Katara woke up soon after Zuko did. She yawned, muttering something about the light of the fire waking her up. "Why do you have to get up so early?" she moaned.
"I'm a Firebender. I rise with the sun," was Zuko's curt reply. The less said, the better.
"Well, for a morning person you sure are grumpy," the girl said, taking a drink of water from the bucket. "Did a rock prevent you from sleeping?"
"No," Zuko replied, meditating. Why didn't she get the point? The prince wanted to be left alone. He breathed out with a bit more force then he ought to have, hoping she'd get it.
She didn't. Or, if she did, she ignored him. Instead, she dragged the bucket of water over and sat next to Zuko. "I need to see how that arm is doing, Prince Zuko. Hold still."
Zuko didn't have time to object. He could only wince as she quickly looked over the arm. "Do you have to be so rough, you stupid peasant?" Zuko muttered, hoping she didn't hear.
Katara heard the last bit. "I have a name, you know. It's Katara and I'll thank you to remember it. I don't have to treat you, you know. I could let you suffer in pain while I heal myself and feel better instantly. Now, other than being broken, your arm seems to be fine. No bone poking through, thank Roku. I would not want to get a knife in here and cut your arm off."
Though he tried not to show it, the thought just terrified the prince. Losing a limb was a great disgrace to a Firebender, who's bending skill required use of both arms and legs. Even if he captured the Avatar, his father would certainly never respect him again. Zuko sat while Katara set his arm back into the splint.
"Okay, that's done. Now, before you go all remote and gloomy on me, do you want breakfast?"
Breakfast. The Fire Prince had forgotten all about breakfast. Silently, the prince nodded, taking the food that was handed to him. Zuko ate it, the dry bread doing absolutely nothing but filling him up.
Afterwards, it was quiet. For a few hours, Zuko meditated and Katara just sat. It was obvious that the girl was bored. Hmph. She doesn't know the meaning of boredom, Zuko though disdainfully. Watching my uncle play that silly game is boring. Listening to his ridiculous lectures is boring. Being stuck a ship with him for two consecutive years is boring.
So is this, his conscience nagged. And the girl wouldn't be here right now if it hadn't been for you.
There it was again, Zuko's conscience. Zuko frowned, sending the flames of the fire higher. So high, in fact, that the girl was forced move away, quickly.
"Whoa! Hot ashes!" Katara cried. "Did you have to do that?"
"Sorry," Zuko muttered. The girl looked at him funny.
"Did you just apologize?"
"Yes," Zuko said, glaring at the girl. His glare usually made whoever he was looking at stand down. Not this girl. She was looking at him in a state of half-awe, half-shock.
"That's a surprise. I didn't think you knew how to apologize."
The prince turned away, his scarred cheek facing the girl. "I do," he whispered quietly. The two said nothing more the rest of the morning.
It was about noon when either one of them spoke again. "Are you going to do that all day?" Katara asked.
"What?" Zuko wished she would startle him.
"You've been meditating all morning," the girl stated.
Zuko made as if to get up, but found himself unable to move without extreme pain. Twisting, Zuko had to bit his lip to prevent himself from crying out. His pain showed in his eyes and Katara saw it. She knelt over by the prince.
"Oh," she gasped, covering her mouth. "I didn't see this last night." Zuko had a huge gash on his back, the tunic ripped. It wasn't bleeding, but it was red and irritated. Katara quickly got the water and attempted to heal. Zuko moved out of her way, though it aggravated his back.
"I don't need your healing," he spat.
"Yes you do," the girl replied. "And since I'm the only one who will tend to you, I have to do it. Now, sit still, or you'll just make it worse."
She sounds like my mother, Zuko thought with a pang of sadness. His mother had died when he was young and he barely remembered her. Suddenly, he was snapped from his thought as a burning sensation overtook him.
"Ouch!" he muttered. Zuko really couldn't help saying it.
"Sorry. I told you to stay still," Katara rebuked as she placed her hands on the gash gently and focused. Instantly the pain receded. "There. You'll have one heck of a scar, but otherwise you'll be fine." The prince felt the Waterbender's hands leave his back.
Zuko turned to face the fire, taking solace in the twisting designs of the flame tendrils. He could hear the girl wait for a thank you, and, not getting one, sighed and returned to her spot.
Suddenly, the cell door burst open and Su, the lady from the day before, came in. "Ji Li asked me to check up on you two. I told him it was rather stupid to put a Fire Prince and a Waterbender together, but he never listens to me."
"You know I'm a prince?" Zuko asked, turning to face her.
"The armor gave it away, plus that doddering old monkey you were with cried out your name, which is what alerted the spies to you and the girl. Sorry, but I'm not sure you two told me your names yesterday. Obviously, the prince is Zuko, but you are�" Su asked Katara.
"Katara," the girl said, a bit taken aback by Su's behavior. "What does you're husband want with us?"
Su shrugged. "Either he wants you two to join the other captive Benders and work or he's gonna make you two fight to the death, I'm not sure."
"What!" Zuko yelled. "He is going to what?"
"You heard me. Ji Li doesn't like Benders, never has. I think it's because he believes that it's the Bender's fault for the war. If he could get the Avatar, I'm sure he'd change his mind. But, since the Avatar is currently on his way to Ba Sing Se, and Ji Li won't send troops there, I don't think he's gonna change his mind anytime soon."
Zuko and Katara looked at each other in awe. How on Earth could this woman know where the Avatar was going next? Katara voiced that question.
"It's rather hard to miss a giant fluffy Flying Bison when the species has, like, ten in it," Su pointed out. "Plus, he has to master Earthbending now, right? Ba Sing Se is the closest city. The boy Avatar flew his bison right past my window. No one else knows, though. They all think I'm a bit crazy."
It was evident from the looks on the two Benders' faces that they thought so, too. Oblivious to the looks she was receiving, Su added, "I think you two will be safe from the arena. Ji Li usually won't force two completely opposite Benders to fight. But I don't know what work he'd make you two do."
Zuko held up his hand. "You mean to tell me that your husband enslaves Benders?"
Su nodded. "That's about right. Occasionally he'll let them go, but that only happens if I manage to convince him. And, trust me, that can take years."
The Water Tribe girl had tears in her eyes. Zuko felt a twinge of concern, but only because he knew she was upset at never seeing her brother or the Avatar again, just as he was upset that he'd never be allowed to return to his throne. Su realized this, and instantly felt sorry for what she had said.
"Oh, I have a really big mouth. I'm always saying things I shouldn't, to people I oughtn't. But here's some good news. My husband, um, how do I say this?" Su muttered. "My husband doesn't like to hurt young people. Especially pretty young women and well-trained warriors. I'm not sure about the prince here, but you fall under one of the categories. He will usually let them go within a few months, weeks if I have my way. No promises, though. I'll see if I can talk some sense into Ji Li, okay?"
Katara simply nodded, head down. Su looked at her with an apologetic glance, then left. Not two seconds after Su was out of earshot did Katara start crying.
