Chapter 8: Sequences of Travel

While Iroh had just left Huáng Zhèn behind, dread and hope battling within, the Gaang followed Zuko's advice to restock in a little mountain village.

Toph had offered to stay back while the others went into the village: Keeping Sparky company, so she'd claimed. And thus this was how they both found themselves sitting on a nearby cliff. Zuko lay on his back, basking in the early morning sun after another strained night, Toph idly playing with the rocks around her as usual, constantly testing, learning. Her presence was comforting, solid as the earth she bent, and he felt like he could breathe at last. She wasn't pestering him right now, for once, though no doubt she was preparing something.

Zuko closed his eyes and tried to reach out with his senses. He'd tried yesterday, but it had been difficult with Katara around. Her constant bustle of activity had made it a challenge to try and concentrate in peace. And later on, once Katara had quit her fussing, he'd been too tired to focus properly. Right now, he had the desired calm and quiet, and he was going to use it for as long as he could. He could feel the light, the heat, seeping into the cool stone, warming his skin after their chilly night up in the mountains.

Indeed, the tranquil atmosphere was relaxing and Zuko found himself able to close his eyes and take in his surroundings, feeling for the warmth seeping into them, finding some details disappearing while others were being brought forward by heating up.

"Hey Sparky, what does the sun look like?" Toph's voice had cut through his musings curiously and he opened his eyes slowly to observe her. "I mean, people told me it's yellow and round and all, but could you describe it how you did yesterday?"

"Uhm, sure… well, the sun is bright, actually

, you can't just look at it. Even in the evening when the brightness is muted, it can still hurt your eyes. It's true that the sun is like a filled circle. The colours change throughout the day, but the light is more of a bright white, which is why light and brightness is called white, most of the time. It is warm and the sun is always reaching out to where it can. That reaching out can also be called 'glowing'. The sun glows. And while you might never see it directly, you can see how it influences life. Sun is what makes the crops grow, it warms up everything within reach, the sun makes life possible."Toph was smiling thoughtfully. "So, can you see the heat in your surroundings?"

How had she deduced that?

"Do you mean like in colour? No I can't."

"I didn't mean with the eye. You know, as I've told you before, I can see with my bending, however, I can't feel the heat within, I can feel what the heat does, but I can't feel heat in itself, just know that it is there and something can be hot or cold. So I can only feel heat radiating from my surroundings or when I directly touch something. But since you're a firebender, I thought you might…"

"Oh" He hadn't expected that view on things, either. The mere thought of this technique was still so new for him, he didn't know what to say, even less how to explain it. Toph however had made an interesting connection. Their abilities were similar and completely different at the same time. He wondered how she had found out. He hadn't even known he could see like that until he'd been literally unable to do anything else. Stuck on that market square, where even the sun, his source of bending had turned against him, started harming him. He didn't want to go there, he didn't want to think about that right now, maybe not ever. He'd rather focus on the subject at hand.

"Toph, what did your Earthbending teachers tell you about this kind of seeing?" he asked after a pause.

"Depends on whom you would look at as my teacher and what would count as 'telling'."

"What do you mean?" Zuko didn't understand, as Toph had expected.

"My parents believed that a blind girl could not bend properly. My teacher held back on teaching, keeping me to the basics. He asserted that to bend well, one needed to see what they did. He has never experienced that connection with his element, so he couldn't really teach me anyway. My real teachers were the badgermoles."

Zuko stared at her, somehow rendered speechless. No one had told her about this, either, apparently. She had had some guidance, but none that she could explain easily, like how could you explain learning from the creators of your own bending art? Thinking about it, her blindness was probably her advantage, she'd possibly learned to feel her element early on, unlike he had. She had searched to find it in anything, trying to compensate. Her family, her people, hadn't even let her try. The realization came as a shock.

He thought back on how things had been back home. Back in the Fire Nation. Back when he'd started learning sword-fighting in order to have an alternative to his underwhelming bending. He'd been looked down upon, he'd been told to push harder, unlike Toph, who'd been purposefully held back, he realized. He'd been pushed to get better, to overcome his struggles. But the path had always been set. His uncle had suggested sword-fighting to his mother. It was she, never his father for fear of further humiliation, who had organized the lessons for him, he had been told. He'd been taught by the best of best Firebenders, the best of best of teachers… but none had ever told him about this. The way, the style, the expectations he'd had to meet, it had always been laid out before him.

When Toph prodded, for want of an answer to a question he hadn't even heard, he shrugged her away, claiming he had to think, had to understand.

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Meanwhile, the rest of the group had found that making their way into the settlement was easy enough, but even Sokka and Katara were surprised by what they saw. The village was small, smaller even than the collection of huts that made up the summer camp of the Southern Water Tribe, and it had to have been pure chance that they'd come on market day. So it happened that the cramped market street was bustling with life as the Water Tribe siblings and Aang made their way through.

Katara succeeded, through much dipping and diving, in leading them towards the food section, a necessary staple in the markets of the Earth Kingdom, due to the war taking many resources. But because last winter was particularly difficult, there wasn't much by way of choice. Sokka had quickly steered towards the butcher's stand and was currently staring at the filled glass jars that had meat stuffed in liquid with a confused face.

"What's this?"

"Pickled meat. Thought that'd be obvious with...You're not from around here... are you?"

Neatly avoiding the question, Sokka delved deeply into a discussion about how best to preserve meat. Katara, who was having to keep her brother company, listened curiously. Well, until Aang butted in.

"Hey, don't we need more types of food? I thought you said that meat is too expensive to buy?"

"It is, but you know, this curing technique is new to us and might be an alternative to what we know from home."

"But you don't have anything to pickle it with, right? Anyway, can we move on at least? Sokka can catch up later."

Katara took one last look at her brother, who was still animatedly explaining how they cured their meat back home, with salt and other similar methods, to try and dry it out, so it would definitely last a while. He kept on badgering the stall owner on how this process worked, before she touched his arm to gather his attention to tell him she would go try and find some vegetables and grains with Aang, and to meet them back at camp when he was done.

As they went, Aang timidly spoke: "I… I know you don't live the same way as the Air Nomads. But I just, don't all animals have the right to live, too? The Air Nomads got all they needed from wherever they settled. We lived just fine without meat. And I know you love animals, too. So..."

"Aang," Katara quietly interrupted, a resigned air entering her tone, "did you see many plants at the South Pole?"

"Uhm no?..." Aang's startled expression quickly merged into one of confusion. "How is that relevant to right now?"

"See, it's a different way of life. It's not about the animals. Just like the Air Nomads take what they need from nature, so do we, but for us that's also meat and fish."

"But you're not up there now!"

"No, we're not. That's not going to change how we think, though. We did adjust a lot, you know? But meat is what gives us the feeling of being full. It's what we know and trust to give us energy."

"Hmm…. I suppose." Aang reluctantly said "doesn't mean it's right" he murmured under his breath, too quiet for Katara to hear, finally approaching the next stand. They negotiated for the prices and soon carried a bag of buckwheat as well as a bag of several kinds of seasonal vegetables from the merchant adjacent. After they had found some bread, Aang turned to go, thinking they had everything, but Katara stopped him. He looked at her confused, before she continued.

"Wait, we need another change of clothes for Lee."

"Oh, right…" Aang looked around to find a stand that sold clothing. They only found one that sold fabrics. Katara guessed this was because this village was so small that they didn't bother to trade standardized sizes for clothing when they could just sew a fitted set themselves. Well, fabric was better than nothing, and she had enough sewing thread, so she'd be fine, just maybe get some more, to be safe.

