Disclaimer: Homgosh. Sorry for the delay. Check my profile.

I hope no one's lost interest. I'm so paranoid. But the reviews I got last chapter were SPECTACULAR, many were so well thought out and beautiful. You people are amazing. Hopefully you'll leave another review if only because I love hearing what you have to say.

Edited for a few little typos. Darn formatting.

Why the Caged Bird Sings

08

I Came, I Saw, I Hate

Katara awoke with a yawn and rolled onto her side. Then she realized sand was sticking to her clothes and skin and she decided to sit up and stretch instead.

It was a wonderful morning and surprisingly she had slept remarkably well. She had tried to stay awake, honestly, but the night was so thick and the ocean so soothing...

Suddenly the girl's eyes flew open. Wait. It was morning? Then...

She scrambled up and looked around the surrounding site.

No sign of Aang or Sokka.

All she saw was the bags, still lying undisturbed, hallows in the sand where she and Zuko had slept, and Zuko himself standing a few yards down the beach, facing the ocean.

Slightly dazed, Katara rubbed at her eyes and made her way over to the Firebender. She approached cautiously, though, as she didn't know what type of mood he was in. She'd almost completely forgotten about the previous night's little incident.

"Where's Aang and Sokka?" she asked and stifled another yawn. She frowned as she realized she had sand in her shoes.

Zuko tensed his shoulders and then relaxed them, trying to help the circulation to his bound hands. He then turned slightly and gave Katara an unreadable look.

"They never came."

Of course Katara had suspected that, but she wasn't too keen on accepting it. "You mean you haven't seen them?"

"No," Zuko replied.

Trying to keep upbeat and optimistic, Katara stretched her arms above her head and listened to her stiff joints creak. "Well, they're probably on their way."

Zuko raised an eyebrow in doubt.

"I bet they stayed the night at our old camp," Katara continued, nodding.

Zuko didn't really believe that but he said nothing. He had woken up peacefully this morning, an hour or so before Katara had. So far nothing had happened to make him angry and thus he was in a relatively good mood.

So far, anyway.

"How long have you been awake?" Katara continued, feeling talkative. She shifted her feet and brushed off her robe. Sand has a tendency to get annoying after a while, especially after one spends all night wallowing in it.

"A while," Zuko replied, deadpan.

"Anything happen?" the girl asked, hiding her pride at Zuko having stayed with her despite the fact he could've easily walked off anytime he'd wanted to.

"No."

It was then the Waterbender decided Zuko wasn't really a morning person. He was more of an afternoon person, and she decided that was all right. Most people were.

Getting an idea, Katara began pulling off her shoes. As she proceeded to shake the sand out of them, Zuko watched her through the edge of his vision. He had actually enjoyed the relative solitude provided to him for a little while, and he had also busied himself with walking up and down the beach, inspecting it. The prince had also caught himself glancing out over the waves, looking for any sign of his ship and Iroh. He had seen nothing and he had to admit he was a little disappointed.

The Waterbender set her shoes down and made her way out to the ocean. The moment her toes hit the wet, smooth sand of the tidal area she sighed in obvious contentment.

She could also feel Zuko's eyes on her back. Not letting him ruin her moment, she spun around and jabbed her thumb out at the sea. "You mind?"

Zuko lifted his head a little in question, his eyebrow still raised.

"I'm going to practice until the others get here," Katara explained.

Oh, Zuko thought. She means Waterbending.

"Whatever," the Firebender replied. A breeze flew by and he breathed deep, feeling the weight of his boots bite into the cool sand.

Katara almost rolled her eyes. All right, so he really wasn't a morning person. At least he wasn't pacing about angrily or muttering to himself. Or scowling. Right now he mostly just looked placid and bored - it was a relatively nice change.

"Alright." She turned to look at the ocean and smiled as she extended her hands over the water.

"C'mon, Sokka!"

"Hey, who's the leader here, me or you?" the older boy quipped, catching up with the Airbender. They entered a crowded street and wound themselves through patrons of seemingly every nationality.

Aang grinned at Sokka from his left. "I thought we agreed I was the leader. I'm the Avatar, after all!"

Sokka made a squeaking noise and slapped a hand over Aang's mouth. The Airbender tried to muffle out a few words but Sokka shook a finger at him, still pushing him along.

"Gee, yell it so everyone can hear, why don't you?" the older boy hissed while glancing about them. Aang blinked and then looked sheepish. Sokka pulled his hand away. "...Besides, I never agreed to that."

