Author's Note: This chapter took longer to get out than I liked but I still managed. In this chapter I tried making interactions as believable as possible. Zuko isn't about to call Katara his friend and Katara isn't the type to try and force friendship on someone. This however will not be slow-burn. I personally don't think I could write a slow burn. That doesn't mean they'll just jump into a relationship though. And as for their progression when it comes to their own personal abilities, I'll be going off of what they could already do, and have them grow in a believable manner.

I give a big thank you to those who left reviews, followed, and favorited the stories. If you have any questions feel free to ask. I hope you all enjoy and I'll see you all again next time.

The Long Road.

Traveling was something that Zuko had become accustomed to while living in the earth kingdom. Going from village to village, taking care of and running off the unwelcomed presence of the Fire Nation. Though Zuko never strayed too far from his woodland home, he had still made quite a few "expeditions" to the areas beyond his home, all while making sure not to stray too far. It was best to be cautious, going too far in one direction could result in ending up in some unsavory locations.

Go to far South-East and you end up in the Si Wong desert, an inhospitable wasteland that only the hardy of travelers and creatures can survive. Go to far North-East and you'd find yourself closing in on Ba Sing Se, an area that was just too populated for Zuko's taste. Despite how well known the Blue Spirit was, the whole idea of concealing his identity was to draw as little attention as possible. Ironic how it worked out in the end, isn't it?

There was one major difference from the times Zuko had traveled in the past. He had always traveled alone.

Traveling alone was the most ideal way for Zuko. He lived in solitude for a reason, and traveling would be no different for the masked swordsman, save for the occasional ostrich horse he would "borrow" from any bandits or Fire Nation he would happen across while on the road, and by the time he had reached his destination he usually gave the horses to some less fortunate person.

" Hey, come on Lee slow down! You still need to rest! "

Doing so with Katara wasn't possible, not without being a crime at least.

The two hadn't gone more than two miles before Katara had started bombarding him with questions and requests concerning his health. Yes, Zuko ached all over. Yes he probably had a fracture or three. And yes he probably needed to rest. But at the moment, all that mattered was putting as much distance between the remains of his home and himself.

The rain had yet to subside, which was another worry that Katara expressed, fearing that in his weakened state, he might develop an illness.

Zuko didn't care. Broken bones, disease, lacerations, concussions, it didn't matter. He had it set in place in his mind that he'd get Katara and himself as far as he could, even if it meant going till he collapsed.

The worry in Katara only grew the more steps Lee took. The fall had taken more of a toll on him than she had thought, even with her attempt to cushion the impact. There was no doubt that he had fractures in his bones at the very least, and who knows what sort of injuries he sustained while in the blazing forest.

There was somewhat of a limp in his walk, he swayed every so handful of steps, and in his ripped up and burned clothes he was getting soaked. " Lee can we please stop...You're going to catch pneumonia if we don't find some shelter… "

" ...I'm fine…Just overheating is all...Some time in the rain will cool me off... " He said gruffly.

He was lying.

If it wasn't the strain in his voice that he had been hiding, she could have easily told just by seeing how he held himself up. He was in pain, and refused to let her help. It bewildered Katara how anyone could keep going in a state like that, she remembered when Sokka got two fish hooks stuck in his thumb, he refused to leave the bed for two days after that, and compared to Lee's condition it was little more than a bother. " Please Lee… "

But Zuko refused to relent, and it pained him to do so. The dejection in Katara's voice as he brushed off her offers and plees to aid him, reached deeper than they should have. Katara was still a practical stranger, just another person walking down the same path that life had him going down, and yet the thought of hurting her feelings made him feel awful.

Perhaps it all stemmed from the fact that Zuko took pride in seeing the relieved smiles on the faces of the people he helped. That bringing joy in a time destitution and despair brought a sense of pride and accomplishment to him. Zuko enjoyed making people happy, and glancing back to see the disheartened look in Katara's eyes stung deeply.

" Sometimes in our own attempts to hide weakness, we push pain of a different sort onto those who only wish to lend a helping hand. "

Iroh's was the last voice he had wanted to hear at this moment. Something about the man's kind voice and sagely advice, racked Zuko with even more guilt. He clenched his fist tightly, feeling his resolve giving way with every second passed.

