supplies grew out. My nightmares had started to become less and less frequent, and I began to sleep better. Our problems had not disappeared, though, specially when it came to food. Soon enough we realized we'd have to hunt or steal to eat, though Iroh and I resisted the last option. We had stolen Earth Kingdom uniforms and we were walking down the woods, where there seemed to be an endless supply of rabbits and small animals I could hunt… if I knew how to.

For the first time I realized how handy and helpful was the advice the crew had given me when I was back on Zuko's ship. They had taught me all about hunting, using the stars for geographical location and all sort of useful tips, but that was all theory. When it came to applying that theory to practice, it was a little more difficult. I had some hunting experience, but at the South Pole, where the footprints on the snow led you to almost anything. Here, on the woods, it was different. I tried to hunt rabbits, but they sneaked out too quickly and I kept failing.

Then I remembered that setting traps was a better way of catching them and I prepared my first trap, but after three hours no rabbit had fallen on it.

I returned from my first hunting trip empty handed, to find Iroh crouching down, and staring at a pretty red and white flower.

Before I could ask him what he was doing, though, Zuko appeared from behind a bush.

'I didn't find anything to eat' he announced, frustrated. 'I can't live like this. I wasn't meant to be a fugitive. It's impossible!' he yelled out in anger.

I was about to suggest fishing, at which I was good after all, when Iroh's deep sniff made us both look at him.

'Uncle, what are you doing?' Zuko asked, his voice dangerously soft.

'You're looking at the rare white dragon bush' Iroh replied. 'Its leaves make a tea so delicious it's heartbreaking! That, or it's the white jade bush, which is poisonous'

I snorted loudly, as Zuko retorted 'We need food, not tea. I'm going fishing', and he disappeared again.

Iroh stood there, staring at the flower, contemplating and stroking his chin. 'Delectable tea… or deadly poison…'

I scratched myself behind my ear, trying to hold back an outburst of rage, and I decided to go picking up some leaves. Maybe if I prepared him a good tea, he'd drop his sudden love for that ridiculous plant.

A while later, after giving up when I found nothing good enough for tea, I decided to go find Zuko. I ran across him near the clearing where we had left Iroh.

'So, did you fish anything?'

He lowered his spear for all response. The fish was so tiny, and Zuko's face so sullen, that I almost burst out laughing. I only refrained because the Prince's pride was something not to be played upon.

'Well' I said, holding back a giggle. 'Maybe from tomorrow on I'll go fishing instead'

Zuko glared at me. 'What? You think you can do better?'

'Well, I'm a waterbender, so… I'm used to fishing' I replied, trying to be gentle, but he glared at me again and continued his way. I followed him, still trying to hold my giggles. I bumped into him when he froze at entering the clearing.

'Zuko, remember that plant that I thought might be tea?' Iroh's voice said ahead.

'You didn't!' Zuko replied, horrified. I stepped from behind him to stare at Iroh, sitting on the ground.

'I did. And it wasn't'. Then he turned around and we saw his face was horribly swollen and red.

'Aagghh!' Zuko and I drew back in repulsion.

'When the rash spreads to my throat I will stop breathing' Iroh explained calmly as he scratched his face. 'But look what I found!' he said excitedly, shaking a bunch of red berries in front of our faces. 'These are bacui berries, known to cure the poison of the white jade plant. That, or macahoni berries, that cause blindness'

'We're not taking any more chances with these plants!' Zuko decided. 'We need to get help'

'But where are we going to go?' Iroh asked dejectedly.

'We're enemies of the Earth Kingdom, and fugitives of the Fire Nation' I reminded them.

Zuko looked away, thoughtfully. 'If the Earth Kingdom discovers us, they'll have us killed'

'But if the Fire Nation discovers us, we'll be turned over to Azula' I replied.

We exchanged glances and nodded shortly.

'Earth Kingdom it is' Zuko finished, and we walked off in a general southern direction.

'You must not be from around here'

The girl from the hospital was applying some substance to Iroh's skin, as Zuko and I watched from behind. Iroh tried to scratch himself several times, but the girl always slapped his hand when he did.

'We know better than to touch the white jade, much less make it into tea and drink it' she added.

Iroh laughed sheepishly. 'Oops!'

'So where are you traveling from?' the girl asked curiously.