Aang rubbed at his cheek, "Well, Katara did."

"Katara did that just to spite me."

"I think she meant it."

"Aang, what have I told you before? You never trust women. Ever."

Aang suddenly looked the picture of utter innocence. "Are you just saying that because you're not popular with them?"

Sokka's mouth dropped and his next sentence came out high-pitched. "But I am liked by girls!"

Aang stifled a laugh and suddenly looked coy. He held his head up and strutted importantly, his glider tapping against his back. "Well, I haven't seen that!"

Sokka scowled, prowling beside him. "Yeah, well, that's because you're a kid!"

"Girls like me," Aang continued. "Maybe you're just not important enough."

"You know, Katara was right. You DO let this Avatar stuff go to your head."

Aang beamed. "I thought you said never to trust girls!"

Sokka threw his hands up in the air. "Stop playing mind games with me!"

"Okay, okay," Aang relented, patting his friend fondly on the shoulder.

"...You know," Sokka suddenly continued, "Katara would have had a smart reply to that."

"Yeah, she would've," Aang replied. He suddenly looked downcast.

"Miss her?" the Water Tribe boy inquired.

"Yeah..." Aang muttered. "It just doesn't feel right without her..."

"Yeah," Sokka said. They exited the crowded street and trudged down a less occupied side street. "She's been stuck to me ever since we were kids."

The younger boy suddenly looked sympathetically at his friend. "You love her a lot, huh?"

Sokka only nodded. Suddenly he stopped and placed his hands on his hips. Aang stopped, baffled.

"You'd better not tell her I said that!" Sokka demanded, jutting out his chin.

Aang laughed, waving a hand dismissively. "Okay, okay. Geez!"

Just then a door opened and slammed. Aang and Sokka froze and whirled around to pinpoint its location.

A scruffy Fire Nation soldier stopped and peered at them through sweeping eyebrows. "...Hey! What are you kids doing out here?" he demanded angrily.

Sokka grabbed Aang and shoved the younger boy behind him. "Uh, you know - walking, talking, breathing, RUNNING." The older boy squeaked the last word out as another soldier joined the first and with Aang in tow took off down the street.

Aang flailed along, half running, half being dragged. He could plainly hear the rough growls of "Get them! I want to question them!" and the pounding sounds of boots connecting with dirt as they were being chased.

Sokka broke out onto the crowded main street again and froze, glancing left and right. "Which way did we come in?" he wailed.

Aang jerked his hand away, looking slightly panicked. "Sokka, what're we going to do?" he asked.

"Hey!" The second soldier burst out onto the street and paused for breath. Upon spotting the two boys he pointed angrily. "You! Halt!"

"Just run!" Sokka replied, and with a duck he had taken off to his left.

Aang went to follow him but another soldier emerged from a store just beside him. Completely panicked now Aang changed course and ran in the opposite direction.

He jostled and ducked under people who either didn't notice or muttered about pushy kids. He realized being small had its advantages and after picking his way down a fair ways the Airbender found an alley. He ducked into it and jogged down it, stopping to breathe. He then glanced back at the opening warily.

The two soldiers ran briefly by the opening and were gone, still making their way down the street. They hadn't seen him duck away.

Aang grinned goofily to himself, adrenalized at his near escape. Straightening up he rubbed his head and reached back to grab his glider so that he could go and find Sokka and finally leave.

But as he did a gentle but firm hand grasped his shoulder. The blood froze in the Airbender's veins as he was spun around.

"So, you're the Avatar?"

Sokka pounded down the street before stopping at the entrance to a smith's shop. He held his stomach and glanced behind him, having lost the sounds of chase long ago.

"I guess I'm not good enough to be chased," he muttered, but at the same time he felt worry for Aang. He'd already been caught once, after all.

Sokka glanced up at the sky and despaired. It was growing dark and the night was deepening with every minute. Stars were already beginning to twinkle at him from far above.

The crowd was beginning to thin as well as people headed home. Sokka hugged himself, feeling extremely alone. With a pause he began to walk back down the way he'd came, deciding if he was going to search for Aang, that'd be the way to go. Hopefully the soldiers had forgotten about them or given up chase.

Suddenly a harsh voice broke out from his side. "Hey, o, Laddy-o. Got a cibblin' floin - eh, a flibbin' coin? Or two?"

Sokka whirled around, expecting the worse. His hand was already on his boomerang when he stopped and peered into the darkness of a side street.