" This isn't good...We haven't walked nearly as far as I wanted us too...but my body… "

Fatigue was what Zuko was worried about the most. He could ignore pain to an extent, and the pain he was feeling now was nowhere near that threshold, but fatigue was the one thing he had trouble fighting. He glanced back one more, seeing Katara's downcast expression, and the smoke from the now dissipated forest fire.

Fine. He'd let Katara have her way, but just this once, at least he hoped it would be just one time.

" Katara… "

Her head rose, just enough to meet his "gaze". The despondency fled her deep blue pools as the hope that her attempts at reaching Lee had succeeded. " Yes Lee...What is it? "

He looked away from her, and murmured just loud enough for her to hear. " If you still want...We can stop. "

Katara's eyes brightened, Lee was going to let her try and- .

" But not here...Maybe over this upcoming ridge… "

Well, it was better than nothing. " Boys...Always wanting to look so strong, even if it kills them… " That was something else Lee and Sokka had in common. They had this attitude that outright prevented them from accepting help without some push or persuasion.

Beneath Zuko's mask, a different story was being told. His brow was drenched in a thick veil of sweat, and his face was burning up. Heat exhaustion no doubt. He felt like such an idiot about what he had done, rushing headlong into the inferno of a forest fire without expecting any sort of consequences.

" As Iroh would say...Always look before you leap, you never know what's inside the hole you're jumping over...Or whatever… "

His left eye was clenched shut, as was his jaw as he fought through the growing fatigue. The only thing keeping him from collapsing now that his guilt towards Katara had subsided was the sound of his own voice in his head, keeping him focused on walking.

" Left foot...Right foot...Left foot...Right foot… Left...Right...Left...Ri- "

" Lee..? "

" I-I'm fine… " He said through gritted teeth.

The way his body swayed more pronouncedly said otherwise, and Katara was afraid he'd pass out before they could pass over the nearing ridge. " Lee let's just stop here… "

He suddenly swiveled around. " ...Darn it Katara...I said I was… "

Katara watched with wide eyes as his form came crashing down to the rain drenched earth beneath them. " L-Lee! " She raced to him, shaking him to try and get him back up. " Not good…" She pressed her hand to his wrist, unease filling her body at the heat he was giving off. " He's burning up...Alright, just think Katara...Just stay calm, you have to get Lee out of this rain. "

Her head jerked back and forth in desperation, hoping to find some form of shelter. " Come on...A tree...A cave...Anything! "

Just as she was beginning to think it was hopeless, the spirits smiled down on her. Just hidden behind some nearby brush was a large fallen log, small enough to appear inconspicuous, but just large enough to fit herself and Lee inside. " Thank La… " She hefted the larger body of Lee into her arms, and dragged him behind the brush, easing him into the hollowed log.


Four whole hours passed in the log, and the rain had yet to subside, and in that time Katara had tended to Lee as best as she could. She had torn a strand of cloth from her tunic, fashioning it into a crude cloth which she soaked, and without looking, slipped it under his mask and onto his forehead.

Katara wouldn't have denied it if Lee woke up then, she felt a pique in her curiosity at the thought of what she might see under his mask. It was something that had been on her mind ever since he took her to his home, why wouldn't she be curious to know what a masked man looked like underneath?

But Katara kept her urge to know at bay. It wouldn't have been right to violate Lee's privacy and trust just because her own curiosity got the better of her.

" ...It would be wrong of me to do something like that...Especially with how nice you were to me… "

Her words went seemingly unheard, but had some effect on Lee as he began stirring about in her lap. His grunts and groans slowly become hushed mumbles, too quiet for Katara to hear without leaning close.

" ...It...Won't...It won't…Go away… "

" It won't go away? " Katara stared intently at the mask on Lee's face. " What won't go away Lee? " She gently stroked her hand through his unkempt black hair, the only real feature that wasn't hidden by the mask.

The dream that was bringing about Zuko such strife in his fevered sleep, was not a dream, rather a memory of when he had just started his life in the woods. For the entirety of the first three weeks, Zuko had been plagued with a nagging sensation, the source of which was the bandage that Iroh had insisted he not remove. At first it had been the source of Zuko's frequent head pain, but now it was nothing more than something that gnawed away at Zuko's self restraint.

" I fear you may not be ready to see what hides beneath that wrapping Zuko… "

The regretful tone in Iroh's voice had been enough to tell Zuko that he wouldn't like what he'd see under that bandage, that it would be better if he never knew.

But Zuko had to know, he had to see for himself, see what was compelling him to rip the bandage away.