'Yes, we're travelers' Zuko quickly answered. I eyed him. He seemed nervous, but I was not worried. As long as we didn't slip that we were Fire Nation, we'd be fine. The girl seemed gentle and kind, and was asking because she was merely trying to create conversation.

She giggled at Zuko's nervousness. 'And do you have names?'

'Names? Of course we have names. I'm… Lee' Zuko answered quickly again. 'And this is my uncle, umm… Mushi'

Iroh leaned from behind the girl and shot Zuko an unhappy look at the ridiculous name Zuko had made up for him. I smiled, trying to contain a giggle.

'Yes, my nephew was named after his father, so we just call him Junior' Iroh got back on Zuko, who clenched his fists in rage.

'And I am Kaya, Mushi's daughter' I completed.

'Mushi, Kaya and Junior, huh?' the girl commented. 'My name is Song. You look like you could use a good meal. Why don't you stay for dinner?' she kindly offered, swatting Iroh's hand away from scratching his rash.

'Sorry, but we need to be moving on' Zuko replied harshly.

'That's too bad' Song said, pouting. 'My mom always makes too much roast duck'

Iroh peeked his puffy face from behind her. 'Where do you live exactly?'

That evening we had dinner at Song's house. She lived alone with her mother, who was a tall kind woman, just like her.

'My daughter tells me you're refugees. We were once refugees ourselves' she said, bringing the roast duck to the table.

'When I was a little girl, the Fire Nation raided out farming village. All the men were taken away' Song explained. Then she looked down sadly. 'That was the last time I saw my father'

I looked at her with sympathy. I understood her situation perfectly. I had lived with Katara and Sokka for six years and the story of Kya's murder was widely known. Besides, Hakoda himself had gone to battle, leaving his two children with his mother.

'I haven't seen my father in many years' Zuko said, looking down. I elbowed him on the ribs. What was he thinking, making dangerous comments like that?

But Song didn't suspect anything. 'Oh, is he fighting in the war?' she asked innocently.

Iroh slurped down his noodles and eyed Zuko, unsure of how he'd answer that dangerous question, and I imitated him. Zuko put his bowl on the table.

'Yeah' he muttered. He seemed upset for some reason, but luckily that made his lie more believable. Song was staring at him, her eyes filled with compassion.

'What about you, Kaya?' Song's mother asked. 'What happened to your mother?'

I thought for a minute. 'Well, she was a bender, so she was kidnapped when they invaded our village'

'Really? How terrible it must have been!'

I looked down, acting overwhelmed with grief. 'I was little then. But many years have passed, and Father and I are trying to find a new home'

'Yes, exactly' Iroh agreed with me. 'I see you have grown a beautiful and skilled young lady' he praised Song, expertly deflecting the subject from the dangerous field it had reached.

After dinner, I helped Song's mother to wash the dishes, and then she engaged in quiet talk with Iroh. I approached the door, and overheard Song talking to someone, obviously Zuko, and I stopped before going outside.

'I know what you've been through. We've all been through it. The Fire Nation has hurt you'

There was a minute or so of silence.

'It's okay' Song said gently. 'They've hurt me, too'

Then there was another minute of silence, and I couldn't help myself. I opened the door loudly, and approached Zuko and Song. Zuko looked somewhat upset, and Song blushed a little. I wondered what had happened between them. But I couldn't just ask, it wouldn't be proper. So I decided to continue my performance as a poor motherless girl.

I casually leaned over the pillar on the porch and sighed, watching the stars and the beautiful moon up above, and I internally raised a prayer to the Moon Spirit, asking for help and guidance.

'Junior, we should get going. At this pace we'll never reach Ba Sing Se' I said.

Song got to her feet. 'I'll tell my mother to release Mushi. He should be ok by now' and she vanished behind the door.

I approached Zuko, curious, and a little flustered in spite of myself. 'What did she tell you?'

'It's none of your business' the prince replied coldly.

I raised an eyebrow, but then Iroh came out of the house, closely followed by the two women, and we stopped at their courtyard to say goodbye.

'Thank you for the duck. It was excellent' Iroh bowed to Song and her mother, and I imitated him.

'You're welcome' Song's mother replied, handing him a package of leftover roast duck. 'It brings me joy to see someone eat my cooking with such… gusto'

'Much practice' Iroh said patting his large stomach. Then he turned to Zuko, who was almost out the courtyard. 'Junior, where are your manners? You need to thank this nice people'

Zuko turned around and bowed shortly, without much feeling. 'Thank you'

Song stepped closer to him. 'I know you don't think there's any hope left in the world, but there is hope. The Avatar has returned!'

