Recap:

After a moment's hesitation, the two teens embrace the impossible...or so what it seems.

The teens' kisses became more violent and vigorous as night began to settle in followed by the howl of a wolf…

I feel completely horrible...I never realized how short the last chapter was...so to make it up I wrote the next chapter up. It's five pages long in Microsoft Word...or so what it says. I hope you enjoy this and I am so sorry. This is what you get when you have many other things on your mind. I hope you enjoy this chapter!

Chapter Seven: A Moment in the Woods

The spell that hung over the two was shattered like glass falling on the rough ground. The world spun back to its normal pace as the night sky revealed tiny blue stars sprinkled about in the heavens. The exiled prince raised a graceful eyebrow and watched curiously as the rebel coughed out blood to his right. "Are you all right?" Zuko asked after Jet's coughing ceased into gasps for air. Brown eyes met the prince's followed by a snort in disgust, "Of course…it's probably a phase."

Zuko couldn't figure out if this was a sarcastic remark or the truth. But he doubted he would believe the truth even if the truth was said. Sighing heavily the prince climbed out and allowed the fire burning in his body to dry himself off. Climbing into his clothes and dull-colored armor, the prince found the rebel also doing the same but in a much pained and slower pace. "Are you sure you are all right?" the prince asked in a neutral tone, something in his mind blocked his emotions in fear that he might pull a stunt like before in the water.

The rebel nodded silently before turning his gaze toward the gruesome-looking trees ahead. Night seemed to give everything a darker and fiercer look and so it seemed with his emotions. He somehow now was a slave to the prince…Zuko managed to chain his heart and it seemed there was no going back. Groaning slightly, because of the sharp pains in his chest and also because of the past events, the rebel fell on his knees. Before he could hear the prince's words, he collapsed on the moist ground and allowed himself to fall into a black void.

"Jet?" the prince's eyebrows were raised in confusion by this, what was wrong with him? Cautiously walking forward, Zuko gently prodded the teen with his foot. Thoughts raced through his mind like a mad Komodo Rhino, not knowing when to quite down and rest. Turning the unconscious teen over, he noticed a line of blood seeping out of the boy's mouth. Frowning, Zuko carefully picked the rebel up and hoisted him over his shoulder in one swift movement.

Jet seemed to feel lighter, sighing softly the prince walked forward as he was aware of the bushes and the tree's branches that seemed to claw at him. Growling with determination he pressed on and it seemed to pay off after an hour of battling his way through. There, on the ground before him, was a pillar that seemed to collapse after many years of standing tall. Looking up, he could make out the dark outline of ruins, or so he thought.

Flicking his wrist, flames hovered above his palm like a guiding candle. "Fuck." the prince cursed and he saw a multitude of stairs as far as his eyes could see. Already he found the rebel to be a bitter-sweet companion. Letting out a line of curses, Zuko made his journey up the stairs with a scowl set on his face. Each step seemed to add another one to the top, when he looked up to see his progress it seemed he was still at the beginning. Seconds turned into minuets, minuets turned into an hour until he finally reached the top.

The sweat that was beginning to form on his forehead was suddenly cooled off by the sudden rush of icy winds. Shivering slightly, the flame above his palm flickered for a moment. Zuko was glad he was finally inside the ruins that blocked the icy winds and gave them shelter. It was his haven in the woods and he embraced it with a tired chuckle before dropping the rebel on a pile of blankets.

Blankets?

There, littering the floor, was an assortment of odd jewelry and items. A puzzled look appeared on the tired prince's face. What was this place? Grabbing a few large branches, that were blown inside by the wind, he started a fire. Pulling the rebel and his pile of emerald-colored blankets toward the dancing flames, the prince took a seat across from Jet. Taking this time to catch his breath, Zuko scanned the items around and found a scroll.

Reaching out, he grabbed it warily, expecting it to be poison or some sort of trap. But the scroll proved him wrong as he clutched it and unraveled the scroll on his lap. Scooting a bit closer to the fire to have a better look at the scroll's contents, it seemed to be a map, but of the area around the ruins, not of the four nations and the surrounding seas. Tracing his finger across the paths and trails, their seemed to be a herb institute…not to far away from here.

Glancing at the unconscious rebel he knew he had to help him out. Zuko debated if he should go now or wait till the sun begins to rise. Once again his emotions solved his problem and he found himself going down the never-ending stairs. "Bloody bastard." Zuko cursed softly as he held the map in one hand and in the other a hovering flame to guide him.

Starting out at a jog, it soon turned into a sprint, just so that he could get this all over with. It felt awkward at first, for he had to concentrate on holding the scroll, controlling the flame hovering above his palm and not running into anything, but he soon adjusted himself.