One peek. That's all Zuko had needed to do, a quick glance to sate the growing interest. He remembered grasping the edge of the bandage, and hovering his face over the stream where he could get a good look at his reflection. Hesitation was something else Zuko recalled, the second thoughts he had at the time, making himself reconsider, but he had steeled his resolve, and pushed his doubts away.

That all came crumbling down down, and all it took was the flick of his wrist to tear the bandage away. The memory was so fresh in his mind, how he had froze up at the sight of it, how ill he had felt.

Hiding under the cloth bandages had been a horrific sight. Cover most of the left side of his face had been a gruesome burn, the irritated pink color was a sign that it was still fresh, still recent on his face.

Zuko didn't remember much after that, only that he had tried meticulously to wash the burn away, like it were dirt or grime. He hadn't even cared for the immense pain that the attempts had brought about. Between the water he "washed" the burn with, and the tears falling uncontrollably from his right eye, Zuko's face was drenched.

It won't go away. Why won't it go away. Zuko had said over and over, as if the more he said it, the better a chance he would have of it actually going away.

Iroh had arrived after that, pulling Zuko into his arms and prying his hands away from the left side of his face. The old man rocked him soothingly in his arms, doing what he could to calm the distraught boy.

" The cruelty of the people in this world knows no bounds...And more often than not it is the innocents of the world who suffer the most… "

Innocent was the last thing that Zuko felt like after seeing the scar for the first time. The sight of the misshapen flesh, and how his eye had sunk into it was burned into his mind. The only thing he'd ever associate the marred flesh with, would be the haunted look on his face when he had first laid his eyes on it.

Zuko wanted it to end, he wanted the dream to stop and to never have it again. A wish he had made time after time, a wish that he feared would never be granted.

The growing fear was all Zuko needed to try and force himself to wake up, to try and escape the dream. He knew his body was in no condition for it, and that Katara would protest, but if it meant not having to have to face the nightmares, at least for a little while longer.

" Shh, It's alright Lee...I'm here for you, I won't leave you. "

That voice. It was Katara's, she was talking to him, and her voice sounded so soothing.

" I'll stay right by your side...And when you wake up we'll get moving… "

Why? Why was Katara trying so hard to show him kindness, to take care of him. Few people rarely expressed true gratitude, let alone kindness. Barring Iroh, Zuko had come to see most people as selfish, smiling and speaking genially, until the moment arises that they turn their backs on those who need it most. And if they did help, more often than not they expected something in return.

So to find someone who cared so unconditionally, someone so kind-hearted. Her voice was like that of a mother calming her child.

" Mother "

That word was one of the few that struck a cord deep inside of Zuko. One of the few that made him ask questions that no one had the answers to.

" ...Do I even have a mother... "

It was one of the questions that robbed him of so many nights of sleep. So many other questions followed with it. What was she like, what was her name, and most importantly, did she even love Zuko if he were here now.

" Everything I've done is for you "

Those words again, the same words from his recurring dreams. More specifically, the dream where the faceless woman stands over him, holding him in her arms and whispering to him. Most of the words come out as an incoherent mess, but those words always come out the clearest.

Still, it didn't matter, not at the moment at least. Zuko's dreams could wait.

For now.

Katara's voice had soothed his inner demons, and brought a wave of serenity through his fevered psyche. Sleep called out to him, and who was he to deny such an alluring call, he only hoped everything would be fine while he gave into his need to rest.

" Never forgot Zuko. It does not make you weak to admit that you have reached your limits. It only makes you wiser. "

" Go away Iroh… "


The heavy rainfall had receded to that of a drizzle, bringing a thick layer of fog with it. It was the perfect atmosphere to hide in, at least in Katara's eyes it was. Her father had once told her how certain parts of the South Pole are covered in patches of ice that would give off thick clouds of fog, make them ideal locations for laying low during a hunt if there was now snow or tundra bushes nearby.

Being a waterbender, Katara could feel as each and every raindrop fell. Her link to her element was a strong one, and each little, tiny droplet of water beckoned to her. It was a waterbenders dream out there, she could have been practicing, honing her skill, and yet she couldn't. An unspoken promise had been made to Lee the second he saved her, the promise that she would do the same for him should the time ever arise, and while a fever wasn't exactly being incarcerated by the Fire Nation, it was the most she could do at the time.

