Woohoo! I got chapter five up! I had some major writer's block on this chapter, but I finally finished. Hope you like it, and, as always, please review when you're done reading.

And just a note: this is day 2 on Tiaret. I was kind of vague about it in the chapter so…yeah…

Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar. It's as plain and simple as that.

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Part One

WIND ON THE RIVER

Chapter 5: Mounting Tension

Aang trudged down the dirt path towards the gnarled tree branches poking up over the village huts.

When the young monk and his two water tribe comrades had arrived the day before, the villagers had been distrustful of them. To add to the wariness, Jedreck seemed to have a reputation of a trouble maker and the people had immediately judged the trio by him. Appa didn't exactly make them feel at ease either. Nevertheless, after some convincing words from Aang and Katara and the relocating of Appa to the orchard, the villagers had finally come to trust them.

In fact, the people of Tiaret had felt extremely honored and privileged to have the Avatar in their midst. As tribute to his arrival and a sort of apology for their previous suspicions, they had insisted on treating Aang and his companions to a tale of a former Avatar courtesy of Tiaret village's best storyteller the following afternoon. Of course, Aang had accepted.

The night had passed quickly, and now it was time for the story celebration. The village was buzzing with excitement for the occasion, and nearly everyone was meeting under 'The Great Oak Tree' to listen while being shaded from the direct heat of the sun overhead.

"Yeah, we listen to one of these stories every month. Yul is the greatest storyteller of all time."

Aang's gray eyes narrowed as he glared at Jedreck's back. The Earth boy and Katara were strolling along in front of him and Sokka, Jedreck proudly informing her about little Tiaret Village facts.

Aang never remembered a time when he had been so thoroughly consumed by such raw jealously. Even when the monks had told him of his destiny and his childhood had been snatched away, the envy he had felt towards his carefree peers had been a shallow, just under the skin kind of jealousy. No, the jealousy he felt now was rooted deep within his very soul. It was a fierce burning feeling, like a constant fire licking at his insides. Every time he saw Katara and Jedreck together, the fire intensified and almost surged out of his control. It was a strange and frightening sensation. The worst part, though, was that Aang had no idea how to get rid of the feeling. All he could do was redirect his gaze and take a few deep breaths. This could only calm the flames momentarily, not dowse them completely. Slowly the fire was overwhelming him.

Normally, Aang got along well with almost everybody. He had always taken pride in his ability to find the best in everyone, no matter what the circumstance.

That is, until now.

There was just something about Jedreck that put Aang off. First, how the guy was always swaggering around like he was better than everyone else, and bragging like he was some great hero. Everything from catching a five-pound fish to playing pranks on the village merchants was champion's work to Jedreck. In fact, he had given a lengthy account of all of his 'amazing' accomplishments during the day and a half Aang, Katara, and Sokka had been in his company. Not one single boring detail had been forgotten.

What bugged Aang the most, however, was the way Jedreck was always complimenting Katara, flirting with her, kissing her hand at the most random times. It triggered the flames inside of Aang and he hated the horrible feeling he got when the fire grew and raged. He hated Jedreck for touching Katara! The guy had met her like, what, only twelve waking hours ago? Yet here he was, prancing about like they were an official boy friend and girl friend. It was disgusting…

Especially the smiles and giggles Katara kept giving him. Big, bright grins and high, trilling peals of laughter that made Aang's skin crawl. She'd never given him those. After all they'd been through she was falling for a self absorbed jerk like Jedreck? A self absorbed jerk that seemed to pretty much despise Aang, the boy she claimed was her best friend?

Jedreck was always throwing dark glares at him when Katara had her back turned. Whenever Katara wasn't within eyeshot, Jedreck would "accidentally" step on Aang's foot, or elbow him, or bump him into the wall or a stand in the market place. Once, the Earth boy had even attempted to trip the monk, but Aang had been weary of such an attack and had narrowly dodged it.

If Aang's personality might have allowed it and Jedreck might have left her side for a long enough moment, Aang would have gone to Katara and begged for her to let them leave Tiaret.

Too bad she seemed all too content to stay.

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Katara was ready to scream.

