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~Zuko Alone~

(Or, A Bit of Unfortune)

Ryuu POV

"You've got to be kidding me, how can it get any steeper? We're practically walking vertical!"

Iroh was bent over, clutching at his knees. Walking for three hours to track your wayward Nephew does that to a man. Lucky thing was, during the walk we found some wood, which I had been whittling into some cups. The mountain path was becoming steeper. Iroh collapsed against an earth bank, clutching the old teapot to his chest.

"Tea break, I think."

I stared up the path as Iroh started preparing the tea. Dumping the new cups beside him, I wrapped my hand higher up my Ji and turned to walk. Iroh tutted disapprovingly. I sharply exhaled out of my nose.

"Sir, please. I have to keep going. He could be in serious trouble. "

"Ryuu, dear, rest for a bit. Zuko is a strong young man, he will be fine if you just relax for a bit. Come. It is nearly nightfall. We should set camp."

He was right. Over the mountains the orange of the setting bleed through the sky. The mountains were beautiful in the light. It was a clear evening and cricket-swallows dove about. I gave up - my legs hurt too much from constant walking.

Iroh took the pot off the heat and poured the sweet smelling liquid into our new cups. I curled up the other side of the fire from Iroh. I had been carrying my old tunic, wearing the one Zuko gave me to combat the heat - it was lighter than the old woollen one. I used the old one as a pillow. He smiled - deep in thought as he stared into the flames. Exhaustion got the better of me.

...

"Wake up!"

I knew I was dreaming, but it felt so real. In front of me lay my father's body. I screamed and crawled backwards, backing into someone. I looked up. It was my mother. She was crying.

"No. Geb, wake up."

"Wake up!"

A heavy black curtain swished between my mother and me. I clawed at it and fell into a dream sea. My leg felt like lead. I couldn't swim. A fin circled me menacingly, it surfaced, revealing it was the bounty hunter ship. I cried out but wasn't heard.

"Wake up!"

Zuko splashed about in the sea. I swam against the current, Zhao dragged me back. Iroh's voice called me. Zuko was screaming. Zhao was then drowned. But so was Zuko. I fell towards the stars.

"Wake up!"

A hand grabbed my throat. I was no longer in the sky. It was the Fire lord who held me. Crying out, I couldn't breath, I was being strangled. Than it was all gone. Darkness. I woke up.

...

I woke up screaming. Iroh was still awake, so at least I didn't disturb him... much. He was snapped out of his day dream and stared at me. The sun had set beneath the horizon so the fire was clearer. I wiped away my tears and forced a smile.

"Was it the same one?"

Iroh could see through my awkward forced smile. Dropping the expression, I nodded.

"Same again. Always the same."

The absence of the sun was a sudden shock. I huddled closer to the fire and Iroh took the last sip of his tea. He put the cup beside him and took a meditating position. He closed his kind eyes and started humming a tune. 'Leaves from the Vine'. He hummed it whenever someone felt sad or generally unwell. Zuko had once told me the Iroh lost his son in war.

Such a poor man. He would've been a great father. The best.

Soon I succumbed to comfortable unconsciousness.

...

通缉-龙

十五岁左右的女孩通缉犯罪反对烈火王

据认为,她旅行与两个叛逆叛徒埃洛伊和祖寇允许在现场杀死。

膝盖以下没有左腿。

当心-相信是熟练的武术。

Rough translation is:

Wanted- Ryuu

Girls around the age of fifteen

Wanted for crimes against the Fire Lord.

It is believed that she traveled with two rebellious traitors Iroh and Zuko, allowed to be kill on sight.

There is no left leg below the knee.

Beware- believed to be skilled in martial arts.

Iroh removed his hat and scratched his head. The poster he looked at showed my face cartoonifyed. We had walked to a nearby town for food. Apon arriving, a Fire Nation poster smacked me in the face - literally. It had come floating on the breeze and blinded me.

"Oh, great... that's not good, is it?"

Iroh shook his head. Discreetly, I stuffed it into my tunic and bit my bottom lip. Iroh put his hat back on and pulled it so it covered his eyes. This village was fiercely Earth Kingdom, but every now and then, Fire Nation colours would catch the corner of my eye.

"S-sir? Shouldn't we - you know- be running away from here? If we get cau-"

"I'm sure it's fine. Oh! Look, a darling little tea shop."

He rushed inside but was given odd looks. This wasn't a tea shop Iroh was used to - it was a gang hideout disguised as a tea shop. The facade to fool passing soldiers. Muscular guys in ripped trousers and sleeveless tops glared at Iroh. He laughed nervously and began backing out of the darkened room. I held my Ji up; yet to them I was just a mosquito.

"Hi there, uh. My... grandpapy is a bit confused... Has anyone seen a guy... with a scar over his eye... called.. Lee?"

A guy with a bald skull and Wolf-bat tattoo on his bulging chest stood up, "Get out or this'll be the last thin' you see."

"Should we run?" I hissed at Iroh.

He nodded, "Let's. "

...

"Have we lost 'em?" I squeaked.

Iroh and I had been sprinting flat out since the edge of town when the gang had started chasing us. We collapsed and panted into the dirt. We had lost them. But also Zuko's trail. Well, until I face planted into Ostrich horse droppings.

"Well done Ryuu!" Iroh beamed. He clutched his tea set to his chest, "You found the trail."

I leaped up, spitting out poo, "... I found it... with my face!"

"But you found it! Now, let's go on before it gets dark."

Iroh went ahead. I had found a small spring hidden in the bushes and was forcing my face in the ice cold water. Anything to rid my face of Ostrich Horse Manure.