Yes, I know of my OOCness, but like you said, I don't care

Yes, I know of my OOCness, but like you said, I don't care. Sorry if it makes me sound cruel, but it's true. I at least hope you like it to make up for that fact. :P Cut the chat, I'm going to get this chapter over with. Do enjoy.

ZPOV (Katara is in that room)

I had covered a good deal of ground, and now I could follow an easier trail from when her capturer got tired of hiding his track. His footprints and little point markers (a fruit skin, or a missing cord from her bonds) helped me along the pathless trail. I stepped speedily over tree roots and streams, trying to hurry my pace up. Whatever was happening to Katara, I wouldn't be able to guess, but so far from all the left-overs I've found, I'd say he wasn't totally ruthless.

That meant she was at least mildly okay.

But in the hands of some one untrustworthy enough to take her, I wouldn't be counting my blessings yet. The sun gotten well over in the sky, showing me that my slow pace was costing me time. Costing her time. The mountains I could see off to the right of the thick forest held the sun close, threatening to completely incarcerate it, I broke into a run. I could nimbly skip over the rocks and bumps in the ground, but I couldn't seem to go too much faster. This forest almost seemed to get longer and larger with every step.

I kept running, thought so her body being twisted and bloodied fueling my anger. Adrenaline gushed through my veins, ignoring the small snaps and rips as I bounded through a patch of red thorns. Now it didn't matter if she liked me or not, or course even if she didn't she'd soon fall for me, I mean, who wouldn't? Okay, now that was a bit on the arrogant side, but seriously, why else would I be coming if I didn't believe she could love me?

"Um, maybe because she's in trouble and she needs your help," Said a soft voice in my head.

I silently agreed, continuing to run.

At point in time, I didn't care if Aang was following either. Him and the blind girl…along with Sokka wouldn't be able to keep up with my speed. Unless of course, Appa was flying them…although he wasn't exactly the fastest flyer under the circumstances…

It all depended.

But what if Katara loved Aang? That little boy? Was she charmed by his mere innocence? Would it be that that kept us apart. As I ran, something came into my view, a house. A very large, lushly decorated house. Lamps and flowerpots hung around the roof trim. The red and cream colors painted onto the rafters and shingles, balconies and tiles with small designs scrawled into them. I inspected it. Leaning over to look at the tiny inscriptions and pictures. I had found her location.

"Ah! Zuko! You have arrived! You're welcome to my humble abode," She said.

Her voice was like sand paper scratching against the painted wooden steps below my feet. Her fake smile disappeared as I stepped up to her level. Pouring thoughts streaming through my battling mind, still thinking over me and Katara's relationship, I wasn't entirely paying close attention to her actions.

Then I felt warm liquid dripping down my upper arm.

"Come on Aang! You know we have to move faster! Katara's in trouble. Keep moving! Your friend is dead, let it go! As for now, Katara will be dead if you don't move now!" Sokka yelled, quickly packing away their belongings. He looking longingly over at Katara's sleeping bag, wishing strongly she was here to roll it up herself. Aang cringed at his words.

"Are you saying it's my fault she's gone?" Aang asked, getting up form his slump. Sokka thought for a moment, he hadn't said anything like that. "Aang we have to go after Katara, you're being selfish into thinking that she doesn't matter right now. Let's go! She's in danger! I mean, yeah, Zuko's going after her, but what for? He's always hated her. We are the only ones who can save her right now, so we must do that now! Let's go, now!"

Aang thought for a moment.

Sokka thought of the contrary, "We don't have a moment!"

Toph finished packing Katara's things up. She threw the pack and bed roll onto Appa's back and met Sokka by Aang's side. "Come on twinkle toes, we've got to go after Katara. She's in trouble. I know you want to go after her. Or is she the problem in this picture?" Toph asked, grumbling profusely.

Aang shook his head hard and got to his feet. "No, Sokka's right, I'm being selfish. Friends come first. Then other dead friends comes after," Aang said nobly, walking over to Appa. "Okay Appa, you ready to go find Katara? 'Cause if you're not ready, we can't really go."

Appa roared in reply.

"I guess that's a yes," Came Sokka's cracked assumption.

"Okay then. Let's go!"

I'm sorry this is short, I'm eager to get this done. Besides, there's not much else I can add to this chapter. I'm also sort of sort about the writing work. I'm better at writing at certain times of if I'm sort of in the mood for it. Yes, there have been times where I was in the mood to write, but not for this story. It's not a good day for writing.