Jedreck was one of the most annoying, conceited people she had ever had the misfortune of meeting. When they had first met, Jedreck had come across as charming. He'd been sudden, handsome, kind, and unspeakably generous. Now, after spending a whole day with him, Katara realized their first encounter was just a cunning act to draw her in. The real Jedreck wasn't the boy she had struck with a bag of fruit back in the orchard the previous day.

All he did was boast about all the little things he'd done in life. She supposed he was trying to impress her, but he was going in the completely wrong direction if he wanted to do that.

And the flirting! Out of the blue he'd give her the weirdest compliments on her hair, her eyes, her skin. He also seemed to have this obsession with kissing her hand. Every time his lip brushed against her fingers, it took all her might to surpass a shudder. What freaked her out even more; however, was the possessive gleam that sparked up in Jedreck's eyes every so often when he was looking at her. Yeah, she had gotten to know the real Jedreck a little too well; he was just a creep with unnerving intentions for her.

Katara just wanted to rush out of the village, Aang and Sokka in tow, load them all onto Appa and fly away.

Too bad it was out of the question.

Jedreck had given them food, supplies, warm beds and a safe roof overhead for the night before, and some extra money when Sokka had brought it up. She couldn't just ignore his generosity. She had to be polite; she'd grown up with the value her whole life. It was engraved into her nature. So, as much as it pained her, she endured through everything Jedreck had to throw at her. More than endured, she even managed to give him big, cheesy smiles and forced laughs from time to time. She hoped she was convincing enough and Jedreck didn't take her as ungrateful. Another one of her great life lessons: be grateful and show it.

No matter how hard it may be to do so.

All the same, Katara planned on them leaving right after the story that day.

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The group reached the Great Oak Tree and were greeted earnestly by the village throng. Much against his will, Aang was separated from Sokka and Katara, and forced to the front of the crowd as the high guest of honor. He found himself seated on the ground before the story teller, Yul, Aang remembered Jedreck saying. She was a dark old woman with a chipped-tooth grin and raven black hair woven into a series of braids. With Aang's coming, she stood and raised her arms for silence. The sound level immediately dropped to nothing more than a handful of hushed murmurs. It was then that she resumed her place on her wooden three-legged stool and began her story.

Before Yul's words could sink into his mind, Aang swept his gaze over the crowd in search of his friends. He spied Sokka almost instantly. The water tribe boy was only a little ways behind him, engrossed with the bag of dinner scraps he'd smuggled off Jedreck's table the night before. Aang looked all around Sokka, but he didn't see Katara or Jedreck anywhere. Slightly unsettled, the Airbender broadened his gaze and finally, at the very back of the crowd, he saw Katara sitting next to Jedreck. As usual, Jedreck was whispering something in her ear. The fire inside of Aang suddenly changed from a pile of glowing embers to a jet of hot flames. Aang whipped his head around to force the dark shadow that had overcastted his face into dwindling.

He wanted nothing more than to make his way to the edge of the crowd, grab Katara's wrist, and pull her to the front with him. Then, after the story, his heart's desire was to take her aside and confess his true feelings to her. Only one problem: he feared rejection. Katara had never really shown that she had anything more than friendly thoughts towards him. She gave him no reason to suspect she liked him back the way he did her. Still, if she said that directly to his face, what would he do? Not saying anything was better than a full out 'no'. At least the first way there was a small sliver of hope…

To reduce the puzzlement in his troubled mind, Aang lost himself in Yul's Avatar story.

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"Hey, I want to show you something. Come on," Jedreck said quietly, nudging Katara's arm.

"Can't it wait until after the story?" she asked.

"What? You don't think this is boring?"

"No, not really." Katara was actually more than enjoying herself. Not only was Yul was a masterful story-teller, but even before Katara had met Aang, Avatar tales had always been intriguing to her.

"C'mon! It's the most amazing sight on Tiaret during the afternoon! If we wait until the story is over, we won't be able to see it until tomorrow."

Katara stiffened. She could tell that Jedreck wouldn't let them leave until she saw this 'amazing sight' of his. It was either see it now, or later. Either now, or spend another day and night with Jedreck.