I chuckled to myself, because that was something that would depress Zuko rather than cheer him up. Song was clearly too innocent to see that.

'I know' he replied softly, giving the girl his back.

The women walked inside as we left the house. But we had barely passed the courtyard when Zuko stopped. We turned around to see he was releasing the ostrich that was tied up in the stable.

'What are you doing?' Iroh said, as appalled as me. 'These people just showed you great kindness!'

'They're about to show us a little more kindness' Zuko replied harshly, and after climbing on the ostrich he reached out his hand to Iroh.

'No way! I'm not letting you do this!' I rebelled. 'They are two women living on their own, and you're going to steal their only means of transport?' I hissed, outraged.

Zuko glared at me. 'Are you coming, or are you staying here?'

I hesitated for a moment. 'Fine, but I swear I'll make you come down here and pay them for the animal we've just stolen someday' I added angrily.

As we rode the ostrich away, he sighed. 'You're too naive, Kira'

I didn't smack him on the head only because Iroh was sitting between us.

We kept on travelling through the woods for a few days. The supplies that Song and her mother gave us lasted only one day, and after two more days of eating only fish Zuko was going insane. So it fell on my shoulders the task of getting us something to eat. Iroh wasn't agile enough, and Zuko lacked the necessary patience and he scared all the animals away. I, on the other hand, managed to learn stealth and swiftness, and it wasn't too long before I caught my first rabbit. On time I became more skilled at hunting, after lots of practice, setting traps and hunting with spears. It felt a little primitive, but we had no choice.

I left early each morning to hunt, and get water, and Zuko and Iroh picked up all our stuff and waited for me at noon with a nice fire. Then we cooked what I hunted and we walked in the afternoon, going to sleep at almost midnight. Fortunately I was so tired at night that I barely dreamed at all, and my main concern quickly switched from the crisis I'd had after leaving the North Pole to food and how to feed all three of us.

But soon enough we realized that my hunting skills weren't enough to keep us provided with everything we needed. We'd need money to buy some more necessary food, such as rice, chicken and specially tea. After the episode of the white jade, Zuko and I took turns to watch over Iroh, because he missed tea so much that he wanted to make tea out of almost every plant he saw.

So we had been forced to beg for money, what annoyed Zuko more than he cared to show. One hot day we were sitting on the main street of a village, and Iroh was doing the begging.

'Spare coins for weary travelers' he told a pedestrian passing by. The man threw a few more copper coins into Iroh's hat.

'This is humiliating!' Zuko burst out. 'We're royalty. These people should be giving us whatever we want.' I raised my eyebrow at him. I hated having to beg as well, but his words sounded a little cocky.

'They will – if you ask nicely' Iroh retorted.

Then he addressed a young woman passing by. 'Spare change for a hungry old man' he pleaded, pouting and making a sad face.

'Aww' the woman said, falling for the catch and throwing a coin into his hat. 'Here you go'

'The coin is appreciated, but not as much as your smile' Iroh said, earning an adoring look and a giggle from the young lady before she walked away.

Zuko slapped his forehead in frustration beneath his hat. I sighed. Zuko was right. This was ridiculous. There had to be another way of earning money.

Then a tall man stepped in front of us, and he gave us a wicked smile that made me shiver. It reminded me of Zhao.

'How about some entertainment in exchange for… a gold piece' he said. I didn't like the sound of that.

'We're not performers' Zuko said in a low voice that could have been a growl.

Nevertheless, Iroh stood up. 'Not professional, anyway' he said, and then he began to sing in an exaggerated manner, clapping his hands. I looked down, deeply ashamed and wishing I could bury my head in the ground.

'Come on!' the man interrupted, and then he drew a broadsword from his back, quite similar to Zuko's katanas. 'We're talking a gold piece here!' and then he unsheathed another broadsword. 'Let's see some action!'

I glared at him, enraged, but from the heat that I began to feel at my right side, I wasn't as mad as Zuko was.

The man then pointed a sword to Iroh. 'Dance!' he ordered. And then he began to swing his sword at Iroh's legs, and the old man began to hop up and down to avoid getting hurt as he continued to sing. It was pathetic, and also enraging.

