Disclaimer: If you accuse me of owning anything, I'll have Tsune turn into a platypus bear and eat you.

AN: Whoa...I haven't posted here in a while, so I hope I don't disappoint... I sincerely thank all those who review! As well as Kael and Moonhawk who are looking through this and making sure I don't botch things completely.

VIII

Those who have seen your face

Draw back in fear...

I am the mask you wear,

It's me they hear!

It was nearly noon before the Spirit returned, her usual, unnerving self. She only passed over the younger exile for a moment, examining him silently, before returning to Iroh.


'Kuzon' sat back, watching intently as the two Benders practiced.

"You have to really feel the water," Katara said. "It's push and pull. It's important, Aang. It can't really be controlled...just persuaded."

Like so many other things in this world, Zuko thought wryly.

"I can persuade it," the Avatar insisted. "See? Check out this new trick I figured out." Before Katara had a chance to speak, his hands darted across the spring water, freezing a bit of it into a fluffy white beard around his chin. He shot her an eager grin.

"That's great, Aang," the girl said. "But you need to get the basics down, too. Being dramatic doesn't help too much in a fight."

"I guess you're right," the Avatar admitted. Zuko smiled, making sure not to let any smugness show. How easy it is for Katara to control the boy! "Anyway, it's probably lunchtime, right, Kuzon?"

Zuko nodded. "My brother is probably finished with it by now. Why don't you go help him?" The Avatar grinned at him.

"Sure thing!" he said, before dashing off into the forest. Zuko stood up, brushing dirt from his clothes. Three days, and they were still here. It had taken surprisingly little to make them stay- Sokka had wanted food and safety and a sparring partner. Katara had wanted rest...and to be around the handsome stranger. And the Avatar went along with whatever Katara wanted without question. Tsune provided the food, and Zuko and Iroh took turns sparring with Sokka. Now there was one more task ahead- make Katara love him.

"You're talented," he said to her as she refilled her water skin.

"I had a good teacher," she replied.

"I mean it," he persisted. "The best teacher is nothing unless he has a good student."

"Thanks...but it really is-"

Kuzon-Zuko grinned a challenge at the girl. "Then teach me," he said.

"What?" she asked, almost laughing.

"Teach me," he repeated simply.

"Waterbending? You have to be born a bender, Kuzon. I can't just teach you how it's done."

"Then teach me anyway," he teased. Katara shook her head, then laughed.

"Fine," she said.

"Really?" he mused.

"Really."

It was ridiculous at best. Katara showed him how to stand, how to move, how to shift his weight. He repeated the motions, though awkwardly- it was obviously more fluid and flexible than Firebending, but he was completely unused to the constantly changing motions, swirling over a too-narrow stance. He felt like he had nothing to stand on, nothing below him to keep his balance. He had other difficulties as well, though these were intentional: as he had expected, Katara corrected him, trying to hold back a laugh as she offered him advice.

It meant nothing on its own, but in time, it would become important.


It was Sokka who came to get them.

"Hey, Kuzon! Katara! What are you guys doing out here? Some of us are actually hungry."

"But you're always hungry," Katara pointed out.

"Yeah, well, everyone else is, too. So quit fooling around and come on."


Another day passed as the one before, and another, and another. Whenever Iroh and Zuko fell short of excuses for the Avatar and his friends to lengthen their stay, Tsune had a full supply. With each passing moment, the Spirit's plans grew, fed by Zuko's determination and Iroh's craftiness. Only once was there any threat of revelation.

"Hey, Kuzon?" Katara asked. A northern wind had brought with it icy rain, locking all the humans inside the house. Sokka and Aang were playing some random hand game, and 'Ji' was distracted making tea and supper. He turned his glance at her, careful to filter half hidden adoration into his expression. "Do you mind if I ask you a personal question?"

"Go ahead," he said softly.

You're good enough at lying now, Tsune had said. If she asks you anything, just make it up. Just make it good and make sure you remember what you tell her.