An old man stood blinking at him, wearing a simple brown tunic with green shoes. He didn't have a beard or moustache and instead his graying hair was pulled back into a bun.

"Eh... sorry, I don't," Sokka replied, eyeing him warily. The old man nodded sagely.

"Figures, most yittle loungings - eh, little youngin's, say the same." Suddenly the man raised a bushy eyebrow. "I say, are yer lost, Laddy-o?"

Sokka relaxed his hand from his boomerang, breathing a heavy sigh. "No, just looking for someone." Well, it was partially true.

Suddenly the old man reached out and snagged Sokka by the shoulder, dragging him into the street to stand awkwardly beside him. "Well then! You ken werly vell - very well, I means, not too spectaluristic - good, meaning - at speakin', Laddy. Eh, my place is free."

Sokka blinked, having to sort through the old man's words and fix them mentally, placing them in proper order. Once he figured out what he had said, he shook his head. "Nah, I can't do that..." The old man looked nice enough, but the boy was anxious to find his friends.

"Huh. Well, yeh kent get fair far, night 'n all, lost is what you'll get. I've got some vonderful wittles - tasty vittles, food stuffs, meaning - at home. I know this ole place like the back of my lideyes. Eh, eyelids."

"Food?" Sokka suddenly asked, perking up.

"Yea, plenty. If'n you want it, that is, not too particular on eatin', are ya?"

Sokka shook his head.

"Well ye'll fine do just. Eh, do just fine, meaning. I'll help ya look fer yer, eh - ?"

"Friend. He's a boy, younger than me. Bald. He has a blue tattoo on his head." Sokka studied the old man carefully as he described Aang, searching for any sign that might indicate he was a Fire Nation spy.

The old man shook his head in wonderment. "Huh! Kiddy-o's these days, gettin' all peculiar and queer with blatoos - eh, blue tattoos of a sort? Shouldn't be too far - eh, hard, to find. I'll help."

Sokka reluctantly relented to the old man's persistent hospitality. It was simply getting too dark too fast. He wouldn't be able to find Aang now even if he wanted too.

Sokka let the old man lead him down the street to his home, but all the while the boy was on the guard for an ambush.

It never came, and the old man agreed to help him first thing in the morning in his search for Aang.

Meanwhile Aang struggled against the grip on his shoulder. "Let me go!"

An aged man gazed placidly at him but the grip did not loosen. "Please cease struggling, young Avatar. I am not here to capture you."

Aang paused in mild shock. He glared uneasily at the old man before recognition dawned on his face.

The old man forced a small smile. "It is my Nephew's job to do that, not mine, you see."

"You're...?"

"General Iroh. Retired, actually. Will you listen to me?"

Slowly Aang nodded. Iroh retracted his hand and it disappeared into his sleeves.

"I trust you will not run away?" Iroh asked.

Aang continued to study him, but shook his head. The Airbender could see no other Fire Nation soldiers around or about the vicinity - the old man looked completely alone.

Iroh closed his eyes for a moment and then opened them. "Have you seen my nephew?"

"Who's your nephew?" Aang asked shakily, though he fancied he already knew the answer.

"Zuko," Iroh replied. A subtle wounded look appeared in the old general's eyes. "I seem to have misplaced him, you see."

Aang swallowed. "I... I haven't seen him," he lied.

Iroh gazed passively at the Airbender. Aang felt a sudden sweat break out against the back of his neck. He found lying not so easy this time - Iroh looked so... grim. Not to mention insightful. Aang was sure the old man had detected his lie as soon as it had found its way out of his mouth.

"...Well," Aang rectified, "maybe I have." He winced.

"Oh?" Iroh asked. He suddenly closed his eyes. "Then he is alive, just as I thought."

"Yeah," Aang replied, praying Iroh wouldn't be furious with him if he told the truth. "We, uh, found him."

Iroh opened his eyes once more. "Ah?"

"Um, he was... we were scared he would..."

Iroh suddenly smiled. "You were afraid he would try to capture you?"

"Yeah," Aang mumbled.

Iroh looked thoughtful for a moment. "And?"

"So, we..." Aang felt his throat go dry. "We captured him before he could do anything." He breathed; ready to break into a run if Iroh grew upset.

Instead the old man continued to stand quietly, hands in sleeves. Aang realized he actually looked quite pleasant, not frightening at all. He was barely taller than Aang himself.

"I trust you did not injure him?" Iroh inquired finally.

"We tried not to," Aang replied truthfully. He squirmed under the general's stern gaze. "We left him with our friend. He seemed fine."