It irked her how much the fabric cost though, their money reserves weren't that large and they might have needed it in the future, but this was a necessity she couldn't ignore. Still, durable, quality, fabric like they sold here, it would always cost much, such material did.

Lastly, Katara wanted to go to the apothecary. It seemed like a shady place, but when she asked for a remedy against sunburns the old wrinkled face of the man behind the counter quickly lit up and explained about the plant named 'Aloe Vera' which really was the best in his opinion, but sadly didn't grow up here in the mountains.

"You guys are travellers right? You can find it down in the valley, here let me show you a picture"

The drawing, as it turned out, was quite detailed, showing a rosette growing plant with thick "leaves", in actuality a fleshy pad with small spikes on the edges and a smattering of white dots. They'd surely recognize it when they saw it, the shopkeeper insisted.

When she asked about something against sore throats he quickly suggested ginger root, which he still had some in his storage. Katara ended up buying that as well.

They finally deemed their shopping trip finished after that and left the market. Aang was strangely quiet and a few minutes after they had left the village for the path that would lead them to their camp, he finally spoke up.

"Uhm Katara… I know life on the South Pole is very hard, food is hard to come by and you kinda eat the same thing a lot, it's cold and I remember you mentioned that the cold claims some people every year. I don't understand why you stay, I mean, yes, it's beautiful in the summer, but it's always dark in winter and then you don't see the sun at all. You always have to move for food and I just don't understand: Why don't you just move into warmer regions, where life is easier? You can still go visit the South Pole, spend a part of every year there, I mean, but…" He trailed off, searching out Katara's gaze with asking eyes.

Katara sighed: "It's not that easy. It's our way of living. The ice is our home. And if we'd move, we'd take someone's, or something else's living space. The South Pole is our place, and we know how to live there. You know, in winter, when it's dark, everyone huddles together and it's just so nice to feel that kind of community. I haven't seen it quite like that in any other place we've been to yet. Not even the North Pole.

"They do it there, too, but I feel like it's reserved for the very core of the family, whereas in the Southern Water Tribe, it's literally everyone joining in when there's something going on. It feels like we're like one big family, and the harsh conditions make us depend on each other and it feels amazing to be part of that. Though we still move; When we met you, the tribe was at our summer camp, which is closer to the sea so that we can hunt."

Aang had a penseful expression when she was done explaining and the way back was spent in a quiet, almost sombre mood. Katara wondered if she had triggered something. But shortly before the last turn before the camp would be seen, Aang's face split in a smile as he turned to her.

"Thank you Katara. The things you mentioned, I think I can understand some of that, community was important with the Air Nomads as well. They might be gone, but you took me in and even came with me when it was time for me to go. The Air Nomads often traveled from one place to another. I suppose we are a bit similar there, but I think I'm starting to realize that some things are just different, not in a bad way, but it's hard for me to grasp. You accepted me so easily and you do feel like family to me."

"So do you," Katara smiled "We love you as family, and we're there for you, that is what community means in the tribes. I miss home, but I'm glad I can go and explore the world. I guess it has allowed me the chance to appreciate our culture much more, now. The Air Nomads, as you told me, had a big sense of community as well, but they could go out and explore much more easily than we do, so thank you for that chance as well, I don't think it would've been an opportunity I could've had otherwise."

When the camp finally came into view, they had settled into a peaceful quiet. Katara was already thinking about cooking dinner and sewing the new set of clothes for Zuko. A small smile graced her face, it had been a successful trip.

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Zuko sat beside the fire pit, wrapped in his blanket, trying, but at the same time trying not to listen in on the group's discussions. Earlier, Sokka had been thoroughly scolded by Katara for buying a glass of pickled meat. She apparently hadn't even noticed him snatching some money during their trip to the market. Then, the conversation had moved to the fabric Katara had bought and the whole shouting had started anew. Sokka asking why she'd need that for and Katara snapping at him.

"Well, do you want to keep sharing your change of clothes?"

It had shut him up well enough, but also brought Zuko into the forefront of their minds as well.

"I'm going to sew this tomorrow. So I'll stay here and watch him. You can go hunt or whatever and Aang needs to train, I thought we should move a bit farther away from this village, maybe fly half an hour just in case."

Zuko stayed quiet, he knew he had no say.

"So Toph, could you please do your magic, it's getting late and we need to discuss some matters without him."

Toph questioned the necessity.

Katara mentioned the past morning and how he'd been freaked out for some reason unknown. In the end they asked him and he told them that he didn't mind. It was a lie, but the lesser evil. He'd be alone and safe from prying eyes, should he have a nightmare and break down again, no one would bother him.

They lead him to his night prison after Toph was done creating it and he felt himself shaking as he went in. He locked the door just because he could. And from inside, he listened. They weren't quiet, though not overly loud either. He was leaning against the door, dead tired, yet unable to sleep.

Apparently Katara and Sokka had made up and now it sounded like they were back to teasing each other. He couldn't help but note that this kind of teasing lacked the hidden malice he knew so well from Azula. Was it really not there or was he just unable to detect it?

And Azula, was she far away? Or was she on their toes already and they just didn't know yet? What would he do if she showed up and they'd leave him behind, in here? He'd have no chance. Would they?

A knock on the outside violently pulled him back into the present.

"Zuko? Are you still awake? I brought you some tea, it's supposed to help your sore throat." Katara said softly, in case he was asleep, perhaps. With a shaking hand he dislodged the bolt on his side to allow her to push the door open, which she did.

"It's ginger tea. I left the ginger slice in there so you can eat it if you want. We're going to bed now, so good night." she said quickly, not quite looking him in the eye. He had taken the cup and relished the warmth it gave up as the door moved back into its place and the bolt outside was replaced as he sat there, slowly drinking the tea. In the end, as he gently fell asleep from the delicate heat from the cup, he forgot to replace the bolt on his side, his worries abated, for just one night.

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The following morning, Katara sent Toph to the stream with Zuko so he could wash and change into Sokka's spare clothes. She had not found him in a state of panic this time, which was a small relief. Even so, he appeared to be very tired. His eyes still lacked the lively fire she had associated with him, but they also lacked the wild terror. He was calmly attentive, even trying to help around in camp, like offering to watch the pan a moment while she relieved herself, and all the food was still there when she got back.

Even now, Zuko had taken the dishes with him to wash in the stream without as much as a word. She'd been surprised, but had let it happen, glad to have something else off her mind.

When they returned, Aang, she, and Sokka had already packed their belongings and were ready to climb Appa. Zuko had given her the neatly stacked pile of clean dishes and they were on their way.

Just after they landed, she forced Sokka to pick an area to go hunting in, the crack in the ground incident still very fresh in her mind, and he had done so without too much of a fuss. Then the others left and Zuko stayed back with her alone. He timidly stood there, unsure of what to do as she spread the fabric and took the shirt he'd worn to determine the pattern and copy it. The fabric was a plain reddish brown, it wasn't fancy, but would do the job.

"You can practice your firebending over there if you want. Just don't burn anything."

He looked genuinely speechless, wide eyed. "I know Sokka is against it, but he's not here right now, and won't be back for a while. I understand bending and not being allowed to do it, I know how it is, so just don't saunter off."

A sheepish smile graced his features as he thanked her and his steps as he turned to do as she suggested, held a swagger she hadn't seen in him before, a raw lightness pushing through caution.

He returned not long after, huddling into his blanket as he sat down not far from her. He was shaking slightly as he wrapped his arms around his knees.

