Chapter 4 The Encounter; part 2
"Why have you come here?" Aang asked defensively. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to intrude on your camp site. I was running from Prince Zuko." Sakura replied sadly. "What did he do to you?" Katara asked softly. "Nothing. He saved my life." Sakura lowered her eyes, feeling guilty for running away like that. "He did what?" Sokka said surprised. She told them the whole story. "Okay, you're welcome to accompany us. We're heading to the North Pole." Sokka told her. "Since when were you the leader?" Katara asked. "I think Sokka's a great leader." Aang said, trying to break them up. "See, atleast some people appreciate it." Later in the night, Katara woke Aang up. "I don't trust her Aang." She said worriedly. "Why not?" "Well, since Prince Zuko's been after you, there have been a lot of crazy things happening and I don't think we should take the risk of letting her stay with us. What if she betrays us; she could be a spy." "Hmmmmmm…. I see your point. We'll think about it tomorrow. Let's go back to sleep." I can't believe I deserted Prince Zuko like that. I have to go back. Sakura thought. She quietly snuck out of camp and left. Everything was dark and she couldn't see. "So you're just gonna leave like that? No good bye?" Sokka asked from behind her. "I have to go." She said hastily, trying to push Sokka out of the way." "To Prince Zuko?" he queried, holding her hand so she couldn't run. "I'm not a spy, I promise with all my heart." "Fine" he whispered, letting her go. She ran and ran and bumped into someone. Then she saw a burst of fire, slowly illuminating the forest, she saw it was Prince Zuko.
He pulled her hand along the way to the ship. Silently they walked into her room. "How dare you just run away like that? You fool, you could have gotten lost." He shouted. He actually cares… Sakura thought. No one else has ever worried about me before. "I'm sorry, I wasn't sure if I could trust you." "Then why did you come aboard my ship that day?" Zuko asked but left before she could answer. Sakura sat on the floor silently with her head bowed down, her heart was tearing up inside. How could I have deserted him? "I will never leave his side again." She whispered to herself. "If you truly mean that, then he'll never let you out of his sight and protect you forever." Iroh said "Sorry, I couldn't help overhearing." He stepped from behind the door. "But I mean what I say. His heart's been stolen, you must cherish it. Prince Zuko's gone through a lot for the past two years. He can't afford being hurt again."
Sokka went back to camp and went to sleep. I hope she knows what she's doing. "Guys! Where's Sakura?" Aang yelled. "She's gone?" "Yeah." "Sokka, wake up, Sakura's run away." Sokka knew. "That's terrible!" He said, trying to act surprised. "I have a feeling you'd know what happened to her." Katara said suspiciously. "What? Why are you accusing me of her disappearance?" "Because you're the one who's taken a liking to her." "No!" Sokka said, thinking about Suki, the warrior he'd met on Kyoshi. Katara forced the truth out of Sokka, holding their food for ransom. "You are so evil!" he muttered under his breath. "So you let her escape. And you say you don't like her." "I don't, I never will." So, he does like someone, I wonder who. Katara thought. "Maybe we should just forget about this." Aang said. "We have to get going."