Sorry for the overly long delay, this chapter has been giving me so much trouble.

I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender.

Get over it and move on with your life.

"Which way was the ship headed when they left the port?" Katara asked one of the fishermen who was just about to leave the docks.

"They were headed east, at least I think it was east, maybe it was northeast, I don't know. Hey Ted!"

"Yeah?" a larger man, balding and muscled asked standing up from a pile of crates already on the small sailing ship.

"Which way was that Fire Navy ship headed when they left?"

"They went west."

"Are you sure? I could've sworn they went east… Hey Norman!" This time a scrawny man stood up from the ships decks.

"Yes?"

"Which way did that Fire Navy ship go when they left?"

"They went south, I'm sure of it."

"That's odd, Ted thinks they went west, and I think they went east…"

"You're all idiots," A tall, lanky boy said as he walked up to them, his hands stuffed into his pockets "They went North."

"The mighty earthbender speaks! Go back to your whore of a mother and take her with you when you crawl back under the rock you came from!" The first fisherman shouted at the new comber. The boy shook with rage and a pebble rose from the ground shaking slightly in the air.

"You can't even earthbend right!" Ted jeered, joining in the torment of the boy. Katara suddenly walked over to the boy and placed her hand on his shoulder, he looked up in surprise at her touch, staring into her eyes, looking for a hint of maliciousness in them; he was surprised to find none. Even more surprised when she turned to face the laughing fishermen.

"Hey girlie! Why are you standin up for him?" The first fishermen laughed "He's nothin but a worthless bastard!" Katara stared at them intently, moving her hands slightly as an overly large wave crashed over them.

"Thank you for your time good sirs, I believe I will make the decision for myself who are the ones that are truly worthless here." She said, turning away from them, the young boy staring after her.

"Aang, we have a problem." Katara sighed as she joined Sokka and Aang at their camp.

"What?"

"Well, I went around town and asked everyone I could find which way the Firebenders went."

"And…?"

"Everyone had a different direction."

"Everyone?"

"Everyone."

"Which way should we go then?" Aang asked as he plopped onto the ground next to the flying bison.

"I think we should go north." Katara said kneeling next to him.

"And why's that?" Sokka asked from on top of Appa.

"There was an earthbender who I think I trust even more than everyone else."

"Well, why was that?"

"He just seemed a little more……… intelligent than the other people I asked."

"Oh."

"I don't like it; we can't run off in any direction with Fiam's life at stake here." Sokka said sighing heavily.

"I know that!" Katara yelled in exasperation "But else can we do?"

"She's right you know…" Aang sighed as he stared up at the sky above them.

"What if we find out which dock they left from?" Sokka asked rubbing his chin lightly in thought.

"That wouldn't help." Katara sighed

"Why not?" Her brother asked

"The bay here is too big, we wouldn't be able to tell which way they went." She said angrily

"Okay then, we're back where we started. Any suggestions?" Aang asked trying to make piece.

"You could let me show you, I was out on the cliffs when they left." A voice spoke from behind them, causing the three to spin around. Katara sighed in relief when she realized it was the earthbender from the village.

"Hello," Katara greeted him, smiling brightly.

"Ummm… hi. Do you want my help?" He asked suddenly unsure of himself.

"Yes, it's better than doing nothing." Katara told him standing up "I'm Katara, that's Sokka, and that's Aang."

"Nice to meet you my name's Zan."

Dull.

Dull.

Duller.

Fiam sat her knees tucked under herself, both legs numb with sitting on them so long. She wanted to look up, exam her surroundings, cry, even hum an old nursery song, she wanted to do something! But no, she just had to sit here. And wait. And wait some more. God damn she wished she could sigh.

Duller.

Dullest.

Amazing! It just got even duller.

At least the fact that she had to pretend she had a fever kept her warm. She couldn't even imagine how much more uncomfortable she would be if she was cold on top of all of this. Suddenly off in the distance, she heard footsteps, they grew closer and closer, and suddenly there was the great big crashing noise of her two guards standing up to solute someone important.

Had the three days passed already? No, they couldn't have. Could they?

"Honestly, with all due respect My Lord, How can you expect her to be healthy enough to be questioned if she dies tomorrow? Or the next day? I'm a healer sir, not a miracle worker, with all due respect sir, and if we wait too long, that's what we'll need to get this girl back from the lands of the dead." That was a newer voice, definitely female, it sounded old, rough, and yet somehow comforting

"I have already told you Magoshi, that I want this girl to wait it out until the end of three days."

Guessing that the healer was going to check her temperature soon, she started to raise it even high, beads of sweat involuntarily popped out across her forehead and she moaned slightly as if in agony.

"Sir, I'm guessing she has grown worse in even the greater part of one day, what could be the harm in allowing her to go the infirmary now? You'll be able to question her soon sir."

"Fine, Fine, she is in your charge now, but should she escape at the next port, it is your fault."

"Yes, sir of course sir," there was a pause here as the healer most likely curtsied for her prince "You two out there, the extras, please go gather a stretcher and bring it back, quickly now." Footsteps rushed off followed by a slower more even pace, Prince Zuko, another set of slow steps came towards her, but slightly lighter than the armored prince's. She understood when suddenly the shackles around one of her wrists snapped off, fortunately the one behind the other arm, she allowed herself to swing dangerously to the side as the ship hit a wave and the woman began to unlock her other shackle as soon as she did, Fiam fell forward as if those shackles had been the only thing keeping her up. The woman caught her and they waited as the soldiers came back with the stretcher and placed her, rather roughly, on it and carried her off towards the infirmary.

All according to plan.