"Something wrong?" He just shook his head, then let it drop onto his knees for a while. It made him look small. Seeing he wouldn't talk, she returned to sewing the cut out parts together. A while later she felt him observe her.

"If you teach me, I can do it myself."

That had come unexpectedly.

"It's alright, I don't mind doing this. It's calming." she replied.

"No, I can do it, I've mended my clothes before!"

"You have?" Katara looked at him. A trace of desperateness was back, but she could not reason why.

"You should train your body. Get your strength back. It will help us all more than you doing this."

He looked away, obviously ashamed at her mention of his weakness, then reluctantly got up and returned to go through stances she assumed to be in the fire style. She returned to the work she needed to do, only later noticing that she hadn't once heard anything remotely sounding like the 'whooosh' that fire tended to make when bent. Zuko was still there and she realized he was going through the motions, but he didn't seem to be bending. It caused her to pay more attention to what he was doing.

She saw him struggle, fighting exhaustion. The quiet frustration, too tired for anger. It became harder to watch as time went by and she realized that he'd taken her words as an order and taking breaks apparently didn't go with it in his mind.

"Zuko?" He whipped around, almost defensively. "Could you start a fire?" .

"No"

She was surprised by his quick response. "Why not?"

"I don't have firewood, and you don't want me to be on my own." His voice was still scratchy, no doubt still painful to use. The tone of voice had not been accusing and he had relaxed into a neutral, non-bending, stance.

"Oh, right,... Well, I suppose we can collect wood for one together, I need a break anyway."

Their trip turned out to be uneventful. The mountainside was not quite as rich in wood as they had found in other places, but what they found was nicely dry, perfect for firewood. Zuko did not initiate conversation and so neither did she. They were back just in time to start making lunch.

Zuko, she quickly found, saw what needed to be done and lent a hand whenever he felt it would be supportive. When she suggested something, he also did as instructed without a fuss. And when Zuko wasn't helping, he was observing her actions. He already seemed quite aware of how they did things, but he also seemed to treat helping carefully, as to not to draw attention or anger anyone. It showed a tender side of him, something she hadn't really thought to ever associate with him.

In the afternoon she decided it would be best for him to help her sew anyway, Sokka was about due to return and she didn't want another discussion like the last time, also, Zuko had been insistent before she had shut him down and she was actually curious to see if he really had any experience with a needle. And being done more quickly was a nice perk, too...

That was how they ended up sitting next to the fire pit. He worked on the shirt, she started cutting out the pieces that would become a pair of trousers later.

He did alright with sewing, having copied her and not rushing through it and it made her wonder once more on why he wanted to do it. Her brother could never be motivated to do work considered for women, and she certainly hadn't expected the Prince of the Fire Nation to be any different, rather, she had expected him to be worse.

The more she thought about it, Zuko had not acted like a prince at all.

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A few days had passed since they had been at that village. Zuko had been alternately supervised by mostly Katara and Sokka, and occasionally Toph. They had grown into a routine: He'd do the tasks assigned to him, generally helping around camp, often without being asked or prompted. He had not tried to breach the boundaries they had set, not even once. Somehow even Sokka realized this and it irked him that Katara seemed to have grown fond of having him around. Just yesterday they had another argument about it that had ended in Katara yelling at him that Zuko was a great help, unlike her dear brother. The gall she had to say something like that! And Zuko? It seemed like he always retreated to his cell when the two would come to a shouting match.

Really, Zuko still behaved weird throughout. He hadn't lost it again, he hadn't panicked, but he still flinched quite often when Sokka approached, or spoke. Sometimes he'd shake for seemingly no reason. He'd stare off into empty space for long periods of time. Occasionally, he'd talk with either Katara or Toph, but rarely ever with Sokka or Aang.

People might not give Sokka the credit, but he was a decent observer if he wanted to be. And whatever Zuko did, it rubbed him the wrong way. Right now, they were sitting around the campfire, sharing yet another vegetarian meal, because Sokka hadn't managed to catch anything and Aang needed to be satisfied. Zuko sat between Toph and Katara, opposite to him, withdrawn, and he was picking at what had been handed to him, slowly stirring the remains of what was in his bowl.

Toph had started up another story about her Earth Rumble experiences when the firebender quietly excused himself and retreated to his night prison. Sokka relaxed. It was noon, Zuko did that sometimes, especially if it was him that was supposed to guard him, which was the case today. Sokka was just glad that the other was out of the way. That way he could train and not have to worry about the rest.

The others left after a few more minutes, which was when Sokka walked over to push the bolt into place so Zuko couldn't sneak off while he was busy training his boomerang moves close by.

It wasn't until half an hour later that a yell caused him to almost miss recatching his boomerang. There was another yell, and it quickly became apparent that it came from the cell he'd locked. Slightly annoyed, he came over.

"Jerkface?" There was no reaction, the yelling repeated. Knocks on the door didn't get him any farther, so he finally reached for the bolt on his side, only to find that the door was locked from the inside as well. Zuko was still shouting. What was going on?

Just as Sokka was considering going to go get Katara, the screaming abruptly stopped, to be replaced with heavy breathing. He knocked again and this time he got a startled yelp before hearing shuffling inside.

"Zuko? what's going on?" The sound of breath hitching. There was no verbal response, only heavy breathing. After a while the breathing slowed down and got more shallow until it was hardly traceable. Sokka was about to say something when the other finally replied, voice extra rough from the screaming: "Leave me alone, please."

And so he did. Time passed, and the Gaang continued their day, with Zuko still shut away. Twilight came and finally Zuko came out, looking worse for wear. His face was gaunt and pale, and his hair once more slick against his scalp, looking lifeless. But he came out anyway, heading on over, waiting for the food to be done. After a while Sokka brought up the matter, to try and determine just what had happened that afternoon. Zuko kept quiet in the flickering firelight and his body looked ready to bolt as he kept looking away from the group. He seemed ashamed and there was something else in his behaviour, something Sokka couldn't quite recognise.

Toph finally replied for him: "It's nightmares, he's been getting them since the third or fourth day, you just usually sleep through them, so you didn't notice." Sokka threw a glance over to the one in question, seeing him sat down, wrapped in his blanket, shuddering even though he was near the fire and the night was still quite warm. Sokka had no idea what to think of all of this.

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The following day arrived and they were sitting around their lunch, once again animatedly talking. The siblings were locked in another argument and that was the only reason Zuko felt comfortable enough to reply to Toph's question:

"Yes, there are many women in the army."

"So men and women are equal in the Fire Nation?"

"Yeh, I guess, for the most part." Zuko shrugged, looking a tad bashful before continuing.

"The Fire Nation focuses on skill. Anyone who's good enough is allowed to join the army. Women who join get no special treatment for being women whatsoever. Actually there are a few women who became diplomats through making a career in the army." Zuko finished, looking softly nostalgic and feeling homesick.

"Interesting." Toph said, sounding strangely pensive. "The Earth Nation is still stuck in that 'women have to look nice and raise lots of children' role. It's really traditional." she groaned out.

"I've seen that." he sighed, "The Fire Nation has always seemed very open minded in that aspect, I believe. The war only seemed to push this way of thinking forward. 'Every person to help further progress' and that sort of idea was a common thread of propaganda, especially under my gra.. Fire Lord Azulon."

