This night was unusually chill for the fire nation. For ones the fire they had put up wasn't just for light, but to warm them up a bit.

Zuko couldn't help but glance at the trees around them which seemed to be casting long shadows created by their fire, and above them an almost full moon were shining down on them in a cold light.

By all means this was a beautiful forest, yet Zuko was on edge, and he didn't really know why. Earlier in the day as the sun had become to set, he had seen a tree which looked oddly dried out.

Like it had just died where it stood. It wasn't burned or anything, it had just been dried out and any leafs left on its branches were all dead. It was extra strange because all the other trees looked just fine. And it didn't look like it had been fungi or bugs at work or anything. No… the tree was just dead.

Of course it was in this setting that Sokka had decided upon tonights entertainment. Ghost stories.

"And then from the grave he rose up!" Sokka exclaimed. "THE DARK RIDER!" he exclaimed. "Instead of a head it was a flaming melon! And he took it off and threw it at poor Ichoban." he said and then quieted. "And the next day. All there was left of him… a single handkerchief."

Zuko was entirely unimpressed as he looked at Sokka, the rest looked rather unaffected too.

"I liked the story about the guy with the sword hand better." Toph said. "Not that that was scary either."

"Oh come on! It was scary!" Sokka exclaimed. "Right Zuko? You're with me on this one?"

"You want to know scary?" Zuko asked. "Try having Zhao show up at your ship unannounced. Only for your uncle to insist you should totally drink tea with him."

"Tea with Zhao?" Sokka asked. "Okay you got me. That is scary." he shivered.

"Yeah. Try to have that guy constantly in your face for three years. That's real horror." Zuko snorted. "Here's another one for you." He continued. "Picnic with Azula. Oh and I used to sleep in the room right next to hers. No locked doors. She could walk in when-ever she wanted at any time doing the night."

At that everyone winced and Zuko smirked as he now knew he had their attention.

"How about a beach trip with Fire Lord Ozai." Zuko asked smugly. "Of course that was before he was Fire Lord. But I have seen him in his swim trunks."

"Okay stop! Stop!" Sokka shouted. "We get it! Your life is its own horror show!"

"Why would you ever say that?" Zuko asked as he smirked. "Having a homicidal Fire lord for a father is great fun." he commented dryly. "He only burned my face off that one time you know."

"Fine!" Sokka exclaimed. "You're so tough. You tell the next horror story."

"I thought I just did." Zuko commented dryly.

"That wasn't a story, those were anecdotes." Sokka said. "Tell an actual story."

"Please don't." Toph asked. "Zuko has to be the worst story teller in the universe."

"Hey." Zuko exclaimed.

"Face it Sparky." Toph smirked. "You can't even retell what happened yesterday without stumbling over your own words. You suck at telling stories. Remember when you tried to tell that joke that Iroh told you?"

Zuko opened his mouth then exhaled. "Yeah I don't do jokes." he admitted making Aang smile amused.

"Well only sarcastic ones. You are pretty good at those." Sokka commented.

"I got a story." Katara held up her hand.

"Pfff. Sugarqueen telling a scary story. This should be good." Toph smirked.

Katara glared at her and then cleared her throat. "Ahem." and then she took a deep breath. "This is a story my mom told me. She was there… It was back when she was just a young girl at the south pole."

That made Zuko peak up, he couldn't help but admit he was all ready kind of intrigued.

"Mom had a friend. A little girl called Nini… One day a devastating blizzard hit. And Nini's house was buried under the snow. It took a whole month… and my mom realized she had not seen Nini for all of that time. Since the horrible snow storm. So mom went to visit her house with a few other villagers. When they did not find Nini or her family, the men went out to search."

Zuko couldn't help it, he leaned a bit forward as if to better absorb Kataras words and the others held their breaths as well as she continued.

"Mom remained in the house... And then she heard it. A voice... The voice of her friend. And the voice kept saying the same thing." Katara said and then spoke in a higher pitched girly voice. "It's so cold and I can't get warm!"

Zuko gulped and Katara continued.

"Nini's voice. Repeating those over and over! Mom turned around and there she was! It was Nini Standing by the fireplace trying to get warm. Her skin was blue, as if she were frozen."

Zukos eyes widened and he felt how Toph had now grabbed his arm while Toph moved in fromt the other side.

"Mom rushed out of the house. Yelling for help! Nini was there! Nini needed help! But by the time help arrived, Nini…. Was gone."

Now Sokka was also at Zukos said and all had grabbed on.

"Mom looked and yelled. But there wasn't a single trace of Nini. As if she hadn't even been there to begin with." Katara said in a sombre tone. "The house is still there. And sometimes… Smoke will come from the house. And if you listen closely... some say you can still hear her voice… It's so cold… It's so cold."

There was stunned silence.

Zuko was just sitting in the middle of their little group whom all seemed to cling unto him wide-eyed looking at Katara.

And Katara smirked. "Was that scary enough for you?" she asked.