"Friend?"

"My friend, Katara."

A strange look Aang couldn't place suddenly wormed over Iroh's features. "Your female companion?"

Aang nodded.

There was silence before Iroh suddenly burst out laughing. Aang jumped about two feet in the air and threw his hands up habitually, as if warding off an attack. When he realized what was happening, the Airbender proceeded to blink furiously.

"Haha! Oh, how embarrassing it must be for him. Oh Nephew, perhaps you'll learn something!" The old general wiped a tear from his eye and smiled down at Aang. "You have nothing to fear, young Avatar. Zuko, though fiery, is full of bluff. He would not harm your friend, even if he did manage to escape."

Aang suddenly felt as if a huge weight had lifted off his shoulders. "I hope so."

"Ah, indeed. Where are they?"

"On a nearby island," Aang replied. He suddenly winced sheepishly. "You know, I always knew he wasn't so bad..."

Iroh raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"

"Yeah. He did help me, after all." Aang smiled faintly, gratitude on his features.

Interest overtook Iroh's demeanor. "He did, now?"

The boy then realized that Iroh had no knowledge of Zuko aiding him when he had been captured. The Airbender wondered whether he should mention anything at all and decided to play it safe.

"Uh...never mind."

Iroh held Aang in his gaze but decided to let the boy off. He placed his hand on Aang's shoulder. "I would be very grateful if you would return my nephew to me."

The Airbender looked down at the ground. "...I guess so."

"But let's not hurry ourselves too much." Aang looked up, almost thinking he had heard the old man chuckle. "It is growing dark now. Why don't you come stay with me for tonight, and we can bargain for my nephew tomorrow?"

The Avatar suddenly grew pensive and tensed. "Come with you?"

Iroh gave Aang an almost hurt look. "I have already told you I do not wish to capture you. Zuko would be very upset with me if I did. You see, he feels this is his own little adventure."

Despite his paranoia, Aang suddenly found himself willing to listen to the charismatic old general. He forced a little grin. "Well, I guess I could, but I'm trying to find my friend."

"Ah," Iroh uttered. "The other boy?"

"Yeah. I lost him earlier when we were being chased." The Airbender's eyes suddenly went big. "You don't think he got caught, do you? What will you do to him?"

"I do not know of what you speak, but whoever gave you chase was not under my authority," Iroh replied. "Otherwise, I would have known of it."

Aang frowned, looking quizzical. "But who would they take orders from, then?"

A dark looked passed over Iroh's eyes. He moved his hand to Aang's back and proceeded to walk, steering the young boy along beside him. "Do not worry about that. I am sure your friend is fine. You may look for him tomorrow. But now it grows late, and we do not want to idle. Other eyes may be watching us."

A chill ran down Aang's spine, though he did not understand the entirety of what Iroh was saying. He looked back over his shoulder at the darkness and his thoughts turned to Sokka and Katara.

I hope I'm making the right decision...

Zuko watched in (though he'd never admit it) fascination as Katara practiced and performed her Bending moves in front of him.

She drew up water, and formed small waves, and pulled at the ocean until it touched the sand. She formed long stretches of floating water, and twisted them, and then practiced on sliding them back into the ocean with ease.

Then she went on to try out water whips, and a couple of times she grew frustrated and stomped at the sand angrily while waving her fists around in the air.

Zuko found himself smirking in amusement when this happened. Indeed, he'd been wrong when he'd thought of her as the passive little Waterbender.

She's not very patient, is she?

"Maybe you should stop now," Zuko called out, trying not to betray his amusement by laughing. Her expression only made it harder.

"Oh yeah?" Katara shot back, stomping to Zuko through the shallow water. It barely reached her ankles. "Why don't YOU try it, since you're so perfect at everything?"

"I don't need to," Zuko purred. Just as he anticipated, this comment only made Katara angrier. She puffed out her cheeks and turned her back on him, 'hmphing.'

Zuko reclined back a little and looked up at the sky from his seat on the sand. He was growing restless and wanted to go somewhere, anywhere. Not to mention his wrists were beginning to throb. He fancied they were starting to bruise.

At least his head wasn't as bad as it had been. It didn't ache horribly now unless something touched it directly. Then, well, it was still hell.

Katara suddenly changed her mind and relented, sloshing up to sit down a few feet away from Zuko. She folded her arms and sighed, digging her toes into the sand.

"They should have made it here by now," she replied, sounding almost sad.