"I wish the Earth Nation would consider that, too. It was quite hard to even get accepted into the Earth Rumble tournaments as a regular champion. They suspected foul play and didn't want the 'blind' girl. I had to pound their leader into the ground, quite liiterally, for them to accept that I had the skill, and he only accepted me because I was popular with the crowd. Earned him good money. If only the Earth Kingdom could see that we girls can also fight, perhaps then we would've woop'd you guys out, and the war wouldn't be going on anymore!"

"You got in, that's what matters. And perhaps, this war has been going on too long..." Zuko's voice was gentle, soft, perhaps even regretful. While they were talking, neither he nor Toph noticed that Sokka and Katara had stopped arguing and they, along with Aang, were now all listening in to their conversation. He continued, unaware:

"...You know, you might like fighting, but that's not what war is. Earth Rumble is one thing - You participate with your own free will; you fight your own fight; you don't fight to the death. War on the other hand - it affects everyone, whether you're at home or at the front. It messes with people's minds. You see things you will never be able to forget, you might lose a limb, you might die. You might lose all you cared about. You might not even know what happened. And there's nothing you can do but to survive and move on. I'm tired of it." He stared into the fire, looking numb, his eyes cold and dull despite gazing towards the flickering flames.

"Still, I understand your will to fight, to prove yourself, to be recognized despite your shortcomings. I am the same, or was, a while ago." he whispered.

"Aren't shortcomings what makes us strong? I think being blind has helped me a lot with grasping how to bend." Toph replied thoughtfully.

"Not strong enough. It doesn't matter if you can't please him. It's too late now anyway." He pulled his ever-present blanket closer, as if to put a boundary between him and the world.

"Having a home. Being there. I'd like that. I envy you for having the choice. You might not be recognized by your parents, but at least you yourself can say: you're good enough. I'm neither." he sighed out quietly before he got up to walk away, an air of regal sadness draped around his shoulders like a cape, or maybe even a chain.

When he seemed out of earshot, Sokka perked up: "What did he mean by that, he's a Prince, heir to the big flamey throne His Fireiness rules from. I bet he's just saying that to gather sympathy, so he's all fud-duddy in the group. I bet he was lying about wanting to go home. He had a nice fancy ship, a crew, he sure didn't seem that cast out to me."

"I...I don't think so, Sokka. When I entered the ship Zuko mentioned something about going home, but he actually never did." Aang said.

With a thoughtful expression, Katara added: "He came to Roku's temple. Zhao treated him like us there. I remember he even called him a traitor. And Zu.."

"Zhao held a grudge against Zuko, you can't take that seriously, can you?" Sokka exclaimed loudly, interrupting his sister.

Toph rolled her eyes mentally. Typically Sokka, not letting his sister finish. She could feel her fuming now, whether it was because of the interruption, or because of what she had wanted to say… It really annoyed Toph on all levels... How could the boys be so ignorant as to just forget what Zuko had said a few days ago? That bit about being a disgrace and a traitor. They were contemplating this news now as if they'd never heard about it.

"I just wonder why," Aang then thoughtfully said. "Why was he so hell bent on capturing me?"

"Well, that's quite obvious. The Fire Nation has wanted the Avatar ever since they planned to wipe out the Air Nomads. You know that."

Katara sent Sokka a glare, but Aang was already replying before she could go into a lecture about tact or whatever else she might have wanted to say.

"Why would they send the Prince, though? And what has it got to do with his honor?" Aang kept on. "Azula was making fun of him because of that, but it's true, he did mention his honor a couple of times."

While Toph had just been annoyed before, now she stilled. This was going into an interesting direction, one she had not thought about yet, either.

"So Jerkface had a weird quirk, what's that gotta do with it?"

Toph decided to finally mix in: "Come think of it, Snoozles. What Aang's saying is, that there might be a reason why he was so hellbent on capturing him. One that has less to do with the Fire Nation's need to have the Avatar and more with why Sparky was out there searching for him in the first place. But what is this with him not having a home? That is the bit that doesn't make sense to me."

Toph felt Katara's gaze on her, full of questions, but also thoughtful. They fell silent, staring into the fire. It took a whole while until conversation was picked up again by Sokka.

"So… You're basically saying that returning with the Avatar was his condition for returning? That doesn't make any sense. I mean, no one knew anything about the Avatar's whereabouts and such until we broke him out of that ice."

"Yeah, so what would that mean?" Toph prodded further, also only now realizing what it could really mean. After all, she hadn't had all that much context to Zuko's hunt before.

"That he was sent on a mission bound to fa….ooh… You don't, you can't mean that, why would the Fire Lord do that to the Crown Prince?"

"I don't know. You'd have to ask him yourself."

Sokka didn't reply, and after a moment Aang reluctantly asked: "Does that mean he can't go home, ever?"

"If what we are thinking is true, then yes." Katara replied. No one knew what to say after that, the mood dying slowly with the fire.

After a long moment, Toph felt Zuko unfreeze from his stalled slow shuffle from the camp. He didn't go far, hugging himself closely. After a while, he eventually sat down, making himself small. She could feel him shiver slightly and somehow knew that it wasn't only the night's chill, what had been said had shaken him, and she felt a bit guilty for having brought it up. Though she had meant him well in getting the rest of the group to maybe start understanding him better and perhaps they might cut him some slack, it primarily had caused a lot of discomfort. Right now, Sokka wasn't ready to acknowledge that there was more to Zuko, but maybe the seed would sprout eventually. Hopefully he'd consider what had been said...

She tuned back in on Zuko, who still hadn't moved. The words must have hit him pretty hard as well. She wondered if he'd thought of these things before, if he dared to. Somehow she doubted it.

When they finally were about to go to bed, Zuko was still sitting there. He scrambled to his feet when Toph came and got him, as if he hadn't just been frozen in his own mind, and he proceeded to wordlessly move to his room to let himself be locked in. She could almost feel how troubled he was, but she knew there was nothing she could do to ease his mind.

00000

The next day passed without much consequence. As the day drew on, and evening drew in close, the Gaang took note of the dimming sky as the sun moved beyond the horizon and the meagre light that remained was quickly fading. Zuko and the water tribe siblings, having already completed all tasks that needed to be done, were sitting on the fireside, watching a late earthbending practice.

Zuko could not understand how Aang could take practice so lightly. To him the practice seemed to have barely any seriousness in it. If this kid wanted to defeat his father, then he'd need to take it up a notch, or two, or three. Goofing around would not help him in the least, and silly tricks would not distract the Fire Lord, either.

He thought about the conversation they had earlier. And also about what had been said after he'd gone away. He knew Sokka had thought him out of earshot, but he hadn't been, his hearing had sharpened considerably in the past few months. First during his time on the raft with barely any noise at all, then the time at the market square that schooled his ear to listen whether he wanted or not.

He had frozen up at Sokka's words, stood there, listening despite not wanting to hear what was being said. He'd been insulted many times, but that didn't mean that it hurt any less. The prejudice and unwillingness to look for the reasons behind was an ongoing reminder of where he stood with them.

Then Toph had put her lot in and the conversation had taken an even more uncomfortable turn. He'd been waiting for them to corner him about it. They hadn't… yet… but he could feel their desire to, without even looking at them.
He wouldn't tell them anything. He didn't want to hear their opinions, having heard them accidentally once was enough. He didn't need to hear their interpretation of his banishment, nor their guessed conditions. They wouldn't understand, couldn't understand it. Nor did it matter, now that he was a fugitive, a traitor to his homeland. And anyway, Sokka would just repeat what he had said before: That he did what he did to gather sympathy, he didn't need even more animosity from him. Them.