"Okay, let's go," she gave in with a concealed sigh.

"Great!" Jedreck displayed one of his giant grins. He took her hand and pulled her to her feet. They silently slipped away from the crowd, and into the line of the trees that was the outer rim of the forest. They stumbled through the dense ground foliage for a moment, before Jedreck recognized a thread of uneven dirt as the path to their destination. As they stepped onto it, Jedreck looked over his shoulder at Katara and said, "You're not going to regret coming."

Katara kept quiet as she felt a knot forming in her stomach. That look in his eye...that desirous look…

- - - - - - - - - -

This story was one of the greatest Aang had ever heard! Yul was incredible! The story was fast paced and entrancing. Yul even changed her voice when she went through a character change. If only Katara was sharing this moment with him…Aang tore his eyes away from Yul and glanced over at the spot where Katara and Jedreck were sitting in the back.

His eyes widened.

They were gone.

He looked over at the forest—the nearest escape route—and noticed the plants swaying gently. Where were they going? Aang's mind straight away jumped to the darkest conclusions to their absence. His suspicions aroused, he had no choice but to follow them…but how to get away from the story celebration without dishonoring himself or anybody else and not making too much of a scene?

"Um…excuse me, Storyteller Yul?" Aang winced as she came to an abrupt stop with the story at the sound of his tentative voice and peered down at him questioningly. Aang could feel his neck growing hot as multiple pairs of eyes fell upon him.

"What is it, young Avatar? Do you not wish to continue this story?" she demanded crossly.

"N-n-n-no!" Aang stammered his face flushing. "I just need to go…um…use the…the bathroom."

Yul let out a dramatic sigh. "Fine…but I do not wish to deprive the rest of these people. I'll continue the story even if the guest of honor isn't here."

"Sure! Thanks! Whatever!" Aang quickly and carefully made his way between the teeming mass of villagers, then dove into the trees.

- - - - - - - - - -

"What a bargain! How could we turn that down?"

The merchant presented Iroh with the strange woodwind instrument he had just purchased. The old man beamed at it before depositing it on top of a pile of goods in the nearest soldier's arms.

"Can we please go now?" Zuko was leaning against a wall, his arms folded across his chest. He looked up from the ground to his uncle, an unusually large frown on his face.

"Yes, fine, fine, I think we have just about everyth—look at that!"

Without warning, Iroh dashed off to another stand to examine some carved wooden statues. The soldiers followed him with some difficulty thanks to their oversized burdens, leaving Zuko all alone.

The Prince gritted his teeth in frustration. The Avatar was probably almost out of the Kanoa region by now and they were still on Tiaret! At this rate, they'd never catch up! Why couldn't the stupid kid stay in just stay in one place for even a little while? Why did he always have to be flying away on that dumb buffalo? Why, why, why? Zuko hit his fist against the wall, and succeeded in sending a dull pain up his arm. He cursed his wretched luck under his breath.

Just then, he caught a movement of red and yellow.

He looked over for a full view and his breath got caught in his throat. It couldn't be…

There, jumping out of the cluster of villagers assembled under a large oak tree was the unmistakable Avatar. He watched as the boy disappeared into the trees and out of sight, quite unaware of the danger at hand. Zuko would have to act quickly if he was going to capture him.

"Uncle!" Zuko called, but Iroh had already moved down the line of stands and was out of earshot. There wasn't time to get him and his soldiers; Zuko would have to go after the boy alone. It was probably for the better, actually, he decided. The men and his uncle would only slow him down and probably ruin any chances of surprising the boy.

The Firebender snuck into the forest, and pressed forward in the direction the Avatar had vanished, renewed hope swelling up inside him.

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Well, I hope you liked it as much as I enjoyed writing most of it. It was a difficult chapter…I'm excited for the next one.

Here's a special thanks to my reviewers effie's head, Arezal, Mystic Water Bender3, shojobutterfly, Dan-Chan Haru-San, Yammy Tammy Poo, Jadeseyesglitter, KatarasHomegirl, Jesus.Freak.And.Proud.Of.It.

You're all my heroes! You guys inspire me! Please keep reviewing, it seriously helps.