" It's getting late...And neither of us have eaten since last night… " She glanced down at Lee's concealed face. " I bet you'll be hungry when you wake up… " He hand drifted down to her stomach, a tremor ran throughout her stomach as it growled. " I'm hungry now though… "

There had been times in Katara's life where she had gone days without eating. It was common during the harsher parts of winter back home, fish would be scarce, very few tundra bushes bore berries if the snowfall was bad, and all but the most dangerous of animals hibernated through the season. So skipping a meal hadn't bothered her as much as it would someone else, but she was starting to run on empty.

The meal from last night had been her first in nearly three days, and even then she hadn't finished it. So with Lee sleeping peacefully for now, finding food was shifted to her top priority.

Katara removed her outer tunic, folding it into a makeshift pillow, and with the gentleness of a summer breeze, she lifted Lee's head from her lap, sliding the folded robe under his head. " ...Don't worry Lee...I'll be back soon… "

Though rain was not something Katara had ever dealt with back home, and hadn't been till her journey with aang began, she quickly found that she enjoyed being out in the falling water. The drops hitting against her head and skin flooded her felt soothing, unfortunately that feeling wasn't something she could revel in at the moment. Her stomach ached with hunger cramps, hindering her movement as she trudged through the rain soaked grass.

" ...Just stay focused Katara. Find some food, get back to Lee...That's all you got to do… "

It sounded so simple when she spoke out loud, but she knew the reality of the conundrum she was in. Excluding fishing, the only real food she had ever gathered were the scarcely grown tundra berries, Sokka had always been the hunter between the two of them, and she doubted her ability to take the life of anything that wasn't pulled from the water.

Katara would need to stay strong though. They may have left the forest, but there was still plenty of wooded area around, and Aang had taught her that if there are trees and bushes, then there are nuts and berries. Usually.

Of course it would have helped if she knew what any of the local flora looked like, or if she could see anything further than a body's length in front of her. Despite the scarcity of the berries back home, finding them had always been a simple task, as even in the harshness of winter, when the snow storms raged and visibility was almost nonexistent, the tundra berries bright red exterior stuck out like a beacon.

That's something that could be easily resolved. Red berries can't possibly not exist anywhere but the South Pole, there could be hundreds of different berries with that color. " That's all I gotta do. Just keep an eye out for the color red, and I'll have food for me and Lee in no time...You really gotta stop talking to yourself Katara… "

So that's what Katara did. Tirelessly she scoured the surrounding area, searching bush after bush, going through any undergrowth she could find in hopes of finding something that stands out, hoping to find those glistening red berries she imagined in her head. " Red. Just gotta find the red. "

And red was exactly what she found, only, she wish she hadn't found it. What she came across wasn't the red of a berry or any other fruit. The red she had found, was that of Fire Nation armor.

Four men adorned in Fire Nation soldier armor were trekking through the woods, just barely passing by the bush that Katara had been using the remain unseen. Each one was carrying a cloth sack over their shoulders and among the four, one had a map held in his outstretched arms.

" Face it, we're lost. "

" We are not lost, we can't get lost. We are doing recon. "

" Recon into an area that you can't find on a map that you picked up from some shady pirates. "

" Agni help me if you three don't shut up I'm turning back, walking till I find the nearest outpost and reporting you all. "

It amazed Katara how human these monsters could act behind the masks that made them seem so faceless. How they fought and bickered as any other person would do.

" We could be out on the front lines serving our nation, or back at the fort where we could spend the day on guard duty, but instead you had to have us volunteered into Recon didn't you Shu! "

" You need to get out more anyway Mido! You were talking about going to join in the search for the Avatar! "

Katara's eyes widened. They were saying something about the search for Aang. As silently as she could, Katara crept through the brush, staying back but keeping the soldiers in her sight.

" Oh that'd be fantastic, let's march to the closest port town and join Zhao's suicide brigade! "

" I stand by Liang on this side of the argument. Joining that lunatic is nothing but a death wish. "

" That "Lunatic" is on his way to being the next top general of the Fire Nation, and I won't tolerate treason, even from you Jian!. "

" If he's on his way to being the next top general then I'm the next in line to be the Fire Lord. "

" This is going to be a long walk if those four keep fighting… "

In the short time she had trailed the bickering quartet, she had come to learn that the four soldiers didn't exactly get along that well, much to her own dismay. But she had also learned of something useful. She heard that Aang had been managing to elude Zhao while on his way to the North Pole, and that because of this Zhao was calling every able bodied soldier he could to join the hunt for Aang.