"Katara?" He spoke quietly. "I'm going to bed, please close the door after me." Startling at the sudden sound of his voice, Katara looked around to see him and smiled weakly. After a moment of hesitation, she got up and did so, somewhat awkwardly wishing him a good night at the door. The quiet night did nothing to ease his thoughts, even after the others had come back and finally went to bed, he couldn't sleep easily and so it ended up being a very exhausting night alone with his thoughts going back to past events.

00000

Sokka was not pleased. Stuck back in camp with a Firebender had not been what he had been imagining when they had headed for another village. He had just guarded the Fire Prince a day ago. It should have been Toph's turn. But he'd lost the argument after Katara had pointed out that Toph and Aang still needed to practice and kindly reminded him of the pickled meat incident. He had whined that it had been a one-time thing and that he wouldn't do it again, which had caused another argument between them and their diet.

"Go hunting then, if you really want meat! And take Zuko with you… blablablah… yeah, great idea." Sokka muttered, sharpening his blade. He knew Katara agreed that they needed meat, but he'd have to get it on his own. She had tried to explain it to Aang, but they both knew that he had a hard time understanding.

He was keeping an eye on said firebender, who had been surprisingly docile, hardly moving and frequently staring into nothing as if he wasn't really there with him at all.

"Come on, let's go." The other winced slightly, but stood up.

"You can just lock me into my room if you don't want me around." he quietly said.

Sokka looked up, surprised. Well, that was unexpected, though it wasn't something he was going to consider, either.

"I don't know what you are planning, Jerkface, but it's not going to work. I stick with the group arrangements, and they arranged for you to be with me. Anyway, my sis would have my head if I went alone and she found out."

Zuko wordlessly got up at that. He was shivering in the mountain wind and even though he looked better than a few days ago, he still appeared quite sickly. Uncomfortable in the quiet, Sokka eventually searched for a safe topic to kill the oppressive atmosphere that had settled around Zuko. They had been walking for a while.

"Sooo, what do you eat in the Fire Nation?"

The boy looked up, clearly surprised at the question. "Uhm, spicy food?" he reluctantly said, rubbing his neck and refusing to look at Sokka, who in turn rolled his eyes. Of course Zuko would go for 'one word' answers.

"No, I meant like, what do you eat? Like, Aang's a vegetarian, that's a cultural thing. The Water Tribe eats lots of meat and fish… we got to taste Earth Kingdom food multiple times, but yeah… what about the Fire Nation?"

Zuko seemed clearly uncomfortable, but after a moment of hesitation, set out to answer anyway. "I suppose it's not that different from the Earth Kingdom coast. The Fire Nation is on islands, so we have a lot of fish and other seafood. We also rely on rice and different grains, and vegetables to even out the diet. But as said, what sets us apart from Earth Kingdom food is the spices we use."

Well, that had been a more detailed explanation than he had expected. Now encouraged, Sokka thought of a new question. "So, could you deal with a vegetarian diet? Because I just can't, I don't feel full without eating meat."

"I don't need meat every day, though it can be nice. And if the vegetables are fresh, being vegetarian is alright. I'm not that picky anymore." Zuko was still looking anywhere but Sokka, which the latter noticed. They were walking through a bright forest. It was a beautiful landscape and Sokka was just thinking that he should start looking more closely for trails when Zuko perked up.

"There are quite a few edible plants here. We should collect some." A scarred eye was carefully regarding him.

"Huh? You know that stuff?"

"It's useful if you're traveling light."

"Well, suit yourself, but you're going to carry it yourself. I need my hands free for hunting." Zuko nodded as a reply and went to a nearby bush, thoughtfully regarding it, before pulling off his shirt, revealing the scars on his back as well as his gaunt frame and the unhealthy colour of his skin.

"What are you doing?" Sokka asked, a bit perplexed.

"I need something to substitute as a bag." Zuko shrugged.

"Oh…"

They fell back into silence, Sokka suspiciously observing Zuko's doings but refraining from saying anything. After a while, Zuko pointed out a trail, mentioning that he heard a stream nearby and that it probably was a drinking site for the animal in question. Sokka took note of the unsaid. It indeed might be a good place to lay in wait. They followed the trail, though they went parallel to it through the shrubbery, so as to not leave their scent,and then they waited.

Zuko thankfully kept quiet, Sokka noted, hardly moving. He seemed to be meditating, or at least it looked awfully close like what Aang did when he did it. They kept quiet, and Sokka wondered about what had just happened on the way here. That talk might have been one of the first, and one of the longest at that, peaceful conversations he'd ever had with Zuko. Jerkface was actually being co-operative.

Sokka saw a movement from the edge of his eye. Zuko searched out his eyes, then pointed off into the forest, signaling him to wait. Well, it couldn't hurt. He was very surprised when, a short while later, he could see fur. How had Zuko detected it before him? With his eyes closed? He'd had them closed while meditating, at least it had looked like it.

The animal emerged further. It was a lop-eared rabbit. Sokka waited until he could reach it with a decent throw and then attacked. It was a quick, efficient move, and then he picked up the kill by its ears triumphantly.

"Alright, we have our dinner, let's go back." Zuko staggered to his feet, picking up his makeshift shirt-bag and followed him. Sokka observed as Zuko kept plucking things, leaves, berries, occasionally even digging up roots.

"So, what exactly are you collecting here? You realize, you'll have to taste everything before any of the others are going to eat it." Much to Sokka's surprise, Zuko's lips twitched at that.

"Your sister is always cooking stew. I'd just poison myself if I tried to poison you. And anyway... First rule in gathering edible plants: Be absolutely sure it's the right kind. But I'll play cupbearer if it makes you feel safer."

Sokka didn't reply to that, but he kept an eye out on what the other was doing.

"I could teach you, you know…"

"Eeh, uuh, maybe?" Sokka's thoughts were running and he saw Zuko just setting out to speak again when he decided. "Maybe, after you proved your food to be edible!" At that, Zuko shrugged with his shoulders, not even looking dejected, just taking the situation as it was.

"Fine."

Their walk back was quiet and Zuko ended up preparing most of his things on his own with Katara watching him closely. As promised, he took a first bite and then filled his bowl, sitting down to eat. That broke the ice and Sokka had to admit that the new variety of taste definitely improved his mood, even if it stemmed from green food.

00000

The weather took a turn for the worse over the past couple of days. These conditions, coupled with the Gaang's need to resupply, forced their path towards civilisation. The town they had spotted from the air in the early morning light turned out to be closer to the size of a little city and was located at the foot of the valley that was along one of the main trade lines through the mountain range, on through the Great Sands, into Chameleon Bay, before reaching the great fortress city of Ba Sing Se.

Aang excitedly jumped off Appa's back. "So, who's gonna go to the Village this time?" he asked.

"I was actually thinking of all of us? I think a night in a warm, dry bed would do us all some good." Katara answered.

Sokka stopped short, "Urk? Even Jerkface? Why should he get all cosy? He may wiggle Iout, and sneak-attack Aang all before you get to your waterskins." Sokka couldn't not let the others know of his worries. This was a village, Zuko would have options there. Zuko was sneaky.

"Would you rather stay out here with him?"

"What, no! I wouldn't." He wanted that comfort too, but he was worried about how Zuko was chipping away at his own defences, Zuko was awkward, he did as told, Sokka, with the group getting all cosy with them, would rather stay antagonistic to a prior enemy, than falling into that lull. Who knew when he might turn all Evil Prince on them again !?

Before the discussion could get out of hand again, Aang butted in: "Actually, I think we should let him come along. I mean, he's really done nothing against us since he's been here. He's only been polite and helpful."

