~The Cave of Two Lovers~

Ryuu POV

"I didn't find anything to eat! I can't live like this! I wasn't meant to be a fugitive."

Zuko stumbled out of the bushes, pulling leaves from his newly grown hair. It had been just over a week and, thanks only to a lazy Hog, we had just made it - in other words, we were just alive. I held my Ji over my shoulder as I crouched up a tree. I had spotted a Sugar Glider that would make a nice snack. It was small, but enough for a tiny relief for all three of us. Unfortunately, Zuko stood at the base of the tree and yelled skyward.

"This is impossible! "

The Glider noticed me and leapt at in my face, sending my tumbling out of the tree. It hopped off and flew away. Zuko blinked at my sudden appearance from up a tree. I smiled sheepishly, but my Ji smacked me in the stomach.

"Ohh, that's gonna leave a bruise..." I rolled over.

He sighed and turned away. He noticed his uncle, who was sniffing a flower, "Uncle, What are you doing?"

Iroh leaned foward and gently accosted the flower. He was eyeing it suspiciously. Zuko trundled up behind him, watching his uncle's strange behaviour. I got myself up and brushed my clothes off. I was winded from the fall but hobbled over to my two companions.

"You're looking at the rare white dragon bush. Its leaves make a tea so delicious, it's heartbreaking. That, or it's the white jade, which is poisonous."

"My grandpapy told me a way of remembering the difference... I can't remember the remembering rhyme though..." I massaged the small of my neck, "Niether did grandpapy. He died by deadly tea..."

Zuko grunted and straightened his posture.

"We need food, not tea. I'm going fishing. Ryuu, give me that Ji."

I stroked the pole arm lovingly but eventually gave it to Zuko. He stalked off into another Bush and towards a river. Iroh poked the flower.

"Hmm ... delectable tea? Or deadly poison?"

...

I ground my teeth as I stripped the grass apart for a fishing net. I had found a grove full of grass as tall as me, which was perfect for making all sorts. During my previous time on the run, I had to learn loads of different skills - like making nets.

When I came back to our camp, I found Iroh covered in great red welts.

"You didn't..."

Zuko stumbled backwards through the bushes with my Ji. On the end, was a tiny silver fish which he was struggling with. I would've laughed if Iroh didn't look so ... poisoned.

"Zuko. You remember the plant I thought might be tea?"

Zuko took the biggest groan, "You didn't..."

"I did... and it wasn't..."

"Ahhh!"

Zuko faced Iroh and me and leapt over. He opened and closed his moth several time after looking apon his uncle. Iroh shrugged and remained surprisingly calm. He held out his hand, in which he held some black berries.

"When the rash spreads to my throat, I will stop breathing. But look what I found. These are bacui berries, known to cure the poison of the white jade. That, or maka'ole berries that cause blindness."

I wasn't helpful, "No, no. They could be Shinu shinu berries. They are highly deadly, but they cure over-energetic children... I'm starting to think that's because they are poisonous.. or deadly nightshade berries - again, poisonous."

Zuko dropped my Ji, grabbed the berries and lobbed them into a bush. He screamed in frustration and turned back to Iroh.

"We're not taking any more chances with these plants! We need to get help."

"But where are we going to go?" Iroh scratched a pulsating welt.

I pointed at where the sun was above us, "If I remember correctly, East should be a small village. They have a free medical hut. That's where I got my arm fixed first time 'round. But you two might be recog- forget I said anything. "

Iroh and Zuko both knew what I meant. Iroh stoked his beard, mulling over the choices.

"We're enemies of the Earth Kingdom and fugitives from the Fire Nation."

Zuko looked eastward, "If the Earth Kingdom discovers us, they'll have us killed."

Iroh got up and scratched a forming welt on his neck. He frowned.

"But if the Fire Nation discovers us, we'll be turned over to Azula."

"Earth Kingdom it is!" They chorused.

...

We were sat inside the medical hut with a girl treating Iroh. She rung a towel out and daubed Iroh's welts. Zuko sat nervously next to me. I squeezed his hand in an act of comfort. The girl - who I recognized from last time as Song - knitted her brow.

"You two must not be from around here. We know better than to touch the White Jade, much less make it into tea and drink it."

Iroh laughed mervously, "Whoops?"

Song shook her head and took up a glass bottle, "So where you travelling from?"

Zuko was real smooth, "Yes! We're travelers. "

Song gave him a sideways glance as Zuko jumped up. She handed the bottle to Iroh and instructed him to put the ointment wherever it itched the most. I stood up too and, with my Ji at my side and net slung over my shoulder, must've looked really out of place.

"Do you have names?"

Zuko was not getting the hang of incognito. I also think he thought Song was very pretty (She is pretty, okay). He hugged himself.

"Names? Oh, of course we have names. I'm... Lee? Yes, Lee. And this is my Uncle Ir- Mushi? Uncle Mushi."

Iroh smiled at 'Lee' , " Yes, my nephew was named after his father, so we just call him Junior."

I couldn't help but snort out laughter at Zuko's expression. He drew his hand across his throat, but Song turned around. She had the ointment bottle in her hand and narrowed her eyes as Zuko stuffed his hand behind his back. She pointed at me.

"What about you. I seem to remember you..."

Zuko now smirked at me. I put my hand on my chest, "Oh, hi, Song. It's Yoshi."

She grinned, "Oh, yeah! Did you find your cats?"

As the lie resurfaced, I shook my head. I looked at my feet and shuffled about. Zuko put a hand on my shoulder in support.

"No. Good thing is, Lee and Mushi took me in when they came across me!"

She placed the bottle back on its shelf, "Why don't you stay for dinner? You three look hungry. "

Zuko shook his head and pointed towards the door, "We- er - gotta go."

Song played smart and put on an innocent smile, "Too bad, my mother always cooks to much roast duc-"

"Where do you live exactly?!" Iroh blurted.

...

Song's mother smiled at our company. She was quite polite, but when the subject changed, I decided not to speak. It turned to the war. She asked if Zuko's father was fighting in the war. He did a dramatic 100 yard stare and answered a yes.

"Excuse me, " Zuko stood up and left. Song went after him.

Iroh changed the conversation again. Song's mother chatted happily to us about where we had come from. I quickly answered Omashu before Iroh could saw anything. When Zuko and Song came back, we decided to leave. Zuko looked pretty shaken up after his talk with Song.

Outside, dozens of fire flies danced about carelessly. It was a cool night, which surprised me, for the area was used to muggy weather. Iroh smiled up at our hosts from the bottom of the steps.

"Thank you for the duck. It was excellent."

Song's mother nodded hesitantly, "You're welcome. It brings me pleasure to see someone eat my cooking with such ... gusto."

Iroh laughed to himself and patted his contented belly, "Much practice. "

I bowed in the traditional Earth Kingdom manner, "Thank you. May the spirits be kind."

Song replied the action. Zuko turned to leave, but I caught his collar and Iroh scolded him using his new nickname.

"Junior, where are your manners? You need to thank these nice people."

Grudgingly, Zuko did so. I let go of his collar. Song, with all her innocence, tried to summon hope inside of Zuko - it didn't go well...

"I know you don't think there's any hope left in the world, but there is hope. The Avatar has returned!"

"I know, " Zuko spat.

We left, but Zuko had other ideas. He unclipped an Ostrich Horse from its post and mounted it. Iroh hissed angrily but Zuko ignored him.

"They're about to show us a little more kindness. Well?"

Iroh got up. It would beat walking - but I wasn't to sure. Not enough space on the poor animal.

"Either you get on, " Zuko hissed, "Or I leave you here."

I chose the former although felt guilty as we trotted away.