Chapter Eight

Katara stared at the last dieing embers of the fire. After they had left the ship, they had walked a long ways, only to discover that the "Inn" Uncle Iroh was talking about was actually just a small clearing in the forest. Katara couldn't help grinning as she thought of how mad Prince Zuko had been to learn this new information. But since they couldn't sail on until the storm passed they had been forced to set up camp here. Hearing a crack behind her she glanced up to see Prince Zuko enter the clearing carrying fire wood. She looked at him and her mind wondered back to the events that had taken place on the ship earlier that day. She wanted to hate Zuko, she wanted to so badly. After all, he was fire nation. And on top of that, his main goal in life was the capture, and maybe even kill, the Avatar, Aang. But yet she just couldn't bring herself to hate him. No matter how hard she tried, she just couldn't. She was even more confused by what had taken place on the ship that day. Why would he do that? Prince Zuko isn't one to show apologize, or show kindness. And why to me? No matter how hard she tried though she couldn't come up with an answer to these questions.

"What are you looking ask?" Zuko asked sharply, seeing Katara staring at him.

"N-nothing." She said quickly and looked away quickly.

"I still don't see why my Uncle is letting you wonder around like this. That's a pretty stupid move on his part." Zuko said, as he concentrated on lighting the wood with his flames, without catching the entire clearing on fire.

"Well it's not exactly like I can get of this island without a boat! I bend water, not walk on it." She glanced at him and a smug came onto her face, "Besides, what are you so afraid of? Scared I'll beat you again in yet another fight?"

"What!" he spun around, "You didn't beat me! Far from it! I would never be taken out by a girl!"

"Fire." Katara said calmly.

"What?" he spat angrily.

She pointed to the large area of grass that he had just set ablaze. "You've set the ground on fire."

"What do you mean I've set the- OH MY GOODNESS! The grounds on fire!"

Katara burst into laughter. Prince Zuko jumped up and down on the flames but only succeeded in burning his foot which made him howl louder, and say some some what nastier, words.

"Having problems?" Katara asked him sweetly.

"Hey you're the water bender! Get in here and put it out!"

"And why would I do that?" she asked, examining her fingernails in a show of disinterest.

"Because I'm ordering you to! NOW!"

"I'm sorry; I don't take orders from you. Maybe if you asked nicely……"

"I will not ask a prisoner for they're help! I can just call my Uncle and the guards over here and they'll put it out!"

"And you can explain to them exactly how it started."

Prince Zuko opened his mouth, closed it, and opened it again. Finally he glanced at the fire then back up at Katara. He sighed, rolled his eyes, and muttered a few choice words under his breath. "Would you please," he said, between gritted teeth, "Put out this fire?"

The flames suddenly sparked brighter. "As in right now!"

"Mmmm…." Katara considered it. "Ok, since you said please." She got up, smoothed out her dress, and walked over to the edge of the water. She took a deep breathe, closed her eyes, and began to draw water out of the sea and dump it onto the now frighteningly large flames. Soon they were reduced to a smoking pile of black grass. She opened her eyes and smiled at her work.

"Ok, that's it. You've caused enough trouble for today and you broke the water bending rule. You have to get back to camp right this minute!"

Katara gaped at him in astonishment. "What!"

"You heard me!"

Her cheeks flared red in anger. "Oh my goodness! Of all the selfish, stupid, absurd things I have heard, this tops them all! I just saved your butt and all you can say is that I broke a rule! One you asked me to break! I cannot believe you! You are lower than I thought!"

"What's that suppose to mean!" Zuko asked angrily, taking a step towards her.

"You know what it means! What, you want to try to fight me again? Bring it on!"

"I-"

Just then there was a crack and one of the guards walked into the clearing. "Prince Zuko, your Uncle would like to speak with you."

Zuko glared at Katara then turned to the guard, "Tell him I will be with him in a moment." He started to follow the guard out of the clearing. He paused as he passed Katara.

"Tonight." He hissed. "At midnight. Meet me at the cliff in the woods. We'll settle this thing once and for all." He turned to go then turned back. "That is," he grinned smugly, "If you're not to chicken."

"I'll be there." Katara said coldly and watched in silence as he walked away.