Sokka snorted. "That wasn't scary! I'm not scared." he said while holding unto Zukos shoulder. "You scared Zuko?"

"No!" Zuko replied a big to quickly.

Only for Toph to shout. "The earth?!"

"What?!" Zuko, Sokka and Aang all shouted in startled unison.

"It's like… It's screaming." Toph gasped. "There are screaming voices beneath the earth! What is that?!"

All three boys yelled as they scrambled. And then they halted.

Sokka groaned. "Oh I see." he said. "Haha very funny. Trying to scare us."

"I'm not… I'm serious." Toph exclaimed. "It's like there are multiple screaming voices under the ground!"

Zukos eyes widened.

"Re-Really?" Aang asked. "You think maybe it could be… Some sort of spirit."

"What?!" Zuko shouted.

Katara smirked at Zuko. "Don't tell me you're afraid of spirits."

"I am terrified of spirits and I am not ashamed of saying it!" Zuko exclaimed. "North Pole! Big Ocean spirit just desecrated an entire fleet and then picked up Zhao to drag him away! I saw it!"

"Oh. That's what happened to Zhao?" Sokka asked.

"Yes!" Zuko exclaimed. "And then when I was dragged to the spirit world with Aang! The spirit of disharmony ripped me into three pieces!"

"That's what happened when you two were trapped in there?" Katara asked.

"It sure was a mess." Aang sighed. "Had to put him back together again before we could leave. And then Iroh had to stay behind just to make sure we weren't followed." Then he gasped. "Did I ever tell you about when I met Koh the face stealing spirit?!" he asked. "That was scary, if you move as much as a face muscle he'll steal you face!"

"That is not helping Aang!" Zuko exclaimed.

And it was just then… An old voice, that sounded raspy and like winds in the wood entered the conversation.

"What a bunch of strange children."

There was no helping it. Zuko screamed like a little girl as he jumped backwards just as a strange figure entered.

A woman… With long white hair falling around her sunken in face. Somehow she seemed to be nothing but bones and waxy skin that hang around her in wrinkled folds. Her fingers were long and bony as they reached out towards them and Zuko scrambled back the fire flaring up next to him without his consent.

Then of all things the woman was smiling. On anyone else the smile would have looked very kind, but Zuko was to worked up to buy it.

"You shouldn't be out here alone." The woman continued. "It's almost full moon. People disappear from these woods at full moon."

"What?!" Aang asked horriefied.

"Okay enough with the ghost stories!" Sokka shouted. "New rule! No more ghost stories! It's over."

"It's not a ghost story boy. It's true." The old woman said. "Say. Why don't you just pack up and come with me. I run an Inn not far from here. I could see your campfire from my window, that's why I came." she informed. "You can stay at the Inn for the night. It'll be much safer."

"Oh." Aang stood up. "That's very nice of you. But we don't have a lot of money." he admitted.

The old woman shook her head. "If you camped out here and disappeared I would never be able to live with myself. Come to my Inn and stay for free. I insist."

There was stunned silence, everyone were glancing at each other. Bewildered and not knowing what to do next.

"I know!" The old woman smiled as she held up a finger. "If it's being able to pay me you're worried about. Why don't you just help me out with some errands tomorrow?" She asked. "The house could need a good cleaning and I am old. Carrying supplies from town is quite a burden. You help me and I let you sleep in my inn for free. How does that sounds?"

"That sounds great!" Aang grinned as he ran forward. "Hi I'm… Kuzon!" he offered her his fake name. "And this is Sokka, Katara Toph and Lee." he introduced the others.

The woman smiled. "My name is Hama. It's nice to meet all of you." she said. "Kuzon. Toph." she turned to the two water tribe siblings and her eyes opened enough to reveal their colour which seemed to be a pale grey with a bluish tint. "Sokka and Katara." then she turned to Zuko and her smile seemed to widen even more making Zuko stand rigid. "Lee."

Zukos eyes widened as the old weird woman just kept smiling at him. "My Inn is that way just up the hill." Hama pointed. "Come as soon as you have packed! I'll have some nice tea ready for you when you come!" she said as she turned and walked away.

Zuko exhaled deeply as he tried to steady his breath.

"She seems nice." Katara smiled and Zuko blinked.

What?

"I suppose we'll better pack up then. It would be rude to decline such a kind offer." Aang stated.

"Are we… Seriously going there?" Zuko asked.

"Don't tell me you're scared Zuko." Katara smirked.

"No! I'm not scared!" Zuko exclaimed.

"Yeah! Me neither!" Sokka exclaimed and Toph smirked amused.

"Lies. The both of them." Making both boys splutter.

Katara shook her head. "She's just an old woman." she said. "Wouldn't it be better to just sleep at an Inn? Don't want the spirit to come get us." she smirked.

Zuko shivered… dammit she had a point. And he looked up towards the near full moon. Not able to shake the feeling that something was seriously wrong with this place.