Author's note: I apologize for not uploading in so long, but I'm back now and hope you enjoy this chapter.

Disclaimer: I don't own Atla, Bryke and Nick do.

Chapter 5

After a couple of hours of riding they stopped to rest in the middle of the forest. Lenetta jumped down and stretched, sighing in relief as her body stopped aching. I've never ridden a horse ostrich for so long before, I didn't think my legs would fall asleep like that. She helped her two companions set up camp, Zuko was watching with slight concern. I know she told me she was fine in the village but I just wanna make sure she's absolutely fine.

Lenetta went to go search for some firewood and came back soon after with a small load of sticks. She set them down and started a fire. She sighed as she wiped her hands on her dress and sat down, " There we go, now we're all set.", Lenetta reached over for the box of food Song's mother had given her before they left, it was full of leftover roast duck.

She took out the duck and divided it evenly and gave some to Zuko and Iroh. They put them on the end of a stick and heated them up over the fire. After they finished up Lenetta looked up at the sky and saw there was still some time before the sun would set so she decided to go for a walk. " I'm gonna go for a walk, I'll be back in 15 minutes.", Lenetta told them. Zuko knew this would be the perfect time to talk to her. " Would you mind if I came with you.", Zuko stood up and asked her. Lenetta shook her head and motioned for him to come along. Zuko walked in step along with her. Iroh watched them walk off with a smirk on his face.

" Was there another reason besides wanting to walk with me.", Lenetta asked him after they entered the woods. Zuko looked at her surprised. " How did you know?", Zuko asked her, surprise evident in his voice. " You've been looking like you wanted to talk to me ever since we left the village, that's why I decided to go for a walk, to give you an opening.", she looked at him with a smirk as he looked at her shocked. Wow she's very perceptive. " Now what did you want to talk to me about?", Lenetta asked him. " I just wanted to make sure you were okay, I was afraid you would be upset after that confrontation with your parents.", Zuko told her, he had a genuinely concerned look on his face, her look softened as she stopped walking to look him right in the eyes. " I feel fine, to be honest I feel much lighter.", Lenetta told him. " I realized that what they did wasn't my fault, and finally telling them that what they did to me was wrong made me feel better, I was finally able to release those bottled up feelings and tell them all that.", Lenetta looked at Zuko as she read his expression, he had a look of understanding on his face.

" I always thought my father was in the right for what he did to me, but you've helped me to realize that what he did isn't my fault and he was wrong for what he did, and I did what was right speaking up in that war meeting.", Zuko told her with gratitude on his face, Lenetta's eyes were shining and she had a smile on her face. " I'm so happy for you.", Lenetta wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug which he reciprocated. They stayed like that for a bit before they finally released each other, gazing into each other's eyes, smiling wide at each other. They still held each other's hands, they started walking back to camp still holding hands both smiling. Iroh looked up and noticed as he got the biggest grin on his face. That's my nephew.

They all settled into their sleeping bags, Zuko and Lenetta set their sleeping bags closer to each other and they held each other's hands in their sleep. Iroh noticed this and he felt so happy that his nephew seems to have found a lady friend.

oOoOo

The next morning they all woke up and had the rest of the roast duck for breakfast. They brought all their stuff together and rode off. As they rode Lenetta saw another Earth Kingdom village. " Hey look, there's another place we can stay!", Lenetta tells them as she pointed towards a distant town. " We don't have any money to pay for a place to stay, do you?", Zuko tells her, Lenetta looks down sadly at this. " No.", Lenetta replies.

" Don't worry Prince Zuko we'll make do.", Iroh tells him enthusiastically from where he was at the front. They were going towards the village. " How Uncle?", Zuko asks him incredulously. Zuko suddenly gasps in realization. " Oh noZuko groans, putting his head in his hands. Lenetta takes his hands in hers and squeezes reassuringly, she knows what the problem is, He's lived in royalty for most of his life, he's used to the royal treatment,. " Don't worry Zuko, I'm sure everything will be alright.", Lenetta tries to reassure him. He pats her hands to let her know she was heard.

She brought her arms back around his waist, they neared the village as Zuko grimaced. Ugh I can't believe it's come to this, I hate being a fugitive. Lenetta knew how it was to be poor like this; she made it her mission to help her friends through this as much as she could.