I couldn't take it anymore. I got to my feet.

'Hey!' I yelled at the man. He stopped and stared at me with surprise, and so did Iroh. 'We might be beggars but we haven't lost our dignity yet. We don't need your charity' I hissed.

'Oh, really?' he said, raising one eyebrow. 'I'd like to see you dancing' he said, and then his eyes ran down over my entire body with lust.

Outraged, I couldn't stop myself. I pushed him roughly on his shoulders.

'Get away, you disgusting pig!'

'Hey!' he complained as he stumbled back several steps. But then his face contorted with rage. 'I'm gonna show you how to respect a man' and he strolled towards me.

I felt Zuko jump to his feet at my side, and I put an arm across his chest, staring coldly at the brutish looking man coming to me. 'I'll take care of this, I've got an idea' I whispered to Zuko.

'Tell you what' I proposed the man before he reached me, 'let's place a bet'

He stopped and eyed me suspiciously. 'What kind of bet?'

'A duel. At dusk. Today, outside the village'

He considered it for a second.

'If I win, you'll give us 50 gold pieces, or all the money you have' I added.

'And if I win?' he asked.

I gave him a smug smile. 'I feel merciful today, so I'll let you choose your prize'

His eyes went over all my body again, and I felt my insides revolting, but I managed to maintain a steady face. It was essential that he should agree.

'If I win, you'll have to spend one day with me, doing anything I say' he proposed, licking his lips.

I felt like throwing up, but managed to hide my disgust. 'You're on.'

'What? Have you lost your mind?' Zuko blurted out beside me. I shot him an angry look. I was a big girl, I could take care of myself.

'Normally I don't battle girls, but the prize is good this time' the man sneered. 'See you at dusk, babydoll' and then he walked away.

'Ugh! That's so disgusting I think I choked up with my own vomit!' I burst out, turning to Zuko and Iroh.

They were both glaring at me, clearly displeased about what I had just done.

'What? It's a piece of cake! I just got us 50 gold coins!' I reacted, not seeing any reason to be concerned.

'Are you sure you can beat this guy?' Zuko asked.

'Please!' I rolled my eyes, confident. 'He doesn't even know I'm a bender. I'll take him down easily. And if things get out of control, I can always count with the Blue Spirit to save me, right?' I said, winking at Zuko.

He considered it for a second, biting his lower lip. 'If you're sure of what you're doing…'

I stepped closer to him, and as I placed my hands on his warm chest, I stared into his golden eyes. 'I am sure. I'll be ok' I assured him. I could see in his eyes that he didn't like the idea, but he knew the extent of my skills. He nodded shortly before turning his back on me.

At dusk, I walked outside the village, Iroh walking at my side. Zuko was hiding, dressed up as the Blue Spirit, to keep watch just in case.

'Remember, you must study your enemy. Find his weak points and you'll defeat him, but don't let him see your weak points' Iroh said.

'Iroh, I'll be fine!' I snapped, beginning to get tired of their concern.

We found Broadsword Man on a clearing a few minutes away from the village. He was wearing a leather shirt and protectors over his hands, arms and legs.

'No weapons?' he sneered as he saw us arrive. I gave him a half smile as I forged a couple of ice daggers with the water from my waterbag. His face went white.

'You didn't mention you're a bender!'

'What, you'll chicken out now?' I teased.

'The bet is called off!' he said, and turned to leave.

'Wait!' I yelled, and then I bit my lower lip, nervous. I was good enough with my daggers. If he let me keep them, I'd still beat him. I didn't think I'd need my bending. But it would be more dangerous.

Broadsword Man turned around and looked at me, a cruel smile on his face.

'I will only duel you if you refrain from bending' he proposed.

'Done' I growled back. 'But I will need to use these daggers'

He nodded.

'One more thing,' I warned him. 'I want to see the money'

He glared at me, turned around and walked to the trees behind him. He disappeared for a moment and then he came out with a small chest. He shook it in the air and we heard the clanking of the coins. He then deposited it at his side.

'No' I said. 'I want to open it and check it. My Uncle will keep the chest during the duel'

'No way!' he rebelled.

'Then the bet is called off' I said softly, as I turned around.

'Okay, okay!' he yelled behind me, and then he walked to Iroh and handed him the little chest. I didn't move.