" It's an awful thought...And I feel really guilty saying this...But if they stay focused on Aang then maybe that will give me and Lee enough time to catch up without having the Fire Nation trailing us. "

Katara felt wrong thinking such a thing, but having the Fire Nation chase both of them at that very moment wasn't an ideal situation. She and Lee had to travel by foot, meanwhile Aang and Sokka had Appa to travel on, so at least they had the best chances of escape. Having a giant sky bison sure sounded nice at this moment, even if it meant putting up with all the shedding.

There was no time to dwell on the thought however, if these soldiers were this close, then there were no doubt others close by. Food or not, all Katara needed to do now was get back to Lee as fast as possible without- "

SNAP!

Of course, the one twig within a twenty foot radius and she just had to step on it. Well, at least the soldiers didn't seem to pay any mi-

" Hey you two go check that out! "

" You're not my superior Mido! So go shove it! "

" Just do what he says Jian so we can get a move on. "

" Things can't possibly get any worse! "


Zuko tossed about in his slumber, as if he were trying to wrestle himself away from some unseen dreams had resumed at some point, bombarding the poor young man with the familiar visions of faceless specters, voices he had no recollection of, and places he swore he had never seen.

And the more he saw these things, the more distorted, more horrific they became, turning from simply lost memories into true nightmares.

He was in a long hallway, standing before a mirror where he could see what looked like a younger version of himself. More innocent, not yet disfigured and hidden behind his mask. A surreal sight that he had no time to take in. He never had enough time.

That's when the mirror abruptly shattered, falling to the floor in a glittering shower like flakes of snow. Behind the mirror was "IT". A terrifyingly tall, dark figure that stalked his nightmares, shaped like a man with outstretched limbs, each one coated in vile flames.

" S-Stay away from me! "

The terrified quiver in his voice brought pleasure to the monster as he took off, the thing lurching forward after him in pursuit. It was the same thing each time, no matter how fast he ran, no matter how much he pushed himself, the creature was always one step behind him, it's voice being a warped, spine-chilling impression of the tall man in his other dreams.

" STAND AND FIGHT! "

It's horrendous bellow resounding off the walls of the mirrored hallway, shattering each pane of reflective glass as Zuko sprinted past. Zuko could feel the flames on the back of his neck, the horrid, scorching flames, reaching out to consume him, just as they had his face.

" YOU WILL LEARN RESPECT! "

Run faster. He needed to run faster, but never could. The hairs on the back of his neck stood up as the monster's outstretched claw neared him, emerging from the flames and hovering over him.

" WAKE UP ZUKO! YOU HAVE TO WAKE UP! "

Tears streamed from his eyes, and for the first time since the night terror began, he felt himself speed up, felt himself pulling away from the monstrosity. Hope welled up inside the boy as the notion that the nightmare could end came closer and closer to being a reality.

That was until he reached the end of the hall.

True terror flooded through Zuko's body, his face ran pale, and his widened eyes now poured tears like a waterfall. Unable to do much else, the boy pressed his back to the wall, trying asbest as he could to get further away. The darkness of the hallway lit with the monster's flames as it grew closer, it's nightmarish wails bouncing off the walls before reaching the terrified youth.

" AND SUFFERING WILL BE YOUR TEACHER! "

The abomination grew in size, quaking the ground beneath its feet as it drew closer and closer to its prey. A twisted cackle blared from its nonexistent mouth, it's flames expanding as it reached out for Zuko.

All Zuko could do was close his eyes and wait for it to be over with, like always. But the creature never made contact.

Instead a bright light beamed around Zuko, burning the nightmare's hand and causing it to let out a screech of pain and anguish before receding to the darkness from whence it came.

Zuko's eyes opened, seeing the light for the first time. The bright luminous sphere around him gave off a comforting warmth, like a fresh blanket in mid winter. He'd never felt this in his dreams before, it was something entirely new. Why had it saved him though? Zuko's mind had always essentially been a maze, a place for him to get trapped by the horrors within.

So why did this ominous orb of life come to his aid.

" ...That's what moms are like...If you mess with their babies...They;re gonna bite you back…! "

The voice was angelic, soft, but faint, and the same voice he had when Katara had spoken to him.

The voice of a mother. The voice of his mother.

