Katara pushed another stick into the fire. Zuko was laid back on the ground, his hands folded behind his head, his eyes closed. He was relaxed, and he was worn out. Even though the little water-tribe wench had healed his back he had still lost a great deal of blood.

Katara looked at him in curiosity. How in the world had he learned to fix himself without looking? She watched as his eyes relaxed even more. His chest rose and fell and it slowed and deepened. She smiled a little. He was a sleep. This was the first time he had ever gone to sleep before she did. She stood up from her knelt down position and walked over to him. She sat down beside him and looked over him. He looked so peaceful. She sighed and pushed her maiden strands out of her face. She missed her hair a great deal, but some loses were better then others. She looked over Zuko's face and brushed the small tendrils of black hair out from in front of his eyes. She frowned and looked at the scar that made its way over his eye and across his face.

She reached up slowly, she brought her hand back in hesitation, then touched the rim of his scar ever-so lightly. She closed her eyes as she imagined the pain that must he must have been put through.

She opened her eyes and moved her hand over to the side of his face. She was looking over his features when he slowly opened his eyes. His golden orbs took her off guard and she froze. Zuko narrowed his eyes and brought his arm down and rested his hand along hers. He put his hand back behind his head and closed his eyes. Before long he was asleep again.

Katara gasp and scooted her self away from him. What was that!? What ...who...why...who...? Her heart pounded hard in her chest. She would have never imagined a reaction like that to come from the prince of the feared fire nation. He was gentle, soft, and almost innocent. Even though it had only been for a second their eyes had met, and they had connected. She shook her head and looked back at him. Trust. That was it. That was the emotion that she had seen in his eyes. He trusted her? But that didn't sound right? It didn't feel right.

She looked over at him and furrowed her brows. It was the blood loss. That was definitely it. The blood loss. She closed her eyes and growled at herself. For some reason her heart was racing and trying to escape from her chest. Traitor! She screamed inwardly. She took a deep breath and put her hand on her chest. She could feel the pounding through the silk. She looked down at her crimson tunic and pants. She shook her head. It was hard to tell where the blood ended and the clothes began.

"It seems that I can't do anything without ruining my clothes." She sat down flat on the ground and crossed her legs. One of her loose maiden strands fell into her face and she pushed it unconsciously behind her ear. She watched the fire as it danced, it's many tendrils lapping at the cold air that surrounded it. It danced and moved wildly. How could the fire benders control it? It was wild and consuming? Ravenous. Water was controlled, and could be calm and smooth as glass, or a horrible torrent. She stared at it and her eyes relaxed a bit, her eyes half lidding. She seemed drawn to the flame. The warmth the danger, the security in knowing that it will live as long as it was fed. She took a deep breath and leaned over her legs. She closed her eyes and listened as the fire crackled and hissed devouring the sticks and kindling that had been thrown in.

"Enchanting. Isn't it?" Katara almost jumped into the fire as the voice broke her trance. She turned around and seen the prince staring at her in the same position as he had fell asleep. She narrowed her eyes.

"Don't do that?" He sat up and draped his arms lazily over his knees. She smirked at her.

"Why? Did I startle you?" She turned around and looked away from the fire.

"I was almost jerky, thank you very much."

"Hah. No one would eat you if you were." Katara rolled her eyes and shook her head. Everything was a fight with this guy. She nearly jumped out of her skin, for the second time that night, when a firm hand gripped her shoulders.

"Whoa easy there killer. I don't bite." She turned and looked at him with a glare. He sat down next to her and crossed his legs leaning his hands on his knees.

"You tried to save me today didn't you."

"Don't look into it." Katara growled.

"Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why did you do that?" Katara shook her head.

"Didn't I just say not to look into it?"

"It's not every day you get saved by your enemy." She glared at him.

"I could say the same to you." Zuko growled and stood up.

"I was trying to be nice."

"Key word trying. You aren't very good at it." Katara hissed back. Zuko folded his arms across his chest.

"Since when did you turn back into a bitch?" Katara's eyes flew open wide.

"Excuse me?" Katara growled and jumped to her feet.

"You heard me." Katara clenched her teeth and punched him. He grabbed his jaw and looked at her mischievously.

"Violent." Katara heard a dip in his voice and she glared at him.

"I won't hold back this time." Zuko narrowed his eyes and shook his head. He fell back on his butt and laughed.

"I'm not going to fight with you tonight. I have better things to do. Like sleep." He folded his fingers behind his head and fell back onto the ground. Katara glared at him and sat back down by the fire. He cocked his eyebrow and looked at her.

"Hey. Come here." Katara snorted and shook her head.

"Not on your life." Zuko snarled his nose.

"It isn't sexual. Nor is it even feeding off of anything remotely close to attraction. Just come here will you?"

"No."

"Dammit. I said come over here." Zuko growled. Katara shook her head. Zuko clamped his jaw shut and pushed him self up.

"Make my ass get up and walk all the way over here just to get you. Stupid wench." He grumbled and picked her up. She screamed as he threw her over his shoulder. He walked back over to his 'spot'. She was kicking and hitting the entire way. He threw her down onto the ground and then fell down back where he was.

"What is your problem?"

"What is my problem?! What is yours?! I just ask you to come over here."

"What in the name of the moon makes you think I trust you?" Katara said and tried to push her self up. Zuko grabbed her wrist and jerked her back down to the ground.

"Sit."

"What for?"

"I want to talk."

"Well I don't. Sorry." Katara growled. Zuko looked at her with squinted eyes. He snorted and he looked up at the stars through the trees.

"Just exactly why were you in the woods without your male friends to protect you?" Katara didn't say anything. She crossed her arms over her chest and turned away from him.

"Back home, women were to speak when spoken to."

"Well you aren't in the Fire Nation, now are you?"

"No. But you still could answer me."

"They left me. There are you happy." Zuko frowned and looked at her. What was that supposed to mean?

"They left you? What did you do?"

"Look. I don't want to talk to you. So can you just roll over and go to sleep, and leave me alone?" Zuko snorted.

"Only if you stay there."

"What? What are you up too?"

"I just don't want you running off again. Even if it is to take a bath."

"How do you know I won't after you fall asleep?"

"Oh. I guess I don't." Zuko said with a smirk and closed his eyes. He listened as she nestled down in the grass. He waited to slip into sleep until he heard all the sounds of sleep resinate from the female.

Katara woke up shivering. She looked around and seen the ostrich-horse sleeping calmly over by the large oak tree. She pushed her self up off of the ground and quickly ran over and grabbed the blanket out of the saddle bag. She walked back over and nestled back down into the ground. She pulled the blanket up over her shoulders. She glanced over at Zuko and thought for a moment. She moved over closer to him just enough so that he could be coved in the blanket as well. She closed her eyes and drifted back out into dream land.

Zuko opened his eyes slowly. Something was disturbing his rest. He could feel vibrations through the blanket. He looked over at where the water tribe girl slept. She had her arms wrapped around her in order to keep her self warm. He shook his head. It obviously wasn't working. She was shivering. He sat up and looked around, noticing that the air had dropped tremendously in temperature. He moved over closer to her and pulled her into his arms. The little wench was so stubborn she would rather catch her death then scoot over jut for warmth. He snarled his nose. He couldn't believe he was doing this, but in order to keep her well and to get rid of her faster he had to keep her from freezing.