Zuko glanced over at the girl, wondering if he should try to comfort her. Then he remembered he wasn't too good on comforting and abandoned the idea completely. He frowned instead, twisting at his wrists as the chains bit at his skin.

Pulled away from her own moping for a moment, Katara watched the process. "Do you need some balm?"

"No," Zuko lied.

The Waterbender continued to eye him. "...I'll get you some just in case." She got up, feeling like she needed to busy herself with something, otherwise she'd just sit around and wallow in her angst. If she worked and stayed busy in some form or another, her mind was drawn away from her problems. It was also a way to ignore the hunger pangs that wound their way through her abdomen, which were becoming more and more distracting.

Zuko watched her get up and grab the familiar small basin. However when she started walking towards the forest the prince grew alarmed and managed to heave himself up to stand without using his arms, which is a great feat on sloping sand, which tends to give way under weight.

"What do you think you're doing?" the Firebender demanded. Katara stopped and swiveled around to blink at him.

"I'm going to make you some balm," she replied.

Zuko grunted but swiftly jogged over to stand in front of the girl, his back to the forest and his eyes glued on hers.

"And where are you going?" he asked moodily.

Katara placed her free hand on her hip. "To get some leaves to make it with."

Zuko had no idea how to make natural balm, so he decided not to press that, but he continued to block Katara's way. "I said I don't need it."

"I think you do," Katara snapped, poking out her bottom lip.

Zuko ground his teeth. "It's dangerous to get near the forest. You know that."

Katara sighed, shifting the basin to the opposite hand. "Zuko, the plants are right there. Nothing's going to get me, the ocean's right here if I need it. Besides," she briefly threw in a coy grin, "you'll take care of anything that pops up, right?"

Zuko dug his boot into the sand and dirt in front of her and leaned forward to where his breath barely stroked her face.

"There's no need in taking stupid risks, Katara."

The girl was going to open her mouth to reply when suddenly she stopped, struck dumb. "...What?"

"I said there's no need to take stupid risks," Zuko replied, still moody.

"No. I mean, yes. I mean no. I mean..." The girl fumbled a bit, tripping over words. "...You said my name."

"Eh?" Zuko uttered before realizing that he had, indeed, said her name. Suddenly feeling patronized and slightly flustered, the prince barked out, "So?"

A faint smile hovered on Katara's features, though she wasn't entirely aware of it. "It was just nice to hear it, is all." Her face suddenly grew stern. "Now move over, buster, before I make you!"

Zuko huffed, turning his nose up in the air regally. "Buster? Make me? Someone seems to have forgotten their place."

"Who's the one tied up?" Katara replied with a little smirk of her own. Zuko's mouth opened and then closed. "As I thought."

The prince only growled. Katara sighed and shook her head, deciding not to push her luck any further.

"Oh, come on. It'll make you feel better, and that'll help both of us."

"What are you implying?"

"I'm implying that when you're feeling rotten, you act rotten, and then you make me feel rotten, and then I act rotten."

Zuko set his jaw but decided not to fight that logic. "...You should have more tolerance."

"Well, you shouldn't be so rotten."

"Stop saying that."

"Move and I will!"

Zuko whipped himself to the side with angry utterances and Katara stalked past him.

Katara squatted and browsed through some low-lying shrubs, trying to figure out what plant was what and which would be most useful. She frowned and pilfered around until she found a few that looked promising. She honestly didn't know a whole lot in herb lore, but she knew a little from Gran-Gran. Picking off some leaves and inspecting the milky substance she found in some stems, she finally threw together a suitable concoction. Now she just had to pray it would work and that Zuko wouldn't have some horrible allergic reaction. Then he would really be fussy.

Honestly, he's worse than a girl... Katara thought, though with some fondness. She grinned to herself. Then again morning is almost over, so I guess he'd be getting to his normal self about now.

She sighed, inspecting a brown and slightly tattered leaf. Funny how strange it was when he said my name. But I guess it's because he's never said it before. In fact he doesn't really call anyone by name. He doesn't even use Aang's name. Just calls him "Avatar"...

Her thoughts drifted to the night before. Somehow she'd felt... more at ease around Zuko today than she'd felt previously. It was as if their conversation last night had shown her that she could get a little close, and that it was okay.

Though it still left her hungry for more, and she wasn't about to give up on learning about him just yet. And for some reason, judging by some of Zuko's reactions last night, and expressions... she somehow felt like maybe he needed someone to listen to him. Like maybe he had a lot to say, but he just couldn't say it, or didn't want to - for whatever reason.