'Uncle, open it and check it's all right' I instructed, not diverting my eyes from Broadsword Man, whose lustful eyes were fixed on me as well.

'It's all here' Iroh said a few minutes later. Then he put the chest on the ground, halfway from Broadsword Man and me, and then he walked towards me.

He placed a hand on my shoulder and I turned to look at him. His face looked quite white. 'Are you sure?'

'Yes' I whispered at him. 'But keep Zuko close, just in case'

Then Broadsword Man and I took positions. He stared at me smugly.

'Rules?'

'First one to knock the other one down three times wins' I replied.

'Fair enough' he commented, and with no further introduction he charged at me.

I readied myself to take his attacks, and we engaged in combat. I managed to stop each and every one of his blows. He was almost as good as Zuko, but I was quick too. My agility was the key.

He tried to land a quick blow on my ribs over my left side, but I stopped his blade with my dagger. At the same time, he closed the other one on my right, but I also stopped him. Then I spun around and unblocked the daggers, pushing him backwards with the weight of my body.

He stumbled back, and his face contorted with rage. He charged up again, and this time I crouched down and stretched out my leg, sending him down to the ground.

I turned around to face him as he got to his feet. 'One' I said, waiting for him. He charged back again with a howl of rage, and swinging the blades around. I leaned forward, shifting my weight to my right leg, and calculated the precise moment when his hands were turning. I landed a sharp blow on his right wrist and he dropped one sword, and then I began attacking quickly, forcing him back and not giving him time to check his hand or to pick up his sword.

But then he faked a move and attacked on my temporarily unprotected right side. I quickly jumped back, but he pushed me and I stumbled backwards, as he retrieved his sword from the ground.

You almost fell down, Kira, I admonished myself. Remember Iroh's words: find his weak point.

As he charged again I simply began to block his blows, trying to study his maneuvering of the swords. But he began to move quicker and suddenly my dagger was trapped between his blades and it cracked, splitting in two.

I widened my eyes and he used that second of distraction to push me backwards as his foot lunged forward to kick my leg. I fell skidding on my back on the ground.

'Kira!' Iroh said, concerned, but he did not intervene. I heard some branches move nearby and I understood the Blue Spirit was uneasy too.

'You're almost mine' Broadsword Man whispered, in a low voice so only I could hear him. The lust pouring from his eyes made me want to be sick.

I jumped to my feet. I had only one dagger now, and we were even, both having fallen to the ground once. It would be more difficult this time. I knew Iroh's advice was the only thing that could save me now.

I took a deep breath and prepared myself for Broadsword Man's attack. I stopped all his blows, but I felt the ice in my hand shaking after each blow, and I realized I didn't have much more time. Then I noticed something: When he spun to the right, the muscles on his left leg became much tenser than when he spun the other way around, and also tenser than his right leg. I allowed myself a tiny smile. Gotcha.

I waited until we were face to face, dancing in a never-ending exchange of blows, and then I stretched out my right leg and kneeled him on his left thigh.

He flinched and drew back, leaning his weight on his right leg. Then I landed a blow on that leg and he stumbled back, but I gave him no time. I rammed into him and pushed him on his shoulders, and he was sent skidding back on the ground.

'Two' I said, panting slightly.

He jumped to his feet and charged towards me, more furious than ever. I saw it coming, and waited until he was almost on me to jump aside and reach out my leg. He obviously fell down again.

'Three' I said. 'I win'

He jumped to his feet, his face contorted with rage. 'No! That's not fair! You tricked me!' and he strolled towards me, pointing one sword at me.

'I didn't. I didn't even bend. I fought you with nothing but an ice dagger and I knocked you down three times. I won fair and square' I said calmly, and then I gave him my back to look at Iroh. 'Uncle, take the money'

I heard Broadsword Man's steps quickly approaching, and I drew some water from my waterbag, and as I spun around I splashed it at him. Then I turned him into a block of ice, and I pinned him to a tree.

'Good luck getting out of there' I said, waving my hand and smiling with intense satisfaction, and then Iroh and I walked towards the village.

At about half the way, Zuko joined us, wearing his Earth Kingdom clothes.

'You did it!' he said, impressed.

'Was there any doubt?' I asked smugly.

'I didn't think you'd make it' he confessed.

'Thanks, Zuko' I snapped back sarcastically. 'Your confidence in me is really motivating'

A/N: Okay, so I hope this meets your expectations. R&R!