Thanks juanpatino436 for Favouriting and Following! And also, Thanks so much to Znpk and juanpatino436! Soooooo much!


~The Chase~

Ryuu POV

Another mountain path and we still no closer to Zuko. Iroh had gone ahead and I was running to catch up. For his age and wieght, Iroh could move surprisingly fast. He was so far ahead. The lucky charm at my throat bounced - it occasionally bounced into my teeth, clashing with them.

When I caught up with Iroh, he had a new friend. A little girl clad all in green. Earthbender. She pointed at me with her free hand but she didn't look at me. I was puzzled until I saw her eyes were glassed over. Blind, I concluded.

"Who're you?!"

Iroh put his hand up, "She's the friend of my nephew I'm travelling with. Perfectly friendly. "

She lowered her hand but frowned at my Ji, "Drop it. Or I'll make you. "

Going against an Earthbender was never a good idea, especially on a mountain. I dropped it grudgingly and went to sit with my back against the earth wall. Then the girl carried on talking to Iroh as if my entrance had never happened.

"So where is your nephew?"

Iroh glanced beyond the girl, "I've been tracking him actually."

She pouted and sipped some tea, "Is he lost then?"

I stared out at the beautiful mountain terrain before me. Iroh drunk some tea and answered cautiously, "Yes, a little bit. His life has recently changed and he's going through very difficult times. He's trying to figure out who he is and he went away."

A lone eagle-wolf soared past, crying a succession of caws and howls. The breeze was gentle and the sound of a waterfall in the distance was calming. A meadow beneath the path was crushed with colours. The girl screwed up her nose and drained her cup.

"So now you're following him."

The eagle-wolf dived between two narrow peaks and disappeared from view. Iroh watched it disappear.

"I know he doesn't want me around him right now, but if he needs me, I'll be there."

The green girl smiled, "Oh, so you and Stabby here are trying to help," She clicked her tongue, "Your nephew is very lucky, even if he doesn't know it. Thank you."

Iroh nodded, "My pleasure. Sharing tea with a fascinating stranger is one of life's true delights."

She put the cup down and got up to leave. Something stopped her as she beamed at Iroh, "No, thank you for what you said. It helped me."

She made an 'I'm watching you gesture at me' and bowed to Iroh. He took her cup and put it with the kettle. The green girl put her foot on the earth bank to go up it. Iroh closed his eyes. The girl stared aimlessly ahead of her.

"Oh, and about your nephew, maybe you should tell him that you need him, too. You too Stabby. "

Then she jumped up the bank and blended in with the foliage. Iroh sipped his tea and flicked his eyes open. I took up my Ji and heaved myself to my feet. Mabye she was right. Mabye I should tell Zuko about how I felt. It seemed like a stupid idea. Iroh finished his tea and got up.

"Come on, let's walk a bit further. I hear there is an amazing view just over that bridge."

...

"Wait... sir, what's that?"

In a flattened extent of land, a small desolate village was host to a series of explosions. Blue flame, water, earth and Fire. Zuko. Iroh sped up to a gentle run. We got there in time to see Azula being cornered. Zuko had been knocked out and was laying on the dusty floor.

"Uncle...?" He groaned as we slipped to his side. He clasped his head and blinked profusely. Iroh offered him a hand.

"Get up."

Azula had been cornered by the Team Avatar and Zuko. Iroh and I stood in the arc, just to further bolster the attack against the crazed princess. She threw her hands up.

"Well, look at this. Enemies and traitors, all working together. I'm done. I know when I'm beaten. You got me. A princess surrenders with honor."

Everyone - bar Iroh - didn't relax. Azula could pull any punches at this point. And she did. Because Iroh was off guard, she shot him. She shot him with lightning. Zuko screamed in horror as his Uncle fell to the ground. Azula had gone. But we were all in too much disbelief to worry about that.

"No... no. Uncle? "

Green girl from earlier moved her foot. Seismic senses. She sighed slightly. Iroh was breathing. But hardly. Waterbending girl - Katara - stepped forward. She drew water from her pouch.

"I can help. I can heal-"

Zuko snapped, "Get away from us!"

"Wait- Zuko, she can help-"

He snarled and shot an arc of Fire at the Avatar team. They fled from us. I dropped my Ji and touched Iroh's neck for vital signs. He had a heart beat. Zuko growled at me. He held his hand up. It shook, he stabilised it with his other hand.

"Go away. Go! Leave!"

"Bu-"

Tears rolled down his cheeks, "Just GO! GET AWAY FROM ME!"

"Zuko, snap out of this. If we both help him the chances of his survival are better. Let me help! JUST LET ME HELP!"

Surprised at my anger, he dropped his hands and started to sob. I bit my lip and got up. I tapped his shoulder and took one of Iroh's arms. Zuko glared up at me.

"What - what are-"

"Come on, there's a little house up there. We can get shelter. "

He wiped his eyes and took Iroh's other arm. Together we managed to get him to shelter - better shelter really, as the house was a bit... fally downy. I left Zuko and went back for my Ji and water. When I came back, Zuko was trying his best at healing. He had mashed a leaf and was trying to smooth it onto another leaf as a bandage.

"Uh... try rolling him on his side first... internal bleeding an' vomi-"

"Internal BLEEDING!?"

"Just a precaution..."

Together, we rolled Iroh onto his side. Luckily, He wasn't internally bleeding or vomiting. Zuko sat in the corner of the room, watching my clean Iroh's wound. Outside, it was nightfall. Zuko rubbed his eyes and yawned broadly.

"Sleep Zuko. You can help in the morning. "

He firmly shook his head, "Not while Uncle is hurt. You can sleep... I'm not tierd... "

He promptly fell asleep. I carried on healing Iroh. Morning couldn't have come faster. Zuko woke up and set about boiling tea to keep me awake. It did. Only because it made me want to vomit. He needs to learn how to boil tea... urgently.

Iroh groaned and moved. Zuko gasped and bounced up and down like a little kid. Iroh woke up and a small smile painted his face. Zuko composed himself.

"Uncle ... you were unconscious. Azula did this to you. It was a surprise attack."

"Oh...Somehow, that's not so surprising."

I sat back on my heels and let Zuko serve Iroh is tea. Iroh coughed and kindly told his Nephew it was 'bracing ' before quickly pouring the rest out of the window when Zuko's back was turned.

"Want another cup, Unc-"

"No! No thank you."

Zuko bowed his head and exhaled, "So Uncle, I've been thinking. It's only a matter of time before I run into Azula again. I'm going to need to know more advanced firebending if I want to stand a chance against her. I know what you're going to say: she's my sister and I should be trying to get along with her."

Iroh pounded his fists together, "No, she's crazy, and she needs to go down. It's time to resume your training."