"Yeah, that's exactly what I'm worried about. He's lulling you into a false sense of security!"

"Which is why you will share a room with him, show off your warrior skills."

"What about Aang?"

"He can sleep in our room!" Toph exclaimed with no worry. "It wouldn't be all that different from sleeping outside together."

"I don't mind sleeping outside. You can just lock me up again." Everyone turned to Zuko who was standing at the sideline, holding his sodden blanket, clearly shivering despite his words.

"Nonsense, I can feel you shivering right now, not to mention hearing your teeth chatter last night."

"Alright, alright." Sokka gave in. "But I have conditions."

Aang's excitement dimmed at these words. He couldn't understand why Sokka was so out to get back at Zuko. This thin, broken boy had hardly anything in common with the pompous Fire Prince they had known before.

"What do you have in mind?" Aang's tone was muted.

"His hands bound at all times during our stay inside the city. He'll also need something to stop him from leaving the room, and harming me while I'm sleeping. And, someone guarding him at all times during the day. To prevent him from using his sneaky skills, he will be under our watch, always."

"I suppose I can agree to that." Katara said after a moment of contemplation. "Just no overdoing it."

"Uhm, Alright." Aang's voice was still hesitating, then everyone turned to Toph who looked pretty annoyed. She crossed her arms in annoyance.

"Fine."

"Thanks Toph. Well, then. Will you please?" Sokka pointed towards Zuko.

"What?... No, no way I'm doing that."

"Your bending is the only material that can contain him. He's a firebender, remember?" Sokka's tone was clipped and Aang looked for Toph's reaction, a bit worried about this ending in another discussion. He wasn't fond of the idea either, quite honestly, he didn't think there was a need, but they needed to work together, not fight. Zuko shifted uncomfortably.

"Do it, Toph... It's fine." He said quietly, laying his blanket over his shoulders so he wouldn't have to hold it. He then stepped forward, holding out his hands. "It's not worth fighting about. I don't mind." His voice was still breaking from hoarseness.

"You are a horrible liar." Toph sadly whispered half to herself, before begrudgingly moving forward to encase Zuko's wrists in stone from nearby. Sokka took one look at it and found the first version too thin and possibly breakable, so she ended up having to reinforce it a bit.

Zuko just stood there and let it happen. The one-piece of set stone that now bound his wrists did not look overly heavy, but Aang had to remind himself that it was stone after all. And Zuko didn't look very strong right now.

Aang told Appa to stay where they had landed and that they themselves would go into town for the night. Quickly they were making their way to the road that would lead them to the city in just a few minutes.

Sokka had not so subtly placed himself next to Zuko, who was stumbling along, alone, with his still bare feet. They really needed to get him a pair of shoes some time, Aang thought. And if Toph was any judge, something warmer for the nights, if they were going to stay at this high altitude.

"Act inconspicuous." He heard Sokka hiss towards Zuko as they passed the city gate, causing the other boy to flinch again.

As they went in search of a place to stay. Katara reminded them that they were trying to stay under the radar, so they could not pull the 'Avatar Card'.

The place they found ended up being less pricey than expected, which was a relief to the groups meagre funds, but it didn't offer any food, so they had to head out once more into the settlement to find someplace to eat.

They ended up finding a quiet tavern, tucked away from the main street, but thankfully not in the back alleys, which looked less than savoury. The cosy atmosphere of the establishment they had entered in made chatting easy as they waited for the food. Sokka was talking animatedly about some hunt down at the South Pole and all the Gaang was listening, so it took Aang a moment to notice someone talking to Zuko. Curiously, he tuned in on the firebenders quiet conversation with the woman that stood next to him.

"...travelers?"

"Uh I suppose." The woman's hand found its way on the back rest of his chair.

"Where are you from?" the stranger asked. She looked around her mid twenties and had an excited gleam in her eyes.

"I?... uhm, I'm from an island." Zuko looked away, somehow looking resigned. Aang realized that he had hidden the stone shackle by keeping his hands below the table. "In the ocean? That's, so…. I've always wanted to go and see it…" The woman stroke some strands of hair out of her face and fixated them with a hair piece at the back of her head. "...would you tell me about your travels? Children came so fast after marrying, I never got around to see the lands."

"...The others are better storytellers than I. You should ask them."

"Oh, alright. huh, Hi..." She spoke up. Finally drawing Sokka's attention towards them, too.

"So, uh… excuse me, I don't think I got your name..." She looked questioningly at Zuko who looked down. "It's Lee" The whole Gaang threw a confused glance towards Zuko who just stared at the table in front of him.

"Alright, so Lee told me that you've been traveling for a while. Would you share a few stories of your travels with my family and I, if it isn't too much trouble? I'd invite you over for tea this afternoon."

Aang took the chance to reply before anyone could object: "That sounds awesome, let's do it!"

"Alright, my shift here ends around four in the afternoon. Meet me at the front around then?"

"Got it!"

"Oh, and by the way, my name is Diptam."

As soon as the woman left, Sokka's eyes searched out Zuko. "Seriously? Lee?"

The firebender looked uncomfortable. "Zuko is not an Earth Kingdom name. I try to blend in."

"So what?"

Again that resigned expression. "I have a lot of enemies that know me by name. I don't want them on our trail." The admission came in a quiet, but clear voice. "It would be in all our best interest to stick to Lee for the time being."

Food arrived, brought by Diptam, who turned out to be a waitress here. They ate, lively talking, but everytime Aang looked at Zuko, he felt a slight pinch of guilt, looking at the awkward way the other was handling the chopsticks with his bound hands. His ability to somehow appear to sit beside the group despite them sitting in a circle didn't help, either. This shackle thing really was unnecessary.

The group spent the afternoon tracking down supplies in the market. Nothing for Zuko's comfort though, despite Aang's efforts to get the group to agree. Shoes, according to Sokka, would make it easier for him to run away, and they had already provided him with two sets of clothing. They didn't have the money reserves to go around buying things out of the goodness of their hearts, he said. Katara, with a pointed glance, reminded him of the pickled meat incident with just a look.

They arrived back at the agreed meeting spot only a few minutes early and Aang stared at the entrance of the restaurant expectantly. They had been invited to someone's house without Aang having to use the Avatar Card. They just were invited because the people wanted to. It made him feel especially welcome here, it made him feel… normal. Finally, the young woman stepped out of the doors, surveying them with a wide smile.

"Alright, let's go. My family will be so excited!" She turned around and Katara complimented Diptam on her hair piece. It featured round ceramic leaves and a white flower in the middle. Diptam thanked her, smiling, then she led them through a few streets before finally holding in front of a small row house. "Just let me warn my mother-in-law real quick. I'll be right back."

She entered and a minute later poked her head out of the door again. "Come on in, my family would love to meet all of you!" Shoes quickly discarded in the entryway, they followed Diptam into the living room. The kitchen was fused with it. Soon they were all seated around the low table in the center of the room. The mother-in-law was introduced as Ninunka, the kids as Dara and Bo. The tea kettle was in full use and the Gaang were keeping the kids entertained until Diptam and Ninunka were ready to serve the tea.

Aang already quite liked her, she had a twirly personality that bubbled from excitement when hearing that they were travelers and willing to share stories. It was thoroughly enjoyable, especially since they hadn't been around kids in a while, he really had missed the carefreeness of playing.