" It's time to wake up Zuko, you don't want to be late again, do you? "

Wake up? Yeah, waking up sounded good right about now, especially after that dream. And for once waking up was something Zuko felt like he could do without having to be afraid of going back to sleep later. He found some solace in the face he knew he had a mother, and knew the sound of her voice at the very least.


Katara just had to say something, didn't she?

The situation had indeed gotten worse, as the two soldiers had begun closing in on her hiding spot. Figuring that the best course of action would be to slowly back away, without making any noise, only to back onto yet another twig, causing an audible crack, startling the firebending soldiers into firing two blasts her way.

Of course no fiber of her being wanted to get roasted just to stay hidden, she inadvertently revealed herself in the midst of avoiding the fireballs.

" Uhhh...Hi? "

She had mentally slapped herself for that. Hi? She should have just turned and ran, instead she did something she figured Sokka would have done.

Which lead to her current situation, weaving through the trees, evading the oncoming balls of fire to her best capacity.

The situation was far from acceptable; four of them, one of her. She was not going to get thrown into another cage just because she couldn't watch where she was walking! Thankfully with the adrenaline that had kicked in, Katara managed to put just enough distance between her and her pursuers to catch her breath.

" ...OK Katara...You just gotta compose yourself… "

" She went this way! "

" Just give up girl! "

She took off again. " OK Katara…You just gotta keep running! " Katara could feel the soldiers closing in on her, and she could feel herself running out of room to run. The trees grew tighter the further she ran, the terrain began angling as if she were gradually moving downhill, and with this angle the rain-soaked earth felt more like ice under her feet.

Katara's eyes widened with sudden realization. She was completely surrounded by water in more than one way, and she was just now realizing it. The rain falling from above, the rain that had been pooling up on the ground, and the fog all around her. She had been surrounded by her element the whole time, but had been so driven by fear of capture to flee the soldiers.

Steeling her nerve, Katara halted in her steps, placing her back to yet another, but larger tree. She'd need to wait for the perfect moment, wait for them to get just close enough.

Everything Katara knew about waterbending, she picked up on her own, or learned from her Gran-gran, who, although wasn't a bender herself, had grown up with several friends capable of bending.

" I might be getting up there in my years but that doesn't mean my memory has abandoned me. I might not be able to give perfect examples though...These old bones don't let me move as well as they used to, you know? "

A smile brimming with confidence formed on Katara's rain-drenched face. The soldier's footsteps grew in volume as they moved in closer to her position. " Just one chance… "

With fluidity in her motions, Katara reached out to the fog surrounding her, taking hold of the thick vapor, and making it denser, decreasing visibility as much as possible. The soldiers were meters away and closing in. Just what she wanted.

" What's with this damn fog! I can't see a thing! "

" Then maybe you should slow down before you run headfirst into a tree. "

" Fighting amongst ourselves is the last thing we need to do. I say we turn back while we can still see. "

" Butt out Shu! I'm the one leading this chase and I say we keep moving and get that girl! She's the one they said escaped last night! "

" And you know this how? "

" Dammit Liang! How many dark skinned girls go around wearing Water Tribe clothes! "

Just as they neared the tree she was hidden behind, Katara lowered her face to the flooded ground below, breathing softly on it, causing ice to start forming and spreading.

" Believe it or not Katara, my best friend when I was your age was a waterbender, and a great one too. Her name was Hamma...She told me of a little technique you might find useful someday. She called it the breath of ice, using your own breath to control the water, and turning it into ice. "

The breath of ice. A technique that had intrigued Katara as a little girl, and something she had never gotten to practice while living down South, after all, there was no real need to make ice when you were constantly surrounded by it.

Once her trap had been laid exactly how she wanted it, Katara bolted, sprinting from behind the tree to an adjacent one, hesitating just long enough for the Fire Nation soldiers to catch sight of her silhouette.

" There she is! "

" After her! "

The quartet of soldiers dashed forward. They had the girl cornered, the chase was finally over. At least it was until they hit a hidden patch of ice, taking their balance away and causing each of the four to slam into the hardened surface.

Katara lightly pumped her fist in excitement. Her plan had worked! Those soldiers had fallen right into her trap and given her the perfect chance to strike back and get away! It had given her the only chance she'd have.

Moving in a full sprint, Katara sped towards the downed soldiers, pulling the water from the ground around her, and using it to slam the closest soldiers into a nearby tree before quickly freezing him there.

