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


Her moment of serenity was shattered by an all too familiar cough. The sickly noise echoed unpleasantly in Zuko's chest and she listened intently as air wheezed from struggling lungs. She'd heard the same noise from many of the miner's today; held their hands as several had died.

"Zuko?" she whispered. His eyes were closed again, his breathing shallower than it'd been before. He needed help.

She struggled to her feet, unexpectedly dizzy; her chest uncomfortably heavy. The deeper she breathed, the worse she felt. Distantly she realized the miners were also in distress.

"What's wrong Fire Lord? Feeling ill?"