Once Ninunka had joined them, they dove right into storytelling: Tales about the ocean, penguin sledding, pirates…. Diptam went to make more tea and they continued when the cups were refilled. She turned to pick up Bo, who had been trying to get into Zuko's lap and touch his scar.

"Sorry about that. He's very curious… So, you haven't said much at all." Her gaze flickered towards the shackle once more before she continued thoughtfully, nodding her head towards the rest of the group "Do they treat you well?"

Zuko nodded, offering the toddler a hand to play with. He wasn't smiling, but at the very least looked a tad more relaxed than when they had been invited in.

"Have you been with them for long?"

"Maybe two or three weeks, I don't remember."

"Are they waiting for your family to pay… Or have they agreed on a time frame to make it up at least?"

"No, this arrangement is indefinite for the time being. My own actions led to this and my family does not want any part in it."

"Will they at least give you the chance to redeem yourself one day?"

"They saved my life, even though I had given them absolutely no reason to."

"Oh…" The woman stared at him, appearing unsure what to say.

"Needless to say, they have solid reasons not to trust me now, neither by word nor action. They provide for me and I'm under their protection, which is more than I could ask for."

Diptam looked at him thoughtfully, then finally broke out in a smile. "You're a strong young man and these kids seem decent, I'm sure it will work out."

The woman's words warmed Aang's heart and he sincerely believed them to come true. Just then, the rest of the group broke into loud laughter and Aang was surprised that no one else seemed to have noticed this conversation happening. What had Zuko meant? He'd seemed to understand the situation perfectly and so had the woman, whereas Aang felt like he'd been missing something obvious. Bo meanwhile had planted himself in Zuko's lap and was lounging there. The firebender didn't seem to mind much, now that Bo had let off trying to touch his scar.

"Aang, can you do that trick again?" Dara had snuck up on Aang and was tugging his sleeve now. He turned to the child and did as requested and quickly was drawn back into conversation.

Finally it was time to leave and they bid their farewells. Back in their dwelling, they gathered in the bigger room. Toph said that it was time for an inside earthbending lesson and so they were busy doing that while the others slept or watched, it had been an intense day after all.

When it was finally time to eat, they gathered down in the very same traven to buy dinner. They had the table to themselves and Aang, not having forgotten about the conversation he'd listened in on, decided to bring it up.

"Hey, uhm Lee?" Zuko looked up and the others stilled. "You know, the conversation you had with Diptam… I… What did she mean with what she asked about family not paying or that time frame thingy?" Zuko's eyes widened, then he looked away.

"We're in public right now."

Sokka squinted his eyes, realizing that he apparently had missed something happening concerning the firebender during the day. "You better tell us upstairs!"

Zuko only nodded, going back to eating, holding the bowl to his lips with both hands instead of bothering with the spoon as it was easier with the shackle, as well as faster in general. Sokka glared at him again, but in the end followed the other's example in finishing up. Their conversations had stilled, the pending confrontation now stark in the air. Aang's attempt to lighten the mood did nothing.

They had barely sat down back in their room when Sokka demanded "Spill!"

Zuko swallowed before talking: "She took me for a debt slave."

"A what?" Sokka's voice rose an octave. Aang just stared, a slave? He had only vaguely heard the phrase once or twice, back when he was still with Monk Gyatso, back when the world was right, when there was no war, and even then, he'd barely considered the concept of a person owning another. It was just wrong!

"A person, who… Uhm, owes someone something, but is unable to pay… so they're taken on as labourers to work for them until their debt is paid off. They're basically owned by the holder of the debt." Zuko answered.

"Seriously, they do that here? They don't, like, help them out or something?" Sokka's voice was disbelieving.

"People aren't all nice. I'm not surprised that this practice doesn't exist at the South Pole, so you wouldn't know of it, but it does in both Fire Nation and Earth Kingdom."

"But it's not true, we don't own you. You know that Zuko, right?" Aang blurted out and Zuko winced at the thought.

"It is true though, in a way. I owe you my life. And I am bound to you, be it as captive or because of debt. It makes little difference. I can't repay you, again, it's a life debt, haven't you heard the saying 'a life for a life'? And the longer you provide for me, the more I owe you. Still. It's right of you not to trust me. I can't just switch sides."

"But you said before that you can't go home. Doesn't that mean that your family left you?" Aang asked.

"NO!..." Zuko's loud exclamation shocked anyone, he seemed to notice, because he continued in a more muted tone: "It's not that simple. And I don't want to talk to you about it, you don't understand. Plus Sokka might just blame me, and say that I was trying to gather sympathy, I won't go for it." He turned away, knowing very well that he wasn't allowed to leave, as Sokka squawked in indignation at the mention of his name, the rest of the group looking pointedly in his direction. At least they had the decency to shift their attention away from Zuko after this distraction.

The others were left in an oppressive silence, no one knowing what to say or how to react, but Aang finally couldn't hold it in any longer.

"I can't believe that slavery is still in practice."

"It's not overly common, but it's not unheard of here in the Earth Kingdom. And it's the more likely conclusion than him being prisoner to a bunch of kids." Toph said confidently.

"But it was like something ancient a hundred years ago."

"War tends to push people into debt." the firebender said in a flat voice.

Aang looked over to Zuko. He was leaning against the wall and staring into space and Aang found himself wishing that he would just talk to them, confide in them. He was sure they could find a solution, and Diptam's words were still fresh on Aang's mind, encouraging him.

The fact that Zuko had so blatantly refused, showed further that he did not believe it, not now, and probably not in the future. Aang was sure that, with a little time, even Sokka would warm up to him. And if they could win Zuko over, he'd have a firebending teacher. Just on how to do that…?

"So, what do you think of Diptam's suggestion to leave the mountains for the flatlands near the desert? I think it's a good idea. It doesn't look like this weather is letting up and Ninunka also said that it is expected during this time of the year, so it might not stop for a while. " Katara said finally.

"It's a good idea. And actually that library she told us about sounded pretty awesome, too."

"It's a myth Snoozles, weren't you listening? And anyway, it's said to be in the middle of the desert, we don't wanna go there!"

"Just imagine what kind of knowledge we could gain there? Like bending scrolls and other things!" He jerked his head towards Zuko.

"Well, I think the flatlands sound good enough to me for now. We can discuss the rest when we get there, can't we?"

"Agreed. Well, I'm going out!" Toph said, getting up.

"Toph? Would you please secure me for the night before you go?" Zuko said quietly, sensing the group preparing to turn in.

"Hey, I'm not ready for bed yet! Sokka exclaimed, annoyed.

"I'll do it. You, Sokka, can shove it. He won't be able to leave."

"We agreed on something…"

"If it really bothers you, we can relocate to your room until we go to bed. But really, I also think this is a bit over the top, I mean, we're right next door and you even have a key for the room. I thought you were supposed to be the man of the village!?" Katara gave her brother a stern look.

They did relocate, after a prolonged staring match, which ended with Sokka plodding behind with a sullen look upon his face, and Toph crafted a weighty stone around one of Zuko's ankles after having him lay down. She ordered Sokka to try and lift it, to prove that Zuko would not get far with it, to which Zuko showed great strain in trying to lift the rock himself. After that, Sokka said nothing and lounged on his own bed while Katara and Aang did some waterbending exercises. By the time they had finished, Zuko seemed to have gone to sleep.

When they finally returned back to their room, Aang couldn't sleep though. The day's events, especially Zuko's admissions, weighed down on him. He didn't owe them for keeping him alive. They didn't want him dead after all. How could he not see that?