The next soldier managed to get his footing and let loose a volley of fireballs. Thankfully Katara still had plenty of water to spare, holding the bent liquid out in front of her, shielding her from the fire's impact. Katara quickly rotated her body, bringing the water with it, smacking the firebender to the ground, and rendering him unconscious.

The soldier known as Mido had been watching with an intense glare hidden under his face mask. They were getting humiliated by a little girl! Propping himself up with one, the collapsed firebender thrusted his other fist forward, launching a malice-filled ball of fire towards the waterbender.

Too preoccupied with the second soldier, Katara hadn't noticed the blazing projectile approaching her until it was too late. Her eyes widened, and then, she ran numb with shock. The fireball grazed her leg but still making contact, causing her drop out of sheer and sudden pain.

Tears welled up in her eyes, and her mouth hung open as she tried shouting out, but the pain had robbed her of her breath. In her dazed state, Katara caught sight of the soldier that had blasted her off her feet, and her pain vanished as a sudden anger boiled over her. She gritted her teeth, pulling the water she had dropped off the ground, and freezing the soldier to the ground.

" D-damn you water witch! "

Her sudden outburst of anger quickly subsided, and the pain returned tenfold. Yet Katara fought through it, pulling herself up and staring down the last remaining soldier. The man had fallen against a tree and was trembling in his armor as Katara limped towards him.

" D-don't hurt me… "

An odd mix of confusion and surprise came over Katara. This grown man, trained in the art of combat, was scared of her, a teenager who was mostly self-taught. Her hand balled into a fist as her pain flared up, she couldn't fight in this condition. Instead her gaze met that of the frightened man's. " ...I'm not like you...Just give me your map, and that sack you have on you...And I'll leave… "

"Of...Of course, just please don't hurt me… " He hastily complied, holding out his belongings for the waterbending girl to take.

Without another word, she grabbed the rolled up map, and the sack he had been carrying, and set off, hoping to find the path that would lead her back to Lee. She hated the idea of stealing, but promptly pushed her building guilt down by telling herself that the Fire Nation stole so much from her. It was only fair she did the same in return. With that out of the way, she proceeded to walk off.

At least that's what she tried to do.

Katara cursed under her breath. She had felt foolish to believe she could get anywhere anytime soon while on her leg. While the fire only brushed her leg, it was all that was needed to leave a minor, but debilitating burn on her foreleg. Even small burns could leave a person racked with pain, and she herself was no exception.

She limped as best as she could, managing to reach a stream before falling to her knees. She needed to soothe the pain somehow, and what better way to cool something off than nice cold stream water.

Lowering her body towards the water, Katara submerged the injured leg in the running water, and began running her hand across it, cringing upon making contact. " ...It hurts...A lot… " But then something started to happen, something Katara couldn't have possibly foreseen.

A bright glow enveloped her hand as it stroked against the burnt flesh. The pain quickly dissipated, being replaced with a soothing sensation. And before her very eyes, the ugly patch of damaged skin receded, before vanishing altogether. When the light faded, Katara was left staring in awe at the appendage which had relieved her of the wound.

She stood up without problem, raising her leg and moving it around. The pain and feeling of debilitation had completely vanished. She wouldn't question what she had just done, and wasn't entirely sure how she had done it, but she had. Now all she needed to do was get back to Lee, and fast.


Waking up alone had alarmed Zuko at first, but upon seeing that Katara had left her tunic with him, that sense of alarm faded almost instantly. But it had still left the question as to where she had meandered off too. She couldn't have gone too far, after all she was just as winded as he had been.

Not that Zuko felt "that" winded anymore. His sudden and involuntary nap had done him some good. The overheating he had been feeling had since vanished, and the only thing he was feeling now were the bruised bones he more than likely had as a result of his fall. To top it off he had felt groggy from his sleep, and his forehead was drenched in hour-old sweat. Zuko needed to take his mask off, needed to breathe.

Removing his mask was not something Zuko did often. In his own opinion it always felt like he was removing his face, as the mask was the only thing he could really associate his identity with, and taking it off always left him feeling uncomfortable.

At this moment though, Zuko didn't care, he needed fresh air, and sometimes his mask just didn't allow that. He pulled himself from out of the log, and stared up at the cloudy sky above. His hand grasped the wooden theater mask, pulling it off his face, and letting it drop to the ground as Zuko gaze remained still. His long, untamed, black locks of hair had dropped down, veiling over the right half of his face. The pitter-patter of cool rain against his scarred skin was almost serene.

