Disclaimer: Avatar the Last Airbender copyright Dante Dimartino, Brian Konietzko and Nickelodeon Studios.


The centipede's feet clicked eerily in the dark as he wrapped his body around her, cocooning her in limbs and exoskeleton. His face bubbled and swelled, the flesh moving as if something crawled just beneath it. She choked down vomit. Flesh stretched and popped, and suddenly an achingly familiar face stared back at her.

"Zuko..."

She might have reached for him, if the face hadn't twisted into something grotesque. The cruel smile broke her heart.

"No, not anymore. Though this face has proven...useful."

"Give him back."

"Who will you give me in return?" He hissed against her ear. "The Avatar?"