And that whole discussion that he had overheard, it still held so many unanswered questions. What exactly Zuko had meant with this arrangement being indefinite for the moment? That question really wouldn't leave him alone. Was he referring to being their prisoner for forever? Aang honestly hadn't given the time part much thought before, he always had assumed they'd let him tag along until… Yeah until when?

He hadn't seemed to be lying, and Aang agreed with Toph about Zuko being bad at lying. So Zuko really thought this was something long term? And the woman's reaction to that statement didn't want to leave his mind either. She had been shocked… But why so badly?

It wasn't like they wanted to put him to work to earn them any money. Nor had they intended to take him with them. It had just happened and from as little as Katara had told him, Toph had freed him from a horrible situation.

He also couldn't help but remember the older boy flinching every so often, especially when Sokka was around. And now Zuko had to share a room with him. Alone. Now, Aang really felt guilty.

With these thoughts in mind, it was a long while before he fell asleep.

00000

The night brought in a cold fog and the city was encased when morning came. They had slept in, enjoying the luxury of a proper bed. Eager to get into better weather once they had taken a look outside, the Gaang packed and left to go to Appa, who would then take them above the sea of fog and set course towards the desert. Toph, after the always unnerving first few seconds of climbing, relaxed into the wooden saddle. She had kept the stone for Zuko's wrist shackles and was now playing with it, forming it into whatever came to mind. Conversation had trickled and not been very entertaining. Sokka had wanted to discuss where to land and they had agreed to get far into the flatlands. Especially now that no one could track them by sight alone.

By the time they decided to call a break from flying, it was early afternoon. The group, with begrudging acceptance from Sokka, thought it would be good to get some bending practice in during the day when all still were fit and not tired. It would also do Appa some good, reasoned Aang, giving him a chance to rest from the many long days of travel they had had recently. So they had landed at the foot of a mountain ridge, just before the flatlands truly started. The landscape was still below the ever-thick blanket of clouds and it was looking ready to rain at any time. After eating Katara's stew, they returned to their journey.

They had just broken through the cloud blanket, when Zuko spoke up: "How do you navigate without sight?"

"What's it to you?" Sokka snapped, apparently in some mood.

"I lived on a ship for three years, we had navigation tools. I have never seen you use any. I…."

"We use the sun, duh."

"... just wondered." Zuko quietly finished, in a defeated tone.

"And experience!" Sokka added in an afterthought, but Zuko did not reply, probably having given up on the thought of having a decent conversation.

They continued flying in silence for the most part. The weather had been hot and humid down in the flatlands, prone to thunderstorms later in the day, so they were glad to escape into higher altitude. The air was fresher so high in the sky, but the sun, as usual, burned down on them. Indeed, an hour later Aang informed them of seeing lightning below, which made Toph the only one not peering over the saddle board to watch the spectacle.

It was about mid afternoon when Sokka decided that they had reached their destination and they dove back into the much thinner cloud blanket.

"Uhm, Sokka? This place looks quite dry!" Aang called over.

"That's what the term 'desert' implies!" Toph replied cockily, not really surprised, the dry air, hazy with the heat that was coming off the scorching sand in waves, were a clear give away. She heard all of them shuffle around to peer over the border.

"But…. But I calculated how long we'd need to fly to get to this point on the map!..."

Appa landed and Toph immediately jumped towards the ground, quickly realizing that she had been spot on with the word desert. She could feel the sand shift below her feet. Making her view a bit fuzzy all over, like keeping track of your feet when they're underwater. Luckily, Appa didn't seem that bothered by the hot sand, nor did Zuko, whom she remembered still not having shoes either. The ground was hotter than any she was used to, but it was bearable, just. She thanked her earth that their feet were all calloused, otherwise things could be nasty.

"Well, Appa's tired and thirsty. Let's not overdo it now and take a break at least."

It was when they were snacking, that Zuko gathered up his courage to say something about the situation.

"Sokka, I'm not saying this to criticize you, but because I think you should know to avoid future situations…" he took a deep breath.

"The art of cartography is tricky and has improved only a little over the years. One of the main issues is that they don't get the proportions right every so often. It means distances and places are distorted and can't be taken to face value. That said, your map is old, maybe fifty years or so if not more. Landscapes change. It might be that the desert spread over the decades."

"Well great, and why didn't you tell us that a bit sooner?"

"Hey, Aang. Look at what I found? Does that look right?... Oh." Katara, who had just returned from a 'potty break', as Sokka still so lovingly called it, was holding up what looked like something plant-ish. Upon noticing the slightly tense atmosphere, she stilled though, not sure if she was intruding. Zuko glanced at what she was holding.

"That's Aloe, what are you going to do with it?"

"Preparing a sunburn remedy, we're very exposed here" Katara noted, with the group seeing just a sea of sand in all directions around them, "That person who sold us the ginger recommended it as a relieving agent." there was a tentative smile on her lips.

"Hey sis, if you don't mind, we were in the middle of a discussion…. Now Jerkface, why?"

Zuko turned back to him and somewhat calmly replied: "I asked about how you navigate, you weren't willing to discuss it before, so I thought to wait and see what happens. I know I have no say."

"Well great! Then we have no idea where we are!"

"Does that mean we're lost?" Aang then asked.

Toph turned to him, wearing a bemused expression.

"Pretty much!"

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A/N: Hi, ystävä here. Yes, finally a chapter… and I know, it took a while. Well, thing is, as you might have noticed, it's got a different set up. Anyway...

ML8991 has been a big help, without him I would have gotten literally nowhere, so an official thanks here.

Another thanks goes to LoveToRead613 and AfroTank, who each blessed us with a review! And all those who followed and favorited.

Story related news: I went to England this spring. ML8991 and I met up and discussed the story in person. I think we were at it for a straight three hours, just focussing on the story. Result of that was a lot of fun plus we know where to go with this fanfic and once this "Story" is finished(which will take a while), there will be a sequel!

Reviews would be awesome, they help keep us motivated to push for new content. So please?

ML8991: Heyo guys, sorry this took so long, had a busy summer working, and settling into my last year of uni means I get limited time, but hopefully I'll be a tad more diligent in future. Lots of dev. in this chapter, and setting up for some fun times. Looking forward to seeing all your lovely reviews, they really do inspire us to keep posting, so thank you to all of you who have already liked, followed and reviewed the story. Anyhow, onwards to the next chapter :)

23/12/2021 ystävä: I recall this being the longest chapter we've written, it was a bit daunting to go back and proofread, but we managed and I hope you like the outcome. The set up was different, writing sequences instead of consecutive scenes. Also, it's somewhat surreal to realize that this chapter is already 3 years old and was first released just after ML and I met up in real life. Though much has changed in both of our lives since then, we're still enjoying making this. This chapter gave more room for little travel bits and starting to involve more cultural aspects as they go back to civilization every so often. I also had a lot of fun with the OC Diptam in this chapter. She isn't all she seems to be.

ML8991: What a couple of years there have been since this was last updated. Moving out of uni, into work, and the dreaded COVID virus has changed much. But we soldier on. This was definitely a welcome chapter to return to. It began the beginnings of Zuko asserting himself, becoming more the erudite and intelligent man we know he becomes, but still somewhat hidden behind the fear of asserting this newfound independence. There is much to happen before Zuko can truly feel he can be himself again, so we hope you will keep with us, as this new, or perhaps re-found, personna continues to develop over the course of the next chapters.

Thank you for sticking with us fans of old, and welcome to you new fans. Reading your comments and seeing your kudos makes our days just that bit better, so thank you from the bottom of our hearts.