Maybe he wouldn't be so grumpy if he got some stuff off his chest, she thought idly. Giving the basin a little shake she stood and rubbed at her back. "Okay, Zuko, I got it."

However when she turned around Zuko was nowhere to be seen. Katara froze, her mind seeming to grind to a halt.

"Zuko?" she repeated, frantically looking for him. A heavy knot seemed to form in the pit of her stomach.

Suddenly there was a crunch of leaves, but that was all that alerted the Waterbender. The next thing Katara felt was a blade resting against her throat.

She dropped her basin.

Sokka rolled over on his comfortable cot before slowly peeling open his eyes. He stared at a simple ceiling and simple walls with fishing nets piled on shelves, with little odds and ends scattered about. Slowly he slid out of bed and stumbled into a little kitchen area, where the old man sat sipping some hot tea.

"Well, then! G'mornin', feller lil'. Eh, little feller."

"Good morning," Sokka replied with a huge yawn. He slumped into a nearby chair. "What's for breakfast?"

"Nothing."

Sokka's eyes went big, and for a moment it might have looked like he was going to cry. "Whaaaat?"

The old man guffawed, slapping the boy on the back. "Haven't gotten it yet. 'N ain't we supposed to go look fer, on this fine ole morning, meaning, yer friend?"

Sokka sighed, now depressed as he stood. "I guess so."

The old man beamed at Sokka's moped expression and ruffled his hair, in which Sokka squeaked. "Good, good! Let's git goin'."

"...Not even a crumb to send me on my way?" Sokka whined.

The old man gave Sokka a look. "Now, now, none o' that."

Sokka pouted, following the old man out of the door from his little hutch, located down at the docks. So depressed was he, and so convinced that he was going to faint from hunger at any given moment (though he'd had a hearty dinner that night) he didn't even notice the dark steel ship harbored in the distance.

A dark, steel ship much bigger than the one Zuko commanded.

"Don't move."

Katara started at the voice. It was undeniably female, just as the blade resting at her neck was undeniably sharp and real.

Suddenly there was another crunch of leaves. Katara felt the body behind her stiffen.

"I recommend the same for you," a voice growled out. Katara's breath hitched. It was Zuko!

Indeed, it was Zuko. He stood passively behind a tall girl who currently had a dagger drawn at Katara's throat.

The girl scowled, peering over her shoulder. "Who are you to order me around?"

Quick as lightning, Zuko dropped his weight and lashed out with his leg. His boot caught the girl at her ankles and she flailed, the dagger being drawn away from Katara's throat as she did.

In a combination move, Zuko brought down his boot into the girl's unprotected stomach, though not as roughly as he could have.

There was an oof as all the air was knocked out of her lungs and the girl's back slammed into the ground as she landed.

All this happened in less than a second. Katara barely had time to blink as she stumbled away, hand rubbing at her unharmed skin.

The girl groaned as she lay on the ground. Katara turned around and the girl sat up, rubbing a hand over her stomach and wincing.

"Shoot. You mean it when you mean it, don't you?" the girl muttered, referring to Zuko.

The Firebender towered over the girl with a cocky air. Suddenly his cockiness was directed at Katara as he smirked.

"Told you it was dangerous," he said smoothly. Katara's jaw dropped and she suddenly glared at Zuko accusingly.

"You! You disappeared on purpose!"

Zuko pretended to ignore Katara's outburst. "You should thank me."

"Uh, hey?" the girl called from the ground.

Katara shot the girl a quizzical, but wary look. "Who are you? Are you in league with those thieves?"

"Thieves?" the girl asked, before suddenly bursting out into a fit of laughter. She almost doubled over. "Of course not. That's what I thought you were."

Suddenly the girl leapt nimbly up and brushed off her clothing, which consisted of a style much similar to Katara's, except her leggings were baggy and her outer robe, or tunic, was a dark green. She smirked and fixed her dark hair, which was pulled high into a ponytail.

"My apologies," she hummed, turning her back to Katara and giving Zuko a little bow.

Katara began to stew mentally. The girl was absolutely ignoring her, instead focusing all her attention on Zuko. And she could have sworn she saw her bat her eyelashes, too.

There were a lot of things that Katara didn't know, and even more things she wasn't sure about, but there was one thing she was very, very certain of.

She really, really didn't like this girl.

Plot twist? Maybe? Hehe, most of this chapter was setting some things up, but I've got the next chapter or so planned. Expect more Z/K interaction :). It'll be fun, I think.