Mai was brought to consciousness by a hand shaking her shoulder. "Hey, wake up." It was a girl's voice, and a familiar one, although Mai couldn't quite place it. She opened her eyes and looked up to find Katara leaning over her. "Ty Lee's awake," the Water Tribe girl whispered.

This woke Mai fully. She quickly sat up and moved to her friend's side, taking her hand. "Ty?"

Ty Lee's gray eyes were open. She peered up, first at Katara, then at Mai. For a moment she didn't seem to recognize her. Then, slowly, a shadow of her cheerful smile moved over her thin face. "Mai?"

The word was soft, barely even audible, but it pierced Mai's heart like a javelin. The young noblewoman's grasp on the girl's hand tightened. "It's me, Ty. I'm here."

Weakly, Ty Lee turned her head to look up at the smooth curve of the cave wall that protected her from the elements. Her brow creased. "Where am I?" she whispered. "Is this the spirit world, Mai? Are we dead?"

"No. You're not dead, Ty." Mai moved forward to lay her hand on Ty Lee's forehead; it felt cold and clammy. "We're…on an island. You're sick, but you're safe now. Don't worry."

Squinting, Ty Lee peered up at her again. "You sound different." Mai smiled. The invalid yawned and squinted. "Your aura's all yellow," she murmured.

"Never mind auras." Mai's brows lowered in mock sternness. "Just you get better."

Ty Lee's eyes made their way over to Katara. Again her lips formed a smile. "Are you an angel?" she asked. "I've never seen such a blue aura before…"

"I'm a healer," Katara said gently. "I'm also a waterbender."

"I remember you." Ty Lee yawned again, turning her head against Mai's knee and closing her eyes. "We fought you," she murmured. "You…and a little blind girl…and a cute boy with a boomerang…and a big white thing…" Her voice trailed off. Mai looked; Ty Lee was sound asleep again.

Without a word, Katara poured water into her hands. It hovered, a spiraling disc of silvery luminescence. Mai watched, fascinated, as the waterbender guided the disc down into Ty Lee's form. She'd seen Aang do something like this, but his hands and fingers were not nearly as skilled as Katara's. The movements were almost like a dance – backward and forward, up and down, with a grace nearly as effortless as Ty Lee's had once been. This girl is a master, Mai thought. She knew master benders. Azula was one, after all.

Katara sat back on her heels, her hands dropping into her lap. There was an uncomfortable pause as the two young women realized that they were, more or less, alone together. Mai considered going back to sleep, but she didn't want to leave Ty Lee, in case her friend should wake up again. She sighed, drew her knees up to her chest, and rested her chin on them. The awkward silence went on.

"So," Katara said finally, her voice soft, "it's been a while, Mai."

The Fire Nation girl cast a sidelong glance at her. The last time they had really talked had been just before Mai had turned the waterbender over to Princess Azula. Too bad all those etiquette lessons didn't tell you what to say right now, Mai. "A while," she agreed cautiously, her voice impassive.

Her neat brows knit together, Katara tightened her lips. She fixed her ice-blue eyes on Mai's. "I was ready to hate you," she said. Her voice was still quiet, but there was still an edge to it. "I wanted to despise you for everything you've done. I wanted to hate you for what you did to me – for what you tried to do to Aang!" She stopped. Mai said nothing. "I'm not sure I still won't," the Water Tribe girl said. "But Toph and Suki both told me that you've changed. Aang, too. I'm holding off on bending you – for now." She held up a finger. "But I'm watching you, Mai. Don't you forget it!"

"Fair enough," Mai said wryly, still in her old, emotionless voice. "I can't say that I blame you." Then she sighed. "For what it's worth," she said, "I'm sorry."

"Sorry? For what?" Katara frowned. "For trying to hunt us down like animals? For helping Azula try to kill us? For turning me over to the Fire Nation? For –"

"Okay! Okay." The young noblewoman winced. "All of it."

The tan girl's eyes were hard. "Right. And I'm supposed to believe that suddenly you had a change of heart, and now you've dedicated the rest of your life to fighting for Aang. Is that your story? Am I right?"

Mai shifted uncomfortably. "No," she said. Why the hell am I about to tell her the truth about this? "I…don't know about the Avatar. But I do know I hate Azula. I want to take her down!" Her face grew warm, and she felt her fists clench involuntarily. Breathing deeply, she forced her hands to relax. "And I love Zuko," she said in a low voice. "I'll follow him."

"Uh huh. Well, that's sure reassuring." Katara's eyes narrowed. "Given how iffy his loyalties are."

The Fire Nation girl's eyes flashed dangerously. "Zuko," she said icily, "is an honorable man, and a prince, peasant."

"Oh, really?" Katara flashed her an odd look. Was that…amusement? Mai's brows lowered. There was a pause. "Forgive me. I've never seen you get mad before," she said. "Actually, I've never seen you with an expression on your face before."

Ugh. Mai looked down and stroked Ty Lee's face. "I'll stay out of your way, Katara."

"Good. Don't think I won't be watching you anyway."

"Does this run in your family?" Mai asked. Katara's brows lifted slightly, and the Fire Nation girl shook her head. "Never mind."

"What? Does what run in my family?" the waterbender demanded. "Are you saying something against my brother? Because, if you are…" Her voice rose.

"No!" Mai said, exasperated. "That's not what I…look, let's just not talk to each other. We'll wake everyone." Katara glanced around at their sleeping companions. Her cool gaze moved back to Mai, and she nodded once. Both girls looked down at the sleeping Ty Lee, and resumed their silent vigil.