He had almost forgotten what rain against his face felt like. No longer had it been coming down as violently, now it had slowed to a light drizzle, and it felt nice. It reminded Zuko of something Iroh had once told him, something he sometimes wishes he would keep in mind.

" Hiding behind the mask may bring a sense of security with it, but it can also blind you. Obscuring the small things in life from you. You cannot remain behind the wall you had put up forever Zuko...For you will eventually begin to rot in your own solitude. "

Zuko truly wished he could remove the mask at his own leisure, but any attempt to do so had been prevented by a voice in the back of his mind. A cruel, taunting voice, telling him that the moment it comes off, the world would turn on him, and he'd no longer have that feeling of safety to protect himself.

An audible growl came from his exposed mouth, and he dropped to his knees, punching the water below in hopes he wouldn't see his reflection. " Dammit! "

Unbeknownst to Zuko, Katara had just returned.

Her eyes slightly widened when she had taken notice of Lee, who was no longer asleep, but rather hunched over on his hands and knees. She caught sight of his mask laid out on the ground, and she quickly pulled her hand over her mouth to hide her gasp.

Lee was unmasked. As silently as possible, Katara crept forward, moving to Lee's left hand side, her curiosity finally getting the better of her. " This is wrong...But, I have to see… "

But everything seemed to stop when she saw it, when she saw what had been hidden behind the mask.

Showing from behind the unkempt strands of hair was a horrific burn, a scar. A scar that took up much of the left half of his face. Things were starting to make a little more sense to her, at least she could find a good reason for him to personally fight back against the Fire Nation. And it explained him talking in his sleep.

" ...It won't go away... " She repeated mentally.

" Lee… " She hadn't meant to say it out loud, truly she didn't. But seeing the grievous blemish brought about a flood of sympathy, the same kind she had showed Aang when he discovered Gyatso's body.

Zuko's eyes shot open wide as his burned eye's gaze shot left, landing on Katara. In a panic, Zuko turned his head away, scrambling to grab his mask and put it back on, not caring for the mud that now coated it.

Katara stepped forward, reaching out to him. " Lee...I'm sorry I just… "

" ...Just forget it… " He said rasped. Zuko lowered himself into the log, grabbing his swords, and Katara's tunic, and as he went to turn to give it to her, she was in his face.

" I won't just forget it...But...I also won't pry. I'm a stranger...And I don't deserve to know, but maybe...You'll tell me someday. " She reached her hands up to the mask, brushing the mud off and giving a sorrowful smile.

" ...Someday… " He spoke in the same husky tone. Not wanting to linger in the spot any longer, Zuko placed the article of clothing in Katara's hands, taking notice of the new items in her possession. " ...Nice bag. Where'd you find that… "

She smiled again, this time lacking the sorrow. " I was a bit busy while you were asleep… "

" I can tell… " He started walking, motioning for her to follow. " You'll have to tell me what all you did. "

But Katara just stood there. " You can't possibly want to leave now! "

" I feel fine, besides the rain won't last much longer. "

" But Lee! I'm starving...And my feet hurt...And I was- " Her tired ramble was cut off by half a loaf of bread falling into her hands.

" Eat that and let's get moving. We have a long road ahead of us. " He started off without her, looking back as she stared at the food. " There's a port town just South of here, we can rest there and get some real food...So hurry up and eat before it goes stale. "

Katara was at a loss for words. He had food on him this whole time! She had to go out in search of it, getting chased and burned by firebenders, and just happens to have some bread on him. She really shouldn't be mad, she discovered she could heal, she had managed to beat four, well technically three, firebenders. She felt powerful, and part of her was thankful she hadn't known about the bread.

That part was not the part of her who had been starving, which unfortunately was most of her at that moment. " You had food on you this whole time and didn't tell me! I never got to finish my dinner last night and I've been so hungry… "

He glanced back at her, gold eyes meeting blue. He smirked under the mask. " You never asked. " He suddenly took off in a sprint.

Katara felt a twinge of frustration in her. This boy was just like Sokka and was going to be the death of her. " Lee! You get back here! " She shoved the bread into her mouth, giving chase to the masked swordsman. " When I get my hands on him I'm gonna-! " Her frustration was short-lived though, as she started smiling through the bread clasped in between her teeth.

Maybe traveling with Lee would be better than she initially thought. Sure he was bound to get in even more trouble along the way, but having a friend like him would certainly make going down the long road much easier, and maybe even more fun.