The ruins of a temple long gone lay shattered in the woodland, stones cracked and fallen, overgrown with grass and weeds. The tallest and oldest trees nearby had seen this place when it was standing tall and proud. They had also seen the horrors of the day of the battle, the day when the Fire Nation launched their first attack. It was in the middle of the Earth Kingdom, undisturbed and untouched for years and years. But there, a wolf lay among the ruins, singing songs to the twilight as a Barn Owl with a face that held the moon itself looked down and grieved. As dawn approached, the skyline turned blood red, and shadows were cast over the land, darkness coming and going quickly. When light returned, the wolf was gone, and the Barn Owl had disappeared, silence still and cold in the forest.
A bright flash blazed across the sky, and the screech of a hawk tore the land. In his talons was a girl, one whom he had befriended and saved the life of. But now, hell was set upon the land as they flew, and flames erupted from no where. A yellow flash blinded them for a second, and the hawk turned into a boy; an airbender. He held onto the firebender in his arms, his glider singed and burned, a spark of fire burning a hole in one end. To the girl, he whispered "Perhaps this is not the end, my friend. Maybe we will meet again, in the next lifetime… I'll come for you…" he smiled at the girl in his arms, the twelve year old, only one year younger than he, who was crying softly. She knew as the sky fell around them, they would be next.
"I know you will." She whispered back as another flame was sent hurdling their way, this time burning through the right wing of the airbender's glider. The sun did not rise that day. The horizon lay covered in blood and fire, torn and singed as ash lay on the ground. A dim screaming soon turned into the howl of the wolf at the ruins, and the world seemed to collapse.
As the howl ended Amara jolted upright, breathing heavily as she looked around the room. It was just a dream… Good. She never wanted to relive that horrid day. Never. Once was enough and if she had the choice, she would have made sure it never had happened. But life wasn't like that, and neither was it kind to her.
The firebender's amber eyes blinked once or twice as she looked around the room, finding the Fire Nation symbol plastered on the wall, as well as herself in a soft bed by the wall in one corner of the room. She tried hard to remember all that happened, but nothing after being smashed into the tree came to her. Amara had been set in the room; just put into bed and left alone. What kind of kidnapper is stupid enough to do that? There must be guards around or something. The thought streamed through her head as she stood up, walking to the door, expecting to find it locked, but as she turned the knob, the door easily popped open.
Okay, something is wrong here, she thought once more, glancing briefly outside before stepping into the hall, careful to be silent as she did so, knowing well to be quiet incase there were others around. Amara looked down the hallway, raising an eyebrow as she waited for something to happen. "I see you've finally woken up," the voice of the Fire Nation prince echoed on the ship, Amara herself turning around on one foot as she faced him, expressionless as he walked up to her.
Wait… that voice. She knew that voice! Why hadn't she realized it last night? There was no way in hell this was him! His face… what happened? Sure she had heard rumors of the Agni Kai between him and his father, but never believed that this would happen. "Zuko? " The mere mentions of his name made her shiver, taking a step back. When no answer was heard, Amara turned and ran down the hall, finding the stairway as she ran up to get to the entrance of the dock, but two guards planted spears in her way, knocking her down the steps as she landed on the ground, sitting up slowly as she looked over at Zuko. "What have you done with Aang! Tell me now!" she screamed at him, standing up and wiping some blood from her mouth.
"What's the fun of just telling you when I can keep you guessing?" the prince replied with a smirk, enjoying their little game, having not to worry about the Avatar escaping. Ever since Zhao had been killed at the North Pole, no one was in his way of capturing and turning in the airbender. Actually, this time, it had been easy to find him, after the Fire Nation troops alerted one of his crew members. On their way to the city of Bah Sing Sei, they had come across the campsite of Aang and the group, including an extra surprise; Amara. He hadn't expected ever seeing her again, and it was interesting to have her on his ship.
"You jerk. You've always been like this! Ignorant and selfish!" Amara yelled back at him, satisfied with the scowl on his face as he ordered one of the guards to take her to the prison hold, tossing her in the room she had been in previously, not really thinking it was all that bad in there, especially with the nice bed. This time, though, the door was locked, and all she heard before silence fell was Zuko's muttering as he passed by, and the slamming of the door as the prince entered his quarters.