Alrighty then! Here's y'alls update! No killing yourselves, or me... or others. Anyway. I don't own Avatar, aaand... I'm feeling better now! Thanks for all the chicken noodle soup, it helped! ;-) Oh and guess what! There's only about... four more chapters left and the story reaches its' end. Then you'll have to let me know what I should do after that. Heh heh... Let's see if we can get the reviews at 100 before the story is over! How bout it? Okay, on with the story... Rescuing!

We both froze staring at each other. I couldn't believe he was there, a few yards away from me. I was so happy to see him again, and was about to run to him when the bald man grabbed a handful of my hair and yanked hard, making me wince.

"When I say 'move' you move, stupid girl! Come, you have a new owner."

"Let her go!" The man noticed Zuko for the first time.

"This isn't your business boy, stay out of it." He turned and began leading me toward my purchaser.

"I said, let her go. I command you."

My captor waved a hand dismissively and ignored the prince. I glanced back to Zuko, fear showing openly in my face. I really didn't want to go over there. Something burned deep in Zuko's eyes and he leapt toward us, crossing the distance quickly and launching an attack of fire at the man. He screamed in panic and let me go.

"What do you think you're doing? Renu-Poi!" The bandit had noticed our disturbance and gathered his men behind him, rushing toward Zuko and I as the slave trader ran away.

Taking a defensive stance, Zuko quickly and easily dispatched those who came against him. One man thrust a spear at Zuko, but he moved to the side, catching the spear shaft and yanking it from the man's grip. Turning the man's own weapon against him, Zuko knocked him out with the butt of the shaft, and swung the spear in a wide arc knocking back more of his attackers.

I, on the other hand, had a score to settle with a specific bandit. And I wanted my stuff back. Even though my shoulder still hurt from my recent wound, I tried my best to cope with what movement I could stand. Severing the ropes on my wrists, I lunged at Renu-Poi, pulling up an earth wall behind him with my good arm so he couldn't escape. He looked at me, nervous but still prideful.

"I'd like my stuff back." I held out my hand, glaring at him. He smirked back.

"Very well…"

Moving slowly, he set my bag on the ground beside him. Without warning he drew my Katana from its sheath and swung it at me, fiercely. I leaned back just in time and threw a rock at his head with my bending.

"Ow!" He glared at me, and I smirked at him in return. An equal exchange I think.

Renu-Poi lunged at me again, and I sidestepped him, hitting him with a side kick while making sure my wounded shoulder stayed as still as possible to avoid excess pain. He fell hard on the ground, clutching his side where my foot had connected with him. Quickly leaping to his feet again, the bandit came at me slashing and stabbing with my weapon. I had managed to effectively avoid him until I moved too slowly and the sword tip just managed to cut my wounded shoulder.

I screamed at the shock of pain that erupted from the already pained wound, and clutched my shoulder. I could feel the warm blood from the cut running over my fingers, and I looked up to see Renu-Poi smirk nastily and lunge at me with my sword. I frantically stepped backward to avoid the sword point and collapsed in the dirt, wincing again with the sudden ache from my shoulder at the uncomfortable movement.

"What's the matter? It's just an old wound!" He taunted, standing above me.

Thinking quickly, I dug my fingers slightly in the dirt next to me and concentrated. I could see my fingers begin to glow faintly.

Suddenly the ground around Renu-Poi began to rise up like water and create a case around him. When he saw what the rock was doing, he panicked and tried to scramble out of the growing pillar, sticking his arm holding my sword out of the ever narrowing gap and trying to climb out. However, the hard earth moved too quickly and his hand was surrounded as the pillar continued to grow and he was completely encased by the ground, only his arm with my sword sticking out of the strange structure.

Only when I had completely enveloped Renu-Poi in earth did I think to look around. Zuko had knocked almost all of the remaining bandits out and was still fighting two others. I stretched my good arm out toward him and rippled the earth beneath his attackers feet; making them stumble and giving him time to knock them out swiftly. He looked around for more attackers, then made his way to me. His eyes widened when he caught sight of the cocoon of earth with Renu-Poi's struggling arm sticking out of it.

"What…?"

I groaned softly, and pushed myself up into a sitting position.

"I just… surrounded him with… rock. He's ok… not crushed."

"Are you wounded?" He caught sight of the blood covering my hand and quickly pulled my cut tunic aside to examine the wound. I sucked in my breath as the fabric moved across the tender skin.

"Not badly. It's just on an older wound… I think it's infected."

Zuko nodded. "Come on, I'm taking you back to our camp. Uncle can finish his shopping alone."

"Iroh's here?"

Zuko nodded again. I smiled faintly, and I reached out to grab my bag and yank my sword from Renu-Poi's outstretched arm.

"Come on, I'll take you back." Zuko set off through the now deserted market place. I stood awkwardly, and stepped forward to follow him. It felt like all the blood in my body was rushing through my head and the world was spinning. I sank back down onto my knees and let my head sink into my hands, trying to keep from getting sick or passing out.

Through the noise in my head I could hear something, it sounded like someone talking but I couldn't understand. Suddenly a hand touched my face and my eyes shot open in surprise. Zuko was peering intently into my face.

"I'm ok, really. Just got dizzy for a second…" I tried to stand again.

Zuko eyed me as I weakly got to my feet, then without a word swing his arm under my legs and lifted me up.

"Ah! It's fine! I can walk, just give me a minute and-"

"Be quiet. You're not strong enough to walk."

I shut my mouth and tried to weigh less. I was surprised he could pick me up… he must be really strong. Sitting stiffly in his arms I winced whenever he moved sharply, causing more discomfort in my injury. He finally sighed after we had gone a short distance out of the small village.

"Relax. You're not heavy."

I blushed, and let my tense muscles loosen and at the same time ease the pain in my shoulder. The steady rhythm of his steps soon lulled me into a doze and the time passed quickly.

I was startled awake when I found myself surrounded by loud voices and bright lights. It was night, and Zuko was still carrying me, but we had apparently just arrived at his camp. His men had been sitting around fires, eating dinner and cleaning weapons and armor. Iroh seemed to have beat us to the camp as well; I could only assume Zuko had got lost for a bit.

When they caught sight of us, everyone crowded around talking loudly. I winced and tried to cover my ears but the dormant pain in my shoulder sparked to life.

"Give us room!" Zuko shouted angrily. "Where is the doctor? She's injured." The Doctor pushed through the crowd, and motioned for us to follow him into a tent. Iroh followed nervously, bringing some food and water with him. Zuko set me gently on a low bed, the Doctor peering over his shoulder.

"Where is the wound?"

Zuko moved my tunic aside again, showing the wound.

"It's just a scratch. There was already a wound before. Some guy shot me with an arrow…"

"Oh my…" I looked to see what had drawn their attention. My eyes got big when I saw what had once been a small puncture in my shoulder. The skin around the wound was swollen and had turned an unhealthy shade. The inside was oozing slightly, and what was weirdest was that I couldn't feel anything. "It's been infected or something. I need to clean it out, possible remove the dead skin." My head shot around to look at him.

"What!"

The Doctor set a pot of water on a fire to begin boiling, and pulled out a pouch of sharp knives and other utensils.

"Iroh, I need you to make a poultice from the herbs in that cabinet. I'll tell you what needs to be in it. Zuko, get Kristen comfortable. This will hurt."

I let out a shaky breath. Smiling faintly when Zuko squeezed my hand. Suddenly a burning pain cut into my shoulder and I cried out. I clutched Zuko's hand, trying to keep from screaming until I finally blacked out from the immense pain.