What have I done? The prince thought to himself as he found himself going up a clear path. I have allowed myself to do the impossible and the unthinkable…I kissed a man. A man! Not a woman…but a MAN! What would father say? Would he allow me to regain my honor? Is it even worth finding the Avatar now? Does this mean my two years of work, blood and tears is over/ I can't let this happen…no it's the rebel's fault! He tricked me!

As he neared the herb institute, he finally agreed that this was all a huge joke. Nothing was serious…for they were both tired and maybe this provoked both of the teen's hormones. It was possible, or so the prince hoped. The sound of a twig snapping beside him tore him out of his rage in his weary mind. Sliding to a stop, the prince placed the scroll by his side, which is in-between the crimson tie around his waist.

"Show yourself…I know you are here." the prince barked out angrily as he could feel his frustration building up. The sound of the leaves rustling told the prince that someone was here. The outline of a person was visible as he/she leaped before him, blocking his path. The light from his hand revealed angry eyes and a long spear pointed toward Zuko. "You are trespassing….go back, you Fire Nation scum." the figure grunted in a deep, resounding voice.

"Fire Nation scum…" The phrase was so familiar, that is when it dawned on him. Jet said something similar to him when they first met. "You're in my way." the prince snarled as Zuko took a step forward. The man laughed and replied, "Not likely, why don't you just run along and-" He was cutted off as a large wave of fire buffeted him severely.

Wave, after wave, after wave struck the man, until he was on the ground, screaming in pain. The pleas and whimpers for mercy made the prince release a crackling laugh in delight to see his victim helpless and almost dead. Walking toward the smoldering body that twitched with pain, the prince placed a foot on the man's chest. The cold, hobnailed boot pressed firmly on the body. Leaning forward the prince whispered savagely, "Why don't you just run along?"

Zuko could feel the man's body shiver in inhuman pain as he felt death closing in on him like a hawk. Bringing the same foot toward the man's head, he began to press furiously against the skull, anxious to hear the sweet sound of death. Letting out a roar in anger that overpowered the man's screams in pain, Zuko raised his foot and smashed the skull in a single blow. A sickening crack filled his ears like honey-sweet music…it was the music if blood and war. The prince's roar and the man's skull cracking echoed throughout the forest and he finally noticed his own body was dancing with flames to match his anger.

The prince tried to calm himself, to let the flames die down, but the sight of the man's blood and life trickling down to the ground made him even more blood-thirsty. Breathing in the aroma of death and smoke, the prince letted out another scratchy laugh in pure bliss. Glad he released a part of his anger out; he gave the limp body a rough kick to the ribs before going on his way.

In a few minuets he was at the herb institute and fortunately a brightly-lit candle was visible inside which meant someone was awake. Strolling in with a stern look on his face, the prince spotted out a hunched, old woman stroking her snow-white cat. "Miuki…now what did I say about staying out late?" the woman crooned in a raspy voice. The cat meowed and nudged the woman's leg as if to tell her she had a visitor.

Turning around, the woman smiled at Zuko, "Ah, now what has Miuki done now to trouble the Fire Nation?" The prince ignored her question and spoke in a calm voice, "My comrade is coughing out blood…and I need something to help him." The woman nodded and asked softly, "What is the cause? Or what do you think caused it?" The prince shifted uneasily at this question but he finally answered, "He was given a vile that held blood-red liquid inside. It smelled of herbs…or what he told me. He took it and a day later he was coughing out blood."

"Hmm. So that is the reason…your friend is lucky. He must have taken in poison, from a food or whatever it is, and the medicine you received actually makes the user cough out the poison. My guess is that the poison was already in his veins at the time. But I will help you…" she answered in a far-off voice as she stroked her cat once more.

After a few seconds, she strolled around her large greenhouse and began to murmur out the names of the plants she passed. "Banana leaf…oh, Miuki we should use this tomorrow for breakfast!" she smiled as she strolled through the rows and rows of green life. Finally, after a few minuets and comments to Miuki, she gathered up the ingredients. Taking them, she mashed them up in a small bowl and handed it to the prince. "Give this to your friend and then give him water to help it go down. Now leave before I have Miuki claw your eyes out!" she smiled pleasantly.

Zuko grunted in response and left with the bowl. He noticed how she kept on saying "friend" and so on. Flinching slightly as he recalled his past behavior with the rebel...this was all a phase, right? The stream incident was just a moment…a moment in the woods.

Sorry again about the last chapter. So remember: RRL

(read, review, and love)

Candylicious: Sorry about that...I hope this makes it up.