She hesitated. "Why is it that you and your brother live here? So far away from everyone?" He let his eyes pass thoughtfully across the room, seemingly engrossed in memory while he quickly invented his tale.

"We prefer to stay away," he said. Her imploring glance invited him to elaborate. "My father...was lost to the War." Her face fell into sympathy and remorse.

"Oh." She said. "I'm sorry."

"There's nothing you could have done," he said gently.

"Was he a soldier?" she dared to ask. He nodded solemnly.

"He sent my brother and me away before the battles came to our village."

"My father is fighting, too," she confided quietly. Zuko-Kuzon offered her a sympathetic look and a steadying hand on her shoulder. "I...I really want this War to end, before..."

"Before anything happens," he finished. She nodded.

"That's why this is so important. We have to stop it...somehow..." He eased her into his shoulder, giving her a comforting hug.

"I'm sure you will," he said softly. "The War will be over soon. I know it."

He felt her cheek reddening against his neck.


It took Tsune a few moments of manipulation to get the window open and swing herself inside the room. Her landing was silenced by feline pads, and slitted eyes examined the moonlit room. Sokka was shifting in his sleep, muttering something about Yue.

The new Moon, she recalled venomously, turning away from the boy. The Avatar was curled up on the floor a few feet away, his pet lemur nestled on his shoulder. He did not go ignored, but he wasn't her goal this night. She bent by Katara's side, cupping her hands just around the girl's ear. Quietly, too softly to wake her prey, The Spirit began to whisper.

Katara tossed in her sleep that night, her dreams chilling and all too real.


She stood on an endless plane, the horizon uninterrupted by hills or plants. Only one figure broke the eternal monotony.

And it was one figure she had never wanted to see again.

"Try to understand, Katara," Jet said. "I thought Sokka would understand..."

"Where is Sokka?" she asked quietly. He raised his hand, pointing over her shoulder. She spun on her heel to follow his direction- there was Sokka, bruised and bleeding, trying to fight off some kind of horrible monster. It threw him aside- he hit the ground, rolled, and did not rise. The beast did not pursue him- its attention was turned to Aang, who was sprawled on the ground, chained and unconscious.

"Sokka! Aang!" she shouted, running at the beast, raising her hands as though she hoped to frighten it away. But too soon, something caught her shoulder, jerking her back.

"Leave him," a chilling voice commanded. She glanced over her shoulder, hatred and fear filling her gaze. Jet was gone, but now Zuko had her in an iron grip.

"No! Let go of me! Zuko!" She turned back to Aang, struggling to get free. "Aang! Sokka! Aang! No!" He did not move, did not wake before the creature descended on him. "NO!"

Everything went dark. The creature and Zuko and Jet were nowhere to be seen. Aang and Sokka were gone. She was alone.

"Aang! Sokka! No...no no no no..." She stepped forward, but was met by only darkness. "Sokka? Aang?"

"What's going on, Katara?" another voice asked.

"Kuzon!" she cried. "Kuzon...it's Aang and Sokka...it's that...that thing...it's got them. Please, Kuzon. You have to help me. We have to save them. We have to..."

"It's going to be all right, Katara," Kuzon said softly. "Trust me. I'll keep you safe."

"And Sokka and Aang-"

"Trust me, Katara. Everything is going to be okay."

"Did he tell you that the man was from the Fire Nation?" Jet shouted from the darkness. Katara jerked, pulling back to Kuzon. "Remember what they did to you. What they did to your mother. Remember why you fight!"


When she woke up, her heart was racing and her breath came in gasps. Every inch of her body was drenched in icy sweat. Aang and Sokka were undisturbed by her nightmares, and remained asleep around her. Shaking her head, she pulled herself to her feet.

I'll...go check on Appa, she told herself, creeping through the now familiar shadows of Kuzon's house.

She